News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) Israel returned 300 weapons seized in 2002's Operation Defensive Shield to the Palestinian Authority, according to Hussein al-Sheikh, Minister of Civilian Matters in the Palestinian Authority and former commander of the Fatah Tanzim terrorist group. Al-Sheikh made the statement during a tour near the Beit Iba roadblock,north of Shechem, which was removed by the Israel Defense Forces on Sunday.

Civilian Administration head, Brigadier-General Yoav Mordechai, who also took part in the tour, said the administration is considering loosening security at the Huwara checkpoint south of Shechem. Under the changes, Arabs above a certain age will not undergo security checks.