IDF position in Jericho
Photo: Reuters
Israel, PA draft 3-stage security plan, says report
Israel, Palestinians drafting plan for transfer of security in West Bank, Palestinian source says Jenin, Nablus not part of agreement
Israel and
the Palestinians are drafting a three-step plan to transfer security responsibility in the West Bank to the Palestinian Authority, a Palestinian source told Ynet Thursday.
Defiance
Some members of al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades refuse to disarm, despite PA deal with Israel for Palestinians not in official security forces to hand over weapons in exchange for being taken off IDF wanted list
The first phase of the plan, which is not expected to be implemented in the coming days, calls for the transfer of security in Jericho and Qalqilya to the PA, the al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper reported. Ramallah, Bethlehem and Tulkarm will be transferred to the Palestinians in the plan’s second and third stages.
Jenin and Nablus, the most problematic towns in the West Bank in terms of security, will not be included in the agreement.
According to the Palestinian source, the plan will be implemented only after comprehensive reorganization of the Palestinian security services, including the disarmament of gunmen belonging to various groups in the West Bank.
Earlier, Ynet reported that Israel has decided to halt negotiations to expand a list of wanted Fatah operatives eligible for amnesty, after a number of members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades – Fatah's military wing – refused to sign a document renouncing terror activities.
