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To:            arutz-7@IsraelNationalNews.com
From:          Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@IsraelNationalNews.com>
Subject:       Arutz-7 News: Tuesday, December 19, 2000


TODAY'S HEADLINES:
   1. BARAK PREPARED TO GIVE UP JERUSALEM
   2. NETANYAHU PULLS OUT; SHARON TO RUN AGAINST BARAK
   3. POLITICAL TALK

1. BARAK PREPARED TO GIVE UP JERUSALEM
Amidst both the continuing war with the Palestinians and the political uncertainty, an Israeli delegation departed last night for Washington to resume final-status talks.  The negotiations will be delayed by one day, as delegation head Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami was unable to leave until this afternoon.  Immigration Minister Yuli Tamir (Labor), a member of the delegation, said today that a "historic moment of very painful compromise in Jerusalem is approaching."

The transition Barak-government is prepared to give away the entire old city of Jerusalem - excluding the Western Wall and the Jewish Quarter, but including the Temple Mount - in exchange for pushing off the refugees issue.  Ma'ariv newspaper reports that the government has already made plans to "spin" the idea to the public by claiming that the Palestinians already have de-facto control of the Temple Mount.

According to an editorial in the same paper, "Most of the public does not believe that Prime Minister Barak has a mandate now to conduct peace talks without a Knesset majority, especially after his resignation."

2. NETANYAHU PULLS OUT; SHARON TO RUN AGAINST BARAK
The political drama of the past few days ended late last night with the following important developments:

* Shas voted against the dissolution of the Knesset, and the Knesset in fact remained intact.  The immediate consequence of this is that early Knesset elections are not scheduled, and special Prime Ministerial elections will be held on Feb. 6;

* the "Netanyahu bill" passed, allowing a non-Knesset Member to run for Prime Minister.  The bill soon became obsolete, however, because:

* former Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that he would not run for Prime Minister.  He explained this last night by saying, "I want to be able to *function* as Prime Minister, not just *be* Prime Minister - and if the Knesset remains the same, I will not be able to form an effective coalition."

The Likud's primaries for today have been cancelled, and the candidates in the Prime Ministerial elections will be Ehud Barak, Ariel Sharon - and possibly Shimon Peres.  Moshe Feiglin's candidacy for Likud head was nixed by the Likud on procedural grounds; he has been a member of the Likud for only six months and not the required nine.  Likud officials had earlier told him that this technicality could be waived.

Low-key mutual recriminations between Shas and the Likud were heard today.  Likud MK Tzippy Livni said that "more than 50% of the public was denied its chance to choose its candidate and his way," while Shas MK Shlomo Benizri said that the Likud "should not be a sore loser."  Livni told Arutz-7 today that she was disappointed that Netanyahu was not running - "but this was his personal decision; as someone who served as Prime Minister, and whose term was cut short - he did not want to face the same troubles again in a problematic Knesset [in which he would have the support of only 58-60 Knesset Members].  Unfortunately, the condition that he laid down - that he would run only if there are simultaneous Knesset elections - has left him outside the race altogether.  However, the entire Likud will now unite behind Ariel Sharon, who is not exactly a nobody - he has many achievements for the State of Israel under his belt."

Shimon Peres appears to be nearing a decision to run for Prime Minister, on behalf of the Meretz party.  He met with Meretz leader MK Yossi Sarid, and asked that the party grant him the necessary signatures of 10 MKs enabling him to run.  Peres said today, "I did not initiate this idea, but I am considering this issue very seriously from both sides, as it is a public call."  Sarid said that Meretz would offer the necessary support if it becomes clear that Peres has greater chance to beat Sharon than Barak.

3. POLITICAL TALK
The elections for Prime Minister are scheduled to be held seven weeks from today, on Feb. 6th.  The Central Election Committee feels that it may not be have sufficient time to prepare, however, and Meretz MK Amnon Rubenstein has proposed a new bill setting election day for 30 days later.  The Knesset will not debate the bill today, however, due to objections from many parties:

* Barak fears that it will give Shimon Peres more time to prepare for a race against him;

* the Likud is concerned that it will give Barak more time to reach an agreement with Arafat; and

* other parties such as Shas and United Torah Judaism simply feel "the sooner, the better."

Late in the afternoon, a final decision was made by Prime Minister Barak, Knesset Speaker Burg, and the Law Committee Chairman Rubenstein that the election would be held on Feb. 6th.

Dr. Yaakov Katz, a polling expert from Bar Ilan University, told Arutz-7 today that current findings show Ariel Sharon leading Ehud Barak by 3-4%:  "Sharon, however, seems not to be able to pass the 40% mark, which is a problem for him; if Barak does something dramatic in the next few weeks, or if Peres enters the race, Sharon's lead could easily be turned around."  Katz said that the signing by Barak of a peace agreement, even if it includes far-reaching concessions in Jerusalem, could get him re-elected:  "It's not because the public is crazy about Barak.  But we have bitter experience with the Israeli public, in that whenever a major or dramatic step is taken, the public gives credit to the one who carries it out - without paying attention to how dangerous it may turn out to be a few months from now..."

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To:            arutz-7@IsraelNationalNews.com
From:          Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@IsraelNationalNews.com>
Subject:       Arutz-7 News: Wednesday, December 20, 2000

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2000 / Kislev 23, 5761
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Delivered Daily via Email, Sunday thru Friday
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
   1. SUPREME COURT FORCES KNESSET TO ACT
   2. ISRAEL AND THE INTERNATIONAL COURT

1. SUPREME COURT FORCES KNESSET TO ACT
The 52-year-old unofficial arrangement by which full-time yeshiva students receive yearly military exemptions has come to an end - at least according to today Supreme Court ruling.  The Court decided against granting another extension to the existing arrangement; it has granted three such extensions over the past two years.  For lack of a legislated arrangement, the existing one ceases to exist, and yeshiva students must now be drafted.  Nine out of eleven Supreme Court justices ruled that even the current uncertain political and security situation does not justify the Knesset's failure to complete the legislation of an agreed-upon arrangement.

Political reactions were quick in coming:

* MK Tommy Lapid, whose Shinui party was founded largely on the issue of ending the yeshiva exemptions, demanded that the Prime Minister immediately order the army to begin drafting yeshiva students, and to stop all National Insurance payments to the students.

* The Shas party reacted to the Court's decision with fury, saying that the Supreme Court had "declared war on the world of Torah."

* United Torah Judaism MKs, on the other hand, reacted with derision. MK Rabbi Avraham Ravitz told Arutz-7 today, "Thousands of yeshiva students will willingly go to jail with their Talmudic texts if they have to...  I think that the Supreme Court simply made a mistake, in that it relied on papers and technicalities instead of taking note of the reality outside:  For one thing, the Knesset is about to go on a pre-election break, and with the elections - and election-related special interests - around the corner, the Court should have granted the extension.  But - it's still possible to pass an interim period law that will put the situation on hold until after the elections.  Because everyone knows that there will not be one extra soldier from this - the soldiers will fill the jails and will study there...  The army and the government themselves know that they will not send police to start arresting students...  Not one yeshiva student will close his books.  What, the State of Israel will be the only country in the world not to allow yeshiva students to dedicate their lives to Torah study?!'

As these words are being written, it appears that another temporary solution is in the works:  The Knesset began a rushed legislative process this afternoon to extend the current situation by four months.

2. ISRAEL AND THE INTERNATIONAL COURT
Israel, the United States, and a host of other countries face a deadline of Dec. 31 for the signing of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.  At issue is an international initiative
for a permanent court that will try individuals accused of committing genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.  Sixty countries are required not only to sign the Statute, but also to ratify it; although over 100 have signed, only 25 have ratified.  In Israel, Justice Minister Beilin and Foreign Minister Ben-Ami are in favor of signing; they say that ratification can be put off until later. Atty.-Gen'l Rubenstein, however, as well as Israeli's defense establishment, are very much against any form of approval for the initiative.  Prof. Eitan Gilboa, of Bar Ilan University's Political Science Department, explains why:

"Israel would simply become a victim of such a court.  We all know the anti-Israel record of the world community - all the anti-Israel resolutions that have been passed in the UN in recent years, and the like.  The Palestinians are already claiming that we are guilty of war crimes...  There is definitely the danger that the court will be politically driven, and will not deal with the real issues...  In the U.S., there is great pressure on Clinton not to sign, and in any event, the Senate will not ratify it.  Should we then approve it and not the U.S.?  Many people in the U.S. are trying to get Israel not to sign, partially out of genuine concern for Israel...  Beilin's trick of signing-but-not-ratifying is just that - a trick that may be good for internal Israeli politics but not for the international stage.  If the idea of the ICC is not good - and it's not - then let's simply say so!"

Senator Jesse Helms, Chairman of the U.S. Senate's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, wrote recently, "Israel must stand up for its own interests, and refuse to sign the Rome Statute, because otherwise Israel is likely to regret supporting this flawed institution...  It would be worthwhile for every Israel to watch the news, and see the brave Israeli soldiers defending themselves from Arab rock-throwing mobs, and try to imagine them being tried as 'war criminals' in some future international court..."

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To:            arutz-7@IsraelNationalNews.com
From:          Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@IsraelNationalNews.com>
Subject:       Arutz-7 News: Thursday, December 21, 2000

-Arutz Sheva News Service-
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Thursday, Dec. 21, 2000 / Kislev 24, 5761
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Delivered Daily via Email, Sunday thru Friday
   --- See below for subscription instructions ---

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
   1. ISRAELI OFFER NEARING COMPLETION
   2. ...AND NEITHER WILL LEVY

   ***SPECIAL INSER: IDF ANGER AT BARAK

1. ISRAELI OFFER NEARING COMPLETION
It's now official: Israeli concessions to the Palestinians in the Washington talks include permission for an undisclosed amount of Arab refugees to enter Israel; the transfer of 95% of Judea and Samaria; the transfer of Negev lands equivalent to the other 5%; and control of the Temple Mount. Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami confirmed today that Israel had gone further towards the Palestinians than in any previous talks.  The Palestinians have so far not accepted these terms.  Palestinian Authority official Nabil Sha'ath said that if the negotiations fail, "there must be movement on all the Arab fronts for the continuation of the intifada."

Pinchas Wallerstein, head of Binyamin Regional Council, discussed the situation with Arutz-7 today:

"A most astounding thing is happening here, that a man [Prime Minister Barak] gives precedence to his own ego and personal interests over the interest of the People of Israel.  It is unbelievable, but it is clear that he is doing this [making such concessions in order to reach an agreement with the Palestinians] only out of his own personal interest...  I did not believe that this could happen in the Israeli Zionist society, but it is happening before our eyes at these moments...  There is a complete willingness on his part to give away 95% of Judea and Samaria, which means giving up the entire settlement enterprise of Judea and Samaria.  It doesn't matter that Barak once promised that Beit El or Ofrah would never be given up...  because giving away 95% of Yesha means that communities such as Eli, Shilo, Ofrah, Beit El will not be able to exist...  It means the giving up of every single Yesha town, except maybe for some that border on the Green Line, and Ma'aleh Adumim, and possibly Givat Ze'ev...  When he talks about giving away the Temple Mount, it's not only the holiest site of the Jewish nation and the target of our prayers for 2,000 years - it also has practical meaning: it means all the surrounding neighborhoods, including Mt. of Olives and others, all the way up to Ramallah, and it means that the large Jewish areas of N'vei Yaakov and Pisgat Ze'ev [in north-east Jerusalem] become enclaves surrounded by a Palestinian state.  We're not just talking about 'settlers,' but the detachment of whole neighborhoods within Jerusalem..."

When asked what measures the "leadership of Yesha" is taking in light of the above dangers, Wallerstein admitted that of late, "we have been almost totally occupied with the details of maintaining day to day security and normal routine... "  He said that there will have to be large-scale popular protests throughout the country, "showing that this is not real 'peace,' because it undermines the very foundations of the existence of the State."  He added, however, that "we have reached the stage where stronger and sharper measures than regular demonstrations are clearly called for.  Obviously this is not the forum in which to enumerate them, but preparations are underway for such, and there is no other choice but to employ them."

2. ...AND NEITHER WILL LEVY
The National Religious Party has similarly decided that party head Rabbi Yitzchak Levy will not challenge Likud head Ariel Sharon in the upcoming Prime Ministerial election.  It had been thought that a challenge by Levy would force Sharon to take more right-wing positions, but Rabbi Levy told Arutz-7 today that his meeting with Sharon last night "assured me that we would pretty well be able to identify with his positions."  Rabbi Levy said that his purpose in the meeting was to clarify with Sharon three chief issues of concern:

"The first was that of the Yesha settlement enterprise.  Sharon promised clearly that his guidelines stipulate that not one community would be hurt.  I spoke with [former Chief] Rabbis Shapira and Eliyahu, and they also asked me to make sure of this point, and Sharon did so distinctly - regarding not only Yesha, but also the Jordan Valley and Jerusalem.  The second point that I wanted to hear from Sharon was his position on Israel as a 'Jewish democratic state' - does he plan to give priority to the "democratic" part and ignore or harm the "Jewish" part, or will he... give the Jewish aspect of the State its proper weight? ... Finally, I was very concerned about the issue of the national unity government that he promised to form [with Labor] and his intentions thereof.  We are aware that he has already 'given' the Defense Ministry to Ehud Barak, but Sharon promised me that he would adhere to his own principles in forming such a government..."

When asked whether he trusts Sharon to follow through on his promises, Rabbi Levy answered, "I am not naive, and I know that there are often differences between what is said before elections and what happens afterwards.  But first of all I believe that the word of a Prime Ministerial candidate has value, and secondly -- to clash publicly with Sharon based only on the claim that he is a liar is not something that I would want to do...  We will yet speak with him further, and he will visit the NRP institutions, and we will ask him about these matter, and they will become clear."


***SPECIAL INSERT

The following are excerpts from an article by Amos Harel in Ha'aretz yesterday discussing the anger many in the IDF feel at Prime Minister Barak for putting his political agenda ahead of security:

"As elections approach, it seems that the [army] will be left alone in the arena. It seems that as much as the officers are angry at having "tied hands," they are more troubled about the loss of interest - in the government as well as among the public. Some are already suggesting a new slogan, "this is not the way to build a wall," meaning: The political echelon, through its decisions, must also contribute to the struggle.

"The resumption of negotiations in Washington cost Israel a concession on the demand it made forcefully after the rioting started - talks only after a cease-fire. Now they are talking and shooting at the same time, when it seems that the PA has no real incentive to stop the violence, which has proven to pay off. It is a fact: Ehud Barak is now going to attend talks and his opening offer is more generous than what he offered at Camp David, before the battles.

"Who still remembers the tense Israeli expectation for a declaration by Arafat ending the violence at 2:00 P.M. on November 2, the day after his meeting with Minister Shimon Peres in Gaza? That same evening a car bomb exploded in Jerusalem and that night a record (that still stands) number of shooting incidents was registered....

"A senior officer serving in the territories claims that the "instructions we're receiving now border on negligence, in the best case." According to him, "two weeks ago we said we wouldn't tolerate shooting at settlements.  Now it's a daily occurrence. We take risks that have no purpose, while Arafat is not positioning his system to prevent attacks."

"...No one in the IDF will specifically say so, especially when the chief of staff cautions his generals against making any political statement in light of the elections, but some of Barak's moves are interpreted by many officers as a political survival tactic whose chances of success are slim and whose results may be catastrophic.  In this context, the assessment of Military Intelligence is a sharp one...: Arafat has no incentive nor intention of achieving a political compromise now.

"Throughout the clash with the Palestinians, the IDF has proposed steps aimed directly at senior PA officials, such as retracting the VIP cards of the heads of the security agencies, Muhammad Dahlan and Tawfiq Tirawi, whose officers were involved in terrorist attacks. These proposals were not approved... In practice, most of the sanctions have disintegrated or been lifted: the supply of construction material for PA use was resumed and gasoline was allowed to be brought in. The Karni crossing is open, as is the airport in Rafiah and the border crossing to Egypt. The export of goods from Gaza is resuming...  Israel also recanted its decision to withhold funds from the PA...  The right-wing cry to "Let the IDF win" is still seen as an idiotic slogan, but apparently the political echelon's denials that the IDF's hands were tied are less strongly voiced."

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To:            arutz-7@IsraelNationalNews.com
From:          Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@IsraelNationalNews.com>
Subject:       Arutz-7 News Brief:  Friday, December 22, 2000

- Arutz Sheva News Service -
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Friday, Dec. 22, 2000 / Kislev 25, 5761 - First Day of Chanukah
------------------------------------------------
Delivered Daily via Email, Sunday thru Friday
--- See below for subscription instructions ---

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
   1. BARAK GOES FOR BROKE
   2. OLMERT REALIZES MISTAKE...
   3. IT'S JUST SHARON AND BARAK
   4. AMERICAN-JEWISH SUPPORT FOR A JEWISH TEMPLE MOUNT
   5. MOSSAD CHIEF: ISRAEL NEEDS ZIONISM
   6. PRAYERS FOR YESHA

1. BARAK GOES FOR BROKE
The talks between Israeli and Palestinian delegations will take a break of a few days today, amidst reports that "progress" has been made.  The following concessions by the Barak government were reported this morning:

* Borders and settlements:  The Israeli delegation in Washington informed the Palestinians that it was agreed that Israel would withdraw to the June 4, 1967 borders.  Barak merely asks for small border changes that will allow Israel to retain Ma'aleh Adumim (east of Jerusalem), Ariel (mid-Shomron), and several communities in Gush Etzion (halfway between Hevron and Jerusalem).  In exchange for these enclaves, Barak has offered alternative territories in the Negev.

* Refugees:  Barak's Israel now agrees to allow 150,000 Arab refugees from 1948 to enter Israel - 15,000 over each of the next ten years.

* Jerusalem:  The Jews will be left with the Western Wall and the Jewish Quarter, while the Palestinians will receive - according to Barak - Mt. of Olives, Kfar Shiloach, and other Jerusalem
neighborhoods.

The Prime Minister's Office has hurried to deny the reports regarding the latest Israeli concessions to the Palestinians, calling them "speculation."  Palestinian spokesmen, too, say that the reports are misleading in that there are many difficulties in the talks and the gaps are still wide.  They say, however, that Israel has offered them full sovereignty over the Temple Mount, and not just control of the site.  Yasser Arafat said later today that an agreement appears to be near.

The two delegations will meet with U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright today, and with outgoing U.S. President Clinton tomorrow night.

Likud MK Ruby Rivlin said today that Prime Minister Barak "is guided by his own personal interests of political survival, and he is going and selling everything we have."  Rivlin was asked, "Don't you appreciate Barak's promise not to finalize any agreement before the public approves it?" - a reference to the upcoming Prime Ministerial election that Barak has said would be seen as a "referendum" on any agreement that he reaches.  Rivlin said, no, he does not appreciate it:  "During the election campaign, they [the government] will scare us and threaten us about how badly the world will condemn us as war-mongers and the like if we turn down a signed peace agreement..."

2. OLMERT REALIZES MISTAKE...
Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert - a Likud member who said during the previous elections that he had "no doubt that Ehud Barak is dedicated to the integrity of Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, and that he would never allow the city to be divided" - strongly attacked the concessions being made now in Washington.  Olmert said that what is going on there is a "close-out sale," and that Barak is "reneging on all his promises from the election campaign regarding Jerusalem and the pre-1967 borders, and he therefore has no authority to sign a withdrawal agreement before the coming elections."

Olmert was apparently misled by Barak's statements during last year's election campaign.  At the time, Barak criticized those who accused him of planning to divide Jerusalem:  "Israel is united around the united Jerusalem, and no one can divide the nation on this matter," and promised the nation that "Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Israel, period!"

3. IT'S JUST SHARON AND BARAK
Ariel Sharon of the Likud and Prime Minister Ehud Barak of Labor are the two sole candidates in the Prime Ministerial election to be held on Feb. 6th; the Meretz party announced yesterday that it would not "sow discord in the peace camp" by enabling Shimon Peres' candidacy.  Sharon expressed his opinion yesterday that it will be impossible to reach a final-status agreement with the Palestinians.  Speaking at a National Security Seminar at the Inter-Disciplinary Center in Herzliya, Sharon explained that this is because it is impossible to divide Jerusalem, to give up areas necessary for Israel's defense such as the Jordan Valley, or to solve the refugees issue to the Palestinians' satisfaction.

Persisting in his efforts to ensure that Barak not sign an agreement in opposition to the wishes of most of the Knesset, MK Benny Elon (National Union) continues to push his proposed legislation that would prevent just that.  Elon's proposed law states that a Prime Minister whose government does not enjoy the support of a majority of the Knesset would not be permitted to sign international agreements.  Barak's transition government enjoys the support of approximately 1/4 of the Knesset.  MK Elon gathered a total of 61 MKs yesterday who asked Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg (Labor) not to artificially block the bill, as he has been doing until now.  Thanks to Elon's 'reminder' to the Knesset this week that it may not take a pre-election recess as earlier as it wanted, the Knesset will be in session at least until Monday, January1.

4. AMERICAN-JEWISH SUPPORT FOR A JEWISH TEMPLE MOUNT
A public statement headlined "Israel Must Not Surrender Judaism's Holiest Site, the Temple Mount" has been signed by 25 American Jewish leaders, from the Orthodox and Conservative movements.  The statement will appear as an advertisement in numerous Jewish newspapers throughout the United States and Israel in the coming days.  The statement reads, in part:

"In future years, all of us will have to answer to all our children and grandchildren when they ask us why we did not do more to protect their heritage and safeguard Har HaBayit (the Temple Mount).  The holy city of Jerusalem, and particularly the Temple Mount, has been the birthright, the geographical heart and the spiritual soul of the Jewish people for 3,000 years.  It is the place towards which Jews everywhere in the world turn to pray three times a day.  It is the Zion to which we have yearned to return from exile for millennia.  In 1967, when Jerusalem was reunited, and especially the Temple Mount was returned to Jewish hands, we all rejoiced as we witnessed a true miracle in our time - these holy places coming back to the Jewish people...  We note that public opinion polls have shown that the overwhelming majority of Israelis and Diaspora Jews reject the idea of surrendering the Temple Mount..."  The statement was initiated by the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), and was signed by former Conference of Presidents chairmen, leaders of the Rabbinical Council of America, the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, the Rabbinical Assembly, and other prominent Jewish groups.

5.  MOSSAD CHIEF: ISRAEL NEEDS ZIONISM
The head of Israel's CIA - Mossad chief Ephraim HaLevy - says that it is impossible to maintain a secure Israel without Zionism.  Addressing the Inter-Disciplinary Center in Herzliya, HaLevy said that the fact that the relevance of Zionism in our day is being called into question within the Jewish public is eroding Israel's security.  "There is a strong relationship between the People of Israel's connection to its Land and the ability of the State of Israel to defend its security.  If we are not strong in spirit, we will not be able to be militarily strong," said HaLevy.

6. PRAYERS FOR YESHA
Rabbi Yitzchak Zilberstein, one of the leading rabbis of the hareidi sector, publicized a call to all those who follow him to "come to the aid of the residents of Judea and Samaria."  He said that every Thursday night, special prayers would be held on behalf of the residents in the synagogues of Bnei Brak.  The first such prayers were held last night in five synagogues.
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