Israel prepared to turn Gaza security over to Palestinians

Israel is prepared to turn over security responsibilities in the northern Gaza Strip to Palestinian forces well ahead of a planned withdrawal from the area in mid-2005, Israeli security officials said today.

The officials said the move was meant as a test of the new Palestinian leadership’s ability to crack down on militants.

Palestinian militants in northern Gaza frequently launch rockets and attempt other attacks on nearby Israeli towns. The attacks have prompted Israeli reprisals into nearby Palestinian population centres.

The security sources said if the test is successful, Palestinian forces could be given responsibility for security in large parts of the West Bank as well.

Israeli leaders have given tacit support to the interim Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas, whom they consider to be a pragmatic moderate.

They said the proposal on new security arrangements would be made to the Palestinians after their presidential elections on January 9 and would go into effect well ahead of the planned Gaza withdrawal.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon wants to pull out of the entire Gaza Strip and four small West Bank settlements from the start of next July.