Posted on 04/07/2002 10:42:57 AM PDT by l33t
| Israelis say 'anti - terror' campaign needs more time | |
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JERUSALEM, April 7 (Reuters) - The Israeli army said on
Sunday its aim to crush a Palestinian "terror" network could not
be achieved by the end of this week, when U.S. Secretary of
State Colin Powell will visit in pursuit of a ceasefire.
U.S. pressure on its main Middle East ally to end its
offensive into West Bank towns handed back to Palestinian rule
under interim accords during the 1990s has been steadily
mounting in the face of an international outcry.
"If the time (for the operation) ends up at the end of this
week, we won't be able to finish the job, period," Israeli army
Major General Dan Harel told a briefing. "It takes time."
Powell was expected to arrive later this week amid U.S.
efforts to end 18 months of violence since Palestinians rose up
against military occupation after peace talks stalled.
Harel cited earlier statements suggesting the army needed an
initial four weeks to complete the task, plus an additional four
weeks to ensure to make sure the results would last.
"We are doing a very important job... With every minute that
goes by we find more and more...what we call (a) terror
infrastructure," he said.
Palestinians say the aim of the offensive is to dismantle
the Palestinian Authority and oust or kill Palestinian President
Yasser Arafat. Israel says it does not intend to harm Arafat or
permanently reoccupy West Bank towns.
U.S. President George W. Bush has called for Israeli forces
to end "without delay" their 10-day-old offensive which was
launched after a spate of Palestinian suicide bombings.
"Now, everybody wants us to get out of the territories. If
we do (it) too soon, then another series of terror attacks will
hit Israel's cities and streets, and then we'll go in (again),"
Harel said.
"Paradoxically, if we stay in and fight the terrorist
infrastructure, and get to higher achievements, then...maybe we
would be able to rest a little bit," he added.
He said the army was aware the government had other
political factors to take into account and was ready to respond.
In the meantime, he said, speaking in English, the army was
acting as if it had "every time in the world".
At the same briefing, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister
Michael Melchior was asked if the army operation would be
stopped or suspended when Powell visited.
He replied: "Of course, we want to accommodate and we
understand very well the wishes of the international community,
which is the same wishes we have. We want to finish this. We
want to have it over with."
About 108 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank
since Israeli tanks rolled in on March 29, taking the
Palestinian death toll in the 18-month uprising to 1,214.
The Israeli toll has reached 420. Harel said 12 Israeli
soldiers had been killed during the offensive.
((Jerusalem newsroom, 972-2-537-0502,
jerusalem.newsroom@reuters.com))
07 APR 2002 17:31:52 Israelis say 'anti-terror' campaign needs more time
Fewer israeli deaths than during the week of bombings. the choice is clear. Israeli security requires them to complete the operation thoroughly.
I hope they are right.
A New Plan for Peace
(1) Disregard Arafat and the Palestinian Authority as a spokesman for the entire Palestinian people. The PA has shown that it either lacks the will or the ability to bring peace. (2) Absorb Gaza, West Bank, and Golan as de facto parts of Israel. They were acquired as they result of war with neighboring nations. The borders of Europe were established the same way. (3) Create semi-autonomous city-states in the 14 major Palestinian cities. Cities will create representative governments. No foreign ties. No military. No unions with other cities. Israel will retain ultimate sovereignty. (4) Return land between cities to full Israel control. (5) Peaceful people will be left to live in peace or offerred one way tickets to Jordan. (6) Disruptors of peace will have their homes destroyed and will be expelled or killed. (7) Jordan will be regarded as the only true homeland for the Palestinians. All Palestinians have already been offered Jordanian citizenship.
I hope and pray that even as President Bush calls publicly for an early Israeli withdrawl, he assures Sharon privately that the Israeli government will enjoy staunch and unwavering support for this military operation.
The IDF has a rabid beast cornered, surely we can not demand that Isreal turn its back and invite terror to tear its children asunder in a renewed outburst of violence.
Yes I fail to see why he thinks they should be done when they haven't even started.
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