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Israel starts withdrawal
Israeli troops have withdrawn from the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun, as part of a deal aimed at implementing the US-backed peace "road map". The redeployment coincides with the announcement of ceasefire by the hardline Hamas and Islamic Jihad groups, as well as by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah faction. "The army is committed to...ensuring the success of the move and will carefully monitor the activities of the Palestinian security forces," the army said in a statement announcing the withdrawal had been completed. Israeli public television has shown footage of an armoured convoy crossing back into Israel from the northern Gaza Strip. Palestinian police will take up positions in the sector later in the morning. Earlier, Israeli army trucks started removing military equipment from Beit Hanun and Beit Lahia, both of which border Israel. The Israeli army moved into Beit Hanun and Beit Lahia two months ago in a bid to dismantle the infrastructure of militant groups and prevent them from launching rocket attacks on nearby Israeli communities.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2003-06-29 |
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| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=15955 |