Region | Palestinian Territories
Israel to transfer vehicles and equipment to Palestinian forces
Israel's defence minister said on Wednesday he has agreed to the transfer of new vehicles and equipment to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's security forces and to ease travel restrictions for West Bank businesses.
- Agencies
- Published: 18:52 March 26, 2008
Occupied Jerusalem: Israel's defence minister said on Wednesday he has agreed to the transfer of new vehicles and equipment to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's security forces and to ease travel restrictions for West Bank businesses.
But Ehud Barak, who plans to meet Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad later on Wednesday, has so far refused to remove checkpoints and roadblocks that restrict travel and trade within the occupied West Bank, a Palestinian and Western demand.
Israel hopes the measures, announced ahead of a weekend visit by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, will help dull US and Palestinian complaints it was not doing enough to bolster US-backed peace talks and a Palestinian "law and order" campaign in the West Bank.
Barak said he also agreed to give special permission to a larger number of Palestinian business owners and project managers to travel across the West Bank.
He said, "They must be given priority, so they can go straight to the head of the line and pass through quickly with their magnetic identity cards."
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