Israel Agrees to Hand Over Four West Bank Towns

[papau]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAFRGBNEJD.html

Aug 15, 2003
Israel Agrees to Hand Over Four West Bank Towns
By Lara Sukhtian Associated Press Writer

JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel agreed Friday to withdraw from four more West Bank towns, ending weeks of deadlock with the Palestinians over security issues and putting a troubled U.S.-backed peace plan back on track. ....Under the agreement reached Friday, Israel would withdraw from the West Bank towns of Jericho and Qalqiliya next week and remove some military roadblocks. Taking down the roadblocks is seen as a major confidence booster. Israeli checkpoints, set up at the start of fighting nearly there years ago to keep out militants, have all but paralyzed life in the West Bank. Israel would then withdraw from the towns of Ramallah and Tulkarem in the last week of August, provided there are no shooting and bombing attacks and the Palestinian security forces begin dismantling militant groups, said Shirli Eden, an Israeli Defense Ministry spokeswoman. <Snip>

Israel TV said Israel would permit Arafat to make one trip to Gaza City to pay his respects at the grave of a sister, Yousra al Kidwah, who died earlier this week at age 77. <snip>

Meanwhile, 73 Palestinian detainees were released from Israeli jails Friday and driven to the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The prisoners had been scheduled for release Tuesday, but Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had them returned to their cells after two suicide bombings that day. On Aug. 6, Israel released 334 prisoners, but Palestinians said at the time too few were senior figures. <snip>

[tinnypriv]

1. AP YOU MORONS

Checkpoints have been there in their current form and number since at least 1993.

Duh. :crazy: :crazy: