久久亚洲国产成人影院-久久亚洲国产的中文-久久亚洲国产高清-久久亚洲国产精品-亚洲图片偷拍自拍-亚洲图色视频

  Home>News Center>World
         
 

Israel, Palestinians dispute handover
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-03-10 09:00

Israel and the Palestinians deadlocked Wednesday over returning control of West Bank towns to Palestinian control, extending a stalemate that threatens to increase frustration and anger that could lead to increased violence after a monthlong truce.

Despite the risk of losing momentum in peace efforts, both sides clung to their positions.

The Palestinians insisted Israel remove army roadblocks around the towns and lift travel restrictions. Israel said it cannot take security risks until Palestinian security forces do a better job reining in militants.

An Israeli soldier mans the main army checkpoint at the entrance of the West Bank town of Jericho Wednesday March 9, 2005. Israeli and Palestinian security commanders failed to reach agreement Wednesday on the handover of Jericho to Palestinian security control, participants said. [AP]
An Israeli soldier mans the main army checkpoint at the entrance of the West Bank town of Jericho Wednesday March 9, 2005. Israeli and Palestinian security commanders failed to reach agreement Wednesday on the handover of Jericho to Palestinian security control, participants said. [AP]
The quiet, isolated oasis of Jericho was the unlikely focus of the disagreement. Its handover had been expected to be a relatively simple affair, and the unexpected stall raised concerns that the two sides would have worse trouble settling far thornier issues down the road.

Washington's new envoy, William Ward, a U.S. Army general, was due to take up his new post Thursday, and Paul Patin, spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, raised the possibility that Ward would intervene in the negotiations. "Security coordination is his brief," he said.

On Wednesday, two meetings of Israeli and Palestinian security commanders in Jericho broke up without agreement, and no new talks were scheduled. The breakdown came a day after Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz failed to settle the dispute over the roadblocks north and south of Jericho.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia accused Israel of dragging its feet, and the violent Islamic group Hamas warned that Israel "will be held fully responsible for the consequences."

In a curious twist, the disagreement over Jericho appeared to focus mostly on a gleaming luxury casino and hotel just outside town. Built during the heyday of Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking in the mid-1990s, the Oasis casino closed after the outbreak of violence in the fall of 2000 kept away its mainly Israeli customers.

Many Palestinians in Jericho are hoping that peace will bring the Israelis back, restoring jobs and boosting the town's battered tourism-based economy. At its height, the casino and adjacent hotel employed 1,600 Palestinians and 450 foreigners, but now only about 60 workers maintain the building.

Haj Ismail Jabr, the top Palestinian security official in the West Bank (L), shakes hands with Tal Ruso, the Israeli military chief of the Jordan Valley area, during their meeting in the West Bank city of Jericho.(AFP/Awad Awad)
Haj Ismail Jabr, the top Palestinian security official in the West Bank (L), shakes hands with Tal Ruso, the Israeli military chief of the Jordan Valley area, during their meeting in the West Bank city of Jericho.[AFP]
"Without tourists, without the visitors, we die," said Amer Samih, 29, a taxi driver.

Everything looked ready at the casino Wednesday. The floors sparkled, chairs were neatly stacked on the tables, chips piled carefully on the gaming tables. Slot machines blinked and whirred.

Security manager Hans Holek said returning West Bank towns, including Jericho, to Palestinian control would calm the area and allow the casino to reopen.

"We have to have a certain level of stability. When the cities reopen, then we can begin to make financial plans," he said.

But the Israelis don't think the time is right yet. A ban on Israeli citizens entering Palestinian areas is still in force, and one of the Israeli checkpoints the Palestinians wanted removed stands between Israel and the casino.

The roadblock stands in the desert, with soldiers checking vehicles entering and exiting Jericho. Planted on the rocky ground nearby are air-conditioned trailers for commanders and the district liaison office. A 25-foot-high concrete wall protects the trailers from car bombs.

In recent months, the Israeli military has taken steps to ease long waits at the checkpoint, opening a second lane for incoming traffic. But residents say they are often held up for an hour or more.

Israeli officials say removing the roadblock would endanger Vered Yericho, a nearby Jewish settlement of 160 residents.

"Without lifting the roadblocks, the handover will be meaningless," said Saeb Erekat, a Palestinian government official who lives in Jericho.



 
  Today's Top News     Top World News
 

People's congress prepared to 'fulfil history'

 

   
 

Lenovo wins US nod to buy IBM PC

 

   
 

Corrupt officials seized and punished

 

   
 

State banks urged to reform with gov't input

 

   
 

41 corpses found in Iraq; blast kills four

 

   
 

China hints at death penalty reform

 

   
  Rice to make Asia trip, talking about N. Korea
   
  Pro-Syria PM set to return, seek unity
   
  Israeli officials could face charges over outposts
   
  Gorbachev warns Putin of possible unrest
   
  41 corpses found in Iraq; blast kills four
   
  Hundreds continue protest in Kyrgyzstan
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Related Stories  
   
Israeli officials could face charges over outposts
   
Palestinians to control West Bank town
   
Violence stifles Abbas' attempts at order
  News Talk  
  Are the Republicans exploiting the memory of 9/11?  
Advertisement
         
主站蜘蛛池模板: 久久亚洲欧洲日产国码 | 国产深夜福利 | 男人天堂视频网 | 91欧美精品 | 日日摸日日碰夜夜97 | 另类欧美日韩 | 国产精品国产精品国产三级普 | 高清性做爰免费网站 | 正在播放亚洲一区 | 日本一区深夜影院深a | 一级待一黄aaa大片在线还看 | 久久在线国产 | 岛国伊人| 天天综合天天看夜夜添狠狠玩 | 国产一区二区福利久久 | 怡红院免费的全部视频 | 亚洲天堂视频网站 | 免费成人一级片 | 日本精品夜色视频一区二区 | 日本成人免费在线 | 日韩欧美在线精品 | 亚洲美女在线视频 | 米奇777第四久久久99 | 欧美日韩一区二区高清视 | 免费黄色三级网站 | 免费播放特黄特色毛片 | 久久精品国产一区二区三区日韩 | 无码免费一区二区三区免费播放 | 曰本一区| 九九九九在线精品免费视频 | 国产成在线观看免费视频 | 欧美国产日韩一区二区三区 | 久久久免费的精品 | 99在线观看视频免费 | 久久九九久精品国产 | 日韩第一视频 | 亚洲欧洲一区二区三区在线 | 欧美大片在线播放 | 国产精品极品美女自在线看免费一区二区 | 国产日韩久久久久69影院 | 亚洲视频在线网站 |