The Palestinian Authority expects "big movement" toward taking over most of the areas that would encompass a future Palestinian state by the end of the year, senior PA officials told WND.

The PA officials said the U.S. has been negotiating the borders of a future Palestinian state that would see Israel eventually withdraw from most of the West Bank and some areas of eastern Jerusalem with the exception of what are known as the three main settlement blocks – Gush Etzion, Maale Adumim and Ariel.

While the PA does not believe it will see an actual Palestinian state by the end of the year, it expects in that time it will take over many more neighborhoods in the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem that are normally controlled on the ground by Israel.

The PA said the expectation is based on pledges by the Obama administration.

The PA officials say the U.S. supports the concept of stationing of international troops along the Palestinian side of a future border. The officials said the discussions include the possibility of a contingent of Jordanian troops as well as private Palestinian firms and international soldiers participating in the patrol of the Palestinian side of a future border, the officials said.