On 5 July, 2008, at 11.30 am the Israeli military erected three additional
roadblocks, further blocking vehicular access on the road between South
Hebron village of At-Tuwani and Yatta.

Initially a bulldozer massed a 4ft mound on the At-Tuwani village side of
the road, using cement blocks, boulders and dirt. The Israeli army also
ripped cement from the road itself, damaging it significantly. The army
then removed the roadblock, leaving the road damaged, and erected another
roadblock on the opposite side of Route 317. The army told international
observers present that they had made a mistake.

The army bulldozer built three additional earth mounds, closing paths used
by tractors and trucks to travel to and from Yatta. Six barriers now stand
along the road between At-Tuwani and Yatta.

Besides being the main economic hub for the region, Yatta is also the
principal provider of critical services such as hospitals, secondary
schools, and public administration offices.

Several communities in the South Hebron Hills continue to be cut off from
basic supplies; this is particularly problematic as the road is the main
artery for the supply of water to the S H Hills which is currently
experiencing a severe drought. According to Palestinian residents of the
area, roadblocks have doubled the commercial price of water. A UN worker
reported that roadblocks on this road will increase by 30 percent the cost
of transporting essential water aid to the area.

The new roadblocks are the latest in a series of roadblocks erected by the
Israeli army in the area. The most recent, was erected on 27 June, and
still remains. Previous roadblocks were removed by the local population
through nonviolent direct actions.

For photos of the roadblocks go to
cpt.org/ gallery/5th- June%2C-2008- Israeli-army- erecting- further-roadbloc ks

http://www.kibush.co.il/show_file.asp?num=27827