U.S. Envoy Gen. Anthony Zinni arrived in Israel today on a four-day mission to meet with Israeli and Arab leaders. US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said that Zinni will pressure Yasser Arafat to eliminate the terrorist infrastructure operating in areas under his jurisdiction. Zinni will call on Israel to ease restrictions on the Arab population. When asked if the US still supports the idea of a seven-day period of quiet before the implementation of the Mitchell agreement, Boucher declined to respond.
In anticipation of Gen. Zinni\'s arrival, Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer today ordered a significant easing of restrictions on the general Arab population throughout Yesha (Judea, Samaria and Gaza). The IDF retreated from almost all positions it seized after the Emanuel bus bombing on Dec. 12. Soldiers withdrew from the city of Jenin and the a-Tira neighborhood of Ramallah, both under PLO control. Other measures include the lifting of the closures on Kalkilya, Tulkarm, Hevron.
Tight closures are being maintained, however, on Shechem and Ramallah while allowing for the movement of goods and raw materials. The IDF withdrew tanks from areas adjacent to civilian populations, but Israeli forces do remain several hundred meters away from Arafat\'s offices in Ramallah.
PLO policeman were allowed to move from Judea and Samaria to Gaza. Permanent Arab employees at the Rafiah and Allenby border crossings were allowed to return to work.
Many IDF roadblocks in Yesha were also opened allowing Arab traffic to pass through. Yesha Council Chairman Adi Mintz sent an urgent letter to PM Sharon insisting that he not lift the travel ban on Arab traffic on roads traveled by Israelis. Mintz reminded Sharon that every time roads are opened and restrictions are lifted, the Arabs carry out attacks against Jews. Mintz charged that the security of Israeli citizens should take precedence over any other considerations.
Ben-Eliezer called on the Palestinian Authority to respond to Israel\'s steps and carry out the necessary intensive operations against terrorist elements and their infrastructure. He also emphasized that Israel will work to thwart Arab terrorism and violence in order to reach a resolution of the conflict that will benefit both peoples.
In anticipation of Gen. Zinni\'s arrival, Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer today ordered a significant easing of restrictions on the general Arab population throughout Yesha (Judea, Samaria and Gaza). The IDF retreated from almost all positions it seized after the Emanuel bus bombing on Dec. 12. Soldiers withdrew from the city of Jenin and the a-Tira neighborhood of Ramallah, both under PLO control. Other measures include the lifting of the closures on Kalkilya, Tulkarm, Hevron.
Tight closures are being maintained, however, on Shechem and Ramallah while allowing for the movement of goods and raw materials. The IDF withdrew tanks from areas adjacent to civilian populations, but Israeli forces do remain several hundred meters away from Arafat\'s offices in Ramallah.
PLO policeman were allowed to move from Judea and Samaria to Gaza. Permanent Arab employees at the Rafiah and Allenby border crossings were allowed to return to work.
Many IDF roadblocks in Yesha were also opened allowing Arab traffic to pass through. Yesha Council Chairman Adi Mintz sent an urgent letter to PM Sharon insisting that he not lift the travel ban on Arab traffic on roads traveled by Israelis. Mintz reminded Sharon that every time roads are opened and restrictions are lifted, the Arabs carry out attacks against Jews. Mintz charged that the security of Israeli citizens should take precedence over any other considerations.
Ben-Eliezer called on the Palestinian Authority to respond to Israel\'s steps and carry out the necessary intensive operations against terrorist elements and their infrastructure. He also emphasized that Israel will work to thwart Arab terrorism and violence in order to reach a resolution of the conflict that will benefit both peoples.