Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., June 18, 2008 Sivan 15, 5768 | | Israel Time: 17:08 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

PA forces patrolling Jenin refugee camp. (AP) Last update - 13:15 17/06/2008 U.S. official: PA security forces fighting terror in West Bank By Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent, and Agencies Tags: Palestinian Authority, U.S.  The roadblocks and other traffic impediments lifted by Israel in the West Bank in recent months have not significantly altered the situation on the ground for the Palestinian population, an American official involved in monitoring Israel-Palestinian Authority relations said Monday. The same official noted that the Palestinian Authority security forces have taken action to counter terrorist activities, and carried out a major operation in Jenin where they tried to arrest suspects who had been on Israel's wanted list. Advertisement "The security forces can do even more, but they have had some successes," he said. The American official said the U.S. administration is not providing the PA security forces with arms, and stressed that according to information received by the Americans, weapons recently transfered to the PA did not make their way to Islamic militants. He explained that the central weakness of the PA security establishment is in the Palestinian legal system, which makes it impossible for the Palestinian authorities to prosecute suspects or to remand them in custody. "The changes that have occured in this area [law] has not been sufficient," the official said. According to the American official, the Palestinian National Security force that completed its basic training in Jordan has gone back for more specialized training under U.S. guidance. He said that Israel has still not made clear whether it would agree to the transfer of protective equipment for the PA security forces, items like helmets and protective vests. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice ended her sixth trip to the region this year, with no sign of progress in the Israeli-Palestinian track. In light of the unstable domestic political situation in Israel, officials here balked at the possibility of a deal with the Palestinians, rejecting criticism over settlement construction, and calling for decisions on Jerusalem's future to be deferred. Rice held three-way talks with Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad yesterday, before making a surprise visit to Beirut. Faced with the prospect of early elections should Olmert fall, Israel's chief negotiator, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, has balked at producing a document that could spell out proposed concessions on borders and other issues, Israeli and Palestinian officials said. Israeli officials were also cool to suggestions, backed by the Palestinians, that Rice hold more intensive three-way meetings with Livni and her Palestinian negotiating partner, former Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia. Israeli sources said Livni favored a joint announcement that the negotiations continue after Bush leaves office in 2009, though her position puts her at odds with Olmert and Rice who favor a written agreement this year. "The goal is still to reach an agreement with the Palestinians by the end of Bush's term," Mark Regev, Olmert's spokesman, said Monday. But Regev added that Olmert believed it would be "difficult" to reach agreement on the sensitive issue of Jerusalem in that time frame. He said any joint document should instead look at ways of moving forward with negotiations over the city. "We don't want to see that issue [Jerusalem] torpedoing the chances of getting a document," Regev said, adding that Jerusalem was the most divisive issue facing negotiators. Commenting on Regev's remarks, Yasser Abed Rabbo, a top aide to Abbas, said: "There won't be an agreement without Jerusalem." During her visit, Rice warned Israel that continued settlement building was harming the peace negotiations which Israeli officials said were consistent with long-standing policies. Related articles: Rice: Settlement construction has 'negative effect' on talks UN: No. of roadblocks in W. Bank up 7 percent from last Sept. font> Israeli source: PA security forces have improved dramatically in West Bank Bookmark to del.icio.us   Religious pressure Tel Aviv supermarket chain agrees gradual Shabbat closure. Overgenerous diplomacy UN envoy: Israel has given Syria a 'huge gift' for free.   1.   good and bad... 02:18  |  bashar 17/06/08   2.   job for somebody else 03:34  |  Joe Hill 17/06/08   3.   QUISLING GOVERNMENTS DON`T LAST 04:10  |  Arik Silverman 17/06/08   4.   bashar, israel must retake the West Bank 04:14  |  Akiva P 17/06/08   5.   Israel must leave the west bank 04:37  |  wibism 17/06/08   6.   EVEN A MENTALLY CHALLENGED PERSON KNOWS THIS;OF COURSE THEY ARE.. 04:52  |  glenna 17/06/08   7.   We should and we must 05:38  |  Zolman ben Moshe 17/06/08   8.   Israel needs to GTFO of Palestine... NOW!!!! 60 years is enough!! 05:52  |  POP 17/06/08   9.   Israel: There is no Logic in road block removals 06:40  |  The Archives 17/06/08   10.   Israeli citizens: Pals still same after Israel does anything 06:55  |  Joe Sittizen 17/06/08   11.   Putting the cart BEFORE the horse 07:13  |  CK Tan 17/06/08   12.   The usual nonsense 07:24  |  Gili 17/06/08   13.   USA must set the example 07:40  |  * BEN JABO 17/06/08   14.   Israeli official: terrorist still the same and wanting to kill us 07:54  |  Dan 17/06/08   15.   A better future for the Arabs of Judea, Samaria and Gaza. 08:35  |  Jean Van Daem 17/06/08   16.   Courthouses, Jails and Prisons 08:53  |  Mark of Lewiston 17/06/08   17.   3 Akiva - What Incentives for Jordan? 08:59  |  Mark of Lewiston 17/06/08   18.   #9 No logic in that argument, Archives. 09:03  |  Johnboy 17/06/08   19.   evidence that israel is NOT a viable partner for peace! 09:19  |  eric 17/06/08   20.   meanwhile the "snafu" in the west bank continues 09:42  |  eric 17/06/08   21.   Despicable Uncle Toms 10:18  |  Clickfool 17/06/08   22.   Any weapons transfered must be met.... 10:22  |  The Archives 17/06/08   23.   Poor old Jean van Daem # 15 10:39  |  Clickfool 17/06/08   24.   The real terrorists 10:45  |  Andrew Watson 17/06/08   25.   Joke: they `tried to arrest suspects` 11:06  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 17/06/08   26.   Livni and Barak jokeying for power 11:14  |  Steve the Pals. 17/06/08   27.   #5 - sorry but you are either out of touch with facts or reality 12:08  |  redmike 17/06/08   28.   #15 - tens of thousands have already left because of Hamas 12:16  |  redmike 17/06/08   29.   Mark of Lewiston. Don`t blame Israel or Jordan 12:19  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 17/06/08   30.   For Margie in Tel Aviv # 25 12:23  |  Clickfool 17/06/08   31.   THIS MUST BE ANOTHER 16:07  |  Robert 17/06/08   32.   Resistance to Israeli Occupation is still priorityONE 17:37  |  Ibrahim 17/06/08   33.   29 Margie - I Blame Israel and the PA 18:33  |  Mark of Lewiston 17/06/08   34.   Mark of Lewiston 18:47  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 17/06/08   35.   #32 Ibrahim Abbas does that already 19:12  |  x-ray 17/06/08   36.   IDF = Terrorism is Palestine. Fight the IDF!! 19:31  |  POP 17/06/08   37.   x-ray, that is a seperate issue. 19:41  |  Ibrahim 17/06/08   38.   #37 Ibrahim behaviourism is out of date 19:55  |  x-ray 17/06/08   39.   So, PA security forces are fighting the IDF? 20:45  |  American in NY 17/06/08   40.   34 Margie in Tel Aviv - Separate Issues 20:45  |  Mark of Lewiston 17/06/08   41.   x-ray are you sure? 20:46  |  Ibrahim 17/06/08   42.   # 15 Jean`s idea of "emigrationNY - 21:10  |  David 17/06/08   43.   #40 Exactly right, Mark of Lewiston 08:23  |  Johnboy 18/06/08

Read & React Israel okays Gaza truce, says will ease blockade Responses: 201 ANALYSIS / Cease-fire deal means Hamas is calling the shots Responses: 64 Moshe Arens: Israel has nothing to fear from next U.S. administration Responses: 36 Sarkozy aide: Olmert and Assad could meet in Paris next month Responses: 43 Editorial: Law to ban Arab MKs from visiting enemy states is an insulting PR ploy Responses: 38 Rosner's Domain Will next U.S. Congress top current record number of Jewish lawmakers? Guests: Weak relationship between later marriage and intermarriage To Republicans Iran's a threat, to Democrats not so much (WTR) Poll: Cease fire in Gaza is an achievement for... Obama, McCain aides agree: Israel, U.S. must discuss strike on Iran More Headlines 16:29 Qassams strike Negev as Israel, Hamas agree to Gaza truce 17:04 Families of missing soldiers briefed ahead of Hezbollah deal 14:38 Israel says it's ready to begin peace talks with Lebanon 14:41 Sarkozy aide: Olmert and Assad could meet in Paris next month 17:06 Syrian FM: We back Gaza truce, hope Israel fulfills commitments 13:34 MKs back referendum on Golan, East Jerusalem withdrawals 14:45 Shas MK: 300,000 Jews still in Ethiopia eligible for immigration 15:50 Knesset rejects Lieberman bill that would tax draft-dodgers 17:03 Peres in Jordan: Palestinian, Syrian tracks shouldn't affect each other 16:43 Livni: Israel's leaders must be bound by state values 12:23 ANALYSIS / Cease-fire deal means Hamas is calling the shots 08:48 Civil Administration officials indicted in West Bank land steal 07:16 Holocaust survivors from former USSR denied reparations Previous Editions Select Day 17 jun 16 jun 15 jun 13 jun 12 jun 11 jun 10 jun 09 jun 08 jun 06 jun 05 jun 04 jun

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