|
Israeli Minister Says Israel Should Partially Reoccupy Palestinian-Run Areas
 |
|
Naveh proposes reoccupation of more Palestinian territories.
|
OCCUPIED
JERUSALEM, Feb. 18 (IslamOnline & News Agency) - Israeli minister without
portfolio Danny Naveh told Israel army radio Monday he thinks Israel should
partially reoccupy the territories under Palestinian control, news agencies
reported.
"For
the first time I propose a partial re-occupation of Zone A territory, as well as
much more far-reaching military operations against terrorism," said the
minister without portfolio, quoted by Agence France-Presse (AFP).
"It is the only solution we have since [Palestinian President] Yasser
Arafat has abandoned the voice of peace to adopt a strategy of terror," he
said.
Communications
Minister Reuven Rivlin, one of the more centrist members of far-right Israeli
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Likud party, said Sharon should "take into
account the U.S. position" in his policies towards the Palestinians.
"The Americans are hoping we don't get over-excited," Rivlin stressed
in a radio broadcast.
According to Israeli commentators, U.S. President George W. Bush asked Sharon at
the end of January not to get involved in a military escalation with the
Palestinians that might hinder U.S. preparations for an eventual attack on Iraq.
Deputy Defense Minister Dalia Rabin-Pelossof, a member of the Labor party, told
public radio that Sharon had two options.
"He must settle the argument between those who advocate a reoccupation of
Zone A, and those who, like me, want to kick-off an initiative which would
examine the political options for reaching a lasting cease-fire," the
deputy minister said.
Sharon convened his security cabinet Sunday, February 17, to discuss Israel's
military attacks against the Palestinians following a series of resistance
operations against continued Israeli aggression.
Sharon
has made it clear to the United States that the reaction of the Israeli
occupation army is likely to be forceful over the coming days; however, it would
not "fundamentally change the nature of the game," Israel public
television reported.
The
Palestinians have accused Israel of occupying Palestinian land in the Gaza Strip
to create a "buffer zone" on the border with Israel, which has denied
the charge.
Israeli
Foreign Minister Shimon Peres had a new secret meeting Sunday with Palestinian
parliament speaker Ahmed Qorei to develop their so-called joint peace plan,
Israeli army radio said Monday.
Peres
is to meet Monday with officials of the secular Shinui party to try to convince
its six members of parliament to back the plan, though party leader Tommy Lapid
recently expressed strong reservations about it.
Peres said granting Palestinians autonomy in certain areas of Gaza and the West
Bank had not been sufficient. "The Palestinians now seem weaker than
before. Therefore I think that there is an urgent need to recognize their state.
Moreover, I don't see any reason to wait. The sooner this is done, the
better," the foreign minister said.
It would entail recognition of a Palestinian state immediately on the areas
currently controlled by the Palestinian Authority (PA), namely 42 percent of the
West Bank and 80 percent of the Gaza Strip, as the first step in a process of
negotiations towards a final settlement.
The plan is opposed by Sharon and lacks the approval of the PA.
German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, who was in the region last weekend, has
praised the idea, and it is expected to be discussed when Peres goes to Madrid
Thursday, February 21, for talks with Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar and
Foreign Minister Josep Pique.
Spain currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, whose
efforts to become more involved in the Middle East peace process are welcomed by
the Palestinians but face opposition from both Israel and the United States.
However, Peres said that Europe must back the United States in its war against
terrorism and should not take sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,
Israel’s Ha’aretz daily reported.
"I
hope that Europe will continue to support the U.S. stance, especially with
regard to terrorism,” Peres said. “In general, any division between the
United States and the European Union is dangerous and counterproductive for
peace."
|
