Israel Freezes Diplomatic Process with Palestinians

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, August 11, 2003

Israel Freezes Diplomatic Process with Palestinians

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Israel has frozen the diplomatic process with the Palestinians because it can not tolerate the security situation in Palestinian areas, Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom told Israel Radio on Sunday.

"The extremist groups are making this time to dig tunnels, smuggle weapons, train forces, try to increase the range of their Qassam (rockets), move the missiles to the West Bank," Shalom said.

"Israel of course cannot accept these activities," said the foreign minister, "so all of diplomatic process now is on hold."

In another interview with Israel Army Radio, Shalom accused the Palestinians of failing to fulfill their responsibilities of disarming militant groups as required by roadmap peace plan.

"The current situation from our point of view is virtually intolerable," said the foreign minister.

On Sunday, Moshe Ya'alon, chief of staff of Israel Defense Forces, told the Israeli cabinet although Palestinian militant groups want to maintain the ceasefire, Israel was not a partner to the ceasefire and therefore the Israeli forces would continue operations in those areas in which the Palestinian National Authority has not taken security responsibility.

In another development, Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas warned Sunday that Israel should take the responsibility if the ceasefire collapses, because it has gone from killing to killing, Israel Radio reported.

Palestinian militants fired two anti-tank rockets at Israeli tanks in the Gaza Strip early in the day. No injuries were reported.

Two top Hamas figures were killed at the Askar refugee camp in the West Bank city of Nablus on Friday and Hamas has vowed to revenge the Israeli aggression.

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