A panel of three justices on the High Court rejected a petition filed by residents of Dolev and other Talmonim Region residents, seeking the continued paving of a road intended to significantly curtail their travel time towards Jerusalem.

Prior to the 1993 Oslo Agreement, Talmonim region residents traveled on a road towards Ramallah and entered Jerusalem together with other Benjamin Regional Council residents, traveling about 11 kilometers (6.5 miles). Today’s reality is significantly less sympathetic for motorists, who are compelled to pass a number of Arab and Jewish communities, Route 446 and then make their way on Highway 443, the Jerusalem-Modi’in Road, to the capital, about 37 kilometers (22 miles).

The court ruled it does not feel it is its place to interfere regarding travel on the Bituniya Bypass Road and the continued paving of the el-Arik Road. The court stated this is not to say it is unaware of the hardships on area residents, but it does not see fitting to interfere, the daily HaMevaser reports.

In response, the petitioners stated that in life and death matters, such as the route of the partition barrier and interrogation of terrorists, the court rules against national interests but in this case, suddenly the courts does not feel it can interfere.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)