The South African Civil Society Information Service
A nonprofit news agency promoting social justice. Seeking answers to the question:
How do we make democracy work for the poor?
A nonprofit news agency promoting social justice. Seeking answers to the question:
How do we make democracy work for the poor?
5 Feb 2009
There are 312 km's of road in the West Bank that Palestinians are forbidden to use. The roads are strictly reserved for use by Israeli's.
The most prominent apartheid road is a 15km stretch of Highway 443 from Modi'in to Jerusalem, which cuts through an area of the West Bank creating serious challenges for Palestinians wishing to travel to the city of Ramallah, their main social and economic hub.
35,000 Palestinians live alongside the road. all entrances to Palestinian villages are blocked.
The challenges facing Palestinians are enormous. While citizens of Israel whizz pass on Highway 443, Palestinians are forced to use inferior alternative roads cutting through their villages. For the Palestinians, this means spending more time on the road to cover what could otherwise be a short and easy journey. Time is not the only cost to the Palestinians as fuel costs are also increased with the longer distances covered on journeys.
Barring the economic costs to the Palestinians. This is blatant discrimination on the basis of race. It is also illegal and is being challenged by Palestinians in a court of law.
The clip above, Part Two: The Struggle Against the Apartheid Road, shows a demonstration against the road.
To follow the journey from the village of Beit Sira to Ramallah on an alternative Palestinian road. A journey that takes more than an hour, as opposed to 15 minutes on Highway 443, watch Part One: Apartheid Road, here.
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