On the 15th of October 2002 at 1:30 pm the Israeli bulldozers under the protection of Israeli occupation forces started to block the roads at the northern entrance of Bethlehem city near ARIJ with roadblocks and earth barriers. See photo1, photo2
The Israeli Occupation Forces are closing the roads, which are leading to a residential area, the Swiss/German Caritas Hospital for children in addition to the Applied research Institute ARIJ. This act is very dangerous in the context if it is the beginning of the isolation of that part of the city according to the Israeli military plans to annex the area with Rachel's Tomb. See photo3, photo4
This area generally is very active for the movement of traffic, so the closure of these roads is making a traffic jam. Some of the people who are living in that area beyond the roadblocks are not able to use their own cars. See photo5, photo6
Also, the Israeli bulldozers went near the Rachel's tomb and started to close the secondary roads near the tomb preventing the Palestinians from passing around totally. See photo7.
Prepared by:
The Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem
