lennart
08-02-03, 17:47
Cease-fire discussions to begin Monday with Palestinians
Ceasefire negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians are set to begin Monday, according to a senior aide to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Israel Radio reported.
The announcement follows a proposal from the prime minister for a gradual cease-fire plan which was presented to Palestinian Legislative Council speaker Ahmed Qurei (Abu Ala) during a meeting between the two that took place Wednesday, according to Palestinian sources.
Dov Weisglass, head of the Prime Minister's Office, also said the U.S. will turn its attention to Israel and the Palestinians after the war against Iraq.
After a few months Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat will be replaced, and elections will be held in the PA to choose a prime minister to replace the PA Chairman.
Weisglass outlined on Israel Radio the proposal made to the Palestinians and acknowledged that positive moves could boost coalition negotiations.
"The plan has been to encourage the Palestinians to act energetically and with determination to stop terror," said Weisglass, who met Palestinian Interior Minister Hani al-Hassan last week.
According to the proposal, security cooperation between Israel and the PA would resume gradually in various locations. The PA would take responsibility for security in areas from where the Israel Defense Forces would withdraw and would take action to end terror attacks.
In those areas where the plan is implemented, Israel would agree to economic arrangements, such as allowing goods to be delievered and for Palestinians to work in Israel. The Palestinians said the two sides agreed to discuss Sharon's offer.
"It proposes that everywhere they succeed in preventing attacks or showing that they are making serious efforts to do so, Israel will react accordingly by changing its military deployment in the area and easing restrictions on trade and movement," he added.
Weisglass did not outline the criteria Israel would use to determine Palestinian efforts were serious, but pointed to recent patrols initiated by Palestinian security forces in northern Gaza to stop rocket attacks on Israeli towns.
Weisglass said Israel was also considering allowing Palestinian security forces, debilitated by Israel's reoccupation of West Bank cities last year following a spate of suicide attacks, to rebuild.
There was no immediate Palestinian comment to the proposal, which was similar to those made in the past, but a Palestinian official confirmed the talks took place.
"We will deal with all parties for the sake of peace," Yasser Arafat said on Saturday, declining to confirm Korei's meeting with Sharon.
(c) Ha'aretz
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Ceasefire negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians are set to begin Monday, according to a senior aide to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Israel Radio reported.
The announcement follows a proposal from the prime minister for a gradual cease-fire plan which was presented to Palestinian Legislative Council speaker Ahmed Qurei (Abu Ala) during a meeting between the two that took place Wednesday, according to Palestinian sources.
Dov Weisglass, head of the Prime Minister's Office, also said the U.S. will turn its attention to Israel and the Palestinians after the war against Iraq.
After a few months Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat will be replaced, and elections will be held in the PA to choose a prime minister to replace the PA Chairman.
Weisglass outlined on Israel Radio the proposal made to the Palestinians and acknowledged that positive moves could boost coalition negotiations.
"The plan has been to encourage the Palestinians to act energetically and with determination to stop terror," said Weisglass, who met Palestinian Interior Minister Hani al-Hassan last week.
According to the proposal, security cooperation between Israel and the PA would resume gradually in various locations. The PA would take responsibility for security in areas from where the Israel Defense Forces would withdraw and would take action to end terror attacks.
In those areas where the plan is implemented, Israel would agree to economic arrangements, such as allowing goods to be delievered and for Palestinians to work in Israel. The Palestinians said the two sides agreed to discuss Sharon's offer.
"It proposes that everywhere they succeed in preventing attacks or showing that they are making serious efforts to do so, Israel will react accordingly by changing its military deployment in the area and easing restrictions on trade and movement," he added.
Weisglass did not outline the criteria Israel would use to determine Palestinian efforts were serious, but pointed to recent patrols initiated by Palestinian security forces in northern Gaza to stop rocket attacks on Israeli towns.
Weisglass said Israel was also considering allowing Palestinian security forces, debilitated by Israel's reoccupation of West Bank cities last year following a spate of suicide attacks, to rebuild.
There was no immediate Palestinian comment to the proposal, which was similar to those made in the past, but a Palestinian official confirmed the talks took place.
"We will deal with all parties for the sake of peace," Yasser Arafat said on Saturday, declining to confirm Korei's meeting with Sharon.
(c) Ha'aretz
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