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."
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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, 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.
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To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com From: Arutz-7 Editor <feedback@israelnationalnews.com> Subject: Arutz-7 News: Thursday, 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..."
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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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