Defense Minister Ehud Barak told his visiting Czech counterpart Vlasta Parkanova Monday that Israel would consider easing travel restrictions on Gaza Arabs if there is a halt in terrorist attacks and smuggling of weapons and explosives into Gaza. He said any future changes would be in coordination with the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority, which lost control of Gaza to Hamas last June during a war between party militias.

The PA and Hamas have been conducting a worldwide public relations campaign, bolstered by United Nations representatives in Gaza, to blame Israeli restrictions on Gaza as the reason for its economic difficulties.