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Israeli Troops Withdraw From Ramallah: Radio
Israeli troops withdrew early Wednesday morning from the Palestinian-controlled West Bank city of Ramallah, Israel Radio reported.
The pullout came after the Israeli army and Palestinian security officials reached an agreement that Palestinian security forces would be in charge of the public security in the area after the withdrawal, according to the report.
Israeli Defense Minster Binyamin Ben Eliezer Tuesday night ordered the Israeli army to prepare to withdraw from Ramallah, instructing that the pullout should be implemented by handing over security responsibility to Palestinian security forces on condition they maintain the relative clam in the area.
The city, together with other five West Bank cities of Bethlehem, Jenin, Qalqilya, Tulkarm and Nablus, were re-occupied by the Israeli army in an unprecedented military operation following the assassination of Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze'evi last month.
Under mounting pressure exerted by the international community, particularly the United States, Israeli troops pulled out of Bethlehem and Qalqilya in the past week.
A planned withdrawal from Jenin, however, was postponed temporarily by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Monday night, following a bomb explosion in a nearby Jewish settlement.
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