Mofaz approves Jericho handover

TEL AVIV - Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and senior Palestinian security figure Muhammad Dahlan have agreed on a gradual handover of West Bank cities to the Palestinians, starting with Jericho this week.

The two met Saturday for the third time in the framework of renewed contacts between the two sides, and have also finalized the nature of security responsibilities in the cities once they are transferred to the Palestinian Authority's control.  

Handover criteria 

During the course of the meeting, Mofaz defined three handover criteria:

• Complete control in the city - one law, one security establishment

• All weapons to be collected from terror organizations

• Terror infrastructures to be dealt with by the Palestinian Authority 

Mofaz and Dahlan also agreed to establish a committee to deal with wanted terror suspects.

The committee is set to meet with the General Security Service chief Monday to discuss the names of  listed suspects, as well as those exiled to Europe, who may be allowed to return.

Mofaz also granted permission to train Palestinian police from Nablus and Hebron, characterized as the "most problematic" cities.

Dahlan, Mofaz to meet weekly

Dahlan presented Mofaz with a list of all security operations performed by the Authority in order to combat terror, especially in the Gaza Strip.

The two agreed to meet on a weekly basis in the framework of a political-security committee, whereby Dahlan would present Mofaz with a weekly updated situation assessment of all Palestinian operations.

Mofaz told Dahlan the Palestinian security establishment must do all it can to combat terror and take  action against Hamas and Hizbullah involvement in the territories.

Meanwhile, the security cabinet is scheduled to meet in order to discuss the transfer of the next city.