Israel ordered the removal of another security checkpoint Thursday morning as part of the "ongoing relief plan" being implemented in Judea and Samaria.
The IDF Spokesman said the move is meant to "significantly improve the freedom of movement and routine life of the Palestinian population in the Tulkarm region," and will allow free movement between the city and the rest of northern Samaria.
The removal of the checkpoint comes less than a day after U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton left the region. The American official spent much of Wednesday in Ramallah, where she met with Palestinian Authority Chairman and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas, PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and various other PA officials.
Although the American "Road Map" plan calls for the elimination of Israel's security checkpoints on the most dangerous roads in Judea and Samaria, two new checkpoints were erected for Clinton's visit. Both were planted on the Jerusalem-Beit El-Shilo highway (Route 60), and were removed as soon as she left the area.
More than 100 security checkpoints have been removed in the past few months in Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley, according to the IDF. In addition, several major crossings have been opened for free passage as well.
The IDF noted that Israel has also recently upgraded the "Kiosk" crossing, located northeast of Bethlehem. The newly expanded crossing allows pedestrian and vehicle traffic between the Bethlehem area and the town of Abu Dis. Three lanes were added to the existing two lanes on February 23, with the central lane designated specifically for humanitarian service personnel such as emergency vehicles, security forces and governmental vehicles serving the PA population.
There was a 100 percent jump in the number of tourists visiting Bethlehem in 2008, according to the IDF.