HHMI Newsgroup Archives
To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com From: Arutz-7 Editor <feedback@israelnationalnews.com> Subject: Arutz-7 News: Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2002
Arutz Sheva News Service <http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com> Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2002 / Tevet 17, 5762 ------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES: 1. PERES: TIME TO START TENET COUNTDOWN 2. SYRIA JOINED SECURITY COUNCIL TODAY
1. PERES: TIME TO START TENET COUNTDOWN Foreign Minister Shimon Peres told army radio today that the decrease in Arab violence paves the way for immediate implementation of the Tenet cease-fire agreement. Peres expressed hopes that the return of US Envoy Anthony Zinni to the region on Thursday would trigger the countdown of the Tenet timetable. Gen. Anthony Zinni will return to Israel for 4-5 days accompanied by Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs William Burns.
The Tenet agreement, which never reached signature stage but was verbally accepted, calls for 7 days of total quiet, followed by a 6-week "cooling-off period," and then three months of confidence-building measures. The Tenet timetable was created as a schedule to facilitate implementation of the Mitchell agreement. The Mitchell Agreement calls for a total freeze of all construction in Jewish towns in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza, including building necessary for natural growth.
Aides in Prime Minister Sharon's office responded to Peres' suggestion saying that the Tenet countdown cannot begin because the Arabs have not ceased their attacks for 7 days. Sharon's aides said that the Palestinian Authority has taken no significant steps towards curbing Arab violence, and that the reduction in terrorism is due to IDF anti-terror operations.
Foreign Minister Peres also said today that Israel must stop defaming Arafat's name in international circles. On December 3rd, the Israel Government officially declared Arafat and the Palestinian Authority "terrorist supporting entities." Peres said that associating Arafat's name with terror does not help Israel and does not enable the PA to combat terrorism. Peres is officially in charge of Israel's public relations overseas. He said that he would discuss the new approach with PR officials in his ministry.
Minister of Housing Natan Sharansky (Yisrael B'aliya) said Peres' statement about not hurting Arafat's public image damages Israel's position. Minister Danny Naveh (Likud) also criticized Peres for his remarks.
2. SYRIA JOINED SECURITY COUNCIL TODAY Syria today, along with four other countries, started its two-year term as a member of the United Nations Security Council despite its appearing on the US State Department list of terrorist-supporting nations. Syria is the headquarters and financial backer for several Palestinian, Lebanese and Armenian terrorist groups. While Israel is the only democratic nation in the Middle East, she has never been allowed by the Arab nations to join the Middle Eastern geographical bloc and therefore has yet to sit on the Security Council.
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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, Jan. 2, 2002
Arutz Sheva News Service <http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com> Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2002 / Tevet 18, 5762 ------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES: 1. ZINNI COMES TOMORROW; SHARON CLARIFIES POSITIONS 2. PALESTINIAN HATRED OF THE US AND BRITAIN 3. HADASH BILL WOULD LEGALIZE ATTACKS ON ISRAELIS 4. HENDEL CALLS FOR PERES' DISMISSAL 5. PA IS STORING ILLEGAL WEAPONS 6. LEVY CALLS ON SHARON TO HALT WAQF CONSTRUCTION
1. ZINNI COMES TOMORROW; SHARON CLARIFIES POSITIONS Prime Minister Sharon held a meeting last night, with Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Shaul Mofaz and other security officials in anticipation of U.S. Gen. Anthony Zinni's arrival tomorrow. Sharon ordered a series of measures, including the removal of roadblocks, designed to ease restrictions on the Arab population. The move comes despite security warnings that Arabs in PLO-controlled areas are still planning severe terrorist attacks.
During Zinni's previous trip, numerous attacks massacred scores of Israelis. The deadliest included the December 1 suicide bombing in downtown Jerusalem that claimed the lives of 10 Israelis and injured 180, and the December 2 suicide mission on a bus in Haifa that left 15 Israelis dead and injured 46. Following the atrocities, Zinni was called back to Washington for "consultations."
Sharon met today with Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Petersen. The Prime Minister said that the decline in the number of terrorist incidents stems from Israel's counter-terrorist operations and the international pressure on Arafat. Sharon told his guest that the PLO leader is neither carrying out counter-terrorist operations nor making arrests; he has not arrested the assassins of Minister Rechavam Ze'evi or the PFLP leaders who dispatched them, whose whereabouts are known to him.
Prime Minister Sharon clarified that Israel would not conduct diplomatic negotiations under fire and added that the way to make progress towards the discussion table is a complete cessation of all Arab violence and incitement. Sharon reiterated the agreed-upon timetable that after 7 days of "absolute" quiet, the Tenet plan countdown -- a six-week "cooling-off period" and a three-month period of confidence-building measures -- can begin.
Also on last night's agenda was Mofaz's upcoming trip to the United States. The Chief of Staff is scheduled to leave for Washington this week to meet with top US officials about the current situation in Israel, including National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of State Colin Powell.
2. PALESTINIAN HATRED OF THE US AND BRITAIN Palestinian religious leaders view the US-British war on terror as part of a Judeo-Christian and "atheist" battle against Islam and the entire Muslim nation. So reports Palestinian Media Watch (http://www.pmw.org.il) which translated a sermon delivered last Friday at the Al Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount. The following excerpts from the sermon, which was also broadcast on the Voice of Palestine Radio, shed light on the global Islamic worldview of the Palestinians and the religious foundation for their hatred of Western - Judeo-Christian - Civilization.
"The infidel countries, led by the United States, invented the excuse and justification for their dirty war against Islam, Muslims, and Islamic movements all over the world, following the attack against it [the US]. The US used, in its criminal aggression against Afghanistan, the most destructive bombs there are. Criminal Britain, which was directly responsible for the creation of this corrupt entity [Israel] on Palestinian land, is demanding that the Palestinians destroy its Islamic groups. Britain has forgotten that it is the peak of terrorism and of hatred against Islam and Muslims."
"Oh believers! ...Do the Muslims of today know how to realize Allah's path, and to turn only to Allah? Not to turn to the evil United States, or to Europe, so filled with hatred toward Islam and Muslims? The United States will not be of use to you at all compared with Allah, since they [the Americans] cannot defend or help themselves! If you understand this, you will see that you have no one else but Allah.
"Wake up, Muslims, from your slumber! Unite! Forget your differences. After Afghanistan will come the turn of every one of your own countries. The enemies of Islam want to break your strength everywhere in the world." [Voice of Palestine Radio, Dec. 28, 2001]
3. HADASH BILL WOULD LEGALIZE ATTACKS ON ISRAELIS Knesset members from Michael Kleiner (Herut) on the right, to Yossi Sarid (Meretz) on the left, have expressed outrage at a bill presented by the Arab Hadash Party to the Knesset on Monday. The proposed law calls for an amendment to the 1948 Prevention of Terrorism Act which would exempt those who attack armed Israeli civilians living in Yesha (Yehuda, Shomron, and Gaza) from being labeled terrorists. Also under the proposal, assaulting IDF soldiers would not be viewed as "terrorist acts" since under the amendment the IDF is viewed as an "occupying force."
In an interview conducted yesterday by Dr. Aaron Lerner (Independent Media Review and Analysis) with Arab MK Issam Makhoul (Hadash), the Israeli parliamentarian said that Jewish civilians of Yesha who carry weapons [issued for self defense] are "part of the occupation forces" and are legitimate targets. Makhoul also said that throwing rocks and firebombs in order to kill someone "is not terrorism" but is a "popular act" seen in protests around the world. On June 11, 2001, five-month-old Chaim Yehuda Shoham was killed when an Arab thrown rock slammed into the infant's skull as he sat in the car seat of his family's vehicle near the Shomron community of Eli. Makhoul also said in the interview that as long as Israel does not withdraw to the 1967 cease-fire lines, Arafat does not have to uphold his commitments under the Oslo accords. Therefore violent activities are not breeches of the agreements.
MK Ze'ev Boim (Likud) called the Hadash MKs who sponsored the bill, "Yasser Arafat's Trojan Horse." MK Ofer Pines (Labor) said that the bill legitimizes spilling the blood of IDF soldiers, police officers, and border police. Hadash is a three-seat party with two Arab MKs and one Jew, Tamar Gozansky.
4. HENDEL CALLS FOR PERES' DISMISSAL MK Tzvi Hendel (National Union Party) called on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to relieve Shimon Peres of his duties as foreign minister. Hendel is outraged that Peres instructed public relations officials of the foreign ministry to cease making statements that present PA leader Yasser Arafat in a negative light in the international media. Peres said yesterday that associating Arafat's name with terror does not help Israel. Peres issued his orders in spite of the Dec. 3rd official government decision that Arafat is "irrelevant" and that his Palestinian Authority is an entity that supports terrorism. Hendel says that Peres has crossed "all red lines" and that his actions undermine government policy and are grounds for his immediate dismissal.
5. PA IS STORING ILLEGAL WEAPONS The Palestinian Authority has anti-aircraft missiles, anti-tank missiles and Katyushas stored in the Gaza Strip for use against Israel in a more "advanced" stage of the Oslo war. Israel Radio Arab Affairs Correspondent Avi Yissakharov reported this morning that Israeli security sources believe that the PA would launch Katyusha attacks on nearby Israeli cities such as Ashkelon. Under the Oslo Accords, it is illegal for the Palestinian Authority to have missiles and rockets in its possession.
6. LEVY CALLS ON SHARON TO HALT WAQF CONSTRUCTION In a meeting with Prime Minister Sharon last night, National Religious party (NRP) leader Rabbi Yitzchak Levy called on the Prime Minister to exercise Israel's sovereignty on the Temple Mount and immediately halt the illegal construction being carried out by the Muslim Waqf on Judaism's holiest site. The NRP leader also demanded that Sharon limit the activities of Foreign Minister Shimon Peres vis-a-vis talks with the PA, which Levy stated only serve to undermine stated government policy. The two also discussed differences pertaining to the 2002 state budget.
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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, Jan. 3, 2002
TODAY'S HEADLINES: 1. ZINNI ARRIVES, RESTRICTIONS EASED 2. KLEINER: INVESTIGATE PERES CENTER FOR PEACE
1. ZINNI ARRIVES, RESTRICTIONS EASED U.S. Envoy Gen. Anthony Zinni arrived in Israel today on a four-day mission to meet with Israeli and Arab leaders. US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said that Zinni will pressure Yasser Arafat to eliminate the terrorist infrastructure operating in areas under his jurisdiction. Zinni will call on Israel to ease restrictions on the Arab population. When asked if the US still supports the idea of a seven-day period of quiet before the implementation of the Mitchell agreement, Boucher declined to respond.
In anticipation of Gen. Zinni's arrival, Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer today ordered a significant easing of restrictions on the general Arab population throughout Yesha (Judea, Samaria and Gaza). The IDF retreated from almost all positions it seized after the Emanuel bus bombing on Dec. 12. Soldiers withdrew from the city of Jenin and the a-Tira neighborhood of Ramallah, both under PLO control. Other measures include the lifting of the closures on Kalkilya, Tulkarm, Hevron.
Tight closures are being maintained, however, on Shechem and Ramallah while allowing for the movement of goods and raw materials. The IDF withdrew tanks from areas adjacent to civilian populations, but Israeli forces do remain several hundred meters away from Arafat's offices in Ramallah.
PLO policeman were allowed to move from Judea and Samaria to Gaza. Permanent Arab employees at the Rafiah and Allenby border crossings were allowed to return to work.
Many IDF roadblocks in Yesha were also opened allowing Arab traffic to pass through. Yesha Council Chairman Adi Mintz sent an urgent letter to PM Sharon insisting that he not lift the travel ban on Arab traffic on roads traveled by Israelis. Mintz reminded Sharon that every time roads are opened and restrictions are lifted, the Arabs carry out attacks against Jews. Mintz charged that the security of Israeli citizens should take precedence over any other considerations.
Ben-Eliezer called on the Palestinian Authority to respond to Israel's steps and carry out the necessary intensive operations against terrorist elements and their infrastructure. He also emphasized that Israel will work to thwart Arab terrorism and violence in order to reach a resolution of the conflict that will benefit both peoples.
2. KLEINER: INVESTIGATE PERES CENTER FOR PEACE MK Michael Kleiner (Herut Party) is calling for an investigation into the sources of funds for The Peres Center For Peace. Kleiner says that Foreign Minister Shimon Peres continues to evade his official parliamentary questions regarding funding for the institution which was established in 1997. Kleiner asked Peres if funding for the organization comes from foreign countries or other foreign entities such as the European Union. If that is the case, Kleiner maintains that Peres' accepting donations from foreign entities and serving as Israel's foreign minister constitutes a serious conflict of interests.
Kleiner's first query was submitted in July following an expose article by investigative journalist Yoav Yitzhak from Maariv. Yitzhak revealed on June 22, 2001 that the European Union had approved the transfer of hundreds of thousands of Euros to left-wing organizations in Israel which support Israeli territorial compromise in exchange for Palestinian promises of peace. Kleiner's spokesperson Sarah Tiktenski told Arutz Sheva that an organization which receives donations from foreign governments or from the EU is likely to work to advance the interests of that entity. She said, "If such is the case with Peres, he must be relieved immediately from his position as Israel's Foreign Minister." Tiktinsky added that she personally saw requests by the Peres Center for Peace to receive funding from the EU.
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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, Jan. 4, 2002
Arutz Sheva News Service <http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com> Friday, Jan. 4, 2002 / Tevet 20, 5762 ------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES: 1. ZINNI DIPLOMACY BEGINS 2. A.B. YEHOSHUA: "I HATE ARAFAT"
1. ZINNI DIPLOMACY BEGINS American envoy, Gen. Anthony Zinni is meeting this morning with Prime Minster Ariel Sharon, Foreign Minister Peres, and Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer at Sharon's Shikmim farm in the Negev desert. Zinni is scheduled to meet with PLO leader Yasser Arafat later today and with other PLO representatives over the weekend. Gen. Zinni is reportedly trying to convince Sharon to make further "confidence-building concessions" to the Arabs. It is not known if he is demanding to begin the Tenet countdown to diplomatic negotiations and skip over the stage of "7 days of absolute quiet without terrorism or incitement." In an interview this morning on Army Radio, Deputy Defense Minister Dalia Rabin-Pelosoff said that if diplomatic negotiations are renewed, Israel would not make an issue over exchanges of fire "here and there."
Israeli officials briefed Zinni yesterday with information indicating that PLO leader Yasser Arafat is not fulfilling his commitment to stop terrorism. Ben-Eliezer told Zinni that the current reduction in violence throughout the country is mainly a result of actions taken by Israel to prevent attacks. Israel agreed to participate in a joint security meeting with PLO representatives on Sunday which the American envoy is coordinating. The PLO has yet to confirm their participation in the meeting.
After a December 10th meeting with Arafat on his previous trip, Zinni said about the PLO leader, "I have never encountered such lack of trustworthiness in my life." He said it was a "waste of time to try to reach a serious agreement with Arafat." Zinni will also be meeting with PLO official Abu Ala today.
Mayors and regional council leaders from the Negev are protesting outside Sharon's Shikmim residence against the annulment of the Negev law, which granted special benefits to residents in the area.
2. A.B. YEHOSHUA: "I HATE ARAFAT" Israeli author and left-wing activist A. B. Yehoshua gave an interview this week to the Israeli Arab daily Kul Al-Arab in which he states that he hates Yasser Arafat, "From the bottom of my heart." Yehoshua said in the interview, translated into English by MEMRI (http://www.memri.org), that the difficulties experienced by Arabs in Yesha are a direct result of Arafat and his policies which do not take into account his people's best interests.
Yehoshua was also one of a dozen dignitaries who signed a letter that the Committee Against the Destruction of Antiquities sent to Prime Minister Sharon last week. The letter called on Sharon to take action against the illegal construction being carried out by the Muslim Waqf (trust) on Jerusalem's Temple Mount, Judaism's holiest site.
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