BEIJING, June 9 -- Israel and the Palestinians have struck a deal to coordinate security for the planned pullout from the Gaza Strip in August.

    The deal was reached between Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and Palestinian Interior Minister Nasser Youssef after weeks of disagreement over how to halt militant attacks after the withdrawal.

    The major Palestinian militant groups agreed to a ceasefire agreement in February at the behest of President Mahmoud Abbas, which has sharply reduced levels of violence.

    Mofaz and Youssef also discussed Israel's long-promised handover of security responsibilities for three West Bank cities.

    Israel plans to begin evacuating all 21 Jewish settlements from Gaza in mid-August, and four of its 120 settlements in the West Bank.

    (Source: CRIENGLISH.com)