Скачать или смотреть MIDDLE EAST: ISRAEL EASES WEST BANK/GAZA BLOCKADE

(13 Oct 1998) Natural Sound

Israel has eased the total blockade which it imposed 11 days ago on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

The move was carried out ahead of the Israeli-Palestinian summit to be held in the United States later this week.

The decision means that some 21-thousand Palestinian workers are allowed to go to their jobs in Israel.

As the Israeli cabinet gathered on Tuesday, right wing demonstrators outside the government buildings protested against the lifting of the blockade.

The Israeli cabinet met on Tuesday to discuss their position ahead of the Israeli-Palestinian summit to be held in the United States this week.

A U-S proposal at the summit calls for a three-phased Israeli withdrawal from another 13 percent of the West Bank.

In return the Palestinians are expected to introduce steps against militants.

Newly appointed foreign minister Ariel Sharon also attended the meeting.

As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the cabinet, right wing demonstrators gathered outside the government building to protest at the proposed land-for-security deal.

They are also angry at the lifting of the total blockade of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The closure was enforced 22 days ago at the beginning of the Jewish holiday period.

There have been brief respites in its enforcement.

The Israeli closure caused extensive economic hardship in the Palestinian areas, where unemployment runs high.

Before the closure was imposed on September 20th about 60-thousand Palestinians had permits to work in Israel.

In the West Bank city of Hebron, Israel also lifted the curfew it had maintained for 13 days.

The curfew in downtown Hebron was imposed after a suspected Palestinian attacker threw two grenades at Israeli soldiers and border police September 30th, wounding 14 of them and 11 Palestinian bystanders.

As Israeli soldiers patrol the market once again, it is business as usual in the city.

President Clinton telephoned Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Monday and urged them to make the decisions necessary to achieve an agreement when they meet on Thursday at Wye Plantation for talks.

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