Israeli sources: IDF pullout in Gaza could begin Monday [Here we go again...]

Haaretz ^ | 27/06/2003 22:06 | Aluf Benn, Amos Harel, Nathan Guttman and Arnon Regular

[yonif]

Israel and the Palestinian Authority reached an agreement Friday for an IDF pullback in the Gaza Strip and a transferal of security control to the Palestinians, during a meeting between Palestinian Minister for Security Mohammed Dahlan and Israel's coordinator in the territories, Major General Amos Gilad.

Officers in the field from both sides will meet Sunday to finalize details and the pullout from Gaza is estimated to begin as soon as Monday, sources in Jerusalem said.

The meeting will focus on arrangements for the movement of vehicles on the main

"Tancher" highway that bisects the northern and southern Strip; the sharing of intelligence to prevent attacks on Israeli targets; and the deployment of Palestinian security forces in areas evacuated by IDF troops.

According to Israeli sources, Dahlan said the PA would begin collecting illegal weapons from the various Palestinian factions, an issue which has hindered negotiations between the two sides, and whose resolution is seen as a major sign of progress.

The sources also said that the PA committed itself to work to end all attacks in areas that will be under its control, including the firing of Qassam rockets and mortars, to prevent arms smuggling, to stop terror attacks using intelligence provided by Israel, and cease incitement in the Palestinian media.

But the PA stopped short of committing to arrest Hamas activists.

Israel, for its part, has agreed to raise the quota of work permits it issues to Palestinians and ease travel restrictions at the Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, and the Allenby Bridge border crossing between the West Bank and Jordan. In addition, Palestinian vehicles will gradually be allowed to use the main highway.

Friday's meeting, their fourth round of talks in recent days, was also attended by John Wolf, who heads the team of U.S. officials monitoring the implementation of the internationally-brokered road map to Middle East peace.

Israel Television said that the American delegation would oversee the troop withdrawal.

On Thursday, Dahlan and Gilad met at the Herzilyah home of U.S. Ambassador Dan Kurtzer. Army Radio quoted Palestinian sources as saying that negotiators at the meeting reached an agreement on Israeli withdrawal from the northern Gaza Strip, including Beit Hanun and Beit Lahiyah, and on a significant easing of travel restrictions on Palestinians.

Israel is asking the United States for guarantees that the Palestinian Authority will dismantle the terrorist infrastructure in areas in which it assumes security authority - as it is obligated to do under the road map peace plan - rather than settling for an agreement with the terrorist organizations on a cessation of attacks.

The demand for U.S. guarantees will be at the center of Israeli officials' talks with National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, who arrives in Jerusalem on Saturday.

She will meet with Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday night and with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom and Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz on Sunday. She will also meet with PA Finance Minister Salam Fayyad and Sharon's bureau chief, Dov Weisglass.

Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom met with U.S. Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs William Burns early Friday afternoon to prepare for Rice's visit, Israel Radio reported.

Dahlan has refused to offer Israel such a pledge during his talks with Gilad, arguing that it would surely be leaked, impeding efforts to reach a truce with the terrorist groups. He said that the PA would act in its own way to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure, and that its internal arrangements are no concern of Israel's.

"Dahlan's plan is a truce and nothing else," a senior security official said Thursday. "He told us explicitly that he has no intention of arresting activists or disarming the terrorist organizations."

Government sources in Jerusalem predicted Thursday that Washington would grant the requested guarantees, in light of President George Bush's remarks on Wednesday, in which he publicly urged the PA to disarm Hamas rather than settling for a cease-fire. American sources said that Rice planned to stress this issue in her talks with Abbas.

Rice kept up the American pressure during a visit to London Thursday, urging the Europeans to declare Hamas's political wing a terrorist organization. "The EU has listed the armed wing, but social organizations of Hamas have also got to be listed," she said at a London conference. "The notion that on the one hand, Hamas is peaceful, and on the other hand, is trying to blow up the peace process is just illogical and, we're saying, will not work."

Other radical groups like Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad and "all of the other rejectionists" should also be targeted, she said.

A European diplomat said Thursday that most members of the European Union now agree that Hamas's political wing should be declared a terrorist organization. France, however, is still opposed, the diplomat said, arguing that such a move would sabotage efforts to restart the Mideast peace process, as Hamas's political wing is a "popular movement" that reflects the goals and aspirations of many Palestinians.

[yonif]

Who is Dahlan you ask?

Delusions about the Palestinian 'security ace'--The evidence against Dahlan is compelling

CIA recorded Dahlan ordering fatal bus attack - Likud of Holland (Arutz 7 Article here)

ZOA Backgrounder on Dahlan

4. MOHAMMED DAHLAN Dahlan, 41, is chief of the Palestinian Security Forces in Gaza. He spent four years in Israeli prison for terrorist activities, and was a commander of operations for Arafat's Fatah terror group during the mass "intifada" violence that began in 1987. According to the Israeli government, Dahlan is one of the primary directors of the current terrorist violence against Israelis in the Gaza region.

Masterminded bombing of Israeli bus: Israel Radio reported on October 20, 2000, that "Dahlan was behind the October 18 bombing of an Israeli bus in Gush Katif." The Israeli daily Ha'aretz reported on November 16, 2000, that "members of the Preventive Security Force in Gaza, headed by Mohammed Dahlan, were involved in a series of attacks on Israelis in Gush Katif and Netzarim." Ha'aretz reported on April 17, 2001, that Yasir Arafat "takes an active part in decisions regarding the firing of mortars. The general directives in this regard are passed to Mohammed Dahlan, and from Dahlan to his deputy, Rashid Abu Shabak."

Ordered rocket attack on an Israeli bus: Dahlan is currently a defendant in a lawsuit filed by victims Arab terrorism, including an American citizen as well as three children whose legs were blown off in a Dahlan-directed rocket attack on a bus on November 20, 2000. The Israeli daily Hatzofeh has reported (April 13, 2001) that the Central Intelligence Agency has tape recordings of telephone conversations in which Dahlan can be heard ordering the November 20 rocket attack and other terrorist attacks against Israelis.

Shelters Hamas terrorists: Dahlan told the PA-sponsored newspaper Al Ayam on Oct.26, 1998 that terrorist groups such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad "will not be outlawed."

Hired Hamas terrorists: Dahlan said in an interview with the PA newspaper Al-Hayat Al-Jadidah on Sept.24, 1998, that 25 more Hamas terrorists have been hired by his force, specifically in order to protect them from being arrested by the Israelis.

Praised Hamas terrorists: In an interview with the Hamas newspaper Al-Risallah (cited in Ha'aretz, June 15, 1997), Dahlan said: "The presence of Hamas on Palestinian territory is very important for building the Palestinian homeland."

Threatened violence against Israel: On August 30, 1996, Dahlan said: "The Palestinian Authority does not exclude the return to the armed struggle, and it will then use its weapons." (Jerusalem Report, Nov. 28, 1996)

[yonif]

Well folks...it has begun it seems.

[SevenDaysInMay]

Politicians gone wobbly are responsible for more deaths than combat. Busses, cafes, and schools will always be free fire and detonation zones because of LACK OF WILL TO DEFEND ISRAEL.

Cease fires allow reinforcement to terrorists. Do Jews actually have a death wish?

The IDF owes it to every harmless Israeli man, woman, and child to annihilate every perp and accompolice of HAMASS and aliased terrorist in Greater Israel and beyond.

Celebrating Arab "human shields" are not collateral damage.

HAMASS' success will ensure that this war is coming to our streets.

[johnb838]

You're right. Like Hamas would ever agree to any deal that calls for its destruction. The whole thing is lunacy. Israeli women, children, and men dying on busses for some pipe-dream peace 'process' is abhorrent. Only victory in war justifies these innocent civilian deaths. I only wish Israel was as strong in defending themselves as I have been in my support for them all my life.

[DoughtyOne]

Yonif, with the whole world watching, Israel is going to allow the Palestinians to out themselves one last time. Then it's going to mope up the West Bank but good!

I predict there will be more violence in the next twenty-four months than we have seen in the last two decades.

[SJackson]

France, however, is still opposed, the diplomat said, arguing that such a move would sabotage efforts to restart the Mideast peace process, as Hamas's political wing is a "popular movement" that reflects the goals and aspirations of many Palestinians.

Yup, killing Jews, apparently an acceptable aspiration from the French persepctive.

[yonif]

"And I will bless them that bless thee and curse them that curse thee." (Genesis 12:3)

G-d warns America and all other nations that they must support little Israel's noble struggle to survive. Bush's Middle East "road map" demands that Israel retreat to the completely suicidal pre-1967 borders, which are only 6 to 10 miles wide.

Jewish Task Force

[yonif]

Yonif, with the whole world watching, Israel is going to allow the Palestinians to out themselves one last time. Then it's going to mope up the West Bank but good!

The US has Israel under great pressure. The world was watching in Oslo years 1993-2000. These same moves of Oslo and ones that are even worse are being undertaken now. If the world was truly watching, they would be opposed to the roadmap. Yet again, most of the world looks away when Jews are the victims.

[yonif]

France, however, is still opposed, the diplomat said, arguing that such a move would sabotage efforts to restart the Mideast peace process, as Hamas's political wing is a "popular movement" that reflects the goals and aspirations of many Palestinians.

Yup, killing Jews, apparently an acceptable aspiration from the French persepctive.

Yup. This is excellent evidence. The French know that the goals and aspirations of the "Palestinians" are to destroy Israel (as Hamas does), and they support it!

[SJackson]

HAMASS' success will ensure that this war is coming to our streets.

Hamas’s victory is arab terror’s victory. IME, those “arabs from other countries” allied with the remnants of Sadaam supporters confronting our troops in Iraq are listening.

Yonif, with the whole world watching, Israel is going to allow the Palestinians to out themselves one last time.

While you may well be right as to what’s happening, I think the concept of averting our gaze from preventable civilian deaths in an attempt to make a point to a world who, in the end, won’t care, is ethically challenged, at very the least. I fear in the long run Israeli's won't be the only ones to die as a result of this policy.

[DoughtyOne]

I can't argue with that comment.

Yonif you must understand our nation has lost all semblence of moral standards. Our leaders wouldn't recognize an immoral stance if it was posed one inch in front of their nose with mouth open and fangs exposed.

While I do sympathize with you, you must understand that I recognize that my own nation's Constitution has been all but destroyed in part with the support of people I used to support.

If I don't have hope for my own nation, I am in no position to guarantee you much. Don't forget, my nation is under invasion as we speak.

I personally voice support for you and your nation. I mean it, but I'm not sure what it's worth to you other than the encouragement of a friend. Our leaders don't value the opinions of people like me, more than spit.

[nuffsenuff]

What's going to eventually happen is that Israel is going to have to wipe out the majority of the Palestinian people. Basically killing almost all of them. The world will condemn them. The leaders put on trial for war crimes and put in jail. But the problem will be gone.

Some of them are going to have to bite the bullet.

It's the only solution.

[DoughtyOne]

I can't say as I disagree with you. In fact I don't support this peace plan. It's rediculous for Israel to take tangible steps for peace when others can't even swear off violence in perpetuity.

Hamas may or may not stop bombing. There are a number of other groups who won't.

Bush doesn't understand this? Yikes! Rice doesn't understand this? Yikes! And these folks are supposed to be on my side? LMAO

[DoughtyOne]

Rather than kill them, I'd expel them. Then I'd claim the West Bank and Gaza and forget about it. Let the world whine inceasantly forever if they like.

[nuffsenuff]

Expell them where?

No one wants 'em.

[E Rocc]

Jewish Task Force

Victor Vancier's site. A convicted terrorist. The last time he attempted to go to Israel, they detained him at the airport and sent him back here.

It's comprehensive proof that one does not need to be a Muslim to be a stark raving nutbar fanatic. Thanks for posting it. >:)

-Eric

[yonif]

Expell them where?

No one wants 'em.

I would say first of all give money to those Arabs to leave and never return. Secondly, the Arabs there will be the responsibility of the Jordanian government. They would become citizens of Jordan and will be able to stay in Judea Samaria and Gaza. (This plan of course coming after Israel goes after the terrorists, their infrastructure, weapons, etc.)

[DoughtyOne]

I would expel them into western Jordan. Western Jordan isn't heavily populated. Then Jordan and the other middle eastern states can absorb some of them in each nation.

Once that happens, those nations will begin to get religion on the subject as these terrorists go after them for a change.

Jordan already had to expel them once. Nobody wants these people, because they simply refuse to live in peace with 'anyone'. That's the real 'family secret' nobody want's to talk about.

[yonif]

It's comprehensive proof that one does not need to be a Muslim to be a stark raving nutbar fanatic. Thanks for posting it. >:)

For your information, I do not support the JTF, never have and never will. I simply took that off their site to illustrate a point of mine, and listed that link to show what my source was so that I wasn't plagirizing.

Israel is right to combat those extremists.

[EGPWS]

Dahlan said the PA would begin collecting illegal weapons from the various Palestinian factions,

I'm curious as to his definition of "illegal weapons" is.

Weapons that are NOT used? Or weapons used but not used on Israeli's?

How many decades of deception is it going to take before it is understood, for some, that peace is NOT the agenda for these terrorist groups?