CIA: Arafat must crack down on imported terror
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SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Sunnday, June 10, 2001
JERUSALEM Ñ The United States has presented a plan requiring
the Palestinian Authority to crack down on imported terrorists and weapons. The new CIA plan makes Yasser Arafat responsible for arresting all those behind attacks against Israel, collect mortars and other banned weapons as well as renew security cooperation with the Jewish state.
The plan was drafted and presented by CIA director George Tenet, who
held talks with Israeli, PA and Egyptian leaders over the weekend. Israel
and the PA are expected to respond to the Tenet plan during a meeting on
Sunday.
Officials said the plan contains the following elements: a cooling-off
period of between 3-4 weeks of ceasefire followed by diplomatic talks
between Israel and the PA, Middle East Newsline reported. Meanwhile, the PA would arrest Islamic bombers,
end incitement against Israel, collect illegal weapons and renew
intelligence exchange and security meetings with Israel.
Israel, according to the Tenet plan, would pledge to end attacks on the
Palestinians and order the military to withdraw to the lines in the West
Bank and Gaza Strip deployed in September. The government is expected to
demand Palestinian guarantees that the PA stop all attacks against Israel
from anywhere in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
On Saturday, fighting between Israeli and Palestinian forces continued.
In the Gaza Strip, PA gunners fired mortars at Jewish settlements.
Palestinian sources said three women were killed by Israeli tank fire
near the Jewish settlement of Netsarim near Gaza City. Another three
Palestinians were said to be have been injured.
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