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Last update - 10:43 26/06/2008 Dirt barriers removed in West Bank as car-stoning ebbs By Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Israel, roadblock  l aspect," the head of the liaison authority in Qalqilyah, Lieutenant Colonel Samir Amar, said on Tuesday. "They go into school classrooms and talk to the pupils, while underscoring that throwing stones at cars will be met by a harsh response. Now we are beginning to see results." Advertisement In recent years, the stone throwers have made life difficult for settlers living in the area, and for other Israelis driving on the Trans-Samaria Highway and Road 55. Young Palestinians, mainly teenagers, would take up positions on the hills overlooking these roads, and rain rocks down on almost every car with Israeli license plates. In recent months the settlers' patience finally ran out, and they mounted a demonstration outside the Qalqilyah liaison base, near Tzufim, demanding an end to the intolerable situation. According to Amar, there had been close to 20 stone-throwing incidents in an average month near the village of Azun; near the village of Marda'a there had even been incidents of oil spilled on the road to cause accidents. These incidents generally prompted an immediate response: IDF troops would enter the villages, conduct searches, and arrest suspects. These sorts of operations have a natural tendency to spiral into mass disturbances within the villages, Amar said: "It happened almost daily. In most cases the stone throwers were teens who had gone astray, school dropouts who would come to the roads to throw rocks. We're talking about local endeavors, not an established terror group. When we'd enter the villages, sometimes we'd have to impose a curfew because of the disruptions of the peace." Amar described the outcome: "Because of all these incidents, we sealed off the villages, and erected big dirt barriers at the entrances and exits. A resident of Azun who had to reach Qalqilyah, and could drive there in six minutes, is forced to detour all around the sector and arrive in Qalqilyah after 45 minutes." Eventually the Palestinian police began to clamp down on the rock throwing. In addition to giving talks in schools, in which policemen demanded that pupils give up their criminal action, they have impressed the Qalqilyah liaison authority with the degree of enforcement and punishment for offenders. After six weeks of near-total quiet along the roads, Amar's office this week presented the carrot awarded Palestinians in the area: dozens of dirt barriers have lately been removed to ease the Palestinians' daily lives. This is part of a broad effort Israel promised the United States it would make to alleviate the plight of Palestinians in the West Bank. Some 100 dirt barriers have been removed throughout the West Bank in the past 10 months, and last weekend the army removed another 10 barriers in the Ramallah region. Amar tells of friendly liaison meetings between Palestinian police officers and Israeli army officers. But another officer in the sector says it will take a while to rebuild mutual trust. Palestinian officers come to these meetings unarmed, and Israel has insisted - at least for now - that all liaison meetings be held on its territory. Related articles: IDF completes removal of 50 roadblocks across the W. Bank Rice: U.S. to ensure Israel removes West Bank roadblocks World Bank: PA economy can't pick up when mobility is limited Bookmark to del.icio.us   Kosher Idol A new Haredi reality show called 'The Upcoming Voice' makes 'American Idol' kosher. Chief Rabbi's savior New look at Nazi-era papers names mysterious rescuer of future Chief Rabbi.   1.   And who stoned the tourist? the angels? 05:48  |  Pervert 26/06/08   2.   The Philistines Can`t Use OUR Roads... 07:18  |  Yishai Kohen 26/06/08   3.   A nice lesson for the West Bank 07:27  |  x-ray 26/06/08   4.   Good for the PA Police 08:12  |  Gina 26/06/08   5.   thiefs 09:33  |  john 26/06/08   6.   Settlers? 10:27  |  Jacob 26/06/08   7.   Some good news, but ... 11:51  |  Murray 26/06/08   8.   Stop the Violence and Check Points Become Unneeded 12:25  |  Baruch Gold 26/06/08   9.   #2, Yishai Kohen... 22:55  |  Silvienne 26/06/08

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