WORLD BRIEFING / WEST BANK

Bowing to pressure from Washington, Israel granted U.S.-trained Palestinian security forces greater autonomy in four major West Bank cities, Israeli and Palestinian defense officials said.

Israeli officials said the army would reduce its presence in Kalkilya, Bethlehem, Jericho and Ramallah. Israel will ease its requirement that Palestinian security forces in these towns coordinate their movements closely with the Israeli military. This will allow the Palestinians to decide where to deploy and where they should be armed and uniformed, an Israeli official said.

The move stops short of a full withdrawal. Troops will enter the towns when they deem fit and will continue to maintain control of nearby roads, Israeli officials said.