Key West Benjamin Road to Reopen to Israelis After 26 Years
The Walershtein Axis, also known as Road 463, which connects the western and eastern parts of Benjamin, is slated to reopen to Israeli traffic after being closed for approximately 26 years. The decision was reported by "Olam Katan" following remarks by Israel Gantz, head of the Benjamin Regional Council and chairman of the Yesha Council, in an interview with the publication. Gantz stated that the fundamental decision to reopen the axis has been made, and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have begun the necessary preparations on the ground.
According to Gantz, the process involves adjusting troop deployments, including the relocation of bases and equipment, which is why the actual reopening is expected within a few months. "It's a matter of a few months, it's already budgeted and work has begun," Gantz said, adding that significant traffic flow will be permitted once the military completes its preparations. He also noted that alongside military preparations, legal work is underway, and he himself has traveled the axis to advance the process.
Road 463 is a regional east-west route that begins near the Nili Junction in the west and reaches Road 466 near Al-Bireh in the east. Its reopening is expected to significantly shorten the travel time between the Talmonim bloc and the Beit El area, reducing a journey that previously took about 13 minutes to nearly an hour since the road's closure.
The axis was initially closed to Israeli traffic with the outbreak of the Second Intifada in 2000. In recent weeks, settlement activists and local residents have conducted daily drives along the route to advocate for its reopening. The report also indicates that the "Maozim Axis," connecting the Dolev area to Road 443, has also been approved for opening. Most of this axis lies in Area C, with a small portion in Area B.
The Walershtein Axis was first opened by the Benjamin Regional Council in 1994, spanning about 11.5 kilometers from near Dolev to Beit El. In 1996, following a hunger strike by then-Benjamin Council head Pinchas Walershtein, then-Prime Minister and Defense Minister Shimon Peres approved its opening for civilian traffic, leading to road construction by Netivei Israel worth approximately NIS 3.6 million. In December 1996, Ita and Efraim Tzur were murdered in a shooting attack on the axis. Several weeks ago, Yoel Tzur, who lost his wife and son in that attack, inaugurated "Tzur Junction" at the site of the murders.
Since the Second Intifada, the IDF closed the road to Israelis, forcing residents to use alternative routes through Givat Ze'ev, Jerusalem, and other roads.
