The cabinet comprises Prime Minister Sharon and Ministers Peres, Mofaz, Shalom, Netanyahu, Ramon and Olmert. They approved a series of small military counter-terror offensives, but nothing more than the army has been executing up until now.
At the same time, the government has agreed to allow the PA to take responsibility for southern Israel's security, at least temporarily. Gaza Division Commander Brig.-Gen. Aviv Kokhavi met yesterday with PA officials, who showed Kokhavi his plan for the deployment of PA police to prevent Kassam rocket firings. The plan stipulates that hundreds of armed PA policemen will patrol the areas of Beit Hanoun (northern Gaza), Khan Yunis (southern Gaza), and other areas from which Palestinian terrorists fire Kassams and mortar shells.
Under the current situation, IDF soldiers are instructed to fire on sight upon encountering an armed Arab in Judea, Samaria and Gaza.
Gen. Kokhavi was to submit the plan to Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz today for his approval, and in fact, hundreds of armed PA policemen were reported to have taken up positions this afternoon.
Israel's security cabinet resolved to instruct the IDF to keep "on hold" its operative plans to take over areas in Gaza, but to be ready to implement them in the event that the PA fails to stop the rockets. No time frame was given. "The State of Israel is closely following the measures against terrorism that the PA has announced," according to the statement released after the cabinet consultation.
As usual, reactions were divided. National Religious Party leader MK Effie Eitam said, "Sharon has a government supported by the left-wing and the Arabs, and in order to ensure his political survival, he is abandoning the residents of southern Israel." Eitam said that Sharon is afraid to implement the "only solution – a military attack," because the Arabs and the left-wing will withdraw their support for him.
Eitam's party colleague Zevulun Orlev said, "This is Peres' first victory in the Sharon government. The decision proves that this is not a Likud government, but rather a Labor Party dream." Orlev called upon the Likud MKs to "stop walking between the drops, and make a brave decision to topple the government – and the sooner the better. No Likud MK will be able to claim innocence and continue avoiding making the hard decision to advance the elections."
On the other hand, MK Eli Yishai of Shas – a candidate for head of the opposition – endorsed the government decision. He said that continued security coordination with the PA is a necessity and is indicated, though he emphasized that the PA's seriousness of intentions and actions must constantly be monitored.
At the same time, the government has agreed to allow the PA to take responsibility for southern Israel's security, at least temporarily. Gaza Division Commander Brig.-Gen. Aviv Kokhavi met yesterday with PA officials, who showed Kokhavi his plan for the deployment of PA police to prevent Kassam rocket firings. The plan stipulates that hundreds of armed PA policemen will patrol the areas of Beit Hanoun (northern Gaza), Khan Yunis (southern Gaza), and other areas from which Palestinian terrorists fire Kassams and mortar shells.
Under the current situation, IDF soldiers are instructed to fire on sight upon encountering an armed Arab in Judea, Samaria and Gaza.
Gen. Kokhavi was to submit the plan to Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz today for his approval, and in fact, hundreds of armed PA policemen were reported to have taken up positions this afternoon.
Israel's security cabinet resolved to instruct the IDF to keep "on hold" its operative plans to take over areas in Gaza, but to be ready to implement them in the event that the PA fails to stop the rockets. No time frame was given. "The State of Israel is closely following the measures against terrorism that the PA has announced," according to the statement released after the cabinet consultation.
As usual, reactions were divided. National Religious Party leader MK Effie Eitam said, "Sharon has a government supported by the left-wing and the Arabs, and in order to ensure his political survival, he is abandoning the residents of southern Israel." Eitam said that Sharon is afraid to implement the "only solution – a military attack," because the Arabs and the left-wing will withdraw their support for him.
Eitam's party colleague Zevulun Orlev said, "This is Peres' first victory in the Sharon government. The decision proves that this is not a Likud government, but rather a Labor Party dream." Orlev called upon the Likud MKs to "stop walking between the drops, and make a brave decision to topple the government – and the sooner the better. No Likud MK will be able to claim innocence and continue avoiding making the hard decision to advance the elections."
On the other hand, MK Eli Yishai of Shas – a candidate for head of the opposition – endorsed the government decision. He said that continued security coordination with the PA is a necessity and is indicated, though he emphasized that the PA's seriousness of intentions and actions must constantly be monitored.