Israel, Palestinians agree on land handover

JERUSALEM, Jan 12: Israel told the Palestinians on Tuesday it would pullout of more of the West Bank and Gaza by September even if a final peace agreement is not reached by the deadline that month, officials said, reports Reuters.

"Israel is committed to implementing the third phase withdrawal whether there is a final status agreement or not," chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told reporters after meeting his Israeli counterpart Oded Eran on Tuesday.

Israel and the Palestinians are negotiating a framework accord to achieve a final peace agreement by September. The talks should tackle the most difficult issues, including the fate of Jerusalem, Jewish settlements, borders and millions of Palestinian refugees.

Eran's office told Reuters: "It's true. The decision (on a final pullout) will be taken by Israel between the period of February and September."

But Erekat said that when and where the final pullout would take place had not yet been decided.

Israel is to withdraw from another 6.1 per cent of the West Bank on January 20, following a pullout from five per cent last week.

The last handover, mandated by a September interim peace deal, was to have taken place on November 15 but was delayed by a row between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators over what areas should be included.

They finally broke the deadlock last week, reportedly with an Israeli undertaking to consult the Palestinians on the land that will be covered by the next withdrawal.

With the January 20 handover, Palestinians will be in full or partial control of 40 per cent of the West Bank, which Israel captured from Jordan in the 1967 Middle East war.

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

During a meeting between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators on Monday, Palestinians also asked Israel to allow refugees to return to their homes and be compensated for losses. Israel rejected the demand.