Israel’s defense chiefs recommend administrative steps to separate Hamas-governed Palestinian areashttp://www.debka.com/headline.php?hid=1923
DEBKAfile reports: Thursday, Feb. 16, defense minister Shaul Mofaz and top officials of the national security and military branches assembled a package of recommendations for acting prime minister Ehud Olmert to put into effect.They advised the following steps to be enforced when Hamas deputies take their seats in the new Palestinian legislative council Saturday, Feb. 18:
1. To annul existing customs accords between Israel and the Palestinians. Israel’s customs authorities will henceforth treat Palestinian imports and exports like any other foreign goods transiting state borders according to tariffs determined in Jerusalem. This will also eliminate any future transfers to the Palestinian Authority.
2. Palestinian workers will no longer be allowed to work in Israel. Tens of thousands will be stopped at Gaza's checkpoints as of Sunday.
3. Israel will cancel all the VIP permits issued to high Palestinian functionaries.
The effect of 2. and 3. will be to bring to a standstill the entry of Palestinians into Israel.
4. Palestinian travel between the Gaza Strip and West Bank across Israeli territory will be banned.
These steps are recommendations. It is up to the prime minister to decide whether to adopt them.
Olmert Expected To Reduce Ties With PA
Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is expected to approve Friday the defense establishment's advice to begin taking steps to reduce Israel's ties with the Palestinian Authority as of Sunday, the day after the Hamas-led Palestinian parliament takes office.
The suggested measures include freezing further transfers of the tax revenues that Israel collects on behalf of the PA; banning the entry of workers from the Gaza Strip into Israel and the movement of Palestinians between Gaza and the West Bank; and preventing transfers of military equipment to the PA from foreign countries, such as donations of armored personnel carriers and communications gear.
Other proposed steps include freezing plans to upgrade the crossing points between the territories and Israel as well as plans to build a port and airport in Gaza.
FULL STORY at
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/684030.html
Olmert reviews recommended sanctions on Hamas-led PA
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