IDF mulls lifting ban on Israelis entering Palestinian-controlled West Bank
The Palestinian Authority is interested in having Israelis visit Area A, because it could signal the resumption of trade and tourism, which would boost the Palestinian economy.
By Amos HarelThe army is considering revoking a ban on Jews entering West Bank cities that are under Palestinian Authority control, in view of significant improvement in security and in Israel's coordination with Palestinian security services.
The Palestinian Authority is interested in having Israelis visit Palestinian-controlled West Bank cities and their environs, designated as Area A, because it could signal the resumption of trade and tourism, which would boost the Palestinian economy.
Israel and the PA are cooperating more closely on security matters now than they have been since the Oslo Accords were signed in 1994, an Israeli defense source familiar with Israeli-Palestinian ties over the past 15 years said last night.
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The West Bank separation fence that runs through Bethlehem. |
| Photo by: Tess Scheflan |
"For the first time, the parties are operating on an equal basis - not as leader and follower, as it had been over the years," the source said. "The main reason is that both sides have a shared enemy. The PA is concerned about Hamas no less than us, and is interested in improving its control on the ground to prevent Hamas from threatening its rule and the calm that has been achieved."
The Israel Defense Forces barred Israelis citizens from Palestinian-controlled West Bank cities in late 2000, following the outbreak of the second intifada and the abduction and murder of several Israelis who entered those areas, whether voluntarily or not. Three years ago, the army began allowing Israeli Arabs to enter Area A.
A month ago, the IDF allowed Israeli tourists and tour guides to take a bus into Bethlehem, the first time the army approved such a trip in a decade, and GOC Central Command Maj. Gen. Avi Mizrahi is now considering allowing Israelis to enter all of Area A.
If such a recommendation is made by the army, it is highly likely that Defense Minister Ehud Barak and IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi will approve the decision.
Mizrahi visited Jericho on Thursday, the first such visit by an officer of his rank since the outbreak of the second intifada in September 2000. Mirzahi and officers under his command, including officers in the Civil Administration, were guests of the heads of the Palestinian security services.
The Israeli guests were given a demonstration of Palestinian security capabilities and observed an exercise in which security officials protected a motorcade of VIPs against an attempted drive-by shooting.
Mizrahi invited his Palestinian hosts to observe a similar exercise at Central Command.
Even before the IDF allowed the Bethlehem visit, Israeli Jews have been entering Area A without authorization, especially as the number of terror attacks declined in recent years. In most cases, though, the Palestinian police have removed Jewish visitors and handed them over to the Israel Defense Forces.
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However, the freedom to do so needs to come with a caution that - although they have brought calm to their jursidiction - like any other law enforcement agency, the PA security forces cannot prevent every potential incident, and that visiting the West Bank therefore DOES entail a degree of risk. I would also hope that in the case of an incident, the state of Israel, and its citizens, would take this basic truth into consideration - they are no more, or less, infallable than the Israeli security forces - incidents may indeed occur.
The Palestinian Authority is interested in having Israelis visit the Area, so they can kidnap more people to trade at a later date.
Or does anyone have an interest in having them desperate, so that peace never comes?
Having been in the West Bank and traveling with the Palestinians, there is no threat to safety. The vast majority of Palestinians are peaceful and and will interact that way. When they demonstrate against some arbitrary Israeli action, they do so peacefully. Generally hostilities occur in proximity to settlements where often the Jewish settlers create incindiary conditions. It is Palestinians responding, often on a restrained basis, to insults or attacks from settlers. Unfortunately the IDF fails to provide a balanced justice in those areas and allows settlers to continue their excesses.
you can't eat the cake, and keep it a whole. no thanks!.
which is by the last time I checked the map isn't Israel
would like buy in the WB because they can get a lot of good bargains not because they love the Palestinians of the WB.
Which would be to everyone's benefit, anyway - since you're closed mind would hardly be an asset to improved relations and cooperative interaction that many people on both sides would prefer.
And suddenly there is an opportunity for prosperity for all concerned. Take a hint!
or even three times about this. I once made a wrong turn and ended up in the Ramallah area. I was almost promptly stoned, and the Israeli police, 50 meters away on the Israeli side, did nothing. A friendly Arab guy finally guided me out. No, I don't think I'll be going into Area A any time soon. It is still Judenrein. Thank you, Yesha Arabs.
but it should be for both sides - this would be a start for all Palestinians and Israelis
Israeli Jews are currently banned from entering West bank cities, but Jews of other nationalities never were. There are tons of European and North-American Jews in places like Ramallah, they flock the bars and nightclubs every week-end.
Historically, all Jews of eastern Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza were expelled during the 1948 Arab Israeli war, never to be permitted to either live or visit these territories until Israel captured them in 1967. Furthermore, Jews are not permitted to acquire land from Arabs, based on a Palestinian Authority law, subjecting the seller to the death penalty, while the person acquired the real estate must not be an Israeli citizen but simply a Jew from abroad. So, you can fool some people some of the time but not all the people all the times in attempting to make a distinction between Jews and Jews. Do note, we are members of one people, the Jewish people!
Historically, all Jews of eastern Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza were expelled during the 1948 Arab Israeli war, never to be permitted to either live or visit these territories until Israel captured them in 1967. Furthermore, Jews are not permitted to acquire land from Arabs, based on a Palestinian Authority law, subjecting the seller to the death penalty, while the person acquired the real estate must not be an Israeli citizen but simply a Jew from abroad. So, you can fool some people some of the time but not all the people all the times in attempting to make a distinction between Jews and Jews. Do note, we are members of one people, the Jewish people!
If the IDF does not protect the Jews, no one else will.
arrogant person you are! As if Palestinians are animals or what? At least they want peace and communication. Not as most conservative jews who are just arrogant. Happily there are more liberal jews like me around. I hope we take over Israel soon! Matter of time. Then things will get better.
let's have a walk in "the territories", liberal,as we are, shall we?
You may allow entry but few will take up the opportunity. Let them prosper in Arab trade but Israeli Jews still have bitter memories that talking Arabic does not put away. There is no trust at all. That was destroyed totally with all those suicide bombings and cheering at the deaths of our people. Never again means waiting decades to see if the Mullah cries are different from today.
there seems to be a new openness with Palestinians in the WB to Israelis. I think we should nurture this and forge relationships where ever possible to work towards good relations in the future. I personally have visited WB cities as an Israeli and people were very open,
It miust not be that dangerous. Anyway, there's no way one can distinguish between Israelis and Westerners in the local bars and nightclubs.
... in a theatre... that's not the way the average normal Israeli feels... the Pals have as much to forgive-and-forget as we have... hands should be extending in equality, for both the bad and the good on both sides...
Will we be able to visit Kever Yosef?
Will the Palestinians from the West Bank now be allowed to enter Israel? You know, to increase trade and boost the Palestinian economy.
Thousands of Palestinians enter Israel daily to work. No one is afraid of Israeli citizens entering Palestinian territory and blowing themselves up. Unfortunately the opposite is not the case.
So why Arabs have been mass murdering Jewish women and babies long before 1948? Hebron massacre of 1929, etc.? The Arab hatred and violence long predated what you call "land theft". Arab aggression is the reason for conflict, nothing else.
Arabs adopting the name of being 'Palistinians are doing their utmost to steal the Jewish 3500 year old land of JUDAH/PALESTINE. C'mon now you know you are Arabs just adopting the name of beng 'Palesinians' in order to claim land in the Province of Judah renamed Palestine by the Romans 2000 years ago,... Admit it and we'll forgive you...... .
Stealig what land? PA has only existed since 1993.
and " Arab aggression is the reason for conflict, nothing else." was the reason for the UN partition plan res 181.
resume acquiring Arab goods, not before!!!
...these goods and all the settlements, including those in occupied East Jerusalem, are ILLEGAL under international law. If somebody steals your house and plants oranges in the backyard of this stolen house, would you buy his/her fruits? I hope not, unless you are insane.
Israeli boycott of Pal's lives ongoing for decades...
Israel has taken so much of the water and arable land. Was that a freudian slip, Elise?
"...these goods and all the settlements, including those in occupied East Jerusalem, are ILLEGAL under international law." Which international law? East-Jerusalem is annexed.
my my, what big teeth you have!
although i can already envision this being used for bad purposes by certain rightist groups on their brainwashing youth group trips. i hope that doesn't happen. it would be nice to have israelis be exposed to the fact that people--non-terrorists--actually live in the west bank, and that there is more than just "biblical land" there. and i suppose it likewise might be nice to expose palestinians to the fact that not all israelis are like the crazy settlers who have "moved in".
Till Hamas changes its tune I would be afraid to enter. I could end up like Gilad Shalit.
it appears that you have no idea what you're talking about. ramallah is in the west bank, ruled by fatah and the pa. hamas (and gilad shalit) are in gaza. i wouldn't be going into gaza in any case, since israel doesn't allow foreigners in...
It is you who don't know what you are talking about.. I am even afraid to go into Um-Al -Fam as I have done and been accosted by Arabs. Stones thrown at my car in East Jerusalem and I am an old lady from Australia with Israeli number plates. What made you think there are no Hamas in the West Bank? That just isn't true.
Then who are the four people just nabbed by shin bet for killing a cop? The story is on the front page right above this one. Fnord much?
However, Israeli people already know that. It's the naive foreigners who think they can teach us what's true or not about our life. Condescending and pathetic at the same time.
you are afraid you might end up as a soldier in an illegal occupation???
What illegal occupation? PA alone has 65 % of West bank an Israel and PA has 35 %.