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Route of “HRTC”In Himachal Pradesh
Route 232, which is 80 kilometers (50 miles) long, was paved in 1951 to connect the settlements of the western Negev to the center of the country. For most of its existence, Route 232 was empty at any time of day. After Hamas’ takeover of Gaza, for security reasons, Israel expanded the Kerem Shalom checkpoint for commercial traffic, but was not wise enough to develop suitable infrastructure for the enormous flow of trucks that has overwhelmed the old and narrow road.In recent years, Route 232 has become a nightmare for the Israeli localities surrounding Gaza. There are traffic accidents on it almost every day, some of them fatal. Residents of the region have raised an outcry against the dangerous road and the trucks. They have directed their protest mostly to Katz, who has yielded to their pressure and prohibited truck traffic from 7 to 9 in the morning and from 3 to 5 in the afternoon.An April 13 press release from the Ministry of Transportation noted that Katz’ decision was made after analysis of data presented to him and consultation and cooperation with traffic police and the heads of regional councils in the Negev.The problem, it seems, is that Katz did not bother to consult with the security forces regarding some significant implications of his decision, which could bring the region into another violent conflict. According to truck drivers working on the supply line to Gaza, the transfer of food and raw materials to Gaza will be considerably impaired, and the 1.8 million residents will immediately feel a shortage of such essentials as food, clothing, medicine and raw materials. “The 1,000 trucks will not be able to complete their assignments in only six hours of work. No truck driver will start his drive to Kerem Shalom at 3 or 4 o’clock,” David Abisrur, who has been driving the route for more than five years, told Al-Monitor. A senior Israeli security source told Al-Monitor this week on condition of anonymity that the Israel Defense Forces and the Civil Administration were very surprised by the decision, which he thought was “quick.”“How will they understand this decision in the Gaza Strip?” he wondered. “I have no doubt that they will think that Israel is decreasing the supply to Gaza with clear intent to pressure Hamas, which could see the limited supplies as an act of provocation.” According to him, already in June, a month after the limit on truck traffic will take effect, there will be a significant shortage of food in Gaza, “and we can expect to receive Qassam rocket fire in response.”
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