Israel explained that its incursions into Palestinian-
controlled areas (area A) are a specific response to numerous
warnings about upcoming terror attacks, and it will not
withdraw until it has dealt with those warnings -- but it
plans to withdraw then. This was reiterated by Prime Minister
Sharon in Jerusalem and Foreign Minister Peres in Washington
in response to the unusually tough message that was read by a
State Department spokesman, who said "we deeply regret and
deplore" Israel's actions, which killed "numerous . . .
innocent civilians" and contributed to "a significant
escalation in tension and violence." He added that "Israel
must act now in a manner that helps restore calm."
At the same time, President Bush sent what one U.S. official
called "a very clear letter" to Palestinian leader Yasser
Arafat saying that Arafat had to make "absolutely certain"
that Palestinian authorities arrested the people responsible
for last week's assassination of Israel's tourism minister.
Bush said that moves by Arafat to halt terrorist attacks were
the only way back to the peace process. Speaking of the
letter to Arafat, the spokesman explained, "As we've said
many times in the past, actions are required, not just
words."
In a statement released on Sunday about its military actions,
the Israeli Cabinet said, "Since the start of the armed
confrontation, Israel has demanded that the Palestinian
Authority and its leader act to halt the violence and fight
terrorism. However, until now there have been no arrests, no
cease-fires and no cessation of incitement, and it does not
appear that there is a sincere intention on the part of the
PA to move in this direction. In light of this, the Cabinet
has decided to operate in PA territory in every place from
which terrorist activities emanate and where planning to
perpetrate terrorism takes place."
At the same time, Defense Minister Ben Eliezer clarified that
Israel has no intention of holding on to PA territory, and in
every place where the PA shows that it has sincere intentions
to halt the violence and prevent attacks, Israel will
withdraw its forces from the "A" areas (as it has done in the
past in Beit Jalla and Hebron).
Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer also emphasized that Israel is
committed to the Mitchell and Tenet plans, and continues to
pursue a diplomatic solution. However, he stressed that the
defense establishment will continue to take all steps
necessary to protect the citizens of the State of Israel.
The military offensive against six Palestinian cities in the
West Bank continued, with fighting around Beit Jala,
Bethlehem, Kalkilya, Jenin, Nablus, and Ramallah.
The Labor Party discussed and threatened to quit the national-
unity government if the offensive proves open-ended. The
Labor faction said it "opposes renewed control" over PA
territories.
Bush administration officials are desperately trying to
reduce violence and get the parties moving toward peace
negotiations in order to make it easier for Arab coalition
partners to cooperate with the US in its war against Osama
bin Laden in Afghanistan.
Despite Israeli assurances to the contrary, the
administration's fears of a prolonged offensive against the
PA drove the State Department to issue a harsh rebuke of
Israeli actions, including the IDF's killing of Palestinian
civilians in recent days.
Political sources in Jerusalem said that Israel has no
intention of withdrawing immediately and that, following
Ze'evi's assassination, Israel is doing what any other nation
would do in similar circumstances to protect its citizens.
However, one senior government source said there has been
confusion. The actions carried out in Area A are not part of
the ultimatum Israel issued the Palestinians last week but
rather are actions decided upon because of concrete terror
threats emanating from those areas.
At the National Press Club in Washington, Peres insisted
Israel does not plan on toppling the PA or Arafat.
"We are not fighting against a Palestinian state; on the
contrary, we are for a Palestinian state," he said. "We don't
want to downfall the Palestinian autonomy; on the contrary,
we would like to see them successful. We don't want the
Palestinian people to suffer; on the contrary, we would like
them to enjoy freedom and prosperity. And we are not
conducting a personal war against Arafat."
Peres lamented that Arafat had not fulfilled his obligations
under the cease-fire the two struck recently. "Arafat himself
used to say, `I don't ask for the moon.' He doesn't have to
arrest the moon. He has to arrest 10 or 15 troublemakers,
which are really initiating most of the terror."
Peres said he understands the US wants Israel and the
Palestinians to silence their guns in order to keep its
coalition, including Arab and Muslim states, together. But he
insisted that ending the violence would require international
pressure on Arafat to act.
Peres also said groups like Islamic Jihad, Hamas, and the
PFLP should be put on the "priority list" of terrorist
organizations the US is targeting in its broader war against
terrorism.
Israeli envoy Shoval said after meeting with US officials
that the American administration seemed to be backing away
from the idea of presenting its vision for a final-status
agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.
In Israeli news, a rampaging Palestinian gunman was shot dead
by a quick-thinking soldier in Jerusalem's Talpiot industrial
zone on Monday, preventing further deaths. The dead man was a
33-year-old mechanic from the Palestinian-controlled village
or Irtas south of Bethlehem, who had been employed in a
garage in the area.
Also, one of the top Hamas bomb-makers, whom the Prime
Minister's Office said was responsible for killing 48
Israelis, was killed in Nablus Monday night when a mysterious
explosion ripped through the car he was traveling in. Ayman
Halaweh was considered the number three man in the Hamas
military wing, Izzadin al Kassam. He was not only a master
bomb maker, but also recruited suicide bombers, and was the
most wanted Hamas terrorist in the Nablus region.
Another man, also identified as a Hamas terrorist, was in the
car and critically wounded in the blast. Hamas blamed the
explosion on Israel. The car was reportedly a stolen Israeli
vehicle that Halaweh received a few days ago.
The Prime Minister's Office listed the attacks it attributed
to Halaweh, whom it said was one of the most wanted
terrorists, indicating he likely was involved in almost every
major Hamas bombing in the past year, including the Sbarro
pizzeria bombing. Halaweh also allegedly organized the
suicide attack at Tel Aviv's Dolphinarium, and actually
fitted suicide bombers with their explosive packs, Israel
Radio said.
He also reportedly recruited six Israeli Arabs from Umm el-
Fahm who were supposed to carry out a suicide attack on the
Bank Hapoalim in Hadera.
Halaweh had reportedly been traveling with false papers and
it took a few hours until his identity was verified. "With
honor and glory we announce a new martyr, Ayman Halaweh . . .
who was assassinated by the Israeli intelligence services
this night," a Hamas official said.
In the north, Hizbullah launched an unprovoked cross-border
attack with a barrage of mortar fire and antitank missiles on
IDF outposts in the Mount Dov region early this week, for the
second time in three weeks.
Deputy Chief of General Staff Maj.-Gen. Moshe Ya'alon warned
the tensions on the northern border risk escalating into a
full-scale war with Syria. Ya'alon also warned of possible
Hizbullah attacks against Israeli population centers along
the northern border.
In response IDF gunners blasted suspected Hizbullah positions
and firing points in south Lebanon with dozens of artillery
and tank shells and IAF helicopter gunships also were
involved. For the first time in several months, IAF warplanes
also went into action and struck at Hizbullah firing
positions in the Kafr Shuba district in the eastern sector of
south Lebanon.
Reports from Lebanon said there was some property damage in
the area, but no civilian casualties. Hizbullah did not
announce any casualties, although the organization has
adopted a policy of secrecy regarding any casualties and only
reports such incidents at a later stage, if at all.
On the other hand, Hizbullah has its own agenda at the top of
which is its desire to survive as Lebanon's last remaining
armed militia, despite the fact that it has no real excuse
for retaining its arms following the IDF's withdrawal from
south Lebanon last May in full compliance with UN Security
Council Resolution 425.
