Israel Begins Handing Over More of W. Bank

Israel began a long-delayed hand-over of a further 5% of the West Bank to Palestinian rule Wednesday in a move seen as a boost to the drive for a permanent peace.

“All the best. May God help you,” an Israeli officer at the Yosef Camp army base near the northern town of Nablus told Palestinians as his troops moved out flashing peace signs and sporting smiles and the Palestinians moved in.

The Israeli Star of David flag was lowered and replaced by the Palestinian flag in driving rain to seal the transfer.

“We are happy to get our land back. I think in this hand-over we have achieved some territorial continuity,” Palestinian official Bassam Esbeihat said at Fahmeh camp south of Janin.

In all, the army said it transferred six bases and camps in the northern and southern West Bank, and more land was due to be transferred today.

The hand-over, mandated by a September interim peace deal, was to have taken place seven weeks ago but was delayed by a disagreement between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators over what areas should be included.

They finally broke the deadlock Tuesday, reportedly with an Israeli undertaking to consult the Palestinians on the land that will be covered by a subsequent withdrawal from a further 6.1% of the West Bank set for Jan. 20.

“What can be taken into account in the future is the Palestinian demand for the [next] redeployment,” Israeli Justice Minister Yossi Beilin said. “I presume that was the basis for the Palestinian-Israeli agreement,” he said.

This week’s hand-over will give an additional 5% of the West Bank to Palestinian control--3% to Palestinian civil rule with Israel still responsible for security, and 2% to full Palestinian self-rule.

With the Jan. 20 hand-over, Palestinians will have full or partial control over 40% of the West Bank, which Israel captured from Jordan in the 1967 Six-Day War.

The Palestinians want all of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, most of which they control, for a future independent state.