Indications are piling up that the IDF's days in Hevron are numbered. Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer will convene a discussion on the matter with senior defense figures this afternoon, and Prime Minister Sharon will conduct a similar meeting with his security cabinet early next week. A "senior source" in the Prime Minister's entourage in the U.S. said that a "withdrawal from Hevron is likely in the near future."
On the other hand, senior IDF officers are against a withdrawal, saying that if the army stops its frequent patrols in the Arab areas overlooking the Jewish areas, shooting at the Jewish neighborhoods will quickly resume. The army entered Hevron in late June of this year, in the framework of Operation Determined Stand.
Public Security Minister Uzi Landau, who spoke out forcefully yesterday against Ben-Eliezer's "selective law enforcement" regarding the outposts, had strong words today for the Defense Minister's "Judea First" plan:
"Don't we remember the lessons we learned from all of Oslo? The hundreds of dead? We have to learn what not to do. No place should be evacuated [of IDF forces] as long as a danger exists for citizens of Israel. No place should be evacuated while we know that the next suicide terrorist bound for Tel Aviv will come from there. To carry out 'Judea First' or 'Hevron First' means essentially, 'Israel next.'"
Chief PA negotiator Saeb Erekat met with Foreign Minister Shimon Peres last night, and they agreed to meet again next week. Erekat said that Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer would also participate next week, as well as security officers of both sides.
On the other hand, senior IDF officers are against a withdrawal, saying that if the army stops its frequent patrols in the Arab areas overlooking the Jewish areas, shooting at the Jewish neighborhoods will quickly resume. The army entered Hevron in late June of this year, in the framework of Operation Determined Stand.
Public Security Minister Uzi Landau, who spoke out forcefully yesterday against Ben-Eliezer's "selective law enforcement" regarding the outposts, had strong words today for the Defense Minister's "Judea First" plan:
"Don't we remember the lessons we learned from all of Oslo? The hundreds of dead? We have to learn what not to do. No place should be evacuated [of IDF forces] as long as a danger exists for citizens of Israel. No place should be evacuated while we know that the next suicide terrorist bound for Tel Aviv will come from there. To carry out 'Judea First' or 'Hevron First' means essentially, 'Israel next.'"
Chief PA negotiator Saeb Erekat met with Foreign Minister Shimon Peres last night, and they agreed to meet again next week. Erekat said that Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer would also participate next week, as well as security officers of both sides.