JERUSALEM Ñ Israel's government and military are divided over a
response to renewed Palestinian attacks.
Officials said the dispute pits Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer
against Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz in the wake of a
spate of Palestinian suicide bombings in civilian population centers. The
dispute has
spread within the government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, according to Middle East Newsline.
Ben-Eliezer maintained that Israel must continue its policy of pinpoint
incursions into West Bank cities to foil suicide bombings. Mofaz urged
Israel to expel Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat and recapture
Palestinian cities.
The Israeli military presence in West Bank cities, Mofaz argued, should
remain until the
Jewish state establishes a border fence and security system to prevent the
infiltration of Palestinian attackers.
The chief of staff has been supported by Israel Security Agency director
Avi Dichter. Ben-Eliezer has demanded that Mofaz refrain from issuing
recommendations on government policy.
"I am totally against deporting Arafat," Ben-Eliezer said after a
Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Israeli troops raided the West Bank city of Hebron.
Military sources said Israeli troops arrested several Palestinians.
The dispute within Israel's leadership comes as the European Union and
the United States resume efforts to arrange a ceasefire in the
Israeli-Palestinian war. Over the weekend, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State
William Burns begins talks with Israeli and Palestinian officials. He will
be joined by CIA director George Tenet.
EU security police chief Javier Solana and Osama El Baz, the diplomatic
adviser of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will also meet Israeli and
Palestinian leaders. They will focus on ensuring reform in the PA.
