VOA19980113.2100.0740
NEWS
TRANSCRIPT
Israeli and Palestinian security forces report they have carried out
separate raids on hide-outs of the militant Palestinian group Hamas
where terrorist attacks were being planned. VOA's Al Pechan reports
from Jerusalem that while the coordinated operations were an example
of Palestinian anti-terrorism efforts, it was not enough to satisfy
Israel's cabinet. The Palestinian security services say they confiscated
700 kilograms of explosives at a Hamas bomb factory in the autonomous
city of Nablus and arrested four Hamas activists. One Palestinian
official described the large stash of explosives as enough to blow
up all of Israel. Some of it had already been made into bombs. Just
a few hours before the Palestinian announcement, Israel said it had
arrested several Hamas activists in still-occupied areas of the West
Bank near Nablus. Israel says information from those activists led
to the bomb factory raid in Nablus, but the Palestinians say they
had been investigating the site for some time. And Israel statement
says the Hamas cell had carried out several minor road-side attacks
and was planning larger operations in Israeli cities and settlements.
A Palestinian crackdown on terrorism is the key condition Israel has
set for surrendering more territory to Palestinian control. But Israel
says the crackdown must be widespread and long-term. Israel Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed satisfaction at this security
success, but said dangers remain and there is more work to do. On
Tuesday, Mr. Netanyahu's cabinet approved a document giving full details
of its demands and establishing a committee to review Palestinian
compliance during the next several months. The cabinet said further
withdrawals will depend on the committee's evaluation, but it has
not yet said how much territory Israel will surrender if the Palestinians
do comply. Several of the required steps are politically difficult
or impossible for the Palestinians but they are required in existing
agreements. Al Pechan, VOA News, Jerusalem.