The IDF began withdrawing its forces from the cities of Kalkilye and Tul Karem late last night, in accordance with a decision by Prime Minister Sharon and Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer. The decision came only hours after U.S. President George Bush made his strongest and most impatient demand yet for Israel to end its anti-terror offensive. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said this morning that the withdrawal was \"encouraging, but not enough.\" The IDF forces retain a tight closure around Kalkilye and Tul Karem, following what the security cabinet called \"the completion of IDF action in these cities.\"
Ben-Eliezer praised the IDF for having \"struck a severe blow at the infrastructures of terror, including the arrests of wanted fugitives and clashing with armed terrorist elements, and capturing large quantities of weapons, war materiel, bombs and explosives.\" Some IDF officers deny that the missions in the two cities were completed, however, and say that the forces should not have been withdrawn. They say that the army did not succeed in uncovering all the terrorist infrastructures there.
Arutz-7 correspondent Haggai Huberman reports that major terrorist attacks were planned and originated in these cities, over which the army took control eight days ago. The worst of the Moslem Arab terrorist atrocities in the Oslo War, the Passover Seder massacre that killed 27 Jews two weeks ago, was perpetrated by a Tul Karem resident. In Kalkilye, shortly after the IDF\'s retreat today, terrorists opened fire at Israeli targets: an army outpost, and workers on the Trans-Israel highway; no one was hurt, and the soldiers did not return fire.
The reaction of MK Michael Kleiner (Herut) to the IDF withdrawal from Tul Karem and Kalkilye today: \"Operation Defensive Shield was destined to failure from the moment that the government announced that we will withdraw from the territories conquered during the course of the operation.\" Kleiner said that the withdrawal will create a vacuum that will be filled with terrorist groups attempting to rebuild their military and logistical infrastructure. \"As long as Oslo is not canceled and a military administration is not applied to all of the areas liberated from Arafat\'s rule,\" Kleiner said, \"there will not be security for the Jews.\"
Housing Minister Natan Sharansky admitted that the hasty decision to quit Kalkilye and Tul Karem was a result of American pressure. He told Arutz-7 today,
\"There is no doubt that the withdrawal is a response to Bush, but it must also be remembered that two days ago, forces already began to be transferred to Jenin and Shechem from these areas, which were not the major focus of our anti-terrorist war... At the same time, it was made clear to President Bush - I also spoke last night with American national security advisors - that with all our concern for the American issues, we cannot allow ourselves to let the terrorism return while we are still burying families that were murdered at the Passover Seder...\"
Ben-Eliezer praised the IDF for having \"struck a severe blow at the infrastructures of terror, including the arrests of wanted fugitives and clashing with armed terrorist elements, and capturing large quantities of weapons, war materiel, bombs and explosives.\" Some IDF officers deny that the missions in the two cities were completed, however, and say that the forces should not have been withdrawn. They say that the army did not succeed in uncovering all the terrorist infrastructures there.
Arutz-7 correspondent Haggai Huberman reports that major terrorist attacks were planned and originated in these cities, over which the army took control eight days ago. The worst of the Moslem Arab terrorist atrocities in the Oslo War, the Passover Seder massacre that killed 27 Jews two weeks ago, was perpetrated by a Tul Karem resident. In Kalkilye, shortly after the IDF\'s retreat today, terrorists opened fire at Israeli targets: an army outpost, and workers on the Trans-Israel highway; no one was hurt, and the soldiers did not return fire.
The reaction of MK Michael Kleiner (Herut) to the IDF withdrawal from Tul Karem and Kalkilye today: \"Operation Defensive Shield was destined to failure from the moment that the government announced that we will withdraw from the territories conquered during the course of the operation.\" Kleiner said that the withdrawal will create a vacuum that will be filled with terrorist groups attempting to rebuild their military and logistical infrastructure. \"As long as Oslo is not canceled and a military administration is not applied to all of the areas liberated from Arafat\'s rule,\" Kleiner said, \"there will not be security for the Jews.\"
Housing Minister Natan Sharansky admitted that the hasty decision to quit Kalkilye and Tul Karem was a result of American pressure. He told Arutz-7 today,
\"There is no doubt that the withdrawal is a response to Bush, but it must also be remembered that two days ago, forces already began to be transferred to Jenin and Shechem from these areas, which were not the major focus of our anti-terrorist war... At the same time, it was made clear to President Bush - I also spoke last night with American national security advisors - that with all our concern for the American issues, we cannot allow ourselves to let the terrorism return while we are still burying families that were murdered at the Passover Seder...\"