IDF: New WB road to be built in attempt to reduce stone throwing

In attempt to fight growing phenomenon of West Bank stone hurling, IDF commander says new road is planned to protect drivers; local police commander says 'if stones are thrown at you and no one is critically injured, just keep on driving'

Yoav Zitun|Published: 05.26.13 , 01:06

IDF Etzion Sector Commander Colonel Yaniv Alaluf held a meeting with residents of the settlement of Efrat, saying that a new road is to be built in Gush Etzion in an attempt to protect drivers from incidents of stone hurling.

The road construction is expected to be completed within a year.

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The meeting was held following the complaints of residents of the settlement against the increasing number of stone throwing incidents in the area.

"There were incidents in which gunfire was used… and as a result Palestinians were critically injured or killed," Alaluf added. "We limit the Palestinians and bolster coordination policies. We will not spare where harsh actions are needed, but no one wants us to get to a state of killing 12-year-old Palestinians all day long."

According to Alaluf, "This is a time of a reduced sense of security. When stones are hurled around houses it's a failure of the battalion, of the brigade, and first of all mine."

Commander of the Etzion Police Department, Eyal Atiya said that "In 2012, 580 Palestinians involved in terror activities were arrested, while we received 1,100 reports of stone throwing. We have only two police cars in the station that need to see to these incidents."

The commander added that "if stones are thrown at you and no one is critically injured just keep on driving. Jews drive down these roads horribly too, which is why we bolstered enforcement."