The Israeli army set up five more road blocks overnight beyond the "green line" that separates the Jewish state from the occupied West Bank, a military source said.
The measure was taken "for security reasons" to assist Israeli troops and give better protection to Jewish settlers, many of whom are based in the area, the source said.
The Palestinians have expressed anger over the road blocks, which they see as signs that Israel plans to draw a border unilaterally between itself and a future Palestinian state minus areas of heavy Jewish settlements.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has frequently cited the possibility of a unilateral separation in case slow-moving Israeli-Palestinian negotiations collapse completely.
The plan would mean Israeli evacuation of more isolated Jewish settlements in the Palestinian territories and the annexation of those near Israel proper.
In a statement, a settlers group praised the army "for reinforcing their security."
Palestinian international cooperation minister Nabil Shaath, cited Sunday by the Israeli press, said that according to his office's experts the road blocks go beyond the green line that separated Israel from the Jordanian-controlled West Bank before Israel captured the region in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.
One road block was moved from Makkabim northwest of Jerusalem close to the Palestinian village of Harbata several kilometers (miles) away after attacks on the road, the army said.
After a first road block was moved Saturday top Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat said the army should move it back to its former position.
"Israel is trying to set up de facto situations on the ground by establishing settlements and checkpoints. These gestures do not carry any weight," he told AFP -- JERUSALEM (AFP)
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