Israel mulls lifting restrictions

JERUSALEM, March 23 (UPI) -- Israel reportedly is considering easing some restrictions on Palestinians ahead of a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Ynetnews.com reported Sunday possible good will gestures by the Israelis include removing at least one roadblock in the West Bank and creating a special route in the West Bank for Palestinian businesspeople.

The news site reported Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak is expected to announce the gestures in a meeting Wednesday with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.

"We must exert efforts in improving the Palestinians' quality of life, subject to Israel's security considerations," Barak reportedly said in closed-door discussions.

The decision to ease restrictions on Palestinians comes after Rice expressed dissatisfaction with Israel and the Palestinian Authority's failure to meet milestones outlined in their peace agreement.

The first stage of the so-called road map for peace said Israel was required to completely freeze construction projects in the settlements, evacuate the outposts built since March 2001, refrain from attacking Palestinian civilians and reopen the Palestinian institutions in east Jerusalem, Ynetnews reported.

For their part, Palestinians were supposed to reorganize their security forces and take action against those who initiate attacks against Israel.