Israel’s Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told the security cabinet Wednesday that the army would remain in Palestinian cities in the West Bank for a prolonged period of time.
"We will remain in the centers of the cities for a very long time," Sharon said, adding that the army should take gradual steps to ease the restrictions imposed on the Palestinian populace, and "to begin in quiet areas."
Despite Sharon's vow, his adviser Ra'anan Gissin said the army planned to "reduce its presence" to ease hardships on the Palestinians and let in humanitarian aid.
Israel Radio reported that the Saudi crown prince Abdullah had sent a message to Sharon urging him to unfreeze Palestinian Authority funds. But it quoted Sharon as saying that the funds would remain frozen, for fear of their being misused to finance “terrorist” operations against Israel.
Israel's embassy in Washingtion sent the government a list of possible gestures that it believed the White House would welcome, the radio reported. Among the measures were immediate dismantling of all illegal settler outposts in the West Bank, and allowing freedom of travel to members of the Palestinian legislature and top PA officials dealing with humantarian matters.
Meanwhile, two senior Palestinian security chiefs sacked by Yasser Arafat indicated Wednesday they would not go quietly. Political officials said Arafat dismissed late Tuesday long-time stalwarts, Palestinian police chief Ghazi Jabali, West Bank preventive security chief Jibril Rajoub and civil defense chief Mahmoud Abu Marzuk, although Rajoub later denied he had been fired.
"President Arafat has undertaken real concrete measures for change. He is conscious of the magnitude of the external, local and regional pressures which he must confront," a high-level official told AFP.
According to one official, the move against members of Arafat's inner circle was urged by the PA’s new interior minister, General Abdel Razek Yehiya. "Finally, president Arafat has answered the interior minister's demand by dismissing them (the three) from their functions," the official said.
For his part, Rajoub has decided not to go quietly and moved to quash the reports of his ouster. "I am not aware of any such decision to replace me," he told AFP. Rajoub said there was no threat of rebellion in his security services against Arafat, though his stance hinted at open opposition to the ageing Palestinian leader.
Jabali insisted the reports were "rumors" and there was no sign he was ready to leave his post. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
