Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and other government leaders toured the areas through which the separation fence is to run, between pre- and post-1967 Israel, on Sunday. Accompanying the ministers was IDF Chief of Staff Moshe Ya’alon, the chief of police and the commander of the border police. During the tour, the prime minister observed that rather than preventing terrorist attacks, the fence could lead to an increase in attacks by Israeli Arabs. The reason, he said, is that Israeli Arabs would step in to take a greater part in terrorism as Arabs from the PA would be unable to reach their targets. “Even today,” he said, “we are witnessing [Israeli Arab] involvement of this nature....” Nevertheless, Sharon said that the fence was another means to be used in the domestic war on terrorism from the PA.
Meanwhile, Deputy IDF Chief of Staff Major-General Gabi Ashkenazi recently stated that the construction of the separation fence between Israel and the PA is reason for concern regarding the security of Jewish cities and towns on the post-1967 side of the fence, as well. In response to the Deputy Chief of Staff’s comments, Judea, Samaria and Gaza Council leaders have called for increased security in their communities, including an increase in security allocations.
Meanwhile, Deputy IDF Chief of Staff Major-General Gabi Ashkenazi recently stated that the construction of the separation fence between Israel and the PA is reason for concern regarding the security of Jewish cities and towns on the post-1967 side of the fence, as well. In response to the Deputy Chief of Staff’s comments, Judea, Samaria and Gaza Council leaders have called for increased security in their communities, including an increase in security allocations.