Major Reserve Call-Up Urged by Army

It's always called "The Peace Process" but more behind-the-scenes the whole Middle East region continues to be an arms bazaar with more weapons being sold to the countries in the area than ever before, most by American arms merchants and allies. The senior politicians, most of whom are also former Generals now in suits, are busy positioning their countries for possible warfare, Barak in fact having publicly warned the Israelis about this possibility even before the current election campaign. Even more than in the past, war preparations these days include substantial efforts to manipulation the media and position oneself politically and in terms of public opinion. Meanwhile there are also rumors that American military forces in both Europe and the Middle East are on higher alert status with plans being updated for further deployment in the region.

ISRAELI MILITARY CHIEFS DEMAND CALL UP OF RESERVES

[TEL AVIV - World Tribune - Wednesday, January 17]: Israel's military chiefs are pressing the government for a major mobilization of the reserves to allow many combat units of the standing army to leave the West Bank and Gaza Strip and train in preparation for a regional war.

The effort comes as the military is expressing frustration with government policy toward the Palestinians.

Meanwhile, Jewish settlers have joined the fighting between Israeli and Palestinian forces in the Gaza Strip, Middle East Newsline reported.

The settlers uprooted trees and torched greenhouses, cars and other property of Palestinians who neighbored the Gush Katif bloc of settlements in Gaza. The attack on Monday was in retaliation for the abduction and killing hours earlier of a Jewish settlers.

Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz and members of the General Staff have urged Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who is also defense minister, to order a major reserve call-up to ensure that the standing army is prepared for war this year. The military has termed 2001 as a "year of readiness" for regional war.

"The situation is very difficult because the process of training and preparation is vital to building the military," said Brig. Gen. Yiftah Ron, chief of staff of the Ground Forces Command. "And we will pay a heavy price for stopping training."

Military sources said the army began the mobilization late last month, moving up plans that were to have been implemented in March. The reservists will allow regular units to return to their base for two weeks of exercises as well as a week of rest.

The commanders said that after six months of being in the field, the troops are exhausted and are beginning to make mistakes. This includes excessive shooting toward Palestinians.

Less than one-third of the number of Israeli troops in the West Bank are reservists. In Gaza, about 15 percent are reservists. Military sources said commanders want to raise this percentage but Barak is said to be concerned that the deployment of insufficiently trained reservists could result in greater casualties.

Military sources said senior commanders in the West Bank and Gaza Strip are also frustrated over Barak's inconsistency in fighting the Palestinian revolt. The sources said Barak demands instant results after Palestinian attacks only to rescind security measures hours later when PA officials agree to cooperation. The sources said the cooperation is not implemented.

In Gaza, Israeli police arrived but failed to stop the settlers. Two settlers were arrested and were to be remanded in a court in Beersheba.

Settlement leaders said they have been under siege by Palestinian attacks over the past few months. They said Palestinians have regularly attacked Israeli motorists and property in Gaza settlements.

President Moshe Katsav and Israel's chief rabbis called on Jewish settlers to exercise restraint and not launch revenge attacks on Palestinians. "We call on all Israeli citizens not to take the law into their hands and to ensure restraint," Katsav said.

Overnight Tuesday, Palestinian forces held gun battles with Israeli troops in the Muwasi area, where settlers torched Arab property hours earlier. Gun battles were also reported around Khan Yunis and the Islamic opposition Hamas group asserted that a bombing attack destroyed two Israeli army jeeps.

The violence led to a decision by Israel to postpone talks on security cooperation and a peace accord with the Palestinian Authority. Palestinians said Israel has again divided Gaza into four sectors, closed border crossings and the airport and accused Jewish settlers of attacking a Palestinian motorist in the West Bank.

The rampage came as Fatah leaders said they would continue their attacks of Israeli positions in the Gaza Strip despite PA talks with Israel to restore security cooperation. The leaders said the effort is meant to stop Israel's occupation of Gaza.

At the same time, the Palestinian Authority said collaborators are surrendering to PA police in wake of the execution of two Palestinians over the weekend. The PA has offered a pardon to any Palestinian collaborator who surrenders and provides a full accounting of his activities for Israel.

PA officials said seven Palestinians have surrendered to authorities and have offered information on their relations with Israel.

The PA effort comes amid continued assassination attempts on Palestinian field commanders. On Tuesday, Palestinian sources said a suspected Palestinian collaborator, Murshid Kassem, was killed by PA agents.

Over the weekend, Israeli agents failed in an assassination attempt of Fatah secretary-general Yazid Huweihi. Huweihi heads the northern Gaza branch of the movement.