The IDF is building a walled-in concrete path for Palestinian use -- in order to protect the residents of Beit El. Tourism Minister Benny Elon lives in that settlement.

The IDF is in the process of building a pathway that is walled in with concrete, fences and guard posts near Beit El. The walled-in pathway is being built along the road that hundreds of Palestinian pedestrians use to make their way from outlying villages to Ramallah. The settlers demanded that the army prevent the Palestinians from walking there, saying they are afraid that settlers who happened to be passing by might be attacked. The IDF refused to bar Palestinians from passing by, but ultimately decided to build a special walled-in pathway that is to be used only by Palestinians. This is the first path of its kind to be built in the territories.

The head of the Beit El local council, Yisrael Rosenberg, said yesterday that the construction of the walled-in and fenced-in pathway was unsatisfactory to the residents of the settlement and that they demanded that the Palestinians be barred altogether from passing by.