Kuwait City, Sept. 12 -- Kuwait has started procedures to transfer the residency permits of about 8,700 Palestinians who hold travel documents to Palestinian passports.

According to Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Rai, the General Department of Residency Affairs has given those affected three months to complete the process. Palestinian Ambassador to Kuwait Rami Tahboub said the embassy was coordinating with the relevant Kuwaiti authorities over the arrangements.

Those concerned are being notified through the government's Sahl application and asked to visit the Embassy of the State of Palestine to obtain a Palestinian passport. The document will then be used for their residency transfer and renewal.

Tahboub said the embassy had contacted the Pales...