In accordance with Prime Minister Sharon\'s decision, Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer has issued a \"stop fire\" order, canceled all initiated army actions, and given the order to open fire only in life-threatening situations. U.S. President George Bush phoned Prime Minister Sharon today and congratulated him on the ceasefire. Leading Palestinian Authority officials, however, have already rejected the idea. Ziyad Abu Ziyad told Army Radio this morning that the PA will not accept Sharon\'s outstretched arm. Jibril Rajoub, PLO security chief in Judea/Samaria, said, \"I can\'t understand this term ceasefire. We are the victims. We are not in a war between the two of us. There is a unilateral war, unilateral attacks by the Israelis against the Palestinian people.\" Israeli officials responded with incredulity to the assertion that the Palestinians do not attack Israelis, but in any event expressed their certainty that the PA would not halt its violence. Yasser Arafat departed last night for Paris, and will not return until Thursday.
Proof that a ceasefire is still theoretical, however, was provided today by several instances of Palestinian aggression against Israel - including the murder of an Israeli man. He and another man were working on a road east of Ariel, in central Shomron, when they were shot from the direction of the village Iskirah… Two other IDF forces that arrived on the scene to help the wounded and pursue the attackers were also shot upon from the same village... Near Rafiach, Palestinians have been intensively attacking IDF forces with anti-tank grenades and light-weapons fire throughout the afternoon... Light-weapons fire was opened this morning at the Jewish community of Kfar Darom in Gush Katif (Gaza); no one was hurt... Two IDF forces in Gaza were attacked as well; one of them returned fire. No one was hurt...
Asher Mivtzari, a spokesman for the Gush Katif community of Kfar Darom, said today, \"We must be wary of ceasefires, because until now the terrorists have always used these periods of quiet to their advantage, preparing large-scale attacks...\"
Proof that a ceasefire is still theoretical, however, was provided today by several instances of Palestinian aggression against Israel - including the murder of an Israeli man. He and another man were working on a road east of Ariel, in central Shomron, when they were shot from the direction of the village Iskirah… Two other IDF forces that arrived on the scene to help the wounded and pursue the attackers were also shot upon from the same village... Near Rafiach, Palestinians have been intensively attacking IDF forces with anti-tank grenades and light-weapons fire throughout the afternoon... Light-weapons fire was opened this morning at the Jewish community of Kfar Darom in Gush Katif (Gaza); no one was hurt... Two IDF forces in Gaza were attacked as well; one of them returned fire. No one was hurt...
Asher Mivtzari, a spokesman for the Gush Katif community of Kfar Darom, said today, \"We must be wary of ceasefires, because until now the terrorists have always used these periods of quiet to their advantage, preparing large-scale attacks...\"