MIDDLE EAST: Israel is likely to pull back its troops from several West Bank cities within days, Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz said yesterday, in a further sign of co-operation with a new Palestinian leadership
"I think there is an opportunity to create a new reality," Mr Mofaz told Israel Radio after talks late on Saturday with Palestinian official Mohammed Dahlan, a former Gaza security chief, on confidence-building steps. "It is very possible responsibility will be transferred [to Palestinian security forces] in some of the cities in the next few days. We are supposed to meet again to finalise the issues."
Palestinian sources said Israel agreed to a handover this week of five West Bank cities, where militants wanted by Israel would be kept in check by the Palestinian Authority.
Violence has dropped significantly since Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas deployed security forces across the Gaza Strip earlier this month to prevent attacks on Israelis before a planned Israeli pullout from the occupied territory this summer.
Tens of thousands of people, mainly settlers, gathered in front of Israel's parliament building in Jerusalem to protest Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to remove all 21 Jewish settlements in Gaza and four of 120 in the West Bank.
It was one of the largest rallies against the pullout since the Israeli leader unveiled his plan last year. Settler leaders urged Mr Sharon to hold a national referendum on the proposal, which Israel's cabinet approved in October.
Officials said Mr Abbas and Mr Sharon would meet around February 8th to explore ways to revive a peace "road map" charting mutual steps towards the creation of a Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel.
The talks will coincide with a visit to the region by new US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. She has pledged intensive personal involvement to pursue Israeli-Palestinian peace after the death of Yasser Arafat.
"The conditions are now emerging for ... movement back on to the road map and for movement toward a two-state solution," she told Fox News. "I intend to do everything I can to help push that process forward."
Mr Abbas, backed by the US as a moderate and reformist, was elected to succeed Mr Arafat as president on January 9th and has also been trying to coax gunmen into a ceasefire they say must be reciprocated by Israel.
Israel said on Friday it would reduce military operations in the Palestinian territories as a response to Mr Abbas's efforts.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Korei called the Mofaz-Dahlan meeting "very successful" and said its results would be evident soon.
The Israeli army has checkpoints surrounding West Bank cities and has mounted frequent raids against militants since the start of a Palestinian uprising in September 2000.
"Returning the situation to that which existed prior to September 2000 is the issue now," Palestinian cabinet minister Mr Saeb Erekat said, calling on Israel "to remove roadblocks, checkpoints and blockades from our towns and refugee camps".
Mr Mofaz said he and Dahlan also discussed the issue of an Israeli release of Palestinian prisoners, a move that could boost popular support for Mr Abbas, "but nothing has been decided on the scope or timing". Mr Abbas and Mr Sharon last met while signing the "road map" in 2003, when Mr Abbas was Mr Arafat's prime minister. - (Reuters)