The IDF and Shin Bet have been expending resources to restore quite to the Hussan Bypass Road, the road used by residents of Betar Illit, which has been plagued with rock attacks over recent weeks. Some of the more recent measures taken include a ban on Jews entering Hussan, which is bad for business as many residents shop in Hussan as well as having vehicle maintenance and repairs done in local garages. In addition, the rear entrance of Hussan has been closed by mounds of direct, compelling the Arab motorists to use the same bypass road, a move that authorities hope will lessen rock attacks.

However, there are always different viewpoints and some fear that the move will boomerang and lead to an increase in attacks since the closure of the road only hurts PA (Palestinian Authority) residents and not the resident of Betar.

Interestingly, Kikar Shabbos News reports that an official of Hussan reports he and others are powerless to halt the rock-throwing, since they cannot control the village’s youths. The latter he exclaims, are controlled by the PA and Hamas, both interested in the rock attacks continuing as so they do since ultimately, both organization envision ruling over Gush Etzion in the future.

The person is quoted adding “The army can easily punish the family of a child who throws rocks but the IDF wants us to do the work, but it isn’t going to happen this way. The situation will only deteriorate further as the lives of innocent Hussan residents are impacted negatively by the road closure. These people do not have food at home and they do not have any food for the younger children. Once they feel they have nothing to lose, the situation worsens.

A Betar resident who is a contractor, David, explains it is difficult as he cannot buy building supplies at a reduced price in Hussan. He is delayed in completing jobs and in some cases, paying daily fines for not having jobs done by the deadline.

Military officials explain that they have evaluated the decision and the closure of the road which compels Hussan residents to travel on the bypass road will result in a reduction in attacks based on solid intelligence information.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)