Israeli Troops May Pull Out From Bethlehem Monday Evening: Report

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, August 19, 2002

Israeli Troops May Pull Out From Bethlehem Monday Evening: Report

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Israel could begin to withdraw its army from the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Monday evening in accordance with a "Gaza First" agreement reached Sunday night between Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer and Palestinian Interior Minister Abdel Razeq Al Yehya in Tel Aviv.

Israel Radio Monday quoted an unnamed Palestinian security official as saying the Israeli troops would pull out of central Bethlehem later Monday, and would take down a number of roadblocks in Gaza to ease travels there.

Under the "Gaza First" agreement, Israel would gradually withdraw its troops from the Gaza Strip and Bethlehem and ease restrictions on the Palestinian civilians in exchange for a Palestinian crackdown on militants, the radio reported.

"Both sides agree to start implementing the initiative Monday inGaza and Bethlehem," a statement from Israel's Defense Ministry said, adding that the withdrawal depends on the Palestinians taking "responsibility to calm the security situation and reduce violence."

However, the radical group Hamas, or the Islamic Resistance Movement, quickly announced strong opposition to the measure, and said its deadly attacks on Israelis would continue, according to a report of Israel Radio.

Israel's Army Radio also quoted Hamas as calling the plan "an attempt to silence the Palestinian street in advance of an Americanoperation in Iraq."

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