Israeli army withdraws from West Bank town

The Israeli army said it had withdrawn from the West Bank city of Tulkarm in the latest pullout from Palestinian areas it seized…

The Israeli army said it had withdrawn from the West Bank city of Tulkarm in the latest pullout from Palestinian areas it seized last month after the assassination of an Israeli cabinet minister.

But Palestinian security officials said Israeli soldiers just north of Tulkarm remained inside Area A territory, land which interim peace deals put under Palestinian Authority control.

Palestinian witnesses confirmed troops had left a Palestinian house, the only static position they had established inside Tulkarm.

Israel moved troops into or around six cities in the West Bank after the assassination of far-right Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi. Under US and international pressure, Israel has now withdrawn from five cities. Its forces remain in Palestinian areas near the northern West Bank city of Jenin.