Thousands took part in the funeral this afternoon of arch-terrorist Abu Ali Mustafa in Ramallah today; he was killed yesterday by a precisely-aimed missile fired by Israeli forces. Among the mourners was Arab MK Ahmed Tibi, who said that many of those leading the Palestinian violence against Israel are his personal friends. Arab MK Muhammad Barakeh said that the killing of Mustafa has brought the Israeli-Arab community closer together with the PA Arabs.
Judea and Samaria roads are seeing sparse Arab traffic today, but a normal amount of Jewish cars. The army had considered banning all traffic in Yesha, but withdrew the idea when the Yesha Council said it would \"object strenuously.\" Drivers are recommended to drive in pairs and with arms, however. On certain routes, such as between Ateret and the Shilo-Beit El highway, Ganim-Kadim, from Chomesh, and others, Jewish traffic is permitted only with army escort. Three roads continue to remain totally closed to Jewish civilians: From Adam to A-Ram junction north of Jerusalem, from Beit El to Dolev, and a narrow and winding low road from Beit El to Psagot. In addition, the army forbids the entry of Arab workers into Yesha towns.
Not surprisingly, the meeting between Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Yasser Arafat appears to be off, for now. Peres talked yesterday with German Foreign Minister Fischer, the \"facilitator\" of the planned get-together, and the two agreed that it could take place \"only after careful preparation.\" Peres said that the situation requires more than one meeting, and Fischer noted that \"hope must be renewed and that dialogue is at the heart of hope.\"
Judea and Samaria roads are seeing sparse Arab traffic today, but a normal amount of Jewish cars. The army had considered banning all traffic in Yesha, but withdrew the idea when the Yesha Council said it would \"object strenuously.\" Drivers are recommended to drive in pairs and with arms, however. On certain routes, such as between Ateret and the Shilo-Beit El highway, Ganim-Kadim, from Chomesh, and others, Jewish traffic is permitted only with army escort. Three roads continue to remain totally closed to Jewish civilians: From Adam to A-Ram junction north of Jerusalem, from Beit El to Dolev, and a narrow and winding low road from Beit El to Psagot. In addition, the army forbids the entry of Arab workers into Yesha towns.
Not surprisingly, the meeting between Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Yasser Arafat appears to be off, for now. Peres talked yesterday with German Foreign Minister Fischer, the \"facilitator\" of the planned get-together, and the two agreed that it could take place \"only after careful preparation.\" Peres said that the situation requires more than one meeting, and Fischer noted that \"hope must be renewed and that dialogue is at the heart of hope.\"