Construction work on a Palestinian road connecting the village of Tuqu', located some 12 km southeast of Bethlehem, to the Dead Sea continue unhindered even though it passes mostly through Area C, which is under complete control, and a demolition order has been issued against the illegal road.

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Right-wing NGO Regavim, which monitors illegal Arab construction on Israeli land, says that so far, some 10 kilometers of the road have been paved, and it is already accessible to private vehicles.

Writing to the Israeli Civil Administration, the NGO claimed the construction of the road is done illegally and demanded to stop it immediately.

The planned road

Civil Administration officials who toured the area seized construction equipment and issued a demolition order to the road, but work on it has continued over the past few months.

The 20 kilometers-long road is supposed to connect Tuqu' to the Metzoke Dragot area in the Dead Sea. Even though a part of the road goes through Palestinian areas, most of it passes through Area C, considered Israeli lands, and security forces are concerned the road would make it easier on terrorists to commit attacks inside Israel.

Two weeks ago, the Regavim NGO petitioned to the Supreme Court to stop the construction of the road. Meanwhile, MK Bezalel Smotrich (Bayit Yehudi) turned to Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, warning of the symbolic and practical meaning of the road's construction.

The issue is expected to be raised for discussion at the Knesset's Subcommittee for Foreign Affairs and Defense, where right-wing MKs will seek explanation as to why work on the road hasn't been stopped and why the state has yet to begin demolition work on the already existing infrastructure.

The unit for Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) said in response: "A demolition order was issued against the illegal road construction, which will be implemented in accordance with determined priorities. In addition, the road does not pass on state lands."

Meanwhile, and after years of struggles, discussions and plans, work on the construction of a road to bypass Nabi Ilyas in the Samaria region is set to begin soon. Tens of thousands of Israeli drivers travel every day on the current road, which passes through the village, and are exposed to stone-throwing and possible attacks.

The new road is supposed to serve both Israelis and Palestinians, and residents in the area have welcomed the move.