Route 60 (Israel)

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Route 60 (Hebrew: כביש 60) is a north-south intercity road in Israel and Palestinian Authority territory that streches from Be'er Sheva to Nazareth. After heading north from Beer-Sheva, most of the road runs through the West Bank, passing through Hebron, Bethlehem, and entering full Israeli control in Jerusalem, then returning to the West Bank at Ramallah, Nablus, and Jenin. It then returns to Israel proper, passing through the town of Afula ending in Nazareth.

The route is also known as the "Route of the Patriarchs" (Hebrew: דרך האבות) since it follows the path of the ancient highway that runs along the length of the central watershed, and which prominently figures into the travels of the Biblical patriarchss.

[edit] Bypass roads

Before the Oslo Accords, Palestinians lived under Israeli authority and could travel freely on the road. After the Palestinian Authority assumed control over various cities, Israel established checkpoints on areas of the route which entered Palestinian jurisdiction. New routes of highway were paved so that Israeli traffic could bypass the Palestinian towns in order to reduce friction. These so-called 'bypass roads,' while a contentious issue in their own right due to the varying levels of limitation on Palestinian access during periods of violence, also served as an improvement to the road which allowed traffic to flow around, rather than through the heart of congested urban areas.

One of the more sophisticated segments was the stretch known as the "Tunnels Highway." Designed by a French firm, the route, which led from southern Jerusalem to the Gush Etzion area, bypassed Bethlehem to the northwest to using two tunnels, including Israel's longest, joined by Israel's highest bridge.

[edit] al-Aqsa Intifada

Route 60 was a central scene of violence during the al-Aqsa Intifada, which was in part defined by the thousands of shooting attacks on its Israeli traffic, including hundreds of casualties. The Israeli Army, in response, has fortified various sections with anti-sniper walls and had established checkpoints along the route. The Tunnels Highway came under particularly heavy assault during the shooting on Gilo neighborhood since it lies between Gilo and Beit Jala. The concrete barriers employed on other dangerous stretches of road were too heavy to be supported by the bridge, and so a barrier of bulletproof composite armour similar to that employed on Merkava tanks was constructed.

Transportation in Israel
Roads in Israel: Highway 1 | Highway 2 | Highway 4 | Highway 5 | Highway 6 | Route 40 | Route 60 | Route 90 | Highway 443 | Ayalon Highway | Carmel Tunnels | Begin Expressway
Bus: Egged | Dan | Kavim | Metrodan Beersheba | Metropoline | Nativ Express | Superbus | Connex
Railways: Israel Railways
Light Rails and Rapid Transits: Tel Aviv Subway | Jerusalem Light Rail | Carmelit
Aviation Authorities and Companies: Israel Airports Authority | Ben Gurion International Airport | El Al | Arkia | Israir | Neshair | Sun D'Or | Tamir Airways
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