Analysis: Sharon's new tactics

Israel imposes its presence in Palestinian zones

By defence correspondent Jonathan Marcus

The Israeli army's decision to establish a number of outposts inside Palestinian-controlled areas of Gaza marks an important shift in the Sharon government's efforts to contain the Palestinian intifada.

Initially the Israel Defence Force has taken over a small number of buildings just inside Palestinian territory.

Ariel Sharon risks exacerbating tensions further

The army claims that this is a wholly defensive measure and that these are locations from which attacks have been launched against Israeli targets.

But while the extent of the incursions may be small, their political significance is immense.

They are a signal that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is willing to countenance new measures in an effort to stem the continuing Palestinian violence.

And they risk exacerbating tensions between Israel and its principal ally the United States.

Over recent weeks, Israeli troops have frequently been operating inside territory already ceded to the Palestinians. But these have generally been temporary incursions.

Last month, an initial Israeli move into the Beit Hanoun area of the Gaza Strip brought an unusually stern rebuke from Washington and the Israeli units were rapidly withdrawn.

However since then such incursions have become common-place and a clear pattern has been established.

Israeli troops - often responding to Palestinian mortar fire - move into Palestinian territory destroying orchards and buildings.

Ostensibly this is to remove cover from which attacks can be launched but is widely seen by Palestinians simply as punishment.

There has been strong pressure on the Sharon government, both from sections of the military and from conservative military commentators, to take firmer action.

The former Israeli Defence Minister, Moshe Arens, this week advocated just such a seizure of key locations that overlook Jewish settlements or Israeli territory.

He said there was "no reason to occupy Palestinian cities" but that there was every reason "to disregard the lines drawn at Oslo" to ensure the safety of Israeli citizens.

Israeli clashes with Palestinians are increasing

But the problem is that the call for more effective military action by the Israeli right clearly has a diplomatic and political down-side.

The violence in the region is increasingly taking on the look of a low-level war. Israeli helicopters have again hit Palestinian security targets in the northern Gaza Strip.

It is increasingly unclear if the Palestinian Authority and its institutions are seen by Israel as a serious negotiating partner or as a military enemy.

Diplomatic opening

But this is a conflict that Israel - for all its overwhelming technical superiority - cannot win in purely military terms.

Some sort of diplomatic opening is needed and the violence from both sides seems to be preventing any glimmer of progress.

The United States, unwilling to be drawn too deeply into a diplomatic quagmire, may have little choice. It badly wants Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to control elements under his command.

But it is also trying to impress upon Mr Sharon that in the face of Palestinian attacks, the US will only countenance a proportionate Israeli response.