Israel has agreed to allow the Palestinian Authority to open 20 police stations in the West Bank under Palestinian civilian control, officials said.

It is the first time since 2001 that Israel has given the green light to such a move.

The facilities will be permitted to deal with criminal matters in villages near Nablus, Hebron and Bethlehem, Israel's Haaretz newspaper reported Friday.

The development followed a meeting between the head of Israel's Civil Administration and the chief of the Palestinian Authority's Civil Affairs Ministry.

The additional police stations under local control are intended to improve the lives of Palestinians, an issue that was discussed during the recent visit of US. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Haaretz says.