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Jerusalem, 28 July 2002
Statement from PM Sharon's Bureau
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon today (Sunday), July 28, 2002, appointed
Foreign Minister Shimon Peres as minister responsible for
coordinating all activities to assist the civilian population in the
Palestinian Authority territories; Minister Peres will ensure that
the activities of all aid agencies is comprehensive, uninterrupted
and as unimpaired as possible. In this task, he will be assisted by a
professional team under his direction.
Within the framework of the steps being taken by Israel, Prime
Minister Sharon today instructed the IDF and the other Israeli
security services to work toward the facilitation of daily life for
the civilian population not involved in terrorism. This will be
manifested in ways such as the limiting of curfew hours; the partial
lifting of roadblocks; the easing of conditions for entry into Israel
by businessmen and merchants; the simplifying of inspection
procedures for Palestinians employed in Israel; the expansion of
fishing zones in the Gaza Strip; the improved passage of public
transportation; the enabling of free passage - as much as possible -
for international aid organizations, and permitting 12,000
Palestinians to work in Israel.
Prime Minister Sharon ordered that a portion of the tax funds being
withheld by Israel be immediately transferred to the Palestinian
Authority. These funds will be handed over to the personal
supervision of the Palestinian Minister of Finance, who has committed
to use them exclusively for the benefit of the Palestinian population
not involved in terrorism.
Prime Minister Sharon reiterated that the State of Israel regrets the
hardship of the Palestinian people, caused by its corrupt and
irresponsible leadership. The Prime Minister emphasized that the
State of Israel will search for every possible way - under existing
security constraints - to improve the living conditions of the
Palestinian population not involved in terrorism.
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