HHMI Newsgroup Archives
To: arutz-7@IsraelNationalNews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@IsraelNationalNews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News Brief: Friday, November
24, 2000
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Friday, Nov. 24, 2000 / Cheshvan 26, 5761
------------------------------------------------
Delivered Daily via Email, Sunday thru Friday
--- See below for subscription instructions ---
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
***BULLETIN: As we go to press - *****
Prime Minister Ehud Barak told government ministers at an early-morning
meeting today that he plans to resign if the proposal to topple the
government is passed by the Knesset next week. Likud MKs said they would
submit the proposal this Monday; Speaker Avraham Burg ruled that an
absolute majority of the 120-member Knesset is required in order for it to
pass. Yossi Elituv of Mishpachah magazine reports that Barak explained
today that he now knows he has neither a partner on the Palestinian side
with whom to make peace, nor a partner on the Jewish side with whom to
establish a unity government. Arutz-7 reporters were told this afternoon
by Prime Minister's Office staffers that a reaction to the reports would be
given only on Sunday. MK Benny Elon said that if the reports are true,
"this is a brave step by the Prime Minister. Until his resignation takes
effect, we must help him fight Arafat."
***SPECIAL "WHITE PAPER" INSERT
The Israeli government released this week, as part of its retaliatory
actions against the Palestinian Authority for Monday's fatal terrorist
bombing of a Kfar Darom school bus, a "White Paper" detailing 60 pages of
PA/PLO non-compliance with the Oslo agreements. IMRA (Independent Media
Review Analysis) publicized an electronic version of the paper
(http://www.imra.org.il), after the government
limited the distribution to
hard copies alone. Excerpts from the document:
"The present wave of violence - led by the Fatah "Tanzim" - is essentially
an attempt by Arafat to achieve, through violence, his maximal political
goals: and avoid the choices necessary to bring the negotiations to a
successful conclusion... Instead of responsibility for the welfare of the
governed we see him willing to use Palestinian suffering, including the
death of children on the frontline (shamelessly exploited)...
"Ambivalent attitudes towards terrorism, and at times - outright
complicity. In the current crisis, P.A. Preventive Security [and] the
"Tanzim" (militia) of Arafat's Fatah movement are actively involved in
terrorist attacks.
"Incitement to Hatred - a key element in the current crisis has been the
relentless effort to mobilize "the Arab masses and destabilize the
region... This comes against the background of a broader pattern of
education and public messages, which denigrate the Jews, and reject the
possibility of compromise solutions.
"Criminal activities on a large scale - from car theft to excise tax fraud
- take place under P.A. auspices.
"It should be recalled that the P.L.O. was not an "unknown quantity" when
it came into the Peace Process: its institutional record - of terrorism,
breach of agreements (with Arab governments - Jordan, Lebanon), and abuse
of the "governed" in areas under its control - meant that extensive formal
commitments were required - beginning with the pledges given to Prime
Minister Rabin prior to the signing of the Declaration of Principles.
These, however were often interpreted in a slippery way, or honored only
when it was expedient for Arafat and the P.A. to do so.
"As early as Arafat's own speech on the White House lawn, on September 13,
1993, there were indications that for him, the Declaration of Principles
[signed that day] did not necessarily signify an end to the conflict. The
map of "Palestine" remained as it has always been for him, the entire
territory of pre-1948 mandatory Palestine.
"On various occasions, Arafat continued to use the language of "Jihad". a
clear reference to the violent option. In a eulogy to a Palestinian
official on June 15 1995 (at the height of the Oslo Process) he paid
homage, among others, to two women terrorists and spoke of the children
throwing stones as "the Palestinian Generals.". Of special interest, in
this context, are Arafat's repeated references to the Treaty of
Hudaybiyyah, signed by the Prophet Muhammad with his Meccan enemies when
they were still stronger than him, and then abandoned (as he conquered the
city) within a much shorter time than the Treaty itself warranted. The
first such reference made public came shortly after the signing of the
Interim agreement, in the "Jihad" speech he made at the Mosque in
Johannesburg (obtained by the Jewish community, and broadcast in Israel in
May 1994). The reference to the Hudaybiyyah treaty re-surfaced in 1998,
coupled with the warning that "all the options are open to the Palestinian
people". (Orbit television, April 18, 1998). In essence, here was a
rationale for accepting Oslo and the place at the negotiations, and the
various commitments involved, not as the building blocks of trust and
cooperation but as temporary measures, to be shed off when circumstances allow.
"In a speech (documented on video) to a forum in Nablus in January 1996 -
again, at a time when the negotiations were going forward - Nabil Sha'ath
described the strategy in terms which then sounded unrealistic, but now
ring familiar: "We decided to liberate our homeland step-by-step... Should
Israel continue - no problem. And so, we honor the peace treaties and
non-violence... if and when Israel says "enough"... in that case it is
saying that we will return to violence. But this time it will be with
30,000 armed Palestinian soldiers and in a land with elements of freedom...
If we reach a dead end we will go back to our war and struggle like we did
forty years ago".
"[There is now within the PA] the collapse of all existing commitments,
and the systematic creation - day by day, week by week - of an atmosphere
of raw emotions, fear and hatred, in pursuit of a general Palestinian and
Pan-Arab mobilization. All of this is not only in breach of the clearly
stated commitments offered at the beginning of the Oslo process, but also
in obvious, at times blatant, rejection of the understandings reached at
the recent Sharm al-Sheikh Summit."
The document lists specific examples of Palestinian non-compliance in the
areas of incitement and the perpetuation of hatred, violence against
Israel, complicity in terrorism, the size of the Palestinian police,
foreign relations, economic breaches (such as not paying debts to Israeli
companies), invading and building in area C, where it has no legal
jurisdiction, criminal activity under PA auspices, failure to protect holy
places, and more.
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To: arutz-7@IsraelNationalNews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@IsraelNationalNews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Sunday, November 26, 2000
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Sunday, Nov. 26, 2000 / Cheshvan 28, 5761
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINE:
1. ON THE POLITICAL FRONTS
Former IDF Chief of Staff Amnon Lipkin-Shachak, currently serving as
Transportation and Tourism Minister, and ex-GSS head Ami Ayalon met
last night in Gaza with Yasser Arafat. Prime Minister Barak
authorized the meeting, in an effort to renew diplomatic negotiations
as part of his new plan to this end. Following the meeting, Barak
ordered two top IDF officers to meet with their Palestinian
counterparts. The Prime Minister has authorized Gen. Uzi Dayan and
Atty. Gilad Sher to coordinate the new plan, and wishes to appoint
former GSS head Ami Ayalon as liaison with Arafat in place of Yossi
Ginosar.
Barak's security aide Gen. (res.) Danny Yatom met this morning with
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo; the two did not hold a
press conference afterwards. Mubarak met later with Jordan's King
Abdullah. Prime Minister Ehud Barak said today that there is no
alternative to negotiations with the Palestinian Authority - including
military options - but added that Israel would not agree to "peace at
any price."
The Likud appears to be determined to go ahead with its proposal to
topple the government this Tuesday. MK Silvan Shalom explained today
that the Likud would not join a national emergency government,
"because we refuse to serve as a board for Barak to walk across on his
way to signing an agreement with Arafat. He has made more concessions
than any Israeli or Jewish Prime Minister could ever have made -
including actually agreeing to divide Jerusalem - and we do not wish
to be a party to his efforts to finalize such a deal."
Shalom admitted that Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg - "with his
blatantly partisan decision that 61 MKs are required to pass even the
first reading of our government-toppling bill" - had made things a bit
difficult for the Likud. The Likud is suing against the decision in
the Supreme Court, as "the Knesset's legal counsel said clearly that
61 MKs are not required for the first reading, and Attorney-General
Rubenstein said that this was an opinion that would withstand Supreme
Court scrutiny. We hope that the Court will rule that a simple
majority is all that is needed." Shalom said that if the Court rules
in favor of Burg, he [Shalom] will have to check carefully whether it
has the required 61; he will not submit the proposal unless it is
certain to pass, because if it does not, it cannot be submitted again
for six months.
***********************************************************
To: arutz-7@IsraelNationalNews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@IsraelNationalNews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Monday, November 27, 2000
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Monday, Nov. 27, 2000 / Cheshvan 29, 5761
------------------------------------------------
Delivered Daily via Email, Sunday thru Friday
--- See below for subscription instructions ---
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. KNESSET PROTECTS JERUSALEM
2. SHARON WILL TALK UNITY AFTER TOPPLING-MOTION PASSES
3. REMINDER: TEMPLE MOUNT IS HOLIEST JEWISH SITE ON EARTH
1. KNESSET PROTECTS JERUSALEM
The Knesset voted in favor of the final reading of the Jerusalem Bill
today. The bill stipulates that a majority of 61 MKs is required to
approve any change to the borders of Jerusalem. Likud MK Yehoshua
Matza, who sponsored the bill, said that it would head off any
attempts by the government to implement the "unprecedented
concessions" made by Prime Minister Barak in Jerusalem.
2. SHARON WILL TALK UNITY AFTER TOPPLING-MOTION PASSES
The Supreme Court will not rule today on the Likud's suit against
Knesset Speaker Burg's decision to require a 61-MK majority for the
first reading; but it appears - according to Likud sources - that more
than that number will vote for the bill in any event. Shas sources
say that Likud leader Ariel Sharon told Shas leader Eli Yeshai that
after the Knesset votes tomorrow to approve the first reading of the
bill to topple the government, he will be ready to talk seriously with
Prime Minister Barak about forming a unity government. Barak said
that an emergency-government will have "no problem" signing
international agreements, and that he would strive now for a
"gradated" final agreement with the Palestinian Authority. MK Yosef
Lapid (Shinui), who has been mediating between Barak and Sharon, said
that the two are close to an agreement on five points of contention.
A meeting of Labor party ministers was marked by high tension and
mutual veiled accusations between Prime Minister Barak and Minister
Shimon Peres. Barak said that "voices from within our party against a
unity government" do not reflect well on the Labor party, and "the
concessions that have already been made to Arafat cannot be taken
further left by anyone who is honest." Barak also said, "There seem
to be ministers competing with each other to see who can offer more
concessions to Arafat." Peres replied, "No one has offered him more
than you did; don't smear us." Justice Minister Yossi Beilin said,
"I'd rather be in the opposition than be in a unity government with
Ariel Sharon."
3. REMINDER: TEMPLE MOUNT IS HOLIEST JEWISH SITE ON EARTH
Is Associated Press reporting objectively? In one of its articles on
the Middle East yesterday, it writes of the Temple Mount as "The
al-Aqsa Mosque, part of a compound in east Jerusalem that Israeli
troops captured in 1967, is the third-holiest shrine in the Muslim
world." No mention is made of the fact that it is the first-holiest
shrine in Judaism. Another AP article yesterday, featuring a similar
sentence, quotes Egyptian President Mubarak as calling for "the
liberation of al-Aqsa Mosque," and a Jordanian official as expressing
the hope for salvaging "the blessed al-Aqsa Mosque from the hands of
the aggressors..."; no mention is made of Israel's 3,685-year-old
connection with the site.
***********************************************************
To: arutz-7@IsraelNationalNews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@IsraelNationalNews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Tuesday, November 28, 2000
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2000 / Rosh Chodesh Kislev 5761
------------------------------------------------
Delivered Daily via Email, Sunday thru Friday
--- See below for subscription instructions ---
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. FUTURE OF GOVERNMENT IN DOUBT
2. P.A. REFUSES TO BE DRAGGED IN TO COMPROMISE
1. FUTURE OF GOVERNMENT IN DOUBT
Panicky political uncertainty continued throughout the day. With the
afternoon announcement by the left-wing Shinui party that it would
vote against the government today, it became clear that the Likud's
bill to topple the government would have well over the 61 MKs required
to pass its first reading today. Shinui leader Tommy Lapid made it
clear, however, that he is in favor of a national unity government,
and that he will continue to put pressure on both Prime Minister Barak
and Likud leader Ariel Sharon to form such a government. Lapid said
that Sharon had agreed "in principle" to a five-point document that he
composed, and implied that Barak had agreed as well - although Barak
said publicly only that he "welcomes the initiative" and that he will
have to review it. The document reads, in part, as follows:
"There will be no changes in the borders of Israel and those held by
the IDF without the consent of both Barak and Sharon... The
government will work to achieve peace with the Palestinians in the
framework of long-term interim agreements, with most of the vital
assets remaining in Israeli hands until a final-status agreement.
Within these interim agreements, the government will agree to create
territorial contiguity for the Palestinian Authority... The holding
of any talks with the PA is absolutely contingent upon a complete stop
to all Palestinian violence and incitement by Palestinian authorities,
media, and schools... No change in the status quo in Jerusalem,
including the Temple Mount, will be made without Sharon's agreement."
Sources close to the Prime Minister said that he would not accept it,
as it would mean abandoning key Labor party leaders such as Yossi
Beilin and others. Meretz leader MK Yossi Sarid said that if in fact
Barak accepts the above document, Meretz will not join the government,
and would even consider fielding its own Prime Ministerial candidate
in the next elections. Labor MK Ophir Pines said that after he
perused the Lapid document, he thought that it was composed by one of
the Likud MKs; Lapid, however, said he wrote it after consulting with
Barak many times over the past few days. MK Avraham Poraz (Shinui),
however, explained that if Barak does not accept the unity proposal,
he will face new elections, "and as we all know, his electoral
prospects are not bright. He will have to choose between
no-government and half-government." He said that although Shinui is
voting against Barak today, it may not vote this way in the final
readings of the bill, "because we will continue to work for the
formation of a unity government." Labor MK Uzi Baram said that the
Prime Minister should accept the fact that the government will fall,
and take advantage of the fact that he was personally elected as Prime
Minister [as opposed to his party being chosen to form a government]
and sign an agreement with the Palestinians on his own and then bring
it to the electorate.
Barak has another option: that of having the vote declared a motion of
confidence or no confidence, which would cause a one-week delay in the
vote. During the interim, additional efforts to form a unity
government would be made. Tonight's vote, if held, will be held at
the end of tonight's Knesset session, which could be close to
midnight; 70 MKs have asked to speak during the session.
Arutz-7's Yosef Zalmanson asked Likud spokesman Ophir Akunis if it was
true that the Likud had accepted the Lapid document calling for
"territorial contiguity for the Palestinian Authority" and its
resultant critical implications for the Yesha settlement enterprise.
He responded, "The Likud did not deal with this document. You'll have
to speak to Ariel Sharon or his spokesperson" - who was unavailable.
Asked about the same issue, MK Tzippy Livny said, "My goal today is to
topple the government - everything else will have to wait." MK Yuval
Shteinitz said, "I'm against a national unity government" - but could
not elaborate, as he was called urgently to the Knesset plenum. The
National Religious Party, which has been an outspoken proponent of a
unity government, accepts the Lapid agreement - except for the above
clause; Arutz-7 learned as much from the office of MK Sha'ul Yahalom.
2. P.A. REFUSES TO BE DRAGGED IN TO COMPROMISE
Secretary-General of the PLO Executive Committee Mahmoud Abbas, known
also as Arafat's deputy Abu Mazen, recently made clear - yet again -
the Palestinian position on Jerusalem, the Temple Mount, and the
refugees. Following are excerpts of an article he wrote in the
London-based Arabic daily Al-Hayat, in which he boasts to having
rejected one Israeli proposal after another, as translated and
distributed by Middle East Media and Research Institute (MEMRI):
"In Camp David... [the Israelis] spoke of annexing [not only the
Jewish quarter of the Old City, but also the Armenian quarter]. We
categorically rejected all of these proposals, and so they dropped the
bomb of their demand for sovereignty over the Al-Haram [the Temple
Mount]... They also demanded praying privileges [there] for a set
number of people per day or per week. We rejected this as well, but
we agreed that they could pray next to the [Wailing] Wall... as long
as they do not use a Shofar. After the summit they demanded, through
mediators, to establish a small synagogue [on the Mount]... When
their proposal was rejected [by us], they proposed that a Muslim state
establish an installation on Temple Mount, part of which would be used
by the Jews as a synagogue. However, we rejected this proposal as
well. Afterwards, they proposed that the sovereignty [over the Temple
Mount] be [given] to God and that neither side demand proprietorship.
We rejected this proposal... Israel operates in such a way in order
to indicate to its adversary or enemy that any demands of it are
futile... it tries to cause its enemy or adversary to doubt his own
rights and his ability to achieve them... [The impression is created]
that it is Israel that makes concessions and demonstrates flexibility,
so that the other side is expected to answer in kind and begin the
process of compromising..."
Regarding the refugees, Abu Mazen makes it clear that the Palestinians
will settle for nothing less than the fulfillment of the UN resolution
calling for 'achieving a just settlement for the refugee problem;'
Israel may and must offer compensation, but only to those who do not
wish to return to Israel. Abu Mazen quotes "Israeli new historians"
who "prove that the main reason for the exile of the refugees was the
premeditated massacres committed by the Zionist organizations in order
to empty the land of its inhabitants..." - although he does note the
Israeli position, that "the Palestinians left... of their own volition
and after a call [to leave] by Arab and Palestinian leaders, who
wanted to annihilate Israel."
*************************************************************
To: arutz-7@IsraelNationalNews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@IsraelNationalNews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Wednesday, November 29, 2000
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2000 / Kislev 2, 5761
------------------------------------------------
Delivered Daily via Email, Sunday thru Friday
--- See below for subscription instructions ---
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. PICKING A DATE
2. THE RUSH TO CONCLUDE - OR HEAD OFF - AN AGREEMENT
3. UNITY ON THE RIGHT
1. PICKING A DATE
Following last night's dramatic announcement by Prime Minister Ehud
Barak that he would agree to new elections - "If you want new
elections, I am ready," he told the Knesset in mid-debate - the
parliamentarians are busy trying to agree upon a date and an election
method. Likud leader Ariel Sharon suspects that Barak is attempting
to reach an agreement with the Palestinians in the coming months, and
that the new elections should therefore be held as early as possible.
"Barak is making every effort to sign any type of agreement with
Arafat, so that he can wave the piece of paper at the public during
the elections," Sharon said today.
Representatives of the opposition parties, including Shinui but not
United Torah Judaism, convened this morning and agreed to jointly
demand new elections within three months. Sharon also said that his
party should conduct primaries very soon; a likely challenger for the
top party spot currently held by Sharon is front-runner Binyamin
Netanyahu, and MKs Silvan Shalom and Limor Livnat may also run.
The Labor party appears to be in favor of holding elections at a later
date, in early May. Meretz leader Yossi Sarid said, "Another month
here or there won't make a difference. I am in favor of giving Ehud
Barak, who was chosen by the public for a four-year term, more time to
be able to reach an agreement with the Palestinians." The second and
third readings of the bill for new elections will be prepared and
voted on within the coming weeks.
The Knesset Law Committee will also debate proposed legislation to
cancel the personal election of the Prime Minister, and restore the
old system in which the electorate votes only for a party. Minister
Dalia Itzik and MK Weizman Shiri - two Labor party loyalists of Ehud
Barak - collected 21 Labor MK signatures in favor of doing away with
the direct-election system; only Barak and Minister Chaim Ramon did
not sign. Shiri said that Barak would not object to the party's
decision. Minister Itzik explained today that the public "chose Barak
by a wide margin [56%], but did not give him the proper tools with
which to govern, because it gave his party only 23 out of 120 Knesset
seats. The system must be changed."
Background: Each political party fields a list of Knesset candidates
during the election campaign. Until 1996, Israelis voted only for a
political party, and the President of the State would then choose one
MK - usually the head of the largest party - to form a government. In
the last two elections, however, two votes were held: one for the
Knesset party, and one for Prime Minister. Dr. Asher Cohen of Bar
Ilan University explained today the faults of the direct-election
system:
"It was supposed to lend more stability to the system, but it didn't -
each of the last two governments were toppled in mid-term, and this
will be our third election in five years. In addition, there is no
large party; in 1981, the two large parties comprised 95 Knesset
seats, but within less than 20 years they lost more than half of this
number, and most of these were lost in the last two elections. The
problem is that the division of votes does not allow for one large
party to lead; the governing party cannot effectively coordinate its
actions with the smaller parties in its bloc - instead, it goes from
one coalition crisis to another, with the small parties making
constant demands. This is bad for democracy, and does not allow the
government to govern. This is a direct result of allowing the voter
to vote separately for Prime Minister and for a sectarian party; each
small party said, 'Vote for whomever you want for Prime Minister, but
then vote for [us]...'"
"There must be a new system that will somehow strengthen the large
parties... In addition, another desired improvement would be to
stipulate that a majority of 61 MKs is not sufficient to topple the
government; a special majority of 75 or more MKs should be necessary,
in order to make it clear that holding new elections is no small
matter... A leader should be able to know that he has four years in
power, and this would help his long-range planning."
2. THE RUSH TO CONCLUDE - OR HEAD OFF - AN AGREEMENT
A bill forbidding the head of a minority government from signing
diplomatic agreements will be voted on in the Knesset Law Committee
next Monday. This would preclude Ehud Barak, who currently heads a
government representing two parties and only 32 seats in the Knesset,
from signing an agreement with the Palestinians before the next
elections. The bill's sponsor, MK Benny Elon (National Union-Yisrael
Beiteinu), told Arutz-7's Yosef Zalmanson today that although Shas
voted against an early presentation of the bill last month, its MKs
will vote in favor of it this time. Elon expressed confidence that
even if the bill's passage into law takes some time - it must pass
three readings after Monday's committee vote - any agreement that
Barak signs in the interim will not be approved by the Supreme Court,
in light of the ongoing process of legislation.
Signs are increasing showing that Barak is in fact striving to reach
an agreement. Contacts between Barak's and Arafat's offices are
continuing seriously, and PA senior figures say that Barak has hinted
that he is willing to make more concessions - including allowing
international observers in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza. The Yesha
Council says that Ehud Barak has lost his mandate from the nation, and
that any agreement he reaches is illegitimate and will not obligate
the country. The Council demands that he not conduct any diplomatic
negotiations.
Former IDF Chief of Staff Rafael Eitan (Raful) said today, "There is
no agreement that any Israeli leader can reach with the Palestinians
that will enable us to stay alive. The Arabs don't want us here - we
are a stranger in their midst, and they don't need us here, and
they've been trying to get rid of us for the last 150 years, and they
will continue doing so." Raful also noted, "The problem is that
though the nation is strong and pioneering, there is no leadership
that can help it bring this out..."
3. UNITY ON THE RIGHT
National Religious Party head Rabbi Yitzchak Levy met today with MK
Tzvi Hendel (National Union), to discuss the possibility of
"broadening" the national front and uniting it into one ticket for the
coming elections. Hendel and Chanan Porat split off from the NRP
almost two years ago, on the backdrop of the NRP's support of
Netanyahu. Hendel and Levy agreed to meet again. MK Rabbi Benny Elon
(National Union) also said yesterday that he hopes a broad "National
Camp" ticket will form.
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