Newly-appointed American mediators Gen. Anthony Zinni and William Burns landed in Israel today. Their official mission is the achievement of a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinians. They met with GSS head Avi Dichter and IDF Intelligence Chief Gen. Amos Malka upon their arrival, and will hold parallel talks with the Israelis and PA teams.
Arutz-7\'s Ariel Kahane noted today that Prime Minister Sharon again emphasized that he will insist on his long-time demand for 100% quiet - \"with no violence, terrorism, or incitement\" - followed by \"no less than seven days of quiet, then six weeks of a cooling-off period, and then the other measures called for in the Mitchell Report - all this according to the principle to which the Americans agreed as well, that no stage starts before the preceding one has been completely implemented.\"
Israel has established two teams to meet with the Americans: a military delegation headed by IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Maj.-Gen. Moshe Yaalon, and the diplomatic team, to be headed by Gen. (res.) Meir Dagan. Kahane reports that Sharon prevailed over Peres in this choice, as Peres wanted to give the talks more of a diplomatic nature, which was not in keeping with Dagan\'s hawkish views; Sharon, however, wants to ensure that the talks deal only with a ceasefire. The Americans will meet with Sharon and Peres tomorrow, and then with the Palestinians. The first stage of their mission will last two weeks, after which Zinni and Burns will return to the U.S. to brief President Bush on whatever progress may have been made.
Arutz-7\'s Ariel Kahane noted today that Prime Minister Sharon again emphasized that he will insist on his long-time demand for 100% quiet - \"with no violence, terrorism, or incitement\" - followed by \"no less than seven days of quiet, then six weeks of a cooling-off period, and then the other measures called for in the Mitchell Report - all this according to the principle to which the Americans agreed as well, that no stage starts before the preceding one has been completely implemented.\"
Israel has established two teams to meet with the Americans: a military delegation headed by IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Maj.-Gen. Moshe Yaalon, and the diplomatic team, to be headed by Gen. (res.) Meir Dagan. Kahane reports that Sharon prevailed over Peres in this choice, as Peres wanted to give the talks more of a diplomatic nature, which was not in keeping with Dagan\'s hawkish views; Sharon, however, wants to ensure that the talks deal only with a ceasefire. The Americans will meet with Sharon and Peres tomorrow, and then with the Palestinians. The first stage of their mission will last two weeks, after which Zinni and Burns will return to the U.S. to brief President Bush on whatever progress may have been made.