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Israel highway reopens with restrictions
JERUSALEM, (UPI) -- A major highway in Israel, running through the West Bank and closed to Palestinian traffic since 2002, has been partly reopened, authorities say.
The Israeli military banned Palestinian cars from the route in 2002 after shooting attacks killed six Israeli motorists, but Israel's Supreme Court ruled in 2009 the closure was illegal, the BBC reported Friday.
Highway 443, built in the 1980s, is a major four-lane route between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem with an estimated 40,000 Israeli drivers using the highway daily.
Palestinian drivers still will not have access to Jerusalem or Ramallah, the West Bank's economic and administrative center, the army announced.
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel, which took the issue to the Supreme Court, said the army was "acting in utter disregard of the spirit of the ruling."
"This creates the false impression of new regulations, genuine freedom of movement and adherence to the rule of law, though in fact no real change will occur," ACRI said in a statement.
Israeli officials say the restrictions are imposed for security reasons.
JERUSALEM, (UPI) -- A major highway in Israel, running through the West Bank and closed to Palestinian traffic since 2002, has been partly reopened, authorities say.
The Israeli military banned Palestinian cars from the route in 2002 after shooting attacks killed six Israeli motorists, but Israel's Supreme Court ruled in 2009 the closure was illegal, the BBC reported Friday.
Highway 443, built in the 1980s, is a major four-lane route between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem with an estimated 40,000 Israeli drivers using the highway daily.
Palestinian drivers still will not have access to Jerusalem or Ramallah, the West Bank's economic and administrative center, the army announced.
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel, which took the issue to the Supreme Court, said the army was "acting in utter disregard of the spirit of the ruling."
"This creates the false impression of new regulations, genuine freedom of movement and adherence to the rule of law, though in fact no real change will occur," ACRI said in a statement.
Israeli officials say the restrictions are imposed for security reasons.