TEL AVIV/GAZA - Despite international pressure Israel has erected more than 40 additional roadblocks in the West Bank, according to a United Nations statement Saturday. In total there are now 607 roadblocks in the Palestinian area, compared with 566 eight months ago, the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in Jerusalem.According to OCHA, Israel has dismantled 103 roadblocks since September but in the same period has erected 144 new ones.
Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev refused to confirm the claim. He said Israel is striving to improve the freedom of movement of Palestinians, but the government can't ignore the real security threats that exist. There was no comment from the Israeli army.
The roadblocks and checkpoints set up by Israel since the beginning of the second Palestinian Intifada (uprising) in September 2000 significantly restrict the movement of people and goods. Under pressure from the US Israel announced at the end of March that it would dismantle around 50 roadblocks and checkpoints. Israel has promised to gradually remove roadblocks as part of the revived peace process with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.