Israel to withdraw more troops

ISRAEL is set to withdraw its troops from a second West Bank city today in a gesture to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas after he won a commitment from militants to hold their fire against Israelis.

“We expect to transfer Tulkarem to Palestinian responsibility,” Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz told reporters at an army base in central Israel.

He said the city of Qalqilya would be next, but gave no date for that pullback.