Israel opens at truck blocking a road in West Bank

HEBRON, West Bank (Reuters) - Israel, under international pressure to ease restrictions on the movement of Palestinians, on Thursday opened to commercial traffic on a road blockade on the occupied West Bank.

The Israeli army said that the control point between the city of Hebron and a commercial crossing into Israel would be open for trucks for six hours a day. The cars are still banned.

Residents explained that the measure reduces the travel time between Hebron and Tarqumiya crossing within 20 minutes, compared with the previous 45 minutes.

U.S. and a Middle East envoy Tony Blair has pressed Israel to remove some checkpoints, roadblocks and other barriers to movement of Palestinians in the West Bank.

The Palestinians say the network of hundreds of Israeli blockades of roads amounts to collective punishment, stifles its economy and undermined support for the peace talks with U.S. backing.

Israel says the barrier is needed to prevent suicide bombers from reaching bomb their cities.

Shatrat Ashraf, a seller of cooking gas for 33 years, said that a detour around the control point meant a journey of one hour at their workplace.

“Now I took two minutes and I’m happy because I do not have to suffer too driving,” he said.

The easing of restrictions at checkpoint occurred one day after the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met in Jerusalem to continue the peace talks sponsored by the United States.

Washington wants both sides to reach an agreement before President George W. Bush leaves office in January.

Federation Suspends U.S. White to two years after the U.S. Open Cup

The American Federation of Football (U.S. Soccer Federation) suspended the Chicago Fire’s Mexican striker, Cuauhtemoc Blanco for two years to participate in the powers of the U.S. Open Cup, for assaulting an officer of DC United.

On July 8, the World Cup in France 98 and Korea-Japan 2002 received a red card to react violently after a strong entry that received by the zaguero Marc Burch, in his team’s defeat Face DC United 2-1 in extra time, within the contest Copera.

After being expelled, Blanco resisted leaving the stadium and allegedly struck his head with an operations officer of the rival team.

According to the Washington Post, the federation disciplinary committee of the U.S. saw a recording done from the field and took that decision.

The rotary indicated that Major League Soccer in the United States (MLS, for its acronym in English) had not been ruled on the matter, pending a determination of the U.S. Soccer Federation.

That meeting was governed by the U.S. Open Cup, where the MLS is not interference, however, White, being a league that employees can receive a punishment for his attitude to be a representative club Chicago Fire.

Dynamo defeated DC United and passes to the semifinals

Dynamo did not have much problem to defeat 3-1 to DC United, thereby achieving his pass to semifinals of the Super 2008.

19/JUL/08- The goals were the work of the triumph Ricrado Clark, at minute 11, Bobby Boswell increased the advantage to 28, and Stuart Holden closed the account, to 83. Francis Doe discounted for DC United, to 76.

With this result, Houston reached six points in that sector and have their ticket for the next round, while the DC United ran out of units. The need to win to have chance to advance to semifinals of both teams was, but it was the Dynamo showed that the arguments needed to get it and translate it on the stadium, even with relative ease.

Just ran one minute 11, when Brad David executed by a shot from right corner to the first post where Ricardo Clark was ahead of the mark to connect a header and nail to beat goalkeeper Zach Wells.

Despite the goal against DC was forced to mark four goals to maintain aspiration of voting, which directs all Soehne Tom had no capacity to respond, or collective game lacked any individuality help him get the tie.

In fact, the whole texano also forced the machine, sobrellevar actions and used the dismal mark his rival in the fixed tactic to increase their advantage. Again, David was responsible for an action to recover the ball inside the area stopped for Bobby Boswell, who reached the top mark to touch the ball with his head to send it to the bottom of the networks, at minute 28.

The second time it appeared that was pure formality, since Houston felt comfortable with the marker and the poor opponent’s proposal, which was not where it could expect at least a draw.

A flaw of goalkeeper Pat Onstad, however, opened the doors to DC to shorten distances in a corner shot from the roof and that he permtió Francis Doe connect head to put the 2-1, at minute 76.

This endorsement gave new life to the table in Washington, who moments later was near parity in a very powerful derechazo Quavas Kirk, who left the post reventó.

Seven minutes from the end, Houston decided to terminate with any aspiration of his rival to get the third through both Stuart Holden and give final figures. The arbitration was conducted by Alex Prusa, who had an acceptable performance. Reprimand Fred (20), the Brazilian Luciano Emilio (21) and Russian Rod Dyachenko (81).

Alina: DC United .- Zach Wells, Pat Carroll, Marc Burch, Bryan Namoff (Mike Zaher, 76), Francis Doe, Fred, Devon McTavish, Clyde Simms (Gonzalo Martinez, 62), Ryan Cordeiro (Quavas Kirk, 63) Craig Thompson and Luciano Emilio (Rod Dyachenko, 46). DT Tom Soehne.

Houston Dynamo .- Pat Onstad, Eddie Robinson (Patrick Ianni, 64), Brad Davis (Stuart Holden, 46), Bobby Boswell, Craig Waibel, Ricardo Clark, Dwayne De Rosario (Brian Ching, 73), Corey Ashe, Geoff Cameron, Wade Barrett and Brian Mullan (Chris Wondolowski, 73). DT Dominic Kinnear.

U.S. government unable to force Texas to stop executing { Death penalty}

The U.S. government has no authority to force the state of Texas to stop the execution of five Mexicans, despite a court order for the UN to postpone this punishment, as recognized by the State Department.

Washington, 18/07/2008- “The Executive has no legal authority to decide whether an execution will take place in a state or not,” said Sara Mangiaracina, a spokesman for the Department of State.

She explained that the federal government recognizes that the U.S. is obliged under international law to review the cases of 51 Mexicans on death row because they were not informed of their right to contact the consulate of his country and receive their legal aid.

“We are working vigorously to follow that requirement,” said Mangiaracina, who was not more specific in this regard.

The spokesman admitted, however, that the administration of President George W. Bush is unable to compel states to comply with the opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

On Wednesday, the Court ordered U.S. “take all necessary measures” to suspend temporarily the execution of five Mexicans, who are the criminals who are closest to the lethal injection group of 51 Mexicans waiting in death row.