Moshe Ben-Zimra of Hevron told Arutz-7 today that he and his fellow residents are very happy with the new IDF presence in the Haret a-Sheikh and Abu Sneineh hills, but are also nervous over prospects that the army may soon leave. \"First of all,\" he said, \"many people talk only about Abu Sneineh, but the fact is that much shooting came over the past months from the Haret a-Sheikh hills overlooking Beit Hadassah [and environs, home to approximately 30 Jewish families]. We are very happy to be able to see the Israeli flags on the new positions atop Abu Sneineh and Haret A-Sheikh, and to note the other army activity as well. We wrote a letter to the army/government, noting with joy that we were finally able to take the sandbags off our windows and look happily upon the new Israeli positions…
\"However, the army withdrew yesterday from one of the more important points in Abu Sneineh - a school building - and we very much fear that there will be tremendous pressure from the U.S. for the army to withdraw totally... We must all place great pressure on the government and Sharon, with faxes and letters, to realize that he must fight Arafat, our Bin Laden, with all his might, and not half-heartedly.\" Ben-Zimra noted that there will be a large rally to this end ten days from now in downtown Jerusalem. \"We are quite aware,\" he continued, \"that the army once went up to Abu Sneineh, only to come down again a few hours later. This time it appears much more serious, but we are still very wary.\"
Former Hevron IDF Commander Col. (res.) Yigal Sharon told Israel Radio today of the importance of taking over the school: \"Schools are strategically located... they are the first places taken over because of their important location... This is a necessity. Regarding the students, it must be remembered that at school they are influenced by pressures to take part in activities and stone-throwing, influenced by the environment and those who heat up the environment...\"
Despite the strategic importance of the Abu Sneineh hills to Israel - ten-month-old Shalhevet Pass was murdered by terrorist fire from there four months ago, several others were wounded, yet no Palestinian bullets have been shot towards the Jewish homes since the IDF took over the area a week ago, and at least eight terrorists have been killed during this period - U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell has pressured both Prime Minister Sharon and Foreign Minister Peres for Israel to leave the area. State Department Richard Boucher confirmed this news.
\"However, the army withdrew yesterday from one of the more important points in Abu Sneineh - a school building - and we very much fear that there will be tremendous pressure from the U.S. for the army to withdraw totally... We must all place great pressure on the government and Sharon, with faxes and letters, to realize that he must fight Arafat, our Bin Laden, with all his might, and not half-heartedly.\" Ben-Zimra noted that there will be a large rally to this end ten days from now in downtown Jerusalem. \"We are quite aware,\" he continued, \"that the army once went up to Abu Sneineh, only to come down again a few hours later. This time it appears much more serious, but we are still very wary.\"
Former Hevron IDF Commander Col. (res.) Yigal Sharon told Israel Radio today of the importance of taking over the school: \"Schools are strategically located... they are the first places taken over because of their important location... This is a necessity. Regarding the students, it must be remembered that at school they are influenced by pressures to take part in activities and stone-throwing, influenced by the environment and those who heat up the environment...\"
Despite the strategic importance of the Abu Sneineh hills to Israel - ten-month-old Shalhevet Pass was murdered by terrorist fire from there four months ago, several others were wounded, yet no Palestinian bullets have been shot towards the Jewish homes since the IDF took over the area a week ago, and at least eight terrorists have been killed during this period - U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell has pressured both Prime Minister Sharon and Foreign Minister Peres for Israel to leave the area. State Department Richard Boucher confirmed this news.