New Roads in West Bank Planned
Israel is planning to build a network of new roads on the occupied West Bank to bypass Arab towns and reduce opportunities for Palestinians to attack Jewish travelers, the Housing Ministry said.
Ministry Director General Amos Unger said planned projects included a bypass around the West Bank town of Qalqiliya and a new approach road to Jerusalem from the south avoiding the Dahaisha refugee camp near Bethlehem.
Both areas have been a focus of disturbances in the 10-week Palestinian uprising in which at least 55 people have died.
A Public Works Department official said construction was originally planned to begin in the summer, but the army asked for the work to be advanced. He added that the projects could take a long time because of the difficult, hilly terrain in much of the area.
Unger said about $7.5 million had been earmarked for road building in the West Bank in the fiscal year 1988-89.
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