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Israeli Army Withdraws From Bethlehem, Beit Jala
Israel is withdrawing its troops from the West Bank Palestinian towns of Bethlehem and Beit Jala Sunday night, security sources said.
The pullout started after the Israeli inner security cabinet meeting authorized the army to "continue preparations" for the withdrawal which was suspended Saturday night.
The meeting, convened by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, also authorized the army to respond to the shooting attack in the northern Israeli coastal city of Hadera on Sunday which left four Israeli women dead and more than 40 injured.
Sharon convened the meeting Sunday evening to discuss whether the pullout should be carried out in light of the shooting attack and how Israel should respond to the shooting attack.
Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Defense Minister Benjamin Ben- Eliezer said that the forces should be withdrawn from Bethlehem and Beit Jala because there was quiet in the areas during the day.
Israel has said that the pullout from the two areas would serve as a "test case" for a broader pullout from the six Palestinian towns and cities.
Israel launched a massive military incursion 10 days ago following the assassination of its Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze'evi on October 17.
Israel has come under strong international pressure to end its reoccupation of the Palestinian territory.
The withdrawal from Bethlehem and Beit Jala was agreed upon at a trilateral security meeting between Israeli, Palestinian and U.S. Central Intelligence Agency officials on Friday.
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