Man Dedicates Junction Near Ramallah to Wife and Son Killed in Terror Attack

Yoel Tzur, accompanied by his daughter and grandchildren, inaugurated the "Tzur Junction" on Wednesday near Ramallah in the West Bank. The junction is located at the very spot where his wife, Ita, and son, Efraim, were killed in a shooting attack nearly thirty years ago. The ceremony is part of a broader campaign by local residents to reopen Route 463, also known as the Wallerstein axis, which directly connects the Beit El and Ofra areas with Dolev-Talmonim and western Binyamin. This road has been closed to Israelis for approximately 26 years, forcing residents to take a significantly longer detour that extends travel time from about twelve minutes to nearly an hour.

Militants have recently begun using the road daily to pressure security authorities and the government to fully reopen it. According to measurements by residents, the direct journey between Dolev and Beit El via this route now takes about 13 minutes, a reduction of roughly 60% in travel time. During the inauguration, Yoel Tzur urged the government and security officials to reopen the road, citing both security and civilian needs.

"We are opening Tzur Junction today in memory of Ita and Efraim, who were murdered right here," Tzur stated. He asserted that the area should be under "total Israeli control" and described the road as a vital artery for regional residents. Tzur believes reopening the axis would not only facilitate quicker travel between eastern and western Binyamin but also alleviate traffic congestion on Route 60 and at checkpoints. He concluded by calling on the army and government to "take control of the territory and reopen the road."