Israel pledges to ease blockade to aid Qurie
Security sources said Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz had also decided in principle to remove 10 to 20 Jewish settlement outposts on occupied West Bank land. He is to hold talks in Washington with US officials who want the outposts uprooted.
Israel's army chief jarred the government last week when he said the clampdown was backfiring by causing desperation and driving more Palestinians into the arms of militants, undermining moderate leaders like Mr Qurie who back peace talks.
"The point of these steps is both to help Qurie consolidate his position vis-a-vis Arafat and the militants and satisfy the Americans who have been very critical of outposts," a senior Israeli security source said.
No timetable for the moves was given and Palestinian residents reported no relaxation of restrictions that have largely trapped them in their towns and crippled their economy.
An army statement said armoured forces would reduce their presence in and around West Bank cities except for Nablus and Jenin, bastions of Islamist militants. But there was no intention to remove a network of checkpoints and roadblocks.
It said troops would continue raiding Palestinian areas if needed to root out militants. Israel says its measures are needed to stop suicide bombers. Palestinians say such incursions obstruct efforts to have militants declare a truce.
Palestinian political upheaval has impeded diplomacy to carry out a US-sponsored "road map" to end violence and create a Palestinian state by 2005 alongside a secure Israel.
Mr Qurie's struggle to gain cabinet powers over security services mostly controlled by Mr Arafat has delayed the formation of a government for over a month.
Mr Arafat converted Mr Qurie's eight-member "emergency" cabinet into a caretaker government on Tuesday, hours before its 30-day term expired, allowing more time to resolve the dispute.
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