Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Sunday that the decision to set up the Mitchell committee, investigating the outbreak of violence in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, is a "historical mistake," Haaretz newspaper quoted him as saying.
Sharon, who is scheduled to meet the committee Sunday, told Israel Radio that “no one has the right to put Israel on trial in front of the nations of the world.”
Sharon also said that there was no link between "the wave of terror" and his visit to the al-Haram al-Sharif last September, after which violent clashes erupted, said the paper.
The outbreak of violence, he said, was a "strategic decision by [Palestinian President Yasser] Arafat after Camp David" and that the Palestinians’ aim was to internationalize the conflict by stroking violence.
But Sharon said he would nevertheless cooperate with the committee, which is headed by former US senator and Northern Ireland peace-broker, George Mitchell, added the paper.
"There is no choice but to meet with the committee," he said. "But it is unjust and it is something that will complicate matters for Israel. For a lot of reasons, we have to meet with the committee, but out of protest over the fact that it was set up."
The committee visited on Saturday the West Bank city of Bethlehem and spoke with Palestinian and Intifada leaders, reported The Jerusalem Post newspaper.
According to an Israeli official, the committee toured the Dehaishe refugee camp, as well as Beit Jala, where they were shown damage to homes that came under Israeli tank fire.
In another development, the paper said that Palestinian forces fired four mortar shells at Israeli military posts in the southern Gaza Strip early Sunday.
The shelling reportedly originated from Khan Yunis and was aimed at the District Coordination Offices near the Jewish settlement of Neveh Dekalim, said the paper, quoting an online report in Yediot Ahronot’s Internet edition.
The paper added that Palestinian gunfire was also reported in Ramallah and Jenin, but there were no reports of injuries or damage.
Meanwhile, Israel’s defense minister, Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, announced Sunday night that he decided to extend the term of Israel’s Chief of Staff Shaul Mofaz by one year, said the Post.
Ben-Eliezer said he would bring his recommendation to the security cabinet for approval soon. "Mofaz is an excellent chief of General Staff and I have decided to extend his term for another year," he said.
Mofaz's three-year term was set to expire in early July, said the paper – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
