[Christian Science Monitor] Dan Murphy - Israel has promised to cancel the arrest warrants for 178 Al-Aqsa Brigades members if they promise not to participate in attacks against Israel and agree to a three-month period of disarmament and containment, after which they will be absorbed into the uniformed, armed security services loyal to Abbas. However, members of the Fatah-linked militia caution that if no progress is made on key issues such as a return to the 1967 borders and an end to Israeli incursions into the West Bank, their disarmament will be short-lived. Many Palestinians believe the amnesty is more about strengthening Fatah's ability to use its security services to target Hamas in the West Bank. A number of the men offered amnesty have been deeply involved in operations against Hamas this year.
2007-07-24 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive