Scrapped checkpoints give hope

By Haitham Tamimi

YATTA, West Bank (Reuters) - Business suddenly looks brighter for Palestinian Ahmad al-Mansi after the removal of just one Israeli military checkpoint.

Mansi says he has been able to double deliveries of the rocks his firm hauls around the West Bank thanks to the scrapping of the "Sheep's Junction" checkpoint outside his home south of Hebron.

His five trucks can now reach customers in Hebron in 25 minutes, about a third of the time it took when the checkpoint was in place.

Its removal was part of a deal with Middle East envoy Tony Blair who is trying to bolster the Palestinian economy in tandem with U.S.-backed peace talks.

Hundreds of other roadblocks still criss-cross the occupied West Bank, restrictions that Palestinians say cripple economic activity and amount to collective punishment. Israel says they are needed to keep suicide bombers away from its cities.

Mansi said the removal of the "Sheep's Junction" in the village of Yatta illustrated how lifting restrictions could quickly yield results for businesses like his quarry company.

"The number of deliveries has doubled per truck thanks to the removal," Mansi said. "It will enhance my business and will boost the local economy." Travel costs have dropped by a third now his drivers can take a more direct route.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's government is holding a conference in Bethlehem this week to try to spur foreign investment in the occupied West Bank.