NAZARETH, March 7, 2007, (WAFA)- B'Tselem, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories called on Israeli government to ease its closure policy and enable many more Palestinian workers form the West Bank and Gaza Strip to enter Israel.

In its report, B'Tselem revealed that severe economic hardship now prevails in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, adding that Poverty is extremely high and many Palestinians have trouble finding work to support themselves and their families.

"The State of Israel bears a substantial part of the blame for this dismal situation, and, given that it maintains effective control of these areas, it is responsible for rectifying the problems. Not only does Israel do nothing to ease the hardship, it aggravates the situation, according to the report.

B'Tselem called on the Israeli government to solve the problems that cause so many Palestinians to stay in Israel even though they do not have a permit: Israel must take effective measures to promote an independent Palestinian economy.

"As long as the economic situation in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip remains grim, it must, in a controlled manner and subject to suitable security checks. Such controlled entry would not threaten the security of Israelis and would likely substantially do much to reduce the hardship endured by Palestinians, B'Tselem concluded.

M.H.(10:17 P)(08:17 GMT)