Al-Quds city, March 15, SPA -- Israel is to hand the West Bank town ofJericho over to Palestinian security control Wednesday andanother town a few days later, Israeli and Palestinianofficials said, boosting cooperation as the Palestinianleader flew to Cairo. At a meeting late Monday, Israeli Defense Minister ShaulMofaz and Palestinian Interior Minister Nasser Yousefworked out a compromise over Jericho, Israeli andPalestinian officials said. Agreements on a handover have been reached before inprinciple, but disagreements over Israeli roadblocks andterritory to be transferred prevented implementation. Thedelays clouded a positive atmosphere following a Feb. 8Mideast summit at which both sides declared an end toviolence. In a compromise on Jericho, the Palestinians agreed Israelcould keep a roadblock at the entrance to the quiet oasistown in the Jordan Valley for another month. ThePalestinians said the roadblock would then be removed,while Israeli officials said no commitment has been madeyet. Israel will relinquish control of Al Awja, a village northof Jericho that straddles a highway used by Israelis, andarmed Palestinian police will patrol there, Palestiniannegotiator Saeb Erekat said. "I hope that this time the implementation will be in anexpeditious fashion and that every part of the agreementwill be honored," he said. Israel also agreed to hand over the town of Tulkarem, nextto the line between Israel and the West Bank, a few daysafter Jericho, Erekat and Israeli officials said. IsraelRadio said the transfer would take place Sunday. That wouldbe followed by Qalqiliya, just south of Tulkarem on theIsrael-West Bank line. In all, Israel is to hand over five West Bank towns, butno agreement was reached Monday on a timetable forBethlehem and Ramallah, the seat of the Palestiniangovernment. Agreement on Jericho and Tulkarem came ahead ofPalestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas' trip to Cairo Tuesday fora crucial meeting of Palestinian factions.--SPA1137 Local Time 0837 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/246844