The new Palestinian Authority "government" is to be sworn in today, but it appears that it will merely be an extension of Yasser Arafat's authority. Israel did not permit seven Gaza members of the Palestinian Legislative Council to arrive in Ramallah, and they are participating by video hook-up. Prime Minister-designate Ahmed Qurei (Abu Ala) called for a "mutual ceasefire," including all the PA terrorist organizations, and said he hopes to hold elections in June 2004. Arafat is also expected to address the council. Israeli military sources have been quoted as saying that Israel will grant Qurei a grace period, and will not carry out anti-terror operations - except in case of immediate threats - if the terrorists do not attack.
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, answering questions from the press this morning at the start of his working lunch with the Prime Minister of Slovakia Mikulas Dzurinda, said, "Arafat has never implemented even one of the commitments or promises that he has made over the past ten years. In 1993, Arafat sent a letter to the Norwegian Prime Minister, renouncing the use of terrorism to achieve his goals. Since then, he has brought the phenomenon of suicide bombers to Israel and has supported and been involved in terrorist attacks." Shalom made a gesture towards Abu Ala by then saying, "If the new Palestinian government is serious about pursuing peace and takes action to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism, they will find Israel a real partner."
A foreign worker was shot by Palestinian terrorists this afternoon in Morag, in Gush Katif. He was taken in light-to-moderate condition to Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva... An IDF force in Shechem this morning discovered 13 Kalachnikov rifles and dozens of magazines. The cache was found buried in the yard of an abandoned prison... Another Israeli force, in eastern Jerusalem's Azariya village, found a lab for the forging of Israeli ID cards and entry passes into pre-'67 Israel...
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, answering questions from the press this morning at the start of his working lunch with the Prime Minister of Slovakia Mikulas Dzurinda, said, "Arafat has never implemented even one of the commitments or promises that he has made over the past ten years. In 1993, Arafat sent a letter to the Norwegian Prime Minister, renouncing the use of terrorism to achieve his goals. Since then, he has brought the phenomenon of suicide bombers to Israel and has supported and been involved in terrorist attacks." Shalom made a gesture towards Abu Ala by then saying, "If the new Palestinian government is serious about pursuing peace and takes action to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism, they will find Israel a real partner."
A foreign worker was shot by Palestinian terrorists this afternoon in Morag, in Gush Katif. He was taken in light-to-moderate condition to Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva... An IDF force in Shechem this morning discovered 13 Kalachnikov rifles and dozens of magazines. The cache was found buried in the yard of an abandoned prison... Another Israeli force, in eastern Jerusalem's Azariya village, found a lab for the forging of Israeli ID cards and entry passes into pre-'67 Israel...