The IDF handed over security control of the city of Bethlehem, south of Jerusalem, to Palestinian Authority forces this afternoon. This followed the formulation of the final details last night between the sides. IDF forces have not been stationed in Bethlehem for a while, but the IDF has announced that it will cease its patrols and periodic entries into the city. As of today, PA (Moslem) forces are also deployed in nearby Beit Jala and Beit Sahour, which, like Bethlehem, are largely Christian-populated.
Arutz-7's Kobi Finkler reports that the new deployment is "not such a big deal. Until now, the IDF has carried out only one or two daily patrols, and they have made no terrorist arrests of late. In any event, the encirclement around Bethlehem will remain and will even be thickened close to Jerusalem. A senior officer told me that the forces would be deployed such that they can return to Bethlehem within 25 minutes if they have to."
Rachel's Tomb will continue to be under Israeli control, as per the Oslo Accords. Israel rejected the PA demand to open the main Jerusalem-Gush Etzion highway to Arab traffic. The 40,000-strong force that will take over Bethlehem is under the control of Yasser Arafat, not Abu Mazen.