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Israeli Arabs walking past shops in a market in the West Bank city of Jenin, on Monday. (Reuters) Last update - 21:56 02/06/2008 Israel lets Israeli Arabs into Jenin for first time since 2000 By Reuters Tags: Jenin, West Bank  Israel began on Monday to allow its Arab citizens into the West Bank city of Jenin to visit relatives and shop for the first time since the start of the second intifada in 2000, Palestinian officials said. The move follows the deployment of Palestinian security forces in the city in a campaign that Washington sees as a chance for Palestinian security forces to show they can rein in militants - an Israeli demand for Palestinian statehood. The move could also provide a badly needed economic boost to Jenin. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who met P Advertisement alestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad in Jenin on Monday described the city's improved state as "miraculous". "It is something that resembles a miracle ... Two years ago it was impossible for a European envoy to meet with the Palestinian prime minister in Jenin. The situation is very different today than it used to be two years ago," he said. While presenting new German-made vehicles for the Palestinian police who now patrol the city as part of Abbas' law and order initiative, Steinmeier added that it was a "clear sign of positive developments". About 200 Israeli Arabs entered Jenin through the Israeli-controlled Jalameh terminal at the entrance to the city, long considered by Israel to be a hotbed for militants. "It's a new policy," an Israel Defense Forces spokeswoman said. Under the new rules, the IDF barred those younger than 18 from entering Jenin and said all the travelers must return to the terminal before nightfall, where they will be subjected to security questioning, according to a flier given to those who crossed. The crossing will be open to an estimated 100 Israeli Arabs per day, Sunday to Thursday, Palestinian officials said. A Defense Ministry official said the plan was to increase the number and over time to allow more travelers to enter. Jenin, long seen as a militant bastion, remains off-limits to Israeli Jews, who once frequented the city's inexpensive workshops, clothing stalls and garages, the Israeli official said. Most of the travelers entered for commerce, he added. Ata Abu Rmeila, a senior official in Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction, said there would be heightened security in Jenin and that local merchants have been told not to jack up prices for the visitors. "Everything is prepared for our neighbors inside Israel to visit us here," he said. Jenin is close to many Arab Israeli villages as well as major cities like Afula and Nazareth. A major Palestinian agricultural centre, Jenin's economy has been devastated by Israeli restrictions and its West Bank barrier, preventing tens of thousands of residents from crossing to work in Israel. Related articles: Israeli source: PA security forces have improved dramatically in West Bank In a sign of changing times, IDF and PA military officers meet to talk security Bookmark to del.icio.us   Word wars Hamas reverses effort to improve portrayal of Jews in Palestinian text books. Cyber-pimps beware MK Gal-On's proposed bill would jail 'online brothel managers' for 5 years.   1.   good move... 21:40  |  bashar 02/06/08   2.   Jenin and #1 Bashar 22:39  |  Zolman ben Moshe 02/06/08   3.   I have a (dumb) question about this 23:36  |  Aphemia 02/06/08   4.   I am eager to read a passionate 23:42  |  Eugene 02/06/08   5.   # 3 aphemia 23:53  |  Axel 02/06/08   6.   Arafat must be turning in his grave 23:58  |  Sam 02/06/08   7.   3 Aphemia 00:01  |  Taly 03/06/08   8.   A wild guess to #3 00:52  |  joki 03/06/08   9.   To Aphemia 00:57  |  Hassan Shattiflo 03/06/08   10.   Thanks to the security fence Jenin is now tame 01:31  |  Conroy 03/06/08   11.   How 01:58  |  Me 03/06/08   12.   To Bashar 03:05  |  Israeli 03/06/08   13.   #9 - Hassan - Jew and Druze are nationalities 03:14  |  Slibovitz 03/06/08   14.   ID cards 03:15  |  J 03/06/08   15.   Ah, the smell of Israeli apartheid towards non-jews... 03:28  |  POP 03/06/08   16.   Security fence and Jenin 03:46  |  Free Gilad Shalit 03/06/08   17.   Aphemia #3 Your dumb question 03:51  |  Free Gilad Shalit 03/06/08   18.   # 10 palestinian security forces, not the wall... 04:08  |  eric 03/06/08   19.   Thanks for the responses and Free Gilad 05:52  |  Aphemia 03/06/08   20.   #18 eric 07:25  |  Conroy 03/06/08   21.   # 20 then explain to me conroy... 10:26  |  eric 03/06/08   22.   # 20 then explain to me conroy... 10:26  |  eric 03/06/08   23.   #15 Funny, I don`t recall S.African blacks launching attacks 15:56  |  DesMnsDave 03/06/08   24.   DesMnsDave #23 17:44  |  aron 03/06/08   25.   #12 Israeli 19:22  |  Said 03/06/08   26.   Bedouins are the only true Hebrew decendants left anywhere. 03:12  |  Shimshon 04/06/08   27.   Jews and Arabs are the same race. 03:20  |  Muslims for Jesus 04/06/08   28.   Free all Arab and Israeli hostages. 03:23  |  Sam 04/06/08

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