Israel plans sci-fi borders
2004-06-19 13:40
Jerusalem - The Israeli army envisions a "remote control" border with the Gaza Strip after a troop withdrawal, including unmanned patrol cars and computerized observation posts that would automatically spot and kill attackers, a military official said on Friday.
The technology already exists, but the plan hasn't been approved yet, and other options are also being considered, the official said on condition of anonymity.
In preparation for the planned Israeli withdrawal, the Palestinian Authority and militant groups in Gaza have begun drafting an agreement for jointly running the territory, officials said on Friday.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia said the document would be completed after additional talks in Egypt.
Qureia met on Friday with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo to discuss the Israeli withdrawal, scheduled to be completed in September 2005. Egypt has been serving as mediator between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
Qureia has met with leaders of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza in recent days. The militants had refused to join the Palestinian Authority, which was established as a result of interim peace accords with Israel that they opposed, but have indicated they want to participate in running Gaza after a withdrawal.
"Now we are working on a paper that includes a framework for all the issues. When concluding the dialogue based on this paper and when we say that we have had fruitful results then we can say that we have an agreement," Qureia said.
Arafat makes rare statement
Also on Friday, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was quoted as saying he "definitely" understands that Israel must retain its Jewish character - a rare statement by the Palestinian leader. However, Arafat was evasive when asked by the Haaretz daily about the fate of more than four million Palestinian refugees and their descendants.
In peace talks, the Palestinians have insisted that Israel recognise the refugees' "right of return". Israel refuses, saying a mass influx of Palestinians will demographically overwhelm the state's Jewish population. The dispute has contributed to the collapse of past negotiations.
In the interview, Arafat suggested that many refugees could settle in a future Palestinian state, but refused to say how many should be allowed into Israel.
The resumption of negotiations on a final peace deal appeared remote, with Sharon forging ahead with his plan of "unilateral disengagement" from the Palestinians.
As part of the plan, Israel also plans to withdraw from four small West Bank settlements, expand other large settlements there that it intends to keep and complete construction of a West Bank separation barrier that would become the border until a final peace deal is reached.
- AP