It's a very simple idea. Still, the Cabinet decision is likely to increase the strain between Israel and United States, which sought a troop withdrawal from the West Bank in the near future. Palestinian and Israeli leaders are to hold separate talks with President Clinton in Washington next week. Clinton reportedly expects Netanyahu to present a detailed plan for a troop pullback at their January 20 meeting. Senior adviser David Bar-Illan, however, said Netanyahu will likely give Clinton only a general outline of the pullback.
Security is of grave concern as Israel is on high alert for possible terrorist attacks.
On Monday, several members of the Islamic group Hamas were arrested during a raid by Israeli security forces working with Palestinian police. Those arrested were detained on suspicion they were planning bombings in West Bank settlements and Israeli cities. The Cabinet document demands the Palestinians arrest and disarm Islamic militants, who have carried out more than a dozen suicide bombings in Israel since 1994. Israel also wants the Palestinian Authority to hand over suspects in the killing of Israelis and to reduce the size of the security forces in the West Bank from 40,000 to the 24,000 permitted in the peace accords. Israel says the Palestinians have not lived up to their promise to annul sections in the PLO Covenant calling for Israel's destruction.