The Hindu : Israel agrees to halt track-and-kill missions

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 19, 2003

International

International

Israel agrees to halt track-and-kill missions

By Atul Aneja

MANAMA JUNE 18. Under pressure from the U.S., Israel has agreed to stop assassinating top Palestinian officials without sparing those individuals who are undertaking suicide-bombing missions.

Israel reportedly made this decision following talks in Washington between Dov Weisglass, special envoy of the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, and the U.S. National Security Adviser, Condoleezza Rice. The Israeli `gesture' could nudge the Palestinians towards announcing a ceasefire.

Washington, the chief architect of this revived peace process, is going the extra mile to stop the cycle of violence and counter-violence between Israelis and Palestinians.

The U.S. sees the restoration of calm as a precondition for the peace road map authored by the U.S., Russia, the European Union and the United Nations to make progress.

According to diplomatic sources, the U.S. is urging Israel to take additional "confidence building" steps that would encourage Palestinian extremist groups, including the Hamas, to declare a ceasefire without losing face. Some of the steps being discussed are a possible Israeli decision to handover the security of the northern Gaza strip to the Palestinian security forces before the Palestinian groups declare a ceasefire.

The Palestinian security head, Mohammad Dahlan, is in regular touch with the Israeli point person on Palestinian territories, Major-General Amos Gilad. However, both sides are yet to arrive at a final decision. The release of the detained Palestinian leader, Marwan Barghouti, could also be on the table as a measure to build trust.

Swap likely

According to Israeli media reports, the U.S. is encouraging a possible swap between the release of Mr. Barghouti and Azam Azzam. Mr. Azzam is lodged in an Egyptian jail on charges of spying for Israel. The Palestinians, while awaiting conciliatory Israeli moves, also appear inclined towards declaring a ceasefire.

In fact, the Egyptian intelligence team that was mediating a ceasefire between the Hamas and the Israelis had obtained an assurance in principle from the Hamas spiritual leader, Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, on Saturday that there would be a pause in fighting.

The Hamas, however, found it awkward to declare a ceasefire then. Consequently, a ceasefire declaration is likely when the Egyptians hold their next meeting with the Palestinian groups in Cairo shortly.

Meanwhile, the U.S. pressure on the Israelis and Palestinians to restore calm after the bloodletting that followed the Aqaba summit on June 4 continues unabated. The U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, is expected to visit the Israeli and Palestinian territories on Friday.

He will then travel to Jordan for a meeting with the other partners of the road map. Plans are also afoot for a visit to the area by Ms. Rice soon.

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