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Blocking Entrances to Arab Towns in Israel is Illegal

  • ACRI
  • Dec 30, 2025
  • 3 min read

Several times in recent months, the police set up roadblocks on access roads to Arab towns in order to fight crime and weapons smuggling. The roadblocks paralyzed main traffic arteries, made entry and exit to the towns difficult to impossible, disrupted daily life, and violated residents' rights to freedom of movement and human dignity. 


In response to these actions, we sent appeals to the Attorney General, the Police Commissioner, and the Legal Advisor to the Police. The appeals argue that the vast majority of the residents of the towns have done nothing wrong, and the roadblocks constitute collective punishment. There is also no legal basis for the police to set up a roadblock to the entrance to a town in Israel.  

This is a measure that would never be applied on a Jewish town. Blocking an entrance to any town in Israel is illegal. Crime should be dealt with by acting against those involved in the criminal activity, not by imposing punitive measures on entire towns. The appeals demand that it be clarified to the police force that it is illegal to block an entrance to a town in Israel, and that this measure cannot be used to fight crime.

 

Roadblock at the entrance to the village of Fureidis 

In the afternoon of October 24, 2025, the police placed a concrete barrier at the entrance to the village of Fureidis, completely blocking the eastern entrance to the village. According to news reports, the roadblock was placed following complaints from residents of the nearby city of Zichron Yaakov about gunfire. The complaints were directed to the Minister of National Security, who ordered the Police Commissioner to "act vigorously." The police responded in light of the media attention the blockage received, and stated that the roadblock was placed as an operational necessity, as a result of an increase in shootings other crime in the area of the village. The roadblock was opened the next day, but the concrete barriers were left on the roadside, raising concerns that the they would be set up again. 


ACRI's appeal, October 26, 2025 (Heb)  

Appeal written by Yaser Abu Areesha and Attorney Nitsan Ilani 

 

Roadblock at the entrance to the Bedouin village Laqiya 

On November 23, 2025, the police placed a concrete barrier at the main entrance to the Bedouin village of Laqiya in the Negev, completely blocking any entry or exit from the town. According to media reports, the police officers did not present any order to install the roadblock, only saying that it was an "order from above." The head of the local council contacted the local police, but it turned out that the Southern District Police "had not heard of such an order." At the council head's instruction, Residents removed the roadblock, per the instructions of the head of the council, witnessed by the police themselves, who did not intervene (indicating that the officers themselves were aware that the roadblock was not legal). In a response to the media, the police did not address the legality of the roadblock, and only stated that the purpose was "to prevent the escape and movement of criminals and weapons in the area, to increase the level of inspection and supervision, and to locate weapons stolen from the IDF." According to the media, Minister Ben Gvir arrived that night at the village of Laqiya accompanied by numerous police officers, suggesting that the roadblock was placed for the Minister's public relations and because of any operational necessity. 


Appeal written by Attorneys Abeer Jubran and Nitsan Ilani from ACRI, and Suleiman Alhuzaila, CEO of the Regional Council for Unrecognized Villages 

 

Roadblocks in Jisr az-Zarqa 

On December 28, 2025, the police blocked the main and central entrance to the town of Jisr az-Zarqa by placing concrete barriers in the center of traffic lanes. The barriers narrowed the traffic lanes, creating major traffic jams at the entrance and exit to the town, and were dangerous for drivers to navigate. Additional concrete barriers were placed preventing vehicle and pedestrian access within two residential neighborhoods. The police placed the roadblocks without presenting any order authorizing them to do so, and without notifying the local council in advance. According to the police, the roadblocks were installed as a result of shootings and other crime, in order to increase control over traffic "on the route where the parties involved in the criminal incidents operate and which constitutes a convenient route for escape and smuggling." 


ACRI's appeal, December 30, 2025 (Heb) 

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