'Too Early' Checkpoints

Palestinian drivers wait for authorisation to pass through the Israeli Tarqumiya checkpoint in the occupied West Bank near the town of Hebron on March 24, 2008.

24 March 2008

The Jewish people will begin making life easier for West Bank Palestinians but won't remove checkpoints for now, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Monday.

According to Barak, who was visiting the Tarkumiyeh checkpoint, we are working on making crossing through checkpoints easier.

He stressed that the Jewish people was facilitating new industrial zones meant to create thousands of jobs for Palestinians. The moves are part of efforts to boost the Palestinian economy.

Palestinian drivers wait for authorization to pass through the Israeli Tarqumiya checkpoint in the occupied West Bank near the town of Hebron on March 24, 2008.

Still, Barak said it was "too early" to say whether they can take down the checkpoints.

According to Barak, "The security establishment is on alert as we are at a time under increased threats by terrorist."

The Palestine unified army said, that the move was decided upon after a security consultation and in accordance with the decision of the political echelon.