RAMALLAH, 5 May 2005 — Two Palestinian youths were shot dead by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank yesterday as Israel froze the planned handover of West Bank towns to the Palestinians.
Israel accused Palestinian security forces of failing to honor commitments to disarm fighters in areas already under their control.
The developments were the latest signs of trouble for an already strained cease-fire.
Palestinian security and hospital officials said Israeli soldiers shot and killed the two 17-year-old cousins after nightfall yesterday.
The security officials said the youths were throwing rocks at troops guarding the wall Israel is building near the village of Beit Lakia when the soldiers opened fire.
The Palestinian Authority issued a statement calling the killings a violation of the cease-fire. The truce, declared Feb. 8, has considerably reduced violence, but isolated incidents continue.
Palestinian officials called the decision to stop the handover of towns “unfortunate” and said they had struck a deal to collect the fighters’ weapons, despite a top commander’s announcement yesterday that he has no plans to disarm the gunmen by force.
Under the cease-fire agreement, Israel pledged to pull its forces out of five West Bank towns, while the Palestinians promised to disarm the fighters. But Israel has pulled out of only two of the towns, Jericho and Tulkarm.
Israel has repeatedly said it is not moving forward because the Palestinians have failed to crack down on gunmen in these areas. During yesterday’s meeting of the Security Cabinet, a group of senior government ministers, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz confirmed he has frozen the process, participants said.
Senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat called the Israeli move “a very unfortunate approach and decision.” He said the Palestinians have been in touch with fighters wanted by Israel and received pledges for them to halt violence.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has refused to confront the fighters, opting instead for persuasion and compromise. However, he has used tougher language in recent days, saying he would use an “iron fist” against those violating the cease-fire.
— With input from agencies
