Rightist MKs fight move to let Palestinians travel on West Bank road

First you seize and occupy some territory. Then you decide that you'll build a highway through that occupied territory because, you know, it's much more convenient to expropriate THEIR land than YOUR land. Then you decide that you don't want to share that highway with the people who are under your military occupation. Your court says that int'l law does not allow you to build a highway in occupied land entirely for your own benefit. So you say: oh well, I guess we have no other choice but to annex that road to ourselves. Err, guys, think a bit harder. Coz' ya' do have another choice, and it has the advantage of being 100% legal.....

You say: "If 'you' are going to do something stupid on the road, then 'you' will not be allowed to use it." Who exactly do you mean by "you"? The person who actually committed the crime should not be permitted on the road? Or the entire population of the area should not be permitted to use the road-that is, close the road completely, to all traffic? Or all members of a particular ethnic or religious group-in this case non-jewish palestinians should not be allowed to use the road? Because a few members of that population have committed crimes? Jewish Israelis, including settlers have committed crimes of violence and terrorism. Does that mean that all Israeli Jews should be punished, locked up behind fences, put under curfew? Because a few Israeli Jews have committed and continue to commit these crimes? Please clarify your position and explain why you think it's acceptable to impose collective punishment on non-jewish palestinians but not on Jews?

Israel does not want any arabs living within its borders The philistines do not want any jews living in any future entity they may get. We hate each other and a solution to the settlements is that if a philistine entity is created at some point in future there should be a population exchange settlers for arabs living in Israel. I think the majority of the Israels jewish population would be all in favour if it was put to a national referendum. Abraham may have been from Iraq but it was never promised to him or the jews. Moses was born in Egypt but Egypt was never promised to the jews so its no more jewish land than Egypt is and so nobody wants to stake a claim to it anyway. Judea & Samaria is historical jewish land. No settler will even give up his Israeli citizenship and the State of Israel will always have an obligation to protect them wherever they are living.

This isn't about politics its about security. Lets not try and pretend that the only philistines interested in using the road are honest law abiding citizens. Terrorists will use it also in their attempts to carry out attacks or snatch soldiers. We are not talking about building settlements or anything else on this road just annexing it to keep the terrorists off it. The road also does not belong to any individual philistine so we are not going to be knocking down their homes etc. IF IT WILL SAVE LIVES THEN ANNEX IT NOW

No one should ever expect an Israeli driver to yield right of way to anyone. Our totem should include an ostrich and a cur growling over his bone.

A pity you don't already know that Palestinians in Israel have equal rights and representations in government. Also a pity that I can't show you my photos of Arabs walking freely in Tel Aviv whereas I can't walk in Bethlehem and Jericho. Just imagine either Canada or America threw rockets over the border. It is the fundamentalists who are ruining this world not the average person in the street.

thanks for your courteuos reply. it sound like you are in sync with most israelis. you would like to see 2 states living in peace. go on line and check the geneva accords. also note who on both sides signed these accords. how can you expect peace when every move by the israeli govt is to settle (steal) more land in the territories? if you are one that belives this land to be part of eretz please have the courage to annex these territories and make public what you intend to do with the 3 million non jews in the territories. btw if you realy wanted to visit bethlehem i am sure you would get permission. when we were in israel we visited the mosques on temple mount without any problems.

We are at war with the arabs. Nobody wages a war democratically. Security is much more important than human rights. Let's talk about democracy when peace arrives...

It seems given the Geography and the fact that both ethnic groups territorial ambitions are non contiguous with overlapping claims to the same city as their capital that the only viable solution is a single multi ethnic state with equality under the rule of law.

Then you will be barred from it. that includes A:murdering hikers. B:driveby shooting fellow motorists C: throwing stones(not those the size of your thumb) and petrol bombs. Then having the audacity to complain that you not allowed to use it, If you get caught taking a crap on your headmasters desk you get expelled from School.

You may use the road, just promise to behave yourself,its a few rotten apples that spoil a harvest.this means. 1: No suicide bombings!!! 2: No drive by shootings into civilian laden cars! 3: no throwing stones at motorist and pedestrians alike. 4: no murdering hikers or pedestrians. 5:no blocking roads to to throw stones at soldiers Can you enforce this???

No truly democratic country would deny citizenship to people who were born on the land that the country claims as its own. As long as Israel claims sovereignty over the West Bank, it should give citizenship to everyone who was born between the river and the sea. Jews are granted citizenship even when they were born in Brooklyn, Cape Town and Warsaw. In the U.S., you're granted citizenship even when you're born in far off places like Guam and Puerto Rico because the U.S. maintains sovereignty over those islands. It's called the 13th Amendment in our constitution, and it is a prerequisite for all democracies

Gavriela, because this is Palestinian land. Israel was created on stolen Palestinian land and continues to occupy land annexed through war, which is illegal under international law. This is a road on Palestinian land that Palestinians cannot use. Its called APARTHEID.

Mike....I think you are dead on. That would be the most realistic way to look at it. If both Israel and the future Palestine start off with that concept in mind, then it would be easier to start with negotiations. Both sides have to realize a couple things....Israel needs to realize that the Palestinians are not going to disapear or move to Jordan, and the Palestinians have to realize that the Israelis are not going to disapear. Of course there is a horrifying amount of injustice being done, but the basic fact is that neither party is going to just up and leave....G-D willing there will be peace for the good people on both sides....Salaam

As someone whose grandson was mudered by a Palestinian sniper on kvish 443, all I can say is - we have lost our minds.

To Observer, The reason that equal rights must be granted is because the State of Israel currently has ultimate control over the lives of all the people in Israel (including the West Bank, Gaza, and Golan). The people in the occupied territories either need to be made citizens of a Israel (no more need to discuss a two-state solution then) or become citizens of an independant Palestinian state. I want a peaceful solution that could one of two scenarios...one democratic country for all (by the way this is the most fair to all people), or two independant countries. Either way, all people need to be a citizen of where they live and not simply an occupied person with limited, different, or non-existent rights. Peace is easy. The prophet Muhammed said, "None of you truly believes until he wishes for his neighbor what he wishes for himself". Peace for Palestinians, Jews, Christians, and all people that share the same land.

If you scared then just don't drive on it.

Why should "Palestinians" have the same rights as Israelis? They aren't Israelis. No country is obligated to grant to non-citizens the rights of citizens. Arab Israelis already enjoy all the rights that Jewish Israelis have.

are given the same rights, considerations, and privileges as Jews.

Michael first of all presently in Israel proper 20% are Palestinians who live like you or me. Secondly Abbas has not offered Jews Palestinian citizenship and can't even make Hamas in control of Gaza accept peace with Israel. Thirdly we just celebrated Xmas and Bethlehem was off limits to us Israelis. Peace is exactly what it means, both sides let each other live in peace. Rockets from Gaza nor roadside killings of Jews does not meant peace in my eyes. Returning Gilad Shalit would be a good start.

that Jews were not allowed to drive on an all Arab road.

would all palestinians become israeli citizens as i am a full citizen in canada, a jew in a christian country, or would you return to pre 67 borders if they offered peace? btw this is what they and the entire world except for hamas have offered, palestine where most people are non jews and israel for the jews where 75% of the people are jews. abbas has offered settlers full palestinian citizenship. are you willing to offer all non jews in the territories full citizenship? what is your peace plan??

Palestinians should not yet celebrate. Personally I don't see them travelling this disputed route anytime soon. Perhaps never. The IDF has a long history of ignoring the High Court.

I live in Tel Aviv and went to Jerusalem. I got lost and ended up on highway 443. Bought petrol on this road only to read a week later the same petrol station had a molotov cocktail thrown at it. Could have been me just because I accidentally left jerusalem on the wrong road. Till Palestinians show they want peace, Israelis should be protected.

Thank G~d that the Barrier around Gush Etzion was never finished..so Highway 60 remains open to all. (original plans was to open an "alternative" route for "them" leaving "us" highway 60) Now we have the chance to try to share some space and these guys are calling for ongoing separation. If you want to separate then leave the area!

Ten years ago they would have tried to hide it. Now they are fine with apartheid in the lawbooks.

If you want to solve the settler problem what you ought to do is make it clear to settlers that if the land upon which they settler eventually becomes part of a Palestinian state, these settlers will become Palestinians,,,,,,,,,, Palestinian Jews who will travel on Palestinian passports and spend Palestinian currency. They`ll see Palestinian doctors in Palestinian hospitals. Palestinian police will investigate crime and Palestinian firefighters will put out their fires. They`ll pay taxes to Palestine and lick Palestinian postage stamps. Not all of the "Land of Israel", (Eretz Yisrael), HAS to be IN Israel. What's next? A claim on Iraq where the mythological Abraham is supposed to have come from? How about Egypt, the so-called birthplace of Moses? What shocks me is how the rest of Israel goes along with this insane injustice. Israel has Arabs. Palestine will have Jews. It`s the same thing. Settlers,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, enjoy!!!

Israeli laws are truly ancient and Biblical! worth nothing!