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Last update - 15:51 24/05/2008 UN: No. of roadblocks in W. Bank up 7 percent from last Sept. By The Associated Press and DPA Tags: Bernard Kouchner, Roadblocks  The United Nations said in a report Friday that the number of Israeli obstacles in the West Bank has increased by 7 percent since last September, despite an Israeli pledge to ease Palestinian movement in the area as part of fledgling peace talks. The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Jerusalem said the overall number of obstacles increased from 566 on September 4, 2007 to 607 on April 29, 2008. The shift included the construction of 144 new closures and the removal of 103 in the same time period. Advertisement The UN agency, OCHA, added that the army removed an additional seven closure obstacles so far in May. It said its findings amounted to a slight deterioration in overall access in the reported period. The report came out shortly after visiting French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner criticized Israel's network of roadblocks and checkpoints, which are seen as a key impediment to the recovery of the Palestinian economy. "The restrictions on access and mobility are still significant," Kouchner said at a Palestinian investment conference in Bethlehem. "They have not yet been alleviated as they should have. Israel should and Israel can exert more efforts in this regard without endangering its security." Israel says it cannot move faster in easing restrictions because Palestinian militants still pose a threat. Government spokesman Mark Regev, speaking before the OCHA report was published, said Israel is doing its utmost to improve freedom of movement in the West Bank. "That's our challenge to take down roadblocks, to try to create greater movement and access for Palestinians while maintaining security. That's what we're trying to do," he said. Kouchner invited to visit Gaza Meanwhile, the Hamas government ruling the Gaza Strip called on Kouchner to visit the territory to learn about the suffering of its people. Taher al-Nounou, a spokesman for the government, said the invitation "was motivated by France's moral stance which was reflected throughout Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner's remarks." Al-Nounou added that the Hamas government "welcomes an active French role for ending the current divisions among the Palestinians," referring to the standoff between Hamas and President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement. Related articles: Israeli settlement expansion can't be justified, French FM says Hamas: No truce unless Israel lifts siege of Gaza Strip U.S. agency, Palestinian firm sign deal to boost Palestinian exports Bookmark to del.icio.us   'Shampoo' meets 'Munich' New Adam Sandler film stars Mossad hit man turned hairdresser. Rehab (live) Report: Singer Amy Winehouse is to undergo drug rehab in Israel.   1.   And I thought Rice and Blair removed 2 02:10  |  El-Birawi 24/05/08   2.   Understanding Israeli Math 02:12  |  Mark of Lewiston 24/05/08   3.   anybody surprised? 02:15  |  Axel 24/05/08   4.   I don`t know whether you noticed or not 02:32  |  Gili 24/05/08   5.   The more the better 02:34  |  Conroy 24/05/08   6.   If the Israeli people don`t wanna lose their last friends...... 02:42  |  Swiss (Dino) 24/05/08   7.   No Partner for Peace 04:01  |  Janice 24/05/08   8.   Everyone know Israel never keeps promises..... 04:35  |  Deborah 24/05/08   9.   Occupy Israel - The Israelis like occupation...! 04:41  |  POP 24/05/08   10.   UN doing a fine job around the world 05:02  |  hal tripp 24/05/08   11.   Roadblocks Proves Arabs Deny Israel`s Right to Exist 06:36  |  Joseph . E 24/05/08   12.   challenge 06:53  |  rm 24/05/08   13.   #5 Conroy thinks it`s all so easy.... 07:33  |  Johnboy 24/05/08   14.   We should keep our strategic assets. 07:43  |  Jean Van Daem 24/05/08   15.   Inverse Correlation Between Roadblocks & Death and ... 07:45  |  Brad 24/05/08   16.   Deborah, Your Full of Poo 07:47  |  Brad 24/05/08   17.   Silly Pop 07:52  |  Brad 24/05/08   18.   same old story 08:25  |  rm 24/05/08   19.   John Hagee and the likes are the new Hitlers 08:31  |  James 24/05/08   20.   cart is before the ass 08:43  |  Space 24/05/08   21.   Disgraceful, The US should withhold Israel`s aid 08:45  |  Dutch 24/05/08   22.   And who writes the report 10:37  |  David 24/05/08   23.   # 10 Got it absolutely right 10:39  |  David 24/05/08   24.   into a web of lies closed eyes are led... 12:11  |  eric 24/05/08   25.   Racist Dino,you`re controlled at every EU airport,aren`t you? 13:17  |  Absolute Sweden 24/05/08   26.   Great News ! 13:52  |  Alex 24/05/08   27.   The roadblocks are not the issue; the issue is rather the right 14:05  |  Ami 24/05/08   28.   US should deduct $10m per roadblock per year from aid (backdated) 14:07  |  Chanalau, Tova 24/05/08   29.   # 25 Absolute Sweden, actually we are not..... 14:47  |  Swiss (Dino) 24/05/08   30.   Occupy the JOOS - The JOOS like to be occupied. 15:05  |  POP 24/05/08   31.   UN 2 Stupid 15:14  |  Igor 24/05/08   32.   Road blocks up 7% from sept. 15:52  |  David Nigel Braham 24/05/08   33.   Iran can help remove the illegal roadblocks from the west bank 16:06  |  Aounist 24/05/08   34.   It`s news like this that does nothing but create hate for Israel. 16:07  |  POP 24/05/08   35.   #25 DINO´d love to see more of those Pal truck-explosions 16:08  |  EU-passport holder 24/05/08   36.   ISRAELIS ARE LIARS 16:43  |  Boyd 24/05/08   37.   chanalua should deduct 10 jews for every roadblock removed 17:06  |  odles 24/05/08   38.   Of course up 7%; arab terrorism increased by more than that 17:17  |  Dr. L. Brnd 24/05/08   39.   Obstacles to terrorists 17:46  |  KUTW 24/05/08   40.   To Johnboy # 13 17:47  |  Luther 24/05/08   41.   Terrorism, impediment to pal economy 17:51  |  KUTW 24/05/08   42.   6. Swiss (Dino): Israeli people`s friends 17:58  |  KUTW 24/05/08   43.   Hamas et all terrorists, no partner for peace 18:00  |  KUTW 24/05/08   44.   8. Deborah: Fair game with terrorists? 18:02  |  KUTW 24/05/08   45.   WHAT??? 18:02  |  whoa nellie 24/05/08   46.   9. POP: that`s what the pals are trying to 18:03  |  KUTW 24/05/08   47.   Which is the point in talking to hamas&co? 18:05  |  KUTW 24/05/08   48.   #28 Rather Cut Off All Financial Aid To Hamas 18:27  |  Douglas Fireman 24/05/08   49.   road blocks and terrorism 18:51  |  fab 24/05/08   50.   to Chanalau, Tova #28 19:00  |  ellen s. 24/05/08   51.   30. fab: road blocks and terrorism 19:14  |  KUTW 24/05/08   52.   OLMERT`S LIES ABOUT ROADBLOCKS 19:19  |  Rich 24/05/08   53.   Donor countries should stop aid to pals 19:57  |  KUTW 24/05/08   54.   #31 KUTW 20:19  |  Boycott 24/05/08   55.   #31 KUTW 20:22  |  fab 24/05/08   56.   The # of roadblocks is as a % chance to a peace 20:31  |  Sal 24/05/08   57.   Iran can help remove the illegal roadblocks from the west bank 20:45  |  Aounist 24/05/08   58.   to #21 and #28 20:56  |  Freddy 24/05/08   59.   What are "obstacles"? 21:04  |  BB 24/05/08   60.   Conroy: The more the better 21:20  |  wibism 24/05/08   61.   Jean Van Daem - Isreal`s strategic assets 21:22  |  wibism 24/05/08   62.   48. Boycott 21:26  |  KUTW 24/05/08   63.   49 fab 21:28  |  KUTW 24/05/08   64.   Aounist 21:32  |  wibism 24/05/08   65.   To 54 Boycott 23:07  |  Jackie 24/05/08   66.   #9 POP - Arabs already treid to occupy Israel 00:59  |  POP`S KEEPER 25/05/08   67.   POP - I know you`re too young to read 01:02  |  POP`S KEEPER 25/05/08   68.   #33 Aoounist - Are you going to help Iran 01:04  |  * BEN JABO 25/05/08   69.   #36 Boyd - Try reading the papers 01:08  |  * BEN JABO 25/05/08   70.   UN demands freedom of movement for terrorists 01:12  |  Realist 25/05/08   71.   Anyone surprised? 01:22  |  Mark Lincoln 25/05/08   72.   #71 Lincoln 07