Israel agrees to ease W. Bank restrictions - Blair

By Adam Entous

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel has agreed to ease gradually some travel and trade restrictions on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, Middle East envoy Tony Blair said on Tuesday.

The measures, unveiled by Blair a day before a visit by U.S. President George W. Bush, were intended to boost Israeli-Palestinian peace talks that have show little sign of progress.

However, an Israeli army spokesman said many of the changes would be implemented only "in the future" and on condition that Israeli security would not be jeopardised.

Blair told a news conference: "This is a first step but it is a significant first step."

He played down prospects for swift, sweeping changes in restrictions Palestinians call collective punishment and Israel describes as vital to its security.

"It will make a marked improvement," Blair said, adding that the changes would, over time, significantly improve north-south and east-west movement in the West Bank.

Blair said Israel would scrap one checkpoint near the West Bank city of Hebron this week and remove or relocate three others, including one at Beit El near Ramallah, which would be moved "once Israel determines the security situation so allows".

The envoy had presented Israel with a list of 12 checkpoints, roadblocks and other barriers in the West Bank he wanted removed or overhauled, but it agreed to only some of the proposed steps for now.