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Last update - 17:26 24/03/2008 Barak: We'll ease W. Bank plight, but checkpoints to stay for now By Haaretz Service and The Associated Press Tags: PA, Barak, Cheney  Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Monday that Israel will soon begin making life easier for West Bank Palestinians, but that it won't remove checkpoints for now. Barak said that Israel would facilitate the construction of several industrial zones meant to provide thousands of jobs and boost the Palestinian economy. Many of the projects, funded by foreign governments, have been held up because of Israeli security concerns. Advertisement However, Barak gave no timetable for the projects and did not say how he intended to move them forward. Visiting a crossing terminal between the southern West Bank and Israel, Barak said Israel would soon take steps to expedite movement through the hundreds of checkpoints and roadblocks Israel has built in the West Bank. Israel sees the barriers as a key element of a military policy that has dramatically reduced Palestinian attacks in recent years. But Palestinians counter that the roadblocks humiliate them and stifle their economy. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, now an international Mideast envoy, has urged Israel to improve Palestinian movement, and during a visit by U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney on Sunday, the moderate Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, appealed to the U.S. to pressure Israel to take down checkpoints. Barak indicated Monday such a move was not expected soon. The checkpoints block militants and are vital to Israel's security, Barak said. He said only that the government would look into certain changes in a limited test area, but offered no further details. "It's still too early to give an answer, he said." Nabil Amr, an aide to Abbas, criticized Barak's unwillingness to remove checkpoints, saying his position violated Israel's commitments. Israel's stated security concerns, Amr said, were a slogan. "You cannot punish all of the Palestinians under the umbrella of security, Amr said." Over the weekend, officials from Fatah and Hamas met in Yemen and signed an agreement to continue reconciliation talks. However, on Monday, top aides to Abbas already were distancing themselves from the deal. Ahmed Qureia, a senior Abbas confidant, said the Fatah official in Yemen had only signed the agreement because of a misunderstanding. Israeli officials said any power-sharing arrangement between Fatah and Hamas would mean an end to peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel. Barak said Monday the agreement was not important. "I don't think anything happened in Yemen that requires a response from us, he said." Meanwhile, an aide to Abbas, Ahmed al-Weidi, said he was detained by Israeli police and questioned for five hours. Al-Weidi, an adviser on Jerusalem affairs, said Israel wanted information about a visit to Lebanon last month. He said the trip was to discuss the Arab League's designation of Jerusalem as an Arab cultural capital. "We have nothing to hide. It is outrageous that in the time the Israeli prime minister Olmert is meeting president Abbas they are at the same time arresting and interrogating his people, despite the fact that we went there on Abbas behalf," he said. Israel bars Palestinian political activity in Jerusalem. It also has no diplomatic relations with Lebanon and is concerned about ties between Lebanese guerillas and Palestinian militant groups. Israeli police had no immediate comment Bookmark to del.icio.us   Best served cold Safed chief rabbi calls on state to exact 'revenge' against Arabs. The Jewish hurdle Obama: I disagree with aide who blamed 'NY, Miami' for failed peace talks.   1.   cool 18:31  |  RM 24/03/08   2.   Made In The USA 18:47  |  Cool B 24/03/08   3.   The US & EU should not be supporting Israeli policies 19:41  |  Dutch 24/03/08   4.   The US & EU should not be supporting Israeli policies 19:42  |  Dutch 24/03/08   5.   # 3 Dutch, youre wrong. 20:47  |  Stephen. 24/03/08   6.   Beat those drums 21:14  |  Ari 24/03/08   7.   recognition THEN re-build`em 21:20  |  JEWish doctor 24/03/08   8.   Double the checkpoints 22:00  |  Gee 24/03/08   9.   #3 DEMENTED DUTCH - I have but one comment 23:23  |  * BEN JABO 24/03/08   10.   The hook is baited 23:26  |  * BEN JABO 24/03/08   11.   #7 Why should the Palestinians recognize a thief? 23:54  |  dutch 24/03/08   12.   #6 negotiating under fire 00:03  |  Outsider 25/03/08   13.   #8 If after 40 years of occupation 00:06  |  Outsider 25/03/08   14.   Thank you G-d Barak 00:12  |  El-Birawi 25/03/08   15.   The worst oppression 00:27  |  Mark Lincoln 25/03/08   16.   This is the man that tried to sell Arafat a quilt 00:29  |  Dutch 25/03/08   17.   Short leash 00:39  |  Baz Mann 25/03/08   18.   ease what plight who said plisght RIGHT ??? 00:45  |  M. S. 25/03/08   19.   Barak is described as a certified war criminal! 01:03  |  lakshmi 25/03/08   20.   This statement comes, of course.... 01:13  |  Johnboy 25/03/08   21.   Baz Mann - no and yes 02:17  |  Mark Lincoln 25/03/08   22.   Good News 02:19  |  marcel 25/03/08   23.   The concentration camps in the W. Bank must come down. Shame.... 02:22  |  John 25/03/08   24.   I agree Dutch; to aid Israel is criminal in and by itself 02:56  |  Fed Up American 25/03/08   25.   Zionists do not want peace now or ever 03:23  |  kiwi girl 25/03/08   26.   The arab peoples of the Middle East must 03:36  |  kiwi girl 25/03/08   27.   ArabsPals Are Considered The Best Nation of The World (Koran3:116 04:42  |  Joseph . E 25/03/08   28.   # 24 kiwi girl 04:58  |  Joseph . E 25/03/08   29.   #24 kiwi girl--`48 borders not defensible 05:03  |  US CITIZEN 25/03/08   30.   #29 Laughable, US Citizen 08:05  |  Johnboy 25/03/08   31.   barak`s clear admission of israeli guilt! 08:45  |  eric 25/03/08   32.   #30 Johnboy - Why should Israel take the chance 02:09  |  * BEN JABO 26/03/08   33.   #31 eric - It`s NOT Apartheid 05:36  |  * BEN JABO 26/03/08   34.   #32 No, actually, we don`t BEN JABO 11:24  |  Johnboy 26/03/08   35.   #34 Johnboy - Keep on huffing and puffing 01:20  |  * BEN JABO 27/03/08

Today Online Safed chief rabbi calls on state to exact 'revenge' against Arabs Responses: 230 Blair: Middle East peace process a 'race against time' Responses: 145 Mubarak: Gaza tension brings Iran threat closer Responses: 57 PA fails in fight against terror, U.S. officials determine Responses: 84 Top Fatah official: Housing Min. inviting Palestinians to start a fresh Intifada Responses: 60 Rosner's Domain Obama rejects advisor's comments on American Jews and peace process Poll: what percentage Jews will vote McCain? Kurtzer: The pro-Israel lobby, not obstacle for peace How many voters will abandon the Democratic Party? (WTR) Slight preference for Clinton among Jewish Democrats More Headlines 10:11 Rights group: Deaths in IDF Bethlehem raid were apparent executions 08:32 Barak confirms transfer of armored vehicles to PA 08:45 Top rabbis: Harvesting organs of the brain dead is `bloodshed` 05:10 State program to tackle problem of polygamy in Bedouin community 06:24 MKs advance bill calling for new Orthodox-secular school system 03:11 Gov't posts clips on YouTube of J'lem yeshiva shooting attack 09:42 Netanyahu calls for treasury to cut taxes and state budget 05:19 Bible club founded by Ben-Gurion gets revived with a Peres twist 05:38 Woman bleeds to death after test goes wrong at Ashkelon hospital Previous Editions Select Day 26 mar 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar 21 mar 20 mar 19 mar 18 mar 17 mar 16 mar 14 mar 13 mar

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