Conal Urquhart - The Guardian - 27 December 2006

Palestinians have criticised an Israeli pledge to remove
roadblocks and other restrictions in the West Bank as too
little too late.

Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister, announced the
measures on Christmas Day to `strengthen moderate
elements` among the Palestinians especially Mahmoud Abbas,
the Palestinian president, whom he met on Saturday.

The offer to remove 27 West Bank roadblocks and make it
easier for Palestinians to travel was derided by Hamas in
Gaza and criticised by Abbas supporters.

Hanan Ashrawi, a moderate Palestinian MP, said that
Israeli promises often did not translate into action. If
the restrictions were relaxed, she said, they were so
insignificant as to make a joke of Mr Abbas. `We are
justifiably sceptical. Nothing has happened yet and we do
not know if these roadblocks are important or peripheral
... If it is true then it will be too little too late. The
only thing that will help Mahmoud Abbas is serious
substantive measures accompanied by a serious and
substantive peace process,` she said.

There are some 500 checkpoints and roadblocks in the West
Bank. They range from busy crossing points into towns such
as Ramallah to unmanned barriers that force Palestinians
to take long detours.

Meanwhile, the Israeli government approved plans for a
settlement to be built in the West Bank for about 30
families. The decision appears to break commitments to
stop settlement expansion.

Six rockets were fired at Israel from Gaza while Israeli
soldiers reportedly shot a Palestinian farmer as he worked
near the Gaza fence.