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 18, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Sunday, Mar. 18, 2001 / Adar 23, 5761
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. PRIME MINISTER FEELS RESPONSIBILITY
2. COALITION NEGOTIATIONS
1. PRIME MINISTER FEELS RESPONSIBILITY
Prime Minister Sharon said at Ben Gurion Airport this morning that his
visit to the U.S. is for the purpose of "strengthening the special
relationship between Israel and the U.S., and presenting the Administration
with our assessments regarding the situation in the Middle East, our
relationships with our neighbors, and the future of the peace
process." Sharon continued, "All of Israel is united in our efforts for
security and peace. The National Unity Government we established expresses
this unity. We believe and are committed to the principle of resolving
conflicts and disputes peacefully through negotiations. I embark on this
special mission with a feeling of responsibility - the responsibility that
the citizens of Israel placed upon me, and who want to live in peace and
security here in their ancient homeland."
Sharon will be replaced during his absence by Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres.
2. COALITION NEGOTIATIONS
Coalition negotiations between the Likud and United Torah Judaism are
reported to be progressing, while those with the National Religious Party
appear to be still stuck. UTJ had demanded that its three deputy ministers
be granted fields of authority, and it now appears that the Shas party has
agreed to do what it can to enable this. Shas has reportedly agreed to
allow UTJ to assume some of its important powers in the Ministries of
Education and Religious Affairs. Moshe Gafni will be Deputy Education
Minister, while MKs Avraham Ravitz or Meir Porush will be Deputy Minister
of Religious Affairs. Still to be resolved are the questions of UTJ's
authorities in the Housing Ministry, which is headed by Natan Sharansky of
Yisrael B'Aliyah, as well as which UTJ member will become chairman of the
all-important Knesset Finance Committee.
The NRP's Rabbi Yitzchak Levy says that his party will not agree to the "creation" of a new portfolio, such as a Settlement Ministry, so that the party can join the government. "This would be an unnecessary burden on the taxpayer," Rabbi Levy said.
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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 19, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Monday, Mar. 19, 2001 / Adar 24, 5761
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. OTHER ARAB ATTACKS
1. OTHER ARAB ATTACKS
Beyond the murder of Baruch Cohen this morning, Arabs perpetrated
other attacks in Israel today. A civilian bus travelling on the
Ramallah by-pass road in the late afternoon was shot at by terrorist
gunfire. Earlier, Arabs hurled a hand grenade at IDF soldiers near
the Egyptian border; the IDF was quick to return fire. A short time
later, shots were fired at an IDF patrol in a nearby location. Later
in Gaza, heavy gunfire was directed at IDF forces, and a battle
ensued. Last night, Arab terrorists shot at two inter-city buses
travelling in the Binyamin region north of Jerusalem. One bus was
hit, but no passengers were injured. Shots were also fired last night
at civilians and soldiers 1) in the Shomron, 2) northwest of
Jerusalem, 3) and throughout Gaza. Arabs in Nazareth assaulted a city
bus with large rocks.
In initiated activity last night, IDF special units and police forces arrested three Arab terrorists from the northern Shomron, and two others near Bethlehem. The Arabs were involved in hostile terrorist activity against civilians and soldiers. The IDF spokesman announced following the initiative that it will continue to operate to eliminate terrorism and do everything within its power to protect the security of Israeli civilians and soldiers.
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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 20, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Tuesday, Mar. 20, 2001 / Adar 25, 5761
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. SHARON PRESENTS PROOF
2. SHARON TO AIPAC: I AM FIRST AND FOREMOST A JEW
3. THE LABOR PARTY AND PERES
1. SHARON PRESENTS PROOF
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is set to begin the most important part of
his visit to the United States early this evening [Israel time] when
he meets with President George W. Bush. Five hours have been set
aside for the leaders and their staffs to meet, including an hour in
which Sharon and Bush will meet alone.
Arutz-7's Yedidya Atlas, covering Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's visit in Washington, D.C., reports that Sharon's meeting with US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld yesterday "took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere." The two discussed the growth of the terrorism threat to Middle East and global stability. "Most of the wars in the Middle East began because of terrorism," Mr. Sharon said, reminding Secretary Rumsfeld that official PA elements are directly involved in terrorism attacks. Sharon noted proof of the PA's direct involvement from recent events. The Hebrew edition of Ha'aretz reported today that an hour before Sunday's mortar attack on Kibbutz Nachal Oz (east of Gaza, within pre-1967 Israel), the Palestinians issued a call to their forces to take cover because "an Israeli action is expected." The IDF assumes that the leadership of the Palestinian Authority was actively or passively involved in preparations for the attack. (IMRA notes that this item was not reported in the English edition of Ha'aretz.)
While the Prime Minister again declared his willingness to negotiate with Arafat and make every effort to achieve peace, Mr. Sharon reiterated: "One thing must be clear: There is no possibility at all that we will negotiate under the threat of terror and violence... We want to reach peace, but we must first restore the quiet. We are interested in stability, but there is one thing we will not sacrifice for stability, and that is our lives... It is the basic right of every nation to defend herself." Rumsfeld told Sharon, "Israel is a small country, and you cannot allow yourselves to make big mistakes."
Following the meeting with President Bush, Prime Minister Sharon will depart for New York. He will meet there with UN Secretary-General Kofi Anan, with whom he will raise the matter of the abducted Israelis in Lebanon.
2. SHARON TO AIPAC: I AM FIRST AND FOREMOST A JEW
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon addressed the AIPAC conference in
Washington yesterday, saying, "Jerusalem belongs to all the Jewish
people - we in Israel are only custodians of the city. Jerusalem and
the Temple Mount, the holiest site to the Jewish people, is something
you should stand up and speak out about. Jerusalem will remain united
under the sovereignty of Israel - forever." He omitted this last
sentence in his first speech as Prime Minister in the Knesset two
weeks ago. Sharon's aides in Washington say that he will make a
similar declaration when he meets with U.S. President George Bush
today.
The Prime Minister also told AIPAC, "I stand before you today first and foremost as a Jew. This strong Jewish identity is a central theme in my life and will be in carrying out my responsibilities as Prime Minister. I want to work to strengthen the relationship between Israel and Jews all over the world. I have established a national unity government to unite the people of Israel, but unity among Jews is vital worldwide. Unity is our source of strength."
He spoke of the need for Jewish-Zionist education, and called on Jews in U.S. to immigrate to Israel: "We need all of you in Israel..." The audience of hundreds of students and AIPAC supporters rapturously applauded this and many other statements by Sharon.
The Prime Minister expressed support for the Administration's refusal to invite Arafat for talks until he calls off the violence against Israel. Some elements in the State Department are taking a different stance, claiming that it is better to maintain a dialogue with Arafat rather than leave him "out of the loop." The Israeli position is that Arafat will be more likely to put an end to the violence if he understands that the international community will not tolerate it.
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell also addressed the annual AIPAC conference in Washington yesterday, and said, "We recognize that Israel lives in a very dangerous neighborhood. We will look for ways to strengthen and expand our valuable strategic cooperation with Israel so we can preserve Israel's qualitative military edge and help manage the dangers it confronts. Our collaboration in missile defense is one prominent area that comes to mind in this regard..." He also called on both parties to end violence, but in a veiled rebuke to the Palestinians, Powell said, "Leaders must denounce violence, strip it of legitimacy... Turning to the United States or other outside parties to pressure one or another party or impose a settlement is not the answer."
Prime Minister Sharon, in his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, raised the issue of the abducted and missing Israelis in Lebanon. Powell said that he was also personally moved by the matter, and promised Sharon that he would address it.
3. THE LABOR PARTY AND PERES
Uncertainty continues to reign supreme in the Labor Party. The
question of when a temporary party leader will be elected is currently
being debated, and various party seniors are positioning themselves
for either that post or that of permanent chairman. Yossi Beilin, who
until recently served in Ehud Barak's government but is now not even a
Knesset Member - he resigned his Knesset seat upon being named Justice
Minister - has submitted his candidacy, but said that he will run
against anyone except Foreign Minister Shimon Peres.
David Drumelovitz, a Labor Central Committee member from Jerusalem who heads the United Kibbutz Movement's youth activities, has also submitted his candidacy - in protest. He explained to Arutz-7 today, "As a long-time educator to democracy, I am disgusted by the fact that within my party, there is no democracy. People basically appoint themselves to leading party positions, and free choice is unavailable, as others are wary of submitting their candidacies for various reasons... The crisis we face is not with the party membership, but with the leadership. Beilin has submitted a straw candidacy on behalf of Shimon Peres, hoping for an impassioned public call for Peres to run. I feel that Peres and others should move aside a little, and allow a new and fresher leadership to take over."
Peres himself continues to speak out on diplomatic issues, and said today that Israel must carry out the third withdrawal from Judea and Samaria to which the Netanyahu government agreed. At the time, then-Prime Minister Netanyahu said that the third withdrawal would not be from more than 1% of Judea and Samaria - but also made it contingent upon the Palestinians fulfilling their obligations. Peres also said today, in agreement with Barak, Clinton, Bush, and Sharon, that the Barak government's offers to Arafat are no longer in force, because the Palestinians rejected them and no agreement was reached.
In response to reports that Sharon was considering dismantling some Israeli communities in Gaza for an interim agreement, Peres said that he knows of no such intention. Cities of Israel reports that National Union party members have said that they would do all they can to bring down a government that would abandon isolated Jewish communities in Gaza, such as Morag, Netzarim, and Kfar Darom.
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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 21, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2001 / Adar 26, 5761
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. SHARON, PLEASED WITH WASHINGTON VISIT, LEAVES FOR NY
2. MOFAZ SPEAKS OF OFFICIAL P.A. TERRORISM
3. BURG: JERUSALEM SOLUTION MUST "INCLUDE" ISRAEL
1. SHARON, PLEASED WITH WASHINGTON VISIT, LEAVES FOR NY
Aides to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon reported today that he is pleased
with the atmosphere of his meeting yesterday with US President George
Bush - although they note that Bush did not promise not to invite
Yasser Arafat to Washington, nor did he call clearly upon Arafat to
end the violence. The two leaders assured one another that they would
do everything possible to maintain and improve the special
relationship between the two countries. Sharon said that his
government would not 'surprise' the White House in dealings with the
PA and Iraq, and asked that Washington please not send any surprises
to Israel. He explained that he has already ordered a relaxation of
punitive measures against PA areas, but explained that he would
respond with a strong hand against terrorists and those responsible
for planning attacks.
The two also discussed Jerusalem, regional terrorism, and other issues. Sharon said that Syria would have to make a 'gesture' on behalf of peace and good-faith negotiations, and noted that Egypt is not fulfilling a positive role in the Oslo process. Bush stated that he is "beginning the process" of relocating the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, as he promised he would in his election campaign.
Prime Minister Sharon was to meet with heads of the worldwide news station CNN today, to whom he was scheduled to present Israeli complaints about the manner in which they cover the Palestinian war against Israel. Sharon will meet later today in New York with UN Secretary-General Kofi Anan, with whom he will discuss both the folly of dispatching an international peacekeeping force to the area and the Israelis abducted in Lebanon.
Sharon will speak tonight at the Israel Bonds dinner in New York. Arab and Muslim groups have called a rally against him - ostensibly to call him a "war criminal" and the like. A counter-demonstration against Arab war crimes and in defense of Sharon's honor will be held at the same time by Jewish groups. The Prime Minister will return to Israel Thursday evening.
2. MOFAZ SPEAKS OF OFFICIAL P.A. TERRORISM
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Sha'ul Mofaz told the Knesset Foreign
Affairs and Defense Committee yesterday that 40% of the Israelis
killed in the present mini-war were the victims of Palestinian
security officers. Arafat's personal guard unit, Force 17, leads all
other organizations in attacks against Israeli targets, Mofaz said.
The involvement of the official PA security apparatus in attacks
against Israel is even greater than what can be disclosed to the
public at this time, he said.
Ha'aretz reported that Mofaz believes that the only way to defend against Palestinian bomb attacks is to lay siege to the Palestinian cities and towns. "In areas where there is no specific information of a pending bomb attack," Mofaz said, "the siege is lifted. In principle, I oppose the siege tactic because it harms innocent civilians and it is against my world view. But if we compare the two evils - a bombing or a siege - the preference falls on the side of the siege." Mofaz reported to the committee that the Palestinians have set up a small military industry in the Gaza Strip, which produces mortars and grenades.
3. BURG: JERUSALEM SOLUTION MUST "INCLUDE" ISRAEL
Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg, who is running for the Chairmanship of
the Labor Party, met with the Council of Europe's subcommittee for
Middle East affairs, and said the following: "There can be no
solution in which Israel and the Jewish people are excluded from the
Old City and the Temple Mount." On the other hand, he accused senior
Palestinian Authority officials of giving a green light for murderous
terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens. Burg emphasized that
Israel views with utmost severity the active participation of PA
security elements in these attacks.
Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, also meeting yesterday with the Council of Europe delegation, laid down four principles for progress on the Israeli-Palestinian diplomatic track:
* The violence must end; * There must be a change in rhetoric, i.e., language of peace rather than that of confrontation must be used; * There must be a return to the negotiating table; * Israel must ease living conditions in the Palestinian-controlled territories.
Peres said that the four must be applied in a "simultaneous, unconditional, and uniform manner."
Mr. Peres stated that if the Arab initiative to dispatch UN observers to the territories is implemented, it would constitute a unilateral action against Israel. He asked rhetorically if the Palestinians wish the observers in order to see who sends the gun squads that carry out the drive-by shootings, or to expose the weapons caches used by those who carry out the terrorist attacks? Peres called upon Arafat to "take action" against members of his personal Force 17 elite unit who participate in terrorist attacks.
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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 22, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Thursday, March 22, 2001 / Adar 27, 5761
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. TEMPLE MOUNT DESECRATION CONTINUES
2. THE RETURN OF SHARON
3. YESHA COUNCIL DEMANDS ACTION NOW
1. TEMPLE MOUNT DESECRATION CONTINUES
Yisrael Caspi, of the Committee to Save the Temple Mount, told the
Knesset Education Committee yesterday that the desecration of the holy
site by Moslem Waqf construction continues unabated. He said hundreds
of Islamic Movement volunteers arrived at the site on Tuesday to help
in the excavations. He added this morning that the government has
made no decisions on the matter, that the work is being carried out
based on illegal permits granted by ex-Prime Minister Barak, and that
it must stop.
"We are willing to give the new government a chance, but a freeze must be imposed immediately," Caspi said. "The Temple Mount gates must be closed, preventing the entry of special rock-cutting equipment that was brought in this week, and the works must be stopped." Caspi said that the police reports denying the extent of the works are untrue: "The police don't want to look, while we have clear evidence and aerial photographs showing the extensive damage that has been done." Education Minister Limor Livnat said, "The previous government enabled this desecration to take place, and it is now up to the present government to find the way to stop this - but not with wild actions."
2. THE RETURN OF SHARON
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon landed at Ben Gurion International Airport
this afternoon, following his visit in Washington and New York. He
read aloud a prepared statement, and then answered reporters'
questions. The Prime Minister said that he made his government's
position clear to the Americans regarding new guidelines for the
"peace process," and added that he emphasized "our commitment not to
conduct negotiations under the pressure of terrorism and violence."
Sharon continued, "I discovered in the Bush administration a shared concern regarding terrorism, and admiration for Israel and its commitment to protect it citizens... [Bush] objects to forcing a solution on the sides. I made it clear that we reserve the right to use the good services of the U.S. on the long road to peace." The Prime Minister further said that the Americans expressed their recognition of Israel as a "partner in the development of defense and deterrence systems against the growing threat of ballistic missiles."
Sharon was first asked how he would change the government's defense policy, in the face of the terrorist and shelling attacks of the last few days that the army described as "the crossing of red lines." His answer: "Even before I leave the airport, I will hold a consultation with the defense and security elements, and decide on our next moves in the face of the escalation of Palestinian terrorism, which is aided also by Hizbullah. I plan to restore security to Israeli citizens." He said that he will not dismantle any Israeli towns in Gaza: "Kfar Darom was originally built in 1946... To dismantle Kfar Darom is like dismantling Kfar Saba [an Israeli city in the Coastal Plain]."
Israel's daily newspapers had conflicting advice for Prime Minister Sharon in this regard. Ma'ariv cautioned Sharon not to "overplay" this honeymoon period with the Bush administration, and warns, "If the violence worsens and the Sharon government is dragged into taking various punitive measures, Washington will join the international criticism of Israel." HaTzofeh, on the other hand, notes that Bush "has made it clear to Yasser Arafat that he will not be welcome at the White House as long as the terrorism continues," and recalls that US Secretary of State Colin Powell "has not flinched from condemning Palestinian terrorism." Therefore, the editorial continues, "in light of the fact that Palestinian terrorism is continuing in full force, it must be struck merciless blows, and the other side must be put on the defensive."
3. YESHA COUNCIL DEMANDS ACTION NOW
Before leaving New York, Sharon dismissed criticism that his
government had not responded to the terrorist murder of Baruch Cohen
of Efrat or to the mortar shelling of Kibbutz Nachal Oz. Sharon said
that he would carry out that which he promised, but that he needs some
time. "Patience is required," he said. "My policies have not
changed, and that is what I told the Americans as well."
Arutz-7's Haggai Segal asked Yesha Council spokesman Yehoshua Mor-Yosef if the Council would in fact give Sharon more time: "No," said Mor-Yosef. "He's had enough time, during which we have seen that there has been no change in policy. A closure was imposed on Ramallah, because of warnings of a major car bomb - but because of pressure from the left and the media, it was removed even before the car bomb was found and all the members of the terrorist cell were arrested. This shows that he is not going in the right direction."
Mor-Yosef said that his "sharp tone" was not meant to imply "that we'll start working to topple his government today - but we do want the government to change its reactions to terrorism, and it must be done quickly. Sharon was elected over six weeks ago, such that he's had enough time to make plans. At his behest, we ourselves met with his security advisor Maj. (res.) Meir Dagan, and talked to him about our ideas. So we know that there are written plans, but they are not being implemented..."
Upon learning that Palestinians had fired at least six anti-tank grenades on Israeli forces during several hours of heavy fire in Gush Katif today, Mor-Yosef said, "We keep hearing that the IDF is returning fire - what is this? The IDF is much stronger than they are, and shouldn't be playing this game with them. They should simply destroy the forces firing against us! Instead, when the Palestinians go to lunch, our soldiers will also stop firing."
"It's very nice that Sharon keeps saying that he won't negotiate while the violence continues," Mor-Yosef said, "but the question is what is he doing about the violence itself!... Similarly, the government ministers keep saying how Arafat is directly responsible for the violence - this is important, because the previous government did not do this, but it begins to sound a bit pathetic when they keep saying it but don't do anything practical as a result."
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To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@israelnationalnews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Friday, March 23, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Friday, Mar. 23, 2001 / Adar 28, 5761
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. STRUGGLE GOES ON FOR RACHEL'S TOMB
2. CANADA BACKS CALL FOR PALESTINIAN "RIGHT OF RETURN"
1. STRUGGLE GOES ON FOR RACHEL'S TOMB
Grassroots efforts on behalf of Rachel's Tomb - including an
encampment and bus service - continue non-stop, even after four and a
half months of activity. Hevron resident Shelly Karzen is one of the
leaders of the winter-long encampment she and others established a few
hundred meters from the holy site.
"When we established this encampment [in November 2000]," she told Arutz-7 yesterday, "Rachel's Tomb had been totally closed to the Jewish public for some weeks. Arabs kept threatening the site, and even tried to overrun it... We demanded that the army reopen it quickly, fearing that what had happened at Joseph's Tomb in Shechem would also occur here." It will be recalled that after several harsh battles over Joseph's Tomb at the beginning of the Rosh HaShanah Arab Assault, in which one IDF soldier was killed, the Israelis suddenly decided to evacuate the site. Within hours, local Arabs had destroyed the yeshiva that had operated there for some 20 years, and turned the site into a mosque.
"In principle," Karzen said, "Rachel's Tomb is open to Jewish worship 24 hours a day. The problem is that the army allows Jews to get there only in bulletproof vehicles. Practically speaking, then, hardly anybody can come. A private organization named Yesh Sachar LiF'ulotech ["Your Efforts Will Be Rewarded," the prophet's promise to the Matriarch Rachel] has organized bulletproof buses three hours every morning, from 9-12. We call upon the public to use these buses!"
When asked if it was not dangerous to go to Rachel's Tomb to pray, Karzen replied, "It's dangerous *not* to go there; Rachel is our connection with the Land of Israel [see Jer. 31, 14-16]. But in addition, the site is located only 400 meters from Jerusalem city line, opposite an army camp, and it is built as a fortress... We can keep on demanding more free entry - and we have even noticed a small positive change in the authorities' attitude of late - but in truth it's up to the public. If the public doesn't come, and doesn't show that it values Rachel's Tomb, this weakens the claims of our local group here. We need the public to come to the site and demand to get in, and this will strengthen our hold here..."
2. CANADA BACKS CALL FOR PALESTINIAN "RIGHT OF RETURN"
A 56-page booklet promoting the "return" of Arab refugees to the homes
they left in 1948 has been published and distributed by the Canadian
Government. David Bedein of Israel Resource News Agency reports that
the booklet features an introduction by PLO spokeswoman Hanan Ashrawi,
which calls for the right of the Arabs to repossess the 531 villages
they lost in 1948, even though these have since been totally
incorporated into Israel.
The booklet was published and distributed by the "Canadian
Representative Office in Ramallah", as is stated within. Replete with
pictures of suffering refugees, it condemns what it calls Israel's
"denial of the right of return." Bedein notes that the booklet
implies that Israel's purpose in its 1948 War of Independence was to
kick out the Arabs, and that it never mentions that seven Arab armies,
with the support of local Arabs, invaded the new Jewish state. "By
publishing [the booklet,]" concludes Bedein, "Canada has adopted a
partisan pro-PLO position that will forever compromise any role that
Canada may endeavor to play in the future" in solving the refugee
issue in the Middle East.
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