Het zijn kleine stapjes, maar Israel heeft sinds Annapolis een heel aantal van deze maatregelen genomen, en in totaal zijn meer dan 100 checkpoints en wegversperringen verwijderd.
RP
---------
IDF Spokesperson's Office December 7th, 2008
Series of Goodwill Measures taken in Nablus Area
Series of Goodwill Measures taken in Nablus Area
A number of goodwill measures intended to improve Palestinian daily life in Nablus will be taken tomorrow, due to a recent decrease in terror activities originating from the city and as part of the Relief plan authorized by the Minister of Defense, Mr. Ehud Barak and the IDF Chief of the General Staff, Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi.
As a part of these measures, a new pedestrian passageway will be opened tomorrow (Monday) at the Huwwara crossing. This passageway includes two pedestrian security check lanes and a humanitarian lane to be used by children, women, men aged over 45, doctors, teachers and human rights activists.
Five million Israeli Shekels were devoted to the upgrading of the Huwwara crossing for the convenience of the Palestinian residents of Nablus and the surrounding area, and in order to ensure the safety of the IDF soldiers manning the crossing.
Additionally, the Beit Furik and Awarta checkpoints (which was recently relocated to the junction leading to the Awarta village), located south of Nablus, will be opened tomorrow (Monday) to the free passage of Palestinian vehicles into Nablus, allowing Palestinians to pass through without undergoing a security check. Palestinian civilians will be able to leave the city with the presentation of the appropriate authorizations. Security checks will only be undertaken when required due to specific intelligence or operational needs.
Passage through the Beit Furik checkpoint will be permitted for vehicles only, and the pedestrian route will be closed. The opening of the checkpoint will enable the easy flow of traffic for Palestinian civilians from Nablus to the Palestinian villages southeast of the city.
The platform at the Awarta crossing, used for the checking of goods in the checkpoint, has been removed, and trucks transferring goods will only be required to go through a basic security check.
The opening of the Awarta crossing will allow a quick, convenient and free passage without the need to present authorization. This will enable increased trade, lower transportation costs and create an overall improvement to the financial situation in the area.
In addition, the Ganot crossing that has been open for the past months until 18:00 every day will remain open 24 hours a day.
The opening of the crossings was made possible following regional security assessments and is a part of a series of goodwill measures taken to improve the financial situation of the Palestinian residents of Nablus. Nevertheless, it must be emphasized that in the event that the terror organizations make cynical use of the crossings, appropriate steps will be taken.
These steps are a part of recent actions taken throughout Judea and Samaria in order to improve Palestinian daily life. The Al-Badhan crossing, connecting Nablus and the northern Jordan valley, was opened for the free passage of Palestinian vehicles on November 7th, 2006. The Asira Ash-Shamaliya crossing, in the northern part of Nablus, was opened on April 28th and the Ganot crossing, connecting Nablus and the villages to its north, was opened on August 9th, 2008, connecting the city to villages such as Sabastiya, Deir Sharaf, Burqa and others.
--------------------------------------------
As a part of these measures, a new pedestrian passageway will be opened tomorrow (Monday) at the Huwwara crossing. This passageway includes two pedestrian security check lanes and a humanitarian lane to be used by children, women, men aged over 45, doctors, teachers and human rights activists.
Five million Israeli Shekels were devoted to the upgrading of the Huwwara crossing for the convenience of the Palestinian residents of Nablus and the surrounding area, and in order to ensure the safety of the IDF soldiers manning the crossing.
Additionally, the Beit Furik and Awarta checkpoints (which was recently relocated to the junction leading to the Awarta village), located south of Nablus, will be opened tomorrow (Monday) to the free passage of Palestinian vehicles into Nablus, allowing Palestinians to pass through without undergoing a security check. Palestinian civilians will be able to leave the city with the presentation of the appropriate authorizations. Security checks will only be undertaken when required due to specific intelligence or operational needs.
Passage through the Beit Furik checkpoint will be permitted for vehicles only, and the pedestrian route will be closed. The opening of the checkpoint will enable the easy flow of traffic for Palestinian civilians from Nablus to the Palestinian villages southeast of the city.
The platform at the Awarta crossing, used for the checking of goods in the checkpoint, has been removed, and trucks transferring goods will only be required to go through a basic security check.
The opening of the Awarta crossing will allow a quick, convenient and free passage without the need to present authorization. This will enable increased trade, lower transportation costs and create an overall improvement to the financial situation in the area.
In addition, the Ganot crossing that has been open for the past months until 18:00 every day will remain open 24 hours a day.
The opening of the crossings was made possible following regional security assessments and is a part of a series of goodwill measures taken to improve the financial situation of the Palestinian residents of Nablus. Nevertheless, it must be emphasized that in the event that the terror organizations make cynical use of the crossings, appropriate steps will be taken.
These steps are a part of recent actions taken throughout Judea and Samaria in order to improve Palestinian daily life. The Al-Badhan crossing, connecting Nablus and the northern Jordan valley, was opened for the free passage of Palestinian vehicles on November 7th, 2006. The Asira Ash-Shamaliya crossing, in the northern part of Nablus, was opened on April 28th and the Ganot crossing, connecting Nablus and the villages to its north, was opened on August 9th, 2008, connecting the city to villages such as Sabastiya, Deir Sharaf, Burqa and others.
--------------------------------------------
Israel eases travel restrictions at key West Bank checkpoint
By The Associated Press
By The Associated Press
Palestinians packed into cars to leave the West Bank city of Nablus on Saturday after Israel eased restrictions on residents leaving the town in vehicles for the first time in six years.
Luay Saadi, head of Palestinian-Israeli security coordination in Nablus, said Saturday that he was told by his Israeli counterparts that Palestinian men and women over age 50 can now leave the town in their cars, without prior permission from Israel's army.
An Israel Defense Forces spokeswoman could not confirm the new policy.
Most Nablus residents cross an Israeli checkpoint on foot to leave town or obtain a permit from Israel's military to exit in a vehicle.
But in an unusual turn of events on Saturday, IDF soldiers allowed all Palestinians in vehicles - not just those driven by people over 50 - to leave the city, prompting a rush of residents to enjoy the sudden easing up of restrictions.
Palestinian taxi drivers working around the large Israeli checkpoint of Hawara on Nablus' southern outskirts said they were told by IDF soldiers that the measure was a goodwill gesture for an upcoming Muslim holiday, meant to begin on Monday.
"Today I'm going in and out without a permit," said taxi driver Khaled al-Nadi.
Since 2002, Nablus residents have required a permit from Israel's army to leave their town in a vehicle. This is the first time those restrictions have been eased.
Checkpoints are one of the main grievances Palestinians cite of Israel's occupation of the West Bank. They hinder movement and have choked off trade.
Israel maintains a system of roadblocks throughout the West Bank to prevent Palestinian militants from carrying out attacks. Scores of suicide bombers and gunmen were dispatched from Nablus to attack Israelis at the height of fighting between Palestinians and Israel.
The town of 170,000 is ringed by eight checkpoints and road barriers to control movement.
An IDF spokeswoman said she was not aware of the new policy but said they were building extra lanes at the large Hawara checkpoint outside of Nablus to speed up movement.
In the Gaza Strip on Saturday, Palestinian official Amjad Shawa said an expected boat carrying a Qatari delegation was delayed for technical reasons. Shawa did not specify those reasons.
The boat was to be manned by pro-Palestinian activists. It was to ship the Qataris to Gaza on Sunday to defy Israel and Egypt's blockade of the coastal territory. The blockade was imposed after the militant group Hamas seized power of Gaza in July last year.
Activists have made three blockade-busting boat rides to Gaza, but this would have been the first carrying an Arab delegation.
Luay Saadi, head of Palestinian-Israeli security coordination in Nablus, said Saturday that he was told by his Israeli counterparts that Palestinian men and women over age 50 can now leave the town in their cars, without prior permission from Israel's army.
An Israel Defense Forces spokeswoman could not confirm the new policy.
Most Nablus residents cross an Israeli checkpoint on foot to leave town or obtain a permit from Israel's military to exit in a vehicle.
But in an unusual turn of events on Saturday, IDF soldiers allowed all Palestinians in vehicles - not just those driven by people over 50 - to leave the city, prompting a rush of residents to enjoy the sudden easing up of restrictions.
Palestinian taxi drivers working around the large Israeli checkpoint of Hawara on Nablus' southern outskirts said they were told by IDF soldiers that the measure was a goodwill gesture for an upcoming Muslim holiday, meant to begin on Monday.
"Today I'm going in and out without a permit," said taxi driver Khaled al-Nadi.
Since 2002, Nablus residents have required a permit from Israel's army to leave their town in a vehicle. This is the first time those restrictions have been eased.
Checkpoints are one of the main grievances Palestinians cite of Israel's occupation of the West Bank. They hinder movement and have choked off trade.
Israel maintains a system of roadblocks throughout the West Bank to prevent Palestinian militants from carrying out attacks. Scores of suicide bombers and gunmen were dispatched from Nablus to attack Israelis at the height of fighting between Palestinians and Israel.
The town of 170,000 is ringed by eight checkpoints and road barriers to control movement.
An IDF spokeswoman said she was not aware of the new policy but said they were building extra lanes at the large Hawara checkpoint outside of Nablus to speed up movement.
In the Gaza Strip on Saturday, Palestinian official Amjad Shawa said an expected boat carrying a Qatari delegation was delayed for technical reasons. Shawa did not specify those reasons.
The boat was to be manned by pro-Palestinian activists. It was to ship the Qataris to Gaza on Sunday to defy Israel and Egypt's blockade of the coastal territory. The blockade was imposed after the militant group Hamas seized power of Gaza in July last year.
Activists have made three blockade-busting boat rides to Gaza, but this would have been the first carrying an Arab delegation.
Geen opmerkingen:
Een reactie posten