IDF generals, too, are uneasy about Prime Minister Sharon’s decision to open Yesha (Judea, Samaria, and Gaza) roadways to Arab motorists. The National Union/Yisrael Beitenu (NU/YB) Knesset faction released a statement last night calling upon Sharon to reconsider his decision, saying that the move represents the “abandonment of Israeli citizens in Yesha.” Yesterday, the IDF eased travel restrictions and withdrew from positions surrounding Arab towns throughout Yesha, coinciding with the arrival of U.S. envoy, Gen. Anthony Zinni.

In an urgent meeting convened last night, O.C. Central Command, Major-General Yitzhak Eitan, told Yesha Council leaders that the easing of travel restrictions for Arabs is a “calculated risk.” Arutz-7 correspondent Haggai Huberman reported that one senior IDF commander said that with the opening of the roads to Arab traffic, “the next terror attack is just a matter of time.”

Yesha Council leaders pointed out that following similar troop withdrawals, only a short time passed before shooting attacks resumed and Jews were murdered. They said that free movement of terrorists on Yesha roads endangers residents living in pre-1967 Israeli towns as well, such as Haifa and Hadera. This morning, Yesha leaders decided that that they will organize local volunteers to bodily block potential terrorist escape routes from Jewish-traveled roads to the PLO-controlled areas. MK Uri Ariel (National Union Party) told Israel Radio today that he knows that the IDF and the GSS (Shin Bet) are against the opening of the roads. Ariel said, “Let no one be confused. The decision is a political one, not a security one.”

One example of last night’s Israeli “confidence-building gestures” is the removal of the Gush Etzion-Hevron highway roadblock. Access to this road had been prohibited to Arab traffic since last May, following the murder of two Efrat women — Esther Alwan and Sarah Blaustein — in a drive by shooting near Neve Daniel.

The United States State Department praised the “positive steps” taken by Israel, referring to the easing of travel and security restrictions on PA residents.

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 6th, 2002 and is filed under hotnews.