From: heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com
Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 1997 11:47 PM
To: Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup
Subject: Israel News: November 10-12, 1997
From: Arutz-7 Editor <editor7@virtual.co.il>
To: arutz-7@ploni.virtual.co.il
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Monday, November 10, 1997
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. LIKUD CONVENTION MIRED IN DISCORD
2. NETANYAHU BACK-TRACK ON YESHA AND GOLAN?
3. ARAFAT'S HEALTH FAILING
1. LIKUD CONVENTION MIRED IN DISCORD
The main session of the Likud convention, mired in tension and in-fighting,
has still not begun - as of 5:30 PM - although Prime Minister Binyamin
Netanyahu is scheduled to begin his opening speech any minute. Minister
Yehoshua Matza, the compromise choice of Prime Minister Netanyahu and the
other government ministers to head the convention, has withdrawn his
candidacy, after coming to the realization that a vast majority of the 3000
Central Committee members are of a different mind. He decried the
situation of the Likud, saying that "even the Prime Minister is not in
control of events." The Committee members, on the whole, would like the
primaries system to be canceled before the end of the current session, and
wish to choose a convention chairman who will act towards that end.
Yisrael Katz, running against five other Central Committee members, is the
favored candidate.
2. NETANYAHU BACK-TRACK ON YESHA AND GOLAN?
Once again, a Prime Ministerial remark has kindled worries amidst members
of the Yesha Council and Golan Communities Council. Speaking at the
ceremonial opening session of the Likud convention last night, Mr.
Netanyahu mentioned only the Jordan Valley, the water sources, and the air
space as places that Israel will insist on controlling in any permanent
arrangement. He did not mention the Judea and Samaria mountain range,
Gaza, or the Golan in this connection. MK Benny Begin (Likud) said that
this is Netanyahu's "Alon minus minus" plan, "wherein most of the areas
over the Green Line will be given over to Syria, the PLO, and Hamas. Begin
said that he is sure that the Likud convention will not ratify a diplomatic
plan of this sort.
Shai Bazak, press advisor to the Prime Minister, said in response to MK
Begin's remarks that Netanyahu did not intend to propose any new diplomatic
initiatives in his speech last night. Bazak recalled the Prime Minister's
speech in the Knesset last week, in which he emphasized the importance of
the Golan and reiterated his intentions to preserve the security areas of
Judea and Samaria.
Leaders of the Golan residents wrote to Netanyahu that they have concluded
that his government has turned the Golan into a "trading card" in the
negotiations with Syria. The letter also accuses him of "drying out" the
Golan communities.
3. ARAFAT'S HEALTH FAILING
The British newspaper Sunday Times published an in-depth article about the
deteriorating state of Yasser Arafat's health. The paper quotes an IDF
intelligence report to the effect that Arafat is suffering from Parkinson's
Disease. He is receiving treatment which allows him to function normally
at present, but his general health is failing and there are fears that the
diplomatic process is consequently in danger. His handwriting has become
impaired, he cannot control his facial muscles, and he is in constant pain.
*************************************************************************
From: Arutz-7 Editor <editor7@virtual.co.il>
To: arutz-7@ploni.virtual.co.il
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Wednesday, November 12, 1997
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. DISCORD IN THE LIKUD
2. "CRISIS OF FAITH" DESCRIBED
3. RABIN MEMORIAL DAY TODAY
4. COALITION CRISIS LOOMING
5. RAVIV PRODDED AMIR TO KILL RABIN
1. DISCORD IN THE LIKUD
The Likud Central Committee decision to do away with the primaries
system last night was almost an anti-climax; the big news of the night
was the resentment of many government ministers at what they saw as
Prime Minister Netanyahu's 'double game.' The convention also voted
to give additional powers to the central Likud organs. The events of
last night have drawn much criticism from Likud MKs and ministers,
specifically regarding the behavior of Netanyahu and his top aide
Avigdor Lieberman. MK Benny Begin said that there is a terrible
feeling in the Likud of "depression and strangulation." He said,
"Netanyahu dealt two-facedly with his friends... The Likud had better
replace him very quickly, because if not, it faces political
extinction."
The Prime Minister had reportedly been in favor of doing away with the
primaries system all along, but went along with the government
ministers in attempting to convince the Central Committee to push off
its vote on the issue. Last night, however, it appeared that he had
revealed his true hand when he did not support a last-minute effort at
a compromise, proposed by Science Minister Michael Eitan and MK Uzi
Landau. According to the proposal, the convention would vote to end
the primaries system, but would not decide on a new system until
February. Netanyahu apparently rejected the compromise, thus paving
the way for the decision to restore the task of choosing the Likud
Knesset Members to the Central Committee.
2. "CRISIS OF FAITH" DESCRIBED
Eyal Arad, who served as Binyamin Netanyahu's press aide for several
years, told Arutz-7 today that Netanyahu's behavior during the
convention could cost him his office even before the end of his
four-year term. "There is a feeling of a great rupture in the party,"
he said. "A poll in the paper today showed that almost 25% of
registered Likud voters would like to leave the party... Netanyahu now
has a party mechanism, but he has no movement behind him. His
ministers are not supporting him, and there is a crisis of faith the
likes of which I do not remember. The only winner is Ehud Barak...
The really sad thing here is that Netanyahu is now leaving for very
important talks with Secretary Albright, who will issue a
near-ultimatum to resume the policy of "drying-out" the Yesha
communities. He senses that he is losing the support of his own camp,
and this could cause him to feel pushed into a corner and into a
situation where he gives up on his principles in order to restore some
measure of popularity and acceptance. A situation where the Prime
Minister is weak, isolated, and degraded in his own party can only
help one person - Yasser Arafat... Limor Livnat said it accurately
last night: the Likud must choose either the fringe benefits of power,
or its ideology; either 'political jobs' or the integrity of
Jerusalem..."
Former Prime Minister Yitzchak Shamir, an outspoken critic of
Netanyahu, says that the present situation in the Likud is worse than
it was in the 80's. He does not fear a split in the party, however.
On the other hand, MK Uzi Landau said that what happened at the
convention last night is a positive sign, and he does not feel that
the Prime Minister misled the ministers. "The Likud will now be run
in a democratic fashion by an independent Central Committee, instead
of having decisions made for them way up at the top," he said.
Prime Minister Netanyahu released a statement today saying that the
Central Committee decision of last night was reached in a democratic
and independent fashion. He said, however, that he would turn to the
Likud Judiciary Court to investigate complaints of improper procedure
during the voting.
3. RABIN MEMORIAL DAY TODAY
The Knesset began a special session at 5 PM today in memory of the
slain Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin. Knesset Speaker Dan Tichon and
President Ezer Weizmann were followed at the Knesset podium by Prime
Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and opposition leader MK Ehud Barak.
Netanyahu, in a speech not interrupted by opposition heckling, said,
"In my call for a personal reckoning, I turn first to myself... I
stretch out my arm in a show of peace between our two camps..."
Barak, after first recalling with emotion the "wild incitement" that
preceded the assassination, echoed a similar call for peace.
A special memorial prayer service was held this afternoon in the
Knesset synagogue, with the participation of the two Chief Rabbis.
Other events on this day, the second anniversary of the Hebrew date of
Rabin's assassination: A memorial ceremony at 12 noon in Rabin Square
in Tel Aviv; memorial programs in all schools throughout the country;
the official public memorial ceremony at Mt. Herzl in Jerusalem at 3
PM. In addition, the Israeli Academy for Educational Leadership,
headed by Mr. Erez Eshel, sponsored a day of "fasting and lectures"
outside Mt. Herzl, dedicated to the theme "Unity in Israel." Among
the lecturers taking part were Rabbi Chaim Druckman, former Meretz MK
Yair Tzaban, Rabbi Yehuda Amital, Jewish Agency Chairman Avraham Burg,
and others from all across the political and ideological spectrum.
4. COALITION CRISIS LOOMING
The Prime Minister has pushed off his trip to London and the United
States from tonight to tomorrow. No explanation was originally
provided, but it was later learned that it was a result of a threat by
Public Security Minister Avigdor Kahalani (Third Way) to recommend
that his party quit the coalition unless a national unity government
is formed. Netanyahu and Kahalani will meet at 7PM this evening.
Other Third Way MKs tend to agree that Netanyahu's weakened position
is an invitation to pressure him to form a unity government.
5. RAVIV PRODDED AMIR TO KILL RABIN
According to the classified chapters of the Shamgar report, GSS agent
Avishai Raviv told Yigal Amir that Yitzchak Rabin falls into the
classification of a "pursuer" who may be killed. According to the
report, Raviv even prodded Amir to kill him, although Amir did not
tell Raviv of his specific plans to do so. The heretofore secret
parts will not be released until tomorrow - in accordance with a
request by Labor Knesset faction head MK Raanan Cohen, who said that
it would not be appropriate to release them on the official day of
memorial for Rabin. Five of the seven pages that will be publicized
tomorrow deal with Raviv, and the others deal with the supervision by
the Prime Minister over the GSS. Two other chapters, dealing with the
performance of the GSS unit for protection of persons and the GSS
relationship with the police, will remain classified.
Another conclusion gleaned from a perusal of the report is that the
GSS had the police cancel the criminal files opened against Raviv
during the eight years that he served as its agent. The report
emphasizes that Raviv was not responsible for distributing the
Rabin-SS picture, although he was the one who made sure to show it to
a television reporter. MK Chanan Porat again called for a public
investigation into the entire Raviv affair. Public Security Minister
Avigdor Kahalani said, "I was part of the previous government
coalition, I was in the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee,
I was on the Committee for Secret Services, I was in all of the most
secret places in the country, and I never imagined that the Prime
Minister's Office would be employing one of the biggest inciters and
paying him a salary in order to harm the Prime Minister himself."
**********************************************************************
From: newsdesk@iipub.com (MED News Desk)
To: headline@iipub.com (Mid-East Dispatch)
Subject: MED Daily Headline News
Reply-to: newsdesk@iipub.com
THE MID-EAST DISPATCH
DAILY HEADLINES NEWS REPORT
** 1. PA DEMANDS "GENEROUS" PULLBACKS
Foreign Minister David Levy has told top Palestinian negotiator
Mahmoud Abbas that Israel would "favorably consider" halting
settlement construction not yet underway during six to nine months of
accelerated final status talks, but the Palestinians said their
acceptance of these terms depends on an understanding in advance on
the scope of West Bank pullbacks that would be implemented at the end
of the negotiating period.
"Levy told the Palestinians that while we would not stop construction
already begun during the final status talks, we would agree to a
definition of 'time-out' whereby we favorably consider temporarily
suspending new settlement construction not yet begun during this
period. But this depends upon a whole package being accepted," a
diplomat in Jerusalem said.
The main Palestinian concern was that any halting of settlement
construction be "visible to the Palestinian people." A senior U.S.
administration official said, "I think both sides understood the
constraints of the other side on the time-out issue."
Israel stands by former Secretary of State Warren Christopher's letter
which makes clear that Israel alone will designate the scope of the
pullbacks, as long as its interpretation of its security concerns is
reasonable.
A senior U.S. official voiced regret that Israel and the Palestinians
were unable to wrap up talks last week in Washington on the
establishment of the Karni Industrial Park on the Gaza border. While
conceding that the two sides had addressed Palestinian and
World Bank concerns that the industrial park not be affected by Israeli closures
on the territories, he made clear that one of the main problems was
Israel's refusal to accept the principle of joint inspections of
Palestinian exports through Egypt.
Regarding safe passage between the West Bank and Gaza, it seems Israel
has agreed that a route between Hebron and Gaza be open daily, but
differences over the proposed northern route remain. The Palestinians
want to be sure that at least one of the routes stays open even in the
event of a closure.
It seems no significant progress was made on the Gaza airport in
Dahaniya or the Gaza seaport. U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright will meet Netanyahu in London on November 14 and Palestinian
Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat in Switzerland the following day, the
U.S. State Department announced on Friday. {HAARETZ 11/9 H}
***********************************************************************
Date: Tue, 11 Nov 1997 16:04:19 -0500
From: newsdesk@iipub.com (MED News Desk)
To: headline@iipub.com (Mid-East Dispatch)
Subject: MED Daily Headline News
Reply-to: newsdesk@iipub.com
THE MID-EAST DISPATCH
DAILY HEADLINES NEWS REPORT
** 1 Talks Limp Along
** 2 Kissinger: Palestinian State "Inevitable"
** 3 Hamas Leader Worried Over Clash with PNA
-*-
** 1. TALKS LIMP ALONG
Israel will be willing to consider suspending the building of new
communities in Yesha during permanent-status negotiations. The
Palestinians, however, demand that Israel commit itself to a timetable
of withdrawals that it will execute during such talks.
Another dispute between the two sides is over the success of last
week's talks in New York: Yasser Arafat blames Israel for their
failure, while Foreign Minister David Levy insists that they were
conducted in "a positive atmosphere."
The committees discussing the implementation of the interim
arrangement will resume their talks today. {ARUTZ 7 11/10 H}
** 2. KISSINGER: PALESTINIAN STATE "INEVITABLE"
At a Tel Aviv lecture marking the second anniversary of the murder of
Yitzhak Rabin, Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said Israel
and the Palestinians should move directly to negotiations on a final
status peace agreement which includes a Palestinians state.
Kissinger said the time has come to abandon the gradual process that
was the cornerstone of the Oslo agreements. He said the only way to
make the peace process credible and to end the atmosphere of distrust
was to make clear what the outcome of negotiations will be.
According to Kissinger, Israel must accept the idea of a Palestinian
state and the Palestinians must accept that Israel will not return to
the 1967 borders. He argued that the idea of a Palestinian state
became "inevitable" once Prime Minister Begin agreed to a Palestinian
autonomy at the Camp David talks in 1978. {MA'ARIV 11/10 H}
** 3. HAMAS LEADER WORRIED OVER CLASH WITH PNA
Hamas spiritual leader, Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, has said his movement had
a "hard choice" whether to continue its jihad (holy war) against
Israel and risk confrontation with the Palestinian National Authority
(PNA), another Islamist faction said Saturday. But Sheikh Yassin
warned that Hamas has the ability "to drive Jewish settlers out of the
occupied territories and frighten tourists and investors away from
Israel.
"We face a hard choice, either we stop our jihad or we enter into a
conflict with the Palestinian [National] Authority," Sheikh Yassin
said in a conversation with officials from the Islamic Jihad in his
Gaza City home on Friday.
Islamic Jihad, a minor Islamist group with close links to the PNA,
reported Sheikh Yassin's comments in a statement received by Agence
France Presse on Saturday.
"Jihad must continue because it is our duty to defend ourselves as
long as the [Israeli] occupation continues," he said. But "we do not
want to enter in a confrontation with the authority. No matter how
much the authority persecutes us, our sole enemy remains Israel. There
must not be Palestinian bloodshed and we must preserve unity," he
said.
Sheikh Yassin also warned that Hamas "has the ability to disturb
Israel's security so that settlers and investors and tourists flee our
raped lands."
"We have the faith and we are prepared to die for our cause," he said.
In September, Palestinian Preventive Security forces launched a
crackdown against Hamas, arresting 80 of its members and closing 16 of
its institutions after the group conducted a pair of Jerusalem
bombings in the summer. Israel has insisted that the PNA step up the
fight to uproot Hamas from self-rule areas before it will move forward
in the peace process.
Israel released Sheikh Yassin from prison, where he had served eight
years of a life sentence, on Oct. 1 in order to contain the fallout
from an Israeli attempt to assassinate a Hamas leader in Jordan.
Since his release, Sheikh Yassin has offered a "truce" to Israel if it
ends its occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Arab east
Jerusalem, but has also called for a continued jihad to liberate
Palestinian lands. {JORDAN TIMES 11/10 H}
*******************************************************************
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 16:01:30 -0500
From: newsdesk@iipub.com (MED News Desk)
To: headline@iipub.com (Mid-East Dispatch)
Subject: MED Daily Headline News
Reply-to: newsdesk@iipub.com
THE MID-EAST DISPATCH
DAILY HEADLINES NEWS REPORT
** 1 Israel, Vatican Sign Agreement
** 2 PM Warns of In-Party Strife
** 1. ISRAEL, VATICAN SIGN AGREEMENT
Israel and the Vatican signed an agreement today recognizing the
status of Catholic Church institutions in Israel. The signing ceremony
was signed at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem.
Senior representatives of the Catholic clergy came to Israel to sign
the agreement which, in David Levy's words "strengthened the already
good relations which exist between Israel and the center of the
Catholic church, the Holy See."
The accord carries the message of trust, cooperation and understanding
between religions, Levy said.
The Papal Nuncio in Israel, Archbishop DiMontezemollo signed the
agreement for the Vatican. The Pope's ambassador welcomed the
agreement. "I am very happy that this agreement has been signed
because it marks a further important step in the process of
normalization of relations between the Holy See and the state of
Israel..." he said. {KOL ISRAEL 11/11 H}
** 2. PM WARNS OF IN-PARTY STRIFE
Prime Minister Netanyahu warned the Likud convention that in-party
internal strife weakens Israel's bargaining position in negotiations
with the Palestinians.
The Prime Minister is to meet with US Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright in London on Friday. He is expecting pressure from the
American official towards tangible progress in the peace process.
Newspapers in England report that Netanyahu will seek British
government backing towards his permanent status talks initiative.
British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said the mood among European
Foreign Ministers regarding the Middle East is pessimistic.
He stressed, however, they were resolved to do everything possible to
get the peace process back on track. {MED 11/11 H|P}
****
Copyright (c) The MidEast Dispatch, 1997. The MidEast Dispatch is an
independent news service, and is not affiliated with any political
party or government agency.
********************************************************************
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