HHMI Newsgroup Archives

To:            arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com
From:          Arutz-7 Editor <feedback@israelnationalnews.com>
Subject:       Arutz-7 News Brief:  Friday, Oct. 12, 2001

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Friday, Oct. 12, 2001 / Tishrei 25, 5762
------------------------------------------------

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
   1. NEW YORK MAYOR GIULIANI TURNS DOWN $10-MILLION SAUDI DONATION
   2. BUSH AGAIN SUPPORTS PALESTINIAN STATE
   3. UN, ANAN WIN NOBEL PEACE PRIZE; ISRAELI FATHER UNHAPPY

1. NEW YORK MAYOR GIULIANI TURNS DOWN $10-MILLION SAUDI DONATION
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon phoned New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani this 
morning, praising him for his refusal to refuse a ten-million dollar check 
from a Saudi Arabian prince yesterday.  Giuliani turned down the money 
after Prince Alaweed Ibin Talal, a nephew of Saudi King Fahd, said after 
his visit to the site of the former World Trade Center that the United 
States must now change its policy in the Middle East and be "more balanced 
towards the Palestinian cause...  our Palestinian brethren continue to be 
slaughtered at the hands of Israelis while the world turns the other 
cheek."  Giuliani rejected this position outright, saying,

"To suggest that there's a justification for [the attacks] only invites 
this happening in the future.  It is highly irresponsible and very, very 
dangerous.  And one of the reasons I think this happened is because people 
were engaged in moral equivalency in not understanding the difference 
between liberal democracies like the United States, like Israel, and 
terrorist states and those who condone terrorism.

So I think not only are those statements wrong, they're part of the problem."

The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations 
similarly praised Giuliani for what it called his "courageous moral stand 
in rejecting the contribution of [the prince], who crudely sought to use 
the occasion for hostile propaganda and political ends."  The organization 
said that the attempt to tie the attacks to American policy in the Middle 
East "is not only based on a false premise, but in effect, is an attempt to 
justify such terrorism."

U.S. federal government officials were quick to issue a statement 
distancing themselves from the mayor's decision.

2. BUSH AGAIN SUPPORTS PALESTINIAN STATE
Yasser Arafat has expressed his public thanks to U.S. President George Bush 
for reiterating last night his recent support for a Palestinian state that 
would recognize Israel's right to exist in security.  Bush also said that 
the world should applaud Arafat for the "firm manner in which he dispersed 
the pro-Bin Laden demonstrations in Gaza."  The US provided the Palestinian 
Authority with helmets and batons to be used in dispersing 
demonstrations.  Israel had turned down a similar PA request for riot 
control gear.

Prime Minister Sharon's office has not responded to Bush's latter comments, 
but said that Israel would be willing to discuss the establishment of a 
Palestinian state in the framework of a process leading to a permanent 
arrangement after the violence ceases.  The officials said that the Prime 
Minister is unaware of any new American peace plan initiative, recently 
reported on by the Boston Globe.

Prime Minister Sharon told Foreign Minister Shimon Peres last night that he 
would not be allowed to meet in the near future with Arafat, explaining 
that every meeting between the two leads to an escalation in terrorism 
against Israelis.

The latest Dry Bones cartoon, by Kirschen, features a political leader on 
an unseen TV saying, "These terrorists will be punished!  We will bomb them 
out of existence!"  A bystander then asks, "Who's that on TV?  Bush, the 
brave protector of the free world, or Sharon, the insolent and aggressive 
Israeli leader?"

3. UN, ANAN WIN NOBEL PEACE PRIZE; ISRAELI FATHER UNHAPPY
The United Nations and its Secretary-General, Kofi Anan, are the Nobel 
Peace Prize winners for the year 2001.  The Norwegian Nobel Committee, 
based in Oslo, said the award was granted in recognition of their work for 
a better-organized and more peaceful world.  The $900,000 prize will be 
divided equally between the United Nations and Anan.

Foreign Minister Peres praised Anan on Israel Radio's noon news program 
today, saying that Anan "related nicely to us and showed interest in the 
matter of the Israelis who were kidnapped by Hizbullah."  Referring to the 
fact that the kidnapping was carried out with either the passive or active 
help of members of the UN's Indian contingent, Peres said, "Anan corrected 
what he could."  Chaim Avraham, father of one of the abducted soldiers - 
from whom not a sign of life has been forthcoming since they were kidnapped 
over a year ago - was interviewed next.  Dr. Aaron Lerner of IMRA reports 
that Avraham "blasted Peres for ignoring the fact that Kofi Anan still 
refuses to share the UN's DNA results from the bloodstains on articles 
associated with the kidnapping.  The DNA results would enable Israel to 
identify the soldiers who bled as they were taken into captivity."  Mr. 
Avraham also charged Anan with holding back information that he received 
almost immediately after the incident, and said, "Once again, Shimon Peres 
turns Israel's other cheek."

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To:            arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com 
From:          Arutz-7 Editor <feedback@israelnationalnews.com> 
Subject:       Arutz-7 News: Sunday, Oct. 14, 2001

Arutz Sheva News Service
  <http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Sunday, Oct. 14, 2001 / Tishrei 27, 5762
------------------------------------------------

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
   1. GOV'T DECISION TO QUIT ABU SNEINEH DRAWS SHARP ARMY RESPONSE 
   2. SHARON FACES CRITICISM FROM WITHIN AND WITHOUT 
   3. KNESSET SPEAKER UNHAPPY WITH NOBEL PEACE PRIZE CHOICE

1. GOV'T DECISION TO QUIT ABU SNEINEH DRAWS SHARP ARMY RESPONSE
In response to the government's decisions, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen.
Sha'ul Mofaz expressed this morning his strong opposition to the
government's decisions.  An unprecedented official statement by the
IDF Spokesman expressed the Chief of Staff's objections to a
withdrawal from the Hevron hills.  Mofaz and the army also object to
the granting of any benefits to the Arab population in Yesha (Judea
and Samaria) that might impede the provision of security to Israeli
citizens and soldiers.

Arutz-7 correspondent Haggai Huberman said, "Mofaz truly took an
unprecedented step in releasing an official objection to a government
decision...  In addition, he also said that he is not against the
easing of restrictions on Palestinians in civilian matters, but only
against those that could lead to security dangers.  The problem is of
course how to define the difference between those two.  It is clear
from the army's two statements today [the second one deals with the
killing of a wanted terrorist - see below - who the army noted was
released from Palestinian prison in time for him to attempt to
organize another suicide terrorist attack] that the army is clearly
unhappy with the PA's performance in security matters and with the
Israeli gestures being made towards the PA."

2.  SHARON FACES CRITICISM FROM WITHIN AND WITHOUT
The full Cabinet discussed the security cabinet's decisions in a
stormy session this morning.  A group of Women in Green demonstrated
outside the government offices, crying out, "The voice of the blood of
our brothers is screaming out from the earth."

Itim correspondent Yoram Levy told Arutz-7 that Prime Minister Sharon
clearly did not like Mofaz's statement, nor did he like the reactions
of government ministers such as Limor Livnat and others.  Sharon
sharply criticized Mofaz, saying, "The military echelons must not
publicize announcements to the media."  The Prime Minister also had
words for Likud and other ministers who criticized the Friday
decisions.  "Enough of this nonsense," and "You're no more
nationalistic than I am," he told Education Minister Limor Livnat, who
had asked whether Peres would prevent the IDF's return to Abu Sneineh
if Palestinian sniper fire resumes from there.  To Public Security
Minister Uzi Landau, Sharon said, "You've been good all these years in
talk, now get used to being judged by your actions."  He hinted that
the ministers should spend more time taking care of their respective
ministries.  Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze'evi expressed sharp protest
of the fact that the decisions were announced before being discussed
by the Cabinet.

The Jewish Community of Hevron called on the government "not to
abandon our lives and not to withdraw the IDF from the surrounding
hills, thereby returning them to the control of terrorist murderers." 
In an official statement, Hevron's Jews said, "A government that is
willing to remove the IDF from the hills, opposing recommendations
made by the Chief of Staff and against all logic, will be directly
responsible for any further bloodshed, G-d forbid...  We call on all
those who love Eretz Yisrael: Do not be partners with a government
which is returning the hills to cold-blooded terrorists killers."

The Yesha Council similarly demanded today that Prime Minister Sharon
refuse to withdraw the IDF from Abu Sneineh.  Its statement read,
"Sharon's decision to trust Jibril Rajoub, placing the lives of Jews
in the hands of Arafat, contradicts his own Czechoslovakia speech, in
which he declared that Israel would depend only on itself.  Sharon is
returning to the Oslo policy of abandonment and bloodshed, placing the
lives of Israelis in the hands of Arafat's thugs."

3. KNESSET SPEAKER UNHAPPY WITH NOBEL PEACE PRIZE CHOICE
Many Israelis appear to be quite unhappy with the awarding of the
Nobel Peace Prize to the United Nations and its head, Kofi Anan. 
Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg sent a letter to the prize-awarding
committee, saying that it should have been aware of the UN's behavior
during and following the kidnapping of the three Israeli soldiers. 
Coalition head Likud MK Ze'ev Boim, speaking on Arutz-7 today, agreed,
saying that not only did the UN contingent on the scene at the time
turn a blind eye to the kidnapping, but the UN even tried to hide the
evidence afterwards.

"Furthermore," Boim continued, "Kofi Anan and the other UN-related
organizations did not succeed in obtaining any form of communication
with the abducted soldiers...  I am happy that Burg released such a
statement around which the Knesset can unite."  It was noted that
among Israel's public figures, only Shimon Peres seemed to approve the
Nobel Prize choice; Peres said on Friday that he thought the winners
were worthy, and that he is proud that such a man [Anan] heads the UN.
 MK Boim expressed a lack of understanding as to why Peres would take
such a position in light of the UN's record regarding the abducted
Israelis.

Regarding the winter Knesset session which begins tomorrow, Boim
agreed that his job as coalition leader would not be easy: "I will
have to dismantle the 'mines' that face us, such as the resignation of
MK Benny Elon from his position as coalition representative in his
party [National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu; he quit in protest of the
government's policy of restraint towards the Palestinian Authority]...
 It is true that Sharon faces a difficulty in maneuvering between the
[political] right and left, and this is because he genuinely
recognizes the value of a national-unity government.  It helps us
present a united front to the world, and enables us to do away with
the zero-sum game between right and left.  Arafat is trying to sow
discord in Israeli society, and he is not succeeding, except possibly
in the case of Shimon Peres."

*******************************************************

To:            arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com 
From:          Arutz-7 Editor <feedback@israelnationalnews.com> 
Subject:       Arutz-7 News: Monday, October 15, 2001

Arutz Sheva News Service
  <http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Monday, Oct. 15, 2001 / Tishrei 28, 5762
------------------------------------------------

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
   1. IDF WITHDRAWS FROM HEVRON HILLS
   2. NATIONAL UNION-YISRAEL BEITENU PARTY RESIGNS FROM GOVERNMEN
   3. OTHER REACTIONS TO NUYB RESIGNATION
   4. BEN-ELIEZER: DISAPPOINTED WITH U.S., CRITICAL OF ARAFAT
   5. IN BRIEF

1. NATIONAL UNION-YISRAEL BEITENU PARTY RESIGNS FROM GOVERNMENT
In response to the IDF withdrawal from the Givat Shalhevet (Abu
Sneineh) and Haret a-Sheikh neighborhoods in Hevron, the National
Union-Yisrael Beiteinu party resigned today from the national unity
government.  The move comes seven months after the formation of the
government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.  Minister of
Infrastructures Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beiteinu), Tourism Minister
Rehavam Ze'evi (National Union), and Deputy Minister (in the Prime
Minister's Office) Yuri Stern handed in their resignations this
afternoon.

Outgoing Ministers Lieberman and Ze'evi held a press conference today
to explain why they quit:

"We entered the government with many hesitations, but with great
hope," said Lieberman, a former top aide to Binyamin Netanyahu.  "We
made many concessions in order to form a national-unity government,
and we have always been in favor of it - yet to my sorrow we reached
the conclusion that we can no longer continue...  Sharon did not take
advantage of the events in the U.S. to strike out at the Palestinian
terrorism, causing damage to Israel not only militarily but also
politically...  Many decisions were made by the security cabinet
against our positions, most recently the decision to withdraw from
Hevron...  In addition, the talks between Peres and the Palestinians
were a blatant violation of Sharon's promise not to conduct
negotiations under fire...  Even yesterday, in the midst of mortar
attacks on Gush Katif, Peres was sitting with Saeb Erekat and Abu Ala
and negotiating with them about implementing the Mitchell Report."

Ze'evi said,

"We always knew that for a unity government, there must be 
concessions.  The question is, why do we always have to be the one
conceding to Peres and the other Oslo refugees? ... None other than
Jibril Rajoub will now be the one to be responsible for the security
of thousands of people who come to visit the Machpelah Cave.  I would
never agree to this."

Ze'evi and Lieberman added that they would not attempt to topple
Sharon, but rather to thwart the continued implementation of the Oslo
Accords.

Prime Minister Sharon expressed his feelings from the Knesset podium
today by telling them, "You have caused me great distress, but you
have made Arafat's day...  You never learn:  You toppled Shamir in
1992 and got Oslo; you toppled Netanyahu and got Barak and Camp David;
now you want to fight a war of elections instead of a war against
terrorism?"  Sharon has no immediate cause for concern, however, as
his government still commands 76 seats in the 120-seat Knesset (23
from Labor-Meimad; Likud - 19; Shas - 17; Center - 6; United Torah
Judaism - 5; Yisrael B'Aliyah - 4; and One Nation - 2), but the
long-range future is more uncertain.

The Yesha Council, the Jewish Community of Hevron, Cities of Israel,
and Women in Green congratulated the NUYB party for its decision to
resign, noting also Sharon's recent expressed support for a
Palestinian state.  Yesha Council leaders will meet this evening with
the Prime Minister; the meeting was to have been held later in the
week, but was moved up at Sharon's request.  Council spokesman
Yehoshua Mor-Yosef said that pressures have been exerted on Council
members to call off the meeting, in protest of the withdrawal last
night from Hevron.

3. OTHER REACTIONS TO NUYB RESIGNATION
Public Security Minister Uzi Landau held a dramatic press conference
this afternoon, at which some thought he might follow the lead of
National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu (NUYB) and quit the government.  He
did not, however, and instead called on the resigning party to retract
their letters of resignation and to "help wage our struggle from
within."  Landau expressed enthusiastic support for the unity
government, and even called upon the National Religious Party (NRP) to
join.

MK Sha'ul Yahalom (NRP) told Arutz-7 today that that his party would
not do so.  Yahalom said he stands by his statement of ten days ago
that if NUYB quits for political reasons, the NRP would not take its
place.  "And if Sharon calls and invites you to join, what would you
say?" asked Arutz-7's Haggai Segal.  Yahalom:

 "I think it would be childish of Sharon to do so, since he knows that
we have been pushing NUYB to quit...  We have no wish to have anything to
do with Sharon's wishy-washy policy of being firm one day and then
giving in the next day, one day meeting with Arafat and one day not
meeting with him - the truth must be said clearly that we have nothing
to do with this policy."  He stopped short, however, of calling for
the toppling of Sharon:  "If Sharon takes a strong stand from now on
and causes Peres and Labor to quit the government, then of course we
would be willing to join a right-wing government headed by Sharon -
even though it's no great honor to be with him these days, what with
the police investigation against his campaign [of 1999], and with him
and his son waging a policy that is either outright left-wing or at
best is a surrender to the left, and with Peres running the
government..."

NRP party leader Rabbi Yitzchak Levy said that he would seek to form a
united front with NUYB to present an alternative to Oslo.

Minister Shlomo Benizri (Shas) was asked today if, despite Shas'
objections to the Abu Sneineh withdrawal and other recent government
moves, "do you think that National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu made a
mistake by quitting?"  Benizri:

 "The first mistake was made by the NRP when they didn't know how to
push strongly enough to get into the government and thus give more power to
the right wing.  Now National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu is continuing the
mistake...  The Eretz Yisrael camp will not be strong enough in the
government now, and the influence of Peres and Labor will grow... They
[Lieberman and Ze'evi] have left Sharon much weakened..."

The Knesset's winter session opened this afternoon with a speech by
Prime Minister Sharon, followed by a rejoinder by MK Yossi Sarid, the
leader of Meretz, the largest opposition party.  Sarid attacked both
Sharon and Binyamin Netanyahu.  The Knesset is scheduled to vote today
on four no-confidence motions in the government, presented from both
left and right.

4. BEN-ELIEZER: DISAPPOINTED WITH U.S., CRITICAL OF ARAFAT
Prime Minister Sharon was to have spoken at the Likud faction meeting
this afternoon, but his appearance was canceled at the last moment. 
Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, however, told his Labor party
Knesset faction this afternoon that he is "disappointed with the
Washington's conciliatory policy towards terrorism-supporting Moslem
nations."  He said that the message being delivered to Iran -
"possibly the most dangerous country in the world, with capabilities
in unconventional warfare that will allow it to build a nuclear bomb
by 2005" - as well as to Syria are not strong enough.  Though Hamas is
on the State Department list of terrorist organizations, Ben-Eliezer
expressed disappointment that it was not included on the White House
list as well.

Concerning Arafat, the Defense Minister said that the PLO leader has
taken advantage of the present situation to "supply the Americans with
needed quiet - this is why he is expressing opposition to Bin Laden
and preventing the Palestinians from demonstrating against the U.S. 
He has changed his plan of action, without changing his strategic
goals.  He presents himself as one who is committed to a ceasefire,
even though he does not fight terrorism as strongly as we want, nor is
he arresting wanted terrorists."

5. IN BRIEF
 British Prime Minister Tony Blair met with Yasser Arafat in London
today,  and afterwards called for a "viable Palestinian state."  Blair and
Arafat called for a resumption of negotiations...

*******************************************************************

To:            arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com,  arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com 
From:          Arutz-7 Editor <feedback@israelnationalnews.com> 
Subject:       Arutz-7 News: Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2001

Arutz Sheva News Service
  <http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2001 / Tishrei 29, 5762
------------------------------------------------

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
   1. THIRD EUROPEAN COUNTRY CALLS FOR PALESTINIAN STATE
   2. YESHA LEADERS UNHAPPY AFTER MEETING PM
   3. PRESIDENT CALLS FOR "SANHEDRIN-TYPE BODY"
   4. GESHER TO STAY OUT; SEARCHING FOR A NEW OPPOSITION LEADER?

1. THIRD EUROPEAN COUNTRY CALLS FOR PALESTINIAN STATE
The international community is abuzz with diplomatic activity
concerning Israel and the Middle East.  Following the lead of Prime
Minister Sharon and then U.S. President George Bush, Ireland and
Holland have now called for the establishment of a Palestinian state. 
British Prime Minister Blair did so yesterday.  Ireland's Prime
Minister Ahern, whose turn it is to be rotating president of the UN
Security Council, said today that Arafat "paid a high price for being
committed to a ceasefire."  Ahern also promised that he would do his
best to "urgently resume" the talks between Israel and the PA in order
to bring about the creation of a Palestinian state.

In the Czech Republic as well, a similar call was heard today - from
visiting Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres.  Peres took the
opportunity to explain his support of Arafat, saying, "Arafat is the
only Palestinian leader who cares about the Western countries'
position, and his desire to obtain legitimacy for the Palestinian
cause influences him.  Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hizbullah don't care
about the West, cannot be influenced, and call for the destruction of
Israel."  Czech Prime Minister Milos Zeman said that he sees no
difference between Hamas and Bin Laden's Al Qaeda terrorist
organization.  "Israel was the first victim of terrorism," he said,
adding that Israel provides an example for the world as to how to
courageously fight terrorism.

2. YESHA LEADERS UNHAPPY AFTER MEETING PM
Yesha Council leaders who met with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon last
night left unsatisfied.  Sharon rejected claims that the government
has been conducting ongoing negotiations with the Palestinian
Authority despite the continuing violence, and said that the
perception of Peres' influence on government policy is exaggerated.

To the Yesha members' claim that Sharon was essentially rehabilitating
Arafat and the Oslo conception, he reacted angrily, saying, "We have
been pursuing Arafat for 30 years, and we continue to do so.  I don't
trust him."  Several times during the course of the meeting, Sharon
told them that if they want, they should "go ahead and topple the
government."

Council spokesman Yehoshua Mor-Yosef later summed up the participants'
frustration when he said, "We reached the sad conclusion that Sharon
adheres to the Palestinian state idea, albeit with certain
restrictions, which is very dangerous, and that he also is sticking
with Peres.  He doesn't understand that by making an agreement with
Arafat to leave Abu Sneineh means the revival of the Oslo conception."

Prime Minister Sharon outlined future diplomatic policy, mentioning in
this regard the Mitchell and Tenet documents that specify seven days
of absolute quiet, six weeks of calm, and three months of
confidence-building steps.  He emphasized that no stage would begin
without the full implementation of the preceding stage.  He did not
convince his listeners, however; they plan to organize protests
throughout the nation regarding the deteriorating security situation,
and a major rally is planned for Jerusalem for this Monday night.

Following are excerpts from a transcript of the meeting, as received
by Arutz-7:

Yesha Council Member: The significance of withdrawing from Abu Sneineh
and the Haret A-Sheikh hills [in Hevron] is the revival of the Oslo
conception and of Yasser Arafat.  You are relying on Arafat and
entrusting the security of the Jews of Hevron in his hands.

Prime Minister Sharon: I am not relying on Arafat.  For 30 years.  The
Oslo process will not be revived, it is dead.

YCM: You say that Arafat is our Bin Laden, but then you send Peres to
meet with him.  If Arafat is a terrorist, why do you make deals with
him?  Why do you declare that you will give him a state, which is a
danger to Yesha and to Israel?  By continuing to talk with him, you
grant him international legitimacy.  This policy is what enabled the
meeting between Tony Blair and Arafat, and will lead to a meeting with
Colin Powell.

PMS: Just because I call Arafat Bin Laden doesn't convince the 
world.  [Regarding the announcement in favor of a Palestinian state],
I will fix it.  I should have noted its limitations, such as it being
disarmed, without the division of Jerusalem, etc.

YCM: You are dependent on Shimon Peres, and are conducting secret
talks with the PA via him.  We can't defend ourselves as long as Peres
is Foreign Minister.  The government policy is his.  You can reach
your goals only if you fire him.

PMS:  There are no negotiations.

YCM: There are.

PMS: There are not.  You attribute to Peres power that he does not
have.  I am not in his hands, nor do I want to be in the hands of
Yvette [Lieberman] and Gandhi [Ze'evi].

YCM: The gestures, the easing of restrictions on the Palestinians that
Peres initiated endanger our security.

PMS: The security demands that Peres made on Arafat no one on the
right ever thought of.  I receive updates from the IDF commanders in
the field, and it's OK.  The army can act in three ways:  Immediate
reaction to any event - in this framework the army has an unlimited
range of action; IDF-initiated actions such as in Abu-Sneineh and
Haret A-Sheikh; and preventative actions such as the Hamas militant
who was killed yesterday by special police forces.  We decided not to
carry out long-lasting actions, which complicate us internationally.

YCM: You don't know the situation on the ground.  They don't tell you.
 There is no improvement in the security situation, and the easings
you decided on yesterday clearly endanger the residents.

Sharon at this point admits that the army is a little "heavy," and
instructs his military secretary to look into this matter.

In response to the Yesha request that Jewish worshippers be allowed
onto the Temple Mount, Sharon said, "It is not convenient or correct
to cause a fight now around the Temple Mount.  The Temple Mount will
never be given over.  My government will never divide Jerusalem, and
the Palestinians will never again act out of the Orient House. 
Neither will I give them [outlying Jerusalem neighborhoods] Abu Dis or
Isawiya [that Barak promised them].

3. PRESIDENT CALLS FOR "SANHEDRIN-TYPE BODY"
President Moshe Katzav has called for the establishment of a 
"Sanhedrin-type" body that will deal with all the halakhic [Jewish
legal] issues of our day.  At a ceremony marking the dedication of a
synagogue in the President's Home last week, Katzav said, "I call upon
the rabbis of all streams of Judaism - the Chief Rabbis, the Council
of Torah Sages, the Council of Torah Giants, and well-known rabbinic
figures in Israel and the Diaspora - to establish an umbrella body,
like a Sanhedrin." The call came in the framework of a larger call for
unity and an end to disputes within the Jewish people.

4. GESHER TO STAY OUT; SEARCHING FOR A NEW OPPOSITION LEADER?
MK Moti Mishani of the three-seat Gesher faction told Arutz-7 today
that his party will not join the government in place of the resigned
National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu:  "There is no chance at all that
Gesher will join the government now.  The government has not changed
its way, it has no political line or social line, and its only purpose
is to stay in power."  Gesher, headed by former Foreign Minister David
Levy, and whose members are originally of the Likud, joined One Israel
for the 1999 elections, but broke away during the Barak tenure.

Mishani acknowledged that he has heard preliminary talk of forming a
nationalist bloc, even possibly including Shas and headed by Binyamin
Netanyahu, "but it must be looked into, and it is not clear whether it
is at all practical."  When asked if such a bloc might compete with
the Likud for right-wing votes and thus lead to a victory by the
left-wing, Mishani said, "Under the current circumstances, there is no
chance that a left-wing party will win.  Even Barak, who won by a
large majority, did so only in the personal election for Prime
Minister, but the right-wing parties had a majority in the Knesset."

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