Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Easing of Restrictions in Judea and Samaria in 2009

The scope of activity of the Palestinian security forces was expanded – permission was granted to open twelve new Palestinian police stations in Area B, and the scope of activity of the existing police stations was also increased. This is in addition to the permission to open 20 new Palestinian police stations that was granted last year. 2. Improvements in the civil-humanitarian realm – extension of entry permits to Israel for chronic patients (and their escorts) for the purpose of medical treatment, as well as for medical students doing their internship in Israeli hospitals – from three months to six months.



3. Removal of the checkpoint at A-ram, south of Ramallah, which allows free movement of vehicles and pedestrians.



4. Removal of the Beit Iba checkpoint in Samaria in March 2009. In order to prevent the passage of potential terrorists from Nablus, a new vehicular checkpoint was set up near Dir Sharaf village, northwest of Nablus, where only spot checks are carried out.



5. Removal of two roadblocks, one next to Ras Karkar village, and the second near Eyn Yabrud village. Without the roadblocks, free passage for vehicles is possible between Ramallah and the villages east and west of it.



6. Removal of the Rimonim checkpoint, located east of Ramallah – allows movement between Ramallah and the Jordan Valley.



7. Removal of the Bir-Zeyt checkpoint, located north of Ramallah – allows swift passage between Ramallah and the villages to the north.



8. Improved passage of Palestinian public figures and businessmen – One thousand and five hundred permits were issued to public officials which allow them to pass through the Israeli crossings into Israel. This is a very significant move that will improve the quality of life of these individuals, who are the prime movers of the Palestinian economy in Judea and Samaria.



9. Opening of 422 crossing, east of Qalqilya, to free movement of Palestinian vehicles between Qalqilya and the villages to the east.



10. Removal of the roadblock at Hableh, south of Qalqilya, which allows movement between the city and the villages to the south.



11. Extending the working hours of the Haviot checkpoint, northwest of Nablus, to 24 hours a day, which will improve the movement of Nablus area residents.



12. Extending the working hours of the Asira a-Shamalya checkpoint, north of Nablus, to 24 hours a day.



13. Opening the Vered Yericho crossing, north of Jericho, which will allow free movement between the Jericho vicinity and the Jordan Valley for both vehicles and pedestrians.



14. Extending the working hours of the Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, to 24 hours a day, with vehicular spot checks. The Hawara checkpoint is the main one in the Nablus vicinity and the easing of restrictions there allows swift passage from the city to all parts of Judea and Samaria.







The aforementioned roadblock removals are in addition to about 140 roadblocks that were opened to traffic in the past year in order to increase the civilian Palestinian population's freedom of movement throughout Judea and Samaria. The decision to open checkpoints was made following an assessment of the situation by Central Command and as part of the plan to ease restrictions that was approved by the political echelon.



Today, in Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley, there are 504 dirt roadblocks and 14 checkpoints. IDF will continue to act according to decisions made by the political echelon, in accordance with security assessments. These actions are meant to further ease the routine life of the Palestinian population in Judea and Samaria, while continuously fighting terror and maintaining the safety of the citizens of the State of Israel.





מח' מידע ואינטרנט – אגף תקשורת


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