Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, July 02, 2003
Israeli, Palestinian Security Officials Meet in West Bank
Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and Israeli security officials met Tuesday in the Jewish settlement of Atzion between the West Bank cities of Hebron and Bethlehem, Palestinian sources said.
Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and Israeli security officials met Tuesday in the Jewish settlement of Atzion between the West Bank cities of Hebron and Bethlehem, Palestinian sources said.
The meeting would discuss the ways of the Israeli army's pullout from Bethlehem city, which is due to be accomplished Tuesday.
The Palestinian security delegation comprised Ziyad Hab El-Reeh,preventative security services chief in the Gaza Strip, Ismail Jaber, general security services chief in the West Bank, and Alaa Hossni, PNA police chief.
PNA Minister of Security Affairs Mohamad Dahalan said on Monday that Israel would withdraw its army from Bethlehem by Wednesday, adding that a security meeting would be held to tackle Israel's pullout.
Israel had announced the pullout after a series of security meetings between the Palestinians and Israel. Another meeting between PNA Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and his Israeli counterpart Ariel Sharon is also scheduled.
Israel completed the withdrawal of its troops from the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanun on Sunday night, and handed over the security responsibility of most of the trans-Gaza Salah El-Din highway to the PNA in line with the roadmap peace plan.