US special envoy Anthony Zinni had been tentatively scheduled
to return at the end of this week for more consultations with
Israel and the Palestinian Authority. State Department
spokesman Richard Boucher said that no decision had yet been
taken regarding his return.
For the first time, the State Department suggested PA
Chairman Yasser Arafat had some responsibility for the
munitions ship Karine A that was captured by Israel, even if
he was not directly involved. While the State Department has
not said so in public, US officials say privately Arafat was
at the very least aware of the shipment.
The US also augmented its criticism of the demolition of
Palestinian homes.
"We've made clear that we understand the need for Israel to
take steps to ensure its self defense, and we've been quite
clear... on the need for Palestinian action against violence
and terrorism," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher
said.
"At the same time, the steps such as the displacement of
people through the demolition of homes or property like those
that occurred in Jerusalem earlier today are provocative.
They undermine trust and confidence. They create additional
hardship and contribute to an escalation of tension and
violence.
"We've seen reports that the Israeli government has decided
to end demolitions of houses and property. We cannot confirm
those reports, but clearly we see such steps contributing to
a restoration of calm and facilitating progress towards
implementation of the Tenet security work plan and the
Mitchell Committee recommendations."
The criticism contrasted with the remarks of last week. Then,
after Israel's demolition of homes in Gaza -- which were much
more extensive -- Boucher said the US did not think the
demolitions "contribute to a restoration of calm or an end to
violence."
It was not clear if the US appreciated the difference between
the demolitions in Gaza, which were carried out by the Army
for its reasons, and those in Jerusalem, which were carried
out by the municipality through normal bureaucratic
procedures taken against illegal construction.
When Zinni left on January 6, after spending just under four
days here, he gave the sides instructions as to what they
needed to do while he was gone: the PA should make arrests
and collect illegal arms from Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and
Israel should ease restrictions on the Palestinians.
Zinni also left hoping the high-level trilateral security
committee which he reconvened would continue to meet in his
absence. This has not happened.
It was widely reported when he left, though not stated
officially, that he was to return on January 18. A US Embassy
spokesman said recently that no date has been set for Zinni's
return, only that he plans to return "in the near future."
In another development, Sgt. Elad Abu-Gani, 19, of Tiveria,
was killed and 2nd-Lt. Yaniv Uzi-Dan sustained light-to-
moderate gunshot wounds in a terrorist ambush near Kuchin,
between Nablus and Tulkarm, Monday evening.
