A Palestinian taxi driver stands outside his car as he waits in a long queue at an Israeli checkpoint on the outskirts of the West Bank town of Jericho April 24, 2001. Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said Palestinians, who hope to lure Israelis back to Jericho's lucrative casino, had vowed to keep the area safe if Israel ended its closure. But senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said he had not heard of any plans to ease restrictions on Jericho, calling on Israel to lift its blockade in all areas of the West Bank and Gaza Strip within 48 hours.

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