HHMI Newsgroup Archives

To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@israelnationalnews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Wednesday, June 6, 2001

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Wednesday, June 6, 2001 / Sivan 15, 5761
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. THE SHARON GOV'T: NO OUTPOSTS, GESTURES TO THE P.A., AND SETTLEMENT FREEZE
2. YAHALOM ACCUSES SHARON OF DIVIDING NATION
3. RABIN: CEASEFIRE NOT SERIOUS
4. DENMARK CONTINUES TO JUSTIFY ARAFAT

1. THE SHARON GOV'T: NO OUTPOSTS, GESTURES TO THE P.A., AND SETTLEMENT FREEZE

As if to enforce the growing feeling that the Sharon government is really a Peres government, Deputy Defense Minister Dalia Rabin-Philosof informed the Knesset today of the latest government decree: the new outposts established by the residents of Yesha at recent murder sites are slated to be removed. She said that the government hopes to "reach agreement" with the residents on this matter.

Earlier last night, a familiar pattern began to emerge when Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer announced several "relaxations" of the closure and other measures taken against the Palestinians. Following the Dolphinarium slaughter in Tel Aviv on Friday night, in which a brainwashed young Arab blew himself up in order to kill 19 young Israelis and a tourist, Israel forbade the entry of Palestinian workers and banned the deliver of gas and other supplies into Gaza.  Last night, only four nights later, these and other restrictions were partially or fully removed.

The Yesha Council demands that the Defense Minister show that his "heart is not hardened in light of the baby's plight [see below]" and immediately rescind the relaxations. "The so-called cease-fire is fictitious," stated one Council member, asking if there is any difference between fatal attacks perpetrated with rocks and those perpetrated with guns or by suicide bombers. The Hevron Jewish Community called on Prime Minister Sharon to

"Immediately dismantle the national unity government, and fire the Defense and Foreign Ministers who are leading the State of Israel to the brink of disaster. Shimon Peres has wrapped Ariel Sharon around his little finger, and is running the country. He prevented any Israeli reaction to Friday's massacre in Tel Aviv. As long as he is a minister in the Sharon government, Oslo will continue and the State of Israel is in jeopardy."

As if the above wasn't enough, Prime Minister Sharon has essentially agreed to a settlement freeze in Yesha. This was the conclusion of some Yesha Council members who met with him last night. Sharon refused to approve a series of requests they submitted to him regarding construction, bypass road pavings, and security aid to the towns. The Council members told Sharon that the Defense Minister has not approved even one building plan since he assumed his position two months ago. After the meeting, some of the Council members said that Sharon was toying with them, while others said that he is under great stress.

Yesha Council head Benny Kashriel, one of the four members who met with Sharon last night, refused to divulge any details of the meeting, and took a more moderate approach to the situation: "I don't think that Sharon is turning his back on Yesha, as some others might have said. I rather think that his policy of trying to score points with the Americans and the Europeans is mistaken. These points will not help us; what he needs to do now is to save lives." He said that despite the government intentions, "We have always built in Yesha, we continue to build, and we will build - period. Almost all of Judea and Samaria was built out of struggles with the government, unfortunately; it is strange that our own government, and especially this one, should fight against settling the Land of Israel, but if that's how it is then that's how we'll do it."

2. YAHALOM ACCUSES SHARON OF DIVIDING NATION
National Religious Party MK Sha'ul Yahalom told Arutz-7 today that the mortal wounding of the 5-month-old baby from Shilo last night could be attributed to the government's policies:

"Sharon is at fault for giving in to Peres and for implementing a policy of restraint. Not only that, but he is agreeing to a ceasefire on the pre-1967 side of the Green Line, while allowing the attacks to continue within Judea and Samaria. He is dividing the country into 1st-class and 2nd-class citizens... In addition, the old "separation" plan is beginning to be revived - millions of shekels to be paid out for barriers along the Green Line in order to keep the terrorists away from one side of the line, where the "first-class" citizens live, while endangering the "second-class" citizens on the other side."

PA Preventive Security head Jibril Rajoub provided Palestinian radio today with his view of the ceasefire. Saying that Israel does not have the right to decide if the cease-fire is being implemented or not, and that international observers are required for this task, he noted that the PA could be held responsible only for attacks from area fully under its control. Dr. Aaron Lerner of IMRA explained, "This is a return to the old Palestinian position that it is not their problem if Palestinians kill Israelis - as long as they do not do it directly from Area A. They maintained in the past that it was not their concern if a terrorist cell from Area A took their arms and bombs into Area C (full Israeli control) or Area B (joint control) and then perpetrated the attack after a certain unfixed period of time..."

3. RABIN: CEASEFIRE NOT SERIOUS
Even the Labor party's Dalia Rabin-Philosoph, serving as Deputy Defense Minister, said today that the ceasefire is "not yet serious.  Over the past day alone, 21 violent incidents were recorded." She said, however, that there have been some encouraging signs, and "we have to give Arafat a chance."

4. DENMARK CONTINUES TO JUSTIFY ARAFAT
Denmark's Foreign Minister said again today that despite the slaughter of 20 Israelis last Friday, he continues to adhere to his position that Israel is responsible for the violence in the region. The Danish Ambassador was summoned to the Israeli Foreign Ministry today, where he was told that as long as Denmark and the rest of Europe continue to treat Arafat as a hero, the violence would not end.

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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, June 7, 2001

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Thursday, June 7, 2001 / Sivan 16, 5761
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. PALESTINIAN CEASEFIRE ATTACKS CONTINUE
2. DIPLOMATICALLY SPEAKING
3. DOCUMENTING THE PALESTINIAN INCITEMENT

1. PALESTINIAN CEASEFIRE ATTACKS CONTINUE
Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer said last night that there had been a total of 90 Palestinian attacks in the four days that have passed since Arafat announced a ceasefire.

2. DIPLOMATICALLY SPEAKING
Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said last night, "Arafat has ended his historic role... He is not able to reach an agreement with us [and] will have to wait for a more pragmatic generation of Palestinian leaders... We decided on the ceasefire only so that the whole world would know that we have no one to talk to." These remarks, taken together with Prime Minister Sharon's recent terming of Arafat a "pathological liar and murderer," apparently herald a new government strategy to de-legitimize Arafat. Public Security Minister Uzi Landau said last night that Arafat should be tried as a war criminal.

Aides close to Prime Minister Sharon denied today any basis to the belief that their boss has agreed to a settlement freeze in Yesha. They said, as Arutz-7 has learned, that contrary to some reports after a Tuesday night meeting between Sharon and four Yesha Council leaders, there has been no change in Sharon's approach to Yesha.

PA leaders did not express peaceful intentions towards Israel today. PA Cabinet member Hassan Asfour said today that the ceasefire is "only temporary, and Sharon must understand that his policies towards the Palestinians will lead to an escalation and regional war." Nabil Sha'ath said that the Palestinian Authority, in which he serves as "Minister of Planning," will not be Israel's policeman, and will not respond to its demand to arrest Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met with the U.S. CIA Director George Tenet today. Also participating were Mossad Chief Ephraim HaLevy, GSS Director Avi Dichter, and US Ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk. Sharon will brief the security cabinet - Ministers Peres and Ben-Eliezer - on the meeting later tonight. A meeting is planned between security leaders of Israel and the Palestinian Authority for tomorrow, with the participation of American representatives.

3. DOCUMENTING THE PALESTINIAN INCITEMENT
"How the official media of the Palestinian Authority convey a consistent call for war." This is the title of a briefing to be given by Jerusalem journalist Michael Widlanski at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Widlanski, a researcher on the topic of Palestinian media, will speak there this Monday, and all members of the media and congressional staffers, as well as the general public, are invited. A sample article in the PA's official newspaper, Al Hayat al-Jadida, of May 16, 2001, entitled, "Hatred of Israel as a Yardstick of Patriotism," reads as follows:

"...It is proper that the call to hate Israel continue to be a medal worn on the chest of every Arab, and I repeat my position that it should be regarded as a measurement of patriotism and as a certificate of greatness and nobility. We are not oblivious to the grand reputation the singer Shaaban Abdul Rahim earned himself, and the [record] sales of his single hit declaring his hatred of Israel. These words of his brought about, from the depths of Egypt, the eruption of a volcano of hatred, abhorrence and bitterness that had been continuously accumulating for half a century... The position of hate is natural, and it is an expression that must be understood..." (With thanks to Palestinian Media Watch)

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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, June 8, 2001

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Friday, June 8, 2001 / Sivan 17, 5761
------------------------------------------------

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. MORE SECURITY TALK
2. ARMY TAKES STRONG ACTION - AGAINST JEWISH RESIDENTS

1. MORE SECURITY TALK
The Palestinian Authority's cabinet decided officially today to accept the ceasefire - but Hamas still refuses to go along. A senior Hamas leader, Abdul Aziz Rantisi, promised that his terrorist organization would continue its attacks against Israel. He accused CIA head Tenet of inciting Palestinian infighting. Israel Police were on high alert for possible attacks within the Green Line today.

A meeting will be held in Ramallah today between GSS head Avi Dichter, PLO leaders Muhammad Dahlan and Jibril Rajoub, and CIA head George Tenet. Tenet will try to formalize the ceasefire announcements of Sharon and Arafat. Sharon, at the behest of the Americans, will now require only six weeks of a ceasefire before he agrees to resume negotiations on a further hand-over of territory from Judea and Samaria.

2. ARMY TAKES STRONG ACTION - AGAINST JEWISH RESIDENTS
Army and police forces used force to evacuate, early this morning, the civilian outpost established by Shomron pioneers and Zar family members west of Shechem. This is the site where Gilad Zar, the Shomron Region's security coordinator, was shot to death by Palestinian terrorists less than two weeks ago. Lands owned by the Zar family are located in the area, and the family wishes to establish a community there in memory of their son/brother.

At yet another new Jewish presence near Yakir, in western Shomron, a stalemate has developed. The police and army forces arrived on the scene early this morning to remove two caravans the residents placed there last night. Hundreds of local Israelis began to arrive, leading to a standoff. Shomron Regional Council head Bentzy Lieberman, who insists that the caravans have a permit, is scheduled to meet with the head of the IDF Central Command in an attempt to find an immediate solution. The army is attempting to prevent additional residents from arriving on the scene; it has produced an order declaring the area a closed military zone, but the residents claim that the right authority did not sign it.

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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, June 10, 2001

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Sunday, June 10, 2001 / Sivan 19, 5761
------------------------------------------------

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. C.I.A. PROPOSALS: P.A. MAY KEEP ILLEGAL WEAPONS, TERRORIST INFRASTRUCTURE
2. SHARON AND MOFAZ: NO SIGNS OF CEASEFIRE

1. C.I.A. PROPOSALS: P.A. MAY KEEP ILLEGAL WEAPONS, TERRORIST INFRASTRUCTURE

Quietly, without disturbing the normal course of Palestinian violence, American mediators William Burns and CIA director George Tenet are hard at work attempting to formalize a ceasefire and have the Mitchell Report implemented. Burns met last night with Israeli government leaders, while Tenet presided at a meeting of Israeli and Palestinian security officials. A compromise six-week ceasefire period will probably be agreed upon, after which negotiations for good-will gestures will begin. Prime Minister Sharon insists, however, that the ceasefire be absolute and include no rock-throwings or violent demonstrations, and that the PA arrest 34 wanted terrorists whose names Israel has transferred to the PA.

The Tenet proposals do not obligate the PA to collect the thousands of illegal weapons in its territory, nor to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure. Dr. Aaron Lerner of IMRA notes that an "amusing" aspect of the proposals is that the PA, which sponsored the manufacture of most of the mortars in Gaza, is to "collect" them; the PA need not destroy them or transfer them a third party, but merely "report such findings to the joint security council." In addition, Lerner notes that the stipulation that "the PA will prevent movement, in its territory, of militant activists intending to carry out attacks against Israel," will simply become the basis of endless argument as to what is consider "intent" to carry out attacks against Israel.  Tenet does demand, however, that the PA cease "incitement and assistance to attacks against" Israeli targets in Yesha.

2. SHARON AND MOFAZ: NO SIGNS OF CEASEFIRE
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told the Cabinet today that Palestinian terrorism and violence are continuing, and he does not see any actions by Arafat to stop them. IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Sha'ul Mofaz agrees. "The PA has no genuine intention of stopping the terrorism," he said today at an appearance in a high school in Shfayim, north of Herzliya on the Mediterranean Coast. "We see no practical signs of any preventive measures." Mofaz termed Arafat's ceasefire a "false facade with which Arafat wants to see what diplomatic achievements he can get." Mofaz noted that since Sharon's announcement of a unilateral ceasefire, Palestinian terrorist attacks have killed 22 and wounded some 300. "The PA gave the green light, and it has even released terrorist prisoners," Mofaz said.

Likud MK Moshe Arens, three-time Israeli Defense Minister, was asked today what is the point in trying to reach a ceasefire under the present circumstances. Arens responded,

"I imagine that within 2-3 days we'll be able to see if it's at all realistic, i.e., if Arafat is interested in reaching a ceasefire, or if he is just playing with everyone as he has done in the past...  There are some in the Likud, and I am among them, who are very concerned that this period of violence should not end up with diplomatic achievements for Arafat. [Regarding Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer's remark that Arafat has completed his historic function], I would say that history has shown that Arafat caused much damage not only to Israel but also to the Palestinians, and I don't think he's finished doing that."

Arutz-7's Haggai Seri noted, "We learned today that in Bethlehem, members European Union officials, in coordination with the Pa's Jibril Rajoub, have established their own supervisory center over the ceasefire in that area. This, together with the American intervention, and the UN, doesn't it all indicate that in any event we are headed for that which we so much do not want, the internationalization of the conflict?" Arens responded, "We must do everything to prevent this, and if the Prime Minister in fact does everything to prevent it, then it won't happen. This is not the first attempt by the Europeans to try to get themselves involved, and in light of the history of European-Israeli relations, I don't think that there is any chance that [we will let] this happen. Nor do I think that the Americans will remove their veto from such a proposal [to send international observers]."

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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, June 11, 2001

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Monday, June 11, 2001 / Sivan 20, 5761
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:

TENET TRIES AGAIN
Last night's meeting with Israeli and PLO security officials was cancelled at the last minute, but CIA head George Tenet has rescheduled it for this evening. It will be held at the joint Israeli-PLO liaison office near Beit El, just north of Ramallah.  Israel has already basically accepted Tenet's proposals for an agreement for a permanent ceasefire, even though they do not call for the PA's dismantling of the terrorist infrastructure. The Palestinian Authority, for its part, initially said that the demand for it to arrest wanted terrorists does not jibe with the Mitchell Report.  Later today, PA Secretary Abdel Ahmed Rahman said today that Tenet's proposals have some positive elements with which the PA can agree, "but there are several points that must be corrected in accordance with the Mitchell Report and the Egyptian-Jordanian initiative."

Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer expressed hope this morning that the American mediating efforts would bear fruit, but "Israel must also be ready for other possibilities."

A high-ranking IDF Intelligence officer, whose name was banned from publication, told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee today that Arafat's weak measures against terrorism of late are "few and far between," insufficient, and prove that he is control of the situation but has not abandoned the path of terrorism.

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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, June 12, 2001

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Tuesday, June 12, 2001 / Sivan 21, 5761
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. ARAFAT TURNS TENET DOWN
2. MEDIA WERE WRONG: P.A. DID NOT STOP TERROR ATTACKS
3. IN BRIEF
4. ARAFAT IN TIME AND THE NEW YORK TIMES

1. ARAFAT TURNS TENET DOWN
It was reported late this afternoon that CIA director George Tenet had announced the end of his mission to achieve a formal ceasefire, and that he blamed the Palestinians for the failure. Other reports were that Tenet had not yet given up his efforts, and that the PLO, while rejecting critical parts of the proposals, would continue to discuss them tonight.

Israel agreed earlier this morning to accept Tenet's ceasefire proposals, despite its reservations regarding some of the clauses.  Tenet then spent the afternoon with Palestinian officials, who said they could not accept the demand to arrest the Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists specified by Israel. Ma'ariv newspaper editorialized today that while some of the Israeli and Palestinian objections to Tenet's initiative are arguable, "it is impossible to argue with Ariel Sharon's ultimatum-demand regarding wanted fugitives... Israel is demanding not only their arrest, but also counter-terrorist actions initiated by the PA to foil attacks and apprehend fugitives so that 20 young people will not be murdered as they go out to have fun Friday night. For Israel, this is a matter of life and death."

The Israeli position is that any ceasefire must mean a total cessation of violence, and that even rock-throwings will "zero out" the six-to-eight week cooling off period and necessitate its re-start. Minister Tzachi Hanegbi said today, however, that it is obvious that if some boy throws rocks somewhere, this will not be counted as a violation of the ceasefire.

2. MEDIA WERE WRONG: P.A. DID NOT STOP TERROR ATTACKS
"There is no documented evidence indicating that the PA has done anything to stop terrorist attacks" in the last several days." So said Deputy Defense Minister Dalia Rabin-Pelossof this morning, responding to widespread Israeli media reports that Palestinian security forces had prevented three major terrorist attacks in the past few days. Ha'aretz, for instance, reported today, "A senior officer in military intelligence told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense committee yesterday that the Palestinian Authority (PA) had prevented a number of serious terrorist attacks against Israeli targets..." Rabin-Pelossof explained that there had been "some confusion over the officer's testimony." She said that what the officer actually said was that the PA had detained some suspects in the Dolphinarium bombing and that the PA has thwarted some terrorist attacks in the past.

Further corroboration of Rabin's statement was provided by PA senior Nabil Sha'ath, who denied yesterday that the PA had given Israel information enabling it to thwart two potential suicide bombings. Sha'ath also reiterated that the PA refuses to arrest terrorists.

3. IN BRIEF

A survey conducted at the Bir Zeit University north of Ramallah indicates that 90% of Palestinian youth now support suicide attacks.  Within the general Palestinian population, support for suicide attacks stands at about 75% - a 50% increase in recent months...

4. ARAFAT IN TIME AND THE NEW YORK TIMES

"The Israelis see in [Nelson] Mandela a leader who took a principled decision to make peace with his enemies, and kept his word. The Palestinians see him as a nationalist fighter who refused to compromise his principles even when that meant immense personal suffering - and as a leader guided by those same principles when making the historic compromises necessary to minimize bloodshed while pursuing his goals. And in both instances - and others - Arafat falls short by comparison... Arafat never made clear to his own people the massive compromises involved in the Oslo Peace process... Indeed, as much as it suited Arafat's immediate agenda, the intifada was also viewed by many observers of Palestinian politics as an outpouring of anger against the Palestinian Authority..." -Tony Karon, Time Magazine, June 5, 2001

"...[T]he settlements are not the core problem. The core problem right now is Yasir Arafat -- the Palestinian leader who cannot say 'yes' and will not say 'uncle.' President Bill Clinton and Prime Minister Ehud Barak put on the table before Mr. Arafat a historic compromise proposal that would have given Palestinians control of 94 to 96 percent of the West Bank and Gaza... Not only would Mr. Arafat not take it, he would not even say: 'Well, this was insufficient, but this is the most far-reaching and serious proposal Palestinians have ever seen. Now, I want to enter into a dialogue with the Israeli people and government to see if I can get them to 100 percent'... No, instead, Mr. Arafat launched this idiotic uprising. He did so because he is essentially a political coward and maneuverer, who apparently has not given up his long-term aim of eliminating Israel and who was afraid in the short run that if he took 99 percent, he would be killed for the 1 percent he left on the table..." -Thomas Friedman, The New York Times, May 22

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