Mar 16, 8:03 AM EST
Israel Hands Off West Bank Town of Jericho
LARA SUKHTIAN
Associated Press Writer
JERICHO, West Bank (AP) -- Israel on Wednesday handed this quiet West Bank town to Palestinian security control, ending a weeks-long impasse over the removal of army roadblocks and giving a fresh boost to Mideast peace-making, Palestinian commanders said.
Jericho is the first of five West Bank towns to revert back to Palestinian control in coming weeks, part of an attempt to restore the situation that existed before the outbreak of fighting in September 2000.
As part of the pullback in Jericho, Israeli troops removed one roadblock, while two other barriers were to remain in place during a monthlong period in which the ability of the Palestinian forces to keep calm will be tested. The Palestinians had insisted that all checkpoints be removed but accepted the compromise.
Ahead of the handover, Israeli and Palestinian commanders jointly patrolled the area. Israeli flatbed trucks began removing cement blocks at one of the roadblocks, while Palestinian forces took up positions in another area
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/ISRAEL_PALESTINIANS?SITE=IDBOI&SECTION=HOME
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