The Palestinian Authority (PA) is deploying 300 security troops Friday or Saturday in Shechem following intense training under the direction of American military envoy Lt. Gen. Keith Dayton. He has been overseeing their training at an American-funded base in Jericho, and the Bush administration has bought equipment for the new policemen.

Their deployment is considered a test case for the PA to prove that it can maintain law and order. Success will allow PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to demand that Israel withdraw forces from other Arab cities and remove roadblocks, which have been instrumental in stopping suicide bombers and other terrorists from approaching the heart of Israel.