RAMALLAH Ñ The Palestinian Authority has expressed concern that the
appointment of former Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz as Israel's new
defense minister could spell an end to its government.
PA officials said that as chief of staff Mofaz had long urged for the
destruction of the PA and the exiling of its leaders, Middle East Newsline reported. They said the expected
appointment of Mofaz could signal an Israeli campaign to end the regime of
PA Chairman Yasser Arafat.
"The appointment of Shaul Mofaz to the post of defense minister will
break any of the bridges that still remain [with Israel]," PA Information
Minister Yasser Abbed Rabbo said.
Hamas leaders said Mofaz would not endanger Palestinian interests. The
leaders said the Palestinians succeeded in resisting Mofaz's drive to end
the Palestinian war.
On late Thursday, Mofaz met Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to plan for the
former military chief's entry into the Cabinet. Mofaz said he would consider
the offer and is expected to announce his acceptance of the post on Sunday.
Israeli military sources said the army has decided to reduce
coordination with the PA to the bare minimum. The sources said liasion units
will be merged and that the Israeli commander for the entire operation will
be a major, rather than a lieutenant colonel.
In Gaza City, three Palestinians were killed in an explosion from an
apartment occupied by a Hamas agent. Palestinian sources said they believe
the explosion was the result of an accident in the assembly of a bomb and
that those killed were Hamas members.
In Tulkarm, two Palestinian insurgents were killed during a shootout
with Israeli forces in a school in this northern West Bank city. Israeli
military sources said troops also demolished four houses of suspected
Palestinian suicide bombers and others in the Jenin refugee camp.
In Hebron, an Israeli military unit captured four suspected insurgents
from the ruling Fatah movement.
