HHMI Newsgroup Archives

To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@israelnationalnews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Sunday, March 11, 2001

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Sunday, Mar. 11, 2001 / Adar 16, 5761
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. ARAFAT REFUSES TO END INTIFADA
2. CONTACTS CONTINUE, DESPITE P.A. ACTIONS AND INTENTIONS
3. TOUGH ISRAELI MEASURES SEND PALESTINIANS COMPLAINING TO U.N.
4. IRAQ DRAFTS THOUSANDS INTO 'JERUSALEM ARMY'

1. ARAFAT REFUSES TO END INTIFADA
Yasser Arafat's failure to call for an end to Palestinian violence last night, during his speech at the opening session of the Palestinian Legislative Council, was not a fluke; he told a Saudi Arabian newspaper outright that he would not "give in" to Sharon's demands to stop the intifada.

During Arafat's address to the PLO Council in Gaza yesterday, he barely mentioned the issue around which the entire Israeli-Palestinian relationship has been revolving for the past half-year: the Palestinians' mini-war against Israel. Arafat said, "We fully understand [Israel's] need for security and stability." - but did not call upon his people to stop attacking and terrorizing Israeli citizens. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has repeatedly emphasized that negotiations would not resume while the violence continues.

Despite this, Arafat did not hesitate to call on Israel to resume negotiations, and even said that the Clinton proposals must be the starting point for such talks. Clinton himself, as well as ex-Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Prime Minister Sharon, have all said that those proposals are no longer relevant.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said that Arafat's clear remarks to the Arab media, to the effect that the intifada will continue, prove that Arafat will not be able to achieve peace. "Arafat has total control over his security agencies, and most of the terrorism is carried out by Arafat's men, including his personal Force 17 guard," said Sharon today.

Even Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said today that negotiations cannot proceed under the current state of violence. Peres said, however, that he would suffice with a "continued decline" in aggression by terrorist groups - and no violence at all by the PA. The Foreign Minister, who many suspect is waiting for an opportunity to resume talks with Arafat behind Sharon's back, said that "it would have been preferable" for Arafat to have called for an end to violence. President Moshe Katzav, too, was disappointed with Arafat's speech, saying, "Arafat will have to decide if he is a terrorist or a partner."

Palestinian-affairs correspondent Roni Shaked of Israel's largest daily, Yediot Acharonot, told Arutz-7 today:

"Arafat has not changed. His language yesterday was softer, his speech was filled with words of peace - but there was absolutely no change in his positions. He still has the same demands: the Camp David and Taba concessions, etc. This was a speech directed to the U.S., as if laying the blame on them, and to Israel, signaling that he would like to resume talks - but only if based on Clinton's proposals. He did not say a word about stopping the intifada. Why should he? From his point of view, he thinks it's not terrorism, but a war of independence, etc. and he hasn't yet gained one substantial thing from it. The truth is, he has made some small gains from it: He sees how Holon called off its Purim celebrations in a concession to terrorism - and I hope that you will give Holon's mayor a black mark for this... Arafat has not lost control, as some people think, and we should stop saying so; he is still Arafat, a very important symbol, very popular, etc. It will be more difficult for him to control the violence, and he may not be able to control every individual attack, but he still has overall control..."

MK Gideon Ezra (Likud), formerly the Deputy Chief of the General Security Service, agreed: "Arafat can end the violence, but he doesn't want to."

2. CONTACTS CONTINUE, DESPITE P.A. ACTIONS AND INTENTIONS
"Contacts," but not "negotiations," are continuing with the Palestinians, despite the ongoing Palestinian violence against Israel. Uri Shani, head of the Prime Minister's Bureau, clarified today that it is important to keep up a continuous connection with the Palestinian Authority - but that, in keeping with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's promise and policy, Israel would not conduct negotiations with the PA until the violence ceases.

The PLO has disseminated a call to murder any Israeli journalist entering Palestinian-controlled territories. PA Preventive Security Chief Jibril Rajoub recently called up a Druze reporter for Israeli TV, Kaid Zahar, and personally threatened to murder him. PLO terrorist Tanzim leader Marwan Bargouti said on Friday that any Israeli journalist entering PLO-controlled areas would not leave alive.

The Unified Intifada Leadership of the Intifada has decreed that this coming Wednesday and Friday will be "Days of Rage." The first day will express rage at the closure, and Friday will be a day of fury on behalf of "Arab Jerusalem." The leadership calls on Arabs throughout Judea and Samaria to arrive at the Temple Mount for Friday prayers.

An internal Fatah organization journal writes, "There is no alternative to a long-term armed conflict between the Palestinian Authority and the Sharon government." The paper states, "The two sides differ on all the issues, the gaps are great, and there is no chance to bridge them. Israel is acting to liquidate all that which was achieved in Camp David and Taba." Fatah proposes that the Palestinians support a long-term popular war, which is the best option for us to fight Sharon. We must use the intifada in the proper way in order to defeat the Sharon government."

3. TOUGH ISRAELI MEASURES SEND PALESTINIANS COMPLAINING TO U.N.
The PA is looking for more United Nations intervention. It announced today that it would turn to the UN Security Council and ask it to intervene in what the PA called the "siege that Israel has imposed on the villages in the Ramallah and Jerusalem areas." The IDF has instituted a strong encirclement around these areas, including dozens of new checkpoints and groups of soldiers patrolling the exits from the villages. Similar means have been in force along the Gush Etzion-Jerusalem highway for the past few days. The Palestinians claim that such a level of encirclement has not been seen since the days of the Six-Day War, but the army says that the measures are necessary in light of the many terrorist attacks perpetrated by terrorists from these areas.

Furthermore, the PA recently turned to the UN with a demand that 2,000 armed international observers be sent to areas of conflict in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza. Israel Radio reported that Israel's UN Ambassador Yehuda Lankri believes that the demand is likely to be approved by the Security Council, forcing the United States to veto the proposed resolution.

The European Union, for its part, is exerting heavy pressure on the Palestinian Authority to cease its violence upon Israeli targets from the areas under its control. The Union has made it clear that it will not transfer monetary aid if the violence continues.

Israel, in turn, rejects the PA's claims that it has no money to pay salaries. Prime Minister Sharon told Newsweek that for the time being - in light of the continued Palestinian Authority violence and its debts to Israel - Israel has no intention of remitting designated tax-monies to the PA. Sharon rejected the United States request on the matter, saying "They have property worth over a billion dollars all over the world."

4. IRAQ DRAFTS THOUSANDS INTO 'JERUSALEM ARMY'
In response to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's call for volunteers to liberate Jerusalem, thousands of Iraqis enlisted in the so-called "Jerusalem Army" yesterday and today. Crowds of volunteers chanted, "With our blood and souls ... we sacrifice for Saddam" as they left for military training with their wives and children cheering them on. The official Iraqi News Agency says that more than seven million men and women - nearly a third of Iraq's population - have vowed to "liberate all of Palestine."

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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, March 12, 2001

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Monday, Mar. 12, 2001 / Adar 17, 5761
------------------------------------------------

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. PALESTINIANS DISAPPOINTED BY INTIFADA
2. SHARON'S FIVE PALESTINIAN POLICY POINTS

1. PALESTINIANS DISAPPOINTED BY INTIFADA
Dr. Mordechai Kedar, a lecturer in the Arabic Department in Bar Ilan University and a researcher at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, told Arutz-7 today,

"Arafat's popularity in the Palestinian Authority is declining significantly, compared to his popularity at the beginning of the current intifada. A poll by the PA's Birzeit University of last month shows that Arafat now has the support of only 28%. In addition, 38% of the Palestinian youth are interested in immigrating abroad. They see that the fruits of the intifada are not exactly what they expected: it has led to something they dread, namely, a national-unity government, and not only that, it is headed by their nightmare, Ariel Sharon. In many areas this intifada has brought them nothing but trouble, and so they want to send their leaders back to square one.  At first the intifada looked good for them: the Israeli government was giving them more and more concessions, and PA Security Chief Dahlan said outright that the intifada was helping the negotiations along - but now these achievements have all gone down the drain for them..."

Arutz-7's Haggai Segal noted that IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Maj.-Gen. Moshe Ya'alon has said that there is no longer a popular intifada, that the masses are no longer on the streets, and that they have withdrawn their support for it. Kedar agreed:

"Yes, we can clearly see that this is true. The intifada has died down on its own, and this is why I think that the government erred in demanding that Arafat call outright for an end to violence, because it's happening anyway and this merely humiliates him, which is something they cannot take." As Kedar wrote in HaTzofeh this week, "There is no one in the PA who can stand up and admit openly that the leadership made a mistake, that it chose the wrong strategy, for this would bring upon them the worst thing that a person or group can bring upon themselves in the Arab world: shame."

2. SHARON'S FIVE PALESTINIAN POLICY POINTS

The new government convened for its first meeting this morning. Prime Minister Sharon, known for his punctuality, made sure to begin exactly on time, even before some of the ministers had arrived. Former Police Commissioner Rafi Peled officially took over from Yossi Kucik as Director-General of the Prime Minister's Office after the meeting.

Sharon described the five principles of his policy vis-a-vis the Palestinians:

* A sense of security for Israeli citizens must be restored;

* Palestinian violence must cease, without thereby allowing the Palestinians diplomatic gains;

* The danger of internationalizing the conflict with the Palestinians must be reduced;

* The chances for regional deterioration [leading to war] must be reduced;

* All chances for returning to negotiations after the cessation of violence must be maintained.

Sharon asked the ministers to show up for meetings on time, to speak politely at the meetings, and to speak out only on their own ministries' affairs. He mentioned some of his pet projects, including desalination and aid to young couples for the purchase of homes. Six ministerial committees were decided upon: The defense-security committee will be headed by Sharon, and will include four ministers from each of Likud and Labor, three from Shas (unless the NRP or the Center party joins the government), and Rehavam Ze'evi and Natan Sharansky. A three-or-four man mini-security cabinet will also be formed. The other committees formed today include the economic-social committee, headed by Sharon; the legislative committee headed by Justice Minister Shetreet; one on personal legislative proposals, and another for economics, both under Finance Minister Shalom; and the Audit Committee, headed by Minister Tzippy Livni.

Minister Livni told Arutz-7 after the meeting that the most interesting part of her first government meeting was hearing the briefing by IDF Intelligence Chief Maj.-Gen. Amos Malka. Malka said that the Palestinians have not succeeded in turning their violence into a diplomatic achievement, and that a further escalation is foreseen. He also said that the Palestinians want to open channels of dialogue while continuing the intifada at the same time. As far as the Bush Administration is concerned, Malka said, talk of a final-status agreement in the coming months is simply not relevant. U.S. President George Bush said yesterday that Arafat apparently does not want to make progress towards a final-status settlement with Israel. He told the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations that he will make it clear to Arafat that he must significantly reduce the level of violence in Judea and Samaria. Bush said that he accepts Prime Minister Sharon's principle of "no negotiations under fire."

Minister Livni said that regarding the closure, "there was really no argument [among the government ministers]. It is not a new idea, and everyone agreed that we should try to ensure that the civilian population does not suffer more than is necessary." She said that it was interesting to hear the different extremes, "from Avigdor Lieberman suggesting that the government cut off all contact with Arafat until the intifada ends, and try to seek out other local leaders instead, while Peres said other things..." Lieberman, of National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu, also said at the meeting that the many roads that have been closed to Jews should be re-opened.

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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, March 13, 2001

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Tuesday, Mar. 13, 2001 / Adar 18, 5761
------------------------------------------------

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. PUBLIC SECURITY MINISTER FAVORS OPENING TEMPLE MOUNT TO JEWS
2. PERES SUPPORTS HOLDING BACK

1. PUBLIC SECURITY MINISTER FAVORS OPENING TEMPLE MOUNT TO JEWS
Public Security Minister Uzi Landau plans to reopen the Temple Mount to Jewish visitors - although he said that the government must approve the decision. Landau said this morning that if the police and Waqf allow everyone else to enter the holy site, he cannot understand why Jews should be any different. Foreign Minister Shimon Peres came out against the idea, citing security concerns. General Security Service head Avi Dichter, however, supports Landau's position, according to Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert. Olmert said last night that Dichter told him a few days ago that he fears the ramifications of the continued closure of the site to Jews. The Temple Mount has been closed to Jews for almost half a year, since the beginning of the Palestinian mini-war.

Minister Landau said, "Wherever you give in to threats, you invite other threats in other places. My recommendation, therefore, is that it be opened to Jews. The government will have to either accept or reject my proposal."

New revelations about the petition submitted to the Supreme Court last week by the Committee for the Prevention of the Destruction of Temple Mount Antiquities: The group presented evidence that the Moslem Waqf is attempting, by its illegal construction there, to turn the entire Temple Mount compound into one giant mosque. Dr. Shmuel Berkowitz, author of a thorough study on Jerusalem's holy sites and one of the group's leaders, accused Shimon Peres of giving his successor in the Prime Minister's office, Binyamin Netanyahu, false information about an alleged "deal" with the Waqf. Peres told Netanyahu, according to the suit, that the Waqf had agreed to allow Israel to open the Hasmonean Tunnels in exchange for unrestricted Moslem prayer rights in Solomon's Stables. The Palestinians later denied that any such deal existed. It will be recalled that 16 Israelis were killed by Arabs in the violence that followed the opening of the Hasmonean Tunnels.

2. PERES SUPPORTS HOLDING BACK
Foreign Minister Shimon Peres stated this afternoon that Israel would not hand over any funds to the PA, as it is feared that some of the money would be used to pay the salaries of Force 17 terrorists. A senior spokesman for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Raanan Gissin, admits that Israel has a legal obligation to repay millions of dollars worth of taxes owed to the Palestinian Authority, but it refuses to subsidize the PA's terrorist activities. The U.S. continues to urge Israel to release these taxes to ease the PA's economic difficulties - although it insists on a reduction in Palestinian violence as well. Sharon rejected the United States position, saying, "They [the Palestinians] have property worth over a billion dollars all over the world."

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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, March 14, 2001

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Wednesday, Mar. 14, 2001 / Adar 19, 5761
------------------------------------------------

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. DESPITE MEDIA, AMERICANS SUPPORT ISRAEL
2. UTJ: NOTHING TO DO IN GOVERNMENT

1. DESPITE MEDIA, AMERICANS SUPPORT ISRAEL
The American public supports Israel. A poll commissioned by Jewish organizations in the U.S. shows that 4/5 of those who claim to be aware of Middle East news declare that their positions are "close to those of Israel." The survey encompassed over 1,400 people, divided into four groups: the general public, American-Jews, the "elite" - people of high-income and high-education; and "people of influence" - journalists, community leaders, legislators, etc. Other findings of the poll: * 58% of the American public believe that the Palestinians' and Arab nations' ultimate goal is to destroy Israel. * 73% blame the Palestinian leadership for fanning the flames of violence. * 51% (33% of Jews) support the division of Jerusalem. * 67% (48% of Jews) support the formation of a Palestinian state. * Only 33% support an Arab "right of return." * Only 7% feel that Israeli soldiers are starting the violence. * 75% feel that Israel is serious about its intentions to reach peace; less than 50% feel that way about the Palestinian Authority. * 65% feel that the U.S. should come to Israel's aid if it is attacked.

The poll also showed that Americans are not as knowledgeable about the Middle East as they think. Most of the respondents thought that Israel is still in control of Judea, Samaria, and Gaza; only 22% knew that Israel has turned over more than 40% of Judea and Samaria to Palestinian control. "This poll tells me that across the board, Israel has a bedrock of support," said Ze'ev Furst, president and CEO of First International Resources, one of the firms that conducted the poll. "The American people 'get it' to a greater degree than we'd assumed," said Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.

It is noteworthy, then, that today's Yediot Acharonot presents a much bleaker picture in an editorial appearing only a few pages before the above report:

"IDF soldiers could shoot candies and give out daisies to car-bomb drivers, and we would still be portrayed on the world's television screens as brutal occupiers.... We have no chance in the battle over world public opinion [because] the world at the beginning of the 21st century does not like occupiers, especially Jewish occupiers... Oh, we're not occupiers? We have merely returned home after 2,000 years of exile? Might as well talk to the wall." The editorial continues, "Day by day, the State of Israel loses the world's sympathy and understanding. Every Skynews and NBC television broadcast buries us another centimeter deeper into the deep black pit of the world's hatred towards us..."

2. UTJ: NOTHING TO DO IN GOVERNMENT
MK Rabbi Avraham Ravitz (United Torah Judaism) explained today why his party called off coalition negotiations with the Likud yesterday: "In order for a party to join the government, the coalition has to tell it, 'We want you to join us in running the country, and here are your fields of responsibility.' But in this case, the Likud offered us nothing. I'm not talking about what powers we were to have, but rather what our three Deputy Minister were supposed to do every day when they came to work. They have to have something to do. For instance, Dalia Rabin-Pelossof insisted that as Deputy Defense Minister, she be given responsibility for Israel Aircraft Industries - and she got it...

"The problem is that the Likud has nothing left to give, while and Shas and Yisrael B'Aliyah, the parties who are responsible for the ministries we are talking about, don't want to share their powers with us - and I don't even blame them. It's the fault of the Likud for not planning in advance how to distribute the various portfolios and deputy-ministries, and forgetting that it also has to worry about us and the NRP. It's true that Sharon has a nice coalition as it is, but does he really need a coalition that relies on the support of Labor?  He should have formed a coalition with a margin of support with his natural partners that doesn't have to rely on Labor... We are different than the NRP, however, in that we will support the government, because it accepted our document on the issues that we were interested in - but on the other hand we are not bound to follow coalition discipline, nor do we have to vote for private initiatives by ministers, and we can raise our own private bills. It's actually a very convenient situation for us..."

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

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Thursday, March 15, 2001 / Adar 20, 5761
------------------------------------------------

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. ISRAEL ANNOUNCES: ARAFAT-DIRECTED TERRORISTS ARRESTED
2. PRO-ISRAEL MOOD IN WASHINGTON
3. MUFTI WARNS ISRAEL

1. ISRAEL ANNOUNCES: ARAFAT-DIRECTED TERRORISTS ARRESTED
Israel let out a collective sigh of relief today, as the major terrorist attack - word of which was widely hinted at over the past few days and fear of which led to the intense closures on Palestinian Authority cities - was finally revealed and apparently averted.

The security forces revealed that they had arrested three Fatah-Tanzim terrorists. At least two of them admitted that they had been on their way to perpetrate major terrorist attacks in Jerusalem, this past Sunday. The attacks were to have been in the neighborhood of N'vei Yaakov, as well as in gas stations and social clubs. The terrorist cell is also responsible for the murder of eight other Israelis and the wounding of 20 in previous attacks, and was personally commanded by the commander of Yasser Arafat's personal Force 17 guard. They admitted to their interrogators that they enjoyed the protection of Palestinian Authority agents in Ramallah, and that their connection with them was via soldiers of Arafat's Force 17.

Other proof of Yasser Arafat's direct involvement in terrorism against Israel was provided by the Israeli Shabak (General Security Service) today. A PA para-military officer by the name of Abdel Karim Abu Rabia, under arrest in Israel, told his GSS interrogators about a meeting of terrorist leaders that took place three months ago in Tulkarm. One of the men there said that the Palestinian population was suffering as a result of the activities of one of the local terrorist cells, under the leadership of Dr. Tabet Tabet. The latter said, however, that he would not stop the shooting unless he received a specific directive to that effect from Yasser Arafat. The order never came, and Tabet was soon killed by Israeli forces. Some criticized the killing at the time, saying that Tabet had been involved only in political matters. After his death, shooting on Israeli forces in the area essentially stopped.

2. PRO-ISRAEL MOOD IN WASHINGTON
U.S. President George Bush refuses to meet with Yasser Arafat until the PA Chairman either stops the violence against Israel or issues a directive to his people, in Arabic, to call off the violence. CIA head George Tenet has informed Bush that he has information directly connecting Arafat with the violence, and senior sources say that the U.S. has therefore no interest in security cooperation with the PA. Other West European countries have also informed Arafat that he will not be a welcome visitor in the near future.

Similarly, the United States and other UN Security Council members have announced that they will not approve an international peacekeeping force to the Palestinian Authority against Israeli wishes. Responding to the PA request for such forces, Foreign Minister Shimon Peres told the United Nations Security Council last night that the PA need only refrain from engaging in terrorism and uproot the terrorist infrastructure inside its territory, and there would then be no need for peacekeepers. "Once the PA stops shooting, there would be no need for defense, since Israel did not begin the daily violence but only responded to it," Peres said.

In addition, Jerusalem diplomatic sources said that the U.S. will act to change the charter of the Mitchell Commission investigating the recent breakout of violence between Israel and the Palestinians. They said that the change would be made even before Prime Minister Sharon arrives in Washington next week. The Commission met today with experts on the war against terrorism in the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya, to hear how they explain the breakout of the intifada.

3. MUFTI WARNS ISRAEL
Palestinian Authority-appointed Jerusalem Mufti Sheikh Akrama Sabri warns Israel against taking any measures in the Temple Mount area that could lead to an "additional escalation and reaction by Moslems around the world." He explained that his remarks came in reaction to possible Israeli intentions to open the Temple Mount to Jewish visitors. The site has been closed to Jews since the beginning of the current violence almost six months ago. Public Security Minister Uzi Landau said yesterday that Jews should be allowed there, and that the government would have to make the final decision.

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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, March 16, 2001

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Friday, Mar. 16, 2001 / Adar 21, 5761
------------------------------------------------

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. U.S. MAY HAVE TO USE VETO

2. U.S. MAY HAVE TO USE VETO
Most of the 15 members of the UN Security Council support the Palestinian demand for an international peacekeeping force to be dispatched to the Palestinian-controlled areas. Some of the countries make their support contingent upon Israel's agreement to such a force - which, Israel announced, will not be forthcoming. The U.S., in any event, plans to veto any decision to dispatch such a force. Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Yehuda Lancry, said that the Palestinians are employing violence for political gain, and a decision to dispatch an international force would only encourage them to increase their violence.

In addition to the five veto-power holding permanent members - the U.S., the United Kingdom (Great Britain), China, France, and Russia - the Council has ten other two-year member states, which currently are Norway, Singapore, Tunisia, Ireland, Ukraine, Bangladesh, Colombia, Jamaica, Mali, and Mauritius.

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