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Dahlan:
Dahlan, who was speaking to journalists in Gaza City about the coordination of the withdrawal with the Israeli side, said that the coordination would focus on three issues; the Rafah border terminal, the safe passage between Gaza and the West Bank, the Gaza airport and harbor. The Minister also added that coordination was also being made about the assets inside the illegal Israeli settlements to be evacuated by Israel, while another point of coordination was the legal status of Gaza Strip and northern West Bank after the withdrawal. Dahlan confirmed that the Israeli side continued to stall in the coordination process, pointing out that the Palestinian Authority has demanded full information from the Israeli side on the settlement assets but didn't receive anything from the long list of demands they've handed over to Israel. "In principle, Israel will evacuate the crossings, but details about that was not discussed and they didn't give clear answers about it. the Israeli government will keep the Karni [commercial] crossing working as it is now but with introducing some advanced technologies," Dahlan told reporters. He hinted that Israel was not interested in having contiguity between Gaza and the West Bank, saying they preferred the current situation to remain as it is after the withdrawal. "The Israeli government doesn't understand the issue of the [Gaza international] airport and they don't want us to use it or fix it or even reuse it after their upcoming withdrawal." Concerning the smuggling operations across the Egyptian borderline, Dahlan affirmed that a third party should be involved in this issue, adding that the Palestinians' only condition was to clear the border crossings from any Israeli presence. The Civil Affairs Minister maintained that the PA has offered all the Palestinian factions to join them in coordinating the withdrawal and prepare for the upcoming Israeli moves. "These factions have not given responses yet, as they don't have a decision yet to participate in working with us," Dahlan said, stressing that the window of opportunity was still open for everyone. Dahlan reiterated Prime Minister Ahmad Qurei's call to political participation in forming a government of national unity, which included all factions, pointing out that the Palestinian leadership was ready to consider any faction who wants to join.
Source: IPC + Agencies
Director-General: presscenter@sis.gov.ps
Diskin: www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/593966.html The head of the Shin Bet security services, Yuval Diskin, said on Wednesday that Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas had more power in the PA than he claims to possess. Speaking during a security cabinet meeting, Dichter said that "there is no calm on the ground, only a temporary lull," and that the Palestinian militant groups are waiting to see how the disengagement from the Gaza Strip and the northern West Bank unfolds. Mossad chief Me'ir Dagan said during the meeting that Syria's President Basha al-Assad's position was considerably weakened. Dagan and Diskin both expressed their concern over the Lebanon-based Hezbollah's attempts to carry out attacks in Israel.
Civil Service Commission to
Investigate Brig.-Gen. (res.) Eival Giladi's
Contract Arie Grinblatt, Spokesperson of the Civil Service Commission, told IMRA today that the Civil Service Commission will investigate the arrangements under which Brig.-Gen. (res.) Eival Giladi is currently serving as Director of the Strategic Coordination Staff in the Prime Minister's Office and taking a lead role in the disengagement from Gaza. Giladi is currently also serving as the professional manager of the Israel office of Portland Trust - the office that is handling Portland Trust's Gaza investment projects. Grinblatt noted that Giladi is not an employee of the Government of Israel and thus not normally the concern of the Civil Service Commission but that the Civil Service Commission will investigate the arrangements under which Giladi is providing services now to the Prime Minister's Office. IMRA asked the Civil Service Commission yesterday what measures have been taken to insure that there is no conflict of interest in Giladi holding both positions at the same time.
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