UN says Israel erected more West Bank roadblocks

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2008

JERUSALEM (AFP) — The number of roadblocks in the Israeli-occupied West Bank has increased by 41 since September despite Israeli pledges to reduce them, the United Nations reported on Friday.

The total number of roadblocks in the Palestinian territory rose from 566 on September 4 to 607 by April 29, the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.

A total of 144 new closures were erected while 103 were removed, an OCHA report said.

The closures severely restrict the mobility of people and goods within the West Bank, and also affect access of UN staff crossing from the West Bank to Jerusalem, the agency added.

The international community has urged Israel to ease restrictions on movement in the West Bank as part of peace efforts with...