Pullout meaningless without PNA full control on Jenin: Palestinian PM

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei warned on Monday that the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and northern West Bank area of Jenin would be meaningless without a full Palestinian security and administrative control on both areas.

Qurei made the statement to reporters as he visited the city of Jenin in the northern West Bank, where four Jewish settlements in the vicinities will be evacuated by Israelis.

Israel is scheduled to evacuate 21 Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip and four in the northern West Bank beginning on Aug. 17 as part of an unilateral disengagement plan.

Qurei paid the visit to meet with representatives of different political parties and factions and see their preparations for the coming Israeli withdrawal.

He also met Palestinian security apparatuses' chiefs to follow up the security plans for redeploying Palestinian security forces in the area that will be evacuated.

People should feel freedom and independence, Qurei told Fatah leaders in Jenin.

From here, from Jenin we tell the US administration and international Quartet that we are waiting for clear Israeli answers related to the future position of Jenin, and we have to get the answer this week, he said.

Source: Xinhua