Following half a day of terrorist shooting at the southern Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo, Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer authorized an offensive similar to the one carried out previously in Jenin. In that operation, IDF troops and tanks entered the heart of the Palestinian Authority-controlled city and carried out demolitions of terrorist headquarters and offices. Just as in the hours preceding the Jenin strike, tanks, armored personnel carriers and ground forces were brought into position in the area of Bet Jala, in the Bethlehem district, close to midnight. A closure was imposed on Arab villages in the vicinity, but, ultimately, IDF forces withdrew without entering areas under PA jurisdiction.
Initially, there were reports that the US Administration had pressured Israel not to repeat the Jenin operation in Bet Jala; however, sources in Jerusalem now report that it was Foreign Minister Shimon Peres who pressured the Defense Minister to halt the retaliatory assault. Peres convinced Ben-Eliezer to stay the hand of the IDF, and allow him to engage in dialog with Arab leaders to stop the shooting on the capital. Officials in the Israeli government have confirmed that the White House did not pressure Israel on this issue.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon says that this is the last time that he will restrain the IDF. He says that the Israeli government will not tolerate any future shooting into the capital. \"Any shooting,\" vowed Sharon, \"would be met with an offensive into Beit Jala.\" Sharon told colleagues yesterday that the Arabs will pay a political and territorial price if their assaults continue.
Initially, there were reports that the US Administration had pressured Israel not to repeat the Jenin operation in Bet Jala; however, sources in Jerusalem now report that it was Foreign Minister Shimon Peres who pressured the Defense Minister to halt the retaliatory assault. Peres convinced Ben-Eliezer to stay the hand of the IDF, and allow him to engage in dialog with Arab leaders to stop the shooting on the capital. Officials in the Israeli government have confirmed that the White House did not pressure Israel on this issue.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon says that this is the last time that he will restrain the IDF. He says that the Israeli government will not tolerate any future shooting into the capital. \"Any shooting,\" vowed Sharon, \"would be met with an offensive into Beit Jala.\" Sharon told colleagues yesterday that the Arabs will pay a political and territorial price if their assaults continue.