Friday, May 10, 2002
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By Hasan Suroor
The British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, who was expected to discuss the proposal with his European allies and the U.S., told Parliament that it was important to have a "verifiable security apparatus" in place in Palestinian territories to prevent more suicide bombings. He indicated that the proposed neutral international force could be on the same lines as the one that helped end the Israeli siege of Mr. Arafat's Ramallah headquarters. "We are prepared to work with the Palestinian Authority in any way possible to make sure they have the security apparatus that they require, and that that is properly enforced throughout the Palestinian Authority...we cannot have a situation where every time it seems as if there is some hope of political process, that hope is derailed by a terrorist attack," Mr. Blair said in the Commons denouncing Tuesday's suicide bombing, in which 15 Israelis were killed, as an "appalling outrage". The move, which follows British intervention in ending the siege of Mr. Arafat's headquarters and isolating a group of hardcore Palestinian militants, trapped in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, was seen to reflect Mr. Blair's bid to play a pro-active role in West Asia consistent with his high-profile diplomatic and military efforts in Afghanistan. The Guardian hinted at "speculation" that Britain might even offer to accept the 13 Palestinian militants whom Italy is reluctant to take, but there was no official confirmation. Political observers welcomed Mr. Blair's move saying the presence of neutral monitors would not only strengthen Mr. Arafat's hands in tackling militants but blunt the Israeli "propaganda" that he was not sincere about stopping them. Reports said the proposal envisaged "hundreds of outside monitors" spread "right across the Palestinian Authority". Mr. Blair was reported to be planning "urgent" talks with European leaders on the issue. In another development, the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, said Britain would review Britain's contribution to the E.U. funding of the Palestinian Authority following Israeli allegations that the money was being used to finance "terrorism" — a charge which Palestinians have denied. "We are reconsidering the money we are giving to the Palestinian Authority," he said, indicating that Britain would seek a firm assurance from Palestinian leaders that the money was not misused. The British contribution constitutes the bulk of the E.U. aid. Mr. Straw, who was on a visit to Washington, rejected the Israeli bid to isolate or remove Mr. Arafat saying: "We do not choose the leaders we deal with. We just have to deal with who we have got."
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