An important route in eastern Gush Etzion is not covered by any cellular phone network, leaving both residents and soldiers exposed to security dangers. The Ministry of Defense explains that the construction freeze prevents the situation from being remedied.
The road in question is Highway 356, in the stretch leading roughly from the hareidi-religious community of Afsar, better known as Meitzad, to the eastern approaches of Efrat. Residents traveling the road turned to MK Chaim Amsallem of Shas, and explained to him that there have been not a few security incidents and road accidents along the road in which the victims – many of them unarmed – were unable to phone for help. Instead, they had to wait at the scene for long minutes until another Jewish car might happen to pass by.
The road is well-traveled by Arab drivers from PA-controlled areas, including large trucks carrying boulders and gravel from the many Arab-owned quarries along the winding road.
MK Amsallem turned to the Defense Minister’s Bureau, asking if a cellular station could be constructed in the area. In response, he received a reply from Minister Barak’s aide relating to a similar problem in the area of Beit El. The response indicated that despite the security dangers, a new cellular relay point could not be built, even for army use, because of the ten-month construction freeze.
This, despite the fact that it is within Defense Minister Barak’s purview to allow exemptions to the freeze.
Amsallem then turned to Communications Minister Moshe Kachlon, reiterating the security dangers along the road of which even IDF commanders in the region have warned. The MK noted that though the residents had asked the cellular phone companies for their help, the companies' hands are tied because of the freeze. “I therefore ask you to use your influence with Defense Minister Barak to remedy this absurd situation,” Amsallem wrote.
The residents – and army – are staying tuned for developments.