Quds, June 23, SPA-- Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofas has ordered the army to prepare the handover of the West Bank city of Bethlehem to Palestinian control next week and possibly of Qalqilya the week after, army radio reported Thursday. The report said Mofas was continuing to insist that the Palestinian Authority confiscate all illegal weapons, otherwise Israeli forces would have to do this, DPA reported. Israel and the Palestinian leadership agreed at a summit meeting in Sharm el Sheikh last February on five West Bank towns being handed over to the Palestinians, who so far have been given control of Jericho and Tulkarm.
