Palestinian civilian authorities control additional 7% of West Bank

The Palestinian civilian authority was established yesterday over an additional 7% of the West Bank.

This is at a time when Israel has called for reaching an agreement with the Palestinians within five months as part of the last phase of their negotiations specified by the latest signed agreement.

Palestinian official sources said yesterday evening that the regions in which their civilian authorities was established (20 areas of not less than 400 square kilometers) came under Palestinian control according to the Sharm agreement.

Official sources in Gaza announced that Palestinian President Yasser Arafat agreed yesterday to the maps of the Israeli army for withdrawal from 7% of the West Bank after receiving the map from the Israeli side in the attendance of senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat and Gilad Sher the advisor of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak.