The IDF is likely to complete its withdrawal from many PA-controlled areas by this evening. Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer hinted as much late this morning, saying that the details of the IDF\'s retreat from areas near Bethlehem and Beit Jala, as well as a mutually-agreed ceasefire, will be finalized this afternoon. Ben-Eliezer said that if a cease-fire is not achieved, the ensuing escalation might force the army to take over all PA areas, leading to \"chaos and terrorism that is ten times worse.\"
The army entered Beit Jala, Bethlehem, and other locations in the framework of a comprehensive offensive to uproot and destroy the PLO terrorist infrastructures there. IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Sha\'ul Mofaz said earlier this week that the objectives were not totally achieved because of political-diplomatic pressures that ended the offensive before it was completed.
Israeli and PA officials met this morning, together with mediator Gen. Anthony Zinni, in an attempt to come to a ceasefire agreement involving the withdrawal of all IDF forces from Area A (PA-controlled areas). They also met last night in Gaza and in Beit El for this purpose, but reached no conclusions. The Arab side emphasized again today that they would not meet for substantial talks with Israel until after Israel leaves all the areas it took over in the past weeks. Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti went even further, saying that the violence will not stop until Israel withdraws from all of Judea, Samaria, and Gaza - leaving Israel with an unclear picture as to the PA\'s demands.
Representing Israel are GSS head Avi Dichter and Gen. Giora Eiland, while Jibril Rajoub, Muhammad Dahlan, and Amin al-Hindi are for the PA. Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said last night that even if an agreement is reached, \"chances are small that the Palestinians will honor it.\"
Minister Tzippy Livny, a member of Israel\'s negotiating committee, admitted to Arutz-7 today that she has no great hopes for these talks:
\"The Palestinians do not appear to have an interest in stopping the violence, but I believe that we should try to extract what we can from every process. We have nothing to lose… If the Palestinians do nothing to stop the violence, then we won’t have to fulfill our part of the Tenet agreement. If they do, though, for whatever reason, it will be a net gain for us…\"
Asked about the apparent \"loss\" in the cessation of the anti-terrorist offensive in Ramallah, Minister Livny answered,
\"There are different opinions on this - Mofaz says we should have continued, while Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said something else - so there is no need for me to express an opinion… I think the best we can achieve now is a fairly fragile and not very long-range agreement that will lead to some reduction in terrorism...\"
The army entered Beit Jala, Bethlehem, and other locations in the framework of a comprehensive offensive to uproot and destroy the PLO terrorist infrastructures there. IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Sha\'ul Mofaz said earlier this week that the objectives were not totally achieved because of political-diplomatic pressures that ended the offensive before it was completed.
Israeli and PA officials met this morning, together with mediator Gen. Anthony Zinni, in an attempt to come to a ceasefire agreement involving the withdrawal of all IDF forces from Area A (PA-controlled areas). They also met last night in Gaza and in Beit El for this purpose, but reached no conclusions. The Arab side emphasized again today that they would not meet for substantial talks with Israel until after Israel leaves all the areas it took over in the past weeks. Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti went even further, saying that the violence will not stop until Israel withdraws from all of Judea, Samaria, and Gaza - leaving Israel with an unclear picture as to the PA\'s demands.
Representing Israel are GSS head Avi Dichter and Gen. Giora Eiland, while Jibril Rajoub, Muhammad Dahlan, and Amin al-Hindi are for the PA. Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said last night that even if an agreement is reached, \"chances are small that the Palestinians will honor it.\"
Minister Tzippy Livny, a member of Israel\'s negotiating committee, admitted to Arutz-7 today that she has no great hopes for these talks:
\"The Palestinians do not appear to have an interest in stopping the violence, but I believe that we should try to extract what we can from every process. We have nothing to lose… If the Palestinians do nothing to stop the violence, then we won’t have to fulfill our part of the Tenet agreement. If they do, though, for whatever reason, it will be a net gain for us…\"
Asked about the apparent \"loss\" in the cessation of the anti-terrorist offensive in Ramallah, Minister Livny answered,
\"There are different opinions on this - Mofaz says we should have continued, while Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said something else - so there is no need for me to express an opinion… I think the best we can achieve now is a fairly fragile and not very long-range agreement that will lead to some reduction in terrorism...\"