West Bank Town Transfers Stall

The planned Israeli handover of two West Bank towns to Palestinian control were set back Sunday when Israeli and Palestinian security officials failed to agree on terms for the transfer.

Negotiations on the transfer of Jericho and Kalkilya stalled over Israel’s insistence that the Israeli army would retain roadblocks even after Palestinian security forces take over responsibility for the towns, said Elias Zananiri, spokesman for Palestinian security chief Mohammed Dahlan.

“The Israeli side has raised some security issues to justify keeping these roadblocks, which we believe will make the withdrawal cosmetic,” Zananiri said. The negotiations are to resume Tuesday, he said.

An Israeli army spokeswoman confirmed that the Sunday night meeting failed to produce an agreement but did not elaborate except to describe the meeting as “businesslike” and to say the two sides would reconvene soon.

Earlier Sunday, there were signs of progress after Israel dropped a demand requiring militants to be rounded up by Palestinian security forces. Israeli and Palestinian security officials had planned to meet in the two towns this morning to prepare for the hand-over, which had been expected to take place by Tuesday.

The transfers were part of a deal reached last week by Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and Dahlan. Mofaz was also considering pulling soldiers out of Tulkarm and Ramallah in the near future.

As part of last week’s agreement with Dahlan, Mofaz stopped insisting that the Palestinians arrest militants on Israel’s wanted list and settled for Dahlan’s promise that the wanted men be kept in check and not carry out attacks.

A Palestinian official said Mofaz now agrees that the wanted men can remain in their towns and the Palestinian Authority will be responsible for them. The official said Israel promised not to arrest or kill suspects in areas under Palestinian control, provided they refrain from violence.

As part of the U.S.-backed “road map” peace plan, Israeli soldiers pulled out of parts of the Gaza Strip and Bethlehem in the West Bank in July.