Palestinians pass Israeli checkpost near Ramallah. (AP)

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The IDF has tightened its blockade of Ramallah. The army recently dug deep trenches and blocked access roads, cutting Ramallah off from Jerusalem and surrounding villages. New, armed checkpoints have been added and tanks positioned alongside roads leading into the city.

Defense Ministry officials announced this morning that the blockade had succeeded in foiling a terrorist attack, apparently originating in Ramallah. Israel Radio reported that several of the Palestinian instigators of the attack had been arrested.

Palestinian officials told Reuters that the IDF had damaged the main Bir Zeit-Ramallah road, built recently with international aid, by digging a two-meter deep, 150-meter long trench along it.

An official statement issued by Birzeit University said that "an Israeli tank and military outpost guard the two deep "trenches" gouged out of the road by Israeli bulldozers on 7 and 8 March, and no vehicular traffic can pass, including ambulances and trucks carrying food and other basic goods."

Israeli sources said that vehicles transporting food and medicine were being allowed through the blockade. Eyewitnesses reported seeing ambulances stopped for inspection at checkpoints.

The tightening of the closure in the territories resulted in criticism from the left side of the Israeli political spectrum. Transportation Minister Ephraim Sneh said that the blockade may be more damaging to Israel than beneficial. "This kind of blockade has many disadvantages. The Palestinians now have nothing to lose."

Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said the policy of siege "requires review and will be reviewed." Maariv reported that senior officers in the Central Command have raised their objections to the blockade, stating that the collective punishment imposed on the Palestinian population would lead to international pressure on Israel and to an escalation of violence.

In a statement released to Israel Radio this morning, Yehoshua Mor Yosef, spokesman for the Yesha Council, asked to remind listeners that the Palestinian violence has, in effect, created a closure for the residents of Jewish settlements west of Ramallah, who must travel hours out of their way in order to get to their jobs in Jerusalem.

Palestinians claim IDF turning cities into prisons
Yasser Arafat yesterday called upon the United Nations Security Council to hold an emergency session to discuss the Israeli measures. The Intifada leadership has called for "days of rage" to protest the tightened closure.

Hussein al-Sheikh, Fatah West Bank Secretary, said that the blockade would not result in the Palestinians' surrender. "I am certain that this blockade will push people into a worse situation and more severe escalation of the Intifada."

Palestinian Legislative Council Speaker Ahmed Qurei told The Jerusalem Post yesterday that the heightened closure on the territories was an insult to the Palestinians, especially in the wake of Yasser Arafat's message of peace on Saturday. Qurei warned that the closure would lead to disaster and more bloodshed.

Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo accused Israel of officially launching a new war against the Palestinian people. Rabbo said that the IDF "aims at totally paralyzing all kinds of movement and life around the cities and turning them into prisons and detention camps."

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