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NEWS
Observations: Fear in Israel
by B. Adler
Since the onset of the Intifadah, many Israeli drivers have
been overcome by trepidation while on the roads. The Jordan
Valley Highway, for instance, has struck fear in the hearts
of travelers since becoming a regular target for rock-
throwing, along with the Jerusalem-Modi'in Highway, which
many drivers now avoid traveling at night. During the early
days of the uprising, when Israeli-Arabs also joined
Palestinian rioters, the Coastal Highway connecting Tel Aviv
and Haifa also became a focal point for attacks, and for a
period of several days drivers trembled with fear whenever
they passed near a bridge next to an Arab village where one
driver had been killed by a rock.
Now it seems that good intentions on the part of military
authorities, who seem to be ineffective in their
commissioned task of containing terrorism, could add to the
dread felt by drivers by positioning Israeli tanks alongside
roads with guns pointed at an unseen and undefined target,
giving drivers a sense that they are driving through a
battlefield.
Sometimes the appearance of these tanks causes drivers to
accelerate for no reason, which--like the fear accompanying
drivers on the Jordan Valley Highway and other roads--is
reminiscent of the Torah's words of admonition (Vayikra
26:17) "...and you shall flee when none pursues you."
One incident which took place several months ago would have
been amusing if it hadn't been such a sad sight to behold.
On the Jerusalem-Modi'in Highway in the middle of the
descent toward Modi'in is a turnoff toward a number of Arab
villages where reporter Nachum Barnea witnessed "a sight
that could only be seen here, in these days of madness."
At the intersection four traffic police cars were parked.
One policeman with a radar gun pointed toward the road stood
off to the side. On the hilltop above him stood a tank. The
barrel of the artillery gun was pointed at the cars on the
road. According to Barnea's description of the spectacle, "A
driver sees the tank on the hill and is reminded of the war,
and then accelerates until he sees the police car, and then
is reminded of the prospects of a speeding ticket and
immediately hits the brakes, and then the cycle resumes once
more: fearing war he accelerates, then fearing police he
brakes. Whoever doesn't believe me is welcome to inspect the
skid marks on the road . . . "
Following reports of trepidation from both the Palestinians
and, lehavdil, the policemen, the police have reached
an unprecedented decision. On one hand the Judea and Samaria
Police Division has decided to reinforce police presence on
Highway 443. As part of a special campaign scheduled to
continue until after Pesach, five patrol cars will be
stationed along the highway from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and
from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. On the other hand, reports
Ha'aretz, the police are promising not to issue
tickets for slight speeding violations, and instead will
hand out flyers with details on the campaign. The District
Commander explained that the campaign aims to bring the
drivers back onto the road which, despite being an important
artery, has been deserted since the first shots were fired
at cars traveling the section of the highway that passes
through Area A, which is controlled by the Palestinian
Authority.
In other matters relating to fears of Palestinian terrorism,
recently right-wing newspaper, Makor Rishon, has
printed ads aimed at residents of Judea and Samaria that
address them as if they were living in a war zone. The ads
feature "personal armor," including ballistic helmets and a
protective vest designed to withstand "armor-penetrating
ammunition" used by terrorists.
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