Israel Creates Buffer Zone in W. Bank

Trying to seal itself off from Palestinian militants, Israel set up a large military buffer zone in the West Bank on Monday that is off limits to Palestinians except those who live in it.

Palestinians accused Israel of unilaterally changing the status of West Bank land in violation of previous peace accords.

“I consider this as a very dangerous escalation on the political and the military levels,” Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat said.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan also expressed concern, spokesman Fred Eckhard said in New York.

“The creation of such a zone will impose additional restrictions on the Palestinians’ movement,” Eckhard said.

“It is a unilateral and provocative act, contrary to the signed agreements between the Israelis and the Palestinians, and it can only undermine ongoing efforts to find a way out of the present crisis.”

The zone was established in the northern West Bank between the Palestinian towns of Jenin and Tulkarm. It abuts the so-called Green Line, the invisible boundary between Israel and the West Bank.

The army would not give the exact size of the zone, saying only that it is as much as 18 miles long and several miles wide.

Palestinians entering the zone without a special permit will be arrested and could face imprisonment, the army said.

Israeli officials say several Palestinian suicide bombers recently entered Israel from the northern West Bank. Dozens of Israelis were killed in the bombings.

Palestinian officials said the closed military area will be like a prison for those living in it.

The buffer zone is also a way to restrict illegal entry of Palestinian workers into Israel.