RAMALLAH, May 31 (Xinhuanet) -- Israel is likely to hand over two West Bank cities to the Palestinian security control soon, a senior Palestinian official said Tuesday.

   Abdul Fattah Hamayel, in charge of wanted Palestinian militants,said the Israeli army would hand over the security control of Bethlehem and Qalqilya to the Palestinians "within a coming short period".

   The possible handover came after a joint Israeli-Palestinian meeting over wanted militants yielded positive outcomes, the official said.

    "Both sides have focused on the necessity to withdraw from Bethlehem and Qalqilya within a coming short period," said Hamayel,adding "what has been achieved in Jericho and Tulkarem sets a good example to continuing handover of more cities."
   Israel promised at the Feb. 8 summit between Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in Egypt to hand over five West Bank cities to the Palestinian control.

    Jericho and Tulkarem were the two first transferred, but the handover of the other three was put on hold due to what Israel said a Palestinian failure to rein in armed militants in Tulkarem.

    In an effort to curb militants, the Palestinian National Authority has decided to merge militants into its security
apparatuses.

    Hamayel said meetings between the two sides would continue on the issue. Enditem