The Palestinian Authority is threatening to boycott U.S. Undersecretary of State William Burns' mission to the region, if the envoy does not hold talks with PA Chairman Yasser Arafat.
Burns started his visit to the region on Friday, in an effort to implement President George W. Bush's "roadmap for peace." He will push for reforms within the Palestinian Authority, a withdrawal of Israeli forces to positions held prior to the outbreak of the Intifada in September 2000, and the establishment of a temporary Palestinian state.
Burns met with Egyptian officials on Friday, after which he was to continue to Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. He will meet with Israeli and Palestinian leaders next week, although the State Department noted that Burns would not be meeting with Yasser Arafat, but rather with other Palestinian leaders.
Gaza
A Palestinian detonated an explosive device in the northern Gaza Strip Friday morning, lightly wounding two Israeli soldiers. The Palestinian, who also hurled fragmentation grenades at the troops, was shot dead by Israeli soldiers near the Dugit settlement. Hamas claimed responsibility for this attack.
Meanwhile, a senior aide to Hamas spiritual leader vowed on Friday that his movement would avenge the deaths in Rafah on Thursday. "There should be a strong response, not only by Hamas, but by all the factions to banish the Zionist enemy who only understands the language of force," said Ismail Abu Shanab. "Revenge for those civilians who were massacred is the only way to appease the bereaved families and the Palestinian people."
US Secretary of State Colin Powell late Thursday night demanded the Israeli army clarify the killing of Palestinian civilians during the incident in Rafah. In his meeting with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, in Washington, Powell criticized the Israeli move to shower tank fire at Palestinian activists using civilian homes in the Gaza Strip as cover. The actions resulted in the death of eight Palestinians, including women and children, and the wounding of 40 others.
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher repeated American concerns over civilian casualties in military operations. "It is essential that Israeli forces take steps to prevent tragic incidents like those that have occurred over the past week or so," he said.
Elsewhere, Palestinians fired seven mortar shells overnight Thursday in the Gaza Strip's Neveh Dekalim industrial zone.
West Bank
In the West Bank, Israeli troops pulled out of Jenin, the Palestinian governor said, surrounding the town and digging a 6-foot-wide trench in flatlands to the west to keep vehicles from sneaking in and out.
The governor, Khaider Irshaid, told The Associated Press on Friday that the military informed him a curfew no longer would be enforced in Jenin. He said soldiers pulled out of the town but were surrounding it, keeping people from entering or leaving. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
