The IDF announced on Thursday night to the community committee of Avnei Hefetz in Samaria that it is opening the town's access road to Arab traffic, after the road was closed two weeks ago following a shooting attack on Jewish motorists.
In the attack, Shaul Nir was seriously wounded and his wife Rachel was lightly wounded, with a ten shekel coin miraculously stopping one of the bullets and preventing greater wounds. The couple from the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City was heading home after lighting Hanukkah candles with their daughter, Livnat Ozeri, who lives in Avnei Hefetz.
Following the IDF announcement on Thursday, Samaria residents got news of the road opening and decided to go out and protest on the road against the direct risk posed to their safety.
Samaria regional council head Yossi Dagan said, "we don't accept this cheapening of life."
"Barely two weeks have passed since the murderous attack, and again due to international pressure, the political echelon chooses Israel's appearance to the world over the lives of its residents."
Dagan emphasized that "there is no reason that Palestinians should drive on the Avnei Hefetz access road, aside from the pressure being exerted by activists of leftist organizations on the government of Israel. Pressure that has nothing to do with security."
"I call on the state of Israel to wake up and choose the security of residents of the state of Israel over the freedom of movement for terrorists on the roads," he concluded.