The American State Department criticized both Israel and the Palestinians equally yesterday. It had strong words for Israel\'s demolitions of three buildings in Rafiach this week; the structures, adjacent to the IDF\'s Tarmit outpost, had been used by the terrorists to dig a tunnel and place a bomb under the outpost on Wednesday, causing the wounding of three Israeli soldiers. The State Department also called upon the Palestinians to stop their violence and arrest those responsible for the attacks.
Israel rejected the American criticism, saying that Peres had specifically made it clear to Arafat during their controversial meeting on Wednesday that Israel would ensure the safety of the Tarmit outpost. When Palestinians attacked the Israelis with gunfire, Molotov cocktails, and grenades, the IDF responded, Israeli officials said. They also noted that the razed buildings had also been used for smuggling weapons from Egypt and for shelter for Palestinians throwing grenades at the outpost. In addition, the action took place in area under Israeli military control.
The first Israeli-PA security coordination meeting since the announcing of the latest \"ceasefire\" agreement was convened today, with the present of GSS head Avi Dichter, middle-level PA figures, and CIA representatives. Peres and Arafat agreed this past Wednesday that the PA must arrest 180 terrorists, including ten in the coming week. Leading PA figures such as Muhammad Dahlan have already said that the PA will not make any arrests.
Israel rejected the American criticism, saying that Peres had specifically made it clear to Arafat during their controversial meeting on Wednesday that Israel would ensure the safety of the Tarmit outpost. When Palestinians attacked the Israelis with gunfire, Molotov cocktails, and grenades, the IDF responded, Israeli officials said. They also noted that the razed buildings had also been used for smuggling weapons from Egypt and for shelter for Palestinians throwing grenades at the outpost. In addition, the action took place in area under Israeli military control.
The first Israeli-PA security coordination meeting since the announcing of the latest \"ceasefire\" agreement was convened today, with the present of GSS head Avi Dichter, middle-level PA figures, and CIA representatives. Peres and Arafat agreed this past Wednesday that the PA must arrest 180 terrorists, including ten in the coming week. Leading PA figures such as Muhammad Dahlan have already said that the PA will not make any arrests.