Aid agencies slam roadblocks

By Jannat Jalil
BBC correspondent in Jerusalem

On the third anniversary of the Palestinian intifada, international aid agencies have called on Israel to end the restrictions it imposes on Palestinians.

The group of more than 20 aid agencies has issued a statement urging Israel to allow Palestinians to move freely in the West Bank and Gaza.

The agencies say Israeli roadblocks and checkpoints are severely limiting Palestinians' access to basic services like medicine and schooling.

Life is severely disrupted by the roadblocks

The agencies say Israel is obstructing and humiliating Palestinians as they go about their day-to-day business.

This according to the agencies, is increasing the frustration of Palestinians and destroying hopes of peace.

Israel though, says it has to impose the restrictions to prevent attacks by Palestinian militants.

It is estimated that there are more than 450 barriers like checkpoints and roadblocks in the West Bank alone.

The agencies say they are more than just an inconvenience for the Palestinians.

Birth emergency

They give the example of a pregnant Palestinian woman who tried to get to a hospital in the West Bank city of Nablus after she went into labour.

Her husband said Israeli soldiers refused to let them through a checkpoint and so his wife was forced to give birth behind a nearby rock.

INTIFADA TOLL 2000-2003 Israeli deaths: 794 total (99 minors) (246 security forces) Palestinian deaths: 2,201 total (398 minors) (207 "targeted killings") Suicide attackers: 129 Palestinians Israel's prisoners: 5,278 Palestinians (528 "administrative detainees") Source: Israeli human rights group B'Tselem Mid-East economic gloom bites deep

The agencies say the baby died just minutes afterwards.

But the Israeli army says it carried out a thorough investigation after that incident which found that Israeli soldiers had not stopped the couple going through the checkpoint, but in fact had called for an ambulance for the couple and that the woman gave birth after she passed the checkpoint.

The aid agencies say humanitarian workers are also forced to wait hours at checkpoints, despite Israel having said it would allow them more freedom of movement in the occupied territories.

The West Bank and Gaza have been completely sealed off by Israel over the past couple of days, because of reports that Palestinian militants might be planning attacks during the Jewish New Year holiday.