RAMALLAH, September 28, 2026 (WAFA) – The Israeli newspaper Haaretz, citing the right-wing religious newspaper Olam Katan, reported that the Israeli army intends to create the conditions for opening Route 463 to colonial traffic. This road runs through the heart of the Ramallah-Al-Bireh area, potentially isolating neighborhoods and villages in the northern part of the urban area from the rest of it.
According to the report, this will require the establishment of new military posts and checkpoints that will affect the movement of Palestinians within, to, and from the area.
Haaretz quoted Yisrael Gantz, head of the Yesha Council and the Binyamin Regional Council, as saying that a preliminary decision to open the road has been made, the budget is available, and the army has begun the necessary security and legal preparations for its implementation.
The newspaper reported that the road stretches for approximately ten kilometers between al-Bireh and Jalazone refugee camp to the east, and Ein Qiniya to the west. It connects to the "Chinese Roads" network, constructed by the Ramallah municipality to alleviate traffic congestion in Ramallah and al-Bireh.
Haaretz noted that the road serves vital areas and facilities, including the Istishari Hospital, the Arab American University, and a wastewater treatment plant.
It added that the road was originally built in 1994 to connect the settlements of Beit El and Dolev, before the Israeli army temporarily prohibited colonists, and Palestinians for a period, from using sections of it following the Second Intifada. In recent months, colonial groups have intensified their efforts to demand its reopening to Israelis, organizing tours for colonists along parts of it, sometimes with the presence or coordination of army forces.
The newspaper pointed out that the road, known as the "Fellerstein Axis," was originally built in 1994 to connect the settlements of Beit El and Dolev. Following the Second Intifada, the army temporarily prohibited colonists, and Palestinians for a period, from using sections of it. In recent months, colonial groups have intensified their pressure to reopen the road to Israelis. Several colonial tours have been organized along the road, during which Israeli flags were raised and events were held near Palestinian sites, amid a military presence or coordination.
The report argues that the continued classification of parts of the road as Area C, despite their location within the heart of the Palestinian urban area, provides the administrative basis for Israel's demand to open it. It notes that the Ramallah Governorate, home to approximately 400,000 Palestinians in some 80 communities, is already fragmented into dozens of enclaves by Area C, settlements, bypass roads, checkpoints, and military gates, and that these restrictions have increased since October 2023.
According to Haaretz, opening the road to colonists would necessitate additional security measures, such as establishing military posts and checkpoints, and potentially confiscating land along its route. This could effectively isolate eight villages and two large neighborhoods in the northern part of the Ramallah urban area from the areas south of the road. This could force tens of thousands of Palestinians to use the old Route 60 near Jalazone refugee camp, a road already severely congested.
The report also warns of the potential impact of the checkpoints on access to the Istishari Hospital, the Arab American University, and the wastewater treatment plant. It notes that visitor numbers to a local park have already declined due to fears of repeated colonists' incursions.
The report does not consider the move regarding Route 463 an isolated incident, but rather links it to other actions taking place in the Ramallah governorate. These include colonial activity on a plot of land near the Al-Tira neighborhood, where land leveling work has been carried out, concrete blocks and an iron gate have been erected, and the Israeli flag was raised for a period. Additionally, colonists from the Talmon settlement bloc have demanded the use of an alternative route south of Ramallah.
The report concludes that the army's response to colonial demands to shorten their routes, coupled with the proliferation and legalization of settlement outposts and the expansion of the road network serving settlements, will further fragment Palestinian territory into smaller, more isolated enclaves, making travel between them longer and more difficult.
K.T
