Two Palestinians and an Israeli soldier have been killed in Gaza and the West Bank shortly after Israel handed control of Bethlehem to Palestinian forces.
Under the "Gaza, Bethlehem First" plan agreed on Sunday, Israeli forces moved out of the autonomous West Bank town, which had been reoccupied in mid-June along with almost all of the West Bank after a spate of suicide bombings.
Both sides say the move is a first step in a gradual withdrawal aimed at easing tensions, alleviating the plight of the Palestinian population and eventually reviving the peace process after almost two years of fighting.
The withdrawal was completed as the killing continued in Gaza and in the northern West Bank town of Tulkarem, where a Palestinian militant was killed A teenager was also shot dead by soldiers guarding the Morag settlement in southern Gaza this morning.
In the Gaza Strip, where the pullout is set to be implemented next, an Israeli was shot dead early today by the armed wing of the radical Islamic group Hamas, which has condemned the withdrawal plan.
The plan is the most significant security measure in almost a year, and foresees a progressive Israeli withdrawal from land it has reoccupied during the intifada, or uprising, if the reformed Palestinian security forces can ensure an end to attacks.
AFP