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Israel, PA Discuss Handover of Two West Bank Cities

(Ha'aretz) Amos Harel, Jonathan Lis, and Baruch Kra - Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and PA Security Affairs Minister Mohammed Dahlan have agreed on handing over security control of Jericho and Kalkilya to the Palestinians. However, Israel and the PA have failed to agree on the supervision of wanted Palestinians in the cities that will be transferred to PA control. Israel is demanding a personal commitment from Dahlan that the wanted men will not revert back to terrorist activities. Negotiations will resume on Tuesday. Under the deal between Mofaz and Dahlan, two more cities, Ramallah and Tulkarm, are scheduled to be handed over to the Palestinians within ten days after the Palestinians present a plan for preventing terror attacks and supervising wanted militants in the cities. During Sunday's cabinet meeting, Mofaz said the transfer will be gradual, depending on the PA's success in preventing terror attacks, controlling wanted militants, and curbing the use of tunnels in Gaza for smuggling weapons. Palestinian police were deployed in Kalkilya on Sunday, ahead of the expected transfer of security control. According to Palestinian West Bank Police Chief Allah Husseini, the main task for the police in Kalkilya is to prevent militants from infiltrating into Israel.
2003-08-18 00:00:00
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