(UPI/Washington Times) - Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said Tuesday Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmad Qurei is powerless to stop Palestinian attacks in Israel. Mofaz said Qurei has avoided meeting Prime Minister Sharon since assuming office in November, because Qurei's hands are tied. The two sides undertook to implement an internationally devised roadmap for peace that initially requires a Palestinian "unconditional cessation of violence." Mofaz said Qurei realizes it would be difficult to curb terror because Arafat, who controls the security organizations, "will not let him and because the terrorist organizations won't agree to disarm....He fears we will offer to hand over responsibility for parts of Judea, Samaria (the West Bank) and Gaza...and he must know that it would be very difficult for him to undertake (to stop attacks from there)."
2003-12-31 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive