NEW YORK - The State Department has demanded that Israel refrain from ever entering Palestinian Authority-controlled territory in pursuit of terrorists, but the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) points out that the Oslo accords specifically permit Israel to enter PA territory in pursuit of terrorists.

State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said (New York Times, Oct. 22, 2001): “Israeli Defense Forces should be withdrawn immediately from all Palestinian-controlled areas, and no further such incursions should be made.”

Yet the Oslo accords specifically permit such incursions.

Oslo II, Article X, Par.4 states that despite the withdrawal of Israeli troops from some parts of Judea-Samaria and Gaza, in those areas “Israel shall continue to carry the responsibility for external security as well as the responsibility for overall security of Israelis for the purpose of safeguarding their internal security and public order.” Oslo II, Annex I, Article XI, Par. (a) & (b) state that in any area “where Israeli authorities exercise their security functions,” Israel has the right to undertake “engagement steps” that are “aimed at preventing or terminating” any “act or incident constituting a danger to life or property.” Israel may “take any measures necessary to bring to an end such an act or incident.”

ZOA National President Morton A. Klein said: “Even though the State Department itself helped arrange the Oslo accords, it is now trying to prevent Israel from engaging in actions which the Oslo accords clearly permit. Israel’s hot pursuit of terrorists in PA territory is just as legitimate as America’s hot pursuit of terrorists in Afghanistan.”

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 15th, 2002 and is filed under news.