Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., June 23, 2008 Sivan 20, 5768 | | Israel Time: 16:45 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 18:39 15/06/2008 UN: Israel restricting our Palestinian staff in West Bank By Reuters Tags: UN, Palestinians, Israel  Israel has tightened rules for Palestinian staff of the United Nations who travel in and out of the occupied West Bank, increasing tensions with the world body, internal UN emails and aid workers said on Sunday. The Israel Defense Forces informed UN officials in Jerusalem that Palestinians using the main checkpoint for the West Bank city of Ramallah were required to cross on foot through a terminal for inspection rather than drive through in their UN vehicles, a UN email said. The message, sent to employees last week and obtained by Reuters on Sunday, directed Palestinian staff members to use another crossing. Advertisement UN Palestinian staff have also been asked at three checkpoints to sign a form used by police in conducting searches and making arrests. Another internal UN email told staff not to sign the form. Israeli officials had no immediate comment. An aid worker said the tightened restrictions had "ratcheted up tensions between Israel and the NGO (non-governmental organization) community." U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is visiting Israel and the West Bank this week, criticised Israel for not doing enough to ease restrictions on Palestinians in the West Bank. Several thousand Palestinians work for UN agencies in the West Bank. Thousands more work in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Sarkozy's promise 'France will never compromise Israel's security' Israel's agenda Is an Israeli strike on Iran still on the government's agenda?   1.   UNWRA staff known to be Hamas bomb makers 19:07  |  x-ray 15/06/08   2.   Weren`t those Ambulances & Vehicles 19:13  |  * BEN JABO 15/06/08   3.   Who blasted King David Hotel and Killed a UN official? 19:42  |  Sami 15/06/08   4.   LESS UN STAFF LESS HAMAS AID 19:59  |  Iskander 15/06/08   5.   Sami 20:18  |  x-ray 15/06/08   6.   No Harassment For The Pariah State Is Too Trifling 20:38  |  chet 15/06/08   7.   Who blasted King David Hotel and Killed a UN official? 20:39  |  Nissim 15/06/08   8.   # 2 Ben Jabo. Facts please. 20:41  |  Nick Ferriman 15/06/08   9.   xray 20:46  |  potobac 15/06/08   10.   # 5 x-ray 20:57  |  Axel 15/06/08   11.   Quite simple - UN should garantee in writing that none 21:38  |  17 15/06/08   12.   SAMI ANYTHING FOR HATE 21:57  |  TOBIA 15/06/08   13.   Nick- B`Tselem- independent source LMAO!!! 22:38  |  Free Gilad Shalit 15/06/08   14.