jericho (ap) | Israel handed this quiet West Bank town to Palestinian security control, ending a weeks-long impasse over the removal of army roadblocks and giving a fresh boost to Mideast peace-making, Palestinian commanders said.
Jericho is the first of five West Bank towns to revert back to Palestinian control in coming weeks, part of an attempt to restore the situation that existed before the outbreak of fighting in September 2000.
As part of the pullback in Jericho, Israeli troops removed one roadblock, while two other barriers were to remain in place during a monthlong period in which the ability of the Palestinian forces to keep calm will be tested. The Palestinians had insisted that all checkpoints be removed but accepted the compromise.
As part of the handover, 17 Palestinian fugitives in Jericho were taken off Israel’s wanted list, said Erekat. The fate of two top militants jailed under international supervision in Jericho, including the mastermind of the assassination of an Israeli Cabinet minister, remains unclear.
Jericho will remain off-limits to Israelis for the time being, Israeli commanders said. Before the outbreak of fighting, thousands of Israelis would visit the town on weekends, many drawn by a luxury hotel and casino.