JERUSALEM – Israel warned today that it will reconsider its commitment to a cease-fire if the Palestinians do not prevent attacks like those on West Bank roads a day earlier that killed two Israelis.
A cooling-off period that was supposed to lead to peace talks will not begin Wednesday as planned due to the ongoing violence, Israeli officials insisted.
Early Tuesday, an Israeli 15-year-old injured in a suicide bombing at a Tel Aviv disco on June 1 died of her wounds, bringing the total number of Israelis killed in the attack to 21. Israel had resisted retaliating for the bombing following Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat’s call a day after for a cease-fire.
A meeting Monday between security commanders of the two sides, who had resumed cooperation in recent days, ended with no agreement on a timetable for the truce negotiated last week by CIA director George Tenet.
The Palestinians rejected the Israeli condition that six weeks of quiet proceed any resumption of negotiations, Israeli Communications Minister Reuven Rivlin said.
Palestinian security commander Jibril Rajoub said no new ground was broken, but another meeting was set for Wednesday.
The two sides charged each other with numerous cease-fire violations, and the death toll increased to 499 people on the Palestinian side and 114 on the Israeli side since fighting erupted Sept. 28.
In Gaza, a 16-year-old Palestinian wounded in a clash over the weekend died Monday in a Khan Younis hospital, doctors said. He was to be buried Tuesday.
One Israeli was killed and another lightly injured when Palestinian gunmen fired at their car on a West Bank road. After nightfall, another Israeli was killed when a Palestinian fired shots at several cars in the West Bank.
In response, Israeli forces reimposed a blockade around Tulkarem. The roadblocks had been lifted only a day earlier as part of the cease-fire deal.
“There should be no doubt that, if the Palestinians don’t act to prevent terror attacks, we will reconsider the situation and the actions Israel will take to protect its citizens,” Israeli Cabinet Minister Danny Naveh told Israel radio Tuesday.
Though he was critical of the Palestinians, Sharon fended off calls from his own nationalist camp to hit back militarily for the attacks.
“I am not willing to accept calls … saying I have to take this nation to war,” Sharon said, aiming his remarks at settlers, who have been on the front lines of the fighting and have held signs reading “War now” at demonstrations.
The truce gives the two sides a week to carry out their basic commitments before the cooling-off period goes into effect.
Rivlin reiterated on Tuesday Sharon’s insistence that the counting of the quiet period would not begin until all violence stopped.
In Amman, Jordan, Arafat accused Israel of breaking all its international commitments and violating the cease-fire deal. Arafat said Israeli forces continued to demolish houses, attack Palestinian areas and maintain blockades of Gaza and West Bank territories.
The plan calls for an immediate end to violence. Israeli forces are to pull back from the edges of Palestinian areas and end travel bans. Israel has taken some steps, but the Palestinians say most roadblocks and restrictions are still in effect.
Outgoing U.S. ambassador Martin Indyk said some progress has been made in implementing the cease-fire, but not enough.
“We need to see those clashes reduced more, but the process is working, and I hope we will see more quiet in the coming days,” he said during a farewell meeting with Israeli President Moshe Katsav.
