Mofaz decides against renewing closure on territories

[Gimel]

Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz on Thursday ordered the security establishment not to renew a closure on the West Bank and Gaza Strip following the suicide bombing in Jerusalem earlier in the day, in which ten people were killed and fifty were wounded.

Mofaz explained that the decision not to impose a closure on Palestinian cities was made so as not to make the lives of the Palestinian public harder. He said that action would be taken specifically against terror organizations.

Mofaz said that Israel is committed to a policy of "cessation" between civilians and those who carry out terror attacks. At the time of the bombing, at approximately 9 A.M., Mofaz was meeting with U.S. envoys David Satterfield and John Wolf, to discuss easing conditions for the Palestinian population. The decision to refrain from imposing a general closure on the territories came despite opposition expressed by Shin Bet chief Avi Dichter, who recommended that stricter measures be taken.

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http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/388486.html


Palestinians can continue to come to Israel for work. Tomorrow and next week.

[tinnypriv]

1. No surprise

Dichter is a well known loon, who advocates the liquidation of Arafat.

[Gimel]

2. Is that such

an outrageous idea? Doesn't sound so loony to me. What other qualifications does he have for the title?

[tinnypriv]

3. Oh I dunno

Being more hawkish than Sharon on just about every single issue?

He advocates the seizing of Palestinian land as a punitive measure, calls for tightening roadblocks, increasing the "closure", dropping the bomb on Shedha in Gaza, the fence whatever the route, etc etc.

Security folks in Israel constantly ask "what happened to Dichter", ever since he took over GSS and started acting like a hawk possessed.

Try and find an issue Dichter doesn't advocate solving with more IDF and yet more IDF.

He makes Ya'alon look like a nice guy.

[Gimel]

4. He's not the decisive vote

He plays his role. Head of the Shin Bet. Did you think they'd hire an advocate of suicide? Get rid of Arafat and many problems could be solved.