From the "Voice of Judea" email newsletter:

IDF Deputy Territories Operations Commander Brig.-Gen. Kamil Abu Rukun told Army Radio in response, "It's not the Israeli army that is delaying the evacuation of Palestinian wounded in the territories.

"We requested from local Red Cross and [Palestinian] Red Crescent authorities to be involved in this matter, giving them all the opportunities and availability to assist, and they refused for their own inhumane ... propaganda reasons."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, after meeting with US envoy Anthony Zinni last night, ordered the IDF to begin pulling out of Kalkilya and Tulkarm, a source in the Prime Minister's Office said. The redeployment was due to begin immediately, following pressure from the US.

"The defense minister, in coordination with the prime minister, has ordered the army to start redeploying out of Kalkilya and Tulkarm tonight and enforce the closure around them," the Defense Ministry said.

Forces have largely moved out of the two northern West Bank cities, at this posting. Source: JPost

Voice of Judea Commentary:

Peres is the best Foreign Minister Arafat could have. Unfortunately, Peres seems to think he is Foreign Minister of Palestine.