Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., January 07, 2008 Tevet 29, 5768 | | Israel Time: 18:11 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Advertising
Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File Magazine
Defense Minister Ehud Barak. (Emil Salman/Jini)
Last update - 09:10 02/01/2008
Barak: West Bank roadblocks are effective, will remain in place
By Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent, and The Associated Press
Tags: Palestinians, Roadblocks 

West Bank roadblocks have proven themselves in preventing terror attacks against Israel and will not be removed, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Tuesday during a visit to an Israel Defense Forces post in the northern West Bank.

"The method of roadblocks has proven itself," Barak told a group of IDF soldiers from the Golani Brigade. "There is no way to effectively fight terrorism without actual daily control of the area."

The defense minister added, however, that Israel was making an attempt to alleviate the Palestinians' plight.
Advertisement
"We are trying to make life easier for the Palestinians by opening roadblocks on the outskirts," he said. "We have recently opened dozens of dirt blockings and removed two of the 16 major roadblocks. We may do a few other things to ease the Palestinians' lives."

The defense minister also spoke about recent Palestinian attacks on Israeli civilians, including Friday's attack on two soldiers from Kiryat Arba who were spending their leave hiking in the Hebron Hills.

"Our main target is Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine," he said. "There are too many terrorists, and too much desire to carry out attacks in the area, and without intelligence and field control, we'll witness more attacks such as the ones were Zuldan, Amihai, and Rubin were killed."

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Barak's comments were "very unfortunate."

"I don't think we can do anything about the economy ot improvement of life or revival of institution-building as long as the roadblocks remain," Erekat said.

Related articles:
  • Defense Minister to IDF: Place illegal outpost residents on trial
  • Barak to propose: Replace W. Bank roadblocks with mobile checkpoints
  • Balad MK blames Barak for death of Palestinian at roadblock
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Virtual victory
    TV series offers detailed reenactments of IAF's battles.
    Surviving the race
    Neither Clinton nor Romney can afford to lose in N.H.
      1.   "No Way To Efficiently Fight Terrorism" 16:36  |  Clickfool 01/01/08
      2.   Apartheid Wall VS. Apartheid Road Blocks 16:41  |  POP 01/01/08
      3.   Barak needs to learn that the occpatioon IS illegal 16:41  |  Muslim 01/01/08
      4.   Occupation is so cool. I`m glad the majority of Israelis approve. 16:42  |  POP 01/01/08
      5.   Not As Bad As British Army Road Blocks in North Ireland 16:45  |  Ruth 01/01/08
      6.   Blame the terrorists for the roadblocks, not Israel 16:50  |  Conroy 01/01/08
      7.   Five And A Half Years Of General Peace Is Proof 17:11  |  Yishai Kohen 01/01/08
      8.   Apartheid, illegal occupation,... 17:14  |  Ben 01/01/08
      9.   Roadblocks Are The Creation Of The Palestinian Militants 17:15  |  dyinglikeflies 01/01/08
      10.   #3 lehgal home for arabs muslim is jordan 17:16  |  victor hardman 01/01/08
      11.   Of all human rights, the right to live is the first and that 17:26  |  Avihu 01/01/08
      12.   "alleviate the Palestinian plight" 17:29  |  Sam 01/01/08
      13.   #4 POP you are so misinformed 17:31  |  Conroy 01/01/08
      14.   9. victor softman of zion hiding in belfast 17:39  |  muslim 01/01/08
      15.   #1 the yellow streak and the covered over mirror 17:48  |  victor hardman 01/01/08
      16.   Geuius Idea to Stop Terrorism 17:55  |  DoubleClick 01/01/08
      17.   Only 7 Israeli civilians killed in 2007 18:10  |  B 01/01/08
      18.   He`s right 18:10  |  AL 01/01/08
      19.   Effective Occupation! 18:47  |  Roi 01/01/08
      20.   Haaretz pests Clickfool pop & muslim think Jewish deaths 18:55  |  Iz Ray Leigh 01/01/08
      21.   15. no one can miss the yellow streak of victor little putz 18:59  |  muslim 01/01/08
      22.   barak 19:27  |  hollingsworth 01/01/08
      23.   Roadblocks have reduced attacks 19:31  |  Outsider 01/01/08
      24.   #1 is fake Clickfool 19:37  |  Clickfool 01/01/08
      25.   #15 Victorpaul Harrisman 19:45  |  Labhras 01/01/08
      26.   #14 muslim re softhead putz 19:51  |  Labhras 01/01/08
      27.   Israel must face its enemies with the shapr edge of the truth. 20:10  |  Akram Zekaria 01/01/08
      28.   #5 ruth re clickfool and Chris Lintwaithe. 20:14  |  Labhras 01/01/08
      29.   Boy, sure sounded like... 20:33  |  MarkC 01/01/08
      30.   Rich Israel Enslaves Millions 4 Security but won`t make peace 20:38  |  1 state solution 01/01/08
      31.   27/Sharp edge of Humor 20:46  |  1 state soln 01/01/08
      32.   #27 - Akram Zekaria 20:57  |  Alain 01/01/08
      33.   Israel will not willingly change the status quo in any way 21:01  |  Natallie Durson 01/01/08
      34.   Roadblocks Never Stopped a Suicide Bomber 21:36  |  MiddleStanian 01/01/08
      35.   #27 akram zacharia 21:39  |  Labhras 01/01/08
      36.   Attention: Now I`m giving out the top-confidential IDF secret... 21:57  |  zmogus 01/01/08
      37.   #21 muslim - you neglected to say where you`re hiding 21:59  |  * BEN JABO 01/01/08
      38.   Erekat says comments unfortunate 22:03  |  Sabra 01/01/08
      39.   Roablocks are effective, so maintain them and what else is 22:04  |  Marwan مروان خوري 01/01/08
      40.   #30 no state solution 22:04  |  * BEN JABO 01/01/08
      41.   Muslim # 3 22:05  |  sABRA 01/01/08
      42.   Roadblocks and the fence were built by Pal. terrorism 22:07  |  Marwan مروان خوري 01/01/08
      43.   32# Alian. I can assure you I am a Jew & very 22:12  |  Akram Zekaria 01/01/08
      44.   BARAK IS PATHETIC 22:19  |  Boyd 01/01/08
      45.   how do you measure martial measures? 23:07  |  pineas kerfue 01/01/08
      46.   Early Alzheimer`s rampant among proPals? 23:25  |  MaryRose 01/01/08
      47.   Time to question palestinian squatters in Israel 23:25  |  Bolivia Tronson III 01/01/08
      48.   #21 hilarity with muslim ! ever seen a bullet fly by? 23:35  |  victor hardman 01/01/08
      49.   ISLAMIC OCCUPATION OF JEWISH LANDS IS ILLEGAL AND IMORAL 23:47  |  20x20 01/01/08
      50.   ISLAMISTS WANT TO STEAL ALL THE LAND 23:51  |  Like it is 01/01/08
      51.   ISLAMISTS WANT TO STEAL ALL THE LAND 23:58  |  Like it is 01/01/08
      52.   "Like it is", modern state of Israel "created" by United Nations 00:25  |  Johnny 02/01/08
      53.   12 Sam from Canada,not nice for cousins escaping European 00:27  |  lakshmi 02/01/08
      54.   Incomprehensible #30 00:27  |  MaryRose 02/01/08
      55.   2nd Try,Barak should be tried for war crimes! 00:50  |  lakshmi 02/01/08
      56.   20x20# I can`t agree with what you see on the 01:23  |  Akram Zekaria 02/01/08
      57.   Of course they are effective... 01:27  |  Carter 02/01/08
      58.   #34, MiddleStanian... 01:40  |  Silvienne 02/01/08
      59.   #49, Like it is... 01:45  |  Silvienne 02/01/08
      60.   pals built the road blocks 02:25  |  Adrian de Klerk 02/01/08
      61.   #46 Bolivia Tronson III - so right 02:26  |  Adrian de Klerk 02/01/08
      62.   Saeb Erekat said Barak`s comments were "very unfortunate." 02:27  |  Denton 02/01/08
      63.   #34 MiddleStanian- Read the FACTS 02:35  |  * BEN JABO 02/01/08
      64.   Boyd, you don`t bother with reality do you? 02:41  |  Denton 02/01/08
      65.   #53 Silvienne - Roadblocks aren`t an excuse 02:46  |  * BEN JABO 02/01/08
      66.   #54 Silvienne re: Shoah 02:50  |  * BEN JABO 02/01/08
      67.   To Slvienne#54 03:24  |  Like it is 02/01/08
      68.   Ben Jabo-still trying to reach SillyVain? 03:29  |  Stephen in New York 02/01/08
      69.   "PALESTINE" IN THE LAND OF ISRAEL IS A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY 03:29  |  Like it is 02/01/08
      70.   Lakshmi-When people initiate war and lose,they pay the price 04:24  |  Sam 02/01/08
      71.   Barak understands the electoral situation 04:28  |  Mark Lincoln 02/01/08
      72.