The IDF had planned to declare long strips of area along the Green Line \"closed military zones\" this afternoon - but suddenly announced that the program had been called off. Arutz-7 correspondent Haggai Huberman reported that the order to freeze the plan originated in Moscow, where Prime Minister Sharon is currently on a state visit.
Huberman said that the army has long had a plan to close areas on the east (Judea/Samaria) side of the 1948-1967 ceasefire lines. No Arabs would be allowed there, and restrictions would be placed on Israeli travel there. The plan would enable the security forces to stop Arabs making their way by foot from the autonomous areas to Israeli population centers. Some had feared that this would be the first step towards a separation between Judea/Samaria and the rest of Israel. No explanation for the cancellation was offered.