West Bank Highway (Route 60)

West Bank Highway (Route 60)
Name	West Bank Highway (Route 60)
Length km	740
Termini	Beersheba — Nazareth
Countries	Israel; State of Palestine
Established	1920s
Maintenance	Israel Defense Forces; Palestinian National Authority (disputed)
Route type	Regional highway

West Bank Highway (Route 60) The West Bank Highway (Route 60) is a major north–south arterial road traversing the Negev, the West Bank, and the Galilee, linking Beersheba to Nazareth. The road passes near or through numerous urban centers, settlements, and historical sites including Hebron, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Nablus, and Ariel, serving diverse communities such as Bedouin towns, Jewish settlements, and Palestinian cities. Route 60 intersects with major corridors like Highway 6 (Israel) and Highway 1 (Israel) and is a focal point of infrastructure, security, and political discussions involving actors including Palestinian Authority, Israel Defense Forces, Palestine Liberation Organization, and international bodies like the United Nations and European Union.

Route description

Route 60 begins near Beersheba in the Negev Desert and proceeds north through the Judean Desert, skirting the Dead Sea, passing near archaeological sites such as Masada and Qumran, before reaching Hebron (al-Khalil), Bethlehem, and the outskirts of Jerusalem. From Jerusalem it continues north through the Samaria hills, serving Ramallah, Jericho (via connecting roads), and Nablus (Shechem), then advances toward the Mount Carmel region and terminates near Nazareth. Along the corridor Route 60 connects to expressways and local roads that serve Ariel, Kfar Saba, Modi'in, Beit Shemesh, and Tulkarm; key junctions include intersections with Highway 1 (Israel), Highway 5 (Israel), and Highway 90 (Israel).

History

The corridor now designated Route 60 follows ancient tracks documented in sources linked to Biblical archaeology, including routes between Beersheba and Jerusalem referenced in the Hebrew Bible and pilgrim paths attested in Byzantine and Ottoman Empire records. During the British Mandate for Palestine road planners formalized a numbered network; remnants of Mandate-era alignments persist alongside Roman and Crusader roadbeds near sites like Herodion and Sebastia (Samaria). After the 1948 Arab–Israeli War parts of the route lay within Jordanian rule in the West Bank until Six-Day War outcomes altered administrative control. Subsequent decades saw evolving jurisdictional patterns linked to the Oslo Accords and changing settlement policies under successive Israeli administrations including those of Yitzhak Rabin, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Ariel Sharon.

Construction and upgrades

Major paving and modernization efforts occurred in stages: early paving under the Mandatory Palestine authorities, Israeli post-1967 upgrades including bypasses for Hebron and Nablus, and 21st-century projects to widen segments, add interchanges, and improve safety near Bethlehem and Ramallah. Contractors and planners from firms associated with projects in Tel Aviv and Haifa implemented designs incorporating retaining structures near the Judean Hills and tunnels or overpasses close to Jerusalem suburbs. International funding and technical assistance from entities connected to World Bank and several European governments influenced particular projects while local authorities in municipalities such as Beitunia, Kiryat Arba, and El'azar managed community-level works.

Security and checkpoints

Security measures on Route 60 include permanent and temporary checkpoints, roadblocks, and controlled-access sections operated by the Israel Defense Forces and Israel Border Police, along with occasional Palestinian Authority coordination in certain sectors. Checkpoints near Hebron (notably around the Cave of the Patriarchs), near Qalqilya and Tulkarm (via connecting arteries), and approaches to Jerusalem generate regulation of traffic for vehicles associated with Israeli settlements and Palestinian commuters. International actors including United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and International Committee of the Red Cross have documented movements and humanitarian impacts; legal monitoring organizations such as B'Tselem and Human Rights Watch regularly report on access restrictions.

Legal and political status

The legal status of the highway is contested. Israeli authorities administer many stretches and classify some segments within Area C (West Bank), while other parts fall under Palestinian civil administration in Area A (West Bank) following provisions of the Oslo II Accord. Disputes involve ownership, right-of-way, and permitting for adjacent construction, implicated in litigation before bodies including the Israeli Supreme Court and considered in international forums such as the United Nations Security Council and the International Court of Justice debates over Israeli settlements. Political dynamics among parties like Fatah, Hamas, and the Likud influence policy decisions affecting Route 60.

Traffic, usage, and economic impact

Route 60 serves passenger traffic, commercial freight, agricultural transport, and tourism flows to heritage sites including Hebron Old City, Church of the Nativity, and Nazareth Basilica. Traffic volumes fluctuate with checkpoints, security incidents, and seasonal pilgrimage peaks tied to Easter and Ramadan; freight movements connect industrial zones in Afula and Kafr Qasim with markets in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv District. Economic analyses by municipal planning agencies in Ramallah, Hebron Municipality, and Bethlehem Governorate indicate Route 60 is vital for labor mobility, marketplace access, and supply chains involving agricultural exports to terminals near Haifa Port and Ashdod Port.

Incidents and accidents

The highway has been the site of vehicular accidents, roadside attacks, and ambushes tied to episodes in the First Intifada and Second Intifada, with high-profile incidents near Gush Etzion and north of Hebron. Emergency response is coordinated among Israeli services such as Magen David Adom and Palestinian emergency services including Palestine Red Crescent Society, often complicated by access constraints. Notable security incidents have led to temporary closures recorded by Israel Police and international press coverage involving outlets based in Jerusalem and Ramallah.

Category:Roads in the West Bank Category:Transport in Israel Category:Transport in the State of Palestine