Israel to withdraw from four cities

[vierundzwanzig]

By Eric Silver in Jerusalem
16 August 2003


Israel agreed last night to withdraw its troops from four more West Bank cities within two weeks.

In a bid to revive the badly bruised peace process, it also authorised a trip by Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian President, to Gaza to visit the mourning tent of his sister, who died in Cairo on Wednesday.

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=434060

(See my commentary)

[vierundzwanzig]

1. Now you see it, now you don't

This was dated 8/16. 8/18 musical chairs have been rearranged by the Israelis that no agreement has been reached on two of these towns.

Is it just me or is it always the same? Prisoner release delayed and eventually completely watered down?

Road blocks?

Reestablished.

Curfew?

Comes and goes endlessly.

Settlements?

Some deserted ones 'destroyed' in front of 'angry settlers'? (Hah) New incentives for moves into settlements and thousands of acres annexed.

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Sounds to me like every seeming step 'forward' propagandized to the media all over the planet at closer look seems to be two steps back.

[papau]

2. If PA will monitor those known for Terrorism, transfer is still on

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/18/international/middleeast/18MIDE.html?hp

Talks Stall on Transfer of 2 West Bank Cities
By JAMES BENNET


ERUSALEM, Monday, Aug. 18 — Israeli and Palestinian commanders failed to reach an agreement late Sunday night over Israel's planned transfer to Palestinian security control of two West Bank cities, even though both sides had shown some new flexibility to try to thwart a feared outbreak of violence. Negotiators canceled talks for today and said they would meet again on Tuesday, and an Israeli security official said the talks were being conducted with "good spirits." <snip>

"The stumbling block was the Israeli insistence on roadblocks," said Elias Zananiri, the spokesman for Muhammad Dahlan, the Palestinian minister of security. "The Palestinians insisted that once the Israelis hand over the city of Qalqilya, that the people of Qalqilya be allowed to go to their lands and work their fields." The city is enclosed by the barrier, made of fencing and concrete. Israeli officials had previously said withdrawal could begin as soon as today. The other affected city, Jericho, did not appear to pose a problem for the negotiators.<snip>

...The stumble in talks came after Yasir Arafat, the Palestinian leader, on Sunday criticized the planned withdrawal as "wasting time." <snip>

... After two Israelis died on Tuesday in separate Palestinian suicide bombings, the first in more than a month, Shaul Mofaz, the Israeli defense minister, cut short a vacation and rushed home to Israel. He met twice with Mr. Dahlan and relented on a central Israeli demand, that Palestinian security officers arrest and jail the men Israel considers wanted terrorists. Mr. Dahlan had long argued that arresting the men would provoke civil conflict, and he had proposed instead monitoring them and preventing further attacks. Mr. Mofaz now agreed in principle to that approach, and Mr. Dahlan agreed to accept control of Jericho and Qalqilya. The Israelis are insisting that Mr. Dahlan supply a detailed proposal for how he will contain the wanted men. That may also prove a sticking point in the negotiations.

Mr. Mofaz also held out the possibility of withdrawing later this month from two more cities, Ramallah and Tulkarm, if Israel judged that Mr. Dahlan's approach toward terrorism and the wanted men was effective.

[Darranar]

3. Oops, too late....

Suicide bombing! The cities are being held.