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Last update - 02:26 31/03/2008 Rice: U.S. to ensure Israel removes West Bank roadblocks By Barak Ravid Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice vowed yesterday that the United States will step up its efforts to ensure that Israel carries through the implementation of promised measures that aim to improve living conditions for the Palestinian population in the West Bank. Israel meanwhile announced yesterday a series of moves that will ease restrictions on Palestinian movement and economic activity in the territories. Advertisement Rice will meet with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert today, who will brief the visiting U.S. official on progress in the talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The secretary of state will also hold a meeting with the heads of the negotiating teams of each side, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Ahmed Qureia. Rice also visited Amman yesterday, where she met with PA President Mahmoud Abbas. In reference to the announced easing of restrictions on the Palestinians, Rice said that the U.S. expects that these actions would be carried out "very, very soon." She insisted that henceforth the U.S. administration will be more insistent on the implementation of Israeli commitments. "General [William] Fraser will ensure that 50 roadblocks will be removed and that this will actually have an effect on the freedom of movement in the West Bank," Rice said in Jerusalem. "The Israeli Ministry of Defense had identified the roadblocks that will be removed, but we will ensure that they carry it out," she added. Rice also said that since the Annapolis conference last November, Israel has increased the number of roadblocks and dirt obstacles in the West Bank and therefore "the U.S. wants to monitor and ensure that their removal will begin. This is a very specific commitment on the part of Israel." The secretary of state added that in the past the U.S. did not systematically monitor the implementation of the commitments of the two sides and "this time we want to be a lot more systematic concerning the territories and what is being carried out on the ground." Yesterday Rice met with Defense Minister Ehud Barak and PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. Rice had hoped to hold a common press conference and issue a shared declaration stating the easing of restrictions on the Palestinians, however Fayyad opposed the idea. In the end the three appeared before the cameras and Rice read out a short announcement. During the meeting, Israel presented a list of measures that it intends to take to ease restrictions, including the removal of a permanent checkpoint east of Ramallah and some 50 dirt roadblocks that have prevented passage in the areas of Jenin, Tul Karm, Qalqilya, and Ramallah. In the coming weeks the defense establishment will evaluate lifting more roadblocks and will present its recommendations in early May, prior to the scheduled visit of President George Bush. Israel has also agreed to allow greater freedom of action to the PA's security forces in West Bank areas that are under Israeli security control, also known as Area B. The mechanism by which Israel grants permission to PA security forces to operate will be improved and the time lag between the requests and the permits will be cut to an hour. Israel has also agreed to allow the PA to build new police stations in Area B. A decision was also made to revive a promise made during the tenure of Amir Peretz at the Defense Ministry, allowing the Palestinians to build a new neighborhood with 5,000 to 8,000 new residential units near Ramallah. The construction had been approved a year ago in a meeting between then deputy defense minister Ephraim Sneh and Palestinian mediator Saeb Erekat at the home of the U.S. ambassador to Israel. Bookmark to del.icio.us   The gift of dignity T.A. charity provides female drug addicts with shower, meal and counseling. Sign of life Hamas leader says Gilad Shalit is still alive after two years in captivity.

Today Online Jerusalem council okays 600 new Jewish homes in Arab area Responses: 202 Yishai: Israel must negotiate with Hamas over Shalit release Responses: 125 Editorial: Peace talks, even on Jerusalem, must be secret Responses: 43 MK Swaid: Demolition of Arab homes will lead to an explosion Responses: 44 More Headlines 21:34 Israeli kills Palestinian knifeman in attempted West Bank attack 01:39 At Rice's request, Barak reverses course to back PA border proposal 21:54 Jerusalem council okays 600 new Jewish homes in Arab area 00:17 Abducted soldier's mother: PM must pay price to retrieve them 23:09 Amir Peretz to Ehud Barak: Who would want to vote for you? 23:51 IDF tracker charged with 'aiding Hezbollah in war against Israel' 16:30 Norway tries suspects in 2006 shooting at main Oslo synagogue 19:40 Clinton and Obama voters support Israel in similar numbers 20:06 Once a week, the gift of human dignity 21:28 Barak allots NIS 30M more for security in frontline communities 23:04 Law sets 3-year jail penalty for car-owners who go to mechanics in PA 18:52 Rights group demands gov't stop demolishing Bedouin homes 17:39 Mazuz rejects call to indict Netanyahu over London spending spree Previous Editions Select Day 31 mar 30 mar 28 mar 27 mar 26 mar 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar 21 mar 20 mar 19 mar 18 mar

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