Israel Orders Olive Tree Uprooting for Road 437 Expansion

The Cabinet of Israel issued a military order on August 6, 2026, requiring the removal of wild vegetation and the uprooting of olive trees from Palestinian-owned lands in the Jaba plain, north of Jerusalem. The order targets an area of two dunams and 502 square meters to facilitate the expansion of Road 437, which links the Hizma military roadblock to the Jaba roundabout.

This action follows a previous order that seized over five dunams of land for military purposes. The Jerusalem Governorate describes the expansion as part of a broader strategy to reshape the regional road network to link illegal colonies, including Adam, Kochav Yaakov, and Neve Yaakov.

Palestinian officials assert that these measures are designed to isolate Palestinian communities and restrict their access to agricultural land. The Governorate claims the project aims to fragment Palestinian territorial continuity and entrench Israeli control over the periphery of Jerusalem.