Gilad: Goodwill gestures to PA won't compromise Israeli security
By JPOST.COM STAFF
Goodwill gestures to the Palestinian Authority pledged by Defense Minister Ehud Barak will not compromise Israeli security, the Defense Ministry's Diplomatic-Security Bureau chief Amos Gilad said on Thursday.
Gilad told Army Radio Israel was taking a calculated risk in order to ease the lives of Palestinians in the West Bank, but would do so while maintaining security. "It can always be claimed that everything is infinitely dangerous, but we are currently working with positive forces," he said.
Gilad added that a complete list of the gestures Barak intends to make will be publicized within two days. These were expected to include the deployment of 600 Palestinian security personnel currently training in Jordan in Jenin, the opening of a VIP lane at West Bank checkpoints and exempting Palestinian businessmen who are approved by the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) from inspections.