ISRAELI PRIME Minister Ehud Barak's Cabinet today gave the green light to a handover of 6.1 per cent of the West Bank to full Palestinian control, paving the way for the renewal of US-brokered peace talks on Tuesday.
"The Cabinet today endorsed the further withdrawal from 6.1 per cent of territory in Judea and Samaria, " said a statement from Mr Barak's office, using biblical names for the West Bank.
It said 16 ministers voted in favour and six were against the handover, to take place on Tuesday. One minister abstained.
The handover will bring land under full or partial Palestinian control to 39.8 per cent of the West Bank, said Deputy Defence Mini-ster Ephraim Sneh. Palestinian officials had said last week the total would be 42.9 per cent after the transfer. The step was originally scheduled for January 20 under interim peace deals but was delayed in wrangling over the areas to be transferred.
One per cent of the territory to be transferred will be land which has been under full Israeli control.The remaining 5.1 per cent will be land which has been under Israeli security control with the Palestinians overseeing civil matters.
Meanwhile Jewish extremists spray-painted Nazi swastikas on a Jerusalem helicopter pad where Pope John Paul is due to begin a historic pilgrimage to the holy city in two days, police said. Israel is mounting the biggest security operation for a foreign dignitary in its 52- year history to guard the Pope's life during the six-day visit. The vandals destroyed signs welcoming the Pope.
