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Quartet envoy to the Middle East Tony Blair (AP) Last update - 17:40 13/05/2008 Tony Blair: Israel agrees to ease West Bank restrictions By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent, and Reuters Tags: TOny Blair, PA, Jenin, Israel Israel has agreed to remove four West Bank roadblocks, and ease restrictions in eight others, the international Quartet special envoy to the Middle East Tony Blair said on Tuesday. During a press conference in Jerusalem, Blair unveiled an agreement, finalized early Tuesday morning, between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, which includes a series of moves aimed at improving the lives of the Palestinians. Blair said that the roadblock known as "the sheep roadblock" will be removed by the end of the week, followed by the Shavei Shomron, Mehola and Halhul roadblocks. The Beit El roadblock will be relocated to facilitate movement into and from Ramallah. Advertisement Both parties agreed that the implementation of the agreement will be subject to security considerations on the ground, but will not last longer than a few weeks. Blair played down prospects for swift, sweeping changes in restrictions Palestinians call collective punishment and Israel describes as vital to its security. "It will make a marked improvement," Blair said, adding that the changes would, over time, significantly improve north-south and east-west movement in the West Bank. The envoy had presented Israel with a list of 12 checkpoints, roadblocks and other barriers in the West Bank he wanted removed or overhauled, but it agreed to only some of the proposed steps for now. Israel has also approved 14 renovation projects for PA-controlled villages, and has agreed to reconsider 3,000 land expropriation and house demolition orders. The city of Jenin will be the centerpiece of the agreement, in order to serve as a role model for other Palestinian cities. Last week, 500 PA armed police were deployed to the city to restore law and order. Israel declared it will not set up new roadblocks in the Jenin area. 1,000 new work permits will be issued and 300 merchants from the city will be allowed to trade in Israel. Blair's initiative was the first of its kind presented by the former British prime minister since world powers appointed him last June to spearhead efforts to revive the Palestinian economy. "We have to show success in this to go to the next stage, Step by step, progressively, we will lift these checkpoints and restrictions," he said. Palestinians say Israel's network of hundreds of checkpoints and roadblocks in the West Bank stifles their economy and undermines support for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Israel has long balked at removing major checkpoints, saying they help to stop suicide bombers entering its cities. Abbas and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert launched U.S.-backed peace talks in November with the aim of reaching a deal before Bush leaves office in January, but skepticism on both sides has increased. Western pressure has been mounting on Olmert to do more to ease travel restrictions and take other steps to shore up Abbas, whose authority has been limited to the West Bank since Hamas Islamists took over the Gaza Strip in June. A police investigation of bribery allegations against Olmert has raised doubts whether he can remain in office and deepened public skepticism that a framework agreement on Palestinian statehood can be negotiated by the end of the year. At the press conference, Blair said construction could now begin on an industrial park in the West Bank city of Jenin, where Abbas has launched a law-and-order campaign. Blair said Israel had agreed to give 1,000 work-entry permits for Jenin residents. While maintaining restrictions in the West Bank, Israel has tightened its economic and military cordon of the Gaza Strip since Hamas seized the coastal territory last year. Related articles: Palestinian forces kill bystander in clash with Jenin gunmen 'Marching toward total ruin' Join the PA police, get NIS 1,400 a month Bookmark to del.icio.us   Fear of extinction The state of over 20 species of birds in Israel has worsened considerably. Taking advantage Jerusalem police probe possible gang rape of disabled woman.   1.   Roadblocks must be restored if there`s one bombing attempt 15:21  |  * BEN JABO 13/05/08   2.   Bliar couldn`t care less about the Palestinians 15:30  |  Palestinian in UK 13/05/08   3.   Haaretz; why do you help give credence to Israel`s tricks & lies? 15:36  |  Chanalau, Tova 13/05/08   4.   Thanks Tony (the new Catholic) 15:37  |  Rav Harley 13/05/08   5.   Ode To Jerusalem 15:47  |  Shimon Cleopas 13/05/08   6.   AND JUST WHAT DOES ISRAEL GET IN RETURN? 16:15  |  DAV zee 13/05/08   7.   Israel gives, gets nothing back... 17:04  |  once again :( 13/05/08   8.   Blessed will be the day 17:16  |  Ibrahim 13/05/08   9.   #7 Making life better 17:50  |  Outsider 13/05/08   10.   Palestinian in UK 17:52  |  x-ray 13/05/08   11.   #9 making life better for YOUR OWN PEOPLE 18:04  |  the govts job 13/05/08   12.   "Israel agrees to ease West Bank restrictions" 18:35  |  Esther 13/05/08   13.   Chanalau, Haaretz abjectly apologises 18:38  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 13/05/08   14.   Haaretz - Lack Of Journalistic Integrity 19:18  |  chet 13/05/08   15.   Road Blocks 19:30  |  isratinian 13/05/08   16.   Why do we need to give them permits and jobs? What is with 19:36  |  a 13/05/08   17.   #14 Chet - Canada 19:38  |  * BEN JABO 13/05/08   18.   Wow, Mr. Balir I am very impressed 19:45  |  El-Birawi 13/05/08   19.   Amen to #6 20:00  |  Mike 13/05/08   20.   Abbas shoule be roundly criticised for losing Gaza and subjecting 21:12  |  r 13/05/08   21.   The correct Biblical move 21:54  |  Shimon Cleopas 13/05/08   22.   Peace will prevail only when Arabs return to their ancestors 22:04  |  Rachel 13/05/08   23.   Peace will only happen 22:25  |  Rachel Stevens 13/05/08   24.   More useless "committments" from Israel 22:26  |  Anne F 13/05/08   25.   Peace will prevail only when Arabs return to their ancestral coun 22:28  |  Rachel 13/05/08   26.   Palestine is not occupied by Israel but by... 22:33  |  Shimon Cleopas 13/05/08   27.   small steps 23:48  |  rm 13/05/08   28.   # 7 once 00:23  |  Axel 14/05/08   29.   Four roadblocks...out of six hundred??? 00:39  |  Silvienne 14/05/08   30.   Liers 00:40  |  Hadi 14/05/08   31.   No truce only seek our rights Olmert 00:46  |  Rachel 14/05/08   32.   To rm & "suffers" of checkpoints 01:36  |  Rachel 14/05/08   33.   Silliness 01:56  |  Scharker Yid 14/05/08   34.   Yes, instead of 5000 roadblocks there will be 4999 03:07  |  Hooder 14/05/08   35.   #31 Hooder - Whatever it takes 03:58  |  * BEN JABO 14/05/08   36.   #29 Silvienne - No it`s worse, not better 07:00  |  * BEN JABO 14/05/08   37.   3RD TRY Silvienne - I tried to send this last week 07:05  |  * BEN JABO 14/05/08   38.   #36, Ben Jabo...perhaps? 17:00  |  Silvienne 14/05/08   39.   blair 18:40  |  mike 14/05/08   40.   #7, once again... 22:57  |  Silvienne 14/05/08   41.   #37, Ben Jabo, thanks for this explanation... 23:05  |  Silvienne 14/05/08   42.   #38 Silvienne - Hear about today`s shopping mall attack 23:54  |  * BEN JABO 14/05/08   43.   #41 Silvienne 00:02  |  * BEN JABO 15/05/08   44.   #42, Ben Jabo...I`ve read about this... 07:11  |  Silvienne 15/05/08   45.   #44 Silvienne - guests 15:41  |  * BEN JABO 15/05/08   46.   #45, Ben Jabo...okay, this suggests to me that... 22:19  |  Silvienne 15/05/08   47.   #45, Ben Jabo, 2nd Attempt 17:39  |  Silvienne 16/05/08   48.   Tony Blair: Israel agrees to more weapons smuggling in West Bank 15:51  |  The Archives 20/05/08

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