Israel has rejected the Palestinian Authority bid to deploy its national security force's special battalion in the West Bank city of Hebron, but has agreed to their deployment in Jenin instead.

The decision to relocate the troops was reached after talks between the two sides and consultations with the United States.

Israeli security officials said the Palestinian Authority considered it important for the 620 soldiers in the special force to be stationed in Hebron, to strengthen Palestinian Authority and Fatah control there and counter Hamas' strong network. As Haaretz reported Sunday, the battalion is being trained in Jordan.

But the Israeli security establishment opposed the Hebron option, mainly because of the tension between Israelis and Palestinians there. Unlike Hebron, Jenin is relatively isolated and is not next to an Israeli population center.

Fatah's position in Jenin is considered strong, although Islamic Jihad, whose main stronghold in the West Bank is Jenin, is expected to pose a challenge.

Israel expects that the Palestinian Authority will focus on maintaining public control, or at most dealing with Hamas' civil networks.

It views the PA security forces' achievements in the West Bank city of Nablus as quite limited, even though Palestinian and American officials view the Nablus deployment as an impressive success after the return of public order there and the reining in of armed gangs.

Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces removed 10 dirt roadblocks from side roads in the West Bank yesterday as part of Israel's commitment to the United States. An additional 50 roadblocks had already been removed as part of this pledge.

The move follows a promise given by Defense Minister Ehud Barak to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during her last visit here.

© Copyright 2008 Haaretz. All rights reserved