Sharing a West Bank highway proves a tall order for Israel, Palestinians

[ProgressiveProfessor]

By Janine Zacharia
Washington Post Foreign Service
Monday, April 26, 2010

BEIT UR AL-TAHTA, WEST BANK --
For eight years, Israeli commuters have whizzed between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv on Highway 443, a road whose West Bank portion is lined with barriers, off-limits to Palestinians who live along the way.

Naji Suliman, mayor of the Palestinian community of Beit Ur al-Tahta, thought that would change after a decision by Israel's Supreme Court calling for the ban on Palestinians to be lifted by May. Then, after meeting with an Israeli military commander last week, Suliman concluded that Israel's actions came "just for public relations."

To comply with the court ruling, the military plans to create only two entry points within nine miles, and Palestinians would be subject to searches. There are no plans to reopen an artery linking the highway to the commercial hub of Ramallah, which Suliman said is the main reason his residents want access.

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Probably the best I/P quote of the last week is:

The debate over Highway 443 illustrates a fundamental rub in the West Bank: If the Israelis and Palestinians can't agree over how to share nine miles of pavement, how will they ever resolve the far more complex issues that divide them?

More Here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/25/AR2010042502024.html?sub=AR