IDF to Build Security Fence after Rock-throwers Target Israelis outside Huwara

November 21, 2024

by: JNS

Tuesday, 19 November 2024 |The Israel Defense Forces [IDF] is constructing a security fence surrounding the new road that bypasses the central Samaria terrorist hotspot of Huwara, the military told reporters on Wednesday.

The decision to erect a fence around the new highway, which was opened only a year ago, was taken in response to repeated stone-throwing attacks from Arab villages, HaKol HaYehudi reported.

“The decision to construct a fence around Huwara was made in accordance with security considerations and provides additional protection to residents of the Samaria sector,” the IDF said. “The IDF works defensively and offensively to counter terrorism in the Samaria area and to maintain the safety of the citizens.”

Numerous Attacks

After numerous terrorist attacks against Israelis traveling through Huwara, which is located 4.5 miles [7.2 km.] south of Nablus, Israeli Transport, National Infrastructure and Road Safety Minister Miri Regev inaugurated the main section of the bypass road on November 12, 2023.

“The inauguration of the first and important section of the Huwara Bypass Road is an exciting closing of the circle for me. This life-saving road will provide the pioneers [in Samaria] with greater safety and security,” said Regev at the ceremony.

“The new section will allow residents to travel on the road safely, not through the hostile village where many attacks against Israelis have taken place, including in the recent period,” added the minister.

The road offers Israelis traveling to and from central Samaria towns, including Yitzhar, Elon Moreh, Itamar and Har Bracha, a safer route than the one through Huwara.

Four Israelis were killed in Huwara in 2023—brothers Hallel and Yagel Yaniv in February and father and son Shay Silas and Aviad Nir Nigrekar in August.

Dual Israeli–US citizen David Stern, 41, narrowly survived a shooting on March 19 while he was driving through Huwara with his wife on their way to Jerusalem. Six days later, two Israeli soldiers were wounded in a drive-by shooting in the village.

Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan had been the main driving force behind the initiative to construct a bypass road and, together with families of terrorism victims, pushed the project for about six years.

In 2017, the Israeli government approved an 800 million shekel (US $220 million) plan to construct bypass roads throughout Judea and Samaria, including the Huwara bypass road between the Tapuach and Yitzhar junctions.

Work on the road began in 2021, with several delays in the beginning. The construction received a boost in the form of an additional 50 million shekels (US $13.2 million) following the murder of the Yaniv brothers.

Posted on November 21, 2024

Source: (Excerpt of an article originally published by the Jewish News Syndicate on November 21, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Nati Shohat/Flash90/jns.org