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28 Ellul 5763 - September 25, 2003 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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NEWS
US Will Not Cut Guarantees, Meanwhile
by Yated Ne'eman Staff

The US and Israel appear to be on a course to settle their differences over the separation fence in the usual manner: avoiding the problem.

The Israeli prime minister's bureau chief Dov Weisglass and Defense Ministry Director-General Amos Yaron went to Washington early this week to present Israeli views of the fence and hear American reactions. They are reportedly returning to Israel with an American agreement to wait for Israel to make a final decision on the exact route of the separation fence before deciding whether or not to deduct costs of the fence from American loan guarantees to Israel.

The U.S. has indicated that should the fence be built around the city of Ariel that is located deep in the middle of the Palestinian population, its construction costs would be deducted from loan guarantees to Israel.

The Americans are demanding that the fence not deviate significantly from the Green Line boundary in the Ariel area.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has backed a plan put forward by Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz which would suspend construction of the fence in the Ariel area. A gap of several kilometers would be left in the fence that would be heavily patrolled. The rest of the fence, which is less controversial, would be built.

Ariel has a perimeter fence that surrounds it now, but it would like to be connected to the main Israeli fence making travel back and forth easier and safer.

Israeli and American officials also discussed the crisis in Palestinian leadership and the demands made by Palestinian Prime Minister-delegate Ahmed Qurei.

The Israeli representatives presented US security head Condoleeza Rice with the plan for the fence's route, but emphasized that a final decision has not yet been made on the barrier's route in the problematic Ariel area.

Rice said after the meeting, "It is extremely important, if it [the fence] is going to be built, that it, as much as possible . . . not intrude on the lives of the Palestinians, and, most importantly, that it not look as if it's trying to prejudge the outcome of a peace agreement."

Rice added that it "is not really consistent with our view of what the Middle East will one day have to look like -- two states living side by side in peace."

Weisglass was accompanied at the meeting by Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Dan Ayalon and Yaron, while Rice was joined by her deputy, Steven Hadley; Elliot Abrahams, head of the Middle East department of the National Security Council, and Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs William Burns.

The first installment in American loan guarantees -- $1.6 billion -- has already been handed over to Israel. Deductions will be made from future loans to make up for money Israel invests in the territories -- including in projects not connected to the security fence.

The Israeli mission also met with deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, who was scheduled to arrive in the region two weeks ago. His trip was cancelled due to an escalation in violence between Israel and the Palestinians.

 

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