HHMI Newsgroup Archives

To:            arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com
From:          Arutz-7 Editor <feedback@israelnationalnews.com>
Subject:       Arutz-7 News: Tuesday, August 21, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service
  <http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2001 / Elul 2, 5761
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
   1. GOOD MORNING, EHUD
   2. PERES TO MEET ARAFAT IN BERLIN
   3. KATZAV PROTESTS U.N. BEHAVIOR
1. GOOD MORNING, EHUD
"Only the blind, or those whose emotional attachment to their own desires 
makes it difficult for them to face reality - can continue with talk that 
makes you want to pinch yourself and say, ''Tell me, can this be 
real!?'"  Thus did Ehud Barak, in his first political speech yesterday 
since losing the election in six months ago, criticize those in his Labor 
Party who continue to wish to negotiate with Yasser Arafat.  Although Barak 
did not mention Shimon Peres by name, the reference was clear.  Peres 
responded sharply to the criticism:  "I suggest that everyone learn from 
their own mistakes.  Barak himself met with Arafat and made him 
far-reaching offers.  My discussions with Arafat are not on content, but on 
how to stop the violence."  Yossi Beilin, another target of Barak's attack, 
said that there is no doubt that if Barak had won the February election, he 
would have continued negotiating with Arafat.
Barak also proposed the evacuation of 15% of Yesha towns - but then said 
that to dismantle even one of them at this point in time would be construed 
as a prize for terrorism.  In his fast-paced, right-wing-leaning speech, 
Barak further said,
"It is impossible now to relate to the third redeployment - which was 
signed under a completely different set of assumptions - as if nothing has 
happened.  If we do so, we are liable find ourselves crossing the fine line 
between the 'peace of the brave,' for which it was worthwhile to take 
calculated risks and to make difficult, painful decisions leading 
ultimately to compromise on both sides - and the 'peace of the ostrich,' 
which was prevented at Camp David, namely, the possibility that we would 
continue to transfer more and more and then, when there remained nothing 
left to transfer, we would discover that, Heaven forbid, we have no partner 
for real peace negotiations or for an agreement.
"People have asked me, 'What, have you just now realized who Arafat really 
is?"  The answer is, No!  We had our concerns - not just me, but in my 
opinion every honest person had not a few concerns accompanying us 
throughout the Oslo process. But, despite the concerns, and out of a 
feeling of national responsibility, we were willing to go very far in order 
to examine the matter.  Arafat is an experienced enough actor, smooth and 
evasive, such that it would have been impossible to examine it without 
risk. And we said that it was justified to take the risk, even if the risk 
would cost us politically, just so that we would know - after the efforts 
expended by Shimon [Peres] and Yitzchak [Rabin], after Yitzchak was 
murdered, after Shimon lost the elections as a result of waves of 
terrorism, and we again took power and we also had Clinton who was in his 
seventh year - it was time for us to know [whether Arafat was for real] 
once and for all.  And so, despite our concerns, we went.  Not as a trick; 
what we did was not a trick to pull Arafat into a trap and to expose him as 
worthless.  It was rather a real effort to try and reach an agreement, if 
possible, while maintaining awareness at all times that we do not control 
the will of the other side.  And if turned out that it was not possible, at 
least we stopped in its tracks this process of reckless transfer of our 
assets; we know what we are facing and we will be able to face it.
The former Prime Minister also raised the ire of some of his listeners with 
his endorsement of Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer in the race for 
party leader.  Kibbutz Movement leaders said that he had previously agreed 
not to speak about internal politics during his speech.  In a campaign 
appearance in Be'er Sheva yesterday, Ben-Eliezer told supporters that Labor 
has been losing major ground among the Israeli public because it has been 
going "further and further left over the past four years.  There already is 
a strong left-wing party, namely, Meretz, our ally - but we, the Labor 
party, should not keep going leftwards, but rather concentrate on the true 
distinction between us and the Likud, namely, the concern for the 
individual..."  The internal election between Ben-Eliezer and Knesset 
Speaker Avraham Burg will be held in two weeks.
2. PERES TO MEET ARAFAT IN BERLIN
Despite the criticism from left and right of Peres' meetings with Arafat, 
Palestinian sources announced today that Peres and Arafat would in fact 
meet next week in Berlin.  Peres himself did not confirm the report, but 
said that he would meet with Arafat "when the time is right."  Ynet reports 
that Arafat will send one of his top advisors, Nabil Sha'ath, to Damascus 
in order to calm Syrian fears that the PLO may "sell out" during the 
Peres-Arafat meeting.  The PLO is expected to assure Syria that it will not 
halt the violence in order to renew talks with Israel.  It was noted, 
however, that the violence has already been reduced somewhat over the past 
two days.
In a related item, Egyptian officials say that U.S. President Bush is 
examining the possibility of inviting Arafat to the White House, for a 
joint meeting with Egyptian President Mubarak and Jordanian King 
Abdullah.  Although the PLO Chairman was the most frequent international 
visitor to Washington under President Clinton, he has not yet been invited 
even once to the Bush White House.
German Foreign Minister Fischer, meeting with Arafat in Ramallah today, 
submitted to him Foreign Minister Shimon Peres' plan for a "gradual 
ceasefire," which calls for gradual ceasefires in one area at a time.  The 
Palestinians are reportedly showing interest in the idea.  Fischer will 
also meet today with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.  Peres, for his part, 
left for Eastern Europe today, beginning his visit in Budapest, 
Hungary.  He will spend tomorrow and the next day in Warsaw, Poland, where 
he will address a gathering of Israeli Ambassadors to European countries.
3. KATZAV PROTESTS U.N. BEHAVIOR
President Moshe Katzav recently sent a harsh letter to UN Secretary-General 
Anan expressing his strong consternation over the UN's conduct regarding 
the abduction of four Israelis by Hizbullah.  Katzav noted that over ten 
months have passed since the abduction of Israeli soldiers Sgt. Adi Avitan, 
St.-Sgt. Binyamin Avraham, and St.-Sgt. Omar Souad and Israeli businessman 
Elchanan Tenenbaum.  "It is a great error," the President wrote, "to claim 
that the UN must maintain objectivity between a sovereign UN-member state, 
and a terrorist organization that does not accept the UN's 
authority."  Neither did the UN react appropriately to the use of its 
symbols by a terrorist organization during the abduction, wrote 
Katzav.  "It is the UN's duty to assist in finding the abductees...  Israel 
expects the UN to intervene [and] to use all its influence in order to 
supply the families of the abducted soldiers with every piece of 
information about their condition."  The President concluded by noting his 
great respect and esteem for UN Secy.-Gen. Anan, and requesting Anan's 
personal intervention in the tragic case.
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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 22, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Wednesday, August 22, 2001 / Elul 3, 5761
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
   1. GOV'T PLAN TO STRENGTHEN JERUSALEM
   2. FISCHER'S DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS
   3. LANDAU WANTS "SEPARATION ZONE"
1. GOV'T PLAN TO STRENGTHEN JERUSALEM
The cabinet has approved Prime Minister Sharon's proposal to transfer
200 million shekels to the Jerusalem municipality during the course of
this year, mainly for services in eastern Jerusalem.  The money will
be used for new classrooms, transportation needs, construction and
housing, tourism, and more.  A special cabinet meeting on Jerusalem
was held yesterday to "emphasize the government's policy of
strengthening Jewish sovereignty throughout the capital," at which
Sharon said,  "We have taken action to restore Israel's full
sovereignty over Jerusalem by halting the Palestinian Authority's
activities there.  That action, which we of course will continue, must
be supported and strengthened by further actions, both in the eastern
part of the city and the western..."  A statement released after the
meeting said that the multi-year plan for the development of
infrastructure and public services in eastern Jerusalem will be
accelerated, with the aim of reaching equality in these areas between
the city's two parts.
2. FISCHER'S DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS
German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer continued his "peace-making"
efforts in Israel today, and even left open the possibility that Prime
Minister Sharon and Yasser Arafat would meet in September.  He implied
that it was still up to Israel to stop the murderous Arab violence of
the past 11 months by "truly stopping all construction in Judea and
Samaria."
Fischer also delivered a message from Sharon to Arafat to the effect
that shooting attacks into Jerusalem would not be tolerated on any
level. Sharon added that if shooting into Jerusalem continues, Israel
would be forced to take actions to ensure that future attacks are not
possible. The Prime Minister's office vehemently denied that Israel
had let up on its demand for "seven quiet days" without terrorist
violence before taking steps to implement the Mitchell
recommendations. The comments came in reaction to Fischer's statements
that Arafat and Foreign Minister Peres may negotiate a staggered
cease-fire.
For his part, Yasser Arafat told Fischer that his contribution to
stopping the violence included informing Israel of a number of suicide
bombers already inside Israeli towns in advance of attacks.  Prime
Minister Sharon denied the accuracy of these contentions.  GSS
Director Avi Dichter explained to the German minister that the
opposite was true:  Israel had presented Arafat and PA agencies with
the names of wanted terrorist fugitives, in the hopes that the PA
would thwart attacks, but PA agencies did nothing to apprehend the
suspects.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry continues to try to arrange a meeting
between Minister Peres and Yasser Arafat.  President Moshe Katzav said
today that he hopes that the meeting would lead to a ceasefire and the
resumption of diplomatic negotiations.  "We are making every effort to
this end," he said, "but until now the meetings with Arafat have not
been fruitful.  We have great hopes for this meeting.  It is a joint
interest of both ourselves and the Palestinians."
3. LANDAU WANTS "SEPARATION ZONE"
What is Public Security Minister Uzi Landau's opinion regarding the
"separation" idea?  While touring the Green Line (pre-1967 ceasefire
line) yesterday north of Be'er Sheva, Landau said that he is against a
unilateral Israeli separation from the Palestinian areas.  He said
that he favors instead the creation of a "separation zone" that Israel
would control on both sides.  Landau told Arutz-7 correspondent Moshe
Priel that the lesson from Israel's unilateral withdrawal from Lebanon
is that area abandoned by Israel quickly fills up with terrorists.
*******************************************************
To:            arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com 
From:          Arutz-7 Editor <feedback@israelnationalnews.com> 
Subject:       Arutz-7 News: Thursday, August 23, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Thursday, August 23, 2001 / Elul 4, 5761
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
   1. FIGHTING TERRORISM
   2. ANOTHER FORBIDDEN AD
1. FIGHTING TERRORISM
The IDF registered only partial success in its two latest attempts to
kill known terrorists in PA territories, last night and this morning. 
In the first attempt, in Gaza, it did not hit its primary target, nor
did it even know that another "big fish" was in the vicinity, but did
succeed in killing a lower-level terrorist.  In the second attack, in
Shechem today, two terrorists were wounded.
Now for the details:  Helicopter gunships fired last night at a convoy
of terrorists in Gaza, but apparently hit the wrong car.  The vehicle
that was hit was carrying Bilal Al-Ghoul, a terrorist in his own right
and the son of the intended target Adnan Al-Ghoul.  The latter was
sitting in the second car next to Mohammed Def, for whom Israel has
been sorely looking since the massively fatal Jerusalem bombings in
1996.  During the funeral of Bilal Al-Ghoul today, fighting erupted
between rival armed gangs.  Earlier this week, an Arab was killed in
similar violence during a funeral.
This morning, the army fired two rockets at the car of senior Fatah
terrorist Jihad al-Masimi in Shechem.  Both Al-Masimi, who commands
the special PLO police forces there, and his bodyguard, were hit and
are in light-to-moderate condition.  It is not yet clear if the
missiles were fired from Mt. Eval or from a helicopter.  Al-Masimi was
responsible for many terrorist attacks in the past, including the
brazen shooting six weeks ago at the Shmuelyan family outside Brachah;
he was also in the midst of planning additional ones for the near
future.
In a separate incident, Israeli forces in Gaza, near the
Egyptian-Israeli border, thwarted a terrorist attempt last night when
they saw a terrorist approaching them and opened fire.  Later
investigations proved that he had in fact been on his way to placing a
bomb.
An IDF officer and three soldiers were lightly wounded last night
during an exchange of fire with Arabs near Tul Karem (western Shomron,
near Netanya).  Palestinians fired six anti-tank grenades and four
other grenades towards Israeli targets in Gaza; they caused no
casualties or damage.  Firing continued this afternoon towards Jewish
homes in Hevron.
2. ANOTHER FORBIDDEN AD
"Yesha: Hityashvut M'natzachat" - Judea, Samaria, and Gaza:  A Winning
Settlement Enterprise.  This is the theme of a radio jingle prepared
by the Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza, and
its goal is to encourage Israelis to move to Yesha.  The ad begins
with a lively song, and continues with a young woman saying, "My name
is Nurit Ben-Yisrael.  Three months ago, I was married to a French
immigrant to Israel.  We moved to Karmei Tzur [between Gush Etzion and
Kiryat Arba], and we now feel totally connected to the place - as if
we were born here."  A male narrator then states, "According to
population statistics, the population of Yesha has grown this year by
17,000 new settlers..."
The upbeat tone of the ad is currently toned down, however, as it has
been forbidden for broadcast by the Israel Broadcasting Authority,
with the claim that its message is one of "political controversy." 
Beit El Mayor Uri Ariel, acting head of the Yesha Council, sharply
criticized the IBA, claiming that it had made a "politically-based
decision to shut mouths.  It's clear that the settlement enterprise is
a winning proposition over the Arabs, and it is clear that 17,000 new
people have moved here, and it is also clear that the Israeli public
is tremendously supportive of us.  Yet, for political reasons, there
are certain elements that allow themselves to ban this ad..."  Ariel
said that the Yesha Council received advance approval for the
commercial, on the basis of which hundreds of thousands of shekels
were spent to produce it.  He threatened that if the ad is not aired,
the Council will take the case to court.  A similar ad produced by the
Gaza Coast Regional Council was also banned recently from airing on
public radio.
*****************************************************************
To:            arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com 
From:          Arutz-7 Editor <feedback@israelnationalnews.com> 
Subject:       Arutz-7 News Brief: Friday, August 24, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Friday, August 24, 2001 / Elul 5, 5761
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
   1. PUBLIC WANTS SHIMON TO STAY HOME
   2. PEACE CENTER OPPOSES CLOSING OF WAR HEADQUARTERS
1. PUBLIC WANTS SHIMON TO STAY HOME
Polls: 53% of Israelis are against the possible meeting this coming
week between Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Yasser Arafat, while
43% are in favor.  The Mina Tzemach survey, published in Yediot
Acharanot today, shows that 59% of Israelis do not believe that peace
can be attained with the Palestinians.  Three quarters of the public
are pleased with Ariel Sharon's performance as Prime Minister.
2. PEACE CENTER OPPOSES CLOSING OF WAR HEADQUARTERS
The Jewish-Arab Center for Peace at Givat Haviva has decided:  "NO to
Closing Orient House, YES to Opening Immediate Negotiations."  In
protest of the Israeli closure of the PLO headquarters in Jerusalem
three weeks ago, the organization will "enable the staff of Orient
House to speak directly to Israeli public opinion."  The open meeting
with the Orient House staff will be held this Monday in Givat Haviva,
east of Hadera, in continuation of a 20-year relationship between the
two that has included exchanges of students, lecturers and academic
materials.  "The late Feisal Husseini nurtured this relationship,"
proudly announces a Givat Haviva announcement.
Husseini, who was long viewed as a "moderate," began to be seen in a
different light following his recent death.  In a speech in Beirut in
April 2001, Husseini said, "There is a difference between the
strategic goal of the Palestinian people, which is not willing to give
up even one grain of Palestinian soil, and the political [tactical]
effort that has to do with the [present] balance of power...  We may
lose or win [tactically] but our eyes will continue to aspire to the
strategic goal, namely, to Palestine from the river to the sea..."  On
his way this past May to Kuwait, where he died of a heart attack,
Husseini gave an interview - which turned to be his last - to the
Egyptian daily "Al-Arabi," in which he said:
"The [ancient] Greek Army was unable to break into Troy...  [Following
the Greeks' apparent defeat,] the people of Troy climbed on top of the
walls of their city and could not find any traces of the Greek army,
except for a giant wooden [Trojan] horse. They cheered and celebrated
thinking that the Greek troops were routed, and while retreating left
a harmless wooden horse as spoils of war. So they opened the gates of
the city and brought in the wooden horse. We all know what happened
next.
"Had the U.S. and Israel not [thought], before Oslo, that all that was
left of the Palestinian National movement and the Pan-Arab movement
was a wooden horse called Arafat or the PLO, they would never have
opened their fortified gates and let it inside their walls..."
Dr. Sarah Ozacky-Lazar, Co-Director of the Jewish-Arab Center for
Peace at Givat Haviva, said: "We protest the closing of Orient House,
which was a place in which dialogue and the exchange of ideas for the
advancement of peace took place for many years.  Israelis from various
organizations were always greeted there with warmth and respect.  The
closing causes harm to the path in which we believe..."  Orient House
representatives, accepting Givat Haviva's invitation, noted, "Meetings
of this sort are... how we preserve the heritage of the late Faisal
Husseini.  We are coming to tell the Israeli public that the
continuation of the occupation is the central problem between us..."
In fact, IMRA notes that Orient House and the other facilities
recently closed down by the Government of Israel were illegally used
by the Palestinians to gather intelligence for war against Israel, as
well as implement an attempted unilateral grab on Jerusalem and
coordinate anti-Israeli activities with their colleagues in the
radical Israeli left.
Journalist David Bedein of Israel Resource News Agency reports that
each department of the Orient House carried tremendous security
implications for Israel:
"The Orient House was a hub of PLO activity throughout the past seven
years of the Oslo process and especially over the past ten months,
when various armed forces of the PLO made it their venue for meeting.
Reporters visiting the Orient House witnessed daylight meetings of the
Tanzim, the Fatah hawks, Hamas and the Islamic Jihad... brandishing
their weapons.  These varying security services were not only involved
in war with Israel. They were all involved in 'law enforcement' in
eastern Jerusalem Arab neighborhoods, which often meant abductions of
Arabs from their homes for questioning and detention in Ramallah."
In addition, Bedein reported in detail on computerized
land-registration records in Orient House whose purpose was to prepare
legal claims for return of the properties to previous Arab owners. PLO
official Daoud Barakat, who ran the Arab Refugee Affairs Department at
the Orient House, in an interview before Israel's takeover of the
building, made it quite clear that "our task at the Orient House is to
mobilize Palestinians from around the world to return to their homes."
 What about the Jews who had moved into areas that had been Arab
before 1948?  "They will simply have to leave," Barakat said.  Israeli
officials confiscated all computers and other equipment they found in
Orient House.
***************************************************************

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