Hundreds of Palestinian police were heading to Jenin to reassert control in West Bank towns. The move is part of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' effort to institute his security plan. Earlier this year, Palestinian forces deployed in the city of Nablus.
Some 480 Palestinian police prepared to deploy in Jenin on Saturday. According to the AP, the commander Suleiman Amran said it's an important day for the town and that there's "no chance for troublemakers to return to Jenin."
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice returns to the region. On her 15th visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories in under two years, Rice is expected to press both sides to stick to their goal of clinching a peace deal by the end of 2008.
According to AFP, she was expected to urge Israel to take new steps to bolster Abbas's authority in the West Bank by easing travel restrictions across the occupied territory to strengthen the local economy.
Rice was scheduled to meet Abbas in the West Bank town of Ramallah on Sunday. She will also host a three-way meeting with top peace negotiators Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and former Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Qorei, who have been holding closed-door talks for several months.
© 2008 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
