*Associated Press/AP Online

JERUSALEM - Israel agreed Monday to remove some of the
military roadblocks that have hindered Palestinian travel in the
West Bank, one of several gestures aimed at boosting moderate
President Mahmoud Abbas in his bitter struggle with the militant
Islamic Hamas.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert approved streamlining checkpoints
and removing roadblocks "to strengthen moderate (Palestinian)
elements," according to a statement from his office. Olmert has
already offered $100 million in frozen tax income to Abbas and
indicated he might release some Palestinian prisoners.
Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh said inspections would
be eased at 16 checkpoints, and 27 unmanned roadblocks would be
removed. Also, crossings for people and cargo between Gaza and
Israel would be upgraded "in order to accelerate the economy in
Gaza to lessen the poverty and despair."
Olmert singled out Abbas as a Palestinian leader who is
interested in peace with Israel - a clear contrast to Hamas, which
rejects the existence of a Jewish state in an Islamic Middle East
and has rebuffed international demands to renounce violence. Hamas
controls the Palestinian government.
On Saturday, Olmert and Abbas met for the first summit
meeting between Israeli and Palestinian leaders in more than a year.
Abbas brought up the issues of prisoners and roadblocks - among the
highest priorities for his people. Delivering on those two items
would serve Olmert's interests in boosting Abbas, but they would
also cause him considerable political trouble at home.
For six months, Hamas-linked gunmen have been holding an
Israeli soldier they captured in a cross-border raid. Up to now,
Olmert has said he would not free any of the estimated 8,000
prisoners Israel is holding until the captured solider is freed. His
apparent change of heart has drawn fire from the father of the
soldier and hardline opponents in parliament, but more importantly,
from members of his own Cabinet.
Removing roadblocks has also stirred opposition. Only a
fraction of the more than 400 permanent barriers in the West Bank
would be taken down, but the Israeli army commander in the West
Bank, Brig. Gen. Yair Naveh, warned in a closed meeting that even
that would aid Palestinian militants in attacking Israelis,
according to security officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity
because the meeting was private.
Trouble was also brewing on the Gaza front, with militants
firing rockets at Israel daily despite a cease-fire. Four rockets
exploded harmlessly in Israel on Monday, and two mortar shells
landed near an army base at the vital Karni cargo crossing between
Israel and Gaza, the military said.
Israel on Monday instructed its U.N. ambassador to lodge a
complaint with the Security Council over the rocket fire, a
government statement said.
Hardline politicians have been clamoring for Israeli
retaliation, but so far Olmert has declined to respond.
The statement from Olmert's office said in the first stage,
the checkpoints would be expanded and services extended to cut down
on waiting time for Palestinians. Later, some roadblocks would be
lifted.
"We must consider easing roadblocks in places where
this does not pose a danger," Defense Minister Amir Peretz told
reporters.
Palestinians welcomed the decision. Although hundreds of
roadblocks will remain, "we still consider this a step in
lifting the internal closure in the West Bank," said Saeb
Erekat, a top Abbas aide.
Peretz also came out in favor of releasing some Palestinian
prisoners.
Speaking to reporters at parliament, Peretz said,
"Every year there has been a humanitarian release of
prisoners" around the Christmas and (Muslim) Eid al-Adha
holidays, and the government should carry out a similar goodwill
gesture this year," he said.
In another development, Jordan invited Palestinian Prime
Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas for talks in Amman, the Jordanian
capital, a Palestinian official said Monday.
Palestinian government spokesman Ghazi Hamad said Haniyeh
was expected to go to Jordan this week, and Abbas would also attend.
Jordan's government confirmed it invited the two but gave no
date for a meeting.
Talks between Haniyeh and Abbas of the moderate Fatah over a
joint government have broken down, and there have been clashes
between armed forces loyal to the rival movements. Jordan has
offered to mediate in the past.