Arafat Freedom Near But UN Jenin Probe Mission Appears Doomed & Standoff At Bethlehem Unresolved

02/05/2002| IslamWeb

HIGHLIGHTS: Palestinian Suspects Arrive in Jericho--Israeli Withdrawal From Ramallah in Six Hours Time--Arafat's Next Move Expected Early Thursday--Fate of UN Jenin Probe Mission Still in the Air--Standoff At Bethlehem Still Unresolved--STORY: The US-brokered free-Arafat plan finally got underway and the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat is expected to regain a great deal of a freedom of movement that he has lost because of a month-long virtual house arrest imposed on him by the Israeli government. However, the fate of the UN Jenin probe mission and the standoff at the Church of the Nativity remain unresolved.

Israeli occupation forces began withdrawing from Yasser Arafat's compound Wednesday night, as six Palestinians arrived in a convoy at a prison in the West Bank desert oasis of Jericho, ending the monthlong siege that trapped the Palestinian leader. The prisoners are to be guarded by British and American wardens. Jericho is a Palestinian-controlled town in the West Bank, about 22 miles away. The withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from around the Arafat compound began as soon as the prisoners reached the Jericho jail. Israeli tanks and armored personnel carriers remained in and around Arafat's compound after the prisoners left.

WITHDRAWAL OF ISRAELI OCCUPATION FORCES FROM RAMALLAH COULD TAKE SIX HOURS

An Israeli army official, speaking on condition of anonymity, estimated the complete Israeli military pullout from Ramallah would take two to six hours. The Israeli occupation forces charged into Ramallah and entered Arafat's compound on March 29 as they launched a massive offensive aimed at rooting out Palestinian militants.

Arafat's immediate plans were not announced, though he was expected to remain inside his offices until the Israelis had finished leaving Ramallah late Wednesday or early Thursday. Though much of the city is regaining a semblance of normalcy, the streets are largely deserted after dark.

Under a deal with the United States, the six prisoners will be guarded by American and British wardens in Jericho. Israel had been demanding custody of the men, but agreed to the compromise proposed by President Bush.

The six wanted men have been holed up with Arafat and about 300 people since the March 29 invasion. In a lightning trial at the compound, four were convicted of the killing of Israeli Cabinet minister Rehavam Zeevi last October.

The two others are Ahmed Saadat, leader of the radical PLO faction that carried out the assassination, and Fuad Shobaki, alleged mastermind of a seaborne Palestinian arms shipment intercepted by the Israeli navy in January.

The end of Arafat's confinement resolves one of several thorny confrontations in the Mideast conflict.

ANNAN TO DECIDE FATE OF UN JENIN PROBE MISSION LATE WEDNESDAY

At the United Nations, Secretary-General Kofi Annan was considering canceling a U.N. fact-finding mission to the Jenin camp because of Israel's refusal to cooperate with the team's mandate was changed. Annan was looking for advice from the Security Council on Wednesday before making a decision.

TWO MORE PALESTINIANS LEAVE CHURCH OF NATIVITY BUT 200 OTHERS ARE STILL HOLED UP IN THE SANCTUARY

In Bethlehem, two Palestinian policemen, one wounded and the other ill, emerged from the Church of the Nativity on Wednesday, a day after 26 civilians and members of the security forces walked out of the besieged compound.

Nearly 200 others remain holed up in one of Christianity's holiest shrines, and there were no signs the monthlong standoff was ending.

Israel and the Palestinians are at odds regarding about 30 Resistance men still in the church. Israel insisted that they either surrender or accept exile; the Palestinians proposed that they be taken to Gaza.

PHOTO CAPTION

An Israeli army Merkava tank rolls next to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's compound in the West Bank City of Ramallah, April 30, 2002. Shooting erupted briefly near Arafat's headquarters, surrounded by Israeli troops, but the Palestinian president was unharmed, Palestinian officials said. Photo by Osama Silwadi/Reuters
- Apr 30 10:49 AM ET