(12 Apr 1995) English/Nat
Right-wing leader Benjamin Netanyahu called on Israel's government Wednesday to shelve plans for a military withdrawal from the West Bank in response to a wave of suicide bombings by Islamic militants.
However, during a debate in the country's Parliament - the Knesset - Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin reaffirmed his commitment to continuing negotiations with the Palestinians for a troop pullback and elections in the West Bank.
Anti-government protests were held overnight outside Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's residence in Jerusalem and environment minister Yossi Sarid's home in Tel Aviv.
About 500 right wingers demonstrated outside Sarid's home. They carried signs, flags and torches, and chanted slogans against Rabin and the remarks Sarid made calling for the removal of Gaza strip settlements.
This speaker summed up their mood.
SOUNDBITE:
"You promised us peace and you gave us war. You promised us life and you gave us death. You promised us tranquillity and you gave us terror.
SUPER CAPTION: Protester
The Palestinian Authority, under continued pressure from the Israeli government to control Islamic fundamentalist activity originating in Gaza, has made a number of significant steps to crack down on members of the Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements.
In the current crackdown, Arafat's forces have arrested more than 150 activists from the groups, which claimed responsibility for Sunday's bombings and other attacks as part of a campaign to undermine the Israel-P-L-O peace process.
The Palestinian Minister of Planning explains the situation.
SOUNDBITE:
"We are not happy with arrests, we are not happy with security cordon, we are not happy with any of this in normal times. Until Hamas, Jihad and everybody commits itself to the respect of the peace agreement we have to take the measures necessary to protect the national interest."
SUPER CAPTION: Nabil Sha'ath, Palestinian Minister of Planning
Tension on the streets of Gaza is high with security police presence strongly felt and police quick to draw their weapons.
The Israeli parliament held a special session Wednesday, interrupting its Spring recess for a debate on suicide attacks following the two bombings on Sunday in the Gaza Strip that killed eight people and wounded more than 40.
During the stormy debate, right-wingers shouted insults at Rabin, who sat red-faced at his table, accusing him of failing to protect Jews.
Benjamin Netanyahu summed up the right-wing view.
SOUNDBITE:
"Arafat is a very weak reed indeed. He gives cover to Hamas and makes a pretense of fighting them, but effectively allows them to attack us with impunity. We would return the responsibility of fighting terrorism to the Israeli army that's where it belongs we would give them the freedom of action to do what is required."
SUPER CAPTION: Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of the Likud opposition]
Parliament later voted 51 to 0 to hold another debate on the issue when it reconvenes after spring break in May.
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