Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said today that the Palestinian Authority has arrested \"no more than 2-3 significant terrorists - and even they are being held in hotel-like conditions... The PA stands behind and creates this terrorism, and we are trying to get it to leave that path and to bring it back to the only way there is, and that is the path of diplomacy.\"
Prime Minister Sharon enumerated yesterday five steps that the PA must take before it can be considered to be effectively fighting terrorism: The arrests of terrorists and those who send them - \"as opposed to the fake arrests of low-level activists that we have seen so far;\" the dismantling of the terrorist organizations; the collection of illegal weapons, which will be given to the Americans for destruction; genuine military activities to thwart attacks; and the cessation of anti-Israel hatred and incitement.
Speaking to Likud Knesset Members yesterday, the Prime Minister added that the government\'s operative decisions are: attacking any terrorist organization target; no diplomatic contacts with the PA; restricting movement of Palestinian leaders; attacking symbols and targets within the autonomous areas; tightening closures around PA-controlled cities; the entry of army forces into Area A (under PA control); initiated actions against impending terrorist attacks; and more.
The Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee held a special session today on the significance of the government\'s decision to declare the PA a \"terrorist-supporting entity.\" Committee chairman MK David Magen (Center Party) said that the military actions being taken must be reviewed by a Knesset body. He told Arutz-7 beforehand that Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer would attend the meeting. \"I assume that some members will ask him what he meant by saying that which was attributed to him, that the Cabinet decision was a \'joke.\'\"
Prime Minister Sharon enumerated yesterday five steps that the PA must take before it can be considered to be effectively fighting terrorism: The arrests of terrorists and those who send them - \"as opposed to the fake arrests of low-level activists that we have seen so far;\" the dismantling of the terrorist organizations; the collection of illegal weapons, which will be given to the Americans for destruction; genuine military activities to thwart attacks; and the cessation of anti-Israel hatred and incitement.
Speaking to Likud Knesset Members yesterday, the Prime Minister added that the government\'s operative decisions are: attacking any terrorist organization target; no diplomatic contacts with the PA; restricting movement of Palestinian leaders; attacking symbols and targets within the autonomous areas; tightening closures around PA-controlled cities; the entry of army forces into Area A (under PA control); initiated actions against impending terrorist attacks; and more.
The Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee held a special session today on the significance of the government\'s decision to declare the PA a \"terrorist-supporting entity.\" Committee chairman MK David Magen (Center Party) said that the military actions being taken must be reviewed by a Knesset body. He told Arutz-7 beforehand that Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer would attend the meeting. \"I assume that some members will ask him what he meant by saying that which was attributed to him, that the Cabinet decision was a \'joke.\'\"