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Head of the IDF southern command Maj. Gen. Doron Almog arrives Erez crossing for security talks Saturday evening. (AP)
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| By Ellis Shuman April 22, 2001 |
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Senior Israeli and Palestinian security officials met at the Erez crossing on Saturday night in an effort to resume security cooperation between the sides. The meeting, the first held in nine days, was described as "good and serious" by sources in Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office, but as "tense and insufficient" by Palestinian spokesmen.
Israel was represented at the meeting by Shin Bet chief Avi Dichter, head of planning at the General Staff, Major General Giora Eiland and head of the southern command, Doron Almog. On the Palestinian side were General Intelligence Service head Amin al-Hindi and Palestinian Public Security Chief, Abdel-Razek al-Majaydeh.
Just a few hours after the security talks ended,a suicide
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"The Israeli answers are insufficient and not useful to end the suffering of our people"
- Palestinian Public Security Chief, Abdel-Razek al-Majaydeh
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bomber detonated explosives near a bus stop in Kfar Saba, killing two and injuring nearly 40 people. Despite a relatively quiet weekend, Israeli military sources remained skeptical about reports that Palestinian security forces had detained Palestinian mortar squads.
A representative of the CIA was reportedly in attendance at the Saturday night meeting, which took place at the civilian liaison offices at Erez. Israeli sources reported that the meeting was held at the request of the Palestinians, but the Jerusalem Post reported Palestinian sources that claimed the meeting took place at the behest of the United States.
A statement issued by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office said a "good and serious'' mood had prevailed, adding that the two sides "agreed upon long-term and ongoing security cooperation." The statement added "It was decided to implement a series of steps which would bring about a cessation of the ongoing terror and violence and the continuation of the easing of civil and economic restrictions on the Palestinians.''
Palestinian Security Chief al-Majaydeh said Palestinians had given Israel a list of demands, including reopening blocked roads and Gaza's international airport, but that the Israelis had "failed to meet'' minimum Palestinian requirements.
"We on the Palestinian side consider the Israeli answers insufficient and not useful to end the suffering of our people...we consider ourselves still waiting for concrete responses from the Israelis to our legitimate demands,'' al-Majaydeh told Reuters.
The weekend saw a marked decrease in the number of shootings and mortar shelling. A number of bombs were discovered near Kfar Darom in the Gaza Strip on Friday and were successfully defused. A roadside bomb exploded south of Jenin near a military vehicle; no injuries resulted.
On Saturday Israeli forces, including tanks and bulldozers, entered the Gaza Strip and destroyed a Palestinian police post, from which snipers had been firing at Israeli targets. During the 90-minute operation gunfire was exchanged with Palestinians; there were no casualties.
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