Palestinians get Jericho in handover ceremony

ISRAELI troops handed the quiet West Bank town of Jericho to Palestinian security control yesterday, dismantling checkpoints and easing travel restrictions in what was seen as a message to ordinary Palestinians that an informal truce is starting to pay off.

The formal handover ceremony was delayed because of confusion over whether the protocol should be signed or sealed only with a handshake.

The Palestinians insisted on a signature, and the Israelis said that meant they would have to show the document to a legal adviser.