Israel to remove roadblocks in W. Bank 'slowly and gradually' - Haaretz

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Wed., September 19, 2007 ,

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		A Palestinian laborer passing through an IDF roadblock near the West Bank city of Tul Karm.(Limor Edri)

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Last update - 09:31 18/09/2007

Israel to remove roadblocks in W. Bank 'slowly and gradually'

By Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondent

Israel will alleviate traffic restrictions in the West Bank slowly and gradually if the security situation allows it, a defense source told Haaretz Monday.

"We will start by removing 10 to 20 roadblocks in the periphery, gradually and prudently," the source said.

The Central Command is due to present Defense Minister Ehud Barak with a paper Tuesday on removing roadblocks in the West Bank.

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Prime Minister Ehud Olmert instructed Barak and the defense establishment to prepare a plan of traffic alleviations among the Palestinian cities and villages in the West Bank.

Olmert is still waiting for the defense establishment's suggestions, after promising the United States and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas that he would facilitate traffic in the West Bank.

The Shin Bet and IDF object to removing roadblocks, citing their importance in preventing terror attacks.

"There are 20 fixed roadblocks, then there are border crossings and dozens of flying roadblocks. If we remove a central roadblock and there's a terror attack, the Palestinians will suffer, because there will be no going back," a defense source said.

Barak has decided to keep the fixed roadblocks in place and expand the flying roadblocks' activity, after training special forces to operate them.

The alleviations, which will take place only on side roads at first, will consist of removing physical barriers such as concrete cubes and earth mounds placed at village entrances to prevent passage.

The United Nations' Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and other international organizations aiding the Palestinians, see blocking the roads as the main obstacle to rehabilitating the Palestinian economy.

According to OCHA figures from last month, there are 532 Israeli roadblocks in the West Bank, including 86 fixed checkpoints and 446 unmanned barriers.

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1.	Roadblocks	04:55	\|	Rabbi Yakov Lazaros	18/09/07

2.	If Israelis love roadblocks so much	05:28	\|	Karma Chameleon	18/09/07

3.	wow	05:38	\|	rose	18/09/07

4.	Let us get real	05:44	\|	Mark Lincoln	18/09/07

5.	How about some honesty?	05:49	\|	Mark Lincoln	18/09/07

6.	Israel should do whatever possible, but without risking the life	06:34	\|	Yaron Carmel	18/09/07

7.	Mark, let`s look logically at what you said	07:23	\|	Denton	18/09/07

8.	Mark, another thing one could do	07:30	\|	Denton	18/09/07

9.	#1	07:43	\|	Shlomi	18/09/07

10.	Removing roadblocks slowly and gradually	07:53	\|	Otto Rand	18/09/07

11.	To: Mark Lincoln	07:59	\|	MB	18/09/07

12.	To Mark Lincoln	08:05	\|	Otto Rand	18/09/07

13.	Israel to remove Brain Cells one at a time	08:29	\|	Avi	18/09/07

14.	denton 7	09:12	\|	realism	18/09/07

15.	What about Jew only roads?	09:21	\|	Mike	18/09/07

16.	"If The Situation Allows It".	09:50	\|	Clickfool	18/09/07

17.	Come on, folks	09:55	\|	Outsider	18/09/07

18.	To Remove Or Not To Remove?	10:29	\|	Rupert	18/09/07

19.	#12, Otto Rand	10:31	\|	Cipora Julianna Kohn	18/09/07

20.	REMOVE SETTLEMENTS - then no need for 99% of roadblocks	11:07	\|	Joe	18/09/07

21.	Haaretz, where is my post to Otto Rand?	12:25	\|	Cipora Julianna Kohn	18/09/07

22.	I agree with number 10	12:38	\|	SD	18/09/07

23.	#3 rose: you`re absolutely correct.	12:50	\|	J.M.Jordan	18/09/07

24.	mark lincoln - dogface #5	12:57	\|	ka	18/09/07

25.	15# What about no jews roads?	12:58	\|	Nathan	18/09/07

26.	consequences	13:04	\|	ka	18/09/07

27.	To Haaretz -c omplaint re Mark Lincoln	13:08	\|	ka	18/09/07

28.	Mark Lincoln are you drunk or demented?	14:01	\|	Jasmine Murphy	18/09/07

29.	Roadblocks	17:49	\|	paul	18/09/07

30.	Get real	17:54	\|	paul	18/09/07

31.	Doeg and David	19:42	\|	Paul	18/09/07

32.	King Shaul tactics	19:45	\|	Paul	18/09/07

33.	Roadblocks	02:29	\|	paul	19/09/07

34.	"If the situation allows it"	02:40	\|	Silvienne	19/09/07

35.	#20, Joe...	02:41	\|	Silvienne	19/09/07

36.	Roadblocks	19:27	\|	Paul	19/09/07

37.	denton7	21:40	\|	Paul	19/09/07

38.	Suicide	22:15	\|	Paul	19/09/07

39.	Not allowed	22:21	\|	Paul	19/09/07

40.	SD	22:26	\|	Paul	19/09/07

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