Israel To Withdraw From Four Cities

Saeda Hamad, Asaad Telhami     Al-Hayat      2003/08/16

The agreement reached between Palestinian Security Minister Mohamad Dahlan and Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz paved the way for the Israeli forces' withdrawal from Jericho and Qalqilya next week, to be followed by a withdrawal from Ramallah and Tulkarem. Israeli security sources said that according to the agreement, the Palestinians will present a security plan to regain control over Ramallah and Tulkarem, to be examined by Israel within the coming ten days. On the other hand, Israel allowed President Yasser Arafat to head to Gaza, where he shall be receiving condolences for his deceased sister, Yusra Al Kudwa.

Dahlan had met the U.S. special envoy John Wolf to brief him on the Palestinian Authority's activities as far as security. In this respect, the Palestinian Authority blocked $3 million suspected to have been sent by Iran to the Islamic Jihad, and discovered a cache full of explosive belts and other weapons.

These developments give a renewed impetus to the Roadmap, and come as the result of Washington's pressures on the two parties, in a bid to salvage the truce and the peace process. Observers believe that Israeli military leaders, as well as the prime minister, are very much in favor of a "withdrawal from Palestinian cities," considering that Israel's control over Nablus did not stop the attacks on Ras Al Ayn and the Ariel settlement.

However other observers see the withdrawal from Jericho and Qalqilya as an Israeli trap set, as it shows Israel's cooperation to implement the Roadmap, but as the same time, holds Palestinians responsible for the security, who become liable in case of any attack.

Israel has been preparing the public for the possibility of renewed attacks, pointing to "worrying signs" that the truce may collapse, such as Egypt's failure to extend the ceasefire, the strike of the Palestinians detainees, and the planned demonstrations against the non-release of prisoners. It is worth noting that Israel released yesterday 76 prisoners, most of whom were convicted for penal crimes, a step that was dismissed by Palestinian factions as unimportant.