As a result of the decrease in the number of successful terrorist attacks and an increase in US pressure, Israel has reduced the number of military checkpoints in Judea and Samaria by 60 percent over the past year, reports Israel National News.

The Palestinians often complain that Israel's anti-terrorism measures so restrict their freedom of movement as to prevent normal living conditions. Those complaints have been taken by the administrations of US President Barack Obama and former President George W. Bush and translated into pressure on Israel to ignore its security needs in favor of Palestinians sensitivities.

Israeli officials tried to downplay the US pressure and said the removal of the checkpoints was more a result of decreased terrorism. But Jewish community leaders in Judea and Samaria noted that terrorism is down precisely because Israel implemented measures such as the checkpoints, and that removing them will inevitably result in more bloodshed.