Quartet Representative Tony Blair today launched a packages of measures designed to boost the Palestinian economy and aid preparations for statehood and which includes Israel’s agreement to ease some travel and trade restrictions on the West Bank.

Specifically this will mean over time the removal of four checkpoints, significant improvements to another seven to ease the flow of traffic and one will be moved to another location.

Tony Blair said: “This will be an important test over the coming months to show how progressively the occupation can be lifted.”

The four elements of the proposals represent four aspects to creating a Palestinian state:

• Economic and social development
• Lifting Access and Movement restrictions
• Developing Area C, which is 60% of the West Bank, on a case by case basis
• Proper security capability and performance by the Palestinians

All of these aspects then come together in a package specifically set around Jenin in the North of the West Bank, which will, in effect, be an economic and security zone

"It is a significant first step," Tony Blair said at a Jerusalem press conference, but he also stressed that "the test will be in its implementation.”

"For Palestinian statehood to be possible in the eyes of Palestinians there must be hope that occupations will, over time, be lifted," Mr Blair added. "For Palestinian statehood to be possible in the eyes of Israelis, there must be hope, over time, that the security of Israel will be improved and not harmed by the way the Palestinians run their territory."

Welcoming the announcement, World Bank country director David Craig said: "These proposals are a very good step in the right direction and represent a welcome change in approach.

"In themselves, they will contribute to the building of confidence. If scaled up, they have the potential to start a virtuous cycle of growth in the West Bank."

You can see full details of the package HERE