HHMI Newsgroup Archives
To: arutz-7@ArutzSheva.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@ArutzSheva.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Thursday, May 18, 2000
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.arutzsheva.org>
Thursday, May 18, 2000 / Iyar 13, 5760 - 28th day of the Omer
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. PA TO RECEIVE ISRAELI AREAS
2. BENNY ELON AND NEW ELECTIONS
3. INTERVIEW WITH SHAS MK DAVID TAL
1. PA TO RECEIVE ISRAELI AREAS
The transfer of Abu Dis, Azariya, and Swahara to full Palestinian
control will apparently be carried out within the next few days -
despite Barak's promise that the PA-instigated riots of this past
Monday would first be investigated. So reports Arutz-7 correspondent
Haggai Huberman. O.C. Central Command Maj.-Gen. Moshe Ya'alon denied
this, however, and said that Israel's refusal to transfer Abu Dis
until after the clarification of Monday's mini-war is still in effect.
The territory to be handed over in Azariya includes not only what is
currently Area B (Palestinian administrative control), but also Area C
(full Israeli control). Palestinian Liberation Army policemen will be
stationed 150 meters from the junction that leads into Ma'aleh Adumim.
Ha'aretz reports today that Israeli negotiators have taken with them,
to the final-status talks in Stockholm, a detailed plan for the
setting up of autonomous Palestinian quarters in Jerusalem under a
framework of Israeli sovereignty over the city. The plan calls for a
Jewish mayor overseeing two boroughs, one Arab and one Israeli. The
Arab quarters would not include the Old City or other holy sites,
which are slated to be administered by a joint Jewish-Muslim-Christian
body. Religious shrines would remain under the control of the
religious group that currently controls each shrine, according to the
plan, and Jews would be allowed to go to the Temple Mount.
Back on the "regular" negotiations track, the Palestinians announced
today that they are halting formal talks with Israel unless several
hundred more imprisoned terrorists are freed. Saeb Erekat, who heads
the PA delegation, said in Gaza today that the last meeting on this
issue ended in a "crisis."
It is not yet known how this latest announcement will affect the
parallel track of Israel-PA talks in Sweden. Responding to yesterday's
Likud-initiated votes on Jerusalem's borders and against the "right of
return" for Arabs, Erekat said, "If these laws are in fact accepted
[as binding legislation], this will be the end of final-status talks,
since these two topics are on the negotiating table and the results of
such matters cannot be determined in advance."
2. BENNY ELON AND NEW ELECTIONS
MK Rabbi Benny Elon (National Union - Yisrael Beiteinu) discussed the
present situation with Arutz-7 today: "Barak lost his legitimacy this
week in two ways: First, he relied on 10 Arab MKs to pass the Abu Dis
transfer - the margin of victory was only 8 - and this shows that a
majority of the Jewish MKs were against, and yet he still went with
the Arab-supported majority... Secondly, the way in which he rammed
through this Abu Dis thing was reminiscent of a panicky supermarket
clerk - armed robbery in broad daylight, with the whole world watching
how we give away territory on the day that the Palestinians attack
us..."
Elon said that next Wednesday, his party will submit a bill for the
dissolution of the Knesset. Does he think that the bill has a chance?
"True, we're only seven MKs, but the atmosphere here in this building
[the Knesset] shows that there is a dynamic underway that is leading
towards new elections." When asked who would be the right-wing
candidate in the event of new elections, Elon answered that the
question is a valid one, on several levels:
"First of all, on the technical level, we hope that most of the
Knesset agrees that we must do away with the American idea of the
candidate and his wife smiling with their shining bright teeth...
[i.e.,] the personal election of the Prime Minister. We will then
work together with the Likud and the NRP and Shas - the main thing
that I am doing here in this job is to try and unite our forces; we
started with 2 MKs of Moledet, now we're 7, and I will not stop
bothering the Likud until we all work together in a big nationalist
camp with the NRP... Whoever the candidate is does not have to be the
Messiah, he will be working together with a group - don't forget, the
majority is with us... On the deeper level [on the question of what
will be], I don't have an answer. The Nation of Israel was brought
forcibly to Mt. Sinai, and was taken out of Europe by force, and will
apparently have many other miracles and plagues come to it by force,
and when it hurts, they will begin to understand... In the meantime,
I am not exempt from screaming like a nut that the Oslo process is
dangerous, and neither is anyone else."
3. INTERVIEW WITH SHAS MK DAVID TAL
After several unsuccessful attempts by Arutz-7 to interview a Knesset
Member of the Shas party this week, MK David Tal finally agreed today
to do so. Excerpts of his conversation with Arutz-7's Haggai Segal
follow:
Segal: Let's summarize this week, starting with Abu Dis. You [Shas]
seem to be sitting on both sides of the fence - you claimed to be
against the transfer of Abu Dis, but by the absence of the 7 ministers
and deputy-ministers, you allowed the Knesset to approve it.
Tal: Can you explain me how we allowed him to pass it, if the bill
was passed by a margin of 8, and we're only 7?
HS: If your seven would have voted against, the margin would only
have been one, and assumedly Barak wouldn't have gone ahead with the
vote with such a narrow margin..."
DT: First of all, he was missing two, because Benizri had made
arrangements with a coalition MK that both would be absent [a not
unusual practice in the Knesset], and MK Amnon Cohen was abroad, so
that it wouldn't have passed anyway. But in the larger picture, Rabbi
Ovadiah Yosef decided, after hearing various opinions, and after
sitting with Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu and others, what he decided, and
as you know, we carry out what he decides."
HS: There is some criticism of you from the hareidi sector, because
they wanted the entire hareidi sector to vote against -
DT: What, are we part of the Agudat Yisrael that we have to follow
what they want?"
HS: No, they wanted to make a united front, not only with the
hareidim, but also with the religious-Zionists - you yourself
mentioned the meeting with the religious Zionist leaders -
DT: Look. None of us want to play into the hands of Yossi Sarid, who
would have been very happy for us to vote against and thereby leave
the government and he would have been alone in the coalition. He is
possibly in his last moments in the government, and so we don't want
to play into his hands...
Tal provided a "scoop" when he said that Prime Minister Barak might
not be going to the U.S. next week as planned: "Let's just say I have
reasonable basis to assume that he is not going, although it could be
of course that he will go. There are enough problems in this
country... I am sure, for instance, that he will be making a great
effort to solve the problems between us and Meretz..."
************************************************************************
To: arutz-7@ArutzSheva.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@ArutzSheva.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News Brief: Friday, May 19,
2000
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.ArutzSheva.org>
Friday, May 19, 2000 / Iyar 14, 5760
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. BARAK MAY DELAY ABU DIS TRANSFER, TRIP TO U.S.
2. ARAFAT TURNS DOWN ISRAELI PLAN
3. BARAK FAILS POLL
1. BARAK MAY DELAY ABU DIS TRANSFER, TRIP TO U.S.
Prime Minister Barak said today that he will not transfer Abu Dis to
the Palestinians until he sees that they have the made the "necessary
corrections" to ensure that the violence of last week does not repeat
itself. He made the remarks while meeting with reporters in an army
camp near the Yosh Junction today, between Ramallah and Beit El.
Barak said that the events of last week show that the Palestinians
have "lost control," and that the PA did not live up to its
obligations from previous agreements. The Prime Minister noted that
he is considering canceling his planned visit to the U.S. next week to
meet with American President Clinton. The surmised reason: the
situations in the north, in Judea and Samaria, and in the coalition.
2. ARAFAT TURNS DOWN ISRAELI PLAN
Reports of possible permanent-status arrangements continue to
circulate. Israel's leading daily Yediot Acharanot publicized a
final-status map today as envisioned by Israeli negotiators - which
was turned down by both Yasser Arafat and the Americans. According to
the plan, Israel will turn over to Palestinian sovereignty, either
immediately or within a few years, all the Jordan Valley communities
and Kiryat Arba; dozens of Yesha towns will become isolated enclaves
within the Palestinian state. Arafat continues to demand that Israel
withdraw from Judea and Samaria in toto.
3. BARAK FAILS POLL
Israel's Business Arena published a Globes-Smith survey this week
indicating that the public is not very happy with Ehud Barak's first
year in office. The following question was asked in early May of 503
Israeli adult respondents, well before the violent and political
developments of last week:
"In a few days time, it will be one year since the general elections
which secured Ehud Barak the premiership, largely changing the face of
the Knesset. Based on the experience of this past year, how would you
say the Prime Minister has performed?"
"Very well," responded 4%, and 23% said, "Fairly well." Almost
3/4 of
the population, however, gave him a negative grade: "Very poorly,"
according to 40%, and "Not too well," said 32%.
*************************************************************************
To: arutz-7@ArutzSheva.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@ArutzSheva.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Sunday, May 21, 2000
Arutz Sheva News Service
<www.ArutzSheva.org>
Sunday, May 21, 2000 / Iyar 16, 5760 - 31st day of the Omer
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. ISRAEL DESTROYS TEN TANKS IN LEBANON
2. IN THE NORTH
3. JERICHO FIREBOMB LEAVES TODDLER IN SERIOUS CONDITION
4. YESHA COUNCIL: "ARAFAT SHOOTS - BARAK FOLDS"
5. NRP DECISION TODAY
6. BARAK DELAYS TRIP TO U.S.
1. ISRAEL DESTROYS TEN TANKS IN LEBANON
Israel Air Force jets bombed and destroyed ten tanks that were on
their way to Hizbullah terrorist forces yesterday. The manner in
which the tanks blew up indicated that they were heavily laden with
explosives, according to army sources. The attack was reportedly
meant as a sign to the terrorists and the Syrian government that
Israel would not tolerate the transfer of weapons to Hizbullah for use
against Israel after the withdrawal from Lebanon.
Foreign Minister David Levy said at today's Cabinet meeting that if
Hizbullah takes over areas evacuated by Israel in southern Lebanon,
Israel would consider re-conquering those locales. Levy noted that
Israel has reached an agreement with the United Nations according to
which the UN forces will immediately enter whatever areas are
evacuated by Israel.
2. IN THE NORTH
Hizbullah renewed its shellings of IDF and SLA outposts this morning,
including - for the first time in eight years - the Har Dov IDF
outpost, on the slopes of Mt. Hermon. Electricity was cut off
intermittently to some of the northern border settlements yesterday
and today, due to the downing of a nearby high-voltage power line by
the shelling. Arutz-7's Kobi Finkler reported that quiet reigned in
the area as of early afternoon, although Israel Air Force jets later
bombed terrorist targets in the Sujud area.
The famous Avivim bus attack occurred in the north 30 years ago today.
A school bus on its way to a school in Moshav Dovev was attacked by
terrorists who had infiltrated from Lebanon; twelve children were
murdered.
The tragedy occurred on the northern highway, near Avivim between
Bar'am and Dovev. Avivim secretary Yisrael Peretz told Arutz-7 today that
the fear of such incidents has returned to the inhabitants, "and that
today's generation of the children - as opposed to the founders'
generation - is more vulnerable and less strong in the face of such
threats. What I mean is that if there are any similar dangers, I
believe that many of the young will simply leave."
3. JERICHO FIREBOMB LEAVES TODDLER IN SERIOUS CONDITION
_A two-and-a-half-year old Jewish child is in very serious condition,
after Arabs firebombed the car in which she was travelling in Jericho
this morning. Two other passengers, including the toddler's mother,
were also hurt in the 3 AM attack. Two hours earlier, a Molotov
cocktail was thrown on the Israeli highway bypassing Jericho. As a
result of the attack, Prime Minister Barak decided this morning to
close off the roads from Palestinian areas in order to "interfere with
[Palestinian] daily routine and the local economy." A statement
released by his office said that the Prime Minister views the incident
with "great gravity," and that he demands that the Palestinian
Authority apprehend the attackers.
Arab violence was renewed once again today in several locations
throughout Judea and Samaria, following several severe incidents
yesterday and the day before. On Friday, at the Netzarim junction in
Gush Katif, a soldier was severely wounded by Palestinian-fired shots
while accompanying a convoy to Netzarim. He underwent a 21-hour
operation on his shattered jaw, and is still listed in serious
condition. Arabs threw rocks at Israeli targets in the Netzarim
junction, with Palestinian Army policemen standing by.
Three Arab firebombs were tossed at a Border Guard patrol near
Kalkilya this afternoon. A cache of firebombs was found nearby, as
well as announcements of a planned "demonstration" there today...
Near Kfar Darom in Gaza, Palestine Liberation Army police assaulted
IDF soldiers, lightly injuring three Border Guard policemen. In the
course of the incident, PLO troops cocked and aimed their rifles at
the Israeli forces... Gaza Palestinians destroyed the 1.5-kilometer
fence that divides Khan Yunis from the Jewish community of N'vei
Dekalim... There was rioting near Jenin, and a firebomb was thrown on
an Israeli car near Alfei Menashe... Shots were fired at an Israeli
vehicle outside Tulkarm... An Israeli-Arab bus was stoned by
Palestinians near Halhoul yesterday, injuring one passenger.
Arutz-7 correspondent Haggai Huberman summed up the situation:
"Riots are expected to continue over the next few days, although on a
lesser scale. Arafat understood that he crossed a red line and that
he lost control, and he is now making an effort to regain control...
One possible explanation for why Arafat started this whole cycle of
violence - considering the fact that not only did he win Abu Dis, but
that he's also getting more of Yesha than he thought (even though he
has rejected Israel's current offer) - is that he knows he's coming
close to the moment when he will have to make some hard decisions, and
is therefore stalling while at the same time allowing his people to
let off some steam. He knows that on several major issues there will
not be Israeli concessions, such as refugees, full withdrawal to
pre-1967 borders, Jerusalem - Israel won't give up Gilo or Ramot, for
instance - and so he's afraid of the moment when he will have to come
to terms with this..."
Huberman said that a new feeling is coming over many top Israeli army
officers: "Some army seniors have expressed the feeling, for the
first time since the signing of the Oslo accords, that maybe Arafat is
simply not the right man for us to be talking to, that maybe he just
cannot deliver the goods - i.e., a Palestinian commitment to peace
with Israel. Until now, it has always been said that Arafat is the
only one who can make peace with us, and that we have to hurry and
talk with him because only he can unite the Palestinians, etc. Many
of the army officers now feel that Arafat is simply no longer in
control, and that some of the violence is even being directed against
him..."
4. YESHA COUNCIL: "ARAFAT SHOOTS - BARAK FOLDS"
Rabbi Ya'ir Heller was one of several Netzarim residents who almost
didn't make it home for Shabbat this past Friday, due to the Arab
riots. After being detained for four hours at the Karni checkpoint -
after stoning attacks on Israeli vehicles forced the army to close the
road - an army helicopter flew was finally brought in to fly them
home. Despite his appreciation of the IDF efforts on their behalf,
Heller was critical of the overall situation: "Instead of solving the
problem, and using the ammunition we have in our hands to put them in
their place... the army is forced to impractical methods." Rabbi
Heller added that it is finally time to try in court those politicians
who were responsible for providing the PLO army with the various
weapons "that they are using against us" - or at least to confiscate
the weapons.
The Yesha Council held a protest vigil outside the Prime Minister's
home this morning, under the motto, "Arafat shoots - Barak folds."
Yesha Council chairman Benny Kashriel, speaking to Arutz-7 today from
the site, said, "Sadly, we are forced to come and say, 'we told you
so.' Here they [the Palestinians] are, shooting at us from the very
guns that we gave them... What will happen is that Arafat will quiet
things down for a couple of weeks, and then his men will shoot at us
from Abu Dis. What's done is done, and there's no turning back. A
soldier and a baby were seriously hurt in Jericho and Netzarim - are
we taking those areas back? No!... Arafat simply wants Jerusalem, and
the return of all the Arabs from pre-1948 Israel - in short, the whole
State of Israel! This is simply his way of getting it in stages. I
say this not as an extremist, but as a resident of Ma'aleh Adumim,
next to Jerusalem... Our deterrence factor is dissolving here in
Yesha just as in southern Lebanon, and I feel that we are in for some
tough days ahead."
5. NRP DECISION TODAY
Some 1,050 members of the National Religious Party's Central Committee
will convene today to approve - or turn down - a proposal submitted by
leader Rabbi Yitzchak Levy for the party to leave the government. The
reason for the decision to quit, as threatened by party leaders
several weeks ago, is the government's decision to transfer Abu Dis
and other Jerusalem-area villages to Palestinian control. The issue
is at least temporarily academic, as Prime Minister Barak has
announced the suspension of the transfer, and the NRP will not quit
before the villages are actually given over to foreign control.
Although Housing Minister Rabbi Levy did not participate in today's
Cabinet meeting, he took part in last night's security cabinet
meeting, following an express invitation to do so by Cabinet Secretary
Yitzchak Herzog, in the name of the Prime Minister. "I decided to
respond to the call last night," Levy said, "in light of the
deteriorating security situation both in the north and in Yesha, and
especially given our desire to help the government wake up to what is
really happening... and to influence the upcoming events."
"There is somewhat of a reawakening within the government," said Rabbi
Levy, "in face of the Hizbullah war in the north, and the situation in
Yesha, where Arabs continue to hurl firebombs and the PA forces shoot
at us, that the situation is not exactly what had been hoped for. I
think this is why the security cabinet decided yesterday that not only
is the transfer of Abu Dis irrelevant under the present circumstances,
but that it is also a danger... If the Palestinian police cocked and
shot their rifles in Ramallah and other places, then why shouldn't
they do the same in Abu Dis when they get the chance?"
All the party's MKs are in favor of the decision to leave the
government - except for the most junior MK, Nachum Langental. He is
of the opinion that the NRP's purpose in joining the government was to
influence the final-status agreement, and that to resign now would be
simply "bad timing." The Central Committee is expected to vote in
favor of quitting, however. Rabbi Levy said that the party's decision
to leave the government on the background of the Abu Dis giveaway
would "strengthen Barak's ability to resist Palestinian and American
diplomatic pressure."
6. BARAK DELAYS TRIP TO U.S.
Prime Minister Barak reported to his ministers at today's Cabinet
meeting on yesterday's security cabinet decision to postpone the
transfer of Abu Dis to the Palestinians until Yesha Arabs stop
rioting. The Israel-PA talks will continue in Stockholm, however.
Barak also explained his decision to delay his trip to the United
States, which had been scheduled for this week.
Both the Likud and the Am Echad party have announced that they will
postpone their no-confidence votes in the Prime Minister, previously
slated for tomorrow's Knesset session. The reason: the tense
situations in Yesha and in the north. MK Avigdor Lieberman, on the
other hand, of Yisrael Beiteinu, is still planning to submit a
proposal for the dissolution of the Knesset this Wednesday. He will
meet today with Shas leader Minister Eli Yeshai and Minister Natan
Sharansky of Yisrael B'Aliyah on the topic.
**********************************************************************
To: arutz-7@ArutzSheva.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@ArutzSheva.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Monday, May 22, 2000
Arutz Sheva News Service
<www.ArutzSheva.org>
Monday, May 22, 2000 / Iyar 17, 5760 - 32nd day of the Omer
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. HIZBULLAH TAKES OVER PARTS OF SECURITY ZONE
2. NEWSWEEK EXPOSED P.A. CORRUPTION
3. POLITICS AS USUAL - UP TO A POINT
1. HIZBULLAH TAKES OVER PARTS OF SECURITY ZONE
Following the South Lebanese Army's abandonment of five villages in
southern Lebanon last night, floods of Lebanese villagers have begun
returning to their homes there. Lebanese Prime Minister Salim el-Hoss
sent a message of greetings to the returnees, which included,
thousands of Shi'ite Moslems and Hizbullah terrorists. The return of
the Moslems has caused a steady flow of Christian refugees - mostly
SLA soldiers and their families - to flee homes southwards to Israeli
territory. World Lebanese Organization President Prof. Walid Phares
said today that close to 85,000 Druze and Christian villagers are "at
risk of being the victims of a Hizbullah offensive." The
organization reported today that Hizbullah militants have sliced the
Christian area into two enclaves, and that "the civilian population
there fears an imminent invasion followed by massacres and ethnic
cleansing."
IDF Northern Command officials are very concerned with the population
transfer. The return of thousands of Lebanese Moslems to the
abandoned Lebanese villages of Taibe and Kanatra, just a few
kilometers west of Israel's Galilee Panhandle, will make it "very
difficult" to respond to future terrorist attacks on Israeli soldiers
and civilians along Israel's border with Lebanon. Israel Air Force
bombings of the areas surrounding the villages are not preventing the
arrival of the villagers, nor did UN forces make any effort to stop
their return.
Articles in the Israeli press today suggest that a similar phenomenon
can be feared in northern Israel. School registration for next year
in Kiryat Shmonah is down, the apparent result of the expectation that
security in the town will deteriorate in the months ahead. Veteran
Kiryat Shmonah resident Chaim Shani played down the stories, however.
Speaking with Arutz-7 today, he said that school registration is down
"not because people plan to leave, but just because of the uncertainty
- people have a tendency to push off unpleasant decisions." He noted
that there is a sense "that we are living in an upside-down world. The
feeling once was that the state saw its job as protecting its
citizens, and that the IDF's presence in Lebanon is the price we have
to pay for this protection. Now it's the opposite - the government is
determined to protect the soldiers, and the residents seem to have to
pay the price."
Israel Air Force planes attacked terrorist positions in the Sujud area
last night, and Hizbullah bombed IDF and SLA bases in the security
zone early this morning. Several mortar shells fell adjacent to
Kibbutz Misgav Am. Israeli navy ships began bombing terrorist bases
near Tyre in the afternoon. Prime Minister Barak visited today the
Ma'aleh Yosef Regional Council, located on the northern border,
accompanied by IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Sha'ul Mofaz. Northern
residents were instructed late this afternoon to go to their bomb
shelters "until further notice." The orders could be related to
reports that two Lebanese civilians were killed in IAF bombardments
around the villages of Taibe and Kanatra.
Today, for the first time since the Six Day War, terrorists attacked
Israel's Havat Shab'a early warning station in the Mt. Hermon area.
Both Hizbullah and the Lebanese government claim that Havat Shiva was
built on "occupied Lebanese territory," and that UN Resolution 425
requires that Israel withdraw from it. A UN committee, however,
recently found that the area was originally Syrian, and not Lebanese,
and that Israel need not give it up at this juncture.
2. NEWSWEEK EXPOSED P.A. CORRUPTION
In a detailed expose published in this week's edition of Newsweek
entitled "Something Rotten in Palestine," journalists Daniel Klaidman
and Matt Rees describe Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Authority as a
"Mafia State." The article begins with a description of how the PA
confiscated land from local resident Mahmoud Hamdouni several years
ago, in order to build a multi-million dollar casino there. "Accused
by Palestinian security services of treason two years ago, he was
freed from jail only after he signed over his land to the Palestinian
Authority," writes Newsweek. The article details various examples of
corruption among top PA officials, and notes that the corrupt system
is perpetuated by Arafat's practices. Newsweek predicts that in the
near future, Palestinians will direct most of their fury not at
Israel, but at the corrupt Arafat regime.
3. POLITICS AS USUAL - UP TO A POINT
The Central Committee of the National Religious Party voted last night
to accept party leader Rabbi Yitzchak Levy's proposal to leave the
government if and when Ehud Barak transfers control of Abu Dis and
other Jerusalem-area villages to the Palestinians. Arutz-7
correspondent Effie Meir reports that only a few people, from among
the hundreds present, were against leaving the government, and warm
applause greeted all mentions of leaving the coalition. Even
political dove MK Zevulun Orlev came out publicly in favor of leaving
the Barak government. MK Rabbi Chaim Druckman told Central Committee
members, "If Ehud Barak seems to want us to stay so badly, this is a
sign that we have to leave."
Likud party chief Ariel Sharon and NRP leader Rabbi Levy met this
morning for their third consultation in recent weeks. Sharon, who
also met at length with Minister Natan Sharansky (Yisrael B'Aliyah)
and MK Avigdor Lieberman (National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu) today, is
hoping to tighten the cooperation amongst the Knesset's right-wing
factions.
MK Lieberman was still undecided, as of this afternoon, whether or not
to present his motion this Wednesday to dissolve the Knesset. He told
Arutz-7 today that it depends on the chances of the bill to pass. "The
problem is," he said, "that if it fails, a similar proposal cannot be
re-submitted for another six months..." Lieberman is optimistic,
however: "I am counting on some key coalition MKs either to abstain
or not to show up. Shas is the key to our success. I met with [Shas
leader] Eli Yeshai yesterday and came out of the meeting more
optimistic than when I went in... A vote for new elections at this
time, even though the elections themselves would only be months away,
would send a strong message to the world that Barak does not have a
mandate for his policies."
***AS WE GO TO PRESS: Shas leader Eli Yeshai informed the Prime
Minister late this afternoon that, "in light of the sensitive
situation in the north," his party is "leaving aside all coalition
considerations" and is "standing by the Prime Minister."
**********************************************************************
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