Israeli-only road open again to all

Army reopens a key highway to Palestinian traffic after Israel's Supreme Court ordered the lifting of a 10-year-old ban which turned Route 443 into an Israelis-only road.

A Palestinian van passes through the new Israeli military checkpoint outside the West Bank village of Beit Sira as it approaches a series of spikes and then goes to Route 443.

BEIT SIRA, WEST BANK // The army yesterday reopened a key highway to Palestinian traffic after Israel's Supreme Court ordered the lifting of a 10-year-old ban which turned Route 443 into an Israelis-only road. Early in the day, a trickle of residents from the West bank town Beit Sira ventured out onto the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway, which had been closed to them, barricaded off by concrete blocks. Residents hoped the lifting of the ban would cut down on travel time to some areas, but rights groups feared new army checkpoints would severely affect traffic. * AFP