Israel opens West Bank roadblock for trucks

HEBRON, West Bank (Reuters) - Israel, under international pressure to ease curbs on Palestinian movement, opened a roadblock in the occupied West Bank to commercial traffic on Thursday.

The Israeli army said the checkpoint between the city of Hebron and a commercial crossing point into Israel would be open for trucks for six hours a day. Private vehicles remain banned.

Residents said the measure reduces travel time between Hebron and the Tarqumiya crossing to less than 20 minutes from about 45.

The United States and Middle East envoy Tony Blair have pressed Israel to remove some of the checkpoints, roadblocks and other obstacles to Palestinian movement in the West Bank.

Palestinians say Israel's network of hundreds of roadblocks amounts to collective punishment, stifles their economy and undermine supports for U.S.-backed peace talks.

Israel says the barriers are needed to stop suicide bombers from reaching its cities.

Ashraf Shatrat, a 33-year-old cooking gas salesman, said a detour round the checkpoint meant a one-hour commute to work.

"Now it takes me two minutes and I am happy I don't have to suffer too much ... from the driving," he said.

The relaxation of restrictions at the checkpoint occurred a day after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met in Jerusalem to pursue U.S.-sponsored peace talks. Washington wants the two sides to reach a deal before President George W. Bush leaves office in January.

(Reporting by Haitham Tamini, Writing by Avida Landau, Editing by Alistair Lyon)