Cairo, Sept 14, SPA -- A first batch of Palestinian policeofficers will arrive in Egypt this week for training aspart of efforts to prepare the Palestinian Authority totake over the Gaza Strip after Israel withdraws, anInterior Ministry official said Tuesday. The 45 officers will start a seven-week course on Saturdayat a camp 13 kilometers (eight miles) east of Cairo, theofficial said, speaking on customary condition ofanonymity. Their training was agreed Monday at a meeting in Cairo ofPalestinian and Egyptian security officials. Israel is expected to withdraw from the Gaza Strip, andfour Jewish settlements on the West Bank, by the end of2005. The Interior Ministry official said Egypt has alreadyagreed that after the Israeli withdrawal, Egypt would sendup to 600 police officers to Gaza to conduct trainingcourses in the territory. Egypt has offered to help upgrade the Palestinian policeforce so that it can maintain control after an Israeliwithdrawal. --SPA1511 Local Time 1211 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/201485