Prime Minister Sharon has made it clear that he will no longer trust Arafat to fight terrorism, but will rather do it himself. He returned to Israel at mid-morning late this morning and began security consultations immediately upon his arrival. The Prime Minister will address the nation this evening, and will then convene the entire Cabinet; the meeting will be an official security-cabinet meeting, such that the leakage of information from it will be considered a violation of the law. Peace Now will be holding a protest vigil outside the Cabinet meeting.
Speculation is rife as to the exact form Israel\'s retaliation will take. Foreign Minister Peres and Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer are against the proposals raised by some government ministers, such as dismantling the PA or declaring it a terrorist-supporting entity (see below). However, it appears that Sharon will in fact \"escalate\" the Israeli response. Brig.-Gen. (res.) Effie Eitam, who accompanied the Prime Minister on his trip to the United States, said this morning that the American leaders and public \"understand that we have the right to fight the PLO just as they are fighting the Taliban.” Eitam, a potential National Religious Party leader who left the army over a year ago when his way to becoming a full General was blocked, said that a dramatic change in Israeli policy is imminent. \"The goal will be to achieve definite results in the war on terrorism,\" Eitam said. \"Sharon has decided that now is the time for action, not words… Arafat’s time is up.”
U.S. President Bush and Secretary Powell specifically did not call on Israel to show restraint in its upcoming offensive. When asked by an interviewer what would happen if Arafat did not take the necessary steps to fight terrorism, Powell said, \"If not, then the situation will not improve. If not, we are not going to move forward. If not, we are trapped.\" He was then asked if Arafat would \"have to go,\" but evaded the question and said only, \"The situation is that if he isn\'t able to do this, if he doesn\'t do this, then we are not moving down a path toward a cease-fire...\"
The IDF has tightened still more the closure on all PA-controlled areas. No Arabs are permitted to travel on Yesha roads outside of Area A (full Palestinian control) or outside their villages, except to transport food and oil.
The Palestinian Authority, in response to increasing international pressure to fight terrorism, arrested some 70 Hamas terrorists last night - making sure to do so before the lights of television cameras. Judging by media reports, however, most Israelis are no longer impressed by either Arafat\'s statements or his arrests, and assume that, as in the past, the Hamas members will soon be free. As if in indication of such an eventuality, the PA\'s High Court today ordered the immediate release of five members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) who were arrested following the assassination of Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze\'evi. This brings to 23 the number of terrorists whose release has been ordered by the PA\'s High Court.
Speculation is rife as to the exact form Israel\'s retaliation will take. Foreign Minister Peres and Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer are against the proposals raised by some government ministers, such as dismantling the PA or declaring it a terrorist-supporting entity (see below). However, it appears that Sharon will in fact \"escalate\" the Israeli response. Brig.-Gen. (res.) Effie Eitam, who accompanied the Prime Minister on his trip to the United States, said this morning that the American leaders and public \"understand that we have the right to fight the PLO just as they are fighting the Taliban.” Eitam, a potential National Religious Party leader who left the army over a year ago when his way to becoming a full General was blocked, said that a dramatic change in Israeli policy is imminent. \"The goal will be to achieve definite results in the war on terrorism,\" Eitam said. \"Sharon has decided that now is the time for action, not words… Arafat’s time is up.”
U.S. President Bush and Secretary Powell specifically did not call on Israel to show restraint in its upcoming offensive. When asked by an interviewer what would happen if Arafat did not take the necessary steps to fight terrorism, Powell said, \"If not, then the situation will not improve. If not, we are not going to move forward. If not, we are trapped.\" He was then asked if Arafat would \"have to go,\" but evaded the question and said only, \"The situation is that if he isn\'t able to do this, if he doesn\'t do this, then we are not moving down a path toward a cease-fire...\"
The IDF has tightened still more the closure on all PA-controlled areas. No Arabs are permitted to travel on Yesha roads outside of Area A (full Palestinian control) or outside their villages, except to transport food and oil.
The Palestinian Authority, in response to increasing international pressure to fight terrorism, arrested some 70 Hamas terrorists last night - making sure to do so before the lights of television cameras. Judging by media reports, however, most Israelis are no longer impressed by either Arafat\'s statements or his arrests, and assume that, as in the past, the Hamas members will soon be free. As if in indication of such an eventuality, the PA\'s High Court today ordered the immediate release of five members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) who were arrested following the assassination of Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze\'evi. This brings to 23 the number of terrorists whose release has been ordered by the PA\'s High Court.