Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Monday that removing more roadblocks and checkpoints in Judea and Samaria will give Israel diplomatic benefits that make the gamble marginal. Previous easing of restrictions often resulted in a spate of murderous attacks that often claimed the lives of school children waiting for rides. He added, "I do not want to fool anyone that there will not be attempts by terrorists to attack."

 

Speaking to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, he also stated that freeing convicted terrorists is more practical, now that Hamas is not officially a part of the Palestinian Authority (PA) government. He warned, "The moment Abu Mazen [Mahmoud Abbas] renews communication with Hamas, Israel will cut off its ties with the PA."