The Huwwara and Beit Furik checkpoints are to be removed, beginning immediately, according to the Ma’an News Agency.The Huwwara checkpoint prevented movement in and out of Nablus until restrictions were eased in 2008 as part of Israel’s policy of treating the West Bank and Gaza Strip differently. According to the Nablus governor, the removal of the checkpoints comes after 8 months of negotiations. The easing of movement restrictions is crucial to allow the Palestinian economy to function. The Nablus district now has 6 checkpoints and 3 partial checkpoints in addition to 8 roadblocks and several miles of trenches and earth walls.
