In its meeting to discuss yesterday's wave of terrorist attacks, the security cabinet decided that the decision to declare areas as "closed military zones" would not be a general one, but would be made on a case-by-case basis. The decision to close areas for limited operational reasons would require additional approval by the security cabinet.

The original IDF plan called for the establishment of buffer zones, reportedly ranging in depth from two hundred yards to a mile-and-a-half from the 1949 Armistice "Green Line" eastward. The zones would be supervised by infantry and armored units, observation points and foot patrols. The zones would be closed to Palestinians who don't live there or who lack special permits.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon reportedly objected to closing off zones near densely populated areas, because it would cause hardship to large numbers of Palestinians not involved in terror.

Press reports indicated that Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, and the Israel Defense Forces command level, supported a more far-reaching plan, which was approved in principle in June. Even so, Sharon did not believe that the plan alone offers an adequate solution to security problems. Foreign Affairs Minister Shimon Peres reportedly opposed the plan's implementation at this time, pointing to the "heavy diplomatic price" Israel is likely to pay for the plan because it will create the impression that Israel is annexing parts of the West Bank and setting up a security zone similar to that which existed in south Lebanon.

Today's Cabinet meeting reportedly featured additional jabs by Sharon against the military, which had initially planned to announce the tougher program last week. Sharon complained about leaks from the IDF and sarcastically announced his home phone number for those who had something to say to him.

A clear need to seal the seam
The initiative to implement the plan comes after a sharp increase in shooting attacks in Israel and the demonstrated ease by which bombers have entered Israel, as demonstrated again by the day's terrorist bombing in Nahariya, reportedly perpetrated by an Israeli Arab who moved easily between his home in the Galilee area of Israel and Jenin, where he reportedly met Hamas activist and received his explosives, and his target in Nahariya.

The need for a buffer is perceived to be greatest near Israel's narrow waist (in some places only nine miles between the Palestinian areas on the east and the sea on the west). Last weekend, weekend, four teenage Israeli Arab citizens smuggled bombs from the West Bank city of Jenin, into the Galilee. On Thursday, an Israeli officer was shot dead as he drove with a female officer on the Israeli side of the Green Line. As was the case in previous shooting attacks, the gunmen came from, and returned to, safe havens in adjacent towns and villages in Palestinian-controlled territories.

The need for a buffer is also strongly felt in Jerusalem. Five bombs reportedly brought in from the Ramallah exploded in the capital in the span of two days last week, and a terrorist cell with automatic weapons was captured en route to a shooting attack in the city. The most serious incident was a suicide bombing attack in the center of the city. The bomber blew himself up after being identified as a suspicious character by Israeli Border Policemen on patrol, one of whom was seriously wounded as they prevented the bomber from reaching a crowded area.

The buffer plan is believed by many to be the first step in a plan of unilateral separation, trying to seal the seam separating Israel from the Palestinian-controlled territory without creating a physical wall or electronic fence that is politically problematic for Sharon.

"Unprecedented tension" between Sharon and IDF over plan announcement
The move to create a buffer zone was almost announced publicly last week. The IDF called a press conference to describe the new plan as its implementation began. Sharon, on an official visit to Russia, was furious to learn that the plan was to be announced before he had personally authorized it, and he hastily and harshly ordered the IDF to suspend the public announcement.

On the plane heading back from Moscow on Thursday, Ha'aretz reported that Sharon remarked bluntly: "There's a government in Jerusalem and the government, and only the government, makes decisions in principle." At the coming security cabinet meeting, Sharon said, the army could make its proposals and the ministers would listen and decide.

Sharon's jab was aimed at Chief of Staff Shaul Mofaz and the command structure of the IDF, whose planned press conference had could have placed him in a difficult diplomatic position, during a delicate meeting with Prime Minister Putin and as the UN Racism Conference in Durban was drawing excessive attention to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.

Ha'aretz reported Friday that sources in the Prime Minister's Office asked rhetorically whether it was wise to announce a plan that would sound to the world as if Israel was annexing territory in the West Bank, at the very moment a diplomatic campaign was being waged in coordination with the United States and the European Community to prevent condemnation of Israel.

Sources close to the Prime Minister quoted by Maariv suggested that the timing of the IDF announcement was not accidental, coming as it did when Sharon was out of the country and Ben-Eliezer was preoccupied with Labor primaries. "The Chief of Staff is convinced that he is Defense Minister and also Prime Minister. He thinks he is running the country, and is giving marks to everyone. He got used to working without a Defense Minister and to do what he wants. He doesn't understand that there's a political level that gives him instructions. His function is to execute them."

Sources close to the Chief of Staff offered harsh criticism of the Prime Minister: "Instead of dealing with essentials -- how to prevent the passage of terrorists to the Green Line -- Sharon choose to deal with petty things, in an attempt to raise his popularity with the public. He is hurting the IDF for no reason. We have a file full of press clippings that show how many leaks come out all the time against the Chief of Staff."

Israelis disagree about the impact of the plan
Israeli politicians have disagreed on the wisdom and effectiveness of the plan as a security measure. Former Center Party Knesset Member Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, a retired Chief of Staff, said the plan was far from ideal as a means to prevent terrorist activity: "If the aim is to decrease the number of Palestinians coming into Israel illegally [to work] then it has a chance," he said. "But if anyone thinks it will solve the problem of suicide bombers or terror cells trying to get into Israel, then I think they are creating an illusion."

Uzi Landau (Likud), Minister of Interior Security, agreed that the plan probably would not stop a lone bomber, but that it would definitely impede Palestinian militants: "If we are talking about an attempt to block a single terrorist, this approach won't be very effective," he said. "But if we are talking about broader (terror) activity, about ongoing terror activity and the placing of bombs, then this system will definitely be effective." He rejected the idea that the government was annexing territory or recognizing the green line as a border, saying that the move applied only a "functional separation."

Israel Radio reported that some members of the security establishment also had objections, quoting a senior IDF source as saying that the plan would be very difficult to implement, would burden the forces responsible for patrolling the zones, and would exact a diplomatic price on Israel for disturbing the lives of many Palestinians.

The Palestinians have already reacted to the leaked outlines of the plan, which call for rendering impassable many back roads connecting the West Bank with Israel and Jerusalem. Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat appealed to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Jordanian King Abdullah and Arab League Secretary General Abu Mazen to act against Israeli actions to separate Jerusalem from the West Bank. The Palestinian statement said that IDF troops had encircled the city with tanks and bulldozers, and were digging trenches and building fences around Jerusalem. An Arafat spokesman said the PA Chairman would raise the issue in his planned meeting on Sunday with European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

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