Members of Palestinian security forces examine a border map at a new Palestinian border post (AP)
Middle East Leaders Negotiate Control Story aired: Wednesday, July 02, 2003
A long column of Palestinian police decked out in dark blue uniforms marched into Bethlehem today.
The West Bank city is the second area to be handed back to Palestinian control this week. Israeli troops pulled out of part of northern Gaza Strip on Sunday. Prime ministers Ariel Sharon and Mahmoud Abbas met in private hours before the Israeli military began its pullout, and then spoke in public afterward. Sharon told Abbas that he is willing to make "painful compromises" if it means peace.
Abbas said there had been "enough suffering, enough death, enough pain" and that it was time to move forward.
