The World : Israel Picks Arab Mayors

The Israeli government has asked four Palestinians to become mayors of cities in the occupied West Bank in a move intended to create an improved climate for peace, Israeli and Arab sources said in Jerusalem. Israeli army officers have been running the cities since Israel ousted the elected Arab mayors several years ago, purportedly for inciting violence. Businessman Basil Kanaan said he has conditionally agreed to become mayor of Nablus, the West Bank’s largest city. The other three choices--for Ramallah, Hebron and El Bireh--were not identified.