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U.S. Eases Demand for Palestinians to Curb Militants

(New York Times) - The Bush administration has backed away from demands that the PA dismantle militant groups immediately, concerned that the authority's security forces are too weak at this point to carry out a speedy crackdown, administration officials said Friday. "We've emphatically stated in public and private what needs to be done," a senior American official said. "It is clear that it cannot be done instantly. It requires planning, a strengthening of security forces, and a unification of those forces under Abbas and Dahlan." To create what the official called "political space" for Mr. Abbas to build up his popularity and strengthen his command of his forces, American officials say the U.S. must quietly continue to urge Israel to improve Palestinian conditions and meet other Palestinian requests. To this end, American and Israeli officials named two task forces after the meeting on Tuesday between Mr. Bush and Mr. Sharon. The first task force is to deal with the barrier being built by Israel in the West Bank. The second task force was on the future of Israeli settlements throughout the West Bank and Gaza. Israel defines a "freeze" on "settlement activity" as a pledge to refrain from constructing housing except within the boundaries of existing settlements.
2003-08-04 00:00:00
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