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To:            arutz-7@ArutzSheva.org
From:          Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@ArutzSheva.org>
Subject:       Arutz-7 News: Wednesday, January 5, 2000

Arutz Sheva News Service
  <http://www.arutzsheva.org>
Wednesday, January 5, 2000 / Tevet 27, 5760
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
  1.YESHA WITHDRAWAL BEGINS
  2. PROTECTING MOTHER
  3. BEHIND THE SIGNS
  4. OPPOSITION
  5. PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED

1.YESHA WITHDRAWAL BEGINS
Two army bases have already been handed over to the Palestinian Authority today, as part of the 5% of Judea, Binyamin, and Samaria being abandoned to the PA today and tomorrow.  Arutz-7 correspondent Haggai Huberman reports that four more army bases will be evacuated in the withdrawal, which involves 2.2% of Yesha in the Judean Desert and a further 0.8% in other areas; these will come under Palestinian administrative control.  An additional 2% in the Bir Zeit region will come under total Palestinian control. Huberman reports that there will be no concrete effect on the lives of Jews in the area, "but after the next withdrawal, from an additional 6.1% of Yesha two weeks from now, the communities of Beit Haggai and Otniel south of Hevron will become enclaves surrounded by Palestinian territory." 

For the first time, there will be territorial contiguity between two Palestinian Authority cities, Huberman said:  "A road paved to Har Eval only a year ago by the IDF was given over to the PA today.  Arabs will now be able to travel around Mt. Eval directly from Shechem to Jenin over roads that are all under at least PA administrative control, if not full control."  When asked what made the Palestinians finally and suddenly agree to accept the current withdrawal, Huberman explained:

"Barak has apparently made a great concession for the next pullback two weeks from now, which is the last stage of what is known as the second withdrawal.  The third withdrawal - until now said to be only 1% - is still to be determined.  Originally the extent and the locations of the withdrawals were to be unilaterally decided by Israel; Netanyahu gave in on allowing the Palestinians a say in determining the amount of area to be handed over, and now Barak has apparently given in and allowed them a say in determining the exact locations to be handed over.  This means that Israel will show them the maps as they are being formulated, and will adjust them in consideration of Palestinian demands.  Another concession made by Barak for the next withdrawal is that the PA will receive the control of land close to Jerusalem, such as A-Ram in the north and possibly Abu Dis in the south-east.  Even Beit Hanina, which is officially part of
Jerusalem, will come under PA control, and the Palestinians will have a share in running the Atarot airport [in northern Jerusalem]." 

Huberman's report was affirmed by journalist Nadav Shragai in Ha'aretz today.  Shragai wrote that Israel has agreed to a form of Palestinian administrative control over almost all aspects of day-to-day life in the northern Jerusalem neighborhoods of Shuafat and Beit Hanina.  The Israeli delegation to the talks has reportedly adopted the conception of "two Jerusalems," one Israeli - including the post-1967 Jewish neighborhoods - and one Arab.

Residents of the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood, which borders on the Arab neighborhood of Beit Hanina, have begun to organize in an effort to thwart the plans.  The hareidi Ramat Shlomo lies between French Hill and Ramot.

2. PROTECTING MOTHER
Arutz-7's Ariel Kahane spoke with Shuki Lax, one of a group of grass-roots activists who demonstrated last night in the Tel Aviv area against the suddenly-announced withdrawal from Judea and Samaria.  Lax explained:

"We heard the news last night relatively late, so that we couldn't organize ourselves in a more massive manner as we usually do, but I and several friends could not bear to sit quietly by when our land is being torn out from under us.  It is simply being given to our sworn enemies, whom we know - from reading the right publications and listening to the right stations - that they have never ceased their hatred and incitement against us, and continue to spread among their populations a call for the liquidation of the State of Israel..."

Kahane asked, "What will you tell those who agree with you but feel that there is no purpose to demonstrate because it won't work?"  Lax responded:

"I would say first of all that if the honor of their mother was being trampled upon, they would not ask themselves how effective it would be to protest - the first thing they would do would be to scream out and demand justice, without regard to whether it will work or not.  How would they ever be able to tell their mother that they love her, if they sat by quietly while her honor was trampled in their presence and did nothing? All their excuses afterwards wouldn't help!  Whoever loves his mother is not able to be silent while she is being hurt.  Whoever suffices with the
question, 'What will it help?' apparently does not feel deeply enough the injustice of this act, and does not feel personally betrayed...  Secondly, even those who are carrying out these withdrawals are not 100% sure of what they are doing.  It's not as if they are sure what the future will bring, and that there will certainly be peace forever afterwards.  Such that our rallies and protests shake their confidence."

3. BEHIND THE SIGNS
The two slogans "Uprooting Settlements Tears the Nation Apart" and "The Nation with the Golan" appear in giant signs, side by side, in many intersections throughout the country.  Arutz-7's Effie Meir reports on the story behind the signs:

"The two slogans represent a basic dispute between the Yesha and Golan camps.  The Yesha people are torn between the desire to help out in the struggle for the Golan and the need to ensure that attention is not diverted from the no-less-burning struggle over the withdrawals from Judea and Samaria.  For this reason, the Yesha Council sought a slogan that would unite it with the Golan people - and in fact came up with "Uprooting Settlements Tears the Nation Apart."  However, the Golan Residents Committee did not wish to cooperate, preferring to stick with a slogan that would emphasize the Golan.  'The Golan is our recognized brand name, and we can't afford to give it up,' explained GRC spokesman Uri Heitner.  But this explanation camouflages the old fear of an ideological bear hug on the part of the Yesha settlers.  Many of the Golan residents do not wish themselves, or their struggle, to be associated with Yesha...  The search is on in the Golan for a replacement for the old slogan "The Nation with the Golan," as the first attempt at a new Golan slogan - "I am with the Golan" - has been declared a failure."

4. OPPOSITION
Yesha Council Chairman Benny Kashriel told Arutz-7 today:

"The public is totally confused and bewildered, because it sees the government giving away territories left and right, to the Syrians and to the Palestinians, and they simply don't know how to react.  We are planning to convene a body of local municipal leaders on behalf of Jerusalem.  We are merely waiting until the giant Golan rally on Monday, and immediately afterwards, we will all gather to begin the struggle - not just to talk, but the actual struggle itself.  This will involve leaders of all the surrounding communities:  Adam, Nofei P'rat, Mitzpeh Yericho, Givat Ze'ev,
Efrat, Beitar, Almon (Anatot), etc.  We want Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert to head the struggle.  He is the most natural choice, since they're actually detaching neighborhoods of his city, and separating the capital from its surrounding communities.  Olmert told me a couple of days ago that for him, the red line is when they start giving away Abu Dis and A-Ram to Palestinian control, and that he will then begin a public struggle.  That time is very near."

An interview in English with Kashriel, conducted today by Arutz-7's Ron Meir, can be heard at www.a7.org/engclips/050100/cashriel-jer.ram.
 
Opposition to a withdrawal from the Golan continues to spread to many elements not identified with the Israeli right wing.  In a full-page ad in today's Ma'ariv newspaper, a heterogeneous group of some 35 writers, professors, and other intellectuals writes:  "True peace is not electronic early warning stations, or ceremonies and signatures of diplomats...  A true lasting peace with Syria requires mutual concessions, but before anything else, the Golan must be made a region of peace and partnership for both nations. It is permissible for a state to give up its sovereignty - but it is forbidden for a state to transfer its citizens unwillingly, whether they are Jews, Arabs or Druze...  For the benefit of both nations, let us wait for Syria to establish a regime and society that is ready for a true peace." 

One of the statement's signatories, left-of-center writer Eyal Megged, told Arutz-7 today that his problem is not with Israel's transferring Golan sovereignty to another country, "but with the nature of a peace that is based on transfers and the destruction of settlements.  My concern is what such a process indicates about the Syrian intention to establish a real peace.  I felt I had to raise my voice, to declare that we are not all a flock of naive or, worse, stupid people!"  Megged contrasted the late Egyptian President Anwar Sadat's "ice-breaking visit" to Jerusalem with the "stone-faced Syrians who think that they are doing us a favor by agreeing to take the Golan.  Here we are, already setting up for the referendum - we're basically telling the Syrians that the whole issue is closed, finalized, that they have nothing to worry about.  This is stupid! Are we giving the Syrians the Golan just to pay off some of Barak's election debts?  To satisfy the appetite of some sort of 'Molekh' god - a false messiah disguising itself as a true peace?"

5. PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED
The heavy rains that began in Israel two nights ago continue in force. Some residents of flooded homes in Jaffa have been evacuated, while others were trapped for hours; traffic lights in downtown Tel Aviv have been knocked out of service, and miles of traffic jams developed on various highways.  Snowstorms are raging in the Golan - some two feet of snow have piled up on the highest peak of Mt. Hermon - and snow has begun to fall in the Galilee.  The Sea of Galilee has risen by five centimeters. 

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From:          Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@ArutzSheva.org>
Subject:       Arutz-7 News: Thursday, January 6, 2000

Arutz Sheva News Service
  <http://www.arutzsheva.org>
Thursday, January 6, 2000 / Tevet 28, 5760
------------------------------------------------

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
  1. IS IT A DONE DEAL?
  2. MAJORITY AGAINST WITHDRAWAL
  3. TURKEY AGAINST SYRIA
  4. ARUTZ-7 LAW IN DANGER

1. IS IT A DONE DEAL?
The Israeli-American-Syrian talks in Shepherdstown continue to limp along without apparent developments, and the Syrians continue to refuse to meet face-to-face with the Israelis without American chaperones.  It has been learned that a section of the video of Clinton, Barak, and A-Shara walking together on a bridge was censored: the scene in which A-Shara purposely turned his back to Barak was cut.  The Americans have called a halt in the meetings of the various working groups, but no explanation was provided. U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright reportedly exerted heavy pressure on the sides over the night to reach agreements. 

Despite the fact that American and Israeli officials have privately expressed pessimism about the talks, right-wing politicians in Israel remain convinced that the pace and results of the talks have been pre-determined, and that the dramatic ups and downs of the talks are merely a pretense.  Journalist David Bedein, in Shepherdstown, told Arutz-7's Ron Meir last night that Israeli government officials have told Jewish-American organizations that there was no need for them to demonstrate against the talks, as the outcome has already been essentially decided.

Golan Residents Committee leader Eli Malka does not accept the view that a deal has already been cut between Barak and A-Shara.  "This is a long process, and we must not give up," he told Arutz-7 today. "It is within our power to affect the results, and we can have an influence on what goes on in Shepherdstown, especially if Barak and Clinton see that large numbers of Israelis come out to our giant demonstration next Monday.  A strong showing there may also frazzle Assad, who, as you know, is not particularly hasty when it comes to signing agreements."  Malka added that the Golan organizations are not interested in having Likud leader Ariel Sharon speak at Monday's rally, because "we want to stress the fact that support for the Golan is above political concerns and transcends narrow political interests."

2. MAJORITY AGAINST WITHDRAWAL
"The Jewish public at this time lacks a majority in favor of full withdrawal from the Golan in return for a full peace agreement with Syria," according to a poll by the Tel Aviv University Steinmetz Center.  The 502 respondents were asked, "What is your position regarding support for a full peace treaty between Israel and Syria in exchange for withdrawal from the Golan Heights?"  Of these, 21,2% said they were "greatly" or "somewhat" in favor of the treaty, while 62.3% were "greatly" or "somewhat" against. 

More and more Labor party seniors, out of what MK Tzvi Hendel calls "fear that they will lose," have expressed their opposition to the holding of a referendum on the Golan.  These include Ministers Beilin and Ben-Ami, and, to a lesser extent, Minister Itzik and Knesset Speaker Burg.  Hendel, of the National Union party, said that the referendum is not a "favor" on the part of Barak, but is anchored in the Knesset Golan law.  He wryly predicted that the next step is likely to be the cancellation of the general elections, "out of Labor fear that they might lose."  Labor MK Avi Yechezkel differed with his Labor party colleagues on this issue, and said today that "the party has an obligation to adhere to its pre-election promises, especially since we are speaking of a historic move that will have an impact on the future of the State of Israel." 

Fears were expressed in a Labor party meeting today that public support for Barak's proposed Golan withdrawal is on the decrease.  The party is afraid that the investigations into the Weizman-Sarousi gift scandal, the fictitious organizations of Ehud Barak's campaign, and Histadrut Labor Union chief MK Amir Peretz, together with the increasing level of poverty, will contribute to the referendum's failure.  Labor figures realize that the Likud's proposal for a 61% majority to pass the referendum has great public support, and therefore plans to appeal against it to the Supreme Court if it is passed by the Knesset.

3. TURKEY AGAINST SYRIA
The Sydney Morning Herald reported this week that Turkey has appealed to the United States not to take Syria off the State Department list of countries supporting terrorism, as part of a peace treaty with Israel. Turkey says removing Syria from the list is out of the question as long as Damascus continues to allow bases of the rebel Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) on Syrian soil.  The camps have been used to plan PKK attacks in its struggle to establish a Kurdish state in eastern Turkey.  Turkey, which has close military ties with Israel and the U.S., has also expressed its concern about the implications of a peace treaty for the region's water resources.

4. ARUTZ-7 LAW IN DANGER
The Ministerial Legislative Committee will vote Sunday on a new government bill aimed at annulling last May's "Arutz-7 Law" and replacing it with a bill establishing three special-interest radio
stations.  Communications Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer explained to the Knesset yesterday that the bill's goal is to solve the long-standing problem of the lack of licensed stations representing the hareidi and Yesha publics.  Arutz-7 correspondent Ariel Kahane reports, however, that some committee members - such as Ministers Natan Sharansky (Yisrael B'Aliyah), Rabbi Yitzchak Levy (NRP), and Shlomo Benizri (Shas) - appear to be convinced that the government's purpose is merely to overturn the law licensing Arutz-7 and grant its license to another body from Judea and Samaria instead. 

Justice Minister Yossi Beilin, chairing the ministerial committee meeting yesterday, opened it by demanding that an aide to Minister Benizri leave the room since he [the aide] "broadcasts regularly on one of the unlicensed religious stations."  Benizri declared, "I, too, regularly broadcast on one of these stations, and if he goes, so do I!" and stormed out of the meeting.  His party colleague, Minister Eli Yeshai, was ambivalent about the proposed bill, saying that he could not meaningfully discuss the issue or vote on it, as "Benizri is more familiar with the issues."

NRP leader Rabbi Yitzchak Levy objected to the long period of time - "probably 18 to 24 months," he said - between the immediate closing of existing stations, mandated by the bill, and the opening of new ones. Minister Sharansky said that the bill does not relate to the needs of Russian immigrants, and in any event, "Arutz-7 must not be closed in the interim period before the formation of the new stations.  Closing Arutz-7 specifically at this time when the Golan is at stake will create the impression of 'shutting mouths.'"  Attorney Didi Lachman-Messer represented the State Prosecution.  "You're all lawbreakers and deserve to be closed down," she shouted.  MK Benny Elon (National Union) told the Knesset that "the new bill is just  a cover for a deliberate effort to close down Arutz-7."

Earlier today, Shas called an urgent meeting on the matter, and rumors were rampant that the party might initiate a new coalition crisis over the issue.  MK Tzvi Hendel (National Union) was skeptical that this would happen, however.  He told Arutz-7 today that a deal has already been struck between Communications Minister Ben-Eliezer and Minister Benizri, and that one of three new stations would be given to Shas. "Benizri can have the best of both worlds," Hendel lamented.  "Knowing that there will be a majority in the committee in favor of the bill, Shas can vote against it in the committee, thus gaining points for him with the NRP, Arutz-7, and others, and he is nevertheless guaranteed a new station."

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From:          Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@ArutzSheva.org>
Subject:       Arutz-7 News Brief:  Friday, December 7, 2000

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.ArutzSheva.org>
Friday, January 7, 2000 / Tevet 29, 5760
------------------------------------------------

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
  1. SYRIAN MEDIA NERVOUS ABOUT NORMALIZATION
  2. YESHA RESIDENTS TAKE TO THE STREETS
  3. US RABBINICAL LEADER VISITS YESHA
  4. FROM BE'ER SHEVA TO KIRYAT GAT
  5. YESHA COMMUNITIES WEANED OF IDF SUPPORT
  6. STORMY SHABBAT ANTICIPATED


1. SYRIAN MEDIA NERVOUS ABOUT NORMALIZATION
One of the topics to be discussed at the Shepherdstown talks - normalization of relations between Syria and Israel - has not yet caught on in Syria.  So reports the Middle East Research and Media Institute http://www.memri.org citing a January 1st article in the Syrian Arab Writers' Association weekly, Al-'Usbu' Al-Adabi.

Following are some excerpts from the piece, which analyzes Israel's process of normalization with Egypt:

  *"The Zionist embassy in Cairo has been a den of spies since day one.

....Then, the 'Academic Center for Israeli Studies was established. This center brought the works of weaklings to Egyptian society, especially in the fields of economy and culture, and even regarding Egyptian family, marriage, divorce, military service, unemployment, etc.... Externally, it look likes an academic research [institution], but in reality, it is [one of] espionage and Zionist plots, aimed at destroying the fabric of Egyptian society..."

*"Even the Egyptian soil is not safe from the Satanic war waged by Zionism [against the Arabs]. Tens of thousands of tons of seeds were sent [to Egypt] through agricultural deals with the Zionist Entity. These seeds destroyed the Egyptian soil, rendering part of it infertile."

*"It is no wonder that all honorable Arabs and most of our own people in Egypt blame the Zionist enemy for the Egyptian airplane crash in the US sky, because this airplane had 33 military officers of various ranks on board, most of whom were pilots. These pilots had finished their training on the most modern fighters and the Zionists saw them as a threat to their [security] and their goals of weakening the Arabs and paralyzing their [military] capability."

2. YESHA RESIDENTS TAKE TO THE STREETS
The Council for Jewish Communities in Judea and Samaria (Yesha) today called on Yesha residents and supporters to bodily prevent Yasser Arafat's convoy from traversing Jerusalem on its way from Ramallah to Bethlehem. The Yesha Council is concerned that entry to Jerusalem for Arafat would set a dangerous precedent leading to his ultimate access to the Old City and Temple Mount.  Explaining the council's urgent plea, its spokesman said: "If blocking of roads is permissible for truckers in protest of an increase in diesel fuel prices, it is also legitimate for those who object to the entry of a dangerous enemy to Israel's capital." 

On Wednesday of this week, Gush Etzion residents gathered along the highway from Hevron to Bethlehem in order to block Arafat's vehicle from entering the area.  In response, Israeli authorities delivered Arafat to his destination by way of a back route.  Arutz-7 correspondent Kobi Sela notes that Arafat made his way from Ramallah to Gaza three days ago via "little Israel."  Security officials said both then and today that "inclement weather conditions" did not permit Arafat to travel by helicopter.

3. US RABBINICAL LEADER VISITS YESHA
Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva University in New York Rabbi Hershel Schachter visited Judea and Samaria yesterday and delivered a Talmudic lecture in Hebrew at the Bet El Yeshiva Center.  Speaking with Arutz-7's Yedidya Atlas, Rabbi Shachter reaffirmed his halakhic (Jewish legal) position that it is forbidden to give up parts of the Land of Israel to a foreign entity or to uproot Jewish communities.  A picture of Rabbi Shachter's visit is available on the Arutz Sheva website news page http:\\www.ArutzSheva.org.

4. FROM BE'ER SHEVA TO KIRYAT GAT
Police this morning accompanied a procession of some 30 vehicles - bearing posters objecting to a Golan giveaway - from Be'er Sheva to Kiryat Gat. Using a megaphone, the vehicles' occupants, including academics from Ben Gurion University of the Negev, elucidated to passersby the dangers of a Golan giveaway.  In related news, the giant Golan rally rescheduled for this Monday evening in Tel Aviv is picking up steam.  Golan Residents Committee spokesperson Marla Van Meter said today that organizers expect a massive crowd to be on hand, including
"citizens from all corners of the country, representing all political, ideological and religious views."

Golan-related polls indicate that a majority of Israelis oppose a full retreat from the region.  A survey conducted by Mina Tzemach this week, and published in today's Yediot Achronot, shows that 53% of all Israelis oppose a full withdrawal in exchange for "a full peace" with Syria, while 41% support such a move. On Sunday, opposition MKs will continue their efforts on behalf of a bill which, if passed, would require a special 60% referendum majority to sanction an Israeli retreat.

5. YESHA COMMUNITIES WEANED OF IDF SUPPORT
The IDF this week significantly reduced the number of soldiers guarding Yesha communities, prompting community leaders to increase the security burden on local residents.  An army spokesman told Arutz-7 correspondent Haggai Huberman that the change of IDF policy stemmed from budgetary constraints.

6. STORMY SHABBAT ANTICIPATED
Rain is expected to continue to fall later today, and will likely intensify over Shabbat.  Forecasters are predicting that the rainy weather conditions will last until Monday, including snowfall on Mt. Hermon in the Golan Heights.  While Israel has enjoyed one fifth of the average winter precipitation in the course of the week, the Chief Rabbinate has urged worshippers to continue reciting special daily prayers for rain.

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