Israel eases travel restrictions

RAMALLAH, West Bank -- Israel's Defense Ministry announced Wednesday it is easing travel restrictions in the West Bank in an effort to strengthen Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia, who remains stuck in a power struggle with Yasser Arafat.

But Palestinians said the changes were largely cosmetic and brought no real relief.

Defense officials said easing the lockdown was a gesture to Qureia, who is trying to form a new Cabinet, but remains at odds with Arafat over control of the Palestinian security forces.

The officials said Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz also wants to show progress to U.S. officials when he heads to Washington next week.

The move comes a week after Israel's top soldier said the tough policy was counterproductive and was increasing Palestinian hatred toward Israel. Because he is known as a hard-liner, the comments by the army chief, Lt. Gen. Moshe Yaalon, have resonated with the public and may have influenced Mofaz.

Israel has maintained the restrictions, enforced for the past three years, are necessary to keep out Palestinian attackers.

The special two month closure meant many Palestinians couldn't get to jobs and schools. Some used back roads to avoid checkpoints, but always at the risk of getting caught by soldiers.

The Defense Ministry announced Wednesday that public transportation was allowed to resume between most West Bank towns, and that only Jenin and Nablus remain under complete closure. The military said this meant buses and taxis were allowed to travel freely.

However, Palestinians said the movement of taxis, the most widely used form of transportation, was still restricted.

Khalil Saadi, who lives in Jifna and owns a photo studio in the nearby town of Ramallah, set off to work Wednesday, hoping his commute would be easier. He took a taxi to the Surda checkpoint on the outskirts of Ramallah, but the vehicle was stopped by soldiers.

As before, Saadi had to get out and walk 700 yards across a dusty road, past an unmanned Israeli barrier and into Ramallah. Along the way, he was stopped by an Israeli patrol, and soldiers checked his identification papers.

"There are no changes," he said. "If I come from my village, seven kilometers away, and have to cross two checkpoints, that doesn't mean any change."

Pedestrians were allowed to walk past the checkpoint without submitting to inspections as in recent weeks, but army jeeps continued to patrol the area. A large barrier in the middle of the road remained in place, preventing most cars from passing. The crossing was jammed with hundreds of cars, pedestrians and donkey carts.

"If there are changes, they should come and move this barrier," said Saadi. "It's just for public relations."

Since last week, Israel has issued 15,000 work permits allowing Palestinian laborers to enter Israel from the West Bank and Gaza Strip, an army spokesman said. The jobs are vital to the Palestinian economy, although the number of permits is a tenth of the amount before fighting began between Israel and the Palestinians three years ago.

Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said Wednesday that Israel should "ease the condition" of Palestinian life. Among his suggestions are ways to ease the flow of goods between Israeli and Palestinian territory, said Jonathan Peled, a Foreign Ministry spokesman.

Israeli leaders have been softening their rhetoric as Qureia struggles to form his government. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon refuses to negotiate with Arafat, whom he accuses of supporting terrorism, and hopes to resume peace talks with Qureia.

But Qureia appeared no closer to resolving his dispute with Arafat. After a meeting of the central committee of the ruling Fatah Party, a grim-looking Qureia exited without talking to reporters.

"The situation is too difficult and nothing has changed," said Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath.

Qureia wants to consolidate all Palestinian security forces under one person, Gen. Nasser Yousef. Arafat, who controls some of the forces, has balked at the appointment.

Israel and the United States insist control of the security forces be removed from Arafat, and that the Palestinians dismantle violent groups -- a requirement under the U.S.-backed "road map" peace plan.

Also Wednesday, Sharon's office said he will ask his Cabinet on Sunday to approve a prisoner swap with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Israel is expected to hand over several hundred Lebanese and Palestinian prisoners in exchange for an Israeli businessman, Elhanan Tannenbaum, and the bodies of three Israeli soldiers.

Many Israelis oppose the deal because of the many prisoners Israel would release and the apparent absence of new information about Ron Arad, an Israeli air force navigator captured in Lebanon in 1986.