SOS
05-12-2002, 09:46 PM
Gaza Stand-Down Aids Diplomacy;
Likud Vote Deals a Blow to Sharon
By KARBY LEGGETT
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
JERUSALEM -- Israel called off a planned military incursion into the Gaza Strip over the weekend, but kept some troops on standby near the border amid indications that a future raid into the Palestinian territory remains a possibility.
Though tensions on both sides of the conflict remain high, Israel's decision to forgo a military campaign in Gaza -- the result of dissent from top Israeli generals and diplomatic pressure, officials say -- helped to quell fears of renewed violence and refocus efforts on diplomacy. In addition to suspending the Gaza operation, the military also pulled out of Bethlehem in the West Bank after a monthlong siege at the Church of the Nativity ended on Friday.
An interactive graphic looks at efforts to find peace between Israel and the Palestinians over the past decade -- and the obstacles that have remained in the way.
* * *
Can the conflict in the Middle East be resolved by the current leadership? Join a discussion
The military pullout from Bethlehem coincided with a weekend meeting between the leaders of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Syria about how to advance political negotiations with Israel. During the talks, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Abdullah and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad repeated their commitment to a peace deal with Israel in exchange for an Israeli pullback to pre-1967 borders.
Two senior Palestinian officials also participated in the discussions -- Nabil Shaath, a cabinet minister, and Mohammed Dahlan, the Palestinian security chief in Gaza. Mr. Dahlan has emerged as a candidate to head a revamped Palestinian security force that covers both Gaza and the West Bank. The reform is aimed at cracking down on popular militant groups, such as Hamas, and preventing a new wave of attacks that could scuttle the diplomatic initiative. The Arab leaders said they would meet again later in May to continue discussions.
In Israel, the decision not to enter Gaza helped shift public attention toward a growing debate within the government on how to approach a possible settlement with the Palestinians. A majority of Israelis believe the conflict can be resolved only by allowing Palestinians to form a state of their own. Even so, statehood remains a highly divisive issue among Israeli politicians, particularly the right-wing Likud party headed by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Late Sunday night, the party overwhelmingly voted to reject the creation of a Palestinian state, in a defeat for Mr. Sharon.
Mr. Sharon has said he believes that a Palestinian state will eventually be established, but only after a series of long interim agreements. Speaking at the raucous meeting, Mr. Sharon said a peace agreement with the Palestinians hinges on an end to terror attacks and reforms within the Palestinian Authority. But the prime minister also asked Likud not to vote on the resolution against Palestinian statehood, calling it "dangerous."
The resolution is expected to complicate efforts to restart formal peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. It also weakens Mr. Sharon's standing within the Likud party at a time when one of its most powerful members, Benjamin Netanyahu, readies a challenge to Mr. Sharon ahead of a general election next year. Mr. Netanyahu, a former prime minister, was a sponsor of the resolution.
As Israeli politicians debate the question of Palestinian statehood, there are signs the country's once vibrant peace movement is regrouping, potentially adding a powerful voice to the debate. In Tel Aviv, an estimated 60,000 protesters clogged a downtown square Saturday night and called for complete withdrawal from the West Bank and Gaza. It was the largest public gathering by Israel's peace camp in more than a year.
But concern remains that any attempt to return to negotiations could be shattered by more violence. Over the weekend in Gaza, a Palestinian worker shot and killed his Israeli employer near a checkpoint leading to the Jewish settlement of Rafiah Yam, while Israeli troops raided the city of Tulkarm in the West Bank, arresting two Palestinian militants.
In Washington on Sunday, King Abdullah of Jordan, speaking on NBC's "Meet the Press," called Israel's decision not to send troops into Gaza "a positive and encouraging step" and said it had "created an even more positive atmosphere" for political negotiations between Israel and Palestinians.
Write to Karby Leggett at karby.leggett@wsj.com
Updated May 13, 2002
WSJ (http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB1021202777869056280,00.html?mod=home_whats_ne ws_us)
Likud Vote Deals a Blow to Sharon
By KARBY LEGGETT
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
JERUSALEM -- Israel called off a planned military incursion into the Gaza Strip over the weekend, but kept some troops on standby near the border amid indications that a future raid into the Palestinian territory remains a possibility.
Though tensions on both sides of the conflict remain high, Israel's decision to forgo a military campaign in Gaza -- the result of dissent from top Israeli generals and diplomatic pressure, officials say -- helped to quell fears of renewed violence and refocus efforts on diplomacy. In addition to suspending the Gaza operation, the military also pulled out of Bethlehem in the West Bank after a monthlong siege at the Church of the Nativity ended on Friday.
An interactive graphic looks at efforts to find peace between Israel and the Palestinians over the past decade -- and the obstacles that have remained in the way.
* * *
Can the conflict in the Middle East be resolved by the current leadership? Join a discussion
The military pullout from Bethlehem coincided with a weekend meeting between the leaders of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Syria about how to advance political negotiations with Israel. During the talks, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Abdullah and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad repeated their commitment to a peace deal with Israel in exchange for an Israeli pullback to pre-1967 borders.
Two senior Palestinian officials also participated in the discussions -- Nabil Shaath, a cabinet minister, and Mohammed Dahlan, the Palestinian security chief in Gaza. Mr. Dahlan has emerged as a candidate to head a revamped Palestinian security force that covers both Gaza and the West Bank. The reform is aimed at cracking down on popular militant groups, such as Hamas, and preventing a new wave of attacks that could scuttle the diplomatic initiative. The Arab leaders said they would meet again later in May to continue discussions.
In Israel, the decision not to enter Gaza helped shift public attention toward a growing debate within the government on how to approach a possible settlement with the Palestinians. A majority of Israelis believe the conflict can be resolved only by allowing Palestinians to form a state of their own. Even so, statehood remains a highly divisive issue among Israeli politicians, particularly the right-wing Likud party headed by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Late Sunday night, the party overwhelmingly voted to reject the creation of a Palestinian state, in a defeat for Mr. Sharon.
Mr. Sharon has said he believes that a Palestinian state will eventually be established, but only after a series of long interim agreements. Speaking at the raucous meeting, Mr. Sharon said a peace agreement with the Palestinians hinges on an end to terror attacks and reforms within the Palestinian Authority. But the prime minister also asked Likud not to vote on the resolution against Palestinian statehood, calling it "dangerous."
The resolution is expected to complicate efforts to restart formal peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. It also weakens Mr. Sharon's standing within the Likud party at a time when one of its most powerful members, Benjamin Netanyahu, readies a challenge to Mr. Sharon ahead of a general election next year. Mr. Netanyahu, a former prime minister, was a sponsor of the resolution.
As Israeli politicians debate the question of Palestinian statehood, there are signs the country's once vibrant peace movement is regrouping, potentially adding a powerful voice to the debate. In Tel Aviv, an estimated 60,000 protesters clogged a downtown square Saturday night and called for complete withdrawal from the West Bank and Gaza. It was the largest public gathering by Israel's peace camp in more than a year.
But concern remains that any attempt to return to negotiations could be shattered by more violence. Over the weekend in Gaza, a Palestinian worker shot and killed his Israeli employer near a checkpoint leading to the Jewish settlement of Rafiah Yam, while Israeli troops raided the city of Tulkarm in the West Bank, arresting two Palestinian militants.
In Washington on Sunday, King Abdullah of Jordan, speaking on NBC's "Meet the Press," called Israel's decision not to send troops into Gaza "a positive and encouraging step" and said it had "created an even more positive atmosphere" for political negotiations between Israel and Palestinians.
Write to Karby Leggett at karby.leggett@wsj.com
Updated May 13, 2002
WSJ (http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB1021202777869056280,00.html?mod=home_whats_ne ws_us)