Restrictions on Palestinians in West Bank to ease, says Blair

Occupied Jerusalem: Israel has agreed to remove checkpoints in the West Bank to ease travel restrictions on Palestinians, Middle East ambassador Tony Blair said on Tuesday.

Calling it a "significant first step", Blair said changes would—over time—"significantly" improve north-south and east-west movement within the West Bank.

Blair said Israel would remove a checkpoint near Hebron this week and remove or relocate several others, including one at Beit El near Ramallah. Israeli officials had no immediate comment.

Palestinians say Israel's network of hundreds of checkpoints and roadblocks in the West Bank amounts to collective punishment and stifles their economy.