After somewhat difficult negotiations, Israel and the Palestinian Authority reached an agreement Monday on the transfer of the West Bank town of Tulkarem to the Palestinian Authority's security services.

The agreement will be signed later today and the transfer is schedule to begin tomorrow.

There were lengthy debates regarding the security roads and checkpoints outside the town before an agreement was finally reached. This is not necessarily a bad thing. It shows that Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the PA is standing up for the rights of his people in negotiations with Israel which will help give him legitimacy on the Palestinian street. It is also better for both sides to iron out details before the turnover rather than afterwards.

Tulkarem is the second of five West Bank towns that Israel agreed to turn over to the Palestinian Authority during the summit at Sharm el-Sheik on February 8. Last week, Jericho became the first town to be turned over successfully.