The Israeli government and military have announced they will abide by terms
of a truce agreed to by former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres and
Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat, though officials say
Palestinians are giving no indication they will abide by them.
According to Israeli reports, the Israeli Defense Force announced earlier
today that it would abide by the Peres-Arafat agreement. In doing so, IDF
commanders have ordered some tanks and troops to pull back from
Palestinian-controlled areas and to ease some restrictions against key Gaza
and West Bank communities dominated by Palestinians.
Despite those moves, however, Palestinian gunmen have continued to fire on
Israeli army and security outposts in Jewish communities, officials in Tel
Aviv said today.
“IDF commanders report that tanks and armored personnel carriers have been
withdrawn from confrontation lines as promised,” IsraelWire news service
reported. “From the other side, not much has changed.”
The news service said Palestinians were continuing attacks in exchanges of
gunfire between IDF and PA forces at Rachel’s Tomb, Nablus, Tul Karem, Ayosh
Junction, Gilo, Shdema Base and P’sagot.
IsraelWire said no injuries had been reported today.
Meanwhile, the two victims of a car bomb attack on a popular Jerusalem
market, allegedly by Palestinian militants, were identified late Thursday by
Israeli security officials.
Dead are Chanan Levy, 34, a resident of Jerusalem who worked in the Clal
Building directly next to the site of the attack, and Ayelet HaShahar Levy,
28, the daughter of Rabbi Yitzhak Levy, the head of the National Religious
Party. She is being laid to rest tonight.
The victims were not related, officials said.
Late Thursday, one Israeli civilian was lightly wounded in a drive-by
shooting attack near the community of Maale Ephraim in Samaria. Israeli
security personnel said the victim had been evacuated and treated at a
nearby hospital.
