Mofaz: IDF Suspends Manhunts, Assassinations -- Releases Terrorist Who Wounded Israeli

2005-02-06

By Haaretz Service

www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/536394.html

IDF operations against wanted men have been temporarily frozen, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz told the cabinet Sunday, adding that he had approved the release of the jailed son of Fatah Tanzim militant leader Marwan Barghouti.

Mofaz said that he had granted approval to free two of the six Palestinians whose release had been requested by Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. Some of the prisoners on the list were involved in the murders of Israelis and had been sentenced to long prison terms prior to the Oslo Accords in 1993.

One of the two, Qassam Barghouti, 19, was charged with a series of ambush terror shootings in the West Bank. An Israeli Arab was wounded in one of the shootings.

Mofaz also told the cabinet that Palestinian terror organizations would attempt to carry out attacks in efforts to torpedo Tuesday's summit of regional leaders in Sharm el-Sheikh.

Police raised their level of operations in various regions around the country just prior to the Sunday afternoon arrival in Israel of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and on the eve of Tuesday's summit.

Police decided Sunday morning to bolster forces around the country and checkpoints were set up between the seam line and various Israeli cities. Police will conduct both regular and undercover patrols.

Another meeting will be held on Monday to reevaluate the security situation.

PA demands release of Hamas, Jihad men

During talks on Saturday night between Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams, the Palestinians demanded that Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants be included among those prisoners whom Israel plans to release.

The Palestinians also made it clear that the inclusion of prisoners from the Islamic opposition is an essential component of the cease-fire agreement that Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas reached with Hamas and Islamic Jihad last week.

The two sides agreed Saturday night on the establishment of a special committee to deal with the thorny issue of prisoner release, and to address the issue in earnest following the completion of the summit meeting in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Tuesday.

The PA initiated the proposal for the creation of the committee.

The prime minister's adviser, Dov Weisglass, will leave on Sunday for Cairo as part of the preparations for the summit.

Army Radio reported Sunday morning that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was expected to invite Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to Israel during Tuesday's summit. This would be the Egyptian leader's first state visit to Israel.

Also Saturday, preparations were being finalized for U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's lightning visit to Israel and the PA on Sunday.

Among those taking part in Saturday night's talks on prisoner releases were Weisglass and Amos Gilad, two senior Sharon advisers, and Saeb Erekat and Mohammed Dahlan, influential Palestinian officials in areas of negotiations with Israel and security.

Three categories of prisoners were delineated for the committee to discuss: those jailed prior to the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993; those jailed between 1993 and the outbreak of the intifada in September 2000; and female prisoners.

One of the issues that has troubled both sides is the Israeli hesitation to release prisoners who were involved in the killing of Israelis. As such, last Thursday's offer by Israel for the release of 900 prisoners met with an unfavorable reaction from the Palestinians, who dismissed it as "insulting."

The issue of Palestinian prisoners to be released from Israeli prisons continues to find the Israeli side undecided.

Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon are of the opinion that Palestinian prisoners who have killed Israelis should be eligible for release. Shin Bet chief Avi Dichter, who has taken a stern line on the overall stance Israel must adopt in order to bolster Abbas and his government, is opposed. Sharon is inclined to support Dichter.

President Moshe Katsav also told Sharon on Saturday that he would not be prepared to authorize the release of Palestinian prisoners who killed Israelis - regardless of government decisions on the issue. Katsav has the authority to grant amnesty to prisoners.

During the Sunday morning cabinet meeting, Sharon said that the Palestinian killers of minister Rehavam Ze'evi would not go free in the framework of any prisoner release arrangement with the Palestinians.

For his part, Abbas asked Israel to authorize the release of six Palestinian prisoners who were jailed prior to the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993 for killing Israelis. In addition, Abbas asked for the release of Qassem Barghouti, the son of Marwan Barghouti, senior leader of Fatah in the West Bank who was jailed for his role in terrorist attacks that resulted in the death of Israelis.

Abbas explained in his request that the release of these specific prisoners will contribute to his position in the Palestinian community.

Beyond the debate over the six prisoners, there is an agreement for the release of 900 Palestinians in two stages, including members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

Mofaz suggested that the whole issue of the prisoners will be resolved prior to the Sharm summit.

In the meantime, preparations for the summit in Egypt are being finalized but not before Rice arrives.

Israeli officials assessed that Rice would commend both sides on their recent efforts.

Rice will also call on the Palestinians to do more to restore security and bring an end to violence and tell Israel that it should undertake further gestures to bolster confidence in the new Palestinian leadership.

For their part, the Americans are trying to play down Rice's absence from the Egyptian summit.

"It is not necessary to participate at the highest level in every gathering in order to be a major player and part of the solution," a State Department spokesman explained Saturday.

Source: IMRA – Independent Media Review and Analysis