lennart
29-06-03, 14:38
Rice clashes with security cabinet over separation fence
By Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondent, Haaretz Service and Agencies
United States National Security Advisor Condoleezza
Rice clashed with the security cabinet over the
building of a fence separating Israeli-controlled
territory from the West Bank during a Sunday
meeting in Jerusalem.
Earlier in the day, Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon presented
Rice with the details of an
agreement to transfer security
responsibility to the
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip,
Army Radio reported.
Rice told the security cabinet
that the American
administration sees the fence as an attempt to
establish a political border and therefore
finds difficulty with the fence, Israel Radio
reported. She also said that even if the
separation fence isn't actually a political
issue, it has the appearance of a political
issue.
However, the security cabinet remained steadfast
in its contention that the fence is a
non-negotiable security necessity for Israel.
The prime minister said that Israel very much
wants to prevent any misunderstandings with the
United States but is unwilling to compromise on
the separation fence, which has to do with the
security of Israeli citizens, Israel Radio
reported.
Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Rice
that while 250 suicide bombers have crossed
into Israel from the West Bank, none have
crossed in from the fenced-in Gaza Strip.
Earlier, Sharon detailed the steps Israel is
considering to make in order to ease
restrictions on the Palestinian, such as the
release of prisoners allowing the Palestinians
to rebuild the Dahaniya airport.
Rice met earlier Sunday with Palestinian Finance
Minister Salam Fayyad and Sharon's bureau
chief, Dov Weisglass, the radio said reported.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/312609.html
By Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondent, Haaretz Service and Agencies
United States National Security Advisor Condoleezza
Rice clashed with the security cabinet over the
building of a fence separating Israeli-controlled
territory from the West Bank during a Sunday
meeting in Jerusalem.
Earlier in the day, Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon presented
Rice with the details of an
agreement to transfer security
responsibility to the
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip,
Army Radio reported.
Rice told the security cabinet
that the American
administration sees the fence as an attempt to
establish a political border and therefore
finds difficulty with the fence, Israel Radio
reported. She also said that even if the
separation fence isn't actually a political
issue, it has the appearance of a political
issue.
However, the security cabinet remained steadfast
in its contention that the fence is a
non-negotiable security necessity for Israel.
The prime minister said that Israel very much
wants to prevent any misunderstandings with the
United States but is unwilling to compromise on
the separation fence, which has to do with the
security of Israeli citizens, Israel Radio
reported.
Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Rice
that while 250 suicide bombers have crossed
into Israel from the West Bank, none have
crossed in from the fenced-in Gaza Strip.
Earlier, Sharon detailed the steps Israel is
considering to make in order to ease
restrictions on the Palestinian, such as the
release of prisoners allowing the Palestinians
to rebuild the Dahaniya airport.
Rice met earlier Sunday with Palestinian Finance
Minister Salam Fayyad and Sharon's bureau
chief, Dov Weisglass, the radio said reported.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/312609.html