The Hindu : International : Israel to transfer security of two towns

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Wednesday, Jun 22, 2005

International

International

Israel to transfer security of two towns

Sharon says deal depends on Palestinian efforts to end militant attacks

— PHOTO: AP

DEEP DIVISIONS: Palestinians confront Israeli soldiers during a demonstration against the construction of a barrier on the outskirts of the West Bank village of Marda, near the Jewish settlement of Ariel, on Tuesday.

RAMALLAH (WEST BANK): Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon agreed in principle at his summit on Tuesday with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to transfer control of security in two West Bank towns, officials on both sides said.

A senior Palestinian official at the summit told AFP that the towns of Bethlehem and Qalqiliya would be transferred to the security control of the Palestinian Authority in ``two weeks."

A senior Israeli official said the offer had been made but the deal was conditional on the Palestinians drawing up ``the necessary security plan'' to bring an end to militant attacks.

Mr. Abbas arrived at Mr. Sharon's Jerusalem residence on Tuesday for the summit which was the first in the holy town.

In the hours before the meeting, Israeli forces swept through the West Bank, arresting 52 suspected Islamic Jihad militants, its first big crackdown since a February ceasefire, abandoning a policy of restraint.

Israel's deputy Defence Minister Zeev Boim warned that Israel would lash out at militants if Mr. Abbas' forces did not take steps to control them.

``The situation is similar to that of a terminally ill patient. If Abu Mazen doesn't apply emergency treatment regarding terror, we will have to fight terror with full force,'' Mr. Boim told Israel Radio, referring to Mr. Abbas by his nickname.

As the meeting between Mr. Sharon and Mr. Abbas opened, an Israeli aircraft fired two missiles at an abandoned structure in the northern Gaza Strip. Army Radio said it was a failed attempt to kill an Islamic Jihad militant — meaning resumption of targeted killings that were suspended with the truce. Under the ceasefire, Israel has limited its operations to arrests of militants actively involved in attacks. The Israeli Army gave no information on the air strike but said Palestinian mortar and rocket fire had come from the area earlier in the day. There were no cases of injuries. — AFP, AP

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