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To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com From: Arutz-7 Editor <feedback@israelnationalnews.com> Subject: Arutz-7 News: Monday, August 6, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service <http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com> Monday, Aug. 6, 2001 / Av 17, 5761 ------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES: 1. IDF TO CONTINUE HUNTING DOWN TERRORISTS 2. WHAT WILL BE THE END? 3. ARAB MKs OPENLY SUPPORT TEL AVIV SHOOTING ATTACK
1. IDF TO CONTINUE HUNTING DOWN TERRORISTS The IDF spokesman released a statement following yesterday's downing of arch-terrorist Amar Mansur Hassan Madiri saying that the army "will continue its preemptive strikes in order to protect and defend the citizens and soldiers of the State of Israel." According to the release, Madiri had become, over the last few months, a top aide to senior Hamas terrorist Fuaz Badran in Tul Karem. In the framework of his new "responsibilities," Madiri was directly involved in enlisting, training, and dispatching suicide bombers to population centers. Specifically, Madiri was accelerating preparations for a major attack to involve mass casualties in the next few days. IDF choppers fired direct hits on Madiri's car yesterday, thereby ending his terrorist career.
Defense Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer revealed that at 6 AM today, a suicide bomber was captured in the Tul Karem area. He was the intended recipient of one of the explosive belts that were in Madiri's car, who was killed yesterday in an Israel Air Force raid.
Yesterday, the Defense Ministry published "a partial list of Palestinians who continue to plan and carry out attacks after Israel's request for their arrest." Deputy Defense Minister Dalia Rabin-Pelossof said, "We have concrete evidence that these people are involved in preparing suicide bombings and making explosives." Ahmed Qurieh, speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, said that the Israeli offensives against terrorists may force the Palestinian leadership to return to "underground resistance."
2. WHAT WILL BE THE END? What will be the end? This was the question which Arutz 7 Editor Haggai Segal posed to Tourism Minister and Security Cabinet member Rechavam Ze'evy in today's news magazine.
Rechavam Ze'evy: "The end will be that the Jewish nation will establish roots and hold on to its land; the Land will belong to the People of Israel, and only to them."
Haggai Segal: When will happen? RZ: It depends on us - civilians, soldiers, government officials - all of us.
HS: Despite protests from persons like yourself [who demand more decisive actions], Ariel Sharon is clinging to a policy of slow, pinpoint retaliations against specific terrorists. He is not launching an offensive against Arafat and the entire terrorist infrastructure... But recently, he is striking at the terrorists more. Does this encourage you that Sharon may be coming around?
RZ: ... It doesn't encourage me that Sharon may be coming around, but it does encourage me that the conflict is being forced to a point of escalation. Then, without Sharon wanting it, and despite the brakes that Peres is applying, we may find ourselves in a real confrontation with the Palestinians. This will enable us to teach them the lesson that they need and are waiting for a long time... I suggested to Barak and to Sharon that we don't have to retake the [PLO-controlled] areas. Rather hit them hard and pressure them in their 'soft spots' - they have many such spots. Then, when they scream, we set rules and conditions.
HS: Do you have an audience with the Prime Minister to discuss these issues? RZ: Yes, we talk, and he hears me out. But he very much values the national unity government. He sees it as a strategic asset of prime importance. He is concerned that a change of policy in the direction that I suggest will cause Peres and his friends in Labor to quit the coalition - even though it's not clear that all of them would leave. Therefore, even against his own fundamental, personal beliefs - and I know the man for tens of years - he runs things in a way that keeps Peres satisfied. In other words, not to act, not to respond, not to fight, not to initiate, rather, talk about it.
HS: Is Sharon waiting to reach such point where even if he strikes according to your plan, he will have Peres' support? RZ: When Sharon pursues the plan that we suggest, Peres can get up and quit the government. It may very well be that only some of them will leave and Labor will split. The Labor party is not currently in a situation where one person commands the respect and obedience of the entire party. The party is very divided, and in a very difficult position. I'm not rejoicing at the weakness of my rival when I say that, but we don't have to be overly concerned if they leave the coalition, because a strong stable government will remain if part or even all of Labor leaves. Then, Sharon can implement a policy that he believes in, preached for, and acted on throughout his entire life.
Foreign Minister Shimon Peres for his part had harsh words for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's policy of restraint, insisting that the government should immediately return to the negotiating table with the PA. Peres stated that the current government policy was not heading in any direction, and there is a need to come to an agreement with the PA, divide the land, and create a border between the nations. Peres stated if this were not done, Israel would soon be faced with the demographic reality of an Arab majority. Peres made his comments in a forum with several cabinet ministers.
Commentator Jay Shapiro told Arutz Sheva today that one of Sharon's main problems is that there hasn't been a general Knesset election since May, 1999. The election which brought Sharon to office with an unprecedented 62% majority was a race for Prime Minister. But the balance in the Knesset does not reflect the public's change since Camp David and the Rosh Hashanah mini war. "Much has happened since May, 1999. It's not clear who Peres represents anymore. It is very likely that if elections were held today, Labor would not be a serious partner in the coalition. Sharon is forced to balance a government based on a Knesset which no longer represents public sentiment. If Sharon wanted to show true leadership now, he would call for a general election, right in the middle of all that is happening. It will do Sharon good both politically and internationally."
3. ARAB MKs OPENLY SUPPORT TEL AVIV SHOOTING ATTACK Knesset Member Talab El-Sana (United Arab List) called yesterday's shooting in Tel Aviv "a legitimate part of the Palestinian struggle." Justifying the attack during a media interview to an Abu Dhabi channel, MK El-Sana added that the attempted mass murder was "of a special quality, targeting military personnel and not civilians... There can be no guilt feelings in this case." Eight soldiers and two civilians were wounded in the assault on Kaplan Street. Minister of Public Security Uzi Landau called the statement "treason." MK (Shinui) Tommy Lapid called upon the Arab MK to resign from the Knesset. Minister without portfolio Danny Naveh says that he intends to legislate a law that will require Knesset members to declare allegiance not only to Israel, but to Israel as a Jewish State.
Later today, Arab MK Azmi Bishara (Balad) declared that he agrees with El-Sana's "every word." Bishara says that the criticism of El-Sana is an attempt to silence Arab Knesset members from expressing their opinion. It is not yet clear if Attorney-General Elyakim Rubenstein will indict El-Sana, or on what charge.
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To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com From: Arutz-7 Editor <feedback@israelnationalnews.com> Subject: Arutz-7 News: Tuesday, August 7, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service <http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com> Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2001 / Av 18, 5761 ------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES: 1. PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY IN SHAMBLES 2. LEFTWING OVERTURES TO ARAFAT 3. INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL OFFENSIVES
1. PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY IN SHAMBLES The Palestinian Authority is facing troubles of such magnitude that analysts say the Arafat regime may be nearing its end. Some institutions within the PLO-controlled areas are on the verge of financial collapse. Many aspects of the PA courts, welfare projects, and low-level law enforcement are no longer functioning. Segments of the Arab population that were sympathetic to Arafat are shifting support to the Islamic fundamentalist organizations Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Senior Arab leader Ziad Abu Ziad admits that the PLO leadership is losing control over the Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Apparently out of desperation, Arafat loyalist Marwan Barghouti has sent calls to the rival Islamic movements to join together in a national unity leadership. In a Ramallah press conference, he said that there is an "urgent need" for the various groups to unite.
Another factor leading to disenchantment in the Arab street is the precision of the Israeli strikes against Arab terrorists. Israeli bombs and missiles reach top-level terrorists when they briefly step into a phone booth, or meet in supposedly top secret hide outs. The PA is deemed helpless in providing protection in the areas under its control. In an attempt to regain some popularity, the PA began hunting down collaborators with Israel, and handed down the death penalty on several suspects in ten-minute trials. Recent reports indicate that some Palestinian leaders are busy securing for themselves places of refuge in various Arab countries should they need to escape on short notice.
2. LEFTWING OVERTURES TO ARAFAT Despite his earlier statements that there was nothing to speak about with the PLO leadership until the Arab attacks came to a total halt, Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer announced on Monday that he is in favor of resuming talks with Yasser Arafat. He added that negotiations with senior officials of the Palestinian Authority are not efficient and that Arafat alone was capable of bringing an end to the Arab violence. Peres too said yesterday that he favors an immediate resumption of diplomatic negotiations with Arafat. In an interview on Israel television, the Defense Minister, a candidate for the chairmanship of the Labor Party, sent a personal message to Arafat. Using the PLO leader's nom de guerre, Ben-Eliezer said, "Abu Amar, I guarantee your safety. Do not fear. We want you to continue leading your people towards the direction of peace." The Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza was quick to comment that before the Defense Minister hurries to guarantee Arafat's security, it would be appropriate for him to fulfill his obligation to the citizens of Israel and guarantee their security in Tel Aviv and on the roads in Yesha.
While Ben-Eliezer and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres are in favor of talks with Arafat, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon remains opposed. He told a Hadassah Women's Organization gathering on Monday that there would be no return to the negotiating table "under fire." Yesterday, Sharon reiterated to the new US Ambassador to Israel, Dan Kurtzer, that there must be a seven-day quiet period followed by six weeks of tranquility without attacks before proceeding to the implementation of other stages of the Mitchell Plan.
3. INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL OFFENSIVES On Monday, the Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher called the Israeli government "a gang of assassins". Maher said that no civilized country could accept the behavior of the government of Israel as it continues to carry out "assassinations" in violation of international law. Israel's policies will drag the entire region into war, he said.
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Anan called upon Israel to refrain from its current policy of preemptive offensives against terrorist targets. He called on both sides involved to abandon the violence and return to dialogue in order to achieve a political solution. Anan provided no indication of how an end to the violence was to be achieved, although the Group of Eight Industrialized Nations has called for international observers to be stationed in Israel.
Although holding a positive view of the Secretary-General's call to return to the negotiating table, Foreign Minister Shimon Peres was less than enthusiastic about the possibility of international observers in Israel. The Foreign Minister told the Russian emissary to the Middle East on Monday that the deployment of international observers in the region would not provide the solution to the ongoing warfare. He explained that since the observers would not have access to Hamas bomb facilities where explosives for attacks are prepared and suicide bombers set out for attacks, they would only be able to report on attacks after they occur and not prevent them.
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To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com From: Arutz-7 Editor <feedback@israelnationalnews.com> Subject: Arutz-7 News: Wednesday, August 8, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service <http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com> Wednesday, August 8, 2001 / Av 19, 5761 ------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES: 1. ISRAELI MINISTER: UN BECOMING ALLY OF TERRORISTS 2. LABOR PARTY SHOWDOWN 3. ISLAMIC OPPOSITION AND THE PA REACH "UNDERSTANDING" 4. PA SERMON: PEACE THRU KILLING JEWS
1. ISRAELI MINISTER: UN BECOMING ALLY OF TERRORISTS Yesterday, the UN added insult to injury by its handling of the UNIFIL videotapes affair. After their first viewing of the UN videotapes which document the aftermath of October's kidnapping of three Israeli soldiers on the Lebanese border, the Israeli team had planned to summon medical and forensics experts to glean further information in a second viewing, but the UN informed them that they would not be allowed to view the tapes again. Infuriated by the latest effrontery, the Israelis stormed out of the UN offices. Foreign Minister Shimon Peres reacted by saying that he stands fully behind the Israeli demand to watch the tapes as many times as necessary. Minister of National Infrastructures Avigdor Lieberman attacked the UN for becoming "a natural ally of terrorists like the Hizbullah" and called for the immediate removal of UNIFIL forces from southern Lebanon.
Today, however, a compromise was reached between the Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Yehudah Lankri, and UN representatives, whereby the Israeli experts will view the tapes again today, examine the articles from the scene of the kidnapping and be allowed to send other experts to one more viewing, to be arranged for the families of the soldiers. The screening for the families is to take place in Austria next week, but it is questionable if the families will show up. Family members told Arutz 7 that "the personal items belong to us, not to them." If the UN refuses to release the items, the families say that they simply will not attend the video screening. Family members said that the behavior of the UN gives reason to suspect that the international organization is collaborating in a terrible crime.
Israel also maintains that there is a third video tape of the kidnapping itself, which the UN is denying.
It will be recalled that the UN initially denied the tapes' existence. The UN then admitted to holding one tape, then to a second and the bloodied belongings of the captives. The UN then agreed to a viewing, but only an edited version which obscures the features of the Hizbullah terrorists caught on film. After refusing to allow an Israeli team of specialists to view the tapes in Israel, the UN invited the Israelis to watch them at UN Headquarters in New York. The Israelis complied, under protest, and the team of experts arrived in America earlier this week.
2. LABOR PARTY SHOWDOWN Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg officially began his campaign for the leadership of the Labor Party on Monday. Burg says that the main problem plaguing the party is "the infighting, the divisions, the slander." He promises leadership "that is no longer a one-man show, that of a team." Burg's competition for the top spot is Defense Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, who has made a decided shift to the political left in recent days. Ben-Eliezer, like Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, has called for a return to negotiations with Yasser Arafat, despite the ongoing terrorist war. Two weeks ago, the Defense Minister opened his campaign with a press conference at which he emphasized his credentials and political experience to enable him to rehabilitate the party. The winner of the race will be Labor's candidate for prime minister in the next national election.
Primaries are scheduled for September 4, but Labor's central committee will convene next Sunday (August 12) to decide whether or not to delay them and for how long. Former MK Gedalia Gal is backing a petition to delay the primaries because, "holding the Party primaries now would lead to Labor leaving the government." While both candidates have expressed opposition to a postponement, chairman of Burg's election campaign Avi Yehezkel says that Ben-Eliezer is actually behind the initiative, together with Shimon Peres, in what he termed "the ultimate 'stinking maneuver..,'" alluding to the term the late Prime Minister Rabin once used to describe a tactic of Peres. Last week, Ben-Eliezer obliquely implied that the Burg camp was inciting against him among Arab constituents upset with the government's defense policy. The Labor prime ministerial candidate usually receives some 95% of the Arab vote. Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak sent a letter to Ben-Eliezer yesterday expressing support for his candidacy for leadership of the Labor Party.
3. ISLAMIC OPPOSITION AND THE PA REACH "UNDERSTANDING" Ynet reports on the details of an "understanding" reached between the Palestinian Authority and Islamic terrorist organizations including Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Marxist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. In an attempt to create a "national unity" leadership, the sides have agreed on several points, which include integration of the opposition groups into the Palestinian Authority administrative structure and a continuation of the armed struggle until achievement of an independent Arab state in the territory of Judea, Samaria, Gaza and Jerusalem.
According to Ynet, the Tanzim, under the leadership of Marwan Barghouti, are interested in formalizing their de facto cooperation with the Hamas and to weaken some PLO leaders. Meanwhile, PLO leader Ahmed Abdel Rahman is quoted as saying, "Oslo is dead, and the group most damaged by it are actually those who supported Oslo. Therefore, the time has come for those who opposed Oslo and those who supported it to come together for the battle being waged by the Palestinian people."
4. PA SERMON: PEACE THRU KILLING JEWS What follows are selections of Friday's sermon (August 3, 2001) on official Palestinian Authority TV. The selections are provided by Palestinian Media Watch.
"Allah shall make the Moslem rule over the Jew, we will blow them up in Hadera, we will blow them up in Tel-Aviv and in Netanya in the righteousness of Allah against this riff-raff, we will fight against them and rule over them until the Jew will hide behind the trees and stones and the tree and stone will say: 'Moslem! Servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me, kill him!'
"We will enter Jerusalem as conquerors, and Jaffa as conquerors, and Haifa as conquerors and Ashkelon as conquerors, we are certain that the victory is quickly coming, as we bless anyone who rises against a soldier, we bless all those who educate their children to Jihad and to Martyrdom, blessings to he who shot a bullet into the head of a Jew...
"I heard a youth say, 'Oh, Sheikh, I am now 14 years old. I have 4 more years and then I will go to blow myself up among Allah's enemies, I will blow myself up among the Jews.'" I said to him, 'Allah should let you merit Martyrdom and let me merit Martyrdom'...
"All weapons must be aimed at the Jews, at the enemies of Allah, the cursed nation in the Koran, whom the Koran describes as monkeys and pigs, worshippers of the calf and idol worshippers.
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To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com From: Arutz-7 Editor <feedback@israelnationalnews.com> Subject: Arutz-7 News: Thursday, August 9, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service <http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com> Thursday, August 9, 2001 / Av 20, 5761 ------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINE:
ARAB SLAUGHTERS 18 IN THE HOLY CITY An Arab suicide bomber entered the Sbarro Restaurant in the center of Jerusalem shortly before 2:00 PM today, positioned himself in the center of a crowd, and within seconds detonated a powerful charge leaving 18 dead, and another approximately 80 injured, some still fighting for their lives. Among the wounded were small children and babies. The powerful blast rocked and showered the area with shards of glass, metallic fragments and nails. Eyewitnesses report that they knew immediately the blast was a terrorist bomb, adding that the sound of the explosion was ear piercing. The Sbarro Restaurant, on the corner of Jaffa Rd. and King George St. was totally destroyed in the explosion.
The scene was one of panic and horror. Bodies were strewn all over. The busy location is just a two-minute walk from the Machane Yehuda marketplace where thousands make their way to shop for the upcoming Sabbath. Nechemia, an eyewitness, was in a nearby restaurant and described what he saw: "I saw a young girl on the ground with blood gushing from her head and mouth. She signaled me for help, and when I went over to her, I realized that I couldn't help, because I am not a medic. I ran to alert a medic of her condition, and he came over. I am in shock."
The response by emergency personnel to the blast was almost instantaneous; their units have been on heightened alert in the capital in recent weeks, in light of intelligence community warnings of impending attacks. The first police and ambulances arrived within two minutes, and began to assess the horrific site. All major hospitals in Jerusalem immediately implemented disaster plans, such as calling on all off duty personnel to report for duty.
Police are not releasing details at this time but they state with confidence that the bomb was very big and contained a large amount of steel nails, which was immediately evident in the number of wounded arriving in area hospitals punctured by the nails. There are conflicting reports that in subsequent searches, police reportedly found and safely dismantled a pipe bomb at the scene.
At 4:13 PM, while dozens of persons uninjured by the blast were standing near the scene, pandemonium again struck as reports of a second bombing at Jerusalem's Central Bus station spread through the crowd. Police and ambulance sirens again filled Jaffa road, and the crowds dispersed in fear of being caught in yet another atrocity. But this second alert proved to be a false alarm. As it turned out, a tire blew on this hot August day.
As is always the case following major attacks, phone systems, especially cellular telephone providers, crashed due to the sudden demand by persons trying to reach loved ones. Telephone lines in the capital remained strained for an hour and many persons were unable to verify the whereabouts of family and friends who might have been in the area of the massacre.
In a televised exchange of views, Ehud Ya'ari, Israel Television's expert on Arab terrorism, said that anyone, like my colleague here Danny Rubenstein (Haaretz's Arab Affairs editor), who says that the suicide bombings are the Arab response to our taking down their leaders, is simply not reading the map and what they are saying. "They are in the midst of a terrorist offensive, continuing from where the 1948 War of Independence left off."
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