2005-03-15--west_bank

By Ira Sharkansky

Are we at a hiccup or a serious problem?

Yesterday (March 14) Israel and the Palestinians agreed on the transfer of control over the towns of Jericho and Tulkarm to the Palestine National Authority. This was the second or third time that the parties agreed on the issue. Previous agreements fell apart when the Palestinians demanded the removal of several checkpoints around the cities, and an enlarged conception of Jericho that included a village the Israelis were not willing to hand over. This time, those issues were settled, pretty much on Israel's terms.

This morning Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazan), said that the turnover of Jericho would allow the freeing of two Palestinians held in prison there. One of them was involved in the murder of Israeli government minister Rahavam Zeevi, and another in a large scale shipment of arms that Israel intercepted on the high seas. Both men were imprisoned under a deal involving international auspices, where Britain and the United States assured that they would remain in custody, and the Israelis agreed not to attack Jericho in order to deal with them.

Abbas claims that the Israelis knew of his intention to free the men. Shaul Mofaz, the Israeli Defense Minister who negotiated last night's deal, asserts that it included a specific agreement that the men would remain in prison. Israeli officials are also waiving the international guarantees signed by the US and Britain. And they are saying that if the Palestinians release the men, Israel will go after them.

So far this is amounting to another game of chicken, not unlike the kind of bargaining familiar to all those who have visited the Middle East. It's not the first time the Palestinians are accusing the Israelis of lying and breaking agreements, while Israelis counter with their own charges that Palestinians are lying and breaking agreements. So far Israel has played tough, not giving up its advantages until the Palestinians give up on their assertions. No one expects the Palestinians to back down explicitly. Silence will be sufficient.

Another issue on the table is the Palestinian decision to execute a number of Palestinians said to have been convicted of cooperating with the Israelis. Israeli officials are saying that must not happen, and if it does . . . .

Meanwhile, today and tomorrow (March 16) is a time to stay off Jerusalem's roads. There are great ceremonies in store for the opening of an enlarged and refurbished Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial. We hear that 40 presidents, prime ministers, and other worthies are in town for the events.

Key roads will be closed for the convenience of the dignitaries. You'll be able to hear the sounds of honking where you are. It is also likely that settlers will use the opportunity to vent their wrath against Sharon and the rest of the world. Yesterday they blocked traffic during rush hour on a key Tel Aviv artery. It took the police an hour to clear the mess.

It's a good day to take some pictures on our balcony.

Sharkansky is a member of the political science department at Hebrew University in Jerusalem