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World Jewish News
Army removes 2 West Bank roadblocks
03.06.2009
The IDF removed two roadblocks in the area of Ramallah in the West Bank, the army announced Wednesday.
According to a statement released by the IDF Spokesperson, the Rimonim roadblock, which is located east of Ramallah and allows access to the city from the Jordan Valley area, and the Bir Zeit roadblock, were removed following consultations Monday between Judea and Samaria Division Brig.-Gen. Noam Tibon and PA Civil Affairs Minister Hussein a-Sheikh.
The two discussed "various security and civil issues," the statement said.
In addition, the central checkpoint in the town of Atzira Shamali will begin operating on a 24-hour basis in order to ease the movement of Palestinians in the Nablus area.
According to the IDF, the removal of the roadblocks "increases the freedom of movement of the Palestinian populace and joins the opening of some 140 barriers that were removed over the past year."
In addition, the army decided to allow Palestinian businessmen to enter Israel, saying that this would "greatly improve the quality of life for these people, who constitute economic catalysts in the Judea and Samaria area."
According to the announcement, the meeting between Tibon and a-Sheikh was part of the day-to-day liaison between the IDF and the PA.
"Following instructions from the political echelon," the army said, "the Israeli side informed [the Palestinians] that in the coming days it intends to implement a series of steps that could significantly improve life for Palestinians."
These gestures would be focused on "freedom of movement, internal security and the economy," the IDF Spokesperson said.
The army said that gestures would be implemented "while ensuring the security of Israel's citizens and fighting uncompromisingly against terror infrastructures."
Settlers slammed the decision, warning that the move increased the risk of terror attacks against them.
"Defense Minister Ehud Barak is carrying on with the policy of playing Russian roulette with the lives of the Jewish settlers," the Binyamin Citizen's Committee said in a statement. "It's a shame that [Prime Minister Binyamin] Netanyahu continues to pay no heed to the radical leftist policies that Barak is enacting."
Meanwhile, a force comprised of Border Police and members of the Civil Administration on Wednesday demolished several structures in the unauthorized outpost of Maoz Esther, which was rebuilt after it was last evacuated two weeks ago.
The settlers vowed to return to the site.
Источник: JPost.com
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