Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Sunday morning 11 Tammuz visited the Hizme Checkpoint bordering the northern capital, the gateway from Jerusalem to Shomron.

The minister wished to get a first-hand look at the situation amid mounting complaints from residents of prolonged waits to pass the checkpoint daily traveling from the Shomron to Yerushalayim. It is added that often the wait can exceed a half hour and cars are backed up for kilometers, placing motorists in harm’s way as they are stuck in traffic opposite Hizme, easy targets for rock-throwers with nowhere to go.

Taking part in the visit was Mayor Nir Barkat, Binyamin Regional Council head Avi Roeh, Jerusalem Councilman Moshe Leon [who hold the local ‘minhelet’ government portfolio in the council], IDF Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) Major-General Yoav Mordechai and representatives of Israel Border Police and the Border Crossings Authority.

The minister was told Palestinians who cross into Jerusalem via the Kalandia Checkpoint and the Hizme Checkpoint complain of the same prolonged delays. Lieberman explained he is visiting to see firsthand to make sure necessary action is taken to correct the unacceptable delays.

In a directly related matter, Betar Illit Mayor Rabbi Meir Rubinstein sent a letter to the Defense Minister and other officials citing the prolonged delays for residents of Gush Etzion entering the southern capital via the Tunnels Highway. In the letter Rubinstein explains most of the inspection booths are closed and thousands of motorists must pass through one or two booths, leading to unacceptably long delays.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)