To: arutz-7@IsraelNationalNews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@IsraelNationalNews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Thursday, Sept. 21, 2000
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Thursday, Sept. 21, 2000 / Elul 21, 5760
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. BARAK ENTERTAINS MORE CONCESSIONS ON JERUSALEM
2. MEIMAD WEIGHS FUTURE STEPS
3. ISRAELI CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL MOUNT CONSTRUCTION
1. BARAK ENTERTAINS MORE CONCESSIONS ON JERUSALEM
Despite Ehud Barak's previous declaration that Israel had "reached the
limits of its concessions," it is becoming clear that there is still
further he can go - and the division of Jerusalem may in fact be coming
closer to a reality. The Prime Minister has expressed a willingness to
entertain international control for the Temple Mount, while granting
Palestinian sovereignty to the mosques there and to two Old City
quarters. The Americans will decide at the end of the week whether to
officially propose the above; they may, alternatively, suggest that
Jerusalem be left for future negotiations.
Prime Minister Barak held a consultation this afternoon to discuss the
proposed division of Jerusalem and withdrawal from Yesha with lead
negotiators Acting Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami and Atty. Gilad
Sher. "Israel will not give up its connection with the Temple Mount, but
does not negate the Palestinian connection with the area, either," Ben-Ami
said today. Regarding the question of how such an agreement will fare in a
national referendum, he said, "I assume that the public will vote for the
government's final-status agreement, even if it would not accept each of
the agreement's individual components."
Bar Ilan University pollster Dr. Yaakov Katz said that his findings support
Ben-Ami's supposition, but added that the majority support for an agreement
is conditioned upon the magic words "end of the dispute." Katz said,
"I
evaluate not only the answers I receive in my surveys, but also what lies
behind those answers. Most of the public is aware that it is not the case
that this will mark the end of the historic dispute, and that at best
Israel will receive yet another interim agreement."
Yasser Arafat told a group of American-Jewish leaders in Ramallah last
night that Barak erred when he raised the Jerusalem issue at Camp
David. Arafat said that this caused the Moslem world to object to any
Palestinian "concession" on the Temple Mount.
2. MEIMAD WEIGHS FUTURE STEPS
The leadership of the Meimad movement - a left-leaning religious-Zionist
organization that comprises the religious contingent of the Barak coalition
- had what was described as a "difficult" meeting with Prime Minister Barak
yesterday. Meimad is now reported to be "considering" its future moves. The
leaders told Barak that his plan for a secular revolution will deepen the
split in the nation, "which is already divided regarding Barak's diplomatic
moves." Prof. Avi Ravitzky said that after "poking around the most
sensitive nerves of Jewish identity, Jerusalem and the Temple Mount, he is
now attacking the very essence of Jewish identity."
Ravitzky told Arutz-7 today, "The meeting was difficult, because we told
him that at the present rate, we are on our way to a cultural war. This
occurs when each side digs himself into his own positions, even if
previously he had been willing to concede something to the other side. The
Chief Rabbis, for instance, always objected to the Ministry of Religious
Affairs - but they are now against its dismantling [because they see it as
part of a anti-religious program - ed. note]; another example is that I
myself might have been willing to agree to certain things, but I now change
my mind when I see that this is part of a broader picture - all this means
that we are on the way to a cultural war."
Ravitzky explained his personal position: "I agreed to 'touch' one our
most exposed nerves in Jewish history - Jerusalem. But if I do this -
because there is no choice, and for the sake of real peace and for our
children - then I have to protect and defend the other nerves, such as
Shabbat, and the national identity. In fact, the obligation to do so is
more incumbent upon me than it is upon [those who are not willing to give
up Jerusalem]... We get the sense from Barak that all [national identity]
trappings are being attacked at once!"
"Furthermore," he continued, "there was an agreement, composed by [former
Third Way MK] Alex Lubotsky, Yossi Beilin, and Meimad rabbis - which was
largely the basis for our joining One Israel. It calls for balance: for
instance, there would be public transportation on Shabbat in places where
the local public wants it, but at the same time businesses and stores would
be closed. There were five such examples of compromise. Barak now comes
and demands the transportation part, but nary a word is heard about closing
stores... On the contrary: for the first time, there is talk of opening
downtown malls in cities such as Herzliya and Ra'anana - something which
even the secular are against, because it means that they would have to open
their stores on Shabbat in order to compete, and the religious shopkeepers
and workers would be at a disadvantage - and that would be the end of
Shabbat. We would in this sense be even more secular than countries in
Western Europe [which have a no-business day], but which don't even have -
as we do - a religious-legal tradition forbidding work on that day!"
Ravitzky does not doubt Barak's intentions: "I don't think he tricked
us. I think he is an honest man, but that he simply got stuck in a
particular political situation, and is acting incorrectly... I don't think
he is waging a war against Jewish identity, but rather that he is reacting
the way a politician might to his political problems. My own calculations
are not political, but rather only what I personally understand is good for
the Jewish nation and what Jewish history wants." From a political point
of view, Ravitzky gave what he emphasized was his own personal
opinion: "If he fulfills only half of the agreement with us, then this
means that the agreement between Meimad and One Israel no longer exists."
5. ISRAELI CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL MOUNT CONSTRUCTION
Moslem Waqf officials on the Temple Mount accuse Israeli police of holding
up their illegal construction there by preventing construction materials
from entering the area. One official, quoted by the Palestinian news
agency, says that the Israeli "tightening [of] the choke-hold on Al Aqsa
mosque" has been going on for the last five days. Other Waqf officials
threatened that the situation could lead to "an explosion." Rabbi Chaim
Richman, of Jerusalem's Temple Institute, said today, "Although at present
they are only paving the top level, the Moslems' intentions are the same,
whether they are working on the top level or building a mosque underneath
the surface: to totally wipe out any trace of Jewish identity and history
on the Temple Mount."
**********************************************************
To: arutz-7@IsraelNationalNews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@IsraelNationalNews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News Brief: Friday, Sept. 22,
2000
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Friday, Sept. 22, 2000 / Elul 22, 5760
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. ELON'S PETITION TO BE HEARD ON MONDAY
2. U.S. AND BARAK: SOVEREIGNTY ON MOUNT TO THE "SECURITY COUNCIL"
3. HERZLIYAH MAYOR DEFIES RUBENSTEIN, SHABBAT
4. WAQF BUILDS ON MOUNT
5. MERETZ AGAINST B'DATZ
6. LIFE-SIZE ANTI-SEMITISM IN CLEVELAND
1. ELON'S PETITION TO BE HEARD ON MONDAY
The Supreme Court has agreed that MK Benny Elon's petition last night
against Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg must be "rushed," and will hear
the case as soon as this Monday. The Knesset convenes for a special
mid-recess session the next day.
Elon has proposed legislation that would stop a minority government
from signing or even initialing agreements on issues such as the
country's borders. He demands that Burg not be allowed to use his
position to prevent the Knesset from debating the bill, which has
received preliminary support from 61 Knesset Members. MK Elon, head
of the National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu Knesset faction, told Arutz-7's
Yosef Zalmanson that 9 of the 12 members of the Knesset presidium also
support his bill. "This number includes MK Maxim Levy (Gesher-One
Israel|), who was unable to sign because he is abroad - but he told me
he supports it," said Elon.
Elon said, "I am not asking the Court to rule on the merits of my
proposal, but merely on the fact that Burg is acting in defiance of
the majority will in not allowing the bill to be brought for debate."
Elon added that although its final passage into law will probably have
to wait until early November, when the Knesset returns from its
recess, it is possible that a special vote will be held on it
beforehand.
2. U.S. AND BARAK: SOVEREIGNTY ON MOUNT TO THE "SECURITY COUNCIL" The
latest plan for the Temple Mount in Jerusalem: Sovereignty will be
granted to the five permanent members of the United Nations Security
Council - the United States, Russia, Great Britain, France, and China.
The Prime Minister's Office has not responded directly to reports
that Barak is attempting to garner international support for the above
proposal. Barak's aides say only that their boss is not willing to
discuss the idea until Arafat agrees to discuss it. Arafat is against
the plan, even though it calls for continued Waqf control over the
Mount.
In a speech last night to tank corps soldiers at Latrun, Prime
Minister Barak repeated that which he said immediately after the Camp
David summit: "In any agreement with the Palestinians, we will make
sure to stand firm for three principles: the security of Israel, the
unity of Israel, and that which is sacred to Israel."
At least two internet petitions are being circulated for supporters of
a united and Israeli Jerusalem to make their opinions known. The two
can be read and signed at:
"http://pages.about.com/ourjerusalem/index.html"
and
"http://www.onejerusalem.org."
3. HERZLIYAH MAYOR DEFIES RUBENSTEIN, SHABBAT
Attorney-General Elyakim Rubenstein stated last night that opening a
shopping mall in downtown Herzliyah on the Sabbath is against both
national and local laws. Herzliyah Mayor Yael German said that she
will act to change the local zoning law in time to open the mall for
this coming Rosh HaShanah holiday - eight days from now. She did not
explain how opening the mall would jibe with the national Work Hours
and Rest Law. Justice Minister Yossi Beilin called on German to
adhere to Rubenstein's guidelines on the matter.
4. WAQF BUILDS ON MOUNT
Despite reports that Israeli authorities were holding up the delivery
of construction materials to the Temple Mount, the illegal Waqf
construction there continues. The materials are being brought in
through Tribes Gate, next to Lions Gate, from where they are taken by
tractor to the Temple Mount area. Rabbi Chaim Richman, of Jerusalem's
Temple Institute, told Arutz-7 yesterday that at present, the Moslems
are only paving the top level. He added, however, that "whether they
are working on the top level or building a mosque underneath the
surface, their intentions are the same: to totally wipe out any trace
of Jewish identity and history on the Temple Mount."
5. MERETZ AGAINST B'DATZ
The anti-religious Meretz political party is leading a campaign to
boycott goods that have the "B'datz" kosher supervision - an
independent rabbinical supervision upon which many hareidi and
religious Jews rely. The head of Voldan Eilat, a food importer, said
today that he sees this move as "anti-democratic," a "threat to the
right to choose one's place of work," and "liable to hurt hundreds of
workers." He is considering submitting both criminal and civil suits
against the organizers. His company received a threatening letter
last week, signed by Meretz MK Ilan Gilon, threatening that the
"Organization of Free Consumers" will add Voldan to its list of
boycotted companies if it does not remove its B'datz supervision.
6. LIFE-SIZE ANTI-SEMITISM IN CLEVELAND
A large anti-Semitic mural, painted on a building in Cleveland, Ohio,
has raised the ire of local Jews. The mural quotes a "prophecy of
[18th century American statesman] Benjamin Franklin" with the words,
"Jews Appreciate Nothing and Expect Everything." The pictures amidst
the words show a series of Jews "squeezing" the world for dollars.
Atop the pictures appears a phone number for contributions, and the
words "In Loving Memory of Pvt. Esmiel M. Ayad." The local Jewish
Defense League chapter (jdl@jdl.org), which reported on
the pictures,
stated that the building is owned by Cleveland Arab businessman Abe
Ayad. The mural also depicts a Jewish Holocaust survivor walking
around with a back-pack of dollars.
"This is more than an outrage," writes the JDL, "and this abomination
cannot be allowed to remain in public view. The message sent by this
public painting transcends any principle or spirit of freedom of
speech."
********************************************************
To: arutz-7@IsraelNationalNews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@IsraelNationalNews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Sunday, Sept. 24, 2000
Arutz Sheva News Service
<www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Sunday, Sept. 24, 2000 / Elul 24, 5760
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. TRACKING THE TALKS
2. PALESTINIANS TRYING TO FORGET ABC
3. RIGHT-WING QUIET
4. SHOVAL: PLO ACTS AS IF CHARTER STILL IN EFFECT
1. TRACKING THE TALKS
Several minor developments have occurred in the framework of
Israeli-Palestinian negotiations over the past 24 hours:
** U.S. President Bill Clinton has decided not to formulate or submit
any "bridging" proposals, as his advisors have informed him that the
gaps between the sides are simply too wide. The Americans may
reconsider this position two weeks from now.
** Acting Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami is pushing for a meeting
between Prime Minister Barak and Yasser Arafat, although it is not
clear whether it will happen over the next few days. Ben-Ami will
take a quick trip to Egypt and Jordan tomorrow, asking the leaders to
pressure Arafat to reach an agreement with Israel.
** Prime Minister Barak told the Cabinet today, "It would be a mistake
on our part to propose... an extended interim agreement during which
we would continue to transfer assets without getting anything tangible
in return... We should be wary of providing Arafat with an
opportunity to avoid making the important decisions which we are all
waiting for."
Two points raised by Barak today have already been rejected by senior
Palestinian leaders. Barak reiterated his objections this morning to
the transfer of Temple Mount sovereignty to the Palestinians or any
Islamic body. The implication - that a form of international control
over the Mount would be acceptable - has already been rejected by
Yasser Arafat.
The other quickly-rejected point concerned a limited final-status
agreement. Barak told the Cabinet - in contrast with his oft-stated
earlier positions - that he would now be willing to sign a partial
agreement with the Palestinians. He said that although he prefers a
comprehensive final agreement, "some of the issues could remain
unresolved and wait for future negotiations." Leading Palestinian
negotiator Abu Ala immediately rejected any possibility of an
agreement that will not include some of the most sensitive issues.
"Either a comprehensive agreement, or nothing," he told Palestine
Radio today.
2. PALESTINIANS TRYING TO FORGET ABC
Arutz-7 correspondent Haggai Huberman reports on an increasing
phenomenon of Palestinian attempts to blur the division of Judea and
Samaria into Areas A, B, and C. Many PA para-military policemen have
lately been reported entering Area B - under Israeli military control
- without Israeli permission. Huberman reports that the Palestinians
are trying to "show their presence" in Israeli-controlled areas, and
are increasing the number of both legal and illegal penetrations as if
to "get Israel used to the idea."
No official Palestinian nullification of Oslo has been registered, but
officials such as Abu Ala have said that they no longer recognize the
Oslo-mandated division of the territory.
In a related item, Ha'aretz reports that Israel is making practical
preparations for a unilateral Palestinian declaration of a state. A
Defense Ministry team, headed by Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh,
has been formed to guide Israel's policy in such an eventuality.
Steps under consideration include the unilateral annexation of
territorial blocks in Yesha and Gaza, the suspension of economic
agreements, a decrease in the number of Palestinian workers allowed
into Israel, and others.
At least three internet petitions are being circulated for supporters
of a united and Israeli Jerusalem to make their opinions known. The
petitions can be read and signed at
"http://jerusalemwatch.com/PetitionText.htm"
"http://www.onejerusalem.org."
"http://pages.about.com/ourjerusalem/index.html"
3. RIGHT-WING QUIET
Why is the right-wing so quiet, in light of the direction that the
talks with the Palestinians seem to be taking? This was the question
posed by Arutz-7's Ariel Kahane today to Yesha Council spokesman
Yehoshua Mor-Yosef. The latter responded:
"True, Barak is trying to reach an agreement, but he is not
succeeding, so far. We can't expect to bring people out to the
streets for mass demonstrations when there is no ostensible purpose.
People don't want to be mercenaries for demonstrations, and they don't
want to always be 'against' something. Let's let them prepare for the
holidays... It is true that Barak has definitely succeeded in eroding
public objections to the various components of his plan. Immediately
after the holidays (i.e., in early November), we are planning to begin
a public campaign, for which we are preparing special information
kits, to head off Barak's dangerous moves. If something happens in
the meantime, we will be ready at a moment's notice to take the plans
out of the drawers and begin moving."
4. SHOVAL: PLO ACTS AS IF CHARTER STILL IN EFFECT
Zalman Shoval, a former Israeli ambassador to the United States, and
currently responsible for the foreign affairs department of the Likud,
was asked today his opinion on the PLO's request to be accepted as a
member of the United Nations. "It is probably only propaganda," he
said, "because the PLO is not a nation, but only an organization. The
Palestinians do not fit the qualifications of what constitutes a
state. The PLO has observer status, but is not eligible for anything
more. If they declare a unilateral state, which they might do, then
the state would be illegal, because it would fly in the face of
previous agreements - Oslo, Wye, Sharm a-Sheikh - and would not be
recognized by the U.S., Israel, or many other states. If, on the
other hand, Israel recognizes its declaration, this would be a
different story."
Arutz-7's correspondent asked if there is any case of a UN member
state that calls for the destruction of another member state; Shoval
said, "Not to the best of my knowledge, and this is a very good point.
For even though the Palestinians officially annulled the charter, in
practice the declarations of Arafat and the material that their
children are being taught in school still call for the elimination of
the State of Israel."
****************************************************
To: arutz-7@IsraelNationalNews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@IsraelNationalNews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Monday, Sept. 25, 2000
Arutz Sheva News Service
<www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Monday, Sept. 25, 2000 / Elul 25, 5760
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. BARAK AND ARAFAT MEET
2. JERUSALEM LAW ON ITS WAY
3. ELON GOES ONE BETTER
4. GOLAN REACHES NEW HEIGHTS
1. BARAK AND ARAFAT MEET
Prime Minister Barak and Yasser Arafat are meeting at this
late-afternoon hour in Tel Aviv, as part of what has been called
"intense efforts" to break through the dead end the negotiations have
reached. The holding of the meeting was in doubt all day, although
latest reports were that the two would meet tonight at the Erez
Checkpoint separating Gaza from the rest of Israel. Barak and Arafat
are apparently discussing the status of Jerusalem, or the possibility
of leaving Jerusalem out of a final agreement.
Prime Minister Barak has agreed, grudgingly, that the Jerusalem issue
could be pushed off until some future date - in opposition to his
oft-stated earlier positions that always insisted on a final,
end-of-conflict agreement. The Palestinians, however, have rejected
this idea, saying that if an agreement is signed without Jerusalem or
the refugees, "the Palestinian street will erupt."
Negotiators Gilad Sher, for Israel, and Saeb Erekat, for the PA, are
on their way to Washington, while Acting Foreign Minister Shlomo
Ben-Ami met with Egyptian President Mubarak in Cairo today to convince
him to agree to a UN presence on the Temple Mount. Senior Egyptian
sources hinted after the meeting that there had been a "measure of
softening" in the Israeli position. Ben-Ami, who countered by saying
that he did not raise any new ideas, flew from there to Amman to meet
with Jordanian King Abdullah for the same purpose.
2. JERUSALEM LAW ON ITS WAY
The Knesset Law Committee voted today to approve the proposal to
"reinforce" the borders of Jerusalem by requiring any change to be
approved by an absolute Knesset majority of 61 MKs. The bill,
proposed by Likud MK Yehoshua Matza, overwhelmingly passed its first
Knesset reading last May by a 68-21 vote. The bill is expected to
pass its second and third readings by a similar margin when the
Knesset reconvenes after its autumn recess. It also states that
responsibility for municipal functions and services cannot be
delivered into foreign hands with less than a 61-MK majority.
Government sources responded that the bill is irrelevant, because any
Israeli-Palestinian agreement will be presented to the public for its
approval in a referendum.
3. ELON GOES ONE BETTER
MK Benny Elon (National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu) is attempting to get
around the above hurdle by submitting legislation that would forbid a
minority government from even initialing international agreements.
The present government enjoys the support of approximately one-quarter
of the Knesset, and would therefore be prevented from holding a
referendum on a signed agreement splitting Jerusalem or abandoning
parts of Yesha.
The proposal is supported by 61 MKs, as well as 8 of the 12 members of
the Knesset Presidium, but Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg has refused to
allow the bill to be raised before the Knesset reconvenes after its
recess. That changed today, however. This afternoon, the Supreme
Court ruled on a petition by MK Elon, and ordered Speaker Burg to
explain within ten days why he should not allow Elon to submit his
legislation even during the Knesset recess. Elon told Arutz-7's Yosef
Zalmanson shortly after the ruling was handed down,
"I was happily surprised, and I think Burg realizes which way the
Court is going. I therefore sent Burg a message, via the Knesset
Legal Counsel (who was present at the hearing), asking him if he wants
to have the bill raised during tomorrow's special Knesset session, or
if would rather call another special session a few days from now just
for my bill."
4. GOLAN REACHES NEW HEIGHTS
A surge of building is underway in the Golan Heights. In the area's
"capital" city of Katzrin, the construction of another 56 housing
units began this week. Another 100 units are in the midst of
construction there, and most of them have already been sold. The
Golan communities of Ma'aleh Gamla, Kidmat Tzvi, and Ramat Magshimim
are also in the midst of adding new housing.
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