Defense Minister Ehud Barak briefed Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Salam Fayyad in Jerusalem on Sunday regarding the relaxing of restrictions that Israel is making for the Eid al-Adha Muslim Sacrifice Holiday this week.
Men above the age of 40 and women of all ages from PA-assigned areas of Judea and Samaria will be permitted to visit immediate relatives within the 1949 cease fire lines, and the relatives will be allowed to visit Area-A zones of PA control. PA men over the age of 45 will be allowed access to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
The defense minister said that personnel would be bolstered at checkpoints in Judea and Samaria to expedite processing of the local population. He also said Israel was looking at letting PA police in Bethlehem at Christmas time.
Barak also officially presented Fayyad with data published last week indicating increased economic activity in the PA-assigned portions of Judea and Samaria.