Highway 55 (Israel)
Encyclopedia
Highway 55 is an east-west highway
in central Israel
. Its Western terminus is in Kfar Sava, and it continues east to Nablus
.
The road passes near Qalqilya, Alfei Menashe
, Azzun
, Karnei Shomron
and Kedumim
, and ends in Nablus.
After the First Intifada
and the blocking of the road by Palestinians in the late 1980s and early 1990s, a number of bypass roads were built, south of Qalqilya and north of Azzun. Today the road serves the 20,000 Jews along its route and the 100,000 Arabs who live between Qalqilya and Nablus.
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
in central Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. Its Western terminus is in Kfar Sava, and it continues east to Nablus
Nablus
Nablus is a Palestinian city in the northern West Bank, approximately north of Jerusalem, with a population of 126,132. Located in a strategic position between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, it is the capital of the Nablus Governorate and a Palestinian commercial and cultural center.Founded by the...
.
The road passes near Qalqilya, Alfei Menashe
Alfei Menashe
Alfei Menashe is a Jewish Israeli settlement located in the seam zone on the western edge of the central West Bank. It was granted local council status in 1987. As of 2007, the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics counts 6,200 residents...
, Azzun
Azzun
Azzoun is a Palestinian town in the northern West Bank, located 24 kilometers south of Tulkarm and is a part of the Qalqilya Governorate. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, Azzoun had a population of approximately 8,300 in mid-year 2006...
, Karnei Shomron
Karnei Shomron
Karnei Shomron is an Israeli settlement and local council established in 1977 in the northwestern West Bank, east of Kfar Sava. It is north-east of Tel Aviv and north of Jerusalem. In 2006, the population of Karnei Shomron was 6,300...
and Kedumim
Kedumim
Kedumim , also spelled Qedumim, is an Israeli settlement and a town located in the Samarian hills of the West Bank that was founded during Hanukkah 1975 and now enjoys the municipal status of local council. Founded in 1975 by members of the Gush Emunim settlement movement, its current population is...
, and ends in Nablus.
After the First Intifada
First Intifada
The First Intifada was a Palestinian uprising against the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories. The uprising began in the Jabalia refugee camp and quickly spread throughout Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem....
and the blocking of the road by Palestinians in the late 1980s and early 1990s, a number of bypass roads were built, south of Qalqilya and north of Azzun. Today the road serves the 20,000 Jews along its route and the 100,000 Arabs who live between Qalqilya and Nablus.