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Palestinians Slam Israeli Withdrawal as a ‘Swindle’
Tuesday, November 27, 2001
(20:13 GMT)
Islam Online & News Agencies

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has said he regards retired General Anthony Zinni’s mission to achieve a cease-fire as of "supreme importance."

GAZA CITY -- Source
The secretary of the Palestinian cabinet, Ahmed Abdel Rahman, on Tuesday denounced the Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank town of Jenin as a "swindle" designed to curry favor with a visiting U.S. peace delegation.

"This is a swindle. This is not a withdrawal, it's a redeployment, because Israeli forces are still surrounding Jenin," said Abdel Rahman, after the Israeli army said it had completed its withdrawal from the northern West Bank town, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

"There are still checkpoints and tanks, there are still assassinations, entries into Palestinian villages and cities," added Abdel Rahman. "Nothing has changed on the ground in the daily life of the Palestinians."

"They did it because of the international pressure on Israel to withdraw" from Palestinian land, he said, referring to U.S.-led calls for Israel to leave so-called Area A zones, which are deemed to be under full Palestinian control.
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