NABLUS, January 30, 2017 (WAFA) – Israel Monday reopened the main entrance to Beita, a town south of Nablus, after five days of closure and following intervention from the Palestinian military liaison office, said Beita Mayor Wassef Maala.

He told WAFA that Israel removed the cement blocks, placed there since Thursday purportedly after stone-throwing incidents on Israeli settlers’ vehicles on the road adjacent to Beita and Huwwara.

Separately, Israeli forces continued to close the main entrance to Aboud village, northwest of Ramallah, for the fifth consecutive day.

Israel shut down the main entrance to the village since Thursday morning, setting up a metal gate after an Israeli settler vehicle allegedly came under fire along Road 465 near the Israeli settlement of Beit Aryeh.

Head of Aboud local council, Yousef Mas‘ad, said as a result of the closure students and employees are forced to take a much longer alternative detour passing through the nearby villages of Beit Rima and Nabi Saleh to reach their universities and workplaces in Ramallah.

He added the closure has restricted access of about 40 students and teachers to their schools in the village.

Aboud is a unique Palestinian village with a mixed Muslim-Christian community. Ruins of ancient Messiah church mark the location where Jesus Christ is said to have preached. The village is renowned for its many churches and monasteries, including the Orthodox Church dating back to the Byzantine era.

K.F./M.K.