As if to verify the warnings emanating from Hevron (see article on "Terrorist Victim's Home Destroyed"), Ha'aretz reports today that the CIA - the United States' intelligence agency - is establishing a special department that will be responsible for implementing the Road Map plan for an Israeli-PA peace agreement. One CIA team will focus on the freeze of Jewish construction in Yesha and the evacuation of outposts, as well the reopening of PA institutions in eastern Jerusalem. It will also have "the cessation of incitement" on its agenda. Other committees will concentrate on the reorganization and operations of the PA's security services; humanitarian affairs; civil PA reforms; and the supervision, monitoring, and tracking of both sides' implementation of their responsibilities.
In the past, Israel agreed to a small CIA presence in Judea and Samaria, but the new department will be much larger than that. CIA Director George Tenet visited Israel earlier this month for meetings with Prime Minister Sharon and the heads of the intelligence community.
The Americans plan to head the supervising mechanism, with the aid of the other members of the Quartet - Russia, the EU and UN. Israel has always strongly objected to intervention by foreign non-American forces. The return of British troops, for instance, would be a painfully ironic twist - as the State of Israel was formed almost 55 years ago when the British gave up both their mandate over the Holy Land and their attempts to buffer between Jews and Arabs.
In the past, Israel agreed to a small CIA presence in Judea and Samaria, but the new department will be much larger than that. CIA Director George Tenet visited Israel earlier this month for meetings with Prime Minister Sharon and the heads of the intelligence community.
The Americans plan to head the supervising mechanism, with the aid of the other members of the Quartet - Russia, the EU and UN. Israel has always strongly objected to intervention by foreign non-American forces. The return of British troops, for instance, would be a painfully ironic twist - as the State of Israel was formed almost 55 years ago when the British gave up both their mandate over the Holy Land and their attempts to buffer between Jews and Arabs.