11.   FRODEBU parliamentarians have asked that the trade and transportation blockade not be eased.

12.   He also said he would gradually ease the blockade of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

13.   However Netanyahu informed Albright that the security situation had improved sufficiently for Israel to ease its blockade of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

14.   In a first gesture, Israel was to ease military blockades that have severely disrupted daily life in the Palestinian areas.

15.   In the Gaza Strip, meanwhile, Israel eased a blockade it had reimposed over the weekend, following the killing of a Jewish settler by Palestinians.

16.   Israel announced Monday it was easing its blockade around the Palestinian cities of Qalqilya and Bethlehem in the West Bank.

17.   Israel to ease blockade of Palestinian areas.

18.   Israel has said it would ease its blockade of Palestinian towns in some areas, while the Palestinians pledged to prevent attacks on Israelis, including with mortars.

19.   Israel slightly eased its blockade of the Palestinian areas on Friday, lifting the closure of two West Bank cities and allowing some Palestinians to cross into Jordan.

20.   Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are members of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, which oppose easing the blockade of Iraq.