Children at protest
Children at protestPR photo

Several hundred people from the Gush Etzion region took part Wednesday night, the first night of Hannukah, in a protest over dangerous road conditions that recently led to a teenager's tragic death.

Sixteen-year-old Nofer Shimon was hit and killed by a truck two weeks ago as she crossed the street next to the bus stop outside the town of Elazar. Community leaders had warned for years about the potential dangers of the intersection, which has poor visibility, no traffic light, and no crosswalk.

Protesters demanded that a traffic light be installed at the intersection immediately. “We won’t stop until there’s a traffic light,” they declared. Protesters also chanted, “We want to go home safely.”

Many waved lights in the red, orange and green colors of a traffic light.

Among those present were Nofer Shimon’s parents Orit and Yaron and their children. The grieving parents held up a picture of Nofer during the rally.

Orit Shimon spoke of her loss. “I already gave my daughter’s life. But maybe now others will get to live,” she said tearfully.

Roniel Letner, who was among the organizers of the protest, appealed to Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz.

“You’re known as a ‘bulldozer,’ someone who can act and move mountains. We need your power so that we and our children can live. We don’t want to lose more victims to this dangerous intersection,” he urged.