Israel Told to Ease Palestinian Movement

JERUSALEM -- Israel must provide more freedom of movement in the West Bank and open crossings into Gaza to avoid driving even more Palestinians into poverty after Hamas seized the coastal strip two months ago, the United Nations Mideast envoy said Wednesday.

Israel's decision to shut Gaza's borders to all but humanitarian aid in the wake of Hamas' takeover is threatening an already badly damaged economy _ and "this shows every sign of getting worse," Michael Williams said in an interview with The Associated Press and two other media outlets.

"We do not see how that can be changed short of opening additional crossing points, particularly Karni," Williams said, referring to Gaza's main cargo crossing with Israel.

Earlier this month, the U.N. warned that Gaza soon will become entirely dependent on foreign aid and face "disastrous consequences" if the Hamas-run territory remains sealed off. A Palestinian business group warned that at least 120,000 more Gazans could lose their jobs.

President Mahmoud Abbas set up a moderate government in the West Bank after Hamas took control of Gaza. Hamas has charged that Abbas' government, made up of pro-Western officials of the Fatah movement, does not want the crossings opened because such a move would help the Islamic group hold on to power in Gaza.

Diplomats and other officials in contact with the Abbas government privately confirm that this is the case. However, Fatah officials deny it, aware that saying so publicly could open it to charges of colluding with Israel.

Williams praised Israel's recent release of Palestinian prisoners and transfer of millions of dollars in frozen tax funds to Abbas' government. But Williams said he is "concerned that we haven't seen further steps," and urged Israel to release more prisoners and dismantle illegal settlement outposts in the West Bank.

"An elementary constituent of economic development is freedom of movement, and to a very considerable extent that does not exist in the West Bank," he said.

Williams also said he was concerned by an increase in Israeli killings of militants in Gaza in recent days, as well as by reports of human rights violations by Gaza's new Hamas rulers.

Williams began his tenure as U.N. special coordinator for the Middle East in May. He said he will be leaving the job in a few weeks, however, to assume the position of Mideast envoy for British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.