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Security Heightened Around Israeli Minister in Light of Threats
The Israeli General Security Service has increased security around Internal Security Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami, after he was threatened by right-wing extremists for his involvement in the final-status talks.
Ben-Ami is heading the Stockholm channel of negotiations with the Palestinians with an aim to reach a framework agreement over the issues such as the fate of Jerusalem, the future of settlements, border, water resources and the refugees. The talks have been moved back to Israel.
Last week, a group of demonstrators gathered outside Ben Ami's residence, shouting threats against him. Ben-Ami said he was not frightened by the threats.
During a meeting with leaders of the right-wing Yesha Settlers' Council on Sunday, the minister raised the issue of threats against Prime Minister Ehud Barak, security around whom has reportedly been tightened.
Israel Radio Monday quoted sources in the General Security Service as saying that there has been no escalation of threats on the life of Barak and security around the prime minister has not been stepped up as it is already at its maximum level.
While meeting with Ben-Ami, settler leaders vowed to intensify protest actions to oppose any attempt to leave tens of thousands of Jewish settlers under Palestinian control in a final-status deal.
They, however, denounced all forms of violence or incitement, saying that anyone suspected of incitement should be arrested.
Barak last week revealed that he would try to keep 80 percent of the settlements in the West Bank under Israeli control in a future agreement with the Palestinians and called it a "historic achievement."
The Israelis and Palestinians have been engaged in two tracks of negotiations. One is targeting at the interim issues including the final redeployment of Israeli troops on the West Bank, the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and the opening of the northern passage between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
The other is aimed at outlining a framework agreement, which had missed the deadline twice, to guide the final-status talks.
In view of the slow progress on both tracks, both sides have been accusing the other of foot-dragging. To help overcome the snag in the talks, Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson arrived in Israel on Sunday to hold separate talks with Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
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