Bethlehem, West Bank & Al-Ram checkpoint, West Bank, Israel, 16 April 1997

Bethlehem, West Bank:

1. Long shot of roadblock.

2. Israeli flag.

3. Israeli soldiers checking identity cards

4. Palestinian going back.

5. Various of soldiers at roadblock.

6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Motav Hamori, Jordanian man

Al Ram, Checkpoint:

7. Various of Israeli soldiers at roadblock, checking cars and people

8. Long line of cars at checkpoint.

English/Nat

Israel sealed off the West Bank Wednesday.

The move follows warnings that Palestinian guerrillas were planning a series of attacks in Israel.

Israeli soldiers stationed at the West Bank stopped cars and checked the identity cards of people wishing to cross into or out of Israel.

More than one (m) million Palestinians live in the West Bank.

The closure will prevent about half of them from reaching their jobs - as well as leaving others like this Jordanian stuck in the West Bank.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"I cannot get into Jerusalem. I don't know what's the problem, I have no idea.

Q: You're stuck in the West Bank?

Yes, I had to leave my car and come walking to get into Israel."

SUPER CAPTION: Motav Hamori, Jordanian

Israelis too, were barred from entering Palestinian controlled areas in the West Bank.

People queued in cars while the checks were carried out.

Tension soared in the West Bank last month when Israel began construction on a Jewish housing project in East Jerusalem.