Page 40 - Signs of the End

4 THE SIGNS OF THE END

20 miles from Jerusalem, it is situated on the border with the
Kingdom of Jordan, and is close to the main crossing point, the
Allenby Bridge- It has remained relatively peaceful, though, and
apparently it w as felt that this quiet area w as a good starting
point for the establishment of Palestinian autonomy.

The first step is for the Israeli army to withdraw from these
two sites, as the Palestinians, under Arafat, go about setting up
autonomous control of governmental administration, taxation and
democratic elections. At least, that is the theory. Democracy is
something the Arab people know very little about, historically,
and time will tell how accurately these expectations actually
come to pass.

Gradual Withdrawal o f Israeli Army

The agreement then provides for the withdrawal of the Israeli
Army from the areas where the Palestinians establish autonomy
as it takes place, beginning in Gaza and Jericho. This may sound
easier than it is. The so-called West Bank, or, as the Israelis
prefer to call it by the biblical terms, Judea, Samaria and Gaza, is
really a checkerboard of Jewish settlements interspersed among
the Arab settlements. There are about as many Jewish settle­
ments as there are Arab settlements. It is therefore difficult to
withdraw security forces from one area without compromising
the welfare of another.

Furthermore, there is quite a lot of coming and going
throughout the West Bank by both the Israelis and Palestinians.
Many cars and trucks pass along the roads between the various
Jewish and Arab settlements. Who will patrol these roads and
maintain their security as the Israeli Army withdraws? The
Israeli government is saying they can work these problems out
as they develop, but there is considerable and understandable
concern about the solution of these serious practical problems.

"Give Peace a Chance"

The Israelis and the Palestinian Arabs are both highly
divided about the wisdom, practicality and desirability of this
peace agreement. The position of the ruling Labor Party