Mofaz: Palestinians not fighting terror
צילום: צפריר אביוב
Mofaz, Yousef meet
First high-level meeting in month; defense minister, PA interior minister discuss security, disarming suspects and Palestinian demand to coordinate disengagement
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz met Monday with Palestinian Authority Interior Minister Nasser Yousef to discuss the deteriorating security situation in Gaza; weapons-collection by PA police, and the transfer of more West Bank cities to PA control.
It was the highest level meeting between the sides in more than a month.
Mofaz responded positively to Yousef's proposal to coordinate disengagement but said the plan the PA minister presented was "superficial, shallow and insufficient."
The defense minister stressed that the Palestinians must present a detailed, serious program in order to have a role in the disengagement. He said they must concentrate PA forces in a way that secures the withdrawal and begin training people to prevent rocket fire into Israel.
Authority to collect weapons
Regarding terrorism, Mofaz said that, although the Palestinians were making some efforts to contain attacks, they had fallen far short of the ideal. For his part, Yousef promised to prevent suspects wanted by Israel from returning to terrorism.
Mofaz also presented Yousef with a list of terrorists and demanded that the Palestinian Authority arrest them.
Turning a blind eye
Before the meeting, IDF sources said that there was a long list of instances in which the PA turned a blind eye to terrorist activities.
There is no doubt that last week's operation (in which a Hamas gunman was killed by an IDF drone) sent a clear message to the Palestinians that Israel will not stand by and allow terrorism to continue.
The sides concluded the meeting by agreeing to meet again.
