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Israelis Sense They've Won

(New York Times) - James Bennet Israeli officials are expressing growing confidence that after 33 months they have defeated the Palestinian intifada. The Israeli chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Moshe Yaalon, told Israeli reporters on Wednesday that the developments this week might eventually be seen "as the end" of the conflict. According to a senior military official, "the Palestinians - at least the ones who make decisions - came to the conclusion that violence will not achieve their political goals." "I cannot say it is over," he cautioned, but he said that if the peace process succeeded, the Palestinian street might come to the same conclusion about violence "in a few weeks, and a few months." He said the American wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as new pressure from European and Arab states, had also helped change the Palestinian view on violence. The military official said that Israel would not begin substantive political negotiations over questions like Jerusalem until the Palestinians had fully broken up militant groups, confiscating their weapons, destroying their training centers, arresting their dangerous members, and ending all "incitement" to violence. "They will have to get rid of all their terrorist capabilities," he said, acknowledging this could take years. The Bush administration does not appear to be pressing Israel to abide by the road map's schedule. A Western diplomat said the administration was more interested in commitments met than dates kept.
2003-07-04 00:00:00
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