Defense Minister Ehud Barak
told US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday evening that Israel
would be willing to allow the Palestinian Authority to oversee day-time security in one or two West Bank cities.
Barak also presented Rice with plans to erase 24 checkpoints in the West Bank part of government assurances to Washington and President Mahmoud Abbas to ease the living conditions of the Palestinians.
Ashkenazi, Barak and Rice meet in Jerusalem (Photo: Ami Shabi)
"I believe we need to build a political horizon with the Palestinians and ease their daily lives, but the security of Israel's citizens is our utmost priority," Barak told Rice during their meeting in Jerusalem.
"The security situation will be evaluated and we will weigh the removal of additional checkpoints," Barak said.
The defense minister said Israel would gradually boost cooperation with the Palestinian Authority on security matters.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt-Gen Gabi Ashkenazi
attended the meeting and outlined to Rice the security threats posed by Palestinian terror groups.
Rice was later scheduled to dine privately with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Earlier Wednesday, she met
with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Vice Premier Haim Ramon and opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu.
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