Israeli withdrawal halted until Palestinians disarm militants
{{date|May 5, 2005}}

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The [[w:Israel|Israeli]] government has announced that it has halted withdrawal from three additional [[w:West Bank|West Bank]] towns until the [[w:Palestinian|Palestinian]] leadership begins disarming terrorists more effectively.  The announcement comes in addition to the killing of two Palestinian youths by an Israeli army unit, an action that has been labeled a violation of their February 8 ceasefire.

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<tr><td><font color="#333355">Map of West Bank (click to enlarge) ''Source: CIA World Factbook''</font></td></tr>
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In [[w:Beit Lahia|Beit Laqia]], a crowd of about 300 Palestinian protesters was demonstrating Wednesday against the ongoing construction of the [[w:Israeli West Bank barrier|West Bank barrier]].  When some Israeli soldiers arrived in two jeeps, the Palestinians began throwing stones at them.  According to the Israeli army, a unit of six soldiers tried to disperse the crowd, probably using tear gas and rubber bullets, before firing warning shots with real bullets.  Finally some soldiers opened fire, killing two protesters, according to witnesses and doctors.

The officer in charge was removed from active duty pending an investigation.  "The company commander was suspended in light of errors -- both in the way he conducted himself and in the way in which he led his force," an army representative said.

Several breaches of the peace have occurred since the ceasefire was agreed between Israeli Prime Minister [[w:Ariel Sharon|Ariel Sharon]] and Palestinian President [[w:Mahmoud Abbas|Mahmoud Abbas]] at the [[w:Sharm el-Sheikh Summit of 2005|Sharm el-Sheikh Summit]] in February.  Israel has already withdrawn from two of five towns it agreed earlier: first [[w:Jericho|Jericho]], then [[w:Tulkarm|Tulkarm]] (see map).  Both Israel and the [[w:United States|United States]] have repeatedly demanded that the militants be disarmed.

Israeli Military Intelligence Chief Major General Aharon Ze'evi expressed on Thursday his view that the Palestinians were gradually bringing the militants under control.  "As far as I know, the Palestinians have completed gathering the weapons of wanted militants in Jericho".  Ze'evi explained that Abbas does not want to use force in a crackdown against [[w:Hamas|Hamas]], because of their popularity in the West Bank as a competing power with the Palestine National Authority of Abbas.

Both an unnamed local Palestinian official and a militant in Tulkarm, Mohammed Shahada of the [[w:Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades|Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades]], have confirmed that militants in Tulkarm agreed to possibly hand over their weapons in return for jobs in the Palestinian police or government, according to the ''Associated Press''.

== Sources ==

* {{source|url=http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=f3eb71fe-8847-4400-87de-35e24966bb00
|title=Israel freezes handover of West Bank towns to Palestinians, straining truce
|pub=Calgary Herald (Canada)
|author=Josef Fiederman, Canadian Press
|date=May 4, 2005}}

* {{source|url=http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L05536440.htm
|title=Israeli officer suspended after Palestinians killed
|pub=Reuters AlertNet
|author=
|date=May 5, 2005}}

* {{source|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-05/05/content_2919722.htm
|title=Israel acknowledges PNA efforts to rein in militants
|pub=Xinhua
|author=
|date=May 5, 2005}}

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[[Category:Israel]]
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The Israeli government has announced that it has halted withdrawal from three additional West Bank towns until the Palestinian leadership begins disarming terrorists more effectively.  The announcement comes in addition to the killing of two Palestinian youths by an Israeli army unit, an action that has been labeled a violation of their February 8 ceasefire.

Map of West Bank (click to enlarge) Source: CIA World Factbook


In Beit Laqia, a crowd of about 300 Palestinian protesters was demonstrating Wednesday against the ongoing construction of the West Bank barrier.  When some Israeli soldiers arrived in two jeeps, the Palestinians began throwing stones at them.  According to the Israeli army, a unit of six soldiers tried to disperse the crowd, probably using tear gas and rubber bullets, before firing warning shots with real bullets.  Finally some soldiers opened fire, killing two protesters, according to witnesses and doctors.

The officer in charge was removed from active duty pending an investigation.  "The company commander was suspended in light of errors -- both in the way he conducted himself and in the way in which he led his force," an army representative said.

Several breaches of the peace have occurred since the ceasefire was agreed between Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit in February.  Israel has already withdrawn from two of five towns it agreed earlier: first Jericho, then Tulkarm (see map).  Both Israel and the United States have repeatedly demanded that the militants be disarmed.

Israeli Military Intelligence Chief Major General Aharon Ze'evi expressed on Thursday his view that the Palestinians were gradually bringing the militants under control.  "As far as I know, the Palestinians have completed gathering the weapons of wanted militants in Jericho".  Ze'evi explained that Abbas does not want to use force in a crackdown against Hamas, because of their popularity in the West Bank as a competing power with the Palestine National Authority of Abbas.

Both an unnamed local Palestinian official and a militant in Tulkarm, Mohammed Shahada of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, have confirmed that militants in Tulkarm agreed to possibly hand over their weapons in return for jobs in the Palestinian police or government, according to the Associated Press.

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Israel Palestine Middle East Politics and conflicts Hamas published West Bank Sharm el-Sheikh