Israelis pull out of Palestinian town

PALESTINIANS in a West Bank city now separated from Israel by a controversial barrier awoke yesterday to a rare sight — streets empty of Israeli forces that pulled out after a long encirclement.

The army said removal of the “closure” it imposed on Jenin in August after a truce declared by Palestinian factions collapsed amid violence was “in keeping with assessments of the security situation”.

Residents said routes were opened between the city’s eight entrances and surrounding villages after Israeli troops dismantled roadblocks and tanks pulled back.