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Israeli Cabinet Approves Handover of Abu Dis
The Israeli cabinet approved the handover of two Arab towns on the outskirts of Jerusalem to Palestinian National Authority at a special cabinet meeting Monday morning.
The two towns, Abu Dis and Azariya, which are currently under Israeli security and Palestinian civilian control as Area B, will be transferred to full Palestinian control as Area A, sources close to the meeting revealed.
The transfer, which 15 ministers voted for and six against, will be submitted later to the Knesset (Parliament) for approval, which is scheduled to reconvene for its summer session Monday afternoon, according to the sources.
Meanwhile, the National Religious Party, the major force in the coalition strongly objecting to the handover of Abu Dis and other Arab villages near Jerusalem, threatened before the cabinet vote that it will leave the coalition over the Abu Dis issue.
Construction and Housing Minister Yitzhak Levy, leader of the party, told Israel Radio Monday morning that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak will cross a redline if he agrees to hand over these Arab villages.
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