Environment Minister Tzachi HaNegbi told Arutz-7's Haggai Segal today that the "Gaza First" plan was not debated in the Cabinet, "but was rather reported on by the Defense Minister yesterday, and there were no objections." Segal: "No objections? That's surprising, for it contradicts two major principles of this government: One is that there would be no negotiations with Arafat - yet it was reported that this agreement was made with his consent! The second is that the Oslo Agreement is dead, but this new agreement is very reminiscent of how the Oslo Agreement started."
HaNegbi: "On the contrary. Because Oslo is dead, we now return to the starting point of Sept '93, when we found ourselves similar to our situation now, in full control of the areas and with no diplomatic talks with the PA at all. Now, just as then, we are again trying to bring calm, with the test being whether the Palestinians can stop the violence on their own without receiving anything in return from Israel."
Segal: "There are reports that the IDF's withdrawal will begin as early as today, even before we know whether the PA has taken any action against Hamas."
HaNegbi: "The main test will be in Gaza, where the IDF has nothing to withdraw from, since our presence there is not so deep. There must be an end to the daily shootings, bombs, mortar shells, etc.... In Bethlehem, they have obligated themselves to make sure there is perfect quiet --
Segal: "But they have promised several times already in the past two years to stop the violence, yet it hasn't stopped."
HaNegbi: "Fine. This is why we are where we are, with the Oslo Agreement over, null and void, and even its burial place is not known."
The Gaza Coast Residents Committee has sent a telegram to Prime Minister Sharon protesting the agreement. Gaza Coast Regional Council head Avner Shimoni said today, "I don't know the exact details of the current plan, but it reminds me of the original 'Gaza and Jericho First' plan, whose disastrous consequences everyone knows… Removing the blockades within Gaza and allowing free travel to the Arabs has in the past had fatal consequences, and we fear that it will be the same this time…"
HaNegbi: "On the contrary. Because Oslo is dead, we now return to the starting point of Sept '93, when we found ourselves similar to our situation now, in full control of the areas and with no diplomatic talks with the PA at all. Now, just as then, we are again trying to bring calm, with the test being whether the Palestinians can stop the violence on their own without receiving anything in return from Israel."
Segal: "There are reports that the IDF's withdrawal will begin as early as today, even before we know whether the PA has taken any action against Hamas."
HaNegbi: "The main test will be in Gaza, where the IDF has nothing to withdraw from, since our presence there is not so deep. There must be an end to the daily shootings, bombs, mortar shells, etc.... In Bethlehem, they have obligated themselves to make sure there is perfect quiet --
Segal: "But they have promised several times already in the past two years to stop the violence, yet it hasn't stopped."
HaNegbi: "Fine. This is why we are where we are, with the Oslo Agreement over, null and void, and even its burial place is not known."
The Gaza Coast Residents Committee has sent a telegram to Prime Minister Sharon protesting the agreement. Gaza Coast Regional Council head Avner Shimoni said today, "I don't know the exact details of the current plan, but it reminds me of the original 'Gaza and Jericho First' plan, whose disastrous consequences everyone knows… Removing the blockades within Gaza and allowing free travel to the Arabs has in the past had fatal consequences, and we fear that it will be the same this time…"