Israeli authorities, having had second thoughts about the effectiveness of deporting Palestinians as a means of reducing tension in the territories, are trying to work out face-saving solutions for dealing with intifada activists.
Israel is considering substituting the expulsion of 11 Palestinians with a temporary deportation for a year or two — with the consent of the potential deportees — according to reports here.
Officials had decided in January to expel the 11, seven from the Gaza Strip and four from the West Bank. They were arrested during a spate of violent attacks on Jews and an increase in murders of Palestinian informers by fellow Palestinians.
But the judicial process of appeals moves slowly. Senior security officials have concluded that the deterrent effect of deportation is lost in the months it takes the appeals process to inch its way to the High Court of Justice.
Although the process has been exhausted in the cases of the 11 deportees who now may be expelled at any time, the authorities seem willing to get their consent to remain outside the country voluntarily for a year or two.
Past experience has shown that this kind of arrangement is often acceptable to the Palestinians. Only last week, a Palestinian was deported to Jordan with the understanding that he would be readmitted to Israeli-controlled territory after 18 months.
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