Noor Shams Street between Security Approval and Financial Constraints: Tulkarem Awaits Return to the Economic Map

Exclusive to SadaNews: Sources from the Palestinian liaison and the Chamber of Commerce in Tulkarem revealed to SadaNews that more than a hundred days ago, the occupation informed the Palestinian authorities of its approval to reopen the main Noor Shams Street (Tulkarem-Nablus Road) on the condition that it be paved, which was then considered a step towards lifting the siege on the city and restoring its commercial pulse after years of destruction and incursions. However, the responsible Palestinian authorities, specifically the Palestinian Ministry of Public Works and the Tulkarem Municipality, state that the obstacle to opening this vital street is "funding". The striking paradox is that the official Palestinian authorities did not announce this Israeli approval to the public at that time.

Currently, the Ministry of Public Works and the Tulkarem Municipality have begun rehabilitation works on the Harash Street, which runs alongside the main Noor Shams Street to the east of the city. This is a small secondary street that cannot be compared to the main street, as a first step towards improving traffic flow and facilitating access to the city center, which has suffered from traffic and commercial isolation for years, according to statements from the Tulkarem governorate, the municipality, and the Ministry of Public Works.

The ongoing work on Harash Street is limited to paving it with a layer of "Karkar", a natural material made of sand and gravel used as a foundational base, without complete paving. This street reduces the long distances that citizens have to travel to reach the city.

In contrast, the main Noor Shams Street, which has been extensively damaged due to the continuous Israeli aggression in northern West Bank, remains closed despite the Palestinian authorities receiving an Israeli security approval four months ago to reopen it, provided it is fully paved. This approval, which was communicated to the Palestinian liaison, the municipality, and the governorate, has not been translated into actual implementation due to the financial constraints of the Palestinian government.

A member of the Tulkarem Chamber of Commerce told SadaNews: "The justification of financial constraints from either the government or the municipality is unjustified. We see daily paving and rehabilitation works in all the cities and villages of the West Bank. But the priority should be for Tulkarem governorate, which has suffered for years from destruction and the suffocating siege that has crippled economic movement in the governorate."

Despite the importance of this street, which is considered an economic lifeline for Tulkarem and is expected to revive commercial activity and energize the city after three years of destruction, the Tulkarem Municipality, the Ministry of Public Works, and the governorate confirm that the necessary budget is unavailable. A broad meeting was held that included all relevant parties, including military and civil liaison, the Chamber of Commerce, and businesspeople, where the Ministry of Public Works expressed its readiness to begin work, but the financial obstacle remains in place.

According to special information obtained by "SadaNews", the infrastructure of the street in terms of telecommunications and sewage can be initiated by the municipality, according to a previous statement by the mayor. However, paving the street remains the biggest challenge. The project also includes the Sikka Street, which increases the total cost, while current demands are focused on opening Nablus Street as it is economically and functionally the most important for the city.