JERUSALEM, May 13 (Reuters) - Israel has agreed to ease travel and trade restrictions on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, Middle East envoy Tony Blair said on Tuesday, seeking to bolster peace talks.

Blair said Israel would take down one checkpoint near the West Bank city of Hebron this week, and remove or relocate several other checkpoints, including one at Beit El near Ramallah, "at the earliest possible date".

Blair made the announcement a day before a visit by U.S. President George W. Bush. (Reporting by Adam Entous; Editing by Rebecca Harrison)

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