Posted on 03/11/2002 1:23:27 PM PST by knighthawk
By Ross Dunn, Herald Correspondent in Jerusalem and agencies
For the first time, the United States is proposing to station American observers in Palestinian territories as part of a new diplomatic effort to halt escalating Middle East violence.
The move may be seen as something of a political victory for Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, who has repeatedly appealed for international monitors. He also appears to be winning on the diplomatic front to get Israel to lift its travel ban on him.
US special envoy to the Middle East, Anthony Zinni, a retired marine corps general, is expected to put forward the observers proposal when he returns to the region on Thursday amid signs the Bush Administration was prepared to get more involved in the Middle East.
Vice-President Dick Cheney is embarking on a tour of the region and American Secretary of State, Colin Powell, said that Mr Zinni would remain in the area.
"We have a vision. We have a plan to solve this crisis but it begins with ending the violence," Mr Powell said.
A woman prays at the wrecked Cafe Moment, scene of a suicide bombing. Photo: AFP
The American monitors would oversee the implementation of an Israeli-Palestinian cease-fire brokered last year by the head of the CIA, Mr George Tenet.
It is not clear how Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, will respond. He has opposed the use of observers in the past but in recent days has shown a greater willingness to compromise.
He has dropped his demand for a week of complete calm as a precondition for entering into negotiations on a truce. And, in advance of Mr Zinni's visit, he has indicated he would be prepared to allow Mr Arafat to leave Ramallah in the West Bank, where he has been confined by Israeli forces since December.
Mr Sharon plans to allow Mr Arafat to travel freely within the West Bank and Gaza Strip, but the Palestinian leader would have to seek permission before going abroad to attend the Arab League summit scheduled for Beirut this month.
The Arab League meeting is expected to discuss a Saudi peace initiative which has been well received by the US.
At the same time, the Israeli Cabinet has instructed the army to intensify its operations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Israeli troops ringed a West Bank refugee camp with tanks yesterday and stepped up its searches in another camp nearby.
Palestinians also reported tanks entering the Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, where they wounded three people, Gaza hospital sources said. The army confirmed troops had taken over a Palestinian security building at the camp.
Witnesses reported that 10 tanks were stationed around the small Al-Aza camp in northern Bethlehem overnight and troops entered several houses on the fringes of the camp after dawn.
In the much larger Deheishe camp south of Bethlehem, troops fired up to 20 shells at buildings overnight, Palestinian security sources reported.
Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat, called for a halt to the Israeli military offensive.
"The shortest way to peace ... is to end this occupation and to have a Palestinian state next to the state of Israel," Mr Erekat said.
"Let us resume a meaningful peace process. Let us resume a meaningful negotiation," he pleaded.
Use EUROPEAN observers, and let THEM be killed!
The Euro-weenies are the ones that want observers, and once they start dying, that will turn public sentiment in their countries against the Palestinians.
(the only problem with that is that European observers have been there before, and they haven't done their job, they just let the terrorists operate freely)
If anyone actually tries to stop the terrorists, they'll be killed. There's no point in sending observers, unless Bush actually wants to use American ground troops to fight the intifada (but WHY? Why not just let the Israelis do it?)
It's like having your terrorism delivered, you get peacekeepers right at your doorstep.
If the peacekeepers are unarmed, they'll be sniped. If they're armed, the Palestinians will say they're invaders, and they'll be sniped. If they try to stop the terrorists, they'll be killed, if not, what's the point of having them there? If they don't cooperate with the IDF, they'll have no firepower and they'll be totally vulnerable. But if they do cooperate with the IDF, they'll be seen as legitimate targets not just by Palestinians, but by anti-Israelis everywhere.
Yup. That's how they've ALWAYS fought.
During the wars between Israel and her Arab neighbors, the UN would broker a cease fire. The Arabs would break it, and try to seize as much territory as they could, before the UN could pressure both sides into accepting another "cease fire." If the Israelis didn't accept a "cease fire," they would be accused of being warlike. Instead, the Israelis just got good at counter-attacking, so every time the Muslims broke a cease fire, the Israelis would score more territory.
Now the Palies want to be able to stop Israel from carrying out retaliatory attacks... which are basically the only attacks it carries out, period, right now. But the Palies would get to keep blowing up Israeli restaraunts, because they never been allowed to do it, but they've always done it anyway. Why should Israel make deals with people who have shown they can never stop from carrying out terror attacks, whereas Israel has shown it can unilaterally observe a cease fire?
With good reason.
Well they can't use the French; they'd surrender.
HEAVILY armed US soldiers on the ground to keep the peace.
Make it known that we have Tomahawks targeted at Yassir's office AND at the Knesset.
Have our diplomats say "OK you guys, let's talk."
All it would take is one of those Hate America fanatics and we'll purge the earth of every one of them.
Veronica, do you think these observers would prevent any Palestinian terror attacks? They would only get in the way of Israeli retaliation. This is a victory for Arafat.
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