3月16日,以色列向巴勒斯坦移交了约旦河西岸城市杰里科的安全控制权。杰里科是以色列决定向巴方移交的5座约旦河西岸城市之一。在未来两周内，以方还将陆续移交图勒凯尔姆和盖勒吉利耶两座西岸城市的安全控制权。外电报道如下：Israeli troops took down their Star of David flag, removed a roadblock and handed the town of Jericho to Palestinian control Wednesday, boosting Mideast peace efforts and sending a message to Palestinians that ending the violent uprising is starting to pay off.

However, a last-minute argument over formal handover documents reflected the distrust that has built up during four years of conflict.

Symbolic steps turned practical as Israel removed one of three roadblocks around the isolated desert oasis, allowing free travel to the rest of the West Bank. Israeli soldiers stopped checking cars entering Jericho a boost for the town's economy and for Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, who needs to show he can get results as he seeks to renew the peace process with Israel.

Violence has dropped since Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon declared a cease-fire at a Feb. 8 summit in Egypt. Abbas was in Cairo on Wednesday trying to persuade militants from Islamic Jihad and Hamas to formally join the truce.

Star of David表示“大卫王之星，犹太教的六芒星”。以色列国旗的旗地为白色，上下各有一条蓝色宽带。蓝白两色来自犹太教徒祈祷时用的披肩的颜色。白色旗面正中是一个蓝色的六角星，这是古以色列国王大卫王之星，象征国家的权力。

据悉，有着“上帝花园”之美誉的杰里科位于死海之畔，是世界上第一座城市，在《圣经》里被提到71次。杰里科处于海平面以下260多米，是全世界海拔最低的城市，有“世界肚脐”之称。杰里科在阿拉伯语中意为“芳香”，因为这里气候湿润，植被繁茂，尤其盛产橘子等水果，每当采撷时节，香气四溢，故而得名。

杰里科是巴勒斯坦最先实现自治的城市之一。1994年5月，根据巴以双方达成的协议，巴方接管了杰里科，结束了以色列对该市长达27年的军事占领。但2000年巴以爆发大规模流血冲突后，以军重新夺回对杰里科的控制权。

（中国日报网站编）