New driving app helps Palestinians to avoid Israeli roadblocks in the West Bank

A team of Palestinian developers have devised an app that uses crowdsourced data to track roadblocks and diversions in the West Bank in real time.

Doroob provides routes to Palestinian drivers to avoid blockades. The app feeds live data through an algorithm, with manual imput from engineers, which then creates an up-to-date map of routes Palestinians can use.

Doroob was launched in June and already has 22,000 users.

Speaking to Ynet, Doroob’s chief executive Mohammad Abdel Haleem said the inspiration for the app came from when he became lost in a remote valley near Bethlehem when using Google Maps.

“The wall, checkpoints, settlements... existing mapping software could never account for the complexity here,” he said.

The app is also available in Gaza, but most active users are in the West Bank, Mr Haleem said.

Negotiating traffic in the occupied West Bank can be difficult, with constantly shifting Israeli roadblocks and security checkpoints. There is added complexity as there are some roads and settlements only Israelis are allowed to enter.

Palestinians in the past have relied on Facebook groups and word-of-mouth to anticipate West Bank traffic and closures.