A high-level security cooperation meeting was held last night for over three hours between Israeli and Palestinian representatives, including GSS head Avi Dichter. During the meeting, which reporters described as showing some signs of Palestinian readiness to clamp down on terrorism, a Palestinian mortar shell was fired towards Netzarim. It was later ascertained that the shell fell in PA-controlled territory. Israel offered a series of restriction-relaxing gestures in exchange for a Palestinian commitment to reduce violence. The Palestinians presented their own demands. The Israelis later described the meeting as \"good and serious.\"
Yasser Arafat announced that he had arrested a few Hamas mortar-firing cells, but Israeli security sources are not convinced. They say that the shelling attacks are organized and supplied by none other than the Palestinian Authority itself, and that Arafat\'s moves are meant only to impress the Americans. The sources say that Arafat has not made a decision to stop the violence, and that Prime Minister Sharon demands an end not only to shelling but to all forms of bombing and violence against Israel.
Yasser Arafat announced that he had arrested a few Hamas mortar-firing cells, but Israeli security sources are not convinced. They say that the shelling attacks are organized and supplied by none other than the Palestinian Authority itself, and that Arafat\'s moves are meant only to impress the Americans. The sources say that Arafat has not made a decision to stop the violence, and that Prime Minister Sharon demands an end not only to shelling but to all forms of bombing and violence against Israel.