PM: Israel ready to cede some security control in W. Bank to PA
PM: Israel ready to cede some security control in W. Bank to PA By Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondent, and AgenciesPrime Minister Ehud Olmert told U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday that Israel was ready to hand over some security control in the West Bank to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' forces, an Israeli government spokesman said.
In their first meeting since Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip, Olmert told Rice, however, that Israel must first receive "proper security guarantees."
The prime minister added that Hamas had to be "kept out of the game" as Israel explores new cooperation with the Palestinians.
"[Olmert and Rice] spoke about future security cooperation with the Palestinians and Israel's concerns ... about transferring security control of various cities and areas, including Israel's condition that it only happen after proper security guarantees have been given," said David Baker, a spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office.
Baker said Israel wanted guarantees that "terror will not emerge in those areas again".
"Those security concerns have not yet been satisfied," he said.
Olmert also spoke with Rice about removing roadblocks to improve the freedom of movement for Palestinians in the West Bank, Baker said.
How many time must we be forced by the State Department to go down this track, which is no different than the train tracks that led to Auschwitz. This will result in dead Jews!
It is time for a new type of Israeli leader to emerge one will to say Oslo is dead and nothing short of victory over our enemies is our goal.
