The security cabinet has approved former defense minister Yoav Gallant’s proposal to pave alternative roads between villages east of Ma’aleh Adumim, leading to the construction of a new road network in the Ma’aleh Adumim area.
Construction of the “Fabric of Life” road, which will connect the villages of a-Za’im and al-Eizariya, will allow Palestinian vehicles to bypass the Ma’aleh Adumim bloc. It is also expected to significantly decrease Highway 1 traffic, ease congestion at the Zeitim checkpoint, and create a smoother travel route to connect areas north and south.
The approval marks a new precedent and is expected to allow for the continued building of settlements in the E1 area – the land situated between Jerusalem and Ma’aleh Adumim.
The road is expected to strengthen transportation between Jerusalem, Ma’aleh Adumim, and eastern Binyamin.
Recent security incidents, including terror attacks in the immediate area, and the increasing traffic volume in the Ma’aleh Adumim region have led to this decision.
An alternative bypass route will also be built east of Ma’aleh Adumim to the Good Samaritan interchange. This alternative road will also create a direct link between the Bethlehem and Jericho regions and the Jordan Valley, relieving other routes of traffic.
Per the cabinet’s decision, the IDF commander in the West Bank will implement the project and also take the lead for initial planning processes for the alternative route, or “Alternative Road 80.” The planning of this route, however, is expected to also preserve land designated for further settlement building.
Israeli officials, citizens, and Palestinians living in relevant areas have given vastly different responses.
Strengthening security
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu credits the move to strengthening security.
“We are continuing to strengthen the security of Israeli citizens and to develop our settlements,” he said. “The new road will benefit all residents of the region by easing and streamlining traffic, enhancing security and the sense of safety, and establishing a strategic transportation corridor connecting Jerusalem, Ma’aleh Adumim, and the Jordan Valley.”
Defense Minister Israel Katz echoed Netanyahu’s statement, focusing on the geographic link between the city and the settlement.
“Strengthening the connection between Jerusalem and Ma’aleh Adumim is a top national interest. This historic decision will boost settlement, security, the welfare of all residents in the area, and our hold on Judea and Samaria. Paving these roads will improve traffic flow, reduce congestion, and prevent unnecessary friction while ensuring continuous transportation between Jerusalem, Ma’aleh Adumim, and the Jordan Valley,” he said. ”We will continue developing our communities and ensuring security for Israeli citizens.”
Transportation Minister Miri Regev said she welcomed the decision “after 20 years,” calling it historic. She called to continue developing infrastructure across the country.
Funding for this project will come from an off-budget fund from the Civil Administration, with NIS 335 million allocated for the “Fabric of Life” road and an additional NIS 10m. allotted for the “Alternative Road 80.”
The Transportation Ministry is also expected to assist in the implementation.
Ma’aleh Adumim resident and tour guide Seth Vogelman said the new road would be beneficial to both the Jewish residents of the city and the Palestinian residents of al-Eizariya and neighboring towns.
“The traffic situation near Ma’aleh Adumim is perhaps the heaviest burden borne by all the people who live in the area, Jewish or Muslim. Hence, anything that will actually help to alleviate this burden is a welcome development,” he said.
“It is also a boon for security, as the backed-up traffic going up the hill has been a target for terrorist attacks.”
Another resident, Shoshana Biran, also brought up the security aspect.
“I have nothing against the great majority of Palestinians that I share the roads with, but the traffic jams heading up to the Za’im roadblock on the way to Jerusalem have me feeling like a sitting duck for a terror attack,” she said.
“This way, the Palestinians have a road that will alleviate their terrible traffic heading up to the entrance to al-Eizariya as well. I’ve been told by Palestinian friends that it can take two hours sometimes to get from Jericho to al-Eizariya, which isn’t more than 10 km.
“I just don’t know why it took so many years to approve. The bypass road was built a long time ago and is just sitting there unused.”
Yassin Hamdan, a 35-year-old Palestinian from Jebl Mukaber with a Jerusalem identity card, said he hoped the new road would help with the traffic problems, but he was skeptical.
“The situation has been terrible for so long, and nobody – not Israel and not the PA – seems to care about it. Every day, we experience total stoppage trying to get through the Ma’aleh Adumim road to al-Eizariya. I hope this helps, but there are thousands of cars coming from Ramallah, Jericho, and all the small towns on this narrow road every day. It just creates too much pressure.”
Hamdan added that the problem is the new road will still lead into the entrance to al-Eizariya, which will still cause traffic issues when what is needed is a new road that will bypass al-Eizariya to enable travelers from the Ramallah area to get to the Hebron area without having to enter the town.
Whether the construction of these routes is a long-needed solution or creates larger problems down the road remains to be seen.