Israel-Palestine Row: Palestinian leaders say road with barrier 'apartheid'

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02:06

A West Bank road that separates Israeli and Palestinian drivers is drawing fierce criticism. It's being called "an apartheid road" although Israel says it's only to help with traffic. CGTN's Stephanie Freid explains.

Israel calls the five-kilometer road Route 4370 or The Eastern Ring Road. It's been in the works for years, will eventually run five kilometers and circumvents West Jerusalem.

The eight-meter wall running down the middle separating Palestinian and Israeli drivers prompted Palestinian politicians and human rights advocates to coin the route "The Apartheid Road". Israel's government says the road is a solution to traffic congestion and an example of Israelis and Palestinians co-existing.

ISRAEL AFRAYAT TRANSPORT COORDINATOR, ISRAEL CIVIL ADMINISTRATION "Residents can travel along a much shorter road linking Route 4370 to Road #1. It cuts travel time significantly and the road is high standard and secure."

Critics say it's a sign of blatant discrimination

BETTY HIRSCHMAN IR AMIM ADVOCACY DIRECTOR "What it will do is be used to route Palestinians from Ramallah to Bethlehem and back without giving them any access into the city whereas it will expedite traffic for settlers coming in from the northern settlements into the city."

According to international law, Jewish settlements built on Palestinian land are illegal. Critics say the road opening coupled with threats to evacuate Bedouin from adjacent areas indicate the Israeli government's controversial E1 settlement expansion plan.

BETTY HIRSCHMAN IR AMIM ADVOCACY DIRECTOR "A barrier in the middle of the road is not going to have any real security impact. But it is a political statement as to Israel's intention to segregate Palestinians from Israelis."

A spokesperson for the Israel Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories told CGTN the road is meant to shorten travel times for Palestinians. STEPHANIE FREID, CGTN, JERUSALEM.