Israeli troops to withdraw for election
Mr Mofaz also said it was in Israel’s interest to co-ordinate next year’s planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip with the Palestinians - a marked departure from Israel’s initial insistence to act unilaterally.
The Islamic militant group Hamas and gunmen with ties to the ruling Fatah movement claimed responsibility for Sunday’s attack on an army outpost on the Gaza-Egypt border. The militants detonated 1.5 tonnes of explosives, killing five soldiers and wounding five. Hamas said it had dug a 730-metre tunnel in four months to reach the outpost.
The outpost attack was seen as a challenge to Yasser Arafat’s moderate successor, Mahmoud Abbas, who has been trying to persuade militants to halt attacks on Israelis ahead of presidential elections January 9.
Mr Abbas has criticised the armed Palestinian uprising and enjoys the support of the international community.
Mr Mofaz said Israeli troops would withdraw from Palestinian towns a day before the vote, and stay out for 72 hours.
Israel has said it would do its utmost to facilitate the vote, but the defence minister’s comments were the most detailed yet on troop redeployment.
Palestinian Cabinet minister Saeb Erekat said Israeli troops should leave immediately to allow candidates to campaign.
He also said Israel should lift travel bans it imposed on Palestinians after the September 2000 outbreak of fighting.
Regarding a possible truce, Hamas has not given Mr Abbas any guarantees.
However, it has limited its attacks to the Gaza Strip in recent weeks as part of what appears to be a tacit agreement not to carry out bombings inside Israel.
However, Hamas and other militants have stepped up attacks on Israeli soldiers and settlers in Gaza in recent months.
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