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Last update - 12:39 11/04/2008 State recycles promise to remove dozens of roadblocks in the West Bank By Akiva Eldar Tags: roadblocks, Israel, West Bank More than half of the roadblocks Israel committed to lifting as part of the first stage of measures meant to ease restrictions on Palestinians in the West Bank are temporary obstacles that the state had promised the High Court a month ago to remove. On March 11, the state promised to lift 27 dirt obstacles that were used to "separate" the northern West Bank from other parts of the territories, following the February terrorist attack in Dimona, and as a check on the potential movement of cars laden with explosives. These roadblocks did not appear on the official map of United Nation's OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) from last December. Advertisement Responding to a petition filed by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel and the heads of Palestinian villages in the area, the state attorney's office said that the orders concerning the movement of Palestinians (which prevented males aged 16-35 from the area of Jenin to exit the area) had expired, and that temporary extensions were issued on February 12 and 20. This was the state's argument for asking the court to reject the petition against the original restrictions. The petitioners argued that "in order to enforce the restrictions, the army imposed dozens of new physical impediments on the roads in the area, as well as new roadblocks, some of them permanent and some movable. These obstacles and roadblocks created new 'blockades' around the towns and villages in the northern West Bank. Thus the city of Tul Karm has been completely surrounded and cut off from the nearby villages that depend on it. Even though the siege on Nablus has been in place for seven straight years, it has been tightened further though the application of more roadblocks. This causes unexpected travel restrictions, that change frequently and which are now known to the general population." Human rights groups have carried out checks on the ground, concluding that a significant number of the roadblocks on a list Defense Minister Ehud Barak gave Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the Palestinian Authority, are piles of dirt blocking side roads. In many cases, these have already been flattened by locals who bypass them. In the past, there have been cases in which Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had promised PA President Mahmoud Abbas that the number of roadblocks would be reduced, however data from OCHA, B'tselem and Machsom Watch suggested that the numbers have not decreased - only increased. In closed sessions held these past few days with Israeli officials, American diplomats assigned to the implementation of the road map expressed their dissatisfaction at the lack of change in Israel's policy restricting the movement of Palestinians. Defense Minister Ehud Barak's office would not comment, referring Haaretz to the IDF Spokesman. "According to the decision of the political leadership, the IDF lifted on Tuesday, April 1, 50 dirt obstacles and one roadblock, in an effort to improve the lives of Palestinians. In addition, the Central Command has evaluated the situation along with officials from the Civil Administration, and other measures have been agreed upon, including the lifting of 10 other roadblocks, which were lifted on Thursday, April 3. The IDF will continue assessing the situation and exploring the possibility for improving the lives of the Palestinians, while dealing with the terrorist organizations that are trying to strike in Israel's rear and in the area," the IDF Spokesman said. Related articles: PM to IDF commanders: Think of Palestinian suffering at roadblocks IDF completes removal of 50 roadblocks across the W. Bank IDF completes removal of 50 roadblocks across the W. Bank Top reservists: Roadblocks in W. Bank do more harm than good Bookmark to del.icio.us   'No good Jewish men' Author David Seidman delves into the dark side of dating, and confesses: 'I am a bad Jew.' Remembrance trail Holocaust memorial steam-drawn train sparks bitter row in Berlin.   1.   Everyone knows of Israels trickery and expects it 08:28  |  Natallie Durson 11/04/08   2.   Israel`s games get so old 08:29  |  Steve 11/04/08   3.   Roadblocks protect Jews from the savages 09:14  |  spade 11/04/08   4.   Next Haaretz exclusive: "Shabbat to start on Friday evening" 10:39  |  Chanalau, Tova 11/04/08   5.   Israel Cannot Be Trusted and Never Could Be 11:17  |  Johan Odin 11/04/08   6.   60 Years of Genocide - And The Word is Celebrating 11:49  |  Word Observer 11/04/08   7.   The next time Condi comes a` visiting..... 15:55  |  Johnboy 11/04/08   8.   #3 I think you are rather missing the point of the article, spade 16:05  |  Johnboy 11/04/08   9.   so perhaps the UN should be more specific? 02:42  |  steve from Raleigh 13/04/08   10.   #9 Steve, it was Rice who put the hard word on 09:06  |  Johnboy 13/04/08

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