A few weeks back, I decided to get a early start home after a busy day at work. I got on the highway and took my normal route from Jerusalem back to Tel Aviv. Oh what a bad decision. Two minutes into the drive home, I ran into a traffic jam, a traffic jam that lasted 3 hours long.
Rather than take the more popular Highway 1 route between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, I take The 443. The 443 is generally 15-30 minutes faster than Route 1, and when there is traffic on Route 1, which there generally is, the time savings can stretch into hours. The main caveat though is the fact that the 443 cuts straight through the West Bank into occupied territory.
The route itself is beautiful. Palestinian villages, perched on hilltops, line the scenery with their minarets quite prominent. Near the roadside though, the scenery is not so nice. As this is a route used by Palestinians and Israelis, it is "secured." Between the road and villages in the distance is a mix of high walls and barb wire fences. And at the start and end of the route are military checkpoints. And it was at this military checkpoint which is right after the junction to Ramallah in which I was stuck in the 3 hour traffic jam.
Below are some photos of The 443 that I took "while driving."
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| Military checkpoint entrance |
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| IDF soldiers man the checkpoints w/ M16s prominantly displayed |
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| Hard to see but a Palestinian village off in the distance. |
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| Ramallah junction |
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