Amnesty International condemns Israel's West Bank blockade

Amnesty International says Israeli military checkpoints, curfews and a new fence sealing off large parts of the West Bank are violating Palestinians' human rights.

A report by the human rights group details the impact of military restrictions on the movement of Palestinians nearly three years into fighting that has heightened Israel's emphasis on shielding itself from would-be attackers.

Among its recommendations, Amnesty is urging Israel to halt construction of the 370-mile fence along its frontier with the West Bank.

It says the barrier of razor wire, walls, fences and trenches is a major problem for tens of thousands of Palestinians.

Israeli officials declined to comment until they had reviewed the report.

Israel has defended the new security fence and other restrictions on the movement of Palestinians as necessary to prevent further attacks. Suicide bombings have killed 397 Israelis in the past three years.

But the Amnesty report argues Israel's military measures have failed to stop the attacks, while causing serious harm to the Palestinian economy.

Based on interviews with Palestinians and Israelis, including medical workers, human rights experts, government officials, journalists and community leaders, the report documents the effects of roadblocks and other barriers that have divided Palestinian communities and turned previously short trips into hours-long journeys.

The report calls restrictions on movement a human rights violation because they deny people reliable access to food, water, health care, education and work.

"Although less well documented than other human rights violations, such as killings, torture and detentions, the economic and social consequences of the restrictions are devastating," the report said.

Israel also has violated its obligations under international law as an occupying power to ensure the population has food and medicine, the report said.

Amnesty also is urging Israel to end its curfews in Palestinian areas and allow the creation of an international human rights monitoring team.