HHMI Newsgroup Archives

To:            arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com
From:          Arutz-7 Editor <feedback@israelnationalnews.com>
Subject:       Arutz-7 News: Tuesday, Nov.13, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service
  <http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2001 / Cheshvan 27, 5762
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:	
   1. ELON AND THE SHARON PLAN			
   2. EFFIE EITAM BACK FROM U.S.
1. ELON AND THE SHARON PLAN	
"Ariel Sharon has no mandate from the Likud to establish a Palestinian 
state - or to even tacitly agree to one."  So says Likud MK Yisrael Katz, 
speaking with Arutz-7 this morning.  Katz predicts that if a plan of this 
nature is brought to the Likud Central Committee, it will not be 
approved.  Environment Minister Tzachi HaNegbi said the same yesterday.  A 
Likud group called "Jewish Identity" is acting to convene such a session, 
in order to put an end to any possibility that Sharon may agree to a PLO 
state.
Tourism Minister Benny Elon (National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu), whose party 
resigned from the government over similar issues - it later withdrew the 
resignation in the wake of the assassination of Minister Rehavam Ze'evi - 
said that he has checked carefully into the matter:  "I know that there are 
rumors that Sharon will allow Arafat to declare a state," he told Arutz-7 
today, "but I don't think they are true.  We are in contact with Sharon's 
office all the time, and Sharon has totally denied it.  He promised us in 
the past that such a thing would never be sprung as a surprise...  It could 
simply be wishful leaks by Peres aides...  It's true, we have to be very 
cautious all the time, and I sincerely admire your alertness, and we, as 
well, are constantly on the alert."
Elon concluded, "We must remember that the old slogan 'Both sides of the 
Jordan River' is not out-dated.  The entire area west of the Jordan - i.e., 
pre-1967 Israel plus Judea and Samaria - is only 22% of the original Land 
of Israel British mandate.  But the rest of Palestine, namely, Jordan, 
houses three million Palestinians - the largest concentration of 
Palestinians anywhere.  This means that the original, one-and-only 
Palestinian state is Jordan [and there is no need for another one]."
Meanwhile, the United States, Russia, Britain, France, and China - the five 
permanent members of the United Nations Security Council - have issued a 
statement calling upon Israel to immediately withdraw its forces from PA 
autonomous areas.  The resolution also called upon the Palestinian 
Authority to do everything it could to prevent violence.
								
2. EFFIE EITAM BACK FROM U.S.
Brig.-Gen. (res.) Effie Eitam is testing the political waters - with a trip 
to the U.S.  He returned on Sunday from a two-week visit there "in the 
framework of my preliminary preparations for entering [Israeli] public 
life," he told Arutz-7 today.  Eitam has been mentioned as the leading 
candidate to lead the National Religious Party in the next national 
election.  "The Americans we turned to were happy to receive me, I think 
because they know what's going on here and are interested in meeting people 
who may very soon be part of the national leadership."  He met with 
American Jews, with whom he discussed ways to combat assimilation and 
ensure continued support of Israel, as well as with Congressional and other 
government figures.
When asked if he noted an erosion of the traditional American position 
against a Palestinian state, Eitam said. "This is certainly the case on the 
declarative level.  We have all heard the statements of support for such a 
development - and in truth, it's hard to blame them, because [our leaders] 
here are talking the same way."  Eitam said, however, that he does not 
think that the type of state being mentioned - "demilitarized, no air 
space, etc." - could actually be seriously considered at the negotiating 
table.
"In Congress," Eitam said, "they are open to hearing that Arafat is causing 
damage to the entire process, but the State Department has its own clear 
opinion, as expressed to me by David Satterfield:  'Negotiations will be 
held leading to the division of western Eretz Yisrael (Israel and Yesha) 
into two states, whether or not either of them are happy, and with no 
possibility of involving Egypt and Jordan and other territories that could 
be used to solve the problem...'  We have to help them come to new 
solutions, even though at present, as I say, the State Department doesn't 
accept this, but Congress has an open ear, and in the Pentagon we also have 
some good friends...
"I also discussed with them the present war against terrorism:  Here, too, 
Secretary Powell has a narrow view that concentrates only on killing Bin 
Laden, while people in the Pentagon, such as Richard Perl and Paul 
Wolfowitz, have a much broader view and want to expand the war to countries 
that sponsor terrorism.  I expressed my opinion that America is liable to 
miss a historic opportunity to take care of something that could turn into 
a genuine world threat.  There must also be a very tight international 
coalition to supervise weapons of mass destruction.  Unfortunately, over 
the past ten years there has been a tremendous leakage of dangerous 
materials to various hands that now imperils the entire world."
IDF Intelligence Chief Maj.-Gen. Amos Malka told the Knesset Foreign 
Affairs and Defense Committee today that the Americans and the Europeans 
are beginning to "wise up to Arafat's share in terrorism."
*******************************************************
To:            arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com 
From:          Arutz-7 Editor <feedback@israelnationalnews.com> 
Subject:       Arutz-7 News: Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2001
Arutz  Sheva  News  Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2001 / Cheshvan 28, 5762
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
   1. MUBARAK THREATENS; POWELL WAFFLES; ARAFAT UNDER PRESSURE			 2.
   2. EU THREATENS YESHA BUSINESSES
1. MUBARAK THREATENS; POWELL WAFFLES; ARAFAT UNDER PRESSURE
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak took a rather threatening tone 
today.  Speaking at the dedication of a new bridge near Ismailia, he
called on the U.S. to stop supplying Israel with "blind military aid."
 Mubarak said that Israel's neighbors may respond by stocking up on
"weapons of mass slaughter - nuclear, chemical and biological" - and
that this may lead to a catastrophe.
Media sources today quoted U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell as
saying that negotiations must begin even as the violence continues. 
Powell reportedly said he erred in agreeing to the Tenet condition of
"seven days of quiet" before beginning the implementation of the
Mitchell Report (the May 2001 document that recommended the freezing
of all settlement activity, including 'natural growth,' the evacuation
of 'isolated settlements' such as that in Hevron, and the
'unconditional cessation by both sides' of violence.)  It is also
rumored that Powell will withdraw his support for the Tenet Agreement
in a major policy speech he will deliver next week.
Minister Danny Naveh (Likud) said today, "I'm not sure if he [Powell]
said what is attributed to him, but in my opinion we must not give in
at all, and we must stand on our own.  But even if we were to begin
negotiations now - with whom would we do it? I don't see that we have
a partner for peace."
MK Yuval Shteinitz (Likud), in the midst of a visit to the U.S. where
he is presenting the Israeli position to American audiences, has
scathing criticism of a fellow Israeli supposedly doing the same. 
Former Minister Yossi Beilin (Labor), an Oslo-agreement architect and
now a private citizen, is also in the U.S., trying to garner support
for his own peace plans.  Shteinitz says that Beilin's meetings are
causing "unprecedented damage to Israel's immediate security," and, "I
would almost say that Beilin is a fifth column for Israel on the
diplomatic plane."
The security mini-cabinet convened in Jerusalem this morning to deal
mainly with one question:  Will he or won't he stop the terrorism? 
Defense officials told the ministers that Yasser Arafat is facing
increasing internal pressure to stop the Palestinian violence against
Israel.  Military and GSS intelligence elements, on the other hand,
believe that Arafat will not give in to these pressures.  Defense
Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said that pressure is being exerted upon
Arafat from three directions: the PA, the U.S., and Europe.
2. EU THREATENS YESHA BUSINESSES
Small businesses in Yesha (Judea, Samaria, and Gaza) could be in
jeopardy, if the European Union makes good on threats to withdraw
preferential tariffs from goods made there. The EU claims that Yesha
goods must not be labeled "made in Israel."  Israeli and European
representatives are set to meet in Brussels next Tuesday in an attempt
to resolve the matter.
The special rates have applied for the past 25 years, and affect goods
produced in Judea, Samaria, Gaza, eastern Jerusalem and the Golan
Heights.  Reuters reports that the Yesha products amount to only $200
million annually, and that Israel's benefit from the rates tops out at
$6 million.  European Commission External Affairs spokesman Gunnar
Wiegand denied a report in The Guardian that the EU was seeking to
"punish" Israel for its policies during the current war against
Palestinian terrorism.  However, Israel's Ambassador to the EU warned
that such a move by the EU would harm the fragile Palestinian economy
- up to 20,000 Palestinians work in Israeli factories in Yesha - and
would undermine the EU's role as a credible mediator in the peace
process.
*******************************************************
To:            arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com 
From:          Arutz-7 Editor <feedback@israelnationalnews.com> 
Subject:       Arutz-7 News: Thursday, Nov. 15, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Thursday, Nov. 15, 2001 / Cheshvan 29, 5762
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
   1. PM'S OFFICE: PERES SPEAKS FOR HIMSELF
   2. NUYB PARTY MAY LEAVE GOV'T IN RESPONSE
   3. YESHA COUNCIL TO SHARON:  TELL PERES TO DESIST
   4. NETANYAHU ALSO AGAINST
1.  PM'S OFFICE: PERES SPEAKS FOR HIMSELF
As these words are being written, Foreign Minister Shimon Peres is
about to deliver a speech at the United Nations in which may he say
that there exists a consensus in Israel for a Palestinian state. 
Speaking with CNN's Paula Zahn yesterday, Peres gave a preview of what
some think he will say in the UN by explaining, "There is disagreement
as to the size of the state [and other] aspects, but the idea that the
two nations must live in two separate nations is accepted by all [in
Israel]."  [ A poll carried out for Makor Rishon in July found that
48% of the public would support the establishment of a Palestinian
state - and even then only in the framework of "an overall peace that
would ensure the security interests of Israel."  See
<http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=7452> ]
In addition to granting the informal "recognition" of a PLO state,
Peres is also expected to propose that difficult issues such as
Jerusalem and the refugees be left for a later stage.
The Prime Minister's office released a statement that Peres' speech
will represent only his own views, and that he did not coordinate his
speech with Sharon - but Peres' men say that Sharon knows very well
what Peres plans to say.
****As we go to press:  Following a series of phone calls between the
Prime Minister's Office and Peres' aides in New York, what Peres
actually said was, "Although this is not the official policy of the
State of Israel, there is a consensus in Israel for such a state..."
Housing Minister Natan Sharansky is outspoken against a PA state: 
"The P.A. has proven itself to be a terrorist authority," he said
today.  "The establishment of a Palestinian state at this time means
the establishment of another terrorist state in the world.  Who needs
that? ... When Peres speaks of broad spread Israeli support for a
Palestinian state, it certainly doesn't include Yisrael B'Aliyah nor,
in my opinion, most of the population."
2. NUYB PARTY MAY LEAVE GOV'T IN RESPONSE
In a tense interview with Arutz-7 today, MK Tzvi Hendel (National
Union-Yisrael Beiteinu) explained how his party views its role in a
government whose Foreign Minister may announce support for a
Palestinian state this afternoon.  Haggai Segal challenged him to
explain why his party does not  either quit or threaten to quit the
government.  "I made an amazing discovery today," Hendel answered. 
"It's called the phone.  You don't have to come out with announcements
to the press; instead all we had to do was call the Prime Minister's
Office and make it very clear where we stand on this issue.  We said
very clear things.
"We have our finger on the pulse, and if we see any [government]
actions indicating that it is going off the path - such as giving away
a millimeter of Eretz Yisrael, or even declarations that pave the way
for giving it away - then we won't be there [in the government].  But
it must be clear:  Our goal is for Peres to leave the government, not
us.  At present we don't have the ability to bring down the government
- if our 7 MKs leave, it will leave Sharon with "only" 74 MKs, instead
of 81; this will certainly worry him tremendously - and will also make
Peres happy and strengthen those in his party who are in favor of
remaining in the coalition.  .  As long as we remain inside, though,
we are able to win some battles from within the government.  Some of
the internal Labor party problems are even due to our pressures from
within the coalition."
3. YESHA COUNCIL TO SHARON:  TELL PERES TO DESIST
The Yesha Council called upon Prime Minister Sharon today to instruct
Peres not to raise the issue of a Palestinian state during his speech.
 The Council also called upon the right-wing parties to threaten to
resign from the government if Peres does in fact propose a PLO state. 
Council member Atty. Elyakim HaEtzni said that Sharon has already
violated his promise of two weeks ago to the National Union-Yisrael
Beiteinu party, not to concoct secret diplomatic plans.  "It turns out
that during the Sharon-Peres meeting on Saturday night they secretly
agreed on this plan involving a PLO state," he said.
4. NETANYAHU ALSO AGAINST
Former Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, visiting Arutz-7's Beit El
studios today, joined the chorus of criticism against the Peres plan. 
He said that the Palestinians must not be given a prize for their
14-month campaign of violence against us.  Netanyahu called upon the
right-wing to protest "Peres' attempt to drag Israel into another
catastrophic diplomatic escapade."  Excerpts from his comments:
"The Likud, officially, is against a Palestinian state, and has never
changed this stand...  Peres is one of the few remaining Israelis who
has any trust in Arafat.  To come now, after 14 months of terrorism,
and give him a prize of a state?!  [British Prime Minister] Blair and
others said to the Taliban, "Stop supporting terrorism or be thrown
out of power" - and they were in fact thrown out.  But here, we're
doing the opposite:  Arafat perpetrates terrorism, and then receives a
prize of staying in power!
"This would be a major mistake, because Arafat will be able to control
his borders, make treaties with Iran and Iraq, control his airspace -
for once he has the status of a state, he will demand these things,
and the international community will give them to him.  Aside from
that, what kind of agreement can be made with him?  He violates every
agreement.  Peres talks about a demilitarized state - Arafat will keep
his state demilitarized!?  .
"When I was Prime Minister, Arafat also threatened to declare a state,
and I said then that if he does so, we would be able to react by
deciding what to do with the other territory - and as you know, most
of the territory is in our hands."
[Ed. note: Netanyahu stopped short of saying that he would have
actually annexed the rest of Yesha.  On Nov. 6, Minister Danny Naveh
said something similar.  "My recommendation," Naveh told Arutz-7,
"would be that if Arafat declares [a state] unilaterally, we should
also take unilateral steps of our own, as the Netanyahu government
decided, including the possibility of annexing certain areas in Judea
and Samaria..."]
Speaking later on Israel Television, Netanyahu discounted the factor
of American pressure on Sharon:  "In a recent poll," he said, "a
margin of something like seven to one was against American pressure on
Israel to make concessions to Arafat..."
*******************************************************
To:            arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com 
From:          Arutz-7 Editor <feedback@israelnationalnews.com> 
Subject:       Arutz-7 News Brief:  Friday, Nov. 16, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Friday, Nov. 16, 2001 / Rosh Chodesh Kislev 5762
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINE:
MINISTER ELON DEMANDS: FIRE PERES!
Tourism Minister Benny Elon demanded today that Prime Minister Sharon
fire Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, following the latter's speech in
the United Nations yesterday.  Asked if he can continue to be a member
in a government whose representatives express public support for a
Palestinian state, Elon said, "At present, I can, yes - but not if I
see that Sharon gives Peres full backing, or does not call him to
order, or violates his public promise to our Knesset faction that he
will not hold any negotiations with foreign elements [about a new
diplomatic plan], including even U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell,
before a Cabinet meeting on the matter.  At present, I have no reason
to believe that he is violating this promise, but I demand that he
call Peres to order and fire him."
Peres' speech in the UN began as follows:
"Humanity woke up happy to welcome the 21st century. We turned and
looked around and there was brightness and freshness in the air.  We
had departed from the traditional history that was written with red
ink - wars, skirmishes, conflicts, murders - many of them arising
because human existence was dependent upon land and natural resources.
 We had to protect our own lands.  [But] modern science emerged to
supersede land, opening new horizons of limitless opportunities. 
Science [made] borders become marginal, old prejudices and distances
began to dissipate from our mind. Technology created a new
interdependence. No longer were our connections dependent upon land or
sea, namely, upon distances."
Regarding a Palestinian state, Peres said,
"Yesterday, you would hardly find, for example, support for a
Palestinian State.  And although this is not yet a formal policy of
the Government of Israel, there is support for Palestinian
independence, support for a Palestinian state."  The first part of the
second sentence was added after a series of last-minute calls
yesterday between the Prime Minister's Office and Peres' aides in New
York.
In contrast to Arafat's virulent anti-Israel speech in the same forum
a few days earlier, Dr. Aaron Lerner of IMRA notes that Peres did not
relate at all to continued Palestinian anti-Israel incitement and
refusal to take concrete steps against Palestinian terrorism.  The
full text of the Foreign Minister's speech can be read at
<http://www.imra.org.il>.
At a press conference with UN Secretary-General Kofi Anan afterwards,
Peres called upon the PA to agree to the deployment of an American
observer force in Gaza as a first step towards accepting
responsibility for security in the area.
In a letter to Prime Minister Sharon yesterday, MK Tzvi Hendel
(National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu) wrote: "Foreign Minister Peres is
causing the State of Israel great damage as he strengthens the status
of murderers and terrorists by offering a prize to unceasing
Palestinian terrorism...  In his unceasing undercutting [ed. note: a
reference to Rabin's famous criticism of Peres], Peres is attempting,
in front of the whole world, to create facts, thus endangering your
leadership...  The Foreign Minister was never given the right to serve
as the Nation of Israel's commentator in the UN.  He was rather sent
as an emissary of the government, and as such he must express clearly
and firmly its positions.  Minimal intellectual and ethical honesty
obligates him to resign from the government."
*******************************************************

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