August 21st, 2008

Crossing between Ramallah and its southern villages opened for free passage

As of today, August 21st, 2008, the Bir Nebala crossing, which connects
Ramallah with villages to its south, will be open for free passage of
Palestinian vehicles. It is the third crossing to be opened this month.

The crossing was opened following security assessments in the Central
Command and as part of the relief plan authorized by the Minister of
Defence, Mr. Ehud Barak, and the IDF Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi
Ashkenazi.

Approximately 100 IDF checkpoints were removed in the past months in Judea,
Samaria and the Jordan Valley. In addition, several major crossings were
opened for free passage, improving the free movement of the Palestinian
population. The Judea Junction crossing, which connects Hebron and the
Tarqumiya crossing, was opened for free truck passage on August 7th, 2008
and the Ganot crossing, which connects Nablus and villages to its north, was
opened for free passage of vehicles on August 9th, 2008.

Other recently opened crossings include: Rimonim crossing between the Jordan
Valley and Ramallah; The Asira Ash-Shamaliyah checkpoint between the Nablus
area and the northern Samaria; The A'rava crossing between Jericho and the
Dead Sea area; The "Sheep Junction" crossing between Hebron and its northern
villages.

The IDF will continue with the easing of restrictions for the benefit of the
Palestinian civilian population who are unassociated with terrorism, while
doing its utmost to combat terror infrastructures and maintain the security
of Israeli civilians.