Roadblocks, Fence And The List Of "Wanted" Headlines The Security Meeting

Saeda Hamad      Al-Hayat      2003/08/19

Ramallah

Following the hindered redeployment from Jericho and Qalqilya, due, according to Palestinian sources to "Israel's refusal to dismantle roadblocks at the entrance of the cities," a Palestinian-Israeli security meeting will be held today. The main points to be discussed are the roadblock, the "wanted" and the separation wall. In paralell, the Palestinian government is set to hold a meeting with the resistance factions in a bid to extend the truce, while the negotiations committee will hold a meeting headed by President Yasser Arafat.

Palestinian Security Minister Mohamad Dahlan expects to settle the issue of members of armed Palestinian resistance groups, which Israel calls "wanted" within the next 48 hours. However, he said, "this doesn't mean they are safe and out of danger, we need 48 hours to settle this issue."

This came following the failure of the Palestinian-Israeli security meeting to reach an agreement on the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from Jericho and Qalqilya, because of Israel's refusal to dismantle the military roadblocks at the entrances of the cities. The two parties also failed to reach an "agreement" on the Palestinian "wanted." Israel had asked that a control force be formed to monitor the movements of these persons. According to Israeli sources, Israel had also asked Minister Dahlan to send surveillance officers after armed Palestinians, especially since some of them refuse to hand their arms to the Palestinian authority.

Palestinian sources familiar with the details of the ongoing discussions between armed members, or "the wanted," and the Palestinian Authority confirmed that the Palestinians have proposed one solution to the Israelis: to keep the armed persons in the areas they live in, the Palestinian Authority would guarantee that these people accept to cease their military actions, and in return, Israel would stop hunting them down and assassinating them.

Following the Palestinian Legislative Council meeting in Ramallah, Dahlan told reporters: "it is the Palestinian Authority's duty to protect the wanted persons who took part in the struggle and to put them out of danger so they will not be Israel's victims." He added that the Palestinians "do not want to rush things in order not to repeat Bethlehem's experience, because we do not want it to be the basis, thus we ask Israelis to dismantle their military checkpoints."

Palestinian and Israeli field officials are supposed to meet today to consider the points discussed in Sunday's meeting.

Strong Discord Within The Israeli Government

Israeli sources said Israel postponed the army withdrawal from Jericho and Qalqilya for 24 hours, pointing to an intense discord between Israeli intelligence, Shabak, and army officials regarding the withdrawal plan. The intelligence is staunchly opposed to handing security over to the Palestinians, as Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and his army wish. The Israeli press quoted a source from Shabak saying they were worried about the case of the "wanted" people, which the Palestinian Authority refuses to disarm. On the other hand, the same Israeli source announced a disagreement between Sharon and Mofaz over the map of the separation wall, built by Israel in the surroundings of Palestinian cities in the West Bank. Sharon, under U.S. pressure, wants the wall to cross the Ariel settlement, north of the West Bank, in accordance with what the U.S. wants, whereas Mofaz is fiercely opposing this and is insisting that the wall cross the Palestinian territories.

Arafat Heads Negotiations Committee

Palestinian Minister of Culture Ziad Abu Amro, in charge of relations between the government and resistance factions, said a meeting will be held either today or tomorrow between the two parties in order to evaluate the situation and consider the possibility of extending the truce. It was also expected that President Arafat head the meeting of the Negotiation Committee.

Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, Saeb Erakat, asked the U.S. to put pressure on Israel in order to induce it to implement the plan of the Roadmap including a "real withdrawal from Palestinian cities and the release of political detainees," and to stop destroying the houses of citizens in Beit Hneina, north of occupied Jerusalem, for it helps it in building the wall in Jerusalem's surroundings. On the other hand, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the military wing of Fatah, claimed responsibility for the military operation close to the Yetzehar settlement in Nablus, which injured one settler.