Saturday, Aug 10, 2002
Saturday, Aug 10, 2002 |
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By Atul Aneja
According to reports in the Israeli media, a CIA tem has already visited Israel and the Palestinian areas, and after spending weeks on the ground, worked out a comprehensive new security plan that would curb terrorist attacks on Israelis. The proposals include fresh recruitment and training of personnel for the Palestinian security forces and their reorganisation under a clear chain of command. These forces could then be deployed in Palestinian cities in phases. Israel, on its part, would in tandem be expected to step out from Palestinian cities in the West Bank that it has occupied since a new wave of terrorist bombings began targeting Israelis in the last few months. The report has been handed over to the U.S. administration, which is studying it along with representatives from Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Apart from the report, Israel has proposed handing over security of the Gaza Strip to the Palestinians. Having done so, Israelis have expressed their readiness to re-deploy their forces and ease restrictions on Palestinians in this area. But in spite of extended discussions with the Palestinian Authority, these talks are still deadlocked as the Palestinians insist that Israelis should also pullout of Bethlehem as well. Analysts point out that further progress in this dialogue is likely to await the return of a Palestinian delegation that is currently visiting the United States. Palestinian authorities want the Israelis to withdraw at the earliest, as they fear that Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories might become permanent. According to the Israeli daily Haaretz, the Palestinian delegation led by Saeb Erekat, and including newly appointed Interior Minister, Abed Rezak Yahiyah, has extended its stay in Washington to hold talks with the CIA chief, George Tenet. These talks are expected to be held on Saturday. The visiting delegation has already met the U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, and the National Security Adviser, Condoleezza Rice. Despite the new initiative for security reforms, these efforts alone are unlikely to succeed in enhancing security greatly. Analysts point out that any new initiative for breaking the cycle of violence will have to draw the extremist Islamic group Hamas into the dialogue. That does not seem to be happening as yet. In fact, the Hamas has declared its intent to assassinate the Israeli Prime Minster, Ariel Sharon, in order to avenge the slaying of its military chief, Salah Shehade in an F-16 air raid last month. Observers point out that countries such as Iran and Lebanon, that apparently have a leverage on the Hamas may, directly or indirectly, have to get involved to restrain it. Reports in the past suggest that Iran may have facilitated the training of the Hamas with the militant Hezbollah group in camps in Lebanon.
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