The main section of a road that bypasses the Palestinian town of Hawara, where terror attacks commonly occur, will open after the High Holidays, Israel Hayom has learned.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
Four Israelis have been killed in Hawara in the past half a year – brothers Hallel and Yagel Yaniv in February and father and son Shay Silas and Aviad Nir Nigrekar earlier this month.
Video: Israeli forces in Hawara following a terror attack / Credit: IDF Spokesperson's Unit
Transportation Minister Miri Regev toured the site on Wednesday together with the head of the Samaria Regional Council, Yossi Dagan, when the two announced that the road would open two months ahead of schedule due to the danger facing Judea residents, who – without an alternative – are forced to drive through Hawara to commute to work.
Dagan has been the main driving force behind the initiative and together with families of terror victims has pushed for a bypass road for about six years.
Work on the road began approximately two years ago with several delays in the beginning. The construction received a boost in the form of an additional 50 million shekels following the murder of the Yaniv brothers and was planned to be completed by December.
Regev lauded the project, saying the bypass road "will save lives and give residents a sense of security."
Dagan said, "This is great news for the residents of Judea and Samaria and all the people of Israel, both in terms of safety and security, and is a significant tool for reaching the goal of one million residents in the Samaria region."
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!