Zion Route. Not just for Jews (archives)
Photo: AP
Hebron's Zion Route opened to Palestinians
Settlers protest decision to open road connecting between Kiryat Araba, Hebron's Jewish settlement, which has been site of several terror attacks. IDF says security measures taken
Palestinians are now allowed to pass through most explosive route in Hebron: The Zion Route, connecting between Kiryat Arba and the Jewish settlement in Hebron has been opened to Palestinian vehicles, military sources confirmed Sunday.
The road was opened despite objections raised by the Jewish settlement in Hebron. For now, only five vehicles will be allowed to use the route.
Israel Defense Forces officials told Ynet that the proper security measures had been ahead of the opening of the route, which has been the site of several terror attacks in the past.
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IDF sources told Ynet that the Zion Route, which is about 2-kilometers (1.2-miles) long, had been opened in accordance with a decision made by the political echelon.
Noam Arnon, a spokesman for the Jewish settlement in Hebron, said in response to the decision, "This is a political collapse in the form of a complete capitulation to what is defined as interests of cooperation with the Palestinians, as part of an imaginary reality of creating agreements with a fictitious body, called the Palestinian Authority.
"Unfortunately, the outcomes are soon to come, just like the outcomes of the disengagement. This will, God forbid, end with blood – but this is how it works here. First there are withdrawals, then there is terror and then there is blood."
Arnon added that "if this was really about improving the security situation, they would open some of the additional routes which have been closed to Jews. Today Jews are only allowed to walk about in 3% of Hebron."
The Zion Route was closed to Palestinians immediately after a deadly terror attack which took place on a Friday evening in November 2002. Two gunmen had opened fire at worshippers returning from the Shabbat prayer. Twelve IDF, Border Guard fighters and members of Kiryat Arba's emergency squad were killed in a battle which erupted between the terrorists and the security forces, including Hebron Division Commander Dror Weinberg.
The defense establishment held several discussions in the past few months on the need to open the route to Palestinian vehicles, as part of an ease of restrictions on the local population. Palestinians living nearby have been allowed recently to go by foot on the route, in light of the policy change.
The matter has also been discussed by the High Court of Justice, following a petition against the plan to open the route. The State Prosecutor's Office recently declared that Defense Minister Ehud Barak had decided to open the route to all residents living along the road, as opposed to original plans to provide movement permits only to individuals requiring them.
