- JERUSALEM (AP) -- Israel's
military chief has reportedly criticised his government's tough policy
toward Palestinians, warning it could lead to a humanitarian crisis.
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- Three Israeli newspapers today published reports from
a briefing with "senior military officials", later identified
by Israeli television and radio stations as Lieutenant General Moshe Yaalon,
the military chief of staff.
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- The newspapers said Yaalon warned the heavy restrictions
imposed in the West Bank by the military - at the orders of the defence
ministry - could backfire.
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- Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz today announced a slight
easing of the restriction, which had closed the West Bank, banned Palestinians
from entering Israel, and confined hundreds of thousands to their towns
and villages.
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- "The senior military officers are worried by the
possibility that maintaining widespread pressure on the Palestinian population
will lead to a humanitarian crisis and increase Palestinian hatred of Israel,"
said the Haaretz daily.
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- Yediot Ahronot quoted the official as saying the tough
restrictions resulted in "no hope, no expectations for the Palestinians
in the Gaza Strip, not in Bethlehem and Jericho", two West Bank towns
where the military recommended lifting most restrictions because no terror
attacks had originated there in recent weeks.
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- "In our tactical decisions, we are operating contrary
to our strategic interest," the official was quoted as saying.
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- The Israeli government were unavailable for comment and
an army spokeswoman denied Yaalon criticised the government.
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- However, the spokeswoman said there was a debate over
"how to continue to pressure terrorists without alienating the civilian
population. He thinks we need to look at all the angles when we come to
discuss this question".
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- Yaalon reportedly put part of the blame on his government
for the failure of the first Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas,
to cement his position and implement a stable cease-fire, charging that
Israel's steps to support Abbas were "too stingy".
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- One newspaper reported military officials felt "Israel
should have treated Abbas differently, and warned that Israel should not
make the same mistake with the current premier, Ahmed Qurei".
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- Israeli officials said at the time that they did everything
they could to buttress Abbas, who resigned in September after only four
months in office.
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- Relations between Yaalon and Mofaz have been reported
tense for some time, with frequent media reports of clashes over policy
toward the Palestinians, though both favour a hard line.
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- However, this was the first time that Yaalon was said
to have harshly criticised government policies.
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- The reports set off calls for Yaalon's dismissal from
unnamed officials who accused him of meddling in politics, Israel TV reported.
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- Copyright 2003 News Limited.
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- http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,7712750%255E1702,00.html
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