Israel allowed in more than 6,000 Palestinians to work today, in a tentative easing of the sweeping restrictions on movement that were publicly criticised by the army chief a few days ago.
Israel had barred Palestinian travel within and out of the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip a month ago, cutting people off from workplaces, schools and services, after a Palestinian suicide bomber killed 21 people in the town of Haifa.
But Israeli political sources say the belief is growing that Palestinian militant groups could exploit discontent in the occupied territories, and that Israel must shore up the Palestinian Authority, which is formally committed to the "road map" peace plan.
Lieutenant-General Moshe Yaalon last week embarrassed the government by telling newspaper columnists that the blockades, imposed after the uprising for statehood erupted three years ago, were driving more Palestinians into violent resistance.
Until then, 150,000 Palestinians made a living in Israel, so today's restoration of 15,000 Israeli work permits is still only a drop in the ocean.
"Only 6,200 crossed today because many did not know they could go through, but tomorrow there will be more. This is an important step after a month of no jobs or money," said Mr Zeinat al Ghalonami, a senior Palestinian labour official in Gaza.