Israel plan to recognize refugee return sparks furor
Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Saturday, December 30, 2000
JERUSALEM — Israel plans to recognize the Palestinian demand for the
return of up to millions of refugees to the Jewish state.
Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami told the Cabinet on Wednesday that
Israel will agree to the return of Palestinians, but the agreement will be
in principle and not be translated into practice.
The assertion sparked criticism by several ministers. They warned that
Israel must make it clear that it will not allow Palestinians refugees to
flow into the country. Several of them criticized the Clinton proposals as
vague and open to interpretation that could damage Israel's interests.
"I don't like it," Deputy Prime Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said.
Palestinian sources said Israel has already agreed to the entry of
between 150,000 and 250,000 refugees in the northern Negev. They said Israel
wants the Palestinians to be settled in a small area near the Gaza Strip
that will join any Palestinian state.
On early Thursday, the Israeli Cabinet endorsed in principle the Clinton
plan. But the Cabinet raised reservations over portions of the plan.
Former Education Minister Yossi Sarid, who attended the Cabinet meeting,
said he envisions further Israeli concessions. He would not elaborate but he
did not rule out conceding on Israel's demands for sovereignty in the area
under the Temple Mount.
"On the Temple Mount, there will not be Israeli sovereignty," Sarid told
Israel radio on Thursday.
In a 10 to 2 vote, with two abstentions, the Cabinet said the U.S.
bridging proposals served as a basis of an agreement with the Palestinians.
But they appeared to link Israel's proposal to that of the Palestinian
Authority.
Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz expressed criticism of several
portions of the Clinton plan. Mofaz was said to be critical of the U.S.
proposal that Israeli troops would leave the Jordan valley after a period of
between three to six years. Mofaz wanted a longer period of Israeli troop
deployment.
For his part, Clinton telephoned leaders around the Middle East. They
included Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Jordan's King Abdullah, Saudi
King Fahd and Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah.
"The issues are extremely difficult, but they are closer than they have
ever been before and I hope they seize this opportunity," Clinton said.
"Prime Minister Barak has said that he would accept and continue
negotiations if the Palestinians would, and we'll see what happens. There's
a lot of things going on now and will be in the next several days, and I
think, as I said, the less I say about them all the better."
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
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