Military

DATE=3/21/2005

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE= ISRAEL PALESTINIANS (L-UPDATE)

NUMBER=2-323404

BYLINE=LARRY JAMES

DATELINE=JERUSALEM

CONTENT=

/// EDS: Note that this updates CR #2-323388; There is a Q at the end of this text/feed. ///

HEADLINE: Israelis and Palestinians Agreed on Tulkarem Security Hand-Over

INTRO: Israel radio says Israeli and Palestinian officials have reached a compromise that will permit the hand-over of security control of Tulkarem and two nearby West Bank villages to Palestinian control. VOA's Larry James reports from Jerusalem, the transfer is to be completed Tuesday.

TEXT: The transfer had been held up when the two sides could not agree on the future of several villages north of Tulkarem. The Palestinians wanted to assume control of those villages, but Israel rejected the request, saying the return of Palestinian control to those areas should be more gradual.

A particular concern for the Israelis was that the villages are the base for the Islamic Jihad militants who carried out a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv that killed five Israelis in late February.

The agreement reached Monday calls for the two villages to remain under Israeli control for the time being.

The Palestinians assumed security control of Jericho last week, after several days delay. After Tulkarem is handed over, Qalqilyah is to be next.

The transfer of security control is one of the steps agreed upon at a summit in Egypt, last month. Another is the pledge to release Palestinian prisoners. Five-hundred have already been freed, but the Palestinians want all eight-thousand now in Israeli jails to be let go.

In other developments, Israeli officials say Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz has approved the construction of 35-hundred housing units in Maale Adumim, the West Bank's largest settlement. Palestinians have condemned the move, saying it violates the internationally backed peace plan, known as the Road Map, and that it threatens the chances for peace.

Under the Road Map, Israel must freeze settlement activity in the West Bank. It also requires the Palestinians to dismantle militant groups, which the Palestinian Authority has not done. (SIGNED)

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QNA:

Q: Why the delay in the hand over?

A: Officials from the two sides met Sunday night, but the talks ended in a dispute when Israel refused a Palestinian request to turn over control of several villages north of Tul Karm, including Tseida and Ilar. The Palestinians wanted to retake control of all the surrounding villages, which were under their authority until the Initifada erupted, four-and-half years ago. Israel argued the transfer should be more gradual. And, there was also a specific objection to those two villages because Israel believes the Islamic Jihad militants who carried out the suicide bombing in Tel Aviv that killed five Israelis last month are based there. Under the agreement reached Monday, the villages are to remain under Israeli control for now.

Q: What are the next steps in this process?

A: Israel handed over control of Jericho, last week, and is to hand over four more areas in the days ahead. After the transfer of Tulkarem comes Qalqiya. Three other West Bank cities are not on the list to hand over -- Nablus, the largest Palestinian city; Jenin; and Hebron. Israel considers them to be centers for terror activities.

NEB/LDJ/MEM/TW