Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Wednesday that it removed two roadblocks in the West Bank on Tuesday in order to ease the movement of local Palestinians.

Both roadblocks were located near the West Bank city of Ramallah, whose removal would allow easier passage from the city to the Jordan Valley area and to villages on its north, said the IDF in a statement.

Prior to the latest goodwill steps, 145 roadblocks had already been removed during the past year, said the army, adding that the moves followed decisions by the army and the government to "take various steps which would significantly improve the daily life of Palestinian civilians" in the West Bank.

The army has also decided to allow Palestinian "businessman and public figures who play an important role in the Palestinian economy greater freedom to conduct their business," according to the statement.

However, several hundred roadblocks and checkpoints still exist across the West Bank, which the Palestinians say significantly impede both their movement and the development of the Palestinian economy.

The international community, including Israel's closest ally the United States, has been urging the Jewish state to lift the traffic limitations imposed upon the Palestinians and facilitate their economic growth.

(Xinhua News Agency June 3, 2009)