Aaron Lerner Date: 27 September, 2000

Col.IMRA Note: Jibril Rajoub takes the bait from Arik Sharon, threatens bloodshed

Aaron Lerner Date: 27 September, 2000

Col. Jibril Rajoub, the head of Palestinian Authority Preventive
Security in the West Bank, warned Israel Radio this morning that
there would be bloodshed if Arik Sharon visits the Temple Mount in
Jerusalem on Thursday and that the PA would do nothing to prevent
bloodshed in areas under their control.

Such a development could ultimately undermine the negotiations taking
place on several counts:

By denying Sharon access to the Temple Mount, the Palestinians
highlight that they cannot be relied upon to provide free access to
the Temple Mount if it is under Palestinian sovereignty. While
efforts to make Sharon a special case - terming him a "war criminal"
- may play well in the Palestinian street and among some in the
Israeli Left, the argument wears thin in the general public that
finds it hard to understand how former terrorists find claims about
Sharon's past relevant.

If there is a blow up after Rajoub's "green light" for violence, this
will serve to illustrate that security arrangements based on
Palestinian goodwill are unreliable. Proposed Israeli withdrawals
hinge on the efficacy of such security arrangements.

Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director
IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-3-548-0092
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
pager 03-6750750 subscriber 4811
Website: http://www.imra.org.il