Israel agrees to ease some W. Bank restriction: Blair

By Adam Entous

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

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

But an Israeli army spokesman said many of the changes outlined by Blair would be implemented only "in the future" and on condition that Israeli security demands were met.

Chief Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qurie said he hoped the changes were serious but complained that Israel has yet to meet its long-standing "road map" obligations to uproot West Bank outposts and freeze Jewish settlement activity.

The road map calls on Palestinians to rein in militants.

"It is a significant first step," Blair told a news conference of the package he negotiated with Defense Minister Ehud Barak. "The test will be in its implementation."

The envoy, who had given Barak a list of 12 roadblocks and checkpoints he wanted removed or overhauled, played down prospects for sweeping changes in restrictions Palestinians call collective punishment and Israel sees as vital to its security.

Blair said Israel agreed to scrap one checkpoint near the West Bank city of Hebron this week.