Highway 55 (Israel)
Highway 55 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כביש 55 | ||||
Eliyahu Crossing | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Length | 25.5 km (15.8 mi) | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| West end | East Kfar Saba Junction | |||
| Atarot Junction Atarot Industrial Park | ||||
| East end | Jit Junction | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | Israel | |||
| Major cities | Givat Ze'ev, Jerusalem | |||
| Highway system | ||||
| ||||
Highway 55 is a west–east highway running between Israel and the West Bank. Its Western terminus is in Kfar Saba, and it continues east to Nablus. Much of the road follows the eastern section of the "Aphek Ascent", an ancient east–west trade route connecting the Via Maris and the Way of the Patriarchs.
The road passes near Qalqilya, Alfei Menashe, Azzun, Jit, Karnei Shomron, and Kedumim, and ends in Nablus.
History
After the First Intifada and the blocking of the road by Palestinians in the late 1980s and early 1990s, several bypass roads were built, south of Qalqilya and north of Azzun.
The Israeli military has blocked the majority of Palestinian access to Highway 55 in a few places.[1][2] One is the road leading to Kafr Qaddum, which was closed to Palestinians during the Second Intifada due to its proximity to the Israeli settlement of Kedumim, effectively blocking Kafr Qaddum residents from accessing Nablus.[3][4] Kafr Qaddum residents have held regular protests against the continuing closure since at least 2011.[4][5][6][7][8] Another is Jaljulye Checkpoint, which is walled off from Palestine by the West Bank barrier.[1]
References
- ^ a b "West Bank roads on which Israel forbids Palestinian vehicles". B'Tselem. Archived from the original on 2025-09-06. Retrieved 2025-10-12.
- ^ Ufheil-Somers, Amanda (2003-09-03). "Final Status in the Shape of a Wall". MERIP. Retrieved 2025-10-12.
- ^ "Kufr Qaddum". Green Planet Monitor. 2019-06-15. Retrieved 2025-10-12.
- ^ a b "In Photos: Five years of popular struggle in Palestinian village Kufr Qaddum". +972 Magazine. 2016-07-02. Retrieved 2025-10-12.
- ^ "Kedumim: 200 people protest road closure, throw stones". The Jerusalem Post. 2011-07-01. Retrieved 2025-10-12.
- ^ "PHOTOS: Palestinian protestors offer soldiers popsicles, receive tear gas in return". +972 Magazine. 2016-08-28. Retrieved 2025-10-12.
- ^ "Exposing Protest Suppression in the West Bank". New Israel Fund. 2020-09-02. Retrieved 2025-10-12.
- ^ Y., Raia (2020-05-16). "Qaddum - The weekly demonstration". Machsom Watch. Charles K. Retrieved 2025-10-12.
See also
External links
- Media related to B55 (Israel) at Wikimedia Commons
- Court case regarding Highway 55 (Hebrew, PDF)