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| Israeli forces transferred the West Bank
city of Jericho to Palestinian security control on Wednesday. (Photo:
Xinhua) |
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(Photo:
Xinhua) |
RAMALLAH, March 16 (Xinhuanet) -- Israeli forces
transferred the West Bank city of Jericho to Palestinian security control on
Wednesday, Palestinian security officials said.
"From this moment we are resuming our control over
the Jericho area," Palestinian police chief in Jericho Brig. Ahmed Eid told
reporters after shaking hands with Israeli Colonel Moti Almos in a short
ceremony on Jericho's outskirts.
Soldiers were dismantling the main highway roadblock
outside Jericho and Palestinians were establishing a security presence to
replace Israeli soldiers withdrawing checkpoints.
Israeli army radio reported Israeli troops pulled out
of one of its checkpoints around the West Bank city further north, allowing
Palestinians access to another West Bank city of Ramallah.
The military changed regulations concerning its
southern checkpoint as well, so that troops will from now on only check
Palestinian cars leaving the city, not those entering.
The radio added the main north-south highway running
through the Jordan Valley, which will remain under the Israeli control, will
also be opened to Palestinian vehicular traffic.
The handover of security control over Jericho was
agreed in a Monday meeting between Palestinian Interior Minister Nasser
Youssefand Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz.
The handover was postponed several times due to
disagreements over checkpoint numbers to be removed and whether a nearby village
of Oja would be handed over.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has pledged to
move troops away from four other West Bank cities -- Tulkarm, Ramallah, Qalqilya
and Bethlehem -- as part of a ceasefire agreement reached at a summit between
Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Feb. 8 in Egypt.
It was agreed Palestinians will take over security
control of Tulkarem as early as Sunday, followed by Qalqilya later next week.
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