Israel Seeks to Strengthen Palestinian Moderates as US and EU Urge Progress on Palestinian Statehood

Strategic Insights -

The United States has encouraged Israel to support Palestinian moderates and to consider removing security forces from Palestinian population areas to facilitate Palestinian elections. Following the death of Yasser Arafat, President Bush and Prime Minister Sharon's office have been discussing steps to ease conditions for Palestinians, including the release of frozen tax funds and the potential removal of Israeli security forces. These efforts aim to support the moderate Palestinian leadership and create a path towards a Palestinian state.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US has encouraged Israel to support Palestinian moderates and to consider removing security forces from Palestinian population areas to facilitate Palestinian elections.
  • Israel has released $40 million in frozen tax funds to the Palestinian Authority after long resisting the action.
  • Prime Minister Sharon has agreed to consider removing Israeli security forces from Palestinian population areas to facilitate Palestinian elections, but only under certain conditions.
  • Hamas, a leading Islamic militant group, has opposed any suspension of their violent war with Israel and claimed responsibility for a recent bus bombing in Beersheba.
  • The Israeli army has decided to let Palestinian security forces carry guns in public, overturning a policy in effect since 2002.
  • Israel is resisting the idea of allowing Palestinians in the Jerusalem area to vote, as they did in the 1996 elections won by Yasser Arafat.
  • The White House and Mr. Sharon's office are discussing other steps to facilitate the elections that are points of dispute between Israel and the Palestinians.
  • Israel has eased many checkpoints and roadblocks throughout the West Bank, but reimposed them after two suicide bombers blew up two buses in Beersheba in August.

Statistics:

  • $40 million: The amount of frozen tax funds released by Israel to the Palestinian Authority.
  • 60 days: The timeframe for conducting Palestinian elections, according to an American official.
  • 16 deaths: The number of Israelis killed in the August 2004 bus bombings in Beersheba.
  • 1996: The year in which Yasser Arafat won the Palestinian presidential election, in which Palestinians in the Jerusalem area were allowed to vote.
  • 2002: The year in which the Israeli army stopped allowing Palestinian security forces to carry guns in public.

Sources:

  • "Middle East: Arafat's Death May Spark New Push on Peace", The New York Times, November 16, 2004
  • The Associated Press, "Israel to let Palestinian forces carry guns", November 13, 2004
  • NBC, "Secretaries Powell and Rice Discuss Palestinian Elections", November 14, 2004
  • The Jerusalem Post, "Israel removes some West Bank checkpoints", November 15, 2004