The issues that blocked the handover of Jericho until now remain in dispute, and will be negotiated at a later date. So agreed Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz and the PA's Nasser Yusuf. The disputed issues include Israeli checkpoints around the city and control of the village of Ouja, just north of Jericho. At present, Israel will remain in most of these areas.
The fate of the nearly 20 terrorists wanted by Israel who have found refuge in Jericho, including those responsible for the murder of Minister Rehavam Ze'evi in November 2001, is now overshadowing the other matters. Israel has agreed that most of them may be released, on condition that they also be disarmed. However, Abu Mazen said today that he also plans to release Ahmed Saadat and Fuad Shubaki. Saadat is the secretary-general of the PFLP (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine) and is responsible for the murder of Ze'evi, and Shubaki headed the Karin-A weapons ship acquisition in early 2002.
Official Israel responded immediately. "If Saadat and Shubaki are released," the Prime Minister's Bureau announced, "we will arrest them with lightning speed."
Abu Mazen told Reuters today that by agreement with Israel, as soon as Israel leaves Jericho, the two can be released. Israeli officials said this was not true, and that the agreement actually calls for the two to remain in prison under joint American-British supervision.
Palmach Ze'evi, son of the slain minister, told Arutz-7 today that he is confident that Prime Minister Sharon, a close friend of Gandhi, will not allow the murderer to be freed. "This is one of these things by which the PA is testing us," Palmach said, "thinking that if it works, good, and if not, not. But I can tell you that it won't work. Even within this madness [of concessions] that we see, there are still some red lines. Sharon won't let it happen." However, the younger Ze'evi said, "We see what kind of guy we're dealing with. Abu Mazen is supposedly committed to the agreements, and yet even at this early stage he makes announcements in violation of them."
Defense Minister Mofaz said today, "If the PA dares to free Minister Ze'evi's murderers, Israel will put its hand on them faster than they think." He said that Israel's rejection of such a release has been made perfectly clear to the PA negotiators.
Israel's forces are scheduled to be withdrawn from in and around Jericho tomorrow, except for the checkpoints in dispute that are stationed on the critical Jordan Valley highway. The highway leads from Jerusalem to the Galilee and Golan.
The highway also passes through Ouja, a village just north of Jericho, although a bypass road has been built. When the Oslo War started, Arabs from Ouja set up roadblocks and attacked Jewish travelers on the highway on a regular basis. Other attempts have taken place there as well, such as in August 2001 when terrorists shot at an Israeli motorist, failing to injure him. Several months earlier, bus passenger Sgt. Tal Gordon, 19, was shot and killed by ambushing terrorists on the Jericho bypass road.
Mofaz and Yusuf, who is responsible for Internal Affairs in the Palestinian Authority, also agreed yesterday that the city of Tul Karem, east of Netanya, would be handed over early next week. They further determined that negotiations for the transfer of control over Kalkilye, east of Raanana, would begin as soon as possible.
The fate of the nearly 20 terrorists wanted by Israel who have found refuge in Jericho, including those responsible for the murder of Minister Rehavam Ze'evi in November 2001, is now overshadowing the other matters. Israel has agreed that most of them may be released, on condition that they also be disarmed. However, Abu Mazen said today that he also plans to release Ahmed Saadat and Fuad Shubaki. Saadat is the secretary-general of the PFLP (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine) and is responsible for the murder of Ze'evi, and Shubaki headed the Karin-A weapons ship acquisition in early 2002.
Official Israel responded immediately. "If Saadat and Shubaki are released," the Prime Minister's Bureau announced, "we will arrest them with lightning speed."
Abu Mazen told Reuters today that by agreement with Israel, as soon as Israel leaves Jericho, the two can be released. Israeli officials said this was not true, and that the agreement actually calls for the two to remain in prison under joint American-British supervision.
Palmach Ze'evi, son of the slain minister, told Arutz-7 today that he is confident that Prime Minister Sharon, a close friend of Gandhi, will not allow the murderer to be freed. "This is one of these things by which the PA is testing us," Palmach said, "thinking that if it works, good, and if not, not. But I can tell you that it won't work. Even within this madness [of concessions] that we see, there are still some red lines. Sharon won't let it happen." However, the younger Ze'evi said, "We see what kind of guy we're dealing with. Abu Mazen is supposedly committed to the agreements, and yet even at this early stage he makes announcements in violation of them."
Defense Minister Mofaz said today, "If the PA dares to free Minister Ze'evi's murderers, Israel will put its hand on them faster than they think." He said that Israel's rejection of such a release has been made perfectly clear to the PA negotiators.
Israel's forces are scheduled to be withdrawn from in and around Jericho tomorrow, except for the checkpoints in dispute that are stationed on the critical Jordan Valley highway. The highway leads from Jerusalem to the Galilee and Golan.
The highway also passes through Ouja, a village just north of Jericho, although a bypass road has been built. When the Oslo War started, Arabs from Ouja set up roadblocks and attacked Jewish travelers on the highway on a regular basis. Other attempts have taken place there as well, such as in August 2001 when terrorists shot at an Israeli motorist, failing to injure him. Several months earlier, bus passenger Sgt. Tal Gordon, 19, was shot and killed by ambushing terrorists on the Jericho bypass road.
Mofaz and Yusuf, who is responsible for Internal Affairs in the Palestinian Authority, also agreed yesterday that the city of Tul Karem, east of Netanya, would be handed over early next week. They further determined that negotiations for the transfer of control over Kalkilye, east of Raanana, would begin as soon as possible.