Residents of Gush Etzion, following their successful efforts yesterday, attempted to continue blocking the highway there to Arab traffic this morning. Police intervened, however, and even arrested Women in Green leader Nadia Matar. She later explained:
\"Yesterday morning, the N\'vei Daniel people and others started blocking the road to Arab traffic, with the clear message that it is inconceivable that the enemy should drive on our roads while every day we are shot at, stoned, wounded and murdered. Surprisingly, the moment we took to the road, the police immediately took over and worked together with us, putting roadblocks at the Gush intersection and close to N\'vei Daniel, thus clearing the road for us. When we expressed our surprise at this cooperation from the army and the police, we were told that they were happy we were doing so. I found out from Haggai Huberman, a reliable journalist, that after the Didovsky and Gillis murders, Chief of Staff Mofaz gave clear instructions that two or more Arab men in private cars are not to drive on the roads of Yesha, while Arab families and Arab taxis are allowed. So we were basically forcing the army and the police to do their job...\"
She then recounted how she had a box of cakes in her hand to distribute to the residents and the policemen, and that when a new contingent of policemen came this morning, and an Arab car tried to pass through the roadblock, \"one policeman pushed and shoved me, and tried to let the car go through, and the delicious cinnamon cakes ended up flying in the air and landing on that Arab car...\" She said that she was released on bail after two hours, but is likely to be charged with several offenses related to her traffic-blocking activities.
Nadia Matar\'s conclusions from the two days were that the local Arabs finally complained today to PA representatives, who then called Israeli government representatives, who then sent the police. \"This is proof that those roadblockings are somewhat effective. It is therefore crucial to continue and make sure a lot of people are there,\" she said, and called for a repeat performance at the same intersection this afternoon. In fact, close to 100 people showed up there this afternoon and evening, and were at least partially successful in blocking the road. Participants later recounted that the policemen\'s responses were again mixed: at first they tried to prevent the blocking, then turned back some Arab cars themselves.
Women from the towns of Dolev, Talmon, and Neriah - a bloc of communities between Beit El and Modi\'in - gathered at a nearby junction this afternoon. They demand that the roads connecting their area with Jerusalem and Beit El, which have been closed since the beginning of the violence four and a half months ago, be re-opened. At present, the usual 15-minute trip to Beit El from Dolev takes 45 minutes, via Nachliel, and travelers to Jerusalem must detour through Modi\'in.
\"Yesterday morning, the N\'vei Daniel people and others started blocking the road to Arab traffic, with the clear message that it is inconceivable that the enemy should drive on our roads while every day we are shot at, stoned, wounded and murdered. Surprisingly, the moment we took to the road, the police immediately took over and worked together with us, putting roadblocks at the Gush intersection and close to N\'vei Daniel, thus clearing the road for us. When we expressed our surprise at this cooperation from the army and the police, we were told that they were happy we were doing so. I found out from Haggai Huberman, a reliable journalist, that after the Didovsky and Gillis murders, Chief of Staff Mofaz gave clear instructions that two or more Arab men in private cars are not to drive on the roads of Yesha, while Arab families and Arab taxis are allowed. So we were basically forcing the army and the police to do their job...\"
She then recounted how she had a box of cakes in her hand to distribute to the residents and the policemen, and that when a new contingent of policemen came this morning, and an Arab car tried to pass through the roadblock, \"one policeman pushed and shoved me, and tried to let the car go through, and the delicious cinnamon cakes ended up flying in the air and landing on that Arab car...\" She said that she was released on bail after two hours, but is likely to be charged with several offenses related to her traffic-blocking activities.
Nadia Matar\'s conclusions from the two days were that the local Arabs finally complained today to PA representatives, who then called Israeli government representatives, who then sent the police. \"This is proof that those roadblockings are somewhat effective. It is therefore crucial to continue and make sure a lot of people are there,\" she said, and called for a repeat performance at the same intersection this afternoon. In fact, close to 100 people showed up there this afternoon and evening, and were at least partially successful in blocking the road. Participants later recounted that the policemen\'s responses were again mixed: at first they tried to prevent the blocking, then turned back some Arab cars themselves.
Women from the towns of Dolev, Talmon, and Neriah - a bloc of communities between Beit El and Modi\'in - gathered at a nearby junction this afternoon. They demand that the roads connecting their area with Jerusalem and Beit El, which have been closed since the beginning of the violence four and a half months ago, be re-opened. At present, the usual 15-minute trip to Beit El from Dolev takes 45 minutes, via Nachliel, and travelers to Jerusalem must detour through Modi\'in.