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From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@israelnationalnews.com>
To: <arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com>;<arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Wednesday, February 7, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2001 / Sh'vat 14, 5761
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. ANALYZING THE LANDSLIDE
2. SHARON'S FIRST DAY
3. FORMING A GOV'T; SHALOM'S PREDICTIONS
4. LABOR PAINS BEGIN
5. BELLIGERENT WELCOME FROM P.A.
6. U.S.-JEWISH LEADERS WELCOME SHARON: "UNITY IS MOST IMPORTANT"
7. EXCERPTS FROM ARIEL SHARON'S VICTORY SPEECH
1. ANALYZING THE LANDSLIDE
"Not a regular upset - it was a knockout upset." So described Israel
Television anchorman Chaim Yavin the results of Ariel Sharon's
landslide election victory last night. At the time of the
announcement, it was thought that Sharon had won by 19% - but the true
dimensions of the crushing victory became clear only towards the
morning hours: After 99.9% of the precincts were counted, Sharon had
received 62.6% of the vote, and Prime Minister Barak only 37.4%.
Excuses and explanations from the left-wing camp were quick to come.
First on the list was, as Labor MK Collette Avital mentioned to
Arutz-7 today, the low turnout - just under 60%, the lowest in Israeli
election history. Observers noted, however, that this was partly due
to the limited nature of the election - only for Prime Minister and
not for the Knesset parties - and to the fact that Sharon's victory
was easily foreseen. Even more significant was the fact that only 1/4
of the Arab sector - which comprises 12.3% of the population - turned
out to vote; this was a show of anger at Ehud Barak, for whom it
otherwise would have overwhelmingly voted. Among the Jewish
population, therefore, the turnout hovered around the 70% mark.
Shimon Peres blamed what he called the "stupid left-wing," ostensibly
for not having fielded him as its candidate instead of Barak. Others
on the left, such as Meretz leader MK Yossi Sarid, blamed Peres
himself for not having backed out of the race earlier and more
unambiguously. Some Labor party seniors, such as Interior Minister
Chaim Ramon, blamed Ehud Barak - for not having consulted with his
peers and for other deficiencies. MK Avital said that the election
may have been a referendum on the "policy chosen by Barak" or,
alternatively, on the "way in which he conducted his policy."
Ehud Barak himself, although he assumed personal responsibility for
the loss, chose to blame the public: "[The path that I have chosen
vis-a-vis the Palestinians] requires a heart-rending sacrifice, and it
could be that the nation is not yet ready for it... On the other
side, too [the Palestinians], the required readiness has not yet been
exhibited... In a certain sense, we are ahead of our time..." Chemi
Shalev, an Israeli commentator for CNN, said that the Israeli public
was fed up with Barak's zig-zagging and felt "humiliated" at the
continuing Palestinian violence.
MK Collette Avital said, "It's hard for me to believe that the nation
said 'No' to peace. Before the current violence started, the public
supported the peace process, but changed its mind sharply when the war
started. This means to me that the public wants peace, but does not
think it can be reached specifically with this partner at this point
in time." She also tended to shift the focus of blame away from the
"peace process" to the way in which it was carried out: "This loss
tells me that the public wants to be treated seriously, and that when
serious steps are taken, they must not be taken behind closed doors,
but must rather be accompanied by a serious information campaign... I
don't think they said 'No' to the peace process, but rather to Ehud
Barak..."
Dr. Yossi Olmert, Middle Eastern affairs expert who served as director
of Israel's Government Press Office under Prime Minister Yitzchak
Shamir responded, "With all due respect to Collette Avital, she and
her colleagues on the left simply cannot admit the failure of their
ideology, which, to put it simply, raises the ideal of peace above
Zionism... What the Israeli public said in this landslide victory is
that it does not want peace at any price. They do not want peace at
the expense of dividing Jerusalem, for instance, but only under
certain conditions. This is why I believe that Sharon doesn't have to
talk so much about peace, because what people are concerned about now
is security."
Dr. Aaron Lerner of IMRA seconded this point by noting recent poll
statistics. Last month's Peace Index Project poll, conducted by the
Tami Steinmetz Center for Peace Research at Tel Aviv University, shows
that only 27.8% of the population is in favor of the Oslo agreements,
while 42.9% are opposed. Asked about Barak's negotiations policy with
the Palestinians, only 3.4% felt it was "too hard," while 70.4% felt
that it was "too conciliatory;" the same number felt that the reason
why the Palestinians did not sign a peace agreement with Barak is
because "they are trying to get more concessions."
2. SHARON'S FIRST DAY
Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon visited the Western Wall this
afternoon, after a visit to the gravesite of his late wife Lily, who
passed away last year. He was greeted at the Wall by Likud Knesset
Members, Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert, and a large crowd of
well-wishers. He said there again that he would establish a
national-unity government, "a critical need for the people at this
juncture." Sharon has already appointed a coalition-forming team,
comprised of former Olmert, Minister Ya'akov Ne'eman, and Likud
Secretary-General Uri Shani, with whom he met this afternoon. Olmert
doesn't rule out receiving the position of Minister of Jerusalem
Affairs.
Ariel Sharon will send emissaries to several Arab countries today,
reassuring them that his intentions are peaceful. The Americans are
also expected to ask the Arab leaders to judge Sharon by his new
government's actions and not according to his past.
3. FORMING A GOV'T; SHALOM'S PREDICTIONS
Although his political allies hope it will take much quicker, Sharon
has 45 days from the time the official elections results are announced
to form a government and have it approved by the Knesset. Until that
time, Barak will remain as caretaker prime minister. If Sharon fails
to form a Knesset- approved government within 45 days, another
election is called - and Sharon will not be permitted to run again.
He has another reason for hurrying: If the national budget for the
year 2001 is not approved by the Knesset by March 31 - three months
after the original deadline - new elections must be held three months
later for both Prime Minister and the entire Knesset. The next
regularly scheduled elections are November 2003, at the end of the
current Knesset term.
If he cannot form a unity government, he will have to form a narrow
right-wing coalition. The 58 "naturally right-wing" seats - three
short of a Knesset majority - would have to be supplemented with
"outsiders" such as David and Maxime Levy, Dan Meridor, Roni Milo, and
Chaim Katz, and their respective demands.
Likud MK Silvan Shalom, one of the managers of the successful
campaign, was one of two Likud MKs mentioned by Sharon last night -
the other was Ruby Rivlin - leading many to conclude that they would
receive senior posts in the new government. Shalom summarized the
election campaign and victory today for Arutz-7: "So many people
wanted to put an end to what we have gone through in the past years.
It was beautiful to see ten political parties working together, and
then to get such a great achievement - a 25% gap - I don't think such
a thing will ever happen again."
Arutz-7's Ariel Kahane asked, "Does this great margin of victory mean
that the Likud can stick to its basic ideological positions, without a
need to lean leftwards?" Shalom answered, "We would like to do this,
but we may not be able to do this because we don't have a
parliamentary majority." Kahane: "Then why not go for a right-wing
coalition, and then you can stand fast on your familiar and original
positions?". Shalom: "Even then things are not exactly the way they
appear. A narrow government will be based on the Levy brothers and
Meridor and Milo, as well as Yisrael B'Aliyah and Shas - whose
positions are not exactly like ours... It's not as if we have so many
options. This is why we have to begin by trying for as broad a
government as possible, but if this doesn't work [i.e., if a unity
government with Labor cannot be formed] then we will form a narrow
government and leave an opening for Labor to join later. At present,
there is no one with whom to talk in Labor, and since we don't have
time to waste - and since we have to change the outgoing government's
policies as fast as possible - we have to form a government as fast as
possible."
4. LABOR PAINS BEGIN
The landslide victor said last night that he still hopes to form a
national-unity government, despite the vacuum created in Labor by
Barak's announced resignation. Some Laborites feel that Shimon Peres,
such as Chaim Ramon, should lead the party for the next interim
period, while others feel that he is largely to blame for the election
loss and does not deserve to lead the party. Avraham Burg, a top
contender for the party's top spot, has only praise for Peres, but
would rather relegate him to the "presidency" of the party while
choosing someone else - preferably himself - to be Labor Chairman.
Ramon, Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, and Shlomo Ben-Ami are also considered
candidates to lead the party.
Outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who did not expect his loss to be
as large as it was, announced last night that was taking a time-out
from political life. In a move reminiscent of that taken by Binyamin
Netanyahu after his defeat by Barak two years ago, Barak announced
that he would resign from the Knesset and from the leadership of the
Labor Party after the formation of the next government: "The
electorate has spoken, and I respect the democratic decision that has
been made... I thank all those who voted for me, and it gives me
strength to continue for the future... I just a short time ago called
Knesset Member Ariel Sharon and congratulated him... No, no boos - we
don't have to have unity, but we also don't need boos... We have lost
a battle, but we will win the war." He was greeted very
enthusiastically by the crowd at Labor campaign headquarters. One sign
said, "250 Days After the Withdrawal From Lebanon - Thank You!"
With his wife by his side, the outgoing Prime Minister said,
"The results of the election do not shake our faith in our way. Our
way is the only true way. It is the only way to lead to peace, and to
permanent separation from our Palestinian neighbors. Only a border
between us will lead to peace... and to economic growth... and to the
Jewish way of being a light unto the nations... This way requires a
heart-rending sacrifice, and it could be that the nation is not yet
ready for it... On the other side, too, the required readiness has not
yet been ready... In a certain sense, we are ahead of our time, but it
will come - I have no doubt. The truth will win, both on our side and
on theirs, because there is no other way... I take full responsibility
for our way, and I am proud of it, and I also take responsibility for
this election campaign... I know that the country wants unity - but
unity is not a substitute for a policy." Barak added, however, that
if a unity government based on common goals can be reached, then he
would agree to it.
5. BELLIGERENT WELCOME FROM P.A.
Palestinian Authority negotiator Nabil Shaath said last night that the
Palestinians would deal with Sharon, "since the Israeli people - our
partner in the peace negotiations - have chosen him. But what kind of
peace can he make, if he is not even willing to go as far as Barak
did?" He said that he would not agree to an interim agreement, and
that the Palestinians would continue to struggle for what they
deserve.
PA negotiator Saeb Erekat said that the election results prove that
the Israeli public is not ready for peace. "There is no chance for
peace while Sharon adheres to his positions regarding Jerusalem, the
Jordan Valley, and the Judea and Samaria settlements," he said, adding
that negotiations will only resume from where they left off under Ehud
Barak. "The only way to work with Sharon," Fatah Secretary Marwan
Barghouti said, "is to continue and escalate the Intifada." Yasser
Abed-Rabbo said that the Sharon victory represents a victory for the
Fascist and extremist Right in Israel.
Arab MK Ahmed Tibi said tonight that the Arabs are no longer in the
pocket of the Labor party. MK Rechavam Z'eevi (National Union Party)
said in response: "What Tibi is saying is that the converse is true -
the Labor party will now be in the pocket of the Arabs. They will
always have the final OK on its candidate, etc."
The official Egyptian daily Al Ahbar writes that the victory of "the
butcher from Sabra and Shatila" is testimony that the Israeli nation
does not want peace. The paper writes that the political platform of
Sharon - who has been hated by Egypt ever since he commanded critical
victories against Egypt in the Yom Kippur War - is a "declaration of
war. The only hope for the Palestinian hope now is the strengthening
of Arab solidarity in support of the intifada." On the other hand,
Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdel Ala el-Hatib says that his country
will judge Sharon according to his actions and not by his past.
Yasser Arafat's official reaction: "We respect the will of the
Israeli nation, but we hope that the peace process will continue."
6. U.S.-JEWISH LEADERS WELCOME SHARON: "UNITY IS MOST IMPORTANT"
The leaders of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish
Organizations have conveyed their congratulations to Ariel Sharon on
his election as Prime Minister of Israel.
"While there are many issues that will demand the Prime
Minister-elect's immediate attention, we believe that the unity of the
people of Israel and of world Jewry must be a priority," said Chairman
Ron Lauder and Executive Vice Chairman Malcolm Hoenlein. The Jewish
leaders pledged solidarity with Mr. Sharon and vowed to work together
to strengthen the ties between the U.S. and the American Jewish
community, and Israel. "We appreciate the statements by the US
administration that they will work with the new Israeli government,
underscoring the importance of the special US-Israel relationship,"
they said. "We hope the international community will do likewise and
work closely and cooperatively with prime Minister-elect Sharon. With
the backdrop of on-going Palestinian violence and the disruption of
peace negotiations, the strong support of the new US administration as
well as the American Jewish community is vital."
Americans For a Safe Israel/AFSI is delighted to welcome Ariel Sharon
as Israel's new Prime Minister, and expresses its hope that he
declares the Oslo process null and void, that he "undo all its
mistakes," that there will be no negotiations while Palestinian
violence and terror continue, that safety be restored on Israel's
roads, and more.
7. EXCERPTS FROM ARIEL SHARON'S VICTORY SPEECH
Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon delivered his victory speech at 1 AM
this morning at Likud election headquarters at the Tel Aviv Exhibition
Grounds. Leaders and members of all of his potential national-camp
coalition partners were there to greet him. Excerpts from the speech,
which he began by remembering his late wife Lily and expressing his
sorrow over her absence: "Several minutes before I entered the hall,
US President Bush called to relay his good wishes. He told me of his
desire for close cooperation with the government which I will head. He
recalled a tour we went on together of Samaria and the Jordan Valley,
and reminded me that he had said then that one day he would be
President and I would be Prime Minister. He said, 'No one may have
believed it then, but here it is, I am President and you have just
been elected Prime Minister.' "Today, the State of Israel has embarked
on a new path: a path of domestic peace and harmony, and a striving
for security and genuine peace. Over the years, differences of opinion
and divisions have grown deeper in our nation and in our society. We
have had our fill of animosity and senseless hatred. The time has come
to focus on that which unites us, and reach a consensus as broad as
possible. I know that there is a national yearning to stand together
and face the challenges of the future. I issue a call from here for
the establishment of a national unity government, with as many members
as possible. I turn to the Labor party to walk with us together, on
the basis of true partnership, along the difficult path to security
and peace." "The government that I will lead will work towards
restoring security to the citizens of Israel, and towards achieving
genuine peace and stability in the region. I know that peace means
painful compromises on both sides. Any settlements reached will be
based on security for all peoples in the region. I call upon our
neighbors the Palestinians to abandon the path of violence and return
to dialogue and pursuit of a resolution to the disagreements between
us in a peaceful manner. The government which I will lead will work
towards a realistic settlement which will safeguard the existential
and historical interests of Israel, and will be based on mutual
respect and the fulfillment of reciprocal obligations." "We will open
a new page in our relations with Israel's Arab citizens in an effort
to create a true partnership, and a sense of equality between all
citizens. The government that I will lead will raise the flag of
social issues, alongside the flags of security and peace, with the top
priority being education. Above these are the flag of Zionism, the
flag of national honor, immigration and settlement of the Land. The
government which I will establish will pursue the strengthening and
building up of a united Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, and the
eternal capital of the Jewish people for which we are forever
obligated: "If I forget thee O Jerusalem, let my right hand lose its
cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof
of my mouth, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy." "We have
a small country blessed with talent and rich in achievements. Let's
begin tonight all of us 'as one man with one heart' on a new path.
Together we can overcome all of the challenges before us. Together we
can realize all of our hopes and dreams. Thank you all."
************************************************************
To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com,arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor<neteditor@israelnationalnews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News:Thursday,
February 8, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Thursday, Feb. 8, 2001 / Tu B'Shvat 5761
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. LABOR DIVIDED AS COALITION TALKS BEGIN
2. SHARON TURNS DOWN SYRIAN "OFFER"
3. P.A. SAYS NO TO SHARON, AFTER SAYING NO TO BARAK
4. SHARON MAY GIVE AWAY - BUT TO WHOM?
1. LABOR DIVIDED AS COALITION TALKS BEGIN
The coalition negotiations between Ariel Sharon's staff and the
political parties began today. The Likud team, headed by Jerusalem
Mayor Ehud Olmert, met with the One Israel committee, headed by Labor
MK Ra'anan Cohen.
The party's Knesset Members convened this afternoon in an attempt to
come to some decisions regarding the future of the party and its
leadership. Justice Minister Yossi Beilin announced there that he
backs Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg for the position of Labor Party
leader. "Burg will be able to unite the party, and rebuild our bridges
with the religious and with the Arabs," Beilin said. He said that he
supports his mentor Shimon Peres for the as yet non-existent position
of President of the party. Peres said he is not interested in serving
as either temporary or permanent party leader.
Labor party members are divided on the question of whether to join a
unity government; Justice Minister Yossi Beilin, for instance, says he
will quit the party if it joins Sharon's government, and Foreign
Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami has also come out against the notion. Other
Laborites took a middle road. Outgoing Absorption Minister Yuli Tamir
recommends that the party not join the government for the next four
months, but rather support it from the outside while Labor gets itself
in order and chooses its leadership. Tamir was brought into national
politics by Ehud Barak, who plucked her from relative obscurity 20
months ago to be the second woman in his Cabinet.
Former MK Effie Oshaya, who will become a Labor party Knesset Member
upon Barak's resignation, made similar comments today. Speaking with
Arutz-7 this afternoon, Oshaya said, "A new Prime Minister has been
elected, so let's give him a chance. I'm in favor of unity, but not
fake unity; if the state of Israel is important, then let's stay in
the opposition and fight for what we believe - but let's vote for the
budget that our own party and Finance Minister proposed, and let's
give the government a chance to seek peace, if it can... Those [in
Labor] who want a national unity government are just looking out for
their own political careers..."
2. SHARON TURNS DOWN SYRIAN "OFFER"
Syrian President Bashar Assad has called upon Ariel Sharon to enter
into negotiations with him - as opposed to positions expressed
yesterday by Syrian papers. However, Assad says that his starting
position is exactly that of his father, nothing more and nothing less,
and that everyone knows what they are (namely, the return of 100% of
the Golan and other area captured by Israel following Syrian attacks
from there during the Six Day War). The Likud has rejected the
proposal. Zalman Shoval says that these pre-conditions set by Syria
are totally unacceptable.
Zalman Shoval - a former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., and Sharon's
top diplomatic advisor - has left for the United States as the head of
a delegation sent by Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon. The delegation
will meet with members of the new Bush Administration, and will
emphasize that the new Sharon government is committed only to the
signed agreements, such as those reached with the PA at Oslo, Wye
Plantation, and Sharm al Sheikh, but not to other "understandings."
Sharon has also sent an emissary to King Abdullah to Jordan, and plans
to send one to Egypt as well.
3. P.A. SAYS NO TO SHARON, AFTER SAYING NO TO BARAK
Arafat's Fatah organization urged the Palestinian Authority yesterday
not even to negotiate with Sharon, threatening that "if the Israelis
think that Sharon will make security for them, we say loudly that
Israel will never have security at all." Ignoring their rejection of
Ehud Barak's peace offers, a Fatah statement said, "The Intifada and
resistance are our strategic options to get rid of the occupation and
to achieve freedom, return (of Palestinian refugees), national
independence and sovereignty. We call for stepping up the Intifada
and resistance in the face of the butcher Sharon." PA negotiator
Nabil Shaath said that if Sharon sticks to his positions, "there can
be no credible peace process."
However, as former American Mideast mediator Dennis Ross has noted
several times since leaving his post - most recently, today - it was
Yasser Arafat who turned down the most recent peace offer. "During
the latest round of talks at Taba, Arafat turned down former President
Clinton's bridging proposals," Ross said today, referring to a package
that included parts of Jerusalem and other major Israeli concessions.
4. SHARON MAY GIVE AWAY - BUT TO WHOM?
Former President Ezer Weizman, a veteran of both the Likud and Labor
parties and who supported Ariel Sharon in the election campaign, said
today that he believes that Sharon "will not hesitate to uproot
individual settlements [in Judea and Samaria] in order to reach an
agreement with the Palestinians." Sharon himself, however, told
Arutz-7 the day after receiving the Likud's Prime Ministerial
nomination two months ago, "I will not dismantle a single settlement,
period."
Arutz-7's Yosef Zalmanson notes that the question is essentially a
moot one, since an agreement with Yasser Arafat does not appear to be
in the offing, given Arafat's refusal to make peace with Israel even
on the more generous terms offered by Barak.
Likud MK Ruby Rivlin said last night that Sharon might agree to turn
over joint Israeli-Palestinian controlled areas to full PA control,
thus leaving certain settlements in total isolation. This is in
keeping with a plan approved by Sharon last November that was to have
served as a basis for a national unity government headed by Ehud
Barak. The plan - which was not necessarily accepted by other Likud
MKs - called for territorial contiguity between the
Palestinian-controlled areas.
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