Israel Widens Palestinian Campaign
Sun Jun 23, 3:20 PM ET
By YOAV APPEL, Associated Press Writer
JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel expanded its military hold on Palestinian towns Sunday as Yasser Arafat ( news - web sites) accused Israel of moving toward a return to the days of complete control over Palestinians' lives.
Israeli officials denied any intention to re-establish civil administration of the West Bank, which would make Israel responsible for municipal services, building permits, education and vital records.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ( news - web sites)'s Cabinet also approved a security plan that includes building concrete barriers and electronic fences in hopes of preventing attacks on its territory.
Israeli Cabinet Secretary Gideon Saar said the government was considering the possibility of deporting families of Palestinian suicide bombers to the Gaza Strip ( news - web sites), but would not act unless the Israeli judiciary said such action was legal.
"The position of the Israeli government is that the terror of suicide bombers ... obligates the consideration of unconventional means," Saar said.
Israeli forces moved into the West Bank town of Qalqiliya at daybreak, widening the military's scope of control over once-autonomous Palestinian areas.
Between the back-to-back suicide bombings in Jerusalem that killed 26 Israelis Tuesday and Wednesday, Israel's Cabinet said troops would seize and hold Palestinian areas until the attacks ceased. Since then, the army has taken control of most Palestinian population centers in the West Bank, including Nablus, Jenin, Tulkarem, Bethlehem and parts of the Ramallah area, placing residents under curfew.
Two Palestinian police officers were killed Sunday, one when army forces entered al-Yamun village near Nablus and the other when an Israeli tank shell hit a building in the Tulkarem refugee camp. Palestinian witnesses said children were throwing stones at the tank. The army did not comment on either death, but said Palestinian gunmen in Tulkarem fired on Israeli forces.
Also, an Israeli officer wounded in a June 15 Palestinian attempt to infiltrate a Jewish settlement in Gaza died of his injuries, the army said.
To deal with the expanded West Bank operation, the army Sunday began drafting a brigade of about 4,000 reserve troops, army officials said.
Speaking after the weekly Cabinet meeting, hard-line Israeli Cabinet Minister Effi Eitam said Israel was at war and would remain in Palestinian areas "for many months, responsible for security there."
"For all practical purposes, Oslo died a long time ago," he said, referring to 1993 peace deal founding the Palestinian Authority ( news - web sites). "None of the agreements exist anymore."
Palestinian leader Arafat accused Israel of intending to manage all aspects of Palestinian life in the occupied areas, including civilian affairs. An Israeli military administration presided over Palestinians until the creation of autonomous areas began in 1994.
"This situation is very serious and difficult," Arafat said Sunday after meeting European officials at his Ramallah offices. "It is clear that this is a continuation of the occupation in our towns and refugee camps."
Jordanian Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher said after meeting Arafat that it is "unacceptable to reoccupy Palestinian cities and to turn the clock back, to return to the civil administration in the West Bank, which is a military administration."
Israeli officials have stressed the potentially long-term incursions would not lead to the re-establishment of Israeli control.
"Israel will be there in military presence only, in order to crush terror," said Raanan Gissin, spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. "The Palestinian administration, where it exists, will remain. We are not going to re-establish the civil administration."
But in areas under Israeli-imposed curfew, Palestinians have reported problems with municipal services, including garbage removal and electricity.
Gissin acknowledged Israel would assist when necessary, but a former chief of the civil administration, Brig. Gen. Gadi Zohar, said there will be no choice.
"We are ... responsible for what happens there," Zohar told Israel Radio. "Sooner or later we'll find ourselves bringing the civil administration back."
Israel's Cabinet officially approved a security plan establishing buffer zones around Palestinian areas in the West Bank, Saar said. The plan includes the security fence already being built, in some areas, along Israel's unmarked border with the West Bank.
Israeli officials deny the barrier is a precursor to a border, insisting the fence is being built for security reasons.
In an apparent crackdown on militants, Palestinian police in the Gaza Strip arrested dozens of members of the militant group Hamas, a group spokesman said. Hamas has taken responsibility for scores of bombings in Israel. Those arrested included leader Muhammed Shuhab of a local Gaza group.
story.news.yahoo.com |
