Israel eases Gaza blockade after Powell visit

Israel eases Gaza blockade after Powell visit
REUTERS

FEB 26: The Israeli Army announced that it would remove military checkpoints dividing the Gaza Strip in two just hours after U S Secretary of State Colin Powell urged Israel to lift its "siege" of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The Army said it had cancelled the decision - made after a mortar attack on a Jewish settlement on Friday - to cut Gaza into two sections "due to increasing humanitarian cases and requests for passage between the two parts".

The Army's announcement came hours after Powell met Israeli Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon in Jerusalem and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in Ramallah during his first Middle East visit since becoming Secretary of State last month.

"We discussed how it is necessary for all sides to move away from violence and incitement and how it is necessary to lift the siege as soon as possible so that economic activity can begin again in the region," Powell told a news conference with Arafat.

Israel has cited security reasons for the closure of the territories that are home to three million Palestinians, who say the measures, which they brand "collective punishment", are choking their economy.

"The Israel defence force places the responsibility for terrorist acts committed from within the Palestinian Authority's territory on the PA itself. These acts first and foremost harm the residents of the PA," the Army said in a statement.

"The Israel Defence Force will respond in any way it sees fit to secure the safety of Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers."

Israel has frequently cordoned off Palestinian areas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in response to Palestinian attacks against Israelis since a Palestinian uprising erupted in late September after peace talks deadlocked.

Tens of thousands of Palestinian workers are unable to enter Israel to work and many Palestinians are prevented from moving between Palestinian towns and villages in the West Bank.