Israel has made it only marginally easier for Palestinians to get through roadblocks in the West Bank, and in many cases, no changes have been made at all, a Haaretz investigation on Wednesday of roadblocks in the Hebron, Bethlehem, Ramallah and Nablus areas reveals.

The insignificant improvements fail to meet the commitment Prime Minister Ehud Olmert made to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas during their December 24 meeting in Jerusalem.

The roadblocks examined by Haaretz are those located in the areas where the Israel Defense Forces Spokesman's Office says changes have been made. At some of the roadblocks, only slight changes were made to make life easier for the people living in the area, and no changes were made at other roadblocks. Some of the roadblocks where the IDF said improvements were made had not been manned prior to the Olmert-Abbas meeting. The IDF also added portable roadblocks in a few areas, which make the improvements in the permanent roadblocks irrelevant.

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Haaretz examined the following roadblocks: Al-Fawar, Idna, East Halhul, Gush Etzion, X Junction, Wadi Nar, Layl Route, Bir Zeit Bridge, Tapuah Junction and Rimonim. In addition, Haaretz has received testimony from Machsom Watch volunteers, who monitor IDF behavior at West Bank roadblocks, about the Jit roadblock, west of Nablus, along with testimony from Palestinians about additional roadblocks.

Here are the findings of the investigation:

Al-Fawar: Some improvements. There are no longer two thorough security checks per day. Taxi driver Mohammed Awada from the village of Dura said IDF soldiers used to check every car between 7 A.M. and 9 A.M. and again between noon and 2 P.M.

Idna: Slight improvements. Morad Tamaizi, an area resident, said soldiers used to come down from their pillbox twice a day to man the roadblock, but that they haven't been sighted in the past two days.

East Halhul: This roadblock has not been manned since before the changes were announced, but the IDF said there have been improvements.

Gush Etzion Junction: No change. At 11 A.M., the troops checked every Palestinian car, and one of the soldiers said he had not heard of any change in orders. Even before the changes were declared, the soldiers were not systematically checking each car.

X Junction: No change in this junction connecting Beit Jala with Har Gilo.

Wadi Nar: This is the only roadblock that has undergone significant change. Border Police officers said all Palestinian vehicles can now pass through this roadblock, which connects the southern West Bank to the Ramallah area. In the past, only vehicles with special permits were allowed through. The traffic flows with barely any disruptions.

Layl Route: No change. The roadblock, between the Adam Junction and the village of A-Ram and the Qalandiyah roadblock, is manned once in a while for random checks.

Bir Zeit Bridge: No change. In the mornings, Palestinian vehicles are still checked thoroughly at this roadblock, north of Bir Zeit, several taxi drivers said.

Tapuah Junction: Very slight change. Troops checked every driver, some quite thoroughly. The troops said they were examining suspicious vehicles, but it appears that all Palestinian vehicles are considered suspicious and therefore are checked.

Rimonim: No change. The soldiers examine all Palestinian vehicles, and passersby said no change is noticeable.

Jit Junction: Slight improvements. Passengers traveling from Dir Sharaf toward Yitzhar Junction are checked randomly, but those heading to Qalqilyah are still checked more regularly.

Yitzhar Junction: A new portable roadblock making random checks over the last few days. Those who passed easily through Jit are then delayed for hours at the new roadblock. Improvements in Jit and Tapuah appear meaningless in light of this roadblock.

Ramin: Palestinian witnesses told of improvements at this roadblock, west of Tul Karm, but a portable roadblock was set up near the permanent one on Wednesday to check meticulously those who had gone through easily.

Jabara: Palestinian witnesses reported improvements.