Housing Minister Natan Sharansky calls it a new version of the Oslo Agreement - but that did not stop Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer from agreeing to undertake the "Gaza and Bethlehem First" agreement with officials of the Palestinian Authority. At a meeting with Muhammad Dahlan last night, it was agreed that Israel would begin easing restrictions in Gaza and Bethlehem, handing over security control to the PA, and, depending on progress in attaining quiet, withdrawing troops from the areas. The plan also calls on Israel to issue additional work permits for PA laborers inside pre-1967 Israel. If the arrangement is successful, Israel will withdraw its troops from additional PA-controlled areas. Terrorist organizations have already announced their intention to continue their attacks against Israel.
The Yesha Council (Council of Judea, Samaria and Gaza Communities) has strong criticism of the government's consent to the plan. "Precisely when signs of tiredness and surrender begin to appear on the Palestinian side," the Council said in a statement this morning, "that's when the government jumps in to save the Palestinian Authority and its terrorist organizations." The Yesha Council calls on the government to "defeat them, not talk with them, and thus end the war." Other analysts say that Sharon is merely stalling for time, waiting for the American invasion of Iraq.
The National Union party issued a statement accusing Ben-Eliezer of allowing his internal political problems to influence his diplomatic decisions. "It's not Gaza or Bethlehem First that tops Ben-Eliezer's agenda," the statement read, "but rather his own plans to try to stop [Haifa Mayor and new candidate for Labor party leader] Amram Mitzna First. Again and again, Ben-Eliezer subjugates our lives and welfare, as well as our national and security interests, to narrow political considerations."
Coincidentally or not, the Northern Police District is on high alert today following general warnings of a possibly impending terrorist attack. Checkpoints have been established at the entrances to Afula and Hadera, and elsewhere... A convoy of IDF vehicles was fired on this morning in Jenin. No one was hurt, but three vehicles were damaged... Kol Rina News Agency reports that an IDF soldier was lightly wounded by gunfire in Shechem early this afternoon...
The Yesha Council (Council of Judea, Samaria and Gaza Communities) has strong criticism of the government's consent to the plan. "Precisely when signs of tiredness and surrender begin to appear on the Palestinian side," the Council said in a statement this morning, "that's when the government jumps in to save the Palestinian Authority and its terrorist organizations." The Yesha Council calls on the government to "defeat them, not talk with them, and thus end the war." Other analysts say that Sharon is merely stalling for time, waiting for the American invasion of Iraq.
The National Union party issued a statement accusing Ben-Eliezer of allowing his internal political problems to influence his diplomatic decisions. "It's not Gaza or Bethlehem First that tops Ben-Eliezer's agenda," the statement read, "but rather his own plans to try to stop [Haifa Mayor and new candidate for Labor party leader] Amram Mitzna First. Again and again, Ben-Eliezer subjugates our lives and welfare, as well as our national and security interests, to narrow political considerations."
Coincidentally or not, the Northern Police District is on high alert today following general warnings of a possibly impending terrorist attack. Checkpoints have been established at the entrances to Afula and Hadera, and elsewhere... A convoy of IDF vehicles was fired on this morning in Jenin. No one was hurt, but three vehicles were damaged... Kol Rina News Agency reports that an IDF soldier was lightly wounded by gunfire in Shechem early this afternoon...