Israelis were bewildered over the weekend by a series of contradictory reports on the status of land development work in the Rafah salient and other parts of northern Sinai. Reports that the Defense Ministry had called a halt to those operations because of the latest crisis with the U.S. on the Sinai settlements issue were denied by the Defense Ministry late yesterday.
It was learned this morning, however, that Defense Minister Ezer Weizman had indeed ordered a cessation of all land development work in Sinai two weeks ago, prior to his departure for the second phase of military talks in Cairo. Weizman acted in accordance with a Cabinet decision at that time and relayed his orders through the military government.
But Weizman’s chief aide, Deputy Defense Minister Mordechai Zippori, was, for unknown reasons, not aware of those orders as of yesterday and the denial apparently was issued on his instructions. On the other hand, settlers at Yamit and other sites in northern Sinai knew of Weizman’s instructions.
The situation was further complicated when Minister of Agriculture Ariel Sharon, who is in direct charge of settlement work, claimed yesterday that he was unaware of any government decision to discontinue work in northern Sinai. Nevertheless, on the basis of the best information available this morning, land development operations in Sinai are suspended.
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