From: heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com
Sent: Monday, November 17, 1997 10:48 PM
To: Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Thursday, November 13, 1997
From: Arutz-7 Editor <editor7@virtual.co.il>
To: arutz-7@ploni.virtual.co.il
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Thursday, November 13, 1997
Arutz Sheva News Service
Thursday, November 13, 1997 / Cheshvan 13, 5758
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. LIKUD SITUATION
2. NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT AGAIN BEING DISCUSSED
3. PALESTINIANS SUPPORT IRAQ AGAINST U.S.
4. NETANYAHU SPEECH OVER THE INTERNET
5. ARAFAT THREATENS TO DECLARE STATE
1. LIKUD SITUATION
The situation in the Likud continues to occupy the press and others.
Science Minister Eitan told Arutz-7 today that he was misquoted regarding
Netanyahu, and that he does not feel that the duly-elected Prime Minister
should be deposed because of mistakes he made in a party convention.
Arutz-7 Associate News Editor Yehoshua Mor-Yosef asked Eitan, "As a Land of
Israel person, does it not appear to you that the issue of the Land of
Israel has become secondary in the Likud to the question of primaries and
similar internal Likud political issues?" Eitan responded, "It is true
that we must keep things in their proper proportion, but there is always
the question of whether the ends justify all of the means... Unfortunately,
there are those who sing the praises of Eretz Yisrael, but at the same
time, when everyone is standing at attention, they pickpocket us. So when
someone says Eretz Yisrael, I'm willing to stand at attention, but not to
remain in that position when they begin to put their hand in my pocket."
Yesha Council head Aharon Domb also related to this issue today, saying: "I
am not a Likudnik, but those of us who are worried about the issue of the
Land of Israel must do what we can to ensure that the Likud does not split
up. As it is, the upcoming budget vote in the Knesset could topple the
Likud from power, if 60 MKs vote against it, which is a real danger at this
moment. This is so because four MKs of Gesher - not including Michael
Kleiner, who is truly concerned only about Eretz Yisrael - are winking
towards Labor. This would in all likelihood bring Barak to power, which is
not good for Eretz Yisrael. Therefore, even though it is very complex and
involved, we should attempt to strengthen the government with rallies and
the like on the Land of Israel issue."
Communications Minister Limor Livnat said today, "The Likud, of which I
have been a member since 1970, is very important to me, and I very much
want it to remain whole. I will therefore attempt to work from within to
keep it whole, if I am able, but I am not convinced that I will succeed."
3. NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT AGAIN BEING DISCUSSED
Foreign Minister David Levy met with opposition leader MK Ehud Barak this
afternoon, fueling speculation that Levy's Gesher party would strike a
political deal with Labor. Coming on the heels of the Third Way's demands
for a national unity government, the meeting was the subject of great
interest, despite the fact that it was decided upon two months ago. At the
conclusion of the meeting, Levy said that they had discussed only political
matters, and not domestic politics. Barak said only that he "had learned
important things" at the meeting. MK Aryeh Deri said today that he met
with Prime Minister Netanyahu last night, and that it was his understanding
that the Prime Minister would offer to establish a unity government with
Labor. Deri said, however, that it was far from certain that Labor would
agree, because of the chance that the government would be toppled in the
budget vote.
3. PALESTINIANS SUPPORT IRAQ AGAINST U.S.
The official Palestinian newspaper A-Hayat Al-Jadida wrote this week: "The
Fatah movement called upon all the official and popular Arab forces to
unite in order to face the challenge confronting the entire Arab nation and
in order to end the suffering of the brother Iraqi people, who has never
been stingy in sacrificing for Palestine and in defending the Arab nation
as a whole... Fatah expressed its denunciation of the latest American
escalation..." High-ranking officials in the Arab Liberation Front and in
the [Palestinian] Ba'ath party said that the Palestinian fighters stand
alongside the brother Iraqi people and its leadership in the struggle
against the American administration's condescending policy against the Arab
nation and especially against the Palestinian and Iraqi peoples.
4. NETANYAHU SPEECH OVER THE INTERNET
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu met today with British Prime Minister
Tony Blair, and will meet tomorrow with U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright. It is assumed that he will not meet with President Clinton,
unless he shows willingness to make concessions on the Palestinian demands
to carry out a second withdrawal and to halt Yesha construction. On
Sunday, the Prime Minister will address the Council of Jewish Federations
in Indianapolis at approximately
9:05 PM Central Time [4:05 AM Israel time]. The Prime Minister's speech,
expected to last for 30 minutes, will be broadcast live on the Internet, at
<www.pmo.gov.il>.
5. ARAFAT THREATENS TO DECLARE STATE
Yasser Arafat has threatened to declare the establishment of a Palestinian
state within two years. In an interview with Yediot Acharonot, Arafat
said, "We will declare a state whether Netanyahu wants it or not. We are
receiving positive reactions about this from the entire world. Nothing can
stop this process." The Prime Minister's Office said that the Palestinian
Authority initiative to convene a special session of the UN General
Assembly against Yesha construction is a violation of the Oslo accords.
***********************************************************************
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 Iraq Rejects UN Resolution
** 2 Israel and Canada Begin Mine Victim Project
** 3 Iran Close to Nuclear Bomb
** 4 UN Inspectors Leave Iraq
** 5 Most Arab Countries to Boycott Conference
** 6 UN General Assembly Condemns Israel
** 7 Mordechai Assures Israel
** 8 Congressional Aid Bill Approved
** 9 Syria Will Insist on The Golan's Return
** 10 Egypt Says "Me Too!" to Islam Alliance
-*-
** 1. IRAQ REJECTS UN RESOLUTION
The UN Security Council has unanimously voted to step up sanctions
against Iraq. A ban has been imposed of travel abroad by Iraqi
officials who have obstructed the UN weapons inspections teams.
Iraq's deputy Prime Minister Tarik Aziz has denounced the resolution.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Said al-Sakaf accused the US of violating
Iraqi airspace, of escalating the conflict and deliberately pushing
the region into a crisis. He said Iraq had every right to shoot down
American spy planes.
US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said the US would keep up the
pressure on Baghdad for as long as it takes.
Meanwhile, the UN has withdrawn virtually all UN inspectors from Iraq
in protest at Iraq's expulsion of US members of the international
team. The six US members of the team have already left for the Jordan,
after Saddam Hussein refused to allow them to leave with the rest of
the team in a few days' time. {KOL ISRAEL, BBC 11/13 H}
** 2. ISRAEL AND CANADA BEGIN MINE VICTIM PROJECT
Foreign Minister David Levy met Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd
Axworthy in Jerusalem on Tuesday.
They discussed Canada's efforts to convince countries to support the
anti-personnel land mines covenant. Israel and Canada agreed to begin
a joint project in Africa for the rehabilitation of land mine victims.
According to Levy, Israel will be sending a delegation to the
international convention being held in Canada, which will address the
use of such land mines. {MED 11/13 H}
** 3. IRAN CLOSE TO NUCLEAR BOMB
According to Jayne's Intelligence Review, Iran is four months away
from complete nuclear capability. According to the journal, unless
Western countries block the transfer of highly-enriched uranium to
Iran immediately, the Ayatollahs will be capable of implementing their
'atomic revolution' in the very near future.
The report added that, in the early 1990's, Iraq was on the verge of
developing its first nuclear weapon, but was set back by its loss in
the Gulf War. {MA'ARIV 11/14 H}
** 4. UN INSPECTORS LEAVE IRAQ
Six American weapons inspectors were ordered to leave Iraq yesterday.
Jordanian diplomats say one British and one Australian had traveled
with the convoy of six Americans when it entered into Jordan. UN
officials say Iraq is insisting the inspectors leave by the land route
into Jordan, rather than a special flight to a UN station in Bahrain.
They said other inspectors will fly out today, leaving seven UN staff
guarding equipment and a monitoring system in Baghdad.
Early this morning, the UN Security council decided to withdraw all
arms inspectors from Iraq, in response to the Iraqi move.
The chief weapons inspector, Richard Butler said US manned U2 spy
planes will continue to fly over Iraq despite Baghdad's threats to
shoot them down.
President Bill Clinton said "...Iraq's announcement this morning to
expel the Americans from the inspection team is clearly unacceptable
and it's a challenge to the international community...these
inspectors, in the last six years, have uncovered more weapons of mass
destruction potential, and destroyed it, than was destroyed in the
entire Gulf War. It is important to the safety of the world that they
continue their work. I intend to pursue this matter in a very
determined way."
In London for talks with Benyamin Netanyahu and the British
Government, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright would not rule out a
military response, and said that all options remained open. The
British Government said that a squadron of Tornado fighters had been
put on stand-by alert. {MA'ARIV, KOL ISRAEL, MED 11/14 H}
** 5. MOST ARAB COUNTRIES TO BOYCOTT CONFERENCE
Only four Arab countries - Jordan, Yemen, Kuwait and Oman - have
confirmed their participation in the upcoming regional economic
conference in Doha, Qatar next week. Other Arab countries, including
Saudi Arabia and Egypt, have announced that they will boycott the
conference.
Egyptian officials announced their withdrawal from the conference on
Wednesday after President Hosni Mubarak held extensive consultations
with Saudi Arabia.
Foreign Minister David Levy expressed regret over Egypt's decision.
Levy said that the convention is erroneously seen to be a reward for
Israel, when, in fact, it is a vehicle for advancing the interests of
the entire region. The Foreign Minister said that his attendance will
depend on the extent of representation of other countries. {YEDIOT
AHARONOT 11/14 H|B}
** 6. UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONDEMNS ISRAEL
The UN General Assembly overwhelmingly condemned Israel in an
emergency session yesterday for its settlement policies. Israel's
unwillingness to halt construction in the Har Homa neighborhood of
Jerusalem was the main issue at the 139-3 vote. There were 13
abstentions.
The PLO has called for a conference of signatories of the fourth
Geneva Convention to block construction at Har Homa. The fourth Geneva
Convention bars settlement in "occupied" territories.
The PLO's UN observer, Nassan al-Kidwa told the assembly that the
Swiss government, in its capacity as depository of the convention,
should commence with the necessary preparatory measures for convening
such a conference.
In April, the Assembly called on Israel to halt construction at Har
Homa. At a special session in July, a new resolution was adopted
recommending that UN members actively discourage activities that
contribute to Israeli settlement building. It also recommended that
188 parties to the fourth Geneva Convention convene a conference to
discuss measures to enforce it.
A new resolution now before the Assembly would request Switzerland to
undertake preparatory steps to follow up the proposal for a
conference, including the convening of a meeting of experts by
February 1998. Addressing the Assembly, Israel's Ambassador to the UN,
Dr. Dore Gold said agreements between Israel and the Palestinians
contained no restrictions on settlement activity during the interim
period. He said the only contravention is the massive Palestinian
construction, effected in violation of the agreed provisions
concerning planning and zoning. {KOL ISRAEL 11/14 H}
** 7. MORDECHAI ASSURES ISRAEL
The Defense Minister said, "Israel is following the events in Iraq.
There are indeed signs of a certain escalation in the region, but, to
the best of my judgment, Israeli citizens have nothing to be concerned
about and they can continue to lead their lives as usual. We are
naturally closely following developments."
He continued that the United States, United Nations and Allied nations
have sufficient power to force their will as they see fit. "Israelis
have nothing to fear, and we guarantee that we will closely follow
events," he said.
Mordechai said he has been in extensive contact with US Defense
Secretary William Cohen. He said Cohen had advised him that Israel had
not cause for concern over the current crisis. {MED 11/14 H}
** 8. CONGRESSIONAL AID BILL APPROVED
US Congress has approved the Foreign Aid Bill for the coming year.
Israel will receive $3 billion. Egypt gets $2.1 billion and Jordan
$225 million. The Foreign Aid Bill also bars the transfer of funds to
the Palestinian Authority. $75 million has been allocated to specific
Palestinian projects.
In addition, the law grants the president of the Authority (Yasser
Arafat) the power to transfer the funds to the Palestinian Authority
only in the case of national security interests and with advance
notice to Congress. {KOL ISRAEL 11/14 H}
** 9. SYRIA WILL INSIST ON THE GOLAN'S RETURN
Walid Mualem, the Syrian Ambassador to the US who was responsible for
the negotiations between Israel and Syria, said his country is willing
to return to the negotiating table only if Israel agrees to pick up
where the talks broke off in March 1996.
However, he added, Syria will insist on the return of the Golan, "to
the last inch." {MA'ARIV 11/14 H}
** 10. EGYPT SAYS "ME TOO!" TO ISLAM ALLIANCE
Egypt is attempting to join the Iran-Iraq-Syria alliance. Akbar al-Yom
reports that Mubarak, in his recent visit to Damascus, authorized
Syrian President Assad to speak about this with the Iranians.
Objections to this move have come, however, from another Iranian ally
- Sudan. Sudan has its own problems with its northern neighbor Egypt,
and claims that Egypt is not identified with Islam, but is rather a
secular nation, who has no place in the alliance. {YEHOSHUA MEIRI
11/14 H}
****
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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in the Rich Hebraic Heritage of our Faith.
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