Palestinians to reap benefit of ceasefire as checkpoints axed

ISRAEL will lift travel restrictions on Palestinians in parts of the West Bank and abandon several checkpoints as part of its withdrawal from five towns in the coming weeks, Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian leader, said yesterday. The moves would be the most tangible improvements yet to the lives of ordinary Palestinians.

They would also send a strong message that the cease-fire is beginning to pay off.

Mr Abbas made the announcement a day after meeting Ariel Sharon, the Israeli prime minister. A senior Israeli military official confirmed that several roadblocks would be removed as part of the handover of security responsibility for the five towns to the Palestinians.

Israel is to hand over security control in Jericho, Tulkarem, Qalqiliya, Bethlehem and Ramallah in the next three weeks.

Mr Sharon faced pressure from his own government over his plans to withdraw from Gaza. Silvan Shalom, his foreign minister, said he would lobby legislators to back a referendum on the pull-out. Mr Sharon has rejected the idea.