Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., October 15, 2008 Tishrei 16, 5769 | | Israel Time: 01:20 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Palestinian police patrolling the West Bank city of Hebron last month. (Reuters) Israel to allow 700 additional armed PA troops into Hebron By Avi Issacharoff and Amos Harel Tags: Hebron, Israel News  The Palestinian Authority is expected to deploy a battalion of security forces to the West Bank city of Hebron Friday, Palestinian sources said Sunday. The move will be coordinated with Israel, and the 700 troops will handle security operations among the city's Palestinian population. Israeli security forces confirmed an agreement is in the works, but said the Palestinian timetable is somewhat optimistic. If the Palestinian sources are correct, the troops will move into their new quarters Friday, which falls during the intermediate days of the Sukkot holiday - when thousands of Israeli Jews are expected to visit the Israeli-controlled territory in Hebron, especially the Cave of the Patriarchs. The armed battalion is the second unit of the Palestinian National Security Forces to undergo American training in Jordan, under the supervision of the U.S. security coordinator in the region, Lt. Gen. Keith Dayton. It has 650 to 700 soldiers and officers, and 150 vehicles. Advertisement Samih al-Sifi, the commander of the security forces, said the deployment does not mean the Palestinian Authority is taking security responsibility for the Palestinian part of Hebron. He said Israel authorized the PA to restore order and security in the city but that there would be no wide-scale operations, only focused ones. He said the operations would begin only after Sukkot, on October 22. Some 600 to 700 Palestinian police generally patrol Hebron, and doubling that number - especially since the new troops are well-trained - can be expected to improve the PA's hold on the city. Four months ago, at American urging, Israel and the PA began to return full security control of the West Bank city of Jenin to the PA. For the past two months, the Palestinians have been asking to expand the Jenin model to Hebron. Israel and the United States held back, primarily because they fear clashes between PA forces and Israeli settlers. It appears that Israel has now decided to accede to the Palestinians' request, albeit to a limited extent and without actually transferring security responsibility to the PA. Israeli security officials said the PA is interested in bolstering its police presence in Hebron partly because of the influence of wealthy Palestinian residents, who constitute a mainstay of support for Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, and partly because the PA sees Hebron as an area where Hamas is relatively strong, and it wants to erode the rival movement's power in the city. Related articles: PA security forces raid West Bank office of Hamas legislator Aluf Benn / Better occupation than a partial peace By U.S. decree, Abbas begins overhaul of his security service Bookmark to del.icio.us   Seeds of the future An Israeli biofuel project using Africa's jatropha plant may end Mideast oil power. PFLP threat A Palestinian militant group vows to kill MK Lieberman to avenge Acre riots.   1.   Another Mistake 06:23  |  Baruch Gold 13/10/08   2.   baruch gold 1 09:26  |  potobac 13/10/08   3.   Political goulash without spices 11:24  |  H.H.M. 13/10/08   4.   zio to allow Palestinians to govern themselves on their land? 15:35  |  shocking!! 13/10/08   5.   Stupid Olmert government allows foreign troops into Hevron. 16:59  |  Great White North 13/10/08   6.   great white north 5 18:38  |  potobac 13/10/08   7.   i can`t help but wonder what King David would be thinking right 05:13  |  glenna 14/10/08

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