Israel intends to remove about 50 roadblocks restricting Palestinian movement in the occupied West Bank, the US State Department said on Sunday during a visit by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
The State Department document, issued after Rice called in Jerusalem for meaningful steps to improve the lives of Palestinians, did not specify which barriers would be removed. Earlier, Israeli officials said Israel intended to take down 50 dirt mounds blocking West Bank roads and one or two checkpoints.
Citing security concerns, Israel has balked at Palestinian demands to dismantle major checkpoints outside West Bank cities.
"Israel has pledged to reduce the impediments to access in movement in the West Bank," the document said. "This will begin with the removal of about 50 roadblocks and immediate steps to upgrade checkpoints to reduce waiting time without compromising security."
Israel has made similar pledges in the past that it has not carried out. It maintains hundreds of checkpoints, roadblocks and other barriers-including unmanned dirt mounds that cut off some villages from main routes-in the West Bank.
Palestinians call the restrictions collective punishment. Israeli officials said other Israeli measures to bolster Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's peace efforts included the creation of a new Palestinian neighbourhood near the West Bank city of Ramallah.
Hundreds of members of a security force loyal to Abbas also would be allowed to deploy in the northern West Bank city of Jenin, long considered by Israel a bastion for militants. The officials confirmed that Israel would provide new vehicles, including armoured cars to Abbas's security services and 1,500 special permits to allow Palestinian businessmen to travel more freely in the West Bank.
Earlier, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Israel wanted to help the Palestinians, but stressed that Israeli security should not be compromised.
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