A Palestinian worker shot dead his Israeli employer Sunday noon in the Gaza Strip settlement of Rafah Yam, Israel Radio reported. Israeli troops carried out a search of the area and arrested the Palestinian attacker.
Earlier, it was reported that the Israeli army began Sunday releasing reservists called up for a planned operation in the Gaza Strip after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Defense Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer decided Thursday night to cancel the attack.
An Israeli security official said plans for the offensive were altered because of leaks that cost the Israeli military the element of surprise, but Israeli newspapers also suggested Sharon had come under heavy US pressure not to damage the chances for restarting peace talks.
Both Israel and the United States have denied any pressure from Washington to forestall the offensive.
Palestinian officials expressed little relief, however, as Israeli tanks and most reservists called up in recent days continued to sit on the border with Gaza. "Postponed doesn't mean canceled," said Saeb Erekat, a senior Palestinian official.
Erekat, a chief negotiator for the Palestinians for years, was looking forward to the arrival of CIA (Director George Tenet, who has been deeply involved in trying to bring the sides to a cease-fire. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell had said Tenet would probably be in the region this week although U.S. Embassy officials said an exact date had not yet been set.
According to Haaretz, the Bush administration has decided to postpone Tenet's expected visit to the region. Israeli and American sources said that Tenet would arrive no earlier than next week.
Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said "we are not looking for a plain military victory. We are looking for an opening of a political road," Peres told CNN in an interview from Rome on Saturday.
He would not, however, rule out a future strike on the Gaza Strip. "I wouldn't like to make any commitment publicly about something which is purely professional. But I repeat what I am saying, we don't have in mind to conquer cities. We have in mind to prevent terror," Peres said.
"I believe that there is no real answer to the terror and the war by building walls or building fences or having trenches. We must arrive to an agreement, to a solution," Peres said.
"I believe that the Palestinian state is inevitable, and to my taste, it should happen as soon as possible, the earlier the better."
Peres added Israel would be willing to discuss dismantling its settlements on the West Bank and Gaza Strip when negotiations restart, while admitting that would be politically difficult to carry out. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
