Middle East: Israel has agreed to hand over the first West Bank city to Palestinian control tomorrow, according to a senior Palestinian security official.
The official said yesterday: "We will assume our security responsibilities in [the West Bank town of] Tulkarm on Tuesday."
Israel has promised to hand over five cities in the West Bank which its troops had reoccupied during an uprising lasting more than four years which had erupted after peace talks failed.
Israel then delayed carrying out the pledge it made on the eve of a February 8th summit in Egypt after a suicide bombing killed five Israelis in Tel Aviv nine days ago. However the sides resumed security talks on handing over the cities yesterday.
Israeli officials had no immediate comment. A military source would say only that Israel's top West Bank commander had met with a top Palestinian commander on the issue and that more meetings would be held this week.
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has said he needs to regain control over cities in the West Bank in order for him to pursue a crackdown on gunmen as Israel and the US have sought.
Meanwhile, Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon said yesterday that Mr Abbas's refusal to confront militants could strengthen the groups and thwart peace efforts in the region.
Mr Sharon criticised the policy during a meeting on Sunday with Jordanian foreign minister Hani Mulki, the highest ranking Jordanian to visit since 2001, who told Israel that Jordan wanted to step up mediation efforts in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. - (Reuters)