Israel agrees to limit incursions in West Bank cities

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel has agreed to largely keep its forces out of four Palestinian cities to try to boost a Palestinian security campaign supported by Washington, Israeli and Western security sources said on Thursday.

Palestinian leaders have long demanded that Israel pull its forces back from population centres in the occupied West Bank to positions they held before the outbreak of a Palestinian uprising in 2000.

Israeli and Western sources said Israel agreed to refrain from entering Bethlehem, Ramallah, Jericho and Qalqilia, except in cases where the army believes militants are poised to attack Israelis.

(Writing by Adam Entous; Editing by Jeffrey Heller)