To: arutz-7@arutzsheva.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@IsraelNationalNews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Monday, June 26, 2000
Arutz Sheva News Service
<www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Monday, June 26, 2000 / Sivan 23, 5760
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. LEVY RESPONDS TO ARAFAT THREAT
2. CONGRESS WON'T FUND FINAL-STATUS DEAL
3. SHAS TO TORPEDO KNESSET DISSOLUTION
4. ISRAELI JEWS AGREE
1. LEVY RESPONDS TO ARAFAT THREAT
Foreign Minister David Levy said this morning that a unilateral declaration
of a state by Yasser Arafat would "free Israel from its [Oslo]
obligations." In a fiery speech, replete with threats of violence
yesterday, PLO chief Arafat told supporters gathered in Shechem that he
would declare a state "within weeks." The European Union and Egypt said
they would recognize even a unilaterally-declared state.
MK Rabbi Benny Elon (National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu) has called upon Prime
Minister Barak to immediately fire Beilin for "his declarations and
activism that run contrary to Israel's national interests, in coordination
with hostile elements." MK Elon claims that Beilin is coordinating - with
both the Americans and the European Union - recognition of a
unilaterally-declared Palestinian state within the pre-1967 borders.
Shas minister Shlomo Benizri continues to insist that his party "cannot be
purchased... If a diplomatic deal with Arafat "meets the test of
reasonability, we will support it. After Arafat's speech yesterday,
though, I am not a diehard believer in Arafat's desire for peace," Benizri
told Arutz-7 today.
In an effort to enlist Shas support for the deal, Public Security Minister
and chief Israeli final-status negotiator Shlomo Ben Ami will meet this
evening with Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef in the latter's Har Nof home.
2. CONGRESS WON'T FUND FINAL-STATUS DEAL
Two powerful U.S. senators say that at this point in time, the U.S.
Congress cannot be counted on to approve the financing of the costs
associated with the continuation of the Oslo Process. Journalist David
Bedein reports that Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.), a close associate of
US President Clinton, made his comments at the American Jewish Press
Association annual conference in Washington last Thursday. "Congress is not
in a budgeting mood at the moment," said Lieberman, "and in the event of a
political settlement [between Israel and the PA] other sources would have
to be tapped for monies to fund such a deal." On Saturday night, Sen.
Richard Luger (R-IN) told supporters in his home state of Indiana that
President Clinton has not requested any funds for a future Israel-PA pact,
and that he now cannot do so because Congress takes its recess on June
30th. "Congress is in a cutting, not an allocating mood," he told the group.
"Keep in mind that both Senators Lieberman and Luger have been devoted
supporters of Oslo for years, and that the two, from opposing parties and
without advance coordination, made the same point," journalist Bedein
observed. "Luger is an important figure - the top ranking senior
Republican after Sen. Jesse Helms, and is likely to be the next Chairman of
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. It's also important to note that
even if the Israeli media is making a lot of noise about a summit, any
plans for such an event have not been reported in the U.S. Any assumption
that Clinton can issue funding promises have no basis in reality! Perhaps
it would have still been possible for a lame-duck President to make such
promises a half year ago in Shepherdstown, but now - it's too late."
3. SHAS TO TORPEDO KNESSET DISSOLUTION
The first-fruits of the Meretz party resignation and the subsequent
Barak-Shas alliance ripened today when Chairman of the Knesset Law
Committee MK Amnon Rubenstein (Meretz) announced that his committee would
quickly convene to deliberate on the recent motions to dissolve the
Knesset. A Shas commitment to stop the law in its tracks will likely lead
to its toppling prior to reaching the Knesset again. Should this in fact
occur, such a motion cannot be entertained in the Knesset for another six
months. Opposition parties have accused the government of attempting to
rush the bill through, aware of the Shas commitment. A possible salvation
for the opposition, however, may lie in Knesset Legal Advisor Tzvi Inbar's
declaration today that under these circumstances, Knesset procedure does
allow for the immediate submission of another similar motion.
Earlier today, a group of members of the Labor Party central committee
called upon MK Rubenstein to ensure the passage of the law for the
dissolution of the Knesset in his committee. The activists object to what
they view as the capitulation of Barak to Shas. Arutz-7 correspondent
Haggai Seri notes that the group's members are considering a move to either
the Meretz or Shinui parties.
4. ISRAELI JEWS AGREE
A Gallup Israel poll of a representative sample of 503 adult Israeli Jews,
commissioned by IMRA, has found that only 13.7% believe Israel should carry
out an additional immediate withdrawal in excess of 1% of Judea and
Samaria. Some 69% oppose additional withdrawals until there is a
final-status agreement with the Palestinians, while 12% oppose additional
withdrawals under any circumstances.
According to the poll, Ehud Barak lacks support from his own voters for a
hefty third withdrawal. Among those who voted for him last year, only
22.4% support a withdrawal in excess of 1%, while nearly 68% oppose
additional withdrawals until there is a final arrangement with the
Palestinians. IMRA's Dr. Aaron Lerner notes that the country does not
support additional withdrawals - nor would it support withdrawals if a
Washington summit concludes with an additional interim, rather than final,
agreement.
**********************************************************************
To: arutz-7@arutzsheva.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@IsraelNationalNews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Tuesday, June 27, 2000
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Tuesday, June 27, 2000 / Sivan 24, 5760
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINE:
BEN-AMI PLEDGE FAILS TO IMPRESS
The National Religious Party now says that it will quit the government
even before a Barak-Clinton-Arafat summit. Party leader Housing
Minister Rabbi Yitzchak Levy said today that the NRP would leave as
soon as the summit is decided upon. "Ben-Ami's promise that not one
settlement would be evacuated does not comfort me," he said. Arafat
said this week that he would not agree to the presence of Jews in any
areas under Palestinian sovereignty. A third option - surrounding the
settlements with Palestinian sovereignty - is also unacceptable,
according to NRP Deputy Education Minister Sha'ul Yahalom, as is "any
form of strangulation of the settlements."
Like the NRP's Levy, Gaza Regional Council head Aharon Tzur is not
comforted by the Ben-Ami assurances. Speaking with Arutz-7 today,
Tzur said: "Let's carefully analyze what Ben-Ami said: that the
communities would not be uprooted. He did not say that they would not
be transferred to PA sovereignty! This is very grave, and is entirely
consistent with the recently-publicized U.S. paper which clearly
states that some Yesha communities are slated to be given over to PA
control. The government is knowingly endangering people's lives."
News Editor Haggai Segal asked for Tzur's response to the claim that
Yesha residents were never told to go to settle in Yesha in the first
place, and that moving to a new locale is not the "end of the world."
Tzur: "I reject this notion. When you plant a tree in a your
community and raise your kids there, you forge a bond with that part
of the Land of Israel. Expulsion from your home is somewhat different
than moving to a new apartment..."
**********************************************************************
To: arutz-7@arutzsheva.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@IsraelNationalNews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Thursday, June 29, 2000
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Thursday, June 29, 2000 / Sivan 26, 5760
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. CHINA BALKS AT U.S. INTERVENTION
2. COALITION CLIPS
1. CHINA BALKS AT U.S. INTERVENTION
China has broken its silence on the issue of the US reaction to the
military jets sale to China. An official announcement, released today
by the Foreign Ministry in Bejing, strongly condemns the US
administration for opposing the deal. In the eyes of China, "this is
a matter between Israel and China, and the United States must not
interfere." Globes today cited a statement by Prime Minister Barak to
the effect that Israel considers the agreement signed with China a
firm diplomatic agreement. Israel Defense Ministry officials see this
assertion as a sign that the $250 million deal will not be rescinded,
despite US pressure to do so.
In related news, Ha'aretz reports that a delegation of Chinese
military officials are presently in Israel for a brief visit. A total
media blackout has been placed on the meetings.
2. COALITION CLIPS
The Shas Council of Torah Sages assembled in the home of Rabbi Ovadiah
Yosef this afternoon. On the agenda are the details of a government
program to rehabilitate the party's El Hama'ayan school system, as
well as the negotiations with the Palestinians. Rumors are
circulating in political circles that the Shas Council of Sages is
unhappy with the plan to revamp its school network, and that the party
"may take parliamentary action on the issue." Political commentators
also predict that the Council will come out against the far-reaching
concessions that Ehud Barak has offered the Palestinians, and that
this could lead to another coalition crisis.
Meanwhile, the National Religious Party is debating whether it is
better to leave the government before or after a Washington summit.
The party's Knesset faction decided yesterday to leave the government
as soon as the summit is announced, but Secretary-General Shmaryahu
Ben Tzur is opposed to such a move. Ben Tzur feels that only the NRP
Central Committee is mandated to make such decisions. To date, the
Central Committee has agreed only to leave the government if and when
Ehud Barak transfers Jerusalem-area villages to the Palestinians.
************************************************************************
To: arutz-7@arutzsheva.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@IsraelNationalNews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News Brief: Friday, June 30,
2000
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Friday, June 30, 2000 / Sivan 27, 5760
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. POLL SHOWS NETANYAHU WELL AHEAD OF BARAK
2. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE JORDAN VALLEY
3. PROTESTING BARAK'S TEMPLE MOUNT DECISION
4. BARAK TURNS TO ARAB SECTOR
1. POLL SHOWS NETANYAHU WELL AHEAD OF BARAK
For the first time since his election as Prime Minister, a major
national poll shows Ehud Barak well behind Binyamin Netanyahu in
public support. A Gallup poll published in Ma'ariv today shows that
if elections were held today, Barak would receive 36% of the vote,
while 44% would vote for Netanyahu. Barak said in response that
"nothing troubles me," and that his is not a government of talk, but
of actions.
2. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE JORDAN VALLEY
A Yediot Acharonot poll shows that 49% of the public would support an
agreement to give away 90% of Judea and Samaria. This support would
climb to 80% if the Jordan Valley is left under Israel sovereignty.
Former senior intelligence officer Brig.-Gen. (res.) Aharon Levran
explained to IMRA yesterday the strategic importance of the Jordan
Valley: "The best defense positions, from a strategic defense
standpoint, are the slopes of the mountain ridge by the Jordan Valley
[roughly, the Shechem-Shilo-Ofrah line]. They have a commanding
presence over the entire area. But with this insane government, no
one is even talking about Israel holding onto these vital positions.
This leaves us with, as a second best position, the flat area of the
Jordan Valley... within which it is possible, from a military
standpoint, to separate between Israel and Jordan."
When asked about the opinion of Prof. Shai Feldman of the Jaffe Center
- that in the case of war, Israeli forces would simply return to the
Jordan Valley - Levran responded, "This is ridiculous. You have to
have a fortified defense line, with all the systems, camps and
infrastructure prepared in advance - as we have today. You can't just
walk up to the border. The IDF would also have to cross through the
mountain passes that would be under Palestinian control. The
Palestinians can be expected to preposition explosive charges that can
block these passes off at various tight choke points. [Regarding a
preemptive strike within Jordan against Iraq], let us not fool
ourselves. If Iraq moves into Jordan does anyone seriously expect
Israel to immediately jump into Jordan? Consider all the times in our
recent history that we decline to react to various threats. Instead of
a preemptive strike we would be counseled to show restraint to avoid
disturbing the peace. Instead of Israel holding a defense line that
it has fortified and prepared, and with which it is intimately
familiar, we have this reckless proposal that in the event of war the
IDF somehow makes its way to open territory. Complete insanity."
3. PROTESTING BARAK'S TEMPLE MOUNT DECISION
The Committee for the Prevention of the Destruction of Temple Mount
Artifacts sharply protests this week's decision by Prime Minister
Barak not to stop the illegal Moslem construction on the Mount. The
committee, which is comprised of archaeologists and public figures
from across the political spectrum, rejects the premise that that the
construction is related to emergency exits in Solomon's Stables. It
calls for the opening of the site to public scrutiny.
4. BARAK TURNS TO ARAB SECTOR
Prime Minister Barak announced today that he will decide in two weeks
whether the government will allocate two billion shekels to the Arab
sector for infrastructures, welfare, and education. Itim News Agency
reports that Barak made the remarks to Arab Labor party activists,
following criticism that he was not paying enough attention to party
members and matters. Participants in today's talk said that Barak had
not met one Israeli-Arab sector representative in his first year in
office, despite the fact that 95% of the sector voted for him. "If we
do not receive attention, we will demand attention," said one Arab,
without elaborating.
***********************************************************************
To: arutz-7@arutzsheva.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@IsraelNationalNews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Sunday, July 2, 2000
Arutz Sheva News Service
<www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Sunday, July 2, 2000 / Sivan 29, 5760
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINE:
THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING 242
Israel television reported late last week that Attorney-General
Elyakim Rubenstein's statement that the UN's "Land for Peace"
Resolution 242 does not apply to Judea and Samaria - was initiated by
none other than Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Observers of the Israeli
political scene have suggested that this is part of a new Barak
strategy to diplomatically corner Yasser Arafat, with the aim of
compelling him to accept the 92% of Yesha being offered to the PA in
the final-status talks. Barak's request from US President Clinton to
reaffirm Israel's right to limit a third withdrawal to 1% of Yesha is
also being viewed as a Barak tactic to temper the PA leader's demands.
Ariel Center for Policy Research fellow Atty. Alon Yarden agrees with
Atty.-Gen. Rubenstein's assessment, noting that at the time the
resolution was passed, the Palestinian Authority did not exist. Clause
1 of the resolution affirms that peace in the Middle East should
include "territorial integrity and political independence of every
state in the area...."
Speaking with Arutz-7 today, atty.Yarden said that this issue aside,
"242 was a purely political resolution, and the formula of 'land for
peace' - especially without a specification of the area of land
involved - contradicts both international law and the principles of
the UN constitution. Peace is an unconditional - not a conditional -
right," Yarden said. Despite the Supreme Court's rejection of his
petition on the illegality of 242, Yarden commented, "the case has
raised people's consciousness regarding the problematic nature of
242." The Palestinians traditionally rejected 242 as invalid, he
observed. Clause 2(b) of the resolution "affirms the necessity for
achieving a just settlement of the refugee problem.." Yarden: "The
PLO, in its 1974 'Phased Plan' for the destruction of the State of
Israel, rejects resolution 242 as invalid, 'as it blurs Palestinian
national rights and relates only to the problem of refugees.'"
************************************************************************
To: arutz-7@arutzsheva.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@IsraelNationalNews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Monday, July 3, 2000
Arutz Sheva News Service
<www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Monday, July 3, 2000 / Sivan 30, 5760
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. GOV'T-YESHA DIALOGUE BEGINS
2. BARAK ATTENDS ABU DIS DELIBERATION
3. MULLING OVER A RETURN OF NETANYAHU
1. GOV'T-YESHA DIALOGUE BEGINS
The official "dialogue" between government ministers and residents of
Jewish townships in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza (Yesha) formally began
today, with the arrival of Communications Minister Binyamin
Ben-Eliezer at the Binyamin community of Psagot. Journalists were
permitted to attend the discussion, but were forbidden to take
photographs or tape the meeting. When it first learned of the Barak
initiative to have his ministers visit Yesha communities, the Yesha
Council instructed community leaders not to participate. The Council
today released a statement disassociating itself with today's
meeting.
Arutz-7 has learned that in the course of the dialogue, Psagot
residents asked Minister Ben-Eliezer why the Barak government is
leaning towards the abandonment of nearly 50,000 Israelis to foreign
rule. He responded, "We have no better alternative for striking a
peace deal with the Palestinians."
2. BARAK ATTENDS ABU DIS DELIBERATION
The Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee deliberated today on
the government's decision to hand over Abu Dis and other
Jerusalem-area villages to the Palestinian Authority. In accordance
with a Knesset decision last month, Prime Minister Barak attended the
meeting. As he was leaving the session, Barak was confronted by
reporters, who questioned him on a variety of issues. Regarding Abu
Dis, Barak said that it and other villages would be transferred to the
PA "at the appropriate time." Barak denied reports that he plans to
annex Yesha settlement blocs should the Palestinians unilaterally
declare a state. He also blamed the crisis surrounding the sale of
surveillance aircraft to China on the Netanyahu government, which
originally signed the deal.
3. MULLING OVER A RETURN OF NETANYAHU
The possible return of Binyamin Netanyahu to the Israeli political
scene has become a subject of controversy of late. A Friday poll
indicated that the former Prime Minister would defeat Ehud Barak by 8%
if elections were held at this time. MK Rechavam Ze'evi (National
Union), who was instrumental in toppling Netanyahu in the winter of
1999, told Arutz-7 today that the poll "which comes before Mr.
Netanyahu has made any mention of re-entering politics - shows that
Barak has failed. His supporters are finally opening their eyes, and
realizing for whom they voted..."
MK Ze'evi noted that the Israeli political right lacks a
Prime-Ministerial candidate. "Netanyahu is an impressive personality,
but we cannot forget that it was we who toppled him - after he brought
home that pitiful Wye River Accord, after he signed and implemented
that disastrous Hevron agreement, and after he decided to continue
with the withdrawals that we view as a catastrophe for the Zionist
enterprise. If the Likud in fact chooses Netanyahu as its candidate,
we will make our support of him contingent upon a pledge that he will
not return to this path, and an apology for his betrayal of the Jews
of Hevron." News Editor Segal asked: "How will you be able to enforce
such a promise?" Ze'evi: "Look, political life often involves
deception. But that is the least we can ask."
************************************************************************
To: arutz-7@arutzsheva.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@IsraelNationalNews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Tuesday, July 4, 2000
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Tuesday, July 4, 2000 / Tammuz 1, 5760 - Rosh Chodesh
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. PLO TO DECLARE STATE SEPT. 13; BARAK THREATENS ANNEXATION
2. NETANYAHU TO YESHA
1. PLO TO DECLARE STATE SEPT. 13; BARAK THREATENS ANNEXATION
The PLO Central Council decided last night to declare a Palestinian
state on Sept. 13. Prime Minister Barak said yesterday that if the
Palestinian Authority unilaterally declares a state, Israel will annex
the areas in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza (Yesha) planned for the
settlement blocs. Justice Minister Yossi Beilin said today that the
Palestinians will gain nothing from declaring a state that Israel does
not recognize.
A senior PA official has called on the Islamic Jihad and Hamas to join
forces with the PA in anticipation of what he called "the final battle
with Israel." Imad Falouji, responsible for PA Communications, told
reporters last night that the battle will develop after Arafat's
declaration of a state. He said that there will be a war over
Jerusalem, and predicted that "no settler will be able to return to
his home."
2. NETANYAHU TO YESHA
Former Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will speak this Thursday at a
gathering celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Binyamin community
of Ofra. Teams of reporters are expected to be on hand for the
speech. Rumors are circulating within Ofra that Netanyahu plans to use
the opportunity to announce his return to the world of Israeli
politics. Arutz-7 correspondent Ariel Kahane opined today that
Netanyahu would not make such a move prior to a decision by Atty.-Gen.
Elyakim Rubenstein to close the file on what has become known as the
"Netanyahu-Amedi Gifts Scandal."
*************************************************************************
To: arutz-7@arutzsheva.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@IsraelNationalNews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Wednesday, July 5, 2000
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Wednesday, July 5, 2000 / Tammuz 2, 5760
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. BARAK THREATENS TO GO IT ALONE
2. PA FORCES PREPARING FOR WAR
3. NETANYAHU'S RETURN DEBATED
1. BARAK THREATENS TO GO IT ALONE
Prime Minister Ehud Barak returns this evening from a quick trip to
Europe, where he presented the Israeli position for the summit
scheduled to be held in Washington at the end of the month. Barak met
first with British Prime Minister Tony Blair in London, and then with
French Prime Minister Jacques Chirac in Paris. Foreign Minister David
Levy objected to Barak's European junket, saying that Barak appears to
be "begging Arafat" to agree to attend the summit.
After the meeting with Blair, Barak declared, "Even if only nine
ministers remain in my government, and only a quarter of the Knesset
members support it, I will continue with the diplomatic process." The
Yesha Council responded by saying that the Prime Minister's words
prove that he is "obsessed with signing an agreement at any price."
The Likud's response was offered by MK Danny Naveh: "Barak does not
understand that he is the Prime Minister of a country in which
decisions are made in a Knesset democratically chosen by the nation."
2. PA FORCES PREPARING FOR WAR
The Palestinian forces are equipped with dozens of machine guns, hand
grenades, mines, RPG launchers, and Lau missiles. So states a
security memorandum that was submitted to government leaders.
Arutz-7's Haggai Huberman reports, "The PA has a fighting military
force numbering thousands of soldiers armed with light weapons,
anti-tank weapons," and more, according to the memorandum. The report
also discusses the internal strife among the Palestinian forces, the
PA's lack of territorial contiguity, and the clear military advantage
that Israel enjoys over the Palestinians.
3. NETANYAHU'S RETURN DEBATED
The possible return of Binyamin Netanyahu to Israeli politics
continues to be the subject of lively discussion - especially in light
of a recent poll showing a hefty lead for the former Prime Minister
over the incumbent Ehud Barak. Arutz-7's Ariel Kahane asked two
right-wing personalities today whether the return of Netanyahu would
be good or bad for the nationalist camp. Journalist Amnon Lord said,
"I've come to the conclusion that yes, it would be good. With all
his drawbacks, he is head and shoulders above other politicians in
Israel. Given the great threat facing Israel, a man like Netanyahu is
needed to lead an informational and diplomatic campaign to present
Israel's positions to the rest of the world... Netanyahu is the right
man who can lead us to... a peace without constant threats. The
problem that he faced was that there were people in influential
positions who negated him on a personal level... and he also had a
problem with the Defense Minister and other top security officials who
didn't cooperate with him..."
Former Yesha Council head Yisrael Harel strongly took the opposite
view:
"Netanyahu is not worthy of being Prime Minister of Israel, and
certainly not the candidate of the right-wing. He has a mouth, and can explain
himself well, but he has no character: Why didn't he fire the
security officials who didn't cooperate with him? Why did he publicly
embrace Arafat and call him 'my friend and partner' after he [Arafat]
ordered the Hasmonean tunnel riots in which 18 Israeli soldiers were
killed by PA forces? Why did he go to Wye when no one forced him to?
... In addition, during a war which is apparently foreseen, it is
better to have someone who can gather a consensus around him -
Netanyahu is not the man to do this."
4. ISRAEL MAY DROP CHINA DEAL
Prime Minister Barak dropped yet another hint that Israel may give in
to the United States demand to cancel the aircraft sale to China. At
a Fourth-of-July party at the home of U.S. Ambassador Martin Indyk
last night, Barak said that he would do nothing that would hurt the
trust that has been built up over the course of decades between the
two countries. Ha'aretz reported yesterday that Russia is ready to
lease a similar airborne warning system to China in case the deal
between Beijing and Israel Aircraft Industries is canceled.
************************************************************************