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Date: Thu, 18 Dec 1997 02:35:01 +0000
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Wednesday, December 17, 1997
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Subject: Arutz-7 News: Wednesday, December 17, 1997
Arutz Sheva News Service
Wednesday, December 17, 1997 / Kislev 18, 5758
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. CONGRESSMEN TELL NETANYAHU TO WITHSTAND EXTERNAL PRESSURE
2. NO DECISION AT TODAY'S MEETING
3. NETANYAHU FINALLY DEPARTS FOR PARIS
4. YESHA COUNCIL THREATS PUT ON HOLD
5. PRESSURES ON NETANYAHU
6. PESSIMISTIC VIEW FROM ELON
* * * SPECIAL INSERT:
LETTER FROM 20 CONGRESSMEN TO PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU
1. CONGRESSMEN TELL NETANYAHU TO WITHSTAND EXTERNAL PRESSURE
More than twenty U.S. Members of Congress sent a letter to Prime Minister
Binyamin Netanyahu this morning, on the eve of his departure to meet with
U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. The letter, which appears
following today's news report, states, "We wish to convey our support for
your government and its efforts to resist pressures to cede ever larger
parts of Judea, Samaria and Gaza to the Palestinian Authority. We believe
that such pressures from the international community are misguided,
dangerous, and harm the national security interests of both
Israel and the United States."
The letter concludes, "...we ask you not to be swayed by the empty threats
of those who cannot understand the danger that Israel would face by
expanding its concessions to the Palestinian Authority. We recognize this
danger and ask you to know that the Congress will support you on this
critical issue."
David Bar Illan, Director of Policy Planning and Communications in the
Prime Minister's Office, told Arutz-7, "I think that the Clinton
administration realizes that there's no way that Israel would rush into
decisions that will affect us for generations to come... As long as the
agreement is really being abrogated, for all intents and purposes, by the
Palestinian Authority, we may not really have to be bound by it. That is
precisely what we are trying to find out, if the Palestinians have any
intention of keeping it, and at that point we will decide what we are going
to do about it." He
2. NO DECISION AT TODAY'S MEETING
The government decided not to authorize the Prime Minister to submit a
detailed proposal for a withdrawal in his meeting tomorrow with Secretary
Albright. The Cabinet issued the following statement after the meeting:
a. The Cabinet continued the political discussion. The government was
presented with the first draft of a document detailing the obligations of
the Palestinians in accordance with the particulars of the Note for the
Record of 15.1.97 (the document of responsibilities resulting from Hevron
Agreement.)
b. Prime Minister Netanyahu told the ministers that in the meeting with
Secretary of State Albright, he will explain Israel's conception of its
national interests.
c. Prime Minister Netanyahu stressed that settlement is a national
interest, and that Israel intends to maintain all the settlements, the
areas surrounding them essential for their existence, and the network of
roads leading to them.
A spokesman for the Yesha Rabbis Council was pleased with the final
results, and said, "As a result of the pressures initiated by many
nationalist groups, including ourselves, the Prime Minister realized that
he simply will not have a government if he continues along this path. He
therefore concluded that it's better to be somewhat at odds with Clinton
and Albright, but with a coalition, then to be good friends with them but
without a coalition."
3. NETANYAHU FINALLY DEPARTS FOR PARIS
Following this morning's Part III of the government discussion on the next
withdrawal and Israel's national interests in a permanent-status
arrangement, Prime Minister Netanyahu delayed until this evening his
departure to Paris for his meeting with Albright, and held a series of
meetings here at home. He began with Foreign Minister Levy, and then met
for nearly three hours with Infrastructures Minister Sharon. After the
meeting, the two issued a joint statement, saying that Netanyahu would
present Albright with Israel's national interests for a permanent-status
arrangement, will not present any new maps, and that Israel's interests
are still under consideration by the government. The Prime Minister met
with four NRP Knesset Members - Porat, Hendel, Slomiansky, and Shaki - who
said that they, and MK Yahalom, would resign from the government if it
decides on the second withdrawal as long as the PA refuses to transfer
wanted terrorist murderers to Israel.
Foreign Minister Levy said that he would not participate at the meeting
with Albright, because the government had not authorized him or the Prime
Minister to provide her with exact percentages of a withdrawal. Levy
attempted to convene the government again this afternoon, hoping it would
grant him authorization to talk more specifically with Albright. He wished
Netanyahu success in his mission, and said that he was confident that the
Prime Minister would represent Israel with honor - although he was said to
be "fuming" later in the day when his efforts to change the decision did
not bear fruit.
4. YESHA COUNCIL THREATS PUT ON HOLD
Three prominent Yesha Council members announced their intentions to work to
topple the government if it decides on a withdrawal that is not contingent
upon the fulfillment of Palestinian obligations. The three are Council
Chairman Pinchas Wallerstein, Beit El Mayor Uri Ariel, and veteran Yesha
activist Ze'ev (Zambish) Chaver. Although Wallerstein explained this
afternoon that the threat was now "on hold" following today's government
meeting, Chaver explained to Arutz-7 the motives behind the original
announcement: "The main theme of this government was always to stop the
one-sidedness of the process, where we concede more and more and the other
side doesn't fulfill its part. It has now become clear that the government
is not insisting on this aspect, and it therefore has lost the
justification for its existence." Netanyahu met this afternoon with six
Yesha Council members, including the above three.
5. PRESSURES ON NETANYAHU
Dr. Ron Breiman, spokesman for the Professors for a Strong Israel, released
a statement today addressed to the Prime Minister in which he expressed
solidarity with the three Yesha Council members who said they would work to
topple the government if it continues in its "territories for terror"
peace. In the statement, which he emphasized did not speak for the entire
organization, he called upon the Prime Minister to cancel his meeting with
Secretary Albright, and begin preparing to deal with Israel's social and
economic problems instead of investing most of his efforts in the failing
Oslo process.
The Jewish Community of Hevron wrote a letter to the government ministers,
which read in part, "A simple question: Seeing as the PLO has violated all
of the Hevron agreements, why are you considering the continuation of the
process? They have four times the permitted amount of 'policemen,'... they
kidnap, arrest, and beat Israeli citizens... they almost totally prevent
free worship in the holy sites... etc. Don't you know this? We demand
that the Hevron agreement be fulfilled before discussing the continuation
of the negotiations!... You were elected in order to save Israel - do it!"
Ariel Mayor Ron Nachman, who has said that he is one of Netanyahu's good
friends and strongest supporters, issued the following statement: "I
support Ariel Sharon's plan, and call upon the Prime Minister to adopt
it... The IDF plan [presented by Defense Minister Yitzchak Mordechai] is
merely the same plan dictated by Yitzchak Rabin. The principles therein
comprise a recipe for a bloodbath in the future, and endanger the
continuation of the diplomatic process." Nachman also called upon the
American government to "Stop Meddling in Israeli Politics." He, together
with several dozen others, are demonstrating at this hour outside the
American Embassy in Tel Aviv, in protest of the American failure to demand
Palestinian compliance, contrary to Dennis Ross' signature on the Hevron
agreement.
6. PESSIMISTIC VIEW FROM ELON
MK Rabbi Benny Elon (Moledet), speaking from the Knesset rostrum this
afternoon, said that the NRP should resign now from the government, "in
order that a national unity government be the one to have to deal with the
certain explosion that will result from the Oslo agreement." Addressing
the Knesset Members of the NRP, he said, "We both agree that the Oslo
process will end in an explosion. You attempted to influence the present
government to change or cancel this process, but you have failed, for we
see that between Netanyahu's permanent-status vision and that of Labor's
there is barely a difference. Therefore, why should we cause a situation
to develop that when the explosion comes, a narrow right-wing government
will be blamed? This may even cause part of the population not to fight a
war, Heaven forbid, with full motivation. Drop out now, and a national
unity government [between Labor and Likud] will be formed, and the two big
parties will have to face the problems together, and maybe more successfully."
SPECIAL INSERT:
LETTER FROM 20 CONGRESSMEN TO PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU
Dear Mr. Netanyahu,
We wish to convey our support for your government in its efforts to resist
pressures to cede even larger portions of Judea and Samaria to the
Palestinian Authority. We believe that such pressures from the
international community are misguided, dangerous, and harm the national
security interests of both Israel and the United States.
In addition, we would like you to know that while it may appear that there
are many in the Clinton administration and elsewhere clamoring for an
Israeli withdrawal from such strategic assets as the Jordan River Valley,
the mountains overlooking this piece of territory, and other parts of
Israel, the U.S. congress is firmly on your side. We know the Congress to
be fed up with the PA's gross
violations of the Oslo accords, corruption, human rights abuses, and
misappropriations of donations from the international community. For this
reason alone, Congress is loathe to see the PA in control of more Israeli
land. For reasons of American national security, we cannot fathom how the
U.S. can continue to rely on the IDF alone to keep Iraq and Syria at bay,
with Israel's
underbelly exposed to massive ground threats. It is Israel's military
strength, bolstered by the control of these territories, that is the source
of stability in the eastern Mediterranean region. We fear that any
diminution of Israel's strength might imperil our interests in the region,
and force American troops to assume a job best done by the IDF.
Finally, we ask you not to be swayed by the empty threats of those who
cannot understand the dangers that Israel would face by expanding its
concessions to the PA. We recognize this danger, and want you to know that
Congress would support you on this critical issue."
Signed,
House of Representatives Majority Whip Rep. Tom DeLay (R, Tex.)
Representatives Watts, Talent, Weller, Pappas, Fox, Ryun, Chambliss,
Forbes, Largent, McCollum, Smith, McIntosh, Pickering, Ros-Lehtinen,
Gibbons, Souder, Kelly, Salmon, Tiahrt.
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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 Forbids Entry to Palaces
** 2 PA Reject Five Month Wait
** 3 Int'l Community Pledges $750 to PA**
** 4 The Two Voices of Iran
** 5 Levy to Attend Paris Meeting
** 6 Storm over Withdrawal Plan
** 7 IDF: Russia Continues to Aid Iran
** 8 Egypt Pressure Palestinians to Harden Position
** 1. IRAQ FORBIDS ENTRY TO PALACES
Despite two days of talks with Iraqi officials, the Chief UN Arms
inspector, Richard Butler has failed to persuade Iraq to open Saddam
Hussein's presidential palaces to inspections. At a news conference in
Baghdad, Butler said the Iraqis insisted that they will never allow
the inspectors to enter the palaces.
Butler added, however, he had made progress in gaining access to other
sensitive sites. He said discussions with Iraqi deputy prime minister
Tarik Aziz focused on ballistic missiles and warheads and chemical and
biological weapons programs. {KOL ISRAEL 12/16 H}
** 2. PA REJECT FIVE MONTH WAIT
Palestinian Authority official Nabil Shaath called the Israeli request
for a five-month time out until the next redeployment "ridiculous."
He said that the Palestinians are prepared to wait until mid-January,
however to clarify the extent of an Israeli withdrawal from the West
Bank. {KOL ISRAEL 12/16 H}
** 3. INT'L COMMUNITY PLEDGES $750 TO PA
The International Community has committed $750 million to Palestinian
infrastructure projects for 1998. The two-day annual conference has
decided to insure another $150 million in private investment against
political uncertainties.
The money will come from previous donor pledges not previously
committed to specific projects. The donors said they would continue to
support Palestinian development beyond 1998 but were not specific.
{KOL ISRAEL 12/16 H}
** 4. THE TWO VOICES OF IRAN
The Iranians are anxious in general to enter the regional peace
process; President Hatami has said that he stretches out his arms in
peace to all the nations of the region - although he did not neglect
to condemn the Zionists. He suggested that the time for a dialogue
with the West has come.
On the other hand, a more bellicose position towards the West was
expressed by Iran's leading religious figure, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Khamenei told the delegates Muslims should not fear Iran but rather
the "poisonous breath" of the United States.
The Iranians will apparently use their leading position among the Arab
states to lead the Moslem states into a thaw with the West, which will
in turn lead to the return of the capital that was frozen by the
Western countries after the revolution against the Shah. {YEHOSHUA
MEIRI 12/16 H}
** 5. LEVY TO ATTEND PARIS MEETING
Foreign Minister David Levy will attend Thursday's Paris meeting
between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright. The Prime Minister will present the redeployment map to
Albright but they will not show the scope of a planned withdrawal.
{KOL ISRAEL 12/16 H}
** 6. STORM OVER WITHDRAWAL PLAN
Infrastructure Minister Ariel Sharon has accused the Prime Minister of
putting the national security interests at risk with his proposed
redeployment plan.
Sharon, speaking at a Cabinet meeting last night, said he has done
everything he can to preserve the coalition. He told Prime Minister
Netanyahu that he has almost crossed the line that compromises
Israel's national interests.
Netanyahu, Defense Minister Mordechai and Foreign Minister Levy are
united in their support of the redeployment and final status maps
presented by the defense establishment.
Their proposals cover between 50-55% of the territory and exclude 42
settlements. There is a second map of national interest which, too,
does not include all settlements but does guarantee them full Israeli
sovereignty.
Maps presented by Sharon, together with Rafael Eitan, Michael Eitan,
Yitzhak Levy and Natan Sharansky would leave Israel in control of
nearly 70% of the area and leave all the settlements under Israeli
control. Remaining ministers have not expressed an opinion.
Among the 42 communities not included in Defense Minister Mordechai's
map are Kiryat Arba, Beit El, Kedumim, Eli, Neve Tsuf, Ofrah, Shilo,
Karnei Shomron, Elon Moreh and others. They will either be isolated or
under at least partial Palestinian control.
Beit El Local Council Head Uri Ariel told Arutz-7 today that Sunday's
demonstration outside the Prime Minister's Office will continue today,
parallel to the resumption of the government meeting dealing with what
he called these "most grave" proposals.
He said that the Government had fulfilled the terms of the Hebron
agreement already, and the Palestinians had done nothing to honor
their own commitments.
Meanwhile, at the launching of Shas' satellite broadcasts last night,
Aryeh Deri has called on Prime Minister Netanyahu to implement the
second stage withdrawal quickly and not to hesitate.
He said that "everyone" wished the Prime Minister success in his
endeavors. {MED, ARUTZ 7, KOL ISRAEL 12/17 H|P}
** 7. IDF: RUSSIA CONTINUES TO AID IRAN
Senior IDF Intelligence official revealed that despite Moscow's
denials, Russia continues to aid Iran in the building of its long
range ground-to-ground missiles. The SHIHAB III project, is continuing
apace. Past estimates put Iran within 1.5 years of a prototype of the
long range missile. {KOL ISRAEL 12/17 H}
** 8. EGYPT PUSHING PALESTINIANS TO HARDEN POSITION
It appears that Egypt is again convincing the Palestinians to harden
their position. Arafat came to Cairo to report to Mubarak, and right
away the official newspaper headlines blare that the Netanyahu-Sharon
plans are designed only to "kill time."
The newspaper Akhbar al-Yom writes that discussing these proposals
will lead to a dangerous situation for the Palestinians, because it
will give credence to the duo of Netanyahu and Sharon, and return them
into the Israeli consensus, when now the entire future of the
government is not certain. {YEHOSHUA MEIRI 12/17 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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