(IDF) Interviewed on Israel Radio Friday, Major General Amos Gilad denied that the Palestinian civilian infrastructure in the West Bank and Gaza has collapsed, causing many Palestinians to join terrorist organizations. "The description is absurd," noted Gilad, adding that education and health services were still operating. "There may be social and economic hardship within the Palestinian Authority but there is no hunger." Israel does everything possible in order to ease the restrictions on the Palestinian population that is not involved in hostile terror activities. "Palestinians enjoy unlimited movement in Jericho, thousands of Palestinian laborers enter and exit the Gaza Strip every day (for work in Israel), and Israel transfers large amounts of money to the Palestinian Authority," said Gilad. He explained that the reason for the economic failure in the territories stems from the fact that the Palestinian Authority prefers armed struggle and terrorism to a political settlement. "As long as Arafat is in power, there is no chance that he will surrender the path of terror, and that is why he must step down as Chairman," said Gilad.
2003-03-04 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive