An Israeli spokesman rejected an appeal by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan for an armed multinational force in the Palestinian territories, saying such a force was inappropriate and would be in danger from Palestinian “extremists.”
"In the present situation we do not believe that an international presence could be useful," said government spokesman Avi Pazner. "We are not in a position where two armies or countries are facing each other. On the one side, we have a law-abiding army and on the other a terrorist organisation which would not hesitate to hit us or the international force," he told AFP.
"It would dangerous also for them," said Pazner. "We do not want it and I think also the United States do not want it," he said.
Israel has repeatedly voiced its objections to the deployment of a multinational force to try to defuse the crisis between it and armed Palestinian groups.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has recently said he could accept a small US observer team. (Albawaba.com)
