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Israel to Allow 20 Bethlehem Exiles to Return Home |
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Friday, 18 February 2005Margot Dudkevitch
Twenty Palestinians who were among the 39 exiled to Europe and the Gaza Strip as part of a deal to end the standoff in Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity in May 2002 will be permitted to return once the Palestinians receive security control of Bethlehem.
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz announced the decision on Thursday night, after meeting with Israeli representatives of the various security committees to hear updates on their meetings with Palestinian officials.
According to ministry officials, Mofaz said that Israel would permit 20 of the Palestinians "without blood on their hands" to return to the region. Officials did not reveal whether the 20 were among those expelled abroad or to the Gaza Strip.
Earlier this week Israeli security officials said they opposed any deal that would allow the return of the Palestinian exiles responsible for the murders of numerous Israelis.
The 2002 agreement permitted the release of 123 Palestinian gunmen who forced their way into the church, where they remained for five weeks. In a deal to end the standoff, Israel agreed that 13 would be exiled to Europe and 26 were bused to Gaza. The remaining 84 Palestinians were permitted to return to their homes after undergoing questioning by security forces.
Meanwhile, Former PA security minister Muhammad Dahlan said early Friday morning that if Israel does not evacuate the Philadelphi route in addition to its settlements in Gaza, attacks in the area would continue.
Dahlan also pointed out that PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei were determined that Israel's pullout from the Gaza Strip would be conducted quietly, and not under fire, Israel Radio reported.
He clarified that the PA has decided to clamp down on illegal arms smuggling in the Gaza Strip for Palestinian reasons, and not in order to help Israel.
At Thursday night's meeting, Mofaz also authorized the return of 16 Palestinians from the West Bank who were banished to the Gaza Strip because of their suspected involvement in terror.
Details of their identities or the reason they were banished were not divulged. In recent years former OC Central Command Maj.-Gen. Moshe Kaplinsky signed a number of orders banishing Palestinians to the Gaza Strip.
The transfer of security control to the Palestinians in Jericho had yet to be resolved, officials said, adding that the disputes regarding Oudja north of the city and the removal of checkpoints have not been settled. Because of this the handover of other Palestinian cities has been delayed.
The defense minister stressed that the army would continue maintaining a policy of restraint and refrain from initiating any operations to allow Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas to take control of the area in the hope he would combat terror.
Describing the situation as "fragile," Mofaz said it appeared that the Palestinians were making every effort to live up to their commitments. He stressed, however, that Israel retained the right to act in the event of "ticking bombs."
Mofaz also ordered that soldiers facilitate a smoother passage to Palestinians at IDF checkpoints in the West Bank, and instructed them to speed up the process to cut down the time Palestinians are forced to queue up for inspection.
Other steps Mofaz agreed to include allowing an additional 500 Palestinian laborers from the Gaza Strip to enter Israel for work. |
Friday, 18 February 2005
Jerusalem Post
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