The European Union (EU) changed its previous approach and
told Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat on Sunday
to dismantle "the terrorist networks" of Hamas and Islamic
Jihad and declare an end to the violent uprising, as it
toughened its line on Palestinian attacks. The statement from
the 15-member bloc was unprecedented, as the EU is has been
very supportive of the Palestinians. The EU also insisted on
"a public appeal in Arabic for an end to the armed
intifadah."
Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel, who chaired the
meeting, insisted the EU is not siding with Israel and said
the position "pointed to the sensitive issues of both sides."
He noted that the statement demands that the Israeli
government "withdraw its military forces and [put] a stop to
extrajudicial executions," and that it freeze all
settlements.
In truth, it is only in contrast to its previous positions
that this position can be seen as "siding with Israel."
Disbanding terrorist organizations is an elementary
requirement of civilized government.
Javier Solana, foreign policy representative of the EU, was
heading to Israel this week to coordinate efforts with US
envoy Anthony Zinni. EU officials said Solana would also meet
with Sharon and Arafat.
The EU has been seeking to use its economic role as Israel's
biggest trade partner and the largest aid donor to the PA to
urge moderation on both sides, but with little success.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met with US special
envoy Anthony Zinni and urged him to continue his efforts in
the region. The meeting came a day after Zinni threatened to
leave if real progress is not made, a threat that diplomatic
officials said was more a pressure tactic than a real
ultimatum.
Zinni was working early this week to convene a third security
meeting and has made no arrangements to leave the country,
one diplomatic source said. Two previous security meetings
yielded no progress.
Sharon told Zinni that he views the continuation of his
mission as "of the utmost importance" and that "Israel will
do everything it can to help."
At the same time, he told him that Palestinian Authority
Chairman Yasser Arafat has not "taken a strategic decision"
to abandon terror and that Israel has not seen any
significant steps on his part to prevent terrorism or arrest
terrorists.
An IAF helicopter strike in central Hebron Sunday afternoon
accidentally killed two Palestinian children, according to
Palestinian reports, and failed to kill the target of the
attack, senior Islamic Jihad terrorist Muhammad Sider. Sider
was taken to the hospital where his legs were amputated.
Palestinian witnesses said two missiles were fired at Sider's
car as he stopped at a traffic light at Hebron's Salam
Street.
The IDF Spokesman acknowledged responsibility for the
"targeted killing" attempt, and expressed sorrow for the loss
of innocent lives, saying the army is investigating the
claims of the children's deaths.
Intelligence sources claim that Sider sent the gunman
responsible for the November 4 shooting on a No. 35 Egged bus
at Jerusalem's French Hill neighborhood that killed two
teenagers and wounded dozens of others; he also participated
in the shooting outside Hebron on July 13 that killed Hezi
Mualem.
Sider was said to be planning the kidnapping of a soldier in
the coming days, in order to negotiate the release of
Palestinian prisoners, and a shooting attack in a crowded
section of Beersheba. He was said to have recruited
terrorists at Hebron University.
Security forces are remaining on heightened alert in the
North and Sharon districts amid warnings of further attacks
following the suicide bombing at the Checkpost junction on
the outskirts of Haifa on Sunday morning.
Security sources say all of the terrorist organizations are
going to try to carry out attacks in the near future.
