Despite the IDF regulation prohibiting Israelis from entering Oslo designated areas “A”, Israel earlier in the week began permitting Israeli Arabs to enter Jenin, a PA autonomous area off-limits to Jewish Israelis. They have been banned since 2000.

Jews violating the military ban are turned over to authorities and usually face a court hearing and in many cases, jail time.

Israel feels that with the recent deployment of hundreds of armed PA security forces in Jenin, the visits by Israeli Arabs are a doable reality. Officials add the move will permit Israeli security agencies to monitor the effectiveness of the new security forces.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)