Israeli cabinet discuss military measures and tightening the siege on Palestinians
Palestine-Israel, Politics, 3/14/2002

On Wednesday the mini Israeli cabinet discussed taking military measures in addition to tightening the siege against the Palestinians.

In the political context, the Israeli foreign minister Shimon Peres made a telephone call on Wednesday at dawn with the US secretary of state Collin Powell and discussed with him the tense conditions in the occupied Palestinian territories, according to the Israeli radio.

The US - ME special envoy Anthony Zinni arrived in Tel Aviv in a new tour aiming at alleviating tension and the possibility of Israel's consent to discuss the implementation of Tenet document and Mitchell report between Israel and the Palestinians.


Bush urged yesterday the Israelis and the Palestinians to adhere to the Tenet security plan put forward by U.S and then to move to the Mitchell peace plan.
Bush said "Frankly, it's not helpful what the Israelis have recently done in order to create conditions for peace. I understand someone trying to defend themselves and to fight terror. But the recent actions aren't helpful."

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Oreikat stressed the impossibility of the success of Zinni's mission under the decision taken by the Israeli government to continue its occupation of Ramullah.

He explained in a press statement that it is not logic to talk about easing down and fixing ceasefire while the Israeli authorities are sending 20,000 soldiers and 150 tanks to Ramullah and the mini Israeli Cabinet issues a decision to continue the operations.

Member of the Israeli Knesset Yusi Sarid called on the US to agree to deploying UN observers in the Palestinian territories to supervise closely what is taking place.

The Israeli radio on Wednesday quoted Sarid as saying that Zinni's mission will be doomed to failure unless he will debate a settlement that would contribute to solving the Palestinian- Israeli conflict.

Meantime, one Palestinian was killed after he opened fire at an Israeli car near Ghoushe Katieve settlement in Gaza and the Israeli forces in Jerusalem arrested Sheikh Muhammad al-Jamal, one member of the Islamic Trusts commission in the holy al-Aqsa mosque under the pretext of provoking people against the Israeli occupation in one of his sermons. The Israeli radio said Sheikh Jamal will be inquired later.

Previous Stories:
  New plan for Sharon to evacuate the Palestinians   (3/13/2002)
  Israel reoccupied Palestinian areas, 10 Palestinians killed, scores wounded   (3/13/2002)
  Arafat: Israeli escalation proceeds according to plan   (3/12/2002)

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