And it pledged to limit to 1 percent a future third withdrawal of Israeli troops from the occupied territories, required under the 1993 peace accord signed in Oslo, Norway. That agreement set the land-for-peace process in motion.
Foreign Minister Ariel Sharon, a retired general and ally of the nationalist, settler movement, characterized the government's actions as an attempt to rectify the "dreadful distortions" of the LTC Oslo accords.
"We achieved the very maximum of what was possible and that's the basic point to remember," said Sharon, who joined Netanyahu in a televised news conference.
"This is not an easy withdrawal. It's a very arduous, painful and difficult withdrawal," Sharon said.
But he assured the public that the Cabinet ministers "have made every possible effort" to protect Israel's security, the areas around Jerusalem, the country's water supply and places sacred to the Jews.
The list of Israeli conditions upset the Palestinians.
"This is a clear and serious violation of the Wye River agreement and we call on the American administration to come down to the area to observe who is implementing the agreement and who is not implementing," senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said.
Pub Date: 11/12/98
