The IDF\'s number-two man, Deputy Chief of Staff Maj.-Gen. Moshe Yaalon, feels that the army may well have to return to the areas from which it retreated in the framework of the Oslo Agreements. Speaking with the journal \"Intelligence Heritage,\" Yaalon said, \"The Palestinians see the conflict as a war whose purpose is the achievement of a Palestinian state - without guaranteeing us, in return, an end to the conflict. It is clear to me that if we give in and they achieve this goal, this will motivate them to continue warring against us, and will also \'wake up\' the Israeli Arabs, as well as other Arab countries with which we have signed agreements.\"
Until Yaalon\'s predictions come true, however, the army is taking somewhat more mild measures on the ground. The security cabinet decided last night against a forceful retaliation to this week\'s terror attacks that have claimed the lives of four Israelis - three Jews and one Christian Arab. The ministers decided only to re-institute the closures around Arab towns in Judea, Samaria and Gaza - except for Hevron. The closures were removed two weeks ago when US Mideast envoy Gen. Anthony Zinni visited the region. Minister Danny Naveh criticized last night\'s decision, saying that closing off PLO-controlled towns is not enough to halt the renewed wave of terrorism.
Following two weeks during which IDF forces were stationed within the PA-controlled village of Tel near Shechem, the army redeployed today. Its forces will now guard the surrounding areas to stop terrorists on their way to an attack. At the same time, Israeli and PA negotiators met this afternoon to discuss ways to alleviate the negative consequences on the civilian population of the necessary security measures.
Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Sha\'ul Mofaz departed last night for a two-day visit to the United States. He will meet there with leading defense officials.
Until Yaalon\'s predictions come true, however, the army is taking somewhat more mild measures on the ground. The security cabinet decided last night against a forceful retaliation to this week\'s terror attacks that have claimed the lives of four Israelis - three Jews and one Christian Arab. The ministers decided only to re-institute the closures around Arab towns in Judea, Samaria and Gaza - except for Hevron. The closures were removed two weeks ago when US Mideast envoy Gen. Anthony Zinni visited the region. Minister Danny Naveh criticized last night\'s decision, saying that closing off PLO-controlled towns is not enough to halt the renewed wave of terrorism.
Following two weeks during which IDF forces were stationed within the PA-controlled village of Tel near Shechem, the army redeployed today. Its forces will now guard the surrounding areas to stop terrorists on their way to an attack. At the same time, Israeli and PA negotiators met this afternoon to discuss ways to alleviate the negative consequences on the civilian population of the necessary security measures.
Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Sha\'ul Mofaz departed last night for a two-day visit to the United States. He will meet there with leading defense officials.