The Israeli army is to pull out of the Abu Sneneh and Harat a-Sheikh neighborhoods in Hebron as early as Sunday evening, and ease travel restrictions on Palestinian movements in Gaza and the West Bank. The changes were announced by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon during a stormy cabinet meeting Sunday, in which he said declining Palestinian violence has made possible the relaxation of restrictions.

Despite public objections to the plan by the IDF's chief of staff, Sharon said that Israeli troops, which entered the area a week ago following repeated attacks on the Jewish enclave by Palestinian snipers, would be replaced by security forces led by Col. Jibril Rajoub, chief of Palestinian Authority Preventive Security in the West Bank. Rajoub's forces will thus become responsible, with the government of Israel's approval, for preventing attacks on residents in the Israeli enclave of the predominantly Arab city.

Sharon fiercely defended Foreign Affairs Minister Shimon Peres from harsh criticism by other cabinet members during the meeting. Minister of Education Limor Livnat (Likud) had asked whether Peres would prevent the IDF from returning to the area should Palestinian snipers resume firing on the Jews of Hebron. Instead of answering her directly, Sharon replied, "enough of this nonsense," saying that Livnat's comments "bordered on incitement."

Sharon also lashed out at Internal Security Minister Uzi Landau (Likud), who had also criticized Peres and the decision to withdraw from the Hebron hills, accusing him of offering only "words" when "what we are testing here are actions," Channel Two television reported. Labor and Social Affairs Minister Shlomo Benizri (Shas) told Israel Radio that he opposed easing security measures. He said Sharon had always said that the IDF would remain in Hebron until the security of its Jewish population could be guaranteed. "A promise from the Palestinians is not enough," he said.

A statement issued by Yesha, the settlers' organization representing Jewish communities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza, announced: "Sharon's decision to put his faith in Rajoub and place the fate of Jews in the hands of Arafat contradicts his own Czechoslovakia speech, when he declared that Israel would depend only on itself. Sharon is returning to the Oslo policy of abandonment and bloodshed, placing the lives of Israelis in the hands of Arafat's thugs."

Jewish settlers in Hebron demonstrated against the army pullout, attempting to march toward Abu Sneneh before being forcibly cleared by the IDF. Baruch Marzel, a Jewish activist in Hebron, said that he had asked residents to remove sandbags from their homes to test the government's faith in the Palestinians to control gunfire.

Palestinian security forces claim they will work to ensure that shooting on the Jewish enclave in Hebron does not resume. Rajoub reportedly promised that should a shooting attack occur in the city, "even one shot," he would assent to an IDF re-entry into the area.

"Unprecedented" criticism by chief of staff
In what Sharon described as "unprecedented" interference in matters of state, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Shaul Mofaz expressed his opposition to the government's plans to pull out of the Hebron hills. An announcement by the IDF Spokesman stated, following a clarification that Mofaz did not oppose the easing of travel restrictions on the Palestinian population: "The IDF Chief of Staff objects to retreating from the Abu Sneneh and Harat a-Sheikh hills. Such 'easing of restrictions' would pose a security risk and would make it more difficult to protect Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers," the statement said. "This is important insofar as the Palestinian Authority does not prevent terror attacks, as it is required," the statement concluded.

Defense Minister Benyamin Ben-Eliezer was furious with Mofaz for expressing his opposition publicly. After the IDF Spokesman's statement was read during the cabinet meeting, he said, "I am firing Mofaz." But when questioned by reporters later, the Defense Minister refused to comment on the matter, claiming that he would not conduct the argument through the media. Sharon also criticized Mofaz at the cabinet meeting, suggesting that the Chief of Staff was preparing for his post-service political career.

Ben-Eliezer met privately with Mofaz for "clarifications" amid unprecedented tension between the political and military echelons. Channel Two television reported that firing Mofaz would require the approval of the full Knesset, an unlikely scenario. The clash between the IDF Chief and the government was only the most recent in a series of public disagreements. Several weeks ago, Sharon had scolded Mofaz when the IDF prematurely announced a "buffer zone" separating Palestinian areas from Israel. "Decisions are made in Jerusalem," the Prime Minister said the time.

Easing of travel conditions despite continuing violence
Israel Radio reported that Foreign Affairs Minister Shimon Peres had told Palestinian officials that Israel would lift its closure on Jericho and open border crossings for longer durations in the Gaza Strip, at the Allenby Bridge, and other locations. Roadblocks are reportedly to be lifted in the Ramallah area and on the main road of Rafah, despite the continuing violence there. Earlier today, a large bomb believed to have been left by Palestinians blew up next to an IDF position in the Rafah district.

Palestinian officials Abu Ala and Saeb Erekat said that next week Peres is to announce the granting of permits to West Bank families, allowing them to visit the Gaza Strip. Permits will also be given to Palestinian tradesmen and security forces, enabling them to travel twice weekly between Gaza and the West Bank, Israel Radio reported.

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