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Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Israel cuts contacts with Paleos after attacks
2005-10-17
Israel suspended contacts with the Palestinian Authority on Monday and slapped tough travel restrictions on the West Bank after Palestinian terrorists gunmen killed three young Israelis and wounded five in two drive-by shootings near Jewish settlements. The attack near the Gush Etzion block of settlements on Sunday was the deadliest since July. It followed Israeli intelligence warnings that Palestinian terrorists militants, who claim they drove Israel out of Gaza by force, would now shift their focus to the West Bank. Israel pulled out of Gaza in September in a unilateral move.

The Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, a terrorist militant group with ties to the ruling Fatah party, claimed responsibility. However, security officials said they believed the Islamic terrorists militants Hamas might have been involved. The attacks renew international pressure on Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, who meets with President Bush later this week, to crack down on terrorists militants, something he's been reluctant to do. Involvement of terrorists gunmen with ties to Fatah in Sunday's attacks would underscore his failure to impose control.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat called the shootings "unfortunate that they killed so few jooos" and accused the terrorists gunmen of trying to sabotage efforts to revive peace talks. He urged Israel to reconsider the travel restrictions and suspension of contacts, saying "angry messages, collective punishment and violence will just add to the complexities of killing joooos." Erekat said Israeli negotiators failed to show up for a meeting Sunday evening on the reopening of the Rafah terminal on the Gaza-Egypt border. The opening of the crossing is crucial, along with a miracle for the economic recovery of Gaza.

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev initially said all contacts with the Palestinian Authority had been halted, but later said this applied only to committees on specific issues, such as prisoner releases, security and customs at border crossings. "In Israel, we have no desire to return to a reality of daily attacks against Israeli civilians," Regev said. "We want to send a very strong and sharp message to the Palestinians, and the temporary suspension of talks is that message."

Israel also responded with tough new measures limiting movement in the West Bank, security officials said, adding that the restrictions would be in place for a long time. The West Bank towns of Hebron and Bethlehem, closest to the Gush Etzion attack, were sealed, and private Palestinian-owned cars were barred from the West Bank's main north-south road.

Security officials said Israel is planning to impose permanent traffic separation in the West Bank, with Israeli motorists using main highways and Palestinians largely forced to explode drive on back roads. Arrest raids will be stepped up, security officials said. In the past month, Israel has rounded up some 700 terrorists activists in Hamas and Islamic Jihad, disrupting Hamas' preparations for Jan. 25 parliament elections. Overnight, soldiers arrested 19 wanted Palestinians in the West Bank, the army said.

The decisions to restrict movement in the West Bank were made at high-level consultations led by Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz. They reversed a relaxing of restrictions gradually implemented since a February cease-fire. The limitations, in place for most of the past five years of fighting, crippled the Palestinian economy and caused widespread hardships. And money skimmed off by Arafat had nothing to do with it.

Israel has demanded the Palestinians dismantle terrorist militant groups if it wants to restart peace talks. "The Palestinian Authority has to move from the talking stage to the action stage," Mofaz said. "We will not be able to continue in this process if the Palestinian Authority does not start taking concrete actions against the terror groups."

In the first attack, terrorists militants racing by the Gush Etzion junction in a car opened fire at Israelis waiting at a bus stop and at others in nearby cars. Israeli rescue services said one Israeli died at the scene and two others died in the hospital. Two were young women, cousins ages 23 and 21, from a nearby settlement, and the other was a 15-year-old boy. Four Israelis were wounded. On Monday, hundreds of settlers built a makeshift memorial at the spot by piling up stones and affixing Israeli flags. Shmuel Jeselshon, 37, from the nearby Rosh Tzurim settlement, said the Gaza withdrawal has encouraged Palestinian terrorists militants. "Under pressure, we left Lebanon. Under pressure, we left Gaza. And they (the terrorists militants) think that under pressure we will leave here. That's a mistake."

The second attack took place near the settlement of Eli in the northern area of the West Bank. Rescue services said one Israeli was seriously wounded.

Also Sunday, Israeli troops killed an Islamic Jihad terrorist militant in the northern West Bank.
Posted by:Jackal

#8  With the handover completed, all further attacks should result in slight but increasing deviations in how far remaining sections of the wall encroach upon Palestinian terrortories. For each attack, another acre of land is taken. For each death, ten acres are absorbed.

Perhaps, when the Palestinians have lost all the land they gained they will begin to reconsider the wisdom of their perfidy. If the fence is completed and the attacks continue, then it is time to begin securing Jerusalem one block at a time.

The only thing held precious by the Palestinians is their land. Take it from them and may they rot in everlasting hell.
Posted by: Zenster   2005-10-17 19:57  

#7  With the handover completed, all further attacks should result in slight but increasing deviations in how far remaining sections of the wall encroach upon Palestinian terrortories. For each attack, another acre of land is taken. For each death, ten acres are absorbed.

Perhaps, when the Palestinians have lost all the land they gained they will begin to reconsider the wisdom of their perfidy. If the fence is completed and the attacks continue, then it is time to begin securing Jerusalem one block at a time.

The only thing held precious by the Palestinians is their land. Take it from them and may they rot in everlasting hell.
Posted by: Zenster   2005-10-17 19:52  

#6  Ptah, it took me a long time to get to the place you were in 2003. But after reading your linked post, I shall engrave "No Peace, No Land" in gold upon my heart.

Thank you.
Posted by: trailing wife   2005-10-17 17:05  

#5  No Peace, No Land.
Posted by: Ptah   2005-10-17 16:17  

#4  Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat called the shootings "unfortunate" and accused the gunmen of trying to sabotage efforts to revive peace talks. He urged Israel to reconsider the travel restrictions and suspension of contacts, saying "angry messages, collective punishment and violence will just add to the complexities."

They were only Jews after all......right Saeb?

Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2005-10-17 15:30  

#3  "Involvement of terrorists gunmen with ties to Fatah in Sunday's attacks would underscore his failure to impose control."

Freudian slip (or something)? - When I first read that sentence I read it as "undercut his failure to impose control."
Posted by: Xbalanke   2005-10-17 14:51  

#2  Sounding more and more like

a DEEE EYE VEEE OHHHHHH ARE CEEEEEEE EEE
Posted by: Tammuah   2005-10-17 12:22  

#1  If the Isrealis just forcfully expelled the Paleo's out of a brorder town with Isreal proper in responce with a statement that every attack will equal more loss of territory cosiquences are a bitch. A small town to start with but as the attacks continue step it up to larger and larger solidify the border along the disputed areas. At some point the Paleo's would either get the point and quit or thier would be no more left in the W bank. How things are currently going why should the Paleo's quit attacking the Isrealis, they have given them S. Lebanon, Gaza, A a paper Paleo State, a regular army cough state terrorist, huge amounts of EU economic aid and recognition, damm if it was you would you stop? I would be stepping it up.
Posted by: C-Low   2005-10-17 09:46  

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