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US, Britain weigh dispatch of observers to West Bank, Gaza
Jerusalem Post ^

Posted on 02/02/2003 9:54:36 AM PST by RCW2001

The US and Britain are considering the possibility of sending observers to Palestinian Authority areas to expedite peace efforts, a Palestinian source told The Jerusalem Post.

A senior Palestinian official confirmed that Britain and other members of the so-called Quartet made up of the EU, Russia, US, and UN are pressuring the US to send observers as soon as possible to facilitate implementation of their peace plan and boost the chance of achieving a cease-fire in terror attacks against Israel during a possible US-led war against Iraq.

Another source said that the stationing of monitors could enable Israel to gradually withdraw troops in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, thus making it easier for the Palestinians to hold free elections.

Palestinian officials believe that many moderate Arab states and Quartet members want to see an Israeli-Palestinian cease-fire achieved before any attack on Iraq occurs, for fear that otherwise a war on Baghdad could trigger upheaval in other Mideast countries.

Meanwhile, Palestinian officials expressed confidence that the US would prevent Israel from reoccupying the entire Gaza Strip or taking any other drastic steps in the event of a military campaign against Iraq.

"I am sure that Israel will not be allowed to deport and expel Palestinians during a war with Iraq or reoccupy the Gaza Strip," Palestinian Planning Minister Nabil Shaath told the Post.

According to Shaath, Egypt is planning to reconvene Palestinian factions for another round of cease-fire talks on February 4. Previous efforts to persuade Hamas and Islamic Jihad to agree to halt terror attacks have ended in failure. Some Palestinian sources feel it is unlikely such an agreement can be reached.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Israel
KEYWORDS: ceasefire; egypt; hamas; islamicjihad; israel; nabilshaath; palestinians; peaceprocess; qaurtet

1 posted on 02/02/2003 9:54:36 AM PST by RCW2001
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To: RCW2001
Israel should expel the Palestinians during the Iraq war. This is their opportunity to "clean house".
2 posted on 02/02/2003 11:37:31 AM PST by ConservativeConvert
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To: RCW2001
If I were the Palestinians I wouldn't count on the U.S. preventing Israel from doing whatever it deems necessary to fight terrorism. I also hpe the Quatet doesn't think they can send anyone in without Israeli approval.
3 posted on 02/02/2003 11:38:40 AM PST by anotherview
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To: ConservativeConvert
Sweep every town and village and you'll find a mosque and arabs with ak-47s
4 posted on 02/02/2003 12:27:39 PM PST by Marines981 ("Rattle the big dogs cage and get your a** kicked")
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To: RCW2001
Wow, what a fascinating piece of fiction. Are these articles computer generated or what?

Part of a software program that designs propaganda which conforms to a policy of either "getting tough with Israel without doing anything" or "obscuring as much as possible the fact the US gives Israel carte-blance and $15 billion in aid to boot"?

5 posted on 02/02/2003 1:01:29 PM PST by Ichabod Walrus (I wonder if somebody will clean up the garbage in 2003?)
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To: Ichabod Walrus
The US has stopped Israel from crushing Egypt and/or Syria in 1956, 1967, and 1973. Some carte blanche.

As for the 15 billion in aid, I oppose it. However, you are conflating actual aid with loan guarantees that cost us nothing. That is propogandistic.

6 posted on 02/02/2003 10:03:35 PM PST by rmlew
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