Gaza City, June 29: Top Palestinian and Israeli security officials went into what was expected to be a final round of talks today before the announcement of a deal for a phased handover of policing duties in designated areas, Palestinian security sources said. The meeting is expected to yield an agreement on an army withdrawal from reoccupied areas in the northern Gaza Strip and from the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem.

In exchange, the Palestinian security services will have to prevent attacks by militant groups against Israel from these areas.
The Palestinian delegation was led by Gaza police chief Abdelrazeq al-Majeida but Israeli sources did not specify who was heading the Israeli delegation in the talks at the Erez crossing point between Israel and the Gaza Strip.

The agreement on withdrawal could coincide with an announcement of a three-month suspension in anti-Israeli attacks, but last minute differences among militant groups could delay the truce until tomorrow.
Bureau Report