To the Editor:

We were troubled by the use of the term "apartheid" in your story headline to describe a road used by Israelis in the West Bank.

The travel restrictions the Palestinians must endure create genuine hardship and are unfortunate.

They are the consequences of the needs that Israel must address to ensure the safety of its citizens.

The use of the incendiary and sensationalist term "apartheid" is not only misplaced but negates the real security concerns Israel faces after scores of attacks against Israelis traveling on Route 443.

Indeed, even with the travel restrictions, five Israelis have been killed on the road.

Restrictions such as these will begin to ease when the Palestinian Authority demonstrates its willingness and ability to stop terrorists from operating in the West Bank and eliminates the incitement against Israel in Palestinian national symbols and media.

While they are waiting for their leadership to act, Palestinians have availed themselves of Israel's vibrant democratic system and, as noted in your article, those who oppose this policy have the opportunity to have their concerns addressed in front of the Israeli Supreme Court.