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Israeli roadblock pledge derided

Conal Urquhart

Too little and too late, say Palestinians

— PHOTO: AFP

"NO" TO BARRIER: Palestinian and foreign activists confront Israeli soldiers during a protest against the separation barrier in West Bank last Friday.

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Tel Aviv: Palestinians have criticised an Israeli pledge to remove roadblocks and other restrictions in the West Bank as too little and too late.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced the measures on Christmas Day to ``strengthen moderate elements'' among the Palestinians especially Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian President, whom he met on Saturday.

The offer to remove 27 West Bank roadblocks and make it easier for Palestinians to travel was derided by Hamas in Gaza and criticised by Mr. Abbas supporters.

Insignificant

Hanan Ashrawi, a moderate Palestinian MP, said Israeli promises often did not translate into action. If the restrictions were relaxed, she said, they were so insignificant as to make a joke of Mr. Abbas.

``We are justifiably sceptical. Nothing has happened yet and we do not know if these roadblocks are important or peripheral ... If it is true then it will be too little too late. The only thing that will help Mr. Abbas is serious substantive measures accompanied by a serious and substantive peace process,'' she said.

There are some 500 checkpoints and roadblocks in the West Bank.

They range from busy crossing points into towns such as Ramallah to unmanned barriers that force Palestinians to take long detours. Meanwhile, the Israeli Government approved plans for a settlement to be built in the West Bank for about 30 families. The decision appears to break commitments to stop settlement expansion. —

© Guardian Newspapers Limited 2006

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