(Jerusalem Post) Yaakov Katz - Under orders from the Defense Ministry, the IDF has drawn up contingency plans for the transfer of security control over certain West Bank areas to the Palestinian Authority. PA President Mahmoud Abbas has demanded that Israel transfer security over major West Bank cities. One area under consideration is the Ramallah region. Some IDF officers say that even though PA security forces are currently doing an effective job in cracking down on terrorist infrastructure, the IDF's operational freedom still plays a key role. "Even though the IDF does not go into the cities every day, its presence helps keep terrorism down to a minimum," an official said. The decision will likely depend on progress in the peace talks with the Palestinians, currently deadlocked.
2010-10-27 09:46:15Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive