TEL AVIV, 21 October 2005 — Israeli government officials denied that Israel planned to block the main traffic arteries in the West Bank to Palestinian cars, the Israeli Ha’aretz daily reported yesterday.
The denial comes after harsh US criticism of the restrictions imposed by Israel on Palestinian traffic after drive-by shootings Sunday that killed three Israelis, Ha’aretz said.
The daily quoted one government official as saying that a contingency plan to “separate” Israeli and Palestinian motorists did exist, but that the blueprint would only be implemented in full in the event the Palestinian Authority collapsed.
Reports Wednesday said that the Israeli Army’s central command was discussing a plan whereby Palestinian motorists would not be allowed access to several main roads but only to an alternative road system of side roads and tunnels. Travelers would have had to use buses if they wanted to travel on the main roads.
An Israeli Army spokesman said the army had blocked the entry of private Palestinian cars only to several sections of the number 60 thoroughfare that connects the southern West Bank with the north and goes from Hebron almost all the way up to Jenin.
He said the move was the implementation of an immediate plan to prevent further drive-by shootings at Jewish settlers.
No decision had been made to implement a “wider plan” that could also include other thoroughfares, he said.
