On the Israeli withdrawal from Jenin

Concerning the steps of the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the Palestinian Authority said that Israel has agreed to hand over to the Palestinians the city of Jenin, in the north of the West Bank, during the joint meeting with Israel with the objective of coordinating the withdrawal from Gaza in August.

The spokesman for the Palestinian ministry of the interior and security Tawfik al-Khatin Abu Khousa said that Israel agreed to withdraw from Jenin, prior to its expected withdrawal from Gaza, and the north of the West Bank, so as the Palestinians security forces will be able to impose control on settlements to be evacuated in the West Bank.

Worthy mentioning that Jenin was not listed among the five cities Israel agreed to hand over to the Palestinian authority in the course of the truce agreement signed in February. Israel had only handed the Palestinians the two cities of Toulkarem and Areiha.