Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Arafat Officially Dead

D Rice · 11-10-2004, 11:05 PM

Worsening violence? What do yall think?
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satelli...=1100059900733
Mofaz orders closure of Territories
By MARGOT DUDKEVITCH

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Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz on Thursday instructed the army to impose a full closure on the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile security forces have beefed up their presence at checkpoints throughout the West Bank and around Ramallah, and in preparation for the funeral tomorrow will also monitor the access routes leading to the city.

The troops will be prepared to deal with any violence that may erupt but have strict instructions to refrain from any unnecessary contact with the Palestinians in order to allow them to mourn their leader without interference.

Mofaz approved the plan submitted by the IDF and Shin Bet and in the coming hours the routes to be taken by dignitaries entering Israel via the Allenby Bridge will be decided upon and clarified .In addition dignitaries entering Israel via the Ben Gurion Airport will be transported to Ramallah via Road 443.

The army has also yet to finalize the entry points into Ramallah for journalists, and those attending the funeral. The Prison Service authority has dispatched elite squads to guard the prisons where 4000 Palestinian security detainees are incarcerated. Prison wardens have been instructed to allow the security prisoners to mourn their leader and at the same time ensure that order is maintained.

Certain West Bank cities are expected to be sealed off to prevent the possibility of mass rallies spilling out into the surrounding areas and turning violent, security officials said.

Furthermore, up to 1,000 officials from the Gaza Strip and a limited number from the West Bank will be allowed to attend the funeral, according to Israeli sources.

Palestinian Legislative Council member Kadoura Fares warned that violence will erupt if Israel tries to limit the number of Palestinians at the funeral.

Troops will try to avoid contact with Palestinians to prevent confrontations. Civil Administration officials will also be present at checkpoints and border crossings, security officials said.

The PA will be solely responsible for security inside the city, Israeli officials said.

On Wednesday, Fatah organized demonstrations in Nablus and Ramallah and threatened to break through IDF checkpoints in an attempt to reach the Temple Mount where it insists Arafat will be buried.

Large numbers of police have already been deployed deployed at the Western Wall, and they will be reinforced on Friday in case riots erupt in the Aksa Mosque compound during Ramadan prayers, expected to be attended by some 200,000 worshipers.

The Foreign Ministry will be in charge of approving the attendance of dignitaries from Arab countries. Representatives from enemy countries will enter via the Allenby Bridge, not Ben-Gurion Airport, security officials said. "We cannot allow someone like Gaddafi to land at the airport," one official said.

The officials noted that separate transport will be designated for VIPs, foreign dignitaries, and Palestinians.

Once the mourning period is over, one official said, "all we can hope is that a more pragmatic Palestinian leadership will take charge and perhaps pave the way for a renewal of negotiations and at last start combatting terror and arresting the instigators."

11-10-2004, 11:05 PM	#10 (permalink)
D Rice Tilted	Worsening violence? What do yall think? http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satelli...=1100059900733 Mofaz orders closure of Territories By MARGOT DUDKEVITCH Advertisement Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz on Thursday instructed the army to impose a full closure on the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Meanwhile security forces have beefed up their presence at checkpoints throughout the West Bank and around Ramallah, and in preparation for the funeral tomorrow will also monitor the access routes leading to the city. The troops will be prepared to deal with any violence that may erupt but have strict instructions to refrain from any unnecessary contact with the Palestinians in order to allow them to mourn their leader without interference. Mofaz approved the plan submitted by the IDF and Shin Bet and in the coming hours the routes to be taken by dignitaries entering Israel via the Allenby Bridge will be decided upon and clarified .In addition dignitaries entering Israel via the Ben Gurion Airport will be transported to Ramallah via Road 443. The army has also yet to finalize the entry points into Ramallah for journalists, and those attending the funeral. The Prison Service authority has dispatched elite squads to guard the prisons where 4000 Palestinian security detainees are incarcerated. Prison wardens have been instructed to allow the security prisoners to mourn their leader and at the same time ensure that order is maintained. Certain West Bank cities are expected to be sealed off to prevent the possibility of mass rallies spilling out into the surrounding areas and turning violent, security officials said. Furthermore, up to 1,000 officials from the Gaza Strip and a limited number from the West Bank will be allowed to attend the funeral, according to Israeli sources. Palestinian Legislative Council member Kadoura Fares warned that violence will erupt if Israel tries to limit the number of Palestinians at the funeral. Troops will try to avoid contact with Palestinians to prevent confrontations. Civil Administration officials will also be present at checkpoints and border crossings, security officials said. The PA will be solely responsible for security inside the city, Israeli officials said. On Wednesday, Fatah organized demonstrations in Nablus and Ramallah and threatened to break through IDF checkpoints in an attempt to reach the Temple Mount where it insists Arafat will be buried. Large numbers of police have already been deployed deployed at the Western Wall, and they will be reinforced on Friday in case riots erupt in the Aksa Mosque compound during Ramadan prayers, expected to be attended by some 200,000 worshipers. The Foreign Ministry will be in charge of approving the attendance of dignitaries from Arab countries. Representatives from enemy countries will enter via the Allenby Bridge, not Ben-Gurion Airport, security officials said. "We cannot allow someone like Gaddafi to land at the airport," one official said. The officials noted that separate transport will be designated for VIPs, foreign dignitaries, and Palestinians. Once the mourning period is over, one official said, "all we can hope is that a more pragmatic Palestinian leadership will take charge and perhaps pave the way for a renewal of negotiations and at last start combatting terror and arresting the instigators."