Hundreds of residents of Chevron and Kiryat Arba protested the planned opening of the road between Chevron and Kiryat Arba to PA (Palestinian Authority) motorists, a move they insist will place the area’s Jewish community at significantly greater risk of attack.

Veteran Chevron community resident and spokesman Noam Arnon explained they have experience from past occurrences when David HaMelech (HaShuhada Street) was opened, resulting in increased attacks. “It appears that the government wishes to strengthen Abu Mazen and Fatah, to provide them with a victory, deciding to relax restrictions on PA residents as well as approving additional armed PA forces and the removal of IDF positions and checkpoints”. 

The protest came two days after the fatal attack in the Gush Etzion community of Bat Ayin, located north of Chevron, with residents insisting the continued relaxing of security restrictions on PA residents was a contributory factor to that attack, warning the same will occur in Chevron chas v’sholom if the roadway is opened to PA motorists.

One youth was arrested and will be charged with attempted assault of a policeman. A number of Arabs or left-wing protestors were also arrested.

Area residents explained the road connecting the two communities has been the site of terror attacks in the past and re-opening it to PA motorists will set the stage of renewed terror chas v’sholom.

According to authorities, a number of youths tried entering the Bet HaShalom from which Jews were evicted a number of months ago, resulting in the arrest.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)