Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer told Army Radio today that, "security permitting," he plans to withdraw IDF forces from Hevron by the end of the week. The move would come as part of the new "Judea First" plan introduced by Foreign Minister Shimon Peres. An extension of the failed "Gaza and Bethlehem First" plan, "Judea First" calls for the transfer of security control throughout Judea to the Palestinian Authority's security establishment.
Ben-Eliezer, speaking from France, said that Israeli officials had already notified PA representatives about the intended Hevron withdrawal. Arutz-7 correspondent Haggai Seri notes that while Prime Minister Sharon expressed his opposition to the "Judea First" plan during the Cabinet meeting on Sunday, he did not overrule its implementation.
A spokesman for the Hevron Jewish Community had harsh words for Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer, saying he "is willing to literally sacrifice Israeli lives for his own political gain. Transfer of Hevron back to Arafat-terrorists is tantamount to cold-blooded murder... Less than three weeks ago, a Jewish man was shot and killed in cold blood, while three of his children were injured, here in Hevron... Only a few days ago, terrorists massively attacked the Tel Romeida neighborhood, shooting from the Harat a-Sheikh hills... The IDF [then] was prepared to fight back, on the spot. What will happen when those hills are solely occupied by terrorists, without an IDF presence? The answer is crystal clear. Hevron residents will again be sitting ducks in a pond, target practice for the terrorists..."
Ben-Eliezer, speaking from France, said that Israeli officials had already notified PA representatives about the intended Hevron withdrawal. Arutz-7 correspondent Haggai Seri notes that while Prime Minister Sharon expressed his opposition to the "Judea First" plan during the Cabinet meeting on Sunday, he did not overrule its implementation.
A spokesman for the Hevron Jewish Community had harsh words for Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer, saying he "is willing to literally sacrifice Israeli lives for his own political gain. Transfer of Hevron back to Arafat-terrorists is tantamount to cold-blooded murder... Less than three weeks ago, a Jewish man was shot and killed in cold blood, while three of his children were injured, here in Hevron... Only a few days ago, terrorists massively attacked the Tel Romeida neighborhood, shooting from the Harat a-Sheikh hills... The IDF [then] was prepared to fight back, on the spot. What will happen when those hills are solely occupied by terrorists, without an IDF presence? The answer is crystal clear. Hevron residents will again be sitting ducks in a pond, target practice for the terrorists..."