Jerusalem - As though making up for lost time, Israel yesterday transferred a 150-square-mile slice of the occupied West Bank to Palestinian control an unprecedented three days ahead of schedule, writes David Horovitz. Also, the Prime Minister, Mr Ehud Barak, emphasised his desire to reach agreement with the Palestinians as early as next February on the outline for a permanent peace treaty.
The 7 per cent of the West Bank handed over yesterday did not involve an Israeli military withdrawal, since the territory concerned is coming only under partial Palestinian rule at this stage, with Israel retaining overall security authority. Nevertheless, as the Palestinian negotiator, Mr Saeb Erekat, observed, the change of status means "no (Israeli) bypass roads, no settlements, no confiscation of land . . . no house demolitions".