News Brief07:16 AM

(IsraelNN.com) The Palestinian Authority will take near-complete control of the Jenin region in a new plan designed to test PA forces, Quartet envoy Tony Blair announced Tuesday night. Defense Ministry officials confirmed that Israel and the PA were negotiating a plan to turn security in the area over to the PA.

In most areas where PA forces have deployed, the IDF maintains the right to arrest terror suspects, and operates freely at night to thwart terror cells. According to the Jenin proposal, Israel would arrest only “ticking bombs” with knowledge of planned terrorist attacks.

If the IDF wished to arrest a terrorist who is not a “ticking bomb,” soldiers would be required to submit a request to PA forces. Only if the PA did not arrest the suspect would the IDF be allowed to do so. The PA would be required to fight all local terrorist groups, including the Al-Aksa Martyrs Brigades and other groups linked with the ruling Fatah party.