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Friday Headlines

1. PALESTINIANS SAY MILITARY REFORM READY SOON…The long-awaited reform of the Palestinian military and police forces is expected to be implemented in the next few weeks, according to senior officials in the Palestinian Authority. The key element of the change will be to merge the some 17 forces that presently exist into three units. The United States and many others in the international community have called for this move for several years. The former Palestinian leader Yassir Arafat repeatedly promised he would implement the reform but never did so. The U.S. says it welcomes the news of the impending changes but will judge the Palestinian Authority on its deeds.

2. DISARMING ROW CONTINUES…Israelis who are scheduled to be removed from their homes in the Gaza Strip and Samaria, the northern part of the West Bank, will not have their personal weapons confiscated but rather the army-issue weapons they use to defend their communities, according to media reports. There has been an ongoing discussion between the families that fall under the Gaza-withdrawal plan and the government and military as to the bearing of weapons ahead of the July evacuation. Israeli authorities are trying to ensure the evacuation of the several thousand people is carried out without violence.

3. STUDENTS PLAN FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACE…Three students from the London School of Economics brought together dozens of Israeli and Palestinian academics and students in Jerusalem on Thursday. The session was the inaugural meeting of a new organization whose aim is to work towards sustainable peace predominantly through economic cooperation, environmental improvement and the creation of civil society. While the organizers admit they cannot bring about overnight changes of attitude they say it is crucial to plan for the future with the leaders of tomorrow.