<http://abcnews.go.com/International/print?id=501083>
ABC News Mideast Groups Dispute Jericho Withdrawal Israel, Palestinians Locked in Dispute Over Withdrawal From West Bank Town of Jericho By MARK LAVIE The Associated Press Feb. 15, 2005 - Israel and the Palestinians were locked in a dispute Tuesday over a withdrawal from the West Bank town of Jericho, with the Israeli military balking at Palestinian demands that it remove all checkpoints in the area and also pull troops out of an adjacent village. The negotiations were shrouded in confusion after Palestinian Cabinet minister Saeb Erekat initially said agreement had been reached. However, Erekat later said that while Israel has accepted the idea of withdrawing from areas, rather than just cities, it had not approved specific demands regarding Jericho. The eventual agreement on Jericho could set an important precedent for planned Israeli pullbacks from four more West Bank towns in coming weeks, one of the agreements at a summit meeting last week in which Palestinian and Israeli leaders declared an end to more than four years of bloodshed. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas was upbeat Tuesday, saying that "the problem is on the way to a solution," perhaps by the end of the day. Abbas reiterated that Israel would have to pull out of the areas surrounding Jericho, not only the town itself. Abbas also said he planned to complete the formation of a new Cabinet by Wednesday, and would then present it to the legislature for approval. In Israel, parliament began a two-day debate on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and four West Bank settlements. A final vote on the plan was expected Wednesday, with Sharon assured a majority. The parliament vote is to be followed Sunday by a Cabinet endorsement of the pullout plan, already authorized by the government in principle several months ago. The procedural vote is necessary because the Justice Ministry ruled that Jewish settlers who will be forced out of their homes must be given five months' notice. The Cabinet will be asked later to vote on each of the withdrawal's four phases as they come up. On Monday, hundreds of Jewish settlers and their supporters blocked several main roads during evening rush hour, scuffling with police, burning tires and causing traffic jams, to protest the withdrawal plan. Police dragged protesters away and detained dozens. Jewish extremists are increasingly targeting politicians who support the withdrawal. Several Cabinet ministers have received threatening letters in recent days, alarming law enforcement officials who fear ultranationalists could try to harm Israeli leaders. Sharon told legislators Monday that he has hired private security guards to protect the grave of his wife, Lily, for fear it would be desecrated by opponents to his withdrawal plan. The handover of five West Bank towns to Palestinian control was agreed on in principle by Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas at a meeting last week. Erekat said Israel and the Palestinians reached an understanding in writing before the summit that Israeli troops would withdraw not only from towns, but also surrounding areas. He said Sharon aide Dov Weisglass told him in a meeting late Monday that Israel remained committed to these understandings, but that he needs approval from defense officials regarding the specifics in Jericho. Israeli officials said Tuesday the military wants to retain the main roadblock at the entrance to Jericho and will not hand over the adjacent village of Al Awja, since a highway used by Israelis runs through it. Asked about Erekat's initial comment that agreement was reached, Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said: "This might be his (Erekat's) goal, but I believe that the army's position, which I approved, is the correct position." Mofaz also told Israel Army Radio that both sides want to see that handover take place, but Israel doesn't want to take "too many risks when the Palestinians are not able to guarantee security." The Palestinians consider Jericho a test case for future withdrawals, and want Israel to remove the roadblocks ringing the town. In the past, Israel temporarily pulled out of some West Bank towns, but left roadblocks in place, severely restricting Palestinian travel. The United States has urged Israel to move quickly to improve the lives of ordinary Palestinians in order to boost support for Abbas. A removal of roadblocks would be the clearest sign of change, but Israel is reluctant, citing security concerns. Israel set up a network of roadblocks in the West Bank after the outbreak of fighting in 2000, to keep Palestinian suicide bombers and gunmen out of Israel. -- ----------------- R. A. Hettinga <mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED]> The Internet Bearer Underwriting Corporation <http://www.ibuc.com/> 44 Farquhar Street, Boston, MA 02131 USA "... however it may deserve respect for its usefulness and antiquity, [predicting the end of the world] has not been found agreeable to experience." -- Edward Gibbon, 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Take a look at donorschoose.org, an excellent charitable web site for anyone who cares about public education! http://us.click.yahoo.com/_OLuKD/8WnJAA/cUmLAA/TySplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? 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