At the terrorism continues, the government continues its negotiations with the Palestinian Authority and making concessions. Despite continuing terrorist warnings - which, though intense, have dropped in severity over the past few days - the army has removed the closure from Judea and Samaria, allowing 15,000-25,000 Arab workers to cross into pre-'67 Israel each day.
Israel also began implementing others of the "confidence-building measures" on behalf of the Arab population in Yesha. Some 100 security prisoners were released today, including the longest-serving terrorist in prison, Ahmed Jabara, who planned the famous refrigerator bomb in Jerusalem in 1975. Fourteen Israelis were killed in the blast, and Jabara, now 68, was sentenced to three life sentences. Security officials term the measures a "calculated risk."
In addition, approximately 100 Palestinian Authority officials are being considered for VIP passes, granting them free and unchecked travel throughout Judea, Samaria and Gaza. Each of these three measures has led to increased terrorism in the past.
Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu came out against the removal of the closure today. He said that the security gestures that Israel wishes to make on behalf of Abu Mazen should be limited.
IMRA (www.imra.org.il) noted that U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney's remarks last night are particularly poignant in light of the American demands upon Israel vis-a-vis the PA:
"We cannot allow ourselves to grow complacent, we cannot forget that the terrorists remain determined to kill as many Americans as possible both abroad and here at home... With such an enemy, no peace treaty is possible, no policy of containment or deterrent will prove effective. The only way to deal with this threat is to destroy it completely and utterly, and President Bush is absolutely determined to do just that."
Cheney made the remarks in a speech yesterday to the 2003 graduating class of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.
Israel also began implementing others of the "confidence-building measures" on behalf of the Arab population in Yesha. Some 100 security prisoners were released today, including the longest-serving terrorist in prison, Ahmed Jabara, who planned the famous refrigerator bomb in Jerusalem in 1975. Fourteen Israelis were killed in the blast, and Jabara, now 68, was sentenced to three life sentences. Security officials term the measures a "calculated risk."
In addition, approximately 100 Palestinian Authority officials are being considered for VIP passes, granting them free and unchecked travel throughout Judea, Samaria and Gaza. Each of these three measures has led to increased terrorism in the past.
Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu came out against the removal of the closure today. He said that the security gestures that Israel wishes to make on behalf of Abu Mazen should be limited.
IMRA (www.imra.org.il) noted that U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney's remarks last night are particularly poignant in light of the American demands upon Israel vis-a-vis the PA:
"We cannot allow ourselves to grow complacent, we cannot forget that the terrorists remain determined to kill as many Americans as possible both abroad and here at home... With such an enemy, no peace treaty is possible, no policy of containment or deterrent will prove effective. The only way to deal with this threat is to destroy it completely and utterly, and President Bush is absolutely determined to do just that."
Cheney made the remarks in a speech yesterday to the 2003 graduating class of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.