Arutz-7 News: Thursday, February 15, 2001

HHMI Newsgroup Archives

To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@israelnationalnews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Thursday, February 15, 2001

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Thursday, Feb. 15, 2001 / Sh'vat 22, 5761
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. BARAK LIKELY TO STAY; SARID: ONE ZIG-ZAG TOO MANY
2. LIKUD TO RECONSIDER YESHA CLAUSE
3. HOW TO FIGHT BACK

1. BARAK LIKELY TO STAY; SARID: ONE ZIG-ZAG TOO MANY
Signs are increasing that Ehud Barak may not resign from politics. Sources close to the outgoing Prime Minister say that he has already decided to accept Ariel Sharon's offer to serve as Defense Minister in the new government. He intimated last night that he may renege on his post-election promise to step down from politics, saying that although "my heart tells me to leave politics for a while," he must "take into consideration the many calls I have received, including from President Katzav and Prime Minister-elect Sharon," to remain.

Barak said that in any event, he will be the one to decide who the Labor party's government ministers will be. This drew strong fire from Interior Minister Chaim Ramon, a political opponent of Barak within Labor, who said today that "the days are over" when Barak makes such decisions by himself. Ramon also said that he is very wary of the agreements Barak and Sharon may have reached in their private meetings. "These issues must be decided by an authorized party committee," he said. "It's not even certain that most Labor members want the Defense and Foreign Affairs portfolios. Most people that I've spoken to say they prefer that the party choose Finance [as one of the two senior portfolios offered Labor by the Likud]..."

In response to the increasing reports that Barak may join the unity government, Ramon said early this evening that he would do everything he could to torpedo a government in which Barak is a member. Knesset Members of the left-wing Meretz party also criticized Barak for what appears to be his acceptance of Sharon's offer; Yossi Sarid said, "This is just one zig-zag too many."

2. LIKUD TO RECONSIDER YESHA CLAUSE
Ariel Sharon and Ehud Barak were to meet today to iron out the last differences in their budding national unity government agreement. The Likud has responded to strong demands - some call them "threats" - by its partners on the right, and wishes to reformulate the clause that deals with Jewish construction in Judea and Samaria. The clause currently states that new construction will be permitted only in accordance with the towns' "natural growth."

Likud coalition-talks representative Ehud Olmert, Mayor of Jerusalem, said today that the Likud would not allow Labor to force it to antagonize its natural partners on the right, and then have its government be solely dependent on the support of Labor. When asked if Labor had vetoed Rehavam Ze'evi (National Union) and Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael B'Aliyah) as government ministers, Olmert said, "Labor will clearly not have a veto right on who we will accept as a government minister." He also said that Attorney-General Elyakim Rubenstein's recommendation regarding Lieberman was not binding. Rubenstein said yesterday that Lieberman, who was indicted on charges of insulting a police officer, may not be a government minister. Olmert said that Sharon could, if he wished, appoint Lieberman, and then wait to see if someone challenged it in court.

3. HOW TO FIGHT BACK
An editorial in Ma'ariv today stated, "Israel is now at war with the Palestinian Authority. At this point there is no difference between the various terrorist gangs and the official Palestinian Authority. Even their reactions yesterday, in which all the spokesmen justified the attack, were the same."

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To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com,arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor<neteditor@israelnationalnews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News Brief: Friday, February 16, 2001

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Friday, Feb. 16, 2001 / Sh'vat 23, 5761
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. IDF'S #2 MAN: MISTAKE TO ABANDON JOSEPH'S TOMB
2. BARAK TO JOIN NEARLY-COMPLETED GOVERNMENT
3. WHY SHARON WANTS BARAK

1. IDF'S #2 MAN: MISTAKE TO ABANDON JOSEPH'S TOMB
IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Maj.-Gen. Moshe Yaalon regrets the decision to abandon Joseph's Tomb in Shechem. In an interview published in today's edition of Ma'ariv, Yaalon said that the pullback "fired up the fighting spirit of the Palestinians. It will be a grave error if Israel continues to pull out of other areas or settlements under fire." It will be recalled that on Oct. 7, 2000, following several days of heavy Arab shooting on the soldiers guarding the holy site, and after one soldier was not rescued and died of his wounds during one of the battles, the army abandoned Joseph's Tomb in an early-morning retreat. The site, which only two decades ago was located well outside the built-up parts of the city of Shechem, is now surrounded by Arab houses.

Yaalon added that the Palestinians were disappointed to see that Israel's staying power was greater than they had thought: "They expected that we would collapse in the face of the number of killed. If there is no other option, the IDF will have to consider re-entering Area A [under full Palestinian control]," the Deputy Chief of Staff said.

2. BARAK TO JOIN NEARLY-COMPLETED GOVERNMENT
The national unity government negotiations are entering their last phase, with Labor in disarray and Likud more or less united. Following Ehud Barak's announcement that he has responded positively to Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon's call to serve as Defense Minister, and that Shimon Peres will serve as Foreign Minister, Chaim Ramon has come out fighting. He says that he will attempt to have the party reject Barak's proposals when it convenes next week. Labor's five other government ministers will apparently be Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, Raanan Cohen, Dalia Itzik, Matan Vilnai, and Avraham Shochat. Ramon, Shlomo Ben-Ami, and Yossi Beilin say they will not join the unity government; they, as well as Minister Yuli Tamir and MKs Yael Dayan and Collete Avital, are likely to lead the efforts against joining the unity government.

The Likud, too, will have seven government ministers, not including Prime Minister Sharon. These will probably be Silvan Shalom (Finance), Limor Livnat, Meir Shetreet, Ruby Rivlin, Yehoshua Matza, Danny Naveh, and Tzippy Livni. Michael Eitan and Uzi Landau will apparently be left out.

3. WHY SHARON WANTS BARAK
The media and many politicians seem to be in rare agreement today against Barak's appointment to the Defense Ministry, in face of his earlier announcement to resign. Many radio and newspaper columnists have stinging criticism of what Meretz MK Yossi Sarid called "one zig-zag too many." In addition, MKs Nachum Langental (NRP), Salah Tarif (Labor), several from Shas and Meretz, and others, have strongly criticized Barak on this point and called on either him or Sharon not to let the appointment go through.

Yechiel Leiter, a former advisor to both Netanyahu and Sharon and a Yesha leader, explained to Arutz-7's Yosef Zalmanson today why, in his opinion, Sharon feels so strongly about having Peres and Barak in his government:

"By bringing Barak in, Sharon shows the world that he is not Attila the Hun, as he is portrayed internationally. Barak has the reputation in the world as the one who went 'all the way for peace.' Peres, too, has international prestige. Sharon knows that if he goes it alone, with the standing that he has in the world, his government could fall in a matter of months. At the same time, it is convenient for Sharon if Barak is the one to carry out a strong defense policy. It's true that [former Likud Prime Minister Yitzchak] Shamir warned that Peres will try to undermine Sharon the way he undermined Shamir [during the unity government in the 1980's], but in actuality there are some differences: Shamir was more of a passive leader - and even he, in the end, was able to keep Peres somewhat under control - while Sharon is more of an initiator, and will better able to control matters. In addition, Peres now is not at the height of his powers. Barak, too, has lost much of his standing here at home."

Zalmanson: Will Defense Minister Barak place as many obstacles in the way of the growth of Judea and Samaria as did Yitzchak Mordechai under Netanyahu? [The Defense Minister is authorized to approve all construction and the like in Yesha, by virtue of the Military Administration existing there.] Leiter: "Mordechai, who was of the Likud, had to prove that he was not leaning to strongly to the right. Barak won't have that problem; the fact is that he did not agree to a freeze on construction in Yesha while he was Prime Minister, despite demands from his party that he do so. In addition, Sharon will also be involved in these matters. At least in the areas that Sharon sees as being permanently Israeli [ed. note: Sharon has said that he foresees a Palestinian state or entity on 42% of Yesha], he is likely to encourage Jewish construction."

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To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com,arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor<neteditor@israelnationalnews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Sunday, February 18, 2001

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Sunday, Feb. 18, 2001 / Sh'vat 25, 5761
------------------------------------------------

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. UNITING AT THE TOP
2. BARAK FACES STINGING CRITICISM
3. PALESTINIAN REACTION TO U.S. ATTACK ON IRAQ
4. UN SUPPORTS ANTI-ISRAEL MAP, FILMS

1. UNITING AT THE TOP
The unity government is almost a "done deal" - except for the distribution of portfolios, which should be decided on today or tomorrow. Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon met with Shas leader Eli Yeshai today. Yeshai said that his 17-seat party would not join the government unless a way was found to allow full-time yeshiva students to continue to be exempt from army enlistment. The two alternatives suggested by Yeshai were either legislation of the Tal Committee proposals, or a further delay in the implementation of the Supreme Court order to begin drafting the students.

2. BARAK FACES STINGING CRITICISM
Internal opposition within the Labor party to Ehud Barak's appointment to the Defense Ministry is growing, particularly in light of Barak's post-election announcement that he was resigning from politics. Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami wrote to Barak, "You have abandoned the position of diplomat and become a politician... Don't tell me that it's good for the country and bad for you..." Other Laborites who object to Barak's latest zig-zag are Minister Yuli Tamir - who owes her political career to Barak - and Avraham Burg, Chaim Ramon, Yossi Beilin, Salah Tarif, and others; they are planning to present a united front against the appointment at the Labor Central Committee meeting this week. Chief among their demands will be the holding of a secret vote on the question of joining the national-unity government. Barak is hoping to persuade the Central Committee to put off its meeting until next week.

Criticism of Barak today from both party colleagues and media commentators was unprecedented in its vehemence. MK Yossi Sarid of Meretz said that Barak should zig-zag just one more time and return to his previous announcement to retire from politics. Barak's loyal colleague Yuval Frankel said, "To my sorrow, he has turned his back on the people who fought for him and did not give up, and continued campaigning at the intersections even when the polls showed that he was about to lose..." Barak's former press aide Aliza Goren said, "The truth is, I'm pretty embarrassed/ashamed. After the crushing defeat, he should have gotten up and left, like he promised."

Among the calmer press critiques of him was a Ma'ariv editorial - "In his latest move, Barak has paid a steep price in terms of credibility and prestige" - and one from Ha'aretz: "The fickle nature of Barak's personality, his tendency to make decisions alone or with a small number of close associates who are not participants in politics, and the ease with which he is willing to dismiss ideas for which he was rewarded with broad public support, are troubling and revolting... Barak's eagerness to remain in government at any price may therefore do away not only with the remnants of his personal integrity, but also do away with the ability of the Labor Party to present an alternative to the policies of the right."

The National Religious Party is very much against the appointment of Ehud Barak to the Defense Ministry. Party leader Rabbi Yitzchak Levy even said today that the NRP would not join the unity government if Barak is in fact appointed to that post. MK Zevulun Orlev said today, "If it were up to me, this is most definitely an ultimatum. We are entering this government in order to effect a change. If the nation gave a slap in the face to Barak, and he failed terribly in leading the defense policy during time of war, then how can we take part in a government that leaves him in that position?"

The Yesha Council's position is that it will agree to Barak's appointment as Defense Minister only if he agreed to totally backtrack from his policy of "restraint and absorption." Sharon told right-wing leaders last night that he foresees a crisis situation ahead with the Palestinians - possibly even an all-out war. He explained that the appointments of Barak as Defense Minister and Peres as Foreign Minister were designed to help Israel meet these upcoming challenges.

3. PALESTINIAN REACTION TO U.S. ATTACK ON IRAQ
The joint American-British strike on Iraq this weekend brought Israel's Arabs to the streets. Large crowds of Arabs demonstrated in support of Saddam Hussein yesterday near Shechem; they burnt American and Israeli flags, brandished posters of the Iraqi dictator, and burned pictures of U.S. President Bush. Palestinian media expert Michael Widlanski reports that following the air strikes, Voice of Palestine radio announced that 'national and Islamic forces" had dedicated two "days of rage" (this coming Tuesday and Friday) for massive demonstrations and parades not only against Israel but also against American attacks on Iraq. "This is a 'choosing-sides' moment," the radio stated, "and the PA is signaling its choice of Saddam, while it believes the United States has chosen Israel."

Prime Minister Barak convened a security cabinet meeting this afternoon in light of the situation in Iraq.

4. UN SUPPORTS ANTI-ISRAEL MAP, FILMS
A key United Nations agency has lent its support to a Palestinian Authority tourism map that completely obliterates Israel, CNSNews.com reports. A new PA Ministry of Tourism map credits the United Nations Development Program with helping in its publication. The map, called "Palestine, The Holy Land," shows the entire expanse of present-day Israel, including Judea, Samaria, and Gaza - and calls the whole area "Palestine." There is no reference at all to Israel.

Itamar Marcus, director of the independent media monitoring group Palestinian Media Watch, said that there was nothing new about the map's message. He said that his group was able to find only one map published by the PA that mentions Israel - and even that one is not used for their own populace. "None of the official PA maps show Israel," he said, including those printed in PA school textbooks. He also mentioned that anti-Israel film clips, partially funded by the UN, were routinely screened on Palestinian television.

More and more Israeli political leaders have lately made public statements blaming the PA's educational and media policies of venomous anti-Israel incitement for much of the murderous violence of the past few months.

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To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com,arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor<neteditor@israelnationalnews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Monday, February 19, 2001

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Monday, Feb. 19, 2001 / Sh'vat 26, 5761
------------------------------------------------

TODAY'S HEADLINE:

WAQF FORBIDS TOURISTS ON TEMPLE MOUNT

The Moslem Waqf continues in its refusal to allow tourists - or any non-Moslem - to visit the Temple Mount. Waqf director Adnan al-Husseini rejected the government's request, and said that this is an "internal Waqf matter, and Israel has no right to intervene in it... It is our prerogative to open and close the gates when we wish and according to the situation."

The Temple Mount has been closed to Jews and tourists since the beginning of the current violence, almost five months ago. The organizations that are active on behalf of promoting Jewish rights on the Mount have asked for, but not received, assurance that Ariel Sharon would take action to re-open the holy site to Jews when he assumes office.

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To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com,arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor<neteditor@israelnationalnews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Tuesday, February 20, 2001

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2001 / Sh'vat 27, 5761
------------------------------------------------

TODAY'S HEADLINES:

1. SHARON PROMISES ZE'EVI AND LIEBERMAN
2. LABOR DISUNITY
3. LIEBERMAN SPEAKS

1. SHARON PROMISES ZE'EVI AND LIEBERMAN

Likud Director-General Uri Shani and Labor Party chief Ra'anan Cohen met today to finalize details of the unity government coalition agreement between the two parties. Labor and Likud reached agreement on the need to nullify the direct-election law for PM. Pines and Rivlin agreed that the bill, which has already passed its first reading, will be brought for its final readings even before the establishment of the new government.

Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert (Likud) continued to emphasize that despite Barak's implied threats not to join a government together with Rehavam Ze'evi and Avigdor Lieberman, their party - National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu - would be a full partner in the coalition. He told Arutz-7 today, "I'm not on the best terms with Ze'evi, but I will not allow anyone to drive a wedge between us and our natural partners on the right - for the simple reason that in such a case we will be dependent on the mercies of Labor. Labor, once it sees that we have an option of relying on a narrow government, can be a positive and constructive partner." Olmert said that Sharon very much wants to form a unity government with Labor, "and so he's willing to wait even longer than he wanted, even until Monday when Labor's Central Committee convenes and decides."

Prime Minister-elect Sharon, who met later this afternoon with both Ze'evi and Lieberman, said beforehand that they would both serve as ministers in his government. Sharon also met today with an AIPAC delegation, MK Natan Sharansky, World Bnei Brith Pres. Richard Heidman, and the family of Ron Arad. Later tonight, he will hold a consultation with his advisors Zalman Shoval, Moshe Arens, Dore Gold and Eitan Bentsur.

2. LABOR DISUNITY

Labor MK Avraham Burg will convene a gathering of anti-Barak Labor members today, in an effort to thwart Barak's appointment as Defense Minister in Ariel Sharon's government. A compromise has been proposed, by which Barak would serve as Defense Minister but would resign from the Knesset, and party primaries would be held in four months. Burg has accepted the proposal in principle, but others such as Chaim Ramon have not. Barak-ally MK Weizman Shiri said that the above "group of zeros who are leading to the destruction of the Labor Party" would have a surprise waiting for them at the Central Committee session next week.

3. LIEBERMAN SPEAKS

Avigdor Lieberman, head of the Yisrael Beiteinu party - which merged several months ago with the National Union - told Arutz-7 this morning that Barak's remarks against his party's participation in the government are "the height of chutzpah and are even unethical. Barak was the one who suffered the biggest electoral loss in our history, and yet he has the gall to disqualify people who received a respectable share of electoral support. Moreover, he himself invited us to discuss the option of our joining a unity government that he wanted to form a few months ago." Lieberman also mentioned Barak's campaign funding scandal and the fact that his aides who are suspected in the case refuse to answer police questions on the matter."

Despite all, Lieberman said he is confident that Sharon will include his party as a full partner in the coalition. Regarding the ministerial portfolio that he would prefer, Lieberman implied that he
is quite flexible. Attorney-General Elyakim Rubenstein opined last week that he was not eligible for membership in the government because of the indictment pending against him on charges of "insulting" a police officer; Lieberman said that he had not heard anything binding from the Justice Ministry.

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To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com,arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor<neteditor@israelnationalnews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Wednesday, February 21, 2001

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2001 / Sh'vat 28, 5761
------------------------------------------------

TODAY'S HEADLINE:

BARAK RESIGNATION CALMS THE SITUATION
Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon, in an official statement this morning, expressed sorrow over the decision by Ehud Barak to resign from politics. Barak, in his parting letter last night, had blamed Sharon for "mixing in" internal Labor matters, for implying last week that he would not mind if Shimon Peres were Defense Minister, and for expecting him [Barak] to merely take orders from the Prime Minister. Likud MK Silvan Shalom said this morning that it would not be reasonable to expect the Prime Minister, elected by such a wide margin, not to be the one to determine defense policy.

Barak's resignation apparently paves the way for a national unity government. He had been the target of intense criticism, both within and without Labor, for his decision of a few days ago to accept the job of Defense Minister, instead of fulfilling his post-defeat promise to resign from politics. Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon, rebounding quickly from the loss of Barak in his future government, has reportedly asked Shimon Peres to replace him as Defense Minister. Peres is likely to turn down the offer - which some Likud officials say was never given.

While Peres may or may not have been offered the post of Defense Ministry, problems still abound in Labor. A fight may be underway between supporters of Binyamin Ben-Eliezer and Matan Vilnai - both of whom are former IDF generals - to replace Barak as Defense Minister. In addition, while party secretary Ra'anan Cohen has asked for the Finance Ministry instead of Defense - Sharon had originally offered Labor its choice - Minister Dalia Itzik says this is not a decision that Cohen can make alone.

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