The Palestinian Authority has recruited 3,000 troops to facilitate the Israeli military withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.PA officials said the Interior Ministry has recruited 3,000 officers for the National Security Forces, the largest security unit in the PA. They said 2,000 of the officers would come from the police and another 1,000 would consist of reserve personnel.
"These forces will join the Palestinian security services to prepare for the Israeli withdrawal," Interior Ministry spokesman Tawfiq Abu Khousa said.
[On Sunday, Israel agreed to a U.S. request to destroy the homes of some 9,000 Jewish residents of the Gaza Strip. The United States proposed to help the PA clear the Jewish communities and decide on land use in wake of the planned Israeli withdrawal in August.]