Ha'aretz: Anxious settlers demand IDF reverse decision to cut West Bank troop strength

Ha'aretz Services (Bulletin) 6 November 2000

Officials of the YESHA settlers council are demanding that the army step up operations against Palestinian militants and Tanzim militiamen, and beef up its presence in the West Bank and Gaza, reversing a reported decision to trim troop strength in the embattled areas, Israel Radio reported Monday.

The settlers voiced fears that violence in the territories would only increase if the army thinned its presence, with the settlers as a prime target.

It said YESHA representatives learned of the planned troop reductions during a Sunday meeting with overall West Bank commander Major General Yitzhak Eitan.

The IDF Spokesman's office told the radio that there had not been a change in troop deployment, and that the decision would be made at the end of the month, following a re-assessment of the situation.