HHMI Newsgroup Archives
To: arutz-7@arutzsheva.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Wednesday, January 26, 2000
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.ArutzSheva.org>
Wednesday, January 26, 2000 / Sh'vat 19, 5760
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. NO MOVEMENT ON SYRIAN TRACK
2. RALLY FOR JERUSALEM
3. WATER-SHARING PLAN REVEALED
1. NO MOVEMENT ON SYRIAN TRACK
Prime Minister Barak said today that he expects the talks with the Syrians
to resume in six weeks' time. He instructed Israeli negotiators Uri Saguy
and Moshe Kochanovsky to postpone their trip to the United States last
night, after their Syrian counterparts neither showed up in Washington nor
announced an alternate date for their arrival. Barak, in Stockholm today,
continued to praise Syrian President Assad as a "strong leader" and a "man
of his word," even as the Syrian press continues to accuse Barak of lying
about his desire for peace.
On the Palestinian track, Ma'ariv reports that Ehud Barak has made a final
decision - based on domestic political considerations - to put off the
transfer of Jerusalem suburb Abu Dis to the Palestinians for now. The
paper reports that such a move can only be made in the final-status
agreement, Barak feels. Meanwhile, Palestinian sources report that Yasser
Arafat has "agreed" to allow Israel to retain settlement blocs next to the
Green Line, in exchange for other Israeli land that will be assigned to the
Palestinian Authority. Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams will
begin an intensive round of talks on Sunday designed to formulate a
final-status framework agreement by mid-February. So announced a
Palestinian source this afternoon.
2. RALLY FOR JERUSALEM
An estimated 5,000 people took part in the drive-in/march last night
against the continued Waqf desecration of the Temple Mount and in favor of
the unity of Jerusalem. The unique demonstration was organized by the Zo
Artzeinu (This is Our Land) movement, and involved many hundreds of cars
from all over the country. The force behind the demonstration, Moshe
Feiglin, said, "It's not only the left, or the right, who are causing us to
lose Jerusalem - they are both responsible! We hope to help bring to power
a new government that is based on people of faith, one that will restore to
our nation its awareness of its special mission." The rally concluded with
a declaration of allegiance to Jerusalem.
3. WATER-SHARING PLAN REVEALED
Water from the Litani River, in southern Lebanon, will be piped to Israel,
and Syria will receive water from the Kinneret Sea. This is the plan that
is currently being formulated by the Israeli water committee delegation to
the Israeli-Syrian talks, reports Haggai Huberman in HaTzofeh today.
Huberman told Arutz-7 today that Ehud Barak had planned to keep the program
secret "until the eve of the referendum, and then when the anti-withdrawal
people would be screaming that we will be left without the Golan's water
sources, he would suddenly produce this plan, like a magician pulling a
rabbit out of his hat, and silence the opposition." The water-sharing plan
can be worked in either of two ways: either diverting water from the
Litani's "bend" (where the river turns north; see map at
"www.fsk.ethz.ch/encop/13/watershe.gif")
to the Jordan River and the
Kinneret, or piping water from the western end of the river towards Rosh
HaNikra (the north-western corner of Israel). Arab sources have accused
Israel of having their eyes on the Litani since the early 1900's. "What's
in it for Lebanon?" Huberman was asked, and responded, "Money."
************************************************************************
To: arutz-7@arutzsheva.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Thursday, January 27, 2000
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.arutzsheva.org>
Thursday, January 27, 2000 / Sh'vat 20, 5760
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. BARAK ASSOCIATIONS SCANDAL ROCKS ISRAEL
2. THE REPORT AND THE ISSUES
3. RABBIS IN FAVOR OF UNITED JERUSALEM
1. BARAK ASSOCIATIONS SCANDAL ROCKS ISRAEL
The publication today of the State Comptroller's official report on
party funding in last year's elections has shaken the country's
political establishment. Comptroller Eliezer Goldberg, a former
Supreme Court justice, wrote that the associations working for the
campaign of Ehud Barak and his One Israel party had struck a "great
blow at the rule of law and at an important fundamental in our lives."
While presenting the report to the Knesset Deputy Speaker today,
Comptroller Goldberg had severe criticism of Ehud Barak. Goldberg
said that his investigation had revealed a "worrisome method [of
funding] that arrogantly tramples the rule of law," and that a "clear
red line must be drawn between 'rule' and 'money.'"
Although the report briefly analyzed the funding of many of the
parties, and levied fines upon them for various offenses contrary to
campaign protocol, the State Comptroller spent no less than 23 pages
discussing the Barak campaign and the individual associations that
took part in it. He concluded his treatise on the issue by imposing a
fine of 13.7 million shekels (over $3.4 million) on the Labor party.
Attorney-General Elyakim Rubenstein, only 15 minutes after the
publication of the report, ordered the police to begin a criminal
investigation of the associations that helped Ehud Barak win the
elections, as well as of other parties. Shortly afterwards, Prime
Minister Barak delivered a televised speech. He said that he is happy
about the opening of a criminal investigation, and that he would
cooperate fully with the police to the extent that he is asked. Barak
does not agree with Goldberg's claim that as head of the party, he
"should have known" about the associations' activities. "As candidate
for Prime Minister and party leader, I certainly knew that there was
great public support for our party and for my candidacy," he said, but
added that he was very busy with campaign appearances and the like and
could not get involved with the details.
2. THE REPORT AND THE ISSUES
At issue are 17 associations that helped out in various ways in the
campaign of then-MK Ehud Barak. As Justice Goldberg wrote, the
associations were officially established for various philanthropic and
social purposes - such as promoting immigration, the social
involvement of Israeli students, the deepening of the values of
democracy in Israel, and the like - but deviated from these goals by
working solely for the election of Ehud Barak. By the end of the
campaign, some 5.2 million shekels had been diverted to, and spent by,
the associations in question. "As my investigation progressed," the
report states, "I became increasingly suspicious of the systematic use
of entities not officially connected to the party, to illegally
further the Barak campaign."
The two key figures in the funding and operation of fictitious
associations were the present Cabinet Secretary, atty. Yitzchak
Herzog, and Barak campaign advisor Tal Silberstein. Goldberg
explained that Herzog was the chief fundraiser, while Silberstein
directed the funds to the respective associations. According to the
report, most of the money came from the estate of the late Jewish
philanthropist Octov Butner, who died in Switzerland in the summer of
1998. Herzog was Butner's legal advisor and the administrator of his
philanthropic activities in Israel. One of Butner's endowments, the
"Camilla Fund", was earmarked for the relief of poverty in Israel as
well as for the strengthening of Israeli education. Atty. Herzog - who
was given the authority by Butner to sign disbursements from the fund
- testified before Goldberg that he was acting "within the framework
of the deceased Butner's desires."
Another source of money was the Israeli branch of a Canadian
charitable fund, which was officially established "to provide funds
for Israeli education, health and welfare and culture, aid to medical
institutions, research and academic facilities, community centers, and
to help new immigrants and economically disadvantaged Israelis."
Atty. Herzog serves as that organization's legal advisor and is
authorized to sign on its checks.
In addition to the obscurity surrounding the diversion of the above
funds, two major legal problems are highlighted in the Comptroller's
report: Much of the Barak campaign was funded through monies that
were in excess of the ceiling set for outside contributors, and the
associations were systematically utilized for other than their
officially-stated purposes.
Justice Goldberg rejected a Labor party claim that it was unconnected
with the associations' operations. In addition, Labor party officials
had claimed that the law governing the limitations of party election
funding is not equally applicable to the Prime Ministerial campaign,
and that the party had legitimately taken advantage of a legal
loophole. The Comptroller wrote, "A central claim brought before me
was that [this interpretation] had been supported by a decision by the
Attorney-General. I weighed this claim seriously, and decided that it
is unacceptable."
Because of the severity of the illegalities committed by the party and
its associations, State Comptroller Goldberg wrote that he felt
compelled to specify the names of all the central people involved.
The names of two other players, who did not cooperate with Goldberg's
investigation, have been passed on to Atty.-Gen. Elyakim Rubenstein.
In his conclusion, Goldberg related to the question of whether Ehud
Barak did or did not know of the operations of the associations.
Barak testified that that he was unaware of the associations' specific
activities, and stressed that he had instructed his aides to "work
only within the parameters of the law." Justice Goldberg, after
summarizing Barak's position, wrote, "In my opinion, a candidate for
Prime Minister, who also serves as the chairman of his party's
campaign, has not fulfilled his obligation by simply issuing
instructions to work according to the law. He must also take interest
in that which is going on in the 'field' in order to ensure that his
directions are executed. This is certainly true in light of the
extensive activity, as described in this report, which should have lit
a red light in the mind of the candidate, which would motivate him to
ascertain that the campaign, for which he is responsible, is operating
legally."
At a press conference following both the report's release and the
Attorney-General 's announcement of a police investigation, Barak
explained his position: "I am personally convinced that there is a
need to alter the law on party funding, such that both parties and
Prime Ministerial candidates can clearly understand what is
permissible and what is forbidden... We won the elections as a result
of our broad societal support and volunteers throughout the country."
After reassuring his listeners that he knew nothing of the
associations' activities, Barak took issue with the Comptroller's
conclusions regarding his overall responsibility: "In such a
large-scale campaign, during which I had to make many public
appearances, film campaign commercials, give interviews, and
simultaneously head the Labor party and One Israel, as well as running
for Prime Minister - with such a tremendous personal burden - and when
I instructed my aides to operate only within the law, responsible
people on whom I rely - it was not my responsibility to oversee the
specific execution of my instructions."
The Likud called a press conference after the release of the report,
intending to demand a police investigation. The effect was ruined,
however, when the decision to do so was announced before they had a
chance to voice their claim. MK Limor Livnat said that Barak was
acting like a "crybaby" in complaining of his heavy workload: "If
it's so hard to be a candidate and to know about criminal activity
going on under his nose, how can he function as Prime Minister?"
Other reactions:
Shinui MKs Lapid and Zandberg demand that a commission of inquiry be
formed to look into the entire matter of the associations... The Shas
party: "With the President under investigation for receiving millions
of dollars in contributions and half a million dollars in gifts, and
the Prime Minister being questioned about millions of shekels in
donations, Aryeh Deri should have been tried in the Small Claims
court."
3. RABBIS IN FAVOR OF UNITED JERUSALEM
Associated Press reports that the leadership of Orthodox and
Conservative rabbis issued a rare joint statement Tuesday rejecting a
recent proposal by other rabbis that Jerusalem be shared with the
Palestinians. The Rabbinical Council of America, representing 1,100
Orthodox rabbis, and the Rabbinical Assembly, representing 1,500
Conservative rabbis, called Jerusalem "the united and indivisible
capital solely of the State of Israel." Reform leadership declined to
sign the statement. The statement came in reaction to news reports
that over 300 Reform, Reconstructionist, and Conservative rabbis of a
group called the Jewish Peace Lobby had called for shared Israeli and
Palestinian sovereignty over Jerusalem. The names of the rabbis were
not publicized, and Dr. Jerome Segal, head of the organization, told
IMRA this week that this was because "we don't want the people on the
list to be harassed."
*************************************************************************
To: arutz-7@arutzsheva.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News Brief: Friday, January 27,
2000
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.ArutzSheva.org>
Friday, January 27, 2000 / Sh'vat 20, 5760
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. THE BIG STORM OF 5760
2. BARAK RAISED MONEY IN L.A.
1. THE BIG STORM OF 5760
The great snowstorm has hit. Up to seven meters of snow have piled up
on the highest summits of Mt. Hermon, and two meters of snow - enough
for several weeks of skiing - have been measured at the lower levels
of the Hermon. Close to a half-meter of snow has fallen on Jerusalem
and environs. Heavy snow continues to fall as well in the Galilee and
all along northern and eastern Israel, southwards to Mitzpeh Ramon.
Light snow fell even in Nazareth Illit, parts of Beit Shemesh, and
areas of the coastal plain. Heavy hail fell in Gush Katif.
Schools were closed in many areas of the country today, despite the
end of the teachers' strike yesterday, and are likely to remain closed
on Sunday in many areas. Electricity was and is sporadic for
thousands of consumers in Jerusalem, Tsfat, Binyamin, and other
places. The Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway continues to be closed on and
off, and other roads along the Dead Sea, in the northern Negev,
western Galilee, and the Golan were also closed. In Yesha, the roads
to Givat Ze'ev, Beit El, Ofrah, and Gush Etzion have been closed.
Many people - including a busload of passenger on its way to Be'er
Sheva, 40 Arabs rescued by the Kiryat Arba emergency unit, and many
whose cars were stuck in the tunnels highway - are being cared for in
Kiryat Arba.
At least two people have died as a direct result of the cold; one
person is feared dead in a home at the foot of a mountain in Ras
el-Amoud, in eastern Jerusalem, after a boulder rolled down onto the
house and collapsed the roof. The house is not accessible by car, and
another occupant of the home was rescued after Magen David Adom
personnel walked over a kilometer to reach the building.
The eastern Gush Etzion area - including Tekoa, Nokdim, and other
towns - has been without electricity since midnight. The Electric
Company has said that it will not be able to carry out the repairs
until at least 2 PM. Some 150 residents of southern Tel Aviv were
evacuated from their rain-flooded houses. Millions of shekels of
damage have been caused to agriculture in the Galilee. Snow will
continue until this afternoon in places over 400 meters high; it is
expected to stop tonight and turn to rain, which will stop tomorrow
morning. Clear skies and cold temperatures are expected afterwards.
2. BARAK RAISED MONEY IN L.A.
Another storm continues as well, in the political arena, following the
State Comptroller's report of yesterday and the opening of a police
investigation into the recent election campaign of the Labor party and
Ehud Barak. Labor party sources raised questions about whether Barak
could continue to lead the party, in light of Comptroller Goldberg's
assertions regarding him. Goldberg wrote that Barak should have known
about the illegal funding methods carried out in his party, and should
have taken action "to ascertain that the campaign, for which he is
responsible, is operating legally." The Likud is considering filing
suit with the Supreme Court to have the results of the last election
nullified, in light of the Comptroller's findings; Labor is
considering filing a suit to have the fines levied against it by
Goldberg - totalling 13.7 million shekels - reduced.
Despite Barak's claim yesterday that he did not engage in fundraising,
he did in fact pay a visit to Los Angeles in March 1999, only two
months before the election, in order to do just that. The Parties
Funding Law specifically forbids the raising abroad of even one dollar
of campaign funds. JTA reported on March 28 that Barak attended a
fund-raising event at the home of billionaire Chaim Saban, which
apparently raised at least $600,000.
Likud MK Michael Eitan related this morning to the differences between
the Likud's campaign violations cited by the Comptroller - for which
the party was fined only 500,000 shekels - and those of Labor: "The
help that the Yesha Council and millionaire Rabbi Yosef Gutnik
provided us was at their initiation, while the associations acted with
full coordination and at the behest of One Israel - and this is the
'system' that the Comptroller referred to and condemned." Eitan
called upon Barak and Attorney-General Rubenstein to suspend Cabinet
Secretary Yitzchak Herzog from his post, effective immediately.
Herzog was one of the main figures involved in the illegal funding.
************************************************************************
To: arutz-7@arutzsheva.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Sunday, January 30, 2000
Arutz Sheva News Service
<www.ArutzSheva.org>
Sunday, January 30, 2000 / Sh'vat 23, 5760
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINE:
STEPPED-UP DIPLOMACY
Sources in the Prime Minister's Office deny any connection between the
intense diplomatic activity scheduled for this week, and the Labor
party's illegal fund-raising scandal. Prime Minister Barak flew to
Cairo today, accompanied by permanent-status delegation head Oded
Eran, to meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Both the
Palestinian and the Syrian tracks will be discussed. In addition,
American envoy Dennis Ross is arriving this week to follow the talks
with the Palestinians; the talks will be held all day, every day this
week. Israeli sources say that despite the concentrated pace, the
deadline for a permanent-status framework - originally set for
mid-February - will not be met, and that another two months will be
needed.
Arutz-7 correspondent Haggai Huberman notes that nothing significant
has developed on either the Palestinian or Syrian tracks that would
prompt a quickened pace of negotiations. "Just the opposite is true,"
he explained.
"A meeting several weeks ago in Barak's home at Kochav Yai'r led to a
decision to delay the February 15 target date... At any rate, the
fact that not much has changed on the diplomatic fronts indicates that
the talk of more intense negotiations reflects Barak's desire to
distract the public from the associations' scandal. He is already
succeeding, as today's papers have begun to talk of a new momentum in
the negotiations and less of the scandal," Huberman said.
Despite his efforts, Barak may yet come up empty-handed, Huberman
said: "Party insiders are well aware that, at present, the government
would not do well in a Golan withdrawal referendum, as even many Barak
supporters are opposed to a Golan withdrawal. Barak initially figured
that he would secure a deal with Assad, and then, instead of a
referendum, he would go directly to new elections on this issue, while
at the same time stressing social and economic issues. After winning
the elections, Barak would announce that he has received a new mandate
from Israelis for his diplomatic negotiations. With these latest
developments, however, he is no longer assured of a victory in a
national election. In addition, aside from the difficult job of
ensuring a referendum win, members of the Prime Minister's office will
now be preoccupied with the associations scandal."
*********************************************************************
To: arutz-7@arutzsheva.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Monday, January 31, 2000
Arutz Sheva News Service
<www.ArutzSheva.org>
Monday, January 31, 2000 / Sh'vat 24, 5760
------------------------------------------------
Delivered Daily via Email, Sunday thru Friday
--- See below for subscription instructions ---
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. MORE DETAILS EMERGE
2. KINNERET CREEPS UP
1. MORE DETAILS EMERGE
As the Israeli public continues to attempt to digest the
already-revealed details of the Barak-One Israel associations scandal,
yet more disturbing aspects continue to emerge. Today's Yediot
Acharonot reported that not only did Labor campaign official Atty.
Yitzchak Herzog - the current Cabinet Secretary - funnel money into
the campaign from European millionaire Octav Butnar's Camilia Fund,
but that Barak campaign manager Tal Silberstein met Butnar in 1996,
and one Camilia Fund check was even written out to Silberstein's
father, Henry. Butnar established the Camilia Fund in order to help
"the underprivileged and weaker classes."
More significantly, transcripts of phone conversations involving
Herzog were published in today's Globes Business Journal by none other
than investigative journalist Yoav Yitzchak. The recorded telephone
conversations between Herzog and Tatzpit Research Institute Director
Dr. Aharon Fein indicate that Herzog was apparently guilty of
obstruction of justice and witness harassment. Herzog had ordered a
Tatzpit survey on behalf of the Labor/Barak campaigns, for which he
paid over 28,000 shekels.
Comptroller Goldberg's report stated that investigation showed that
the money originated in Octav Butnar's Camilia Fund. Dr. Fein, in an
interview with Arutz-7 some weeks ago, said that after being
questioned by a representative of the State Comptroller's office, he
called Herzog. "What particularly perturbed me," Fein said, "was
Herzog's reaction. 'How did they get to those checks?' he asked me. He
was clearly in shock. As soon as I heard this response, I began to
understand that something was not quite right."
Today's Globes article suggests that there was even more that was "not
quite right." Journalist Yitzchak observes that three such
conversations took place between Herzog and Fein, simultaneous with
the State Comptroller's investigation. Under Israeli law, one who has
received a "warning" by the Comptroller is forbidden to talk to
witnesses about details relating to the investigation. Herzog, before
the conversations with Fein, had been questioned by Justice Goldberg,
and received such a warning. Herzog was clearly aware of the
problematics involved in their conversations; in their second call,
Herzog said to Fein: "I'm just asking... I don't want there to be
problems, so, I - we didn't talk, okay?" In the third discussion,
Herzog was more explicit: "I don't want them to think that someone
here spoke, or coordinated, forbidden things... OK, when you answer
[the Comptroller], just write a standard, simple letter..."
Fein explained to Yitzchak that when he saw that Herzog was not
forthcoming on the identity of the donor, and when he heard Herzog's
reactions, he began to be suspicious: "I then taped the conversations
- so it would be clear that I was not a partner in activities outside
the parameters of the law."
2. KINNERET CREEPS UP
The level of the Kinneret Sea, as reported today by the Kinneret
Administration Authority, is 212.58 meters below sea level - 42
centimeters above the red line, and approx. 4.5 meters below the
optimal level. Each centimeter represents 1.7 million cubic meters of
water. Meteorologists are optimistic that if the current rate of
rainfall continues in February, the year may no longer be considered a
drought year.
**********************************************************************
To: arutz-7@arutzsheva.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Tuesday, February 1, 2000
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.ArutzSheva.org>
Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2000 / Sh'vat 25, 5760
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. PA REJECTS ISRAELI FINAL-STATUS MAPS
2. BARAK TO PORUSH: CALL OFF PROTEST
1. PA REJECTS ISRAELI FINAL-STATUS MAPS
In the Ramallah region today, the Israeli-Palestinian talks - aimed at
establishing principles for final-status negotiations - continue. The
Palestinians rejected final-status maps presented by Israel, insisting
on the pre-1967 borders instead. The maps reportedly propose that
Israel annex communities situated on the "Green Line," around Ariel in
the Shomron, Ofra and Bet El in Binyamin, and Ma'ale Adumim and the
Gush Etzion bloc in Judea. Israel's final-status vision apparently
does not include, however, the majority of townships on the mountain
plateau - nor the town of Kiryat Arba.
2. BARAK TO PORUSH: CALL OFF PROTEST
Prime Minister Barak continues to exert heavy pressures on leaders of
Agudat Yisrael to refrain from launching a public protest against the
government's intention to transfer the Jerusalem suburb of Abu Dis to
the Palestinian Authority. This week, Barak asked Agudat Yisrael
Honorary President Rabbi Menachem Porush to call off a massive
pro-Jerusalem Rally slated for the near future. Along with Yesha
leaders, Rabbi Porush participated in a joint tour of Jerusalem today;
he was accompanied by MKs Nissim Z'ev, Shmuel Halpert (United Torah
Judaism) and Yigal Bibi (National Religious Party). Porush told
Arutz-7 last week that the demonstration will unite all Israelis,
religious and secular alike, who hold dear the verse, "If I forget
thee Jerusalem, may my right hand lose its cunning."
************************************************************************
To: arutz-7@arutzsheva.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Wednesday, February 2, 2000
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.ArutzSheva.org>
Wednesday, February 2, 2000 / Sh'vat 26, 5760
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINE:
NEXT WITHDRAWAL APPROVED BY SECURITY CABINET
The security cabinet, meeting in Jerusalem this morning, approved the
third and final stage of the second Oslo withdrawal. The price
exacted by Shas Minister Eli Yeshai in return for his support: a
promise by Prime Minister Barak to restore the special emergency
services throughout Yesha, as well as Magen David Adom services in
Yesha - both of which had been recently cut. The Israeli retreat,
from 6.1% of Judea and Samaria, will be concentrated mainly in the
southern Har Hevron region. Prime Minister Barak will meet with
Yasser Arafat tomorrow at the Erez checkpoint in Gaza.
Arutz-7 correspondent Haggai Huberman was asked today if Jewish
residents will feel a change in their day-to-day lives following the
next withdrawal.
"Not unless there is a security problem, such as a terrorist attack,"
he answered. He noted that around Beit Haggai and Otniel, only
Highway 60 - the access road to the two towns - will continue to be
Israeli-controlled, including a few hundred meters on each side. "In
case of an attack," Huberman said, "the Arabs could easily and quickly
close off the road."
**************************************************************************
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