reaching effects on every aspect of Palestinian life. The restrictions impede access to medical services. The difficulty in getting to work, the constant lack of certainty, and the greater expenses resulting from the restrictions gravely affect the economy and trade in the West Bank . The restrictions impair family and social ties. Other negative ramifications include a decline in the supply of infrastructure services and in law enforcement in areas under the responsibility of the Palestinian Authority. A substantial proportion of the restrictions are intended to serve ulterior interests, rendering the restrictions illegal. Furthermore, even if all the restrictions were intended to achieve legitimate security interests, many of them would violate the principle of proportionality, and therefore be illegal. It is also clear that the restrictions result in what is effectively collective punishment. B'Tselem calls on the government of Israel and the defense authorities to remove all the permanent and sweeping restrictions on movement inside the West Bank and to concentrate along the Green Line or inside Israel the means used to protect Israelis. The settlement enterprise, which is directly related to denial of Palestinian freedom of movement in the West Bank, is illegal, so Israel must dismantle them. Until this process is completed, Israel must safeguard the lives of the settlers by means that restrict their freedom of movement and not that of the Palestinians.
