Israeli army prepares for fresh WB pullout

JERUSALEM. July 6: The Israeli army has drawn up detailed plans for further’ pullbacks from the West Bank in the expectation that new Prime Minister Ehud Barak will press ahead with implementing October's Wye River agreement, public radio reported Tuesday, reports AFP.

Chief of staff General Shaul Mofaz met with senior commanders last Thursday to discuss implementing the US-brokered Jand^for-security agreement with the Palestinians and examined various possible pullback maps, the radio said.

The agreement required Israel to withdraw from a further 13 per cent of the West Bank in three stages but outgoing prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu froze implementation in December after just one small pullback.

An army spokesman contacted by AFP declined to confirm or deny the radio report.

The Hebrew daily Haaretz reported that Barak intended to commit his government to implementing the Wye accord in full even though he would rather launch straight into negotiations on a final settlement with the Palestinians.

In policy guidelines made public Monday. Barak adopted the language of the outgoing right-wing government in insisting that his administration would implement peace agreements while ensuring the Palestinians also comply.

"The government will respect agreements Israel signed with the Palestinians and will insist that the Palestinians implement the agreements too." the guidelines said.