The Israeli army withdrew early today from the reoccupied part of the autonomous Palestinian town of Jenin in the West Bank, a military spokesman said.
Soldiers completed their withdrawal at 5 a.m. (3 a.m. Irish time) but continued to surround the town, he said.
"Our forces deployed during the night to positions from where they can continue to protect the safety of the Israelis," the spokesman said.
The pullout followed the arrival yesterday of two senior US negotiators to push for a ceasefire. They are to see Israeli Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon today and Palestinian leader Mr Yasser Arafat tomorrow.
Jenin was the only West Bank locality still controlled by Israel after the army stormed six autonomous cities on October 18th, a day after Palestinian extremists killed an Israeli cabinet minister.
In recent months, several Palestinian radicals from the Jenin region had carried out attacks in Israel.
The withdrawal had been postponed several times due to what the defence ministry said was a continuing threat of suicide bomb attacks.
It was finally decided yesterday by Mr Sharon and Defence Minister Mr Binyamin Ben Eliezer, Israeli military radio reported.
AFP