June 21 Tulkarem Region Roadblock Removals

June 21 Tulkarem Region Roadblock Removals

On Wednesday July 21, two communities in the region of Tulkarem, with the support of international activists, will remove roadblocks created by the Israeli army that are strangling their villages.

At 11:00 AM on July 21 the village of Saffarin will remove two roadblocks that prevents their direct access to the nearby city of Tulkarem. Because of the roadblock the length of the trip from Saffarin to Tulkarem has doubled and the cost tripled. Press can most easily reach Saffarin through the village of Beit Lid southeast of Tulkarem.

At 4:30 PM on July 21 the village of Rumin will remove a series of six roadblocks that block the main road between the village of Rumin and the larger village of Anabta. A World Bank project has been planned to pave the road between Rumin and Anabta to improve access, but this project cannot be completed due to the roadblock.

As of March, 2004, the United Nations estimated that there were 753 roadblocks and other types of barriers in the West Bank. While the Israeli government has announced the removal of some, obstacles to freedom of movement in the West Bank remain severe.

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