JERUSALEM Ñ Israel has drafted a series of measures to demonstrate
its support for Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas.
Officials said the measures would include the release of Palestinian
prisoners, the withdrawal of troops from some cities in the West Bank and
easing of restrictions on Palestinian freedom of movement. The government of
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon also plans to unfreeze about $450 million to the
Palestinian Authority.
The measures would be implemented within days after the approval of
Abbas's new Cabinet. Abbas, however, has failed to obtain approval for the
Cabinet from the ruling Fatah Central Committee and on Saturday threatened
to resign. Abbas's Cabinet includes a new interior minister meant to replace
a loyalist of PA Chairman Yasser Arafat.
Is Group-think Rational?
Those who believe that an unplanned, random "Big Bang" explosion of unknown matter caused the formation of the numberless bodies of the cosmos should be able to answer the following questions:
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Officials said a Sharon envoy presented the proposed goodwill gestures
to the Bush administration last week during a visit to Washington. They said
Sharon
has also expressed willingness to meet Abbas once he takes office.
The United States has urged Israel to launch a series of
measures to help Abbas, regarded as a reformer by both Israel and the United
States. The administration also plans to release the roadmap for an end to
the Israeli-Palestinian war and the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Over the weekend, Israeli authorities captured what officials said were
at least six Palestinian would-be suicide bombers. They said the bombers
came from the West Bank and that one of them surrendered to Israel's
military. Two of the would-be suicide bombers were women.
Overnight Sunday, Israeli armored forces battled Palestinian insurgents
in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah in a military operation meant to
blow up tunnels for the smuggling of weapons to and from Egypt. Five
Palestinians were killed in a firefight that included the launching of
Palestinian anti-tank missiles toward Israeli armored units. The Palestinian
casualties included Mohammed Abu Shamleh, Hamas military commander in Rafah.
