West Bank Council Heads Condemn Ariel Municipality for Closing Eastern Gate

The decision by Ariel Municipality to close the city's eastern gate, a key access point for many surrounding West Bank settlements, has sparked significant controversy in the region. The closure, implemented on Friday, has drawn sharp criticism from the regional councils of Benjamin and Samaria, who accuse Ariel of severely disrupting daily life, compromising security, and restricting freedom of movement for thousands of residents.

Israel Gantz, head of the Benjamin Regional Council, described the move as unilateral and harmful, emphasizing its negative impact on security forces' mobility and civilian transit along critical routes. He is actively negotiating with the Israeli police to reopen the gate immediately. Similarly, the Samaria Regional Council condemned the closure as a serious and illegal action taken without consultation, noting that the security levy collected by Ariel includes funding for guarding the gate.

In response, Ariel's mayor, Yair Shitrit, rejected the accusations and placed responsibility on the neighboring councils. He highlighted that approximately 85% of those using the eastern gate are residents of Benjamin and Samaria councils. Shitrit asserted that while Ariel is the capital of Samaria, it is not a "dairy farm" for the region, urging the councils to share the costs of security rather than avoid responsibility. The municipality assured residents that Ariel is not under siege and encouraged the public to continue visiting the city safely through the main gate.

The dispute underscores ongoing tensions over security and infrastructure responsibilities among West Bank municipalities and regional councils, with negotiations expected to continue in the coming days.