The 443 Highway: A Documentary

the 443 Highway originally built is a direct link from Jerusalem to modin it has in recent year served as an alternative to Highway number one for motorists commuting on the Jerusalem Tel Aviv route as well as servicing the communities of Gat Zev modan Elite shilat beton and a sizable portion of the M bamin Regional Council being that the portion of the highway between Jerusalem and maabin are not within the security area of central Israel motorists are required to pass by IDF checkpoints prior to passing makim from Jerusalem or upon entering Jerusalem if one is coming from Tel depending on the time of day the checkpoints can back up traffic in the highway sometimes for kilometers despite the weight that they must sometimes pay in the name of security many motorists still find the highway a faster alternative to Highway number one during peak hours since the start of the curent into F the highway has been closed to vehicles from the Palestinian Authority including some of the villages that reside alongside the 443 Highway near Jerusalem a good portion of the highway is flanked by security barriers on both sides of the road protecting the motorists from Terror attacks Villages that used to have access roads to the highway such as this one leading to kbat Alisa have been closed off by the IDF with blocks in order to prevent Palestinian vehicles from utilizing the highway however access is still available to pedestrians and motorcycles the residents of bat SI Park their cars near the roadblock every day as they proceed to pass the nearby checkpoint on their way to work in central Israel some have even figured out a way to profit from the World Bank protecting motorists is not the only goal of the roadblocks protecting vital national resources such as this water supply alongside the 443 Highway also plays a crucial role in the decision to keep the highway closed to Palestinian Vehicles without access to the highway the local Palestinians complained that they were unable to access part of their Olive Groves and neighboring communities without passing through checkpoints hence the Israeli government spent millions of shekels creating a series of underpasses that run through tunnels under the 443 Highway thus enabling the locals to transverse in other places where the security threats are greater even pedestrians are blocked from accessing the highway however Palestinians are not the only ones affected by the closing of exits this entrance to Gat Zev Elite is also closed causing a delay for residents of of the city who wish to access the highway gatev proper is a flourishing Community just outside of the remote neighborhood of Jerusalem offering a cheaper housing than in the city while at the same time being in the general proximity of Jerusalem as we drive towards the outskirts of the city we enter the new neighborhood of Gat Elite which is still under construction the continued Construction in this area has been a source of controversy due to the imposed settlement freeze as you can see many of the housing units on the left are still under construction after passing bake Dooku a local Arab directs us to the new development of here the Arabs currently walk the same streets as the Israelis no fence separates them despite the settlement freeze as we make our way to neighboring Bon we pass many buildings at various phases of construction some almost completed most of B Kon has a nice tranquil look to it with comfortable houses and green Parks despite its appearance it is however surrounded by a series of fences as well as a high security wall strategically located on the side of the 443 Highway it houses an army base and was recently the victim of a terror attack it is connected to the other side of the highway via an overpass however the entrance Al Tia opposite it has been closed to Vehicles some entrances such as this one to bake gur aloca have been totally blocked off to both vehicles and pedestrians while some others like this one between Safa and B gur alata are closed only to vehicles in route to modin we wait in line by security checkpoint as vehicles are searched even if the highway remains closed to Arab Vehicles there are still existing security concerns at this bus stop at chilot Arab passengers board a super bus to Jerusalem which is inside the security area in response to reports of suspicious persons waiting by the bus stop a police van arrives at the scene moments before the last Arab boards checking the IDS to confirm that they are all Israeli and are permitted to enter the security area those Arabs who boarded illegally are LED away for questioning before buses enter the Jerusalem security area they pass through a checkpoint outside of remote While most vehicles and buses pass through without being checked in the case such as this one where there might be some suspicious persons aboard the driver tips off the soldiers with a predetermined signal notice how the driver flashes his lights as he approaches the soldiers then board the bus and inquire if the driver is under duress before proceeding to sweep the bus