In the wake of, and/or despite, the increased Palestinian violence over the weekend, the security cabinet convened by Prime Minister Sharon last night decided to give PLO chief Yasser Arafat another 48 hours to prove that he is taking the ceasefire seriously. At the end of that period, the cabinet will reconvene to decide on its next steps. Foreign Minister Peres explained that the weekend\'s violence occurred only to mark the one-year anniversary of the start of the current violence, but that the \"ceasefire was to begin in practice\" only today.
In the meanwhile, Israel will continue easing the restrictions on the Palestinians, as agreed upon during the Peres-Arafat meeting. IDF forces have already begun removing the closure around the PA-controlled city of Jericho, which has been quiet over the past days. In addition, the army removed other roadblocks from other areas in Yesha, including near Ramallah, Jenin, Shechem, and even Rafiach - the scene of intense Palestinian attacks over the past weeks.
The cabinet decision of last night implied that if the violence continues, Israel would resume its offensive activities in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza. Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer recommended, in the name of the army, that the restrictions be eased in quiet sectors. On the other hand, senior military commanders were quoted by Israel Radio this morning as saying that Arafat is doing nothing to enforce the latest ceasefire agreement, and that he will continue thusly if adequate pressure is not exerted on him.
PA leaders continue to say that they will not arrest the terrorists wanted by Israel - although this is a principle clause of the ceasefire agreement reached by Peres and Arafat.
Arutz-7\'s Yosef Zalmanson noted that the latest 48-hour deadline is reminiscent of several previous 48-hour requirements: Sharon\'s demand for 48 hours of quiet before a Peres-Arafat meeting, an ultimatum laid down in June of this year as a condition for the implementation of the Tenet understandings - but most significantly, it brings to mind the deadline set by then-Prime Minister Barak exactly a year ago. The night before Yom Kippur, on Oct. 7, when the Rosh HaShanah Arab Assault was just over a week old, Barak said that Israel very likely no longer has a peace partner, but \"we are giving Arafat 48 hours to cease the violence.\" If it does not stop, Barak warned, the IDF would respond with full force. Three days later, he said that the ultimatum had served the purpose of bringing world leaders such as the UN Secretary-General and the Russian Foreign Minister to the region, and that he would therefore give more time to the diplomatic efforts before acting on his ultimatum. On Oct. 12, Arabs cruelly lynched two Israeli soldiers in Ramallah.
Yediot Acharonot\'s PA-affairs correspondent Roni Shaked outlined for Arutz-7 today Israel\'s current public relations problem: \"Many in the U.S. and Europe, and sadly even here in Israel, do not feel that attacks within Judea and Samaria (Yesha) are considered terrorism. They do not understand that terrorism is terrorism no matter where it occurs. But Arafat knows that he can advance his strategy by continuing his violence within Yesha, because his goal is to kill Jews, while at the same time acting as if he is engaged in diplomatic negotiations.\"
In the meanwhile, Israel will continue easing the restrictions on the Palestinians, as agreed upon during the Peres-Arafat meeting. IDF forces have already begun removing the closure around the PA-controlled city of Jericho, which has been quiet over the past days. In addition, the army removed other roadblocks from other areas in Yesha, including near Ramallah, Jenin, Shechem, and even Rafiach - the scene of intense Palestinian attacks over the past weeks.
The cabinet decision of last night implied that if the violence continues, Israel would resume its offensive activities in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza. Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer recommended, in the name of the army, that the restrictions be eased in quiet sectors. On the other hand, senior military commanders were quoted by Israel Radio this morning as saying that Arafat is doing nothing to enforce the latest ceasefire agreement, and that he will continue thusly if adequate pressure is not exerted on him.
PA leaders continue to say that they will not arrest the terrorists wanted by Israel - although this is a principle clause of the ceasefire agreement reached by Peres and Arafat.
Arutz-7\'s Yosef Zalmanson noted that the latest 48-hour deadline is reminiscent of several previous 48-hour requirements: Sharon\'s demand for 48 hours of quiet before a Peres-Arafat meeting, an ultimatum laid down in June of this year as a condition for the implementation of the Tenet understandings - but most significantly, it brings to mind the deadline set by then-Prime Minister Barak exactly a year ago. The night before Yom Kippur, on Oct. 7, when the Rosh HaShanah Arab Assault was just over a week old, Barak said that Israel very likely no longer has a peace partner, but \"we are giving Arafat 48 hours to cease the violence.\" If it does not stop, Barak warned, the IDF would respond with full force. Three days later, he said that the ultimatum had served the purpose of bringing world leaders such as the UN Secretary-General and the Russian Foreign Minister to the region, and that he would therefore give more time to the diplomatic efforts before acting on his ultimatum. On Oct. 12, Arabs cruelly lynched two Israeli soldiers in Ramallah.
Yediot Acharonot\'s PA-affairs correspondent Roni Shaked outlined for Arutz-7 today Israel\'s current public relations problem: \"Many in the U.S. and Europe, and sadly even here in Israel, do not feel that attacks within Judea and Samaria (Yesha) are considered terrorism. They do not understand that terrorism is terrorism no matter where it occurs. But Arafat knows that he can advance his strategy by continuing his violence within Yesha, because his goal is to kill Jews, while at the same time acting as if he is engaged in diplomatic negotiations.\"