Israel withdrew its forces from Beit Jala early this morning, in accordance with the decision made at a late-night security mini-cabinet meeting of several hours. Security sources reported this morning that although Yasser Arafat\'s ceasefire order basically took hold after it was issued yesterday afternoon, Israel does not expect it to last for more than a short while, as Arafat\'s basic strategy has not changed. In fact, Gilo residents and on-site correspondents reported Arab shooting upon the neighborhood this morning, including an exploded rooftop solar heater; the IDF said that it was merely \"shots of joy\" fired by Beit Jala residents. Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said this morning that if the shooting continues, the government will \"consider its next moves.\"
Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said today that he hopes the withdrawal will lead to a series of regional mini-ceasefires throughout Yesha. He named Rafiach, Hevron, and Gilo as the main flashpoints.
Minister of Public Security Uzi Landau expressed disappointment with the decision to leave Beit Jala, saying that Arafat\'s track record gives no reason whatsoever to believe his promises regarding another cease-fire. Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze\'evi, too, said that Arafat will yet make \"Eastern delicacies\" from this withdrawal, and predicts that in the end there will be no choice but to return to Beit Jala, \"and this time for good.\" Regarding the active diplomatic role of Minister Peres in the pullback, Ze\'evi said that his goal was to \"save the honor of the disintegrated Oslo agreement.\"
Housing Minister Natan Sharansky, a member of the mini-security cabinet that took the decision to withdraw, took a different approach. He told Arutz-7 today,
\"There\'s no doubt that there is logic to the steps we took this week, and also achievements... We have the wherewithal to protect our citizens, but just like other world powers, we cannot always use it - and Arafat is building on this. Yet this week we actually did enter Beit Jala, in plain sight of the whole world, and the sky did not cave in. The world did not turn against us, and instead exerted its pressure on Arafat. In this way, our might is turning more and more into a conventional form of strength that can actually be used... Of course, there is a difference of opinion as to how long we should have stayed there, and what else we should do...
\"We can\'t use all of our strength, but we are definitely succeeding in doing more and more, while at the same time preserving the national unity government... If, Heaven forbid, the shooting is resumed into Gilo, the Cabinet does not have to convene; the Chief of Staff may decide on his own to send the army back in.\"
Cabinet Secretary Gideon Sa\'ar was also present at the meeting, and Arutz-7\'s Haggai Segal asked him today, \"Did the government actually make the decision to withdraw based merely on a promise by Yasser Arafat?\" Sa\'ar:
\"First of all, it was based on the fact that there would be quiet all night last night, and secondly, it was made perfectly clear that if the shooting resumes, the IDF will use its military force even differently than it did this time… All those doomsayers who feared that there would be international pressure on us to leave should know that the pressure was exerted in precisely the opposite direction, telling Arafat that if he wanted to see us leave, he had better stop the violence - and this was our goal… There is no one in the world who doubts that if there is shooting, we will act. It won\'t be with ultimatums, but if we have to act, we will - and if we do, it will have a stronger authority, since Arafat gave his ceasefire commitment to international leaders.\"
Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said today that he hopes the withdrawal will lead to a series of regional mini-ceasefires throughout Yesha. He named Rafiach, Hevron, and Gilo as the main flashpoints.
Minister of Public Security Uzi Landau expressed disappointment with the decision to leave Beit Jala, saying that Arafat\'s track record gives no reason whatsoever to believe his promises regarding another cease-fire. Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze\'evi, too, said that Arafat will yet make \"Eastern delicacies\" from this withdrawal, and predicts that in the end there will be no choice but to return to Beit Jala, \"and this time for good.\" Regarding the active diplomatic role of Minister Peres in the pullback, Ze\'evi said that his goal was to \"save the honor of the disintegrated Oslo agreement.\"
Housing Minister Natan Sharansky, a member of the mini-security cabinet that took the decision to withdraw, took a different approach. He told Arutz-7 today,
\"There\'s no doubt that there is logic to the steps we took this week, and also achievements... We have the wherewithal to protect our citizens, but just like other world powers, we cannot always use it - and Arafat is building on this. Yet this week we actually did enter Beit Jala, in plain sight of the whole world, and the sky did not cave in. The world did not turn against us, and instead exerted its pressure on Arafat. In this way, our might is turning more and more into a conventional form of strength that can actually be used... Of course, there is a difference of opinion as to how long we should have stayed there, and what else we should do...
\"We can\'t use all of our strength, but we are definitely succeeding in doing more and more, while at the same time preserving the national unity government... If, Heaven forbid, the shooting is resumed into Gilo, the Cabinet does not have to convene; the Chief of Staff may decide on his own to send the army back in.\"
Cabinet Secretary Gideon Sa\'ar was also present at the meeting, and Arutz-7\'s Haggai Segal asked him today, \"Did the government actually make the decision to withdraw based merely on a promise by Yasser Arafat?\" Sa\'ar:
\"First of all, it was based on the fact that there would be quiet all night last night, and secondly, it was made perfectly clear that if the shooting resumes, the IDF will use its military force even differently than it did this time… All those doomsayers who feared that there would be international pressure on us to leave should know that the pressure was exerted in precisely the opposite direction, telling Arafat that if he wanted to see us leave, he had better stop the violence - and this was our goal… There is no one in the world who doubts that if there is shooting, we will act. It won\'t be with ultimatums, but if we have to act, we will - and if we do, it will have a stronger authority, since Arafat gave his ceasefire commitment to international leaders.\"