Peretz removing West Bank checkpoints

December 25th, 2006

Gaza City, Gaza - Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz says Israel will begin dismantling roadblocks in the West Bank and easing restrictions on Palestinians.

He told a parliamentary panel that 59 of about 400 roadblocks would be removed, although he did not say when.

Mr Peretz also said some Palestinian prisoners would be freed for the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha.

Israel has vowed to support Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in his power struggle with the Hamas-led government.

On Sunday the Israeli cabinet approved the release of $100m of about $600m in tax revenue being withheld from the Palestinian Authority.

The move was agreed a day earlier at the first formal meeting between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Mr Abbas.

On Monday Mr Peretz announced the easing of travel restriction in the West Bank during a appearance before the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee of the Israeli parliament.

He said 24 roadblocks would first be dismantled, followed by another 35 at a later stage.

Mr Peretz told reporters that the plan was aimed at "increasing the number of Palestinians working in Israel".

The closures imposed around the West Bank frequently make it difficult or impossible for Palestinians to go to Israel for work.

He added that some Palestinian prisoners held in Israel would be released to mark the Eid festival, due to begin at the end of December.

"Improving the Palestinians' standard of living is part of Israel's security concept," the defense minister said.

Mr Abbas and Mr Olmert have both said they want to re-start peace talks.

Israel refuses to deal with the Hamas-led Palestinian government, which refuses to recognise the legitimacy of the Jewish state.

Mr Abbas says his attempts to persuade Hamas to change its position have failed.

Last week he called for early elections, but Hamas denounced this as a coup attempt.

The dispute led to some of the worst factional fighting between Palestinians in years, prompting fears that the violence was descending into all-out civil war.

BBC News