Israel handing over control of Bethlehem
Israeli forces have started to pull out of the West Bank city of Bethlehem today as part of a joint commitment to peace in the Middle East.
Israeli troops will hand the city over to Palestinian security forces after Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas agreed to work towards the implementation of the US-led roadmap for peace.
The two premiers have agreed to set up four committees to work on implementing the roadmap, which outlines steps towards the creation of an independent Palestinian state by 2005.
Mr Sharon and Mr Abbas plan to meet again next week.
Sharon spokesman Ra’anan Gissin said after the most recent meeting: ‘We can do this together and the conditions now are promising to make further progress.’
Israeli and Palestinian military commanders have already held a meeting to discuss the handover in Bethlehem.
The move by the Israeli government sees the biggest restoration of Palestinian power for two-and-a-half years.
The Bethlehem pullout will leave Israeli troops stationed at the edge of the city near a Jewish shrine. However, in the rest of the city armed Palestinian police will take over and curfews will be halted. In return the Palestinian Authority has pledged to curb attacks by militants.
Palestinian security forces are continuing to deploy throughout Gaza, from areas evacuated by the Israeli army.
Revered by Christians as the site of Jesus’ birth, Bethlehem has seen some of the most intensive fighting of the Middle East conflict.
The White House has welcomed the declarations made by Mr Abbas and Mr Sharon.
On Sunday leading Palestinian militants declared a temporary halt to attacks on Israeli targets. However, there were two West Bank gun ambushes in which two people were killed.
