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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, Sep. 25, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service
  <http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Tuesday, Sep. 25, 2001 / Tishrei 8, 5762
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
   1. SHARON ALLOWS MEETINGS
   2. PERES DEFENDS ARAFAT AS NETANYAHU GOES ON OFFENSIVE
   3. MK ELON THREATENS
   4. SHARON'S OFFER OF A P.A. STATE CONTINUES TO MAKE WAVES
   5. ISRAEL IN THE MIDDLE OF IT
1. SHARON ALLOWS MEETINGS
Prime Minister Sharon agreed to two controversial meetings today:  Peres 
and Arafat, and himself with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.
Despite the continuing violence, including mortar shells, pipe bombs, and 
shooting attacks last night and today, Sharon decided to allow Foreign 
Minister Peres to meet with Arafat tomorrow morning at the PA airport in 
Gaza.  Sharon has approved and called off a Peres-Arafat meeting several 
times over the past month; if past history is any indicator, therefore, 
Sharon's consent today is not yet the final word.  At least one right-wing 
party has threatened to quit the coalition if the meeting is held (see 
article 5 below).
In addition, Sharon acceded to a personal request by British Prime Minister 
Tony Blair and will meet for a short time with British Foreign Secretary 
Straw tonight.  Sharon had originally canceled a scheduled meeting with the 
guest in the wake of Straw's strong anti-Israel remarks; Straw justified 
Palestinian terrorism against Israel by telling an Iranian newspaper, "One 
of the factors that helps breed terror is the anger that many people in the 
region feel at events over the years in the Palestinian 
territories."  President Moshe Katzav followed suit and also called off a 
meeting with him.  Foreign Minister Shimon Peres will also meet with Straw, 
but has canceled his planned dinner with him.
2.  PERES DEFENDS ARAFAT AS NETANYAHU GOES ON OFFENSIVE
"Shimon Peres is the first Israeli astronaut."  So said former Prime 
Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in Washington yesterday, adding, "Peres is in 
outer space, totally unconnected to what is going on here.  He did not 
learn a thing from the great bloodshed caused by Oslo that he brought 
us."  Netanyahu was referring to Peres' dauntless efforts to meet with 
Yasser Arafat, despite the opinion of the top military brass that Arafat's 
strategy has not changed.  Peres said this morning that there has been "a 
significant reduction in the extent of the attacks," that the Palestinians 
are shooting only light-weapons fire, and that it's already been, "I don't 
know, maybe 2-3 weeks since the last car bomb.  Arafat has been making 
efforts to stop the mortar fire, even though I know that last night there 
was a mortar shell fired.  The Middle East is a wild place, and there are 
many very extreme and terrible people.  Should we make our future dependent 
on every Jihad sniper?"  Peres knocked Netanyahu for claiming that there is 
no American pressure for a meeting, and said that President Bush himself 
called Sharon to press him on the matter.
Although some in Israel see Netanyahu's recent media appearances as part of 
his political comeback, others have only praise for his sorely-needed 
efforts on behalf of Israeli public relations.  Netanyahu yesterday 
appeared before some 40 U.S. Senators and discussed possible US strategies 
in its war against terrorism, following his testimony before a House 
committee last week on the same topic.  Netanyahu, whose book "Fighting 
Terrorism" gained him worldwide stature as an expert in the field, said 
recently that it was Arafat who originated the idea of hijacking 
planes.  Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott expressed regret that the U.S. 
did not take seriously enough the warnings Netanyahu issued two years ago 
at a similar hearing.
Netanyahu said that PLO Chairman Arafat should not be thought of only as an 
"incidental part" of the terrorism network the US is trying to 
dismantle.  "He has been the copywriter, in many ways, of the suicide 
bombings," Netanyahu said before meeting the senators.  He also emphasized 
that the U.S. must act against regimes such as Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, 
and the Palestinian Authority that support the terrorist network.
3. ELON THREATENS
MK Benny Elon (National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu) told Arutz-7 today that the 
ultimatum his party issued Prime Minister Sharon earlier this week against 
a Peres-Arafat meeting is very much in force.  Party leaders made it clear 
that they would not remain in the government coalition if Peres gets to 
meet with the PLO leader.
"It's not just a technical question of whether there's a meeting or not," 
Elon said.  "Sharon has to be a leader - there cannot be two leaders and 
two voices, as Rashi taught us in last week's Torah portion.  It cannot be 
that we miss the entire momentum of the 'new world order' because Peres 
embroils us with Colin Powell and tries to run a contrasting policy.  This 
type of unity government is not unity; we don't need this..."  Elon 
continued,
"The problem is that there is no leadership; Sharon is not taking 
advantage of the situation, and instead the terrorists here are continuing 
to kill us...  If Peres and Arafat meet, our ultimatum is very much in 
effect, in my opinion...  It's very awkward for me to be threatening 
Sharon; I don't want him to be scared of our threats - I want him to 
lead.  The truth is, I don't understand what he is afraid of; even if Labor 
leaves the government, the National Religious Party and Gesher will join, 
giving him over 70 seats [out of 120].  I am in favor of unity [ed. 
note:  MK Elon was one of the leading proponents of the formation of 
national unity governments by both Sharon and his predecessor Ehud Barak] - 
but not this type of unity, where the Foreign Minister undermines the 
government's policy.  Enough.  There comes a time when a leader should 
sense that a moment comes that if he misses the opportunity to lead, he 
will slip and fall."
Ma'ariv editorialized today that the time might have come to consider 
disbanding the present national unity government, since it "makes the 
formulation of a single, clear political line difficult and creates the 
global impression that Israel speaks with two voices...  The fact that the 
Foreign Minister serves as Yasser Arafat's chief defense attorney. and idly 
dismisses all of the intelligence assessments which hold that the PA 
Chairman is 'only playing around' is not new - but since Peres began his 
obsessive pursuit of a meeting with Arafat, the disagreement within the 
government has taken on the dimensions of a crazy farce that is 
occasionally halted by a shooting attack."
4. SHARON'S OFFER OF A P.A. STATE CONTINUES TO MAKE WAVES
Prime Minister Sharon's statements two days ago to the Teachers Union in 
favor of a Palestinian state continue to arouse opposition within the 
nationalist camp.  Moshe Feiglin, who hopes to run against both Sharon and 
Binyamin Netanyahu for Likud party leader whenever elections are next 
called, says that Sharon should be thrown out of the party.  Feiglin told 
the internal party court that Sharon's statements go against the party 
constitution.  Minister Tzachi Hanegbi similarly said that they are totally 
against the Likud platform.  Likud members have begun gathering signatures 
in support of convening the party's Central Committee, in the hope that a 
majority will demand that Sharon retract the statement.
Deputy Minister Naomi Blumental has asked that the Likud Knesset faction 
convene in order to hear Sharon's explanation.  "I was stunned by his 
remarks," she told Arutz-7 today, "for no forum in the Likud ever made a 
decision in favor of such a thing.  Beyond the technical aspects, however, 
I have received dozens of calls from people who are fuming over Sharon's 
statement...  I hope that we will not be the ones to give a green light to 
the establishment of a terrorist state adjacent to us."
Grassroots organizations have also reacted strongly to the Prime Minister's 
statement. Cities of Israel (Mattot Arim), which operates in various 
Israeli cities in support of the Jewish communities in Judea, Samaria, and 
Gaza, released a statement condemning Sharon's offer of another Arab 
state.  The groups called on the residents of Israel's Coastal Plain, "in 
which 70% of Israel's population resides," to recognize the danger inherent 
in a Palestinian state so close to their homes.  In addition, Dr. Ron 
Breiman of Professors for a Strong Israel called on Sharon to "return to 
Zionism."
Arutz-7 correspondent Kobi Sela reports that Sharon himself, in a closed 
forum last night, said that his statement about the Palestinian state has 
no practical significance "because Arafat will never call off the 
violence," and that it was uttered for diplomatic purposes.
The Yesha Council has embarked upon a public campaign against Prime 
Minister Sharon's continued military restraint, as well as his offer of a 
state to the Palestinians.  Council members are nearly unanimous in the 
opinion that "it's time to take off the gloves, to strongly criticize 
Sharon, and to demand that he get rid of Arafat."  Council spokesman 
Yehoshua Mor-Yosef told Arutz-7 today, "We are becoming more and more 
concerned that a Prime Minister that did not respond to the terrible 
Dolphinarium attack, and who missed the great opportunity to strike at 
Arafat in the wake of the World Trade Center attack, will in fact not take 
action against the terrorists unless massive political pressure is brought 
to bear upon him.  We are concerned that he is adopting the diplomatic 
positions of Shimon Peres..."
5. ISRAEL IN THE MIDDLE OF IT
The debate over whether the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks were 
Israel's fault continues to gain steam in the United States.  One 
example:  Hosts of a popular sports radio program in New York blame U.S. 
support for Israel for the attacks.  Mike Francesca and Chris Russo, hosts 
of the "Mike and the Mad Dog" show on WFAN, in a recent broadcast, also 
demanded that Jewish-Americans decide where their loyalties lie by swearing 
loyalty to either the United States or Israel.  Among those responding to 
the charges was the New York Post's Phil Mushnick, who wrote that in fact, 
"a holy war has been declared by Muslim extremists all over the world 
against all who reject their fanatical doctrine.  In Afghanistan, the 
ruling Taliban has ordered and carried out the destruction of ancient 
Buddhist shrines. In Kabul, eight people, including two American women, are 
on trial, accused of "spreading" Christianity... It goes on and on, with 
little to none of it having to do with Israel.  Muslim fanatics have 
slaughtered humans in the name of Allah for centuries, long before the 
existence of Israel and even the United States..."
*******************************************************
To:            arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com 
From:          Arutz-7 Editor <feedback@israelnationalnews.com> 
Subject:       Arutz-7 News Brief: Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2001 / Tishrei 9, 5762
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
   1. PERES AND ARAFAT MEET AS VIOLENCE CONTINUES				
   2. BIN-LADEN'S WAR IS AGAINST U.S.
1. PERES AND ARAFAT MEET AS VIOLENCE CONTINUES
While, to the consternation of most Israelis, Shimon Peres met in Gaza
with Yasser Arafat this morning, Palestinian attacks on Israeli
targets continue apace.  The Tarmit Outpost in the Rafiach area of
southern Gaza was under attack throughout the night, culminating this
morning with a bomb detonation in a tunnel under the IDF position. 
Three soldiers were wounded; one is in serious condition, and the
others are listed in moderate condition.  The Tarmit-Rafiach area is
crucial to both sides, as the Palestinians have long used tunnels
there for smuggling weapons and ammunition from Egypt.  Shooting and
grenade attacks resumed shortly thereafter.
Other violence since last night:  Soldiers near Psagot, north of
Jerusalem, were attacked with gunfire...  Nine firebombs were thrown
at an IDF position near the southern Gaza community of N'vei Dekalim
last night; no one was hurt...  Gunfire was directed at a police van
near Baka el-Garbiye, near northwestern Shomron...  A bomb exploded
near a bus carrying soldiers near Jenin in northern Shomron; no one
was hurt...
Peres and Arafat appeared not to be in the best of spirits at the
start of the meeting; when they were asked to shake hands for the
cameras, they did so quickly and weakly.  Beforehand, the Foreign
Minister met with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in the latter's Negev
residence.  The Prime Minister's Office stated that Peres and Arafat
would discuss only ceasefire issues, but other reports claim that many
diplomatic issues will be discussed as well.  The meeting lasted just
over two hours, and afterwards, neither spoke to reporters; instead,
PA negotiator Saeb Erekat made a brief statement to the effect that
the two sides would resume security cooperation, and that Peres and
Arafat would meet again in "a week or so."  Previous Peres-Arafat
agreements in the past months to resume security cooperation did not
result in significant long-term reductions in violence.
Following this morning's bomb attack in Gaza, the Yesha Council called
upon Prime Minister Sharon to stop the meeting between Peres and
Arafat.  The organization said in a statement, "The meeting shows that
the national elections were unnecessary, as the Oslo underground
continues to lead the State of Israel on a path of blood and deceit." 
Yesha officials reminded Sharon that he had demanded a 48-hour period
of total quiet before a meeting with Arafat - but the call fell on
dear ears.
2. BIN-LADEN'S WAR IS AGAINST U.S.
Osama Bin Laden, the world's number-one enemy at present, has at least
one Palestinian connection.  AP reports that Nabil Oukal, a resident
of Jabalya in Gaza, is believed to have been sent to Israel to carry
out major terrorist attacks.  Oukal is now in Israeli custody,
according to an Israeli security source, after having been apprehended
at the Rafiach Crossing in Gaza three months ago.  Oukal underwent
training in Afghanistan and was allegedly planning to establish a
terror network in PA-controlled Gaza upon his return.  Among the
attacks he was planning were the abduction of soldiers, bombing
attacks against residential structures, and the poisoning of the
nation's water supply.  			
However, this does not mean that Israel is a major concern of Bin
Laden.  National Law Journal  columnist Gideon Kanner, in an article
for California Political Review, notes that Bin Laden's agenda is
specifically not against Israel:
"...The terrorist career of the No. 1 suspect, Osama Bin Laden, has
had little to do with Israel. All through decades of Arab-Israeli
strife in the Middle East, he was content to live in Saudi Arabia and
enjoy his family wealth. It was only when American troops appeared on
Saudi soil (ironically, to save the Saudi regime from Saddam Hussein's
aggression) that Bin Laden decided that allowing infidels into prophet
Muhammad's land was blasphemy against the Muslim religion. It was only
after his entreaties to the Saudi royal family to expel the Americans
failed, that he took his $250 million family fortune, and left Saudi
Arabia to wage war on the Americans. Though he undoubtedly hates
Israel, his terrorist achievements have been directed solely at
Americans. The list is long and bloody: the bombing of the Khobar
Towers in Saudi Arabia that killed hundreds of American airmen, the
bombing of American embassies in Africa, the attack on the USS Cole in
a Yemeni port, and now the attack on the World Trade Center...  For a
guy who... is motivated solely by his hatred of Israel, that would
seem a strange choice of targets. The fact is that Bin Laden's jihad
against America is only the latest manifestation of a fundamentalist
ideological movement know as Islamism, not to be confused with Islam
which is a religion...."
*******************************************************
To:            arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com 
From:          Arutz-7 Editor <feedback@israelnationalnews.com> 
Subject:       Arutz-7 News Brief:  Friday, Sept. 28, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Friday, Sept. 28, 2001 / Tishrei 11, 5762
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
   1. VIOLENCE RETURNS WITH A STORM
   2. STATE DEPT. BLAMES P.A. FOR ATTACKS AND ISRAEL FOR RESPONDING 
   3.  PERES IS BLAMED FOR RECENT UPSURGE IN VIOLENCE
1. VIOLENCE RETURNS WITH A STORM
After a couple of days of relative quiet, dotted "only" by a handful
of Palestinian terrorist attacks on Israelis each day, the violence
has resumed in a big way.  In one of the attacks this morning, a
teenaged brother and sister from Carmel, south of Hevron, were lightly
wounded when terrorists attempted to murder them with gunfire along
the road between Maon and Susia.  The siblings were evacuated to
Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva, while the terrorists apparently fled
to nearby Yata, an Arab village from where a number of terrorist
murderers have originated.
Other attempted murders during this "ceasefire" included the following
this morning:  An Israeli car was attacked with gunfire on the way to
Karmei Tzur, south of Gush Etzion; no one was hurt.  In two separate
incidents, a Kiryat Arba resident and an IDF force were fired upon
near Hevron; no one was hurt.  In the Shomron, a bomb was detonated
and shots were fired at a Border Guard patrol on the ascent to Har
Brachah, but no one was hurt.  Terrorists shot at Israeli civilians
south of Jerusalem, near Ein Yahel.   This afternoon, Jewish Hevron
has come under attack in at least two locations; the fire there
continues...
In Gaza: Shots were fired at a convoy of Israeli cars making its way
along the Karni-Netzarim road, as well as at IDF outposts near N'vei
Dekalim; no one was hurt.  The Tarmit outpost continues to be attacked
non-stop.
Late this afternoon, Arabs threw rocks at an Israeli car south of
Shechem, causing it to overturn; the four passengers were injured
moderately and lightly.
2. STATE DEPT. BLAMES P.A. FOR ATTACKS AND ISRAEL FOR RESPONDING
The American State Department criticized both Israel and the
Palestinians equally yesterday.  It had strong words for Israel's
demolitions of three buildings in Rafiach this week; the structures,
adjacent to the IDF's Tarmit outpost, had been used by the terrorists
to dig a tunnel and place a bomb under the outpost on Wednesday,
causing the wounding of three Israeli soldiers.  The State Department
also called upon the Palestinians to stop their violence and arrest
those responsible for the attacks.
Israel rejected the American criticism, saying that Peres had
specifically made it clear to Arafat during their controversial
meeting on Wednesday that Israel would ensure the safety of the Tarmit
outpost.  When Palestinians attacked the Israelis with gunfire,
Molotov cocktails, and grenades, the IDF responded, Israeli officials
said.  They also noted that the razed buildings had also been used for
smuggling weapons from Egypt and for shelter for Palestinians throwing
grenades at the outpost.  In addition, the action took place in area
under Israeli military control.
The first Israeli-PA security coordination meeting since the
announcing of the latest "ceasefire" agreement was convened today,
with the present of GSS head Avi Dichter, middle-level PA figures, and
CIA representatives.  Peres and Arafat agreed this past Wednesday that
the PA must arrest 180 terrorists, including ten in the coming week. 
Leading PA figures such as Muhammad Dahlan have already said that the
PA will not make any arrests.
3. PERES IS BLAMED FOR RECENT UPSURGE IN VIOLENCE
Calls are increasingly being heard for Prime Minister Sharon to fire
Foreign Minister Shimon Peres - but it is not clear where the pivotal
Shas party stands.  Shas leader Labor Minister Eli Yeshai told MK Tzvi
Hendel (National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu) that he agrees that Peres
should be fired - but he later backtracked a bit, telling Voice of
Israel that the national unity government is "the most important asset
Israel has and we will not act to dismantle it."  He will meet with
National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu leaders Ministers Ze'evi and Lieberman
on Sunday to discuss the matter.  Hendel himself explained that his
objective is not to bring down the unity government, but to "prevent
the government from pursuing the deranged diplomatic policy that
Shimon Peres is leading."
Dr. Ron Breiman, of the Professors for a Strong Israel, also said that
the increased violence of recent days is a natural outcome of Peres'
meeting with Arafat, and that therefore the nationalist camp should
pressure Sharon to fire Peres.  "Whenever Israel shows weakness,"
Breiman told Arutz-7, "Arafat understands that he can continue the
Oslo war."
*******************************************************

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