Subject: Arutz-7 News: Dec 31, 1997 - Jan 6, 1998
Date: Thu, 8 Jan 1998 02:00:47 +0000
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From: Arutz-7 Editor <editor7@virtual.co.il>
To: arutz-7@ploni.virtual.co.il
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Wednesday, December 31, 1997
Arutz Sheva News Service
Wednesday, December 31, 1997 / Tevet 2, 5758
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. BUDGET WILL PASS, BUT HOW NARROWLY?
The government continued again today to win Knesset approval on the various
clauses of the budget-arrangements bill, and by larger margins than
yesterday. The debate on the budget itself will begin at 6 PM this
evening. It was to have been held at 4 PM, but was pushed off because of
the ceremony at Beit El (see below). The current public debate is whether
the coalition party demands, which total over two billion shekels, are
political blackmail, or rather the legitimate prerogatives of parties that
are elected to advance the cause in which they and their supporters believe.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu expressed confidence today that the
budget will be passed with a "solid majority." He still faces, however,
opposition from three fronts: Gesher, United Torah Judaism, and several
Likud MKs. Gesher's demands have not yet been met, although MK Michael
Kleiner raised the possibility that the motives are political. He admitted
that Gesher had behaved more militantly during the present crisis than the
other coalition partners, and expressed dismay that some of its MKs had
actually voted against the government, instead of merely abstaining. UTJ
demands a solution for hareidi-population housing needs and for the erosion
of public subsidies for its institutions. Four Likud MKs - Uzi Landau,
Benny Begin, David Re'em, and Ruby Rivlin - demand that Netanyahu reiterate
his commitment not to carry out a withdrawal from Yesha unless the
Palestinians fulfill their own commitments.
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From: Arutz-7 Editor <editor7@virtual.co.il>
To: arutz-7@ploni.virtual.co.il
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Thursday, January 1, 1998
Arutz Sheva News Service
Thursday, January 1, 1998 / Tevet 3, 5758
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. FM LEVY ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION PLANS
2. DEMOCRATIC SENATOR CALLS FOR ISRAELI SECURITY
1. FM LEVY ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION PLANS
Foreign Minister David Levy dropped a political bombshell when he
announced this afternoon that he and his colleagues in Gesher would
vote against the budget, signifying his resignation from the
government. He claimed that the Netanyahu and the Finance Ministry
were not attempting to meet his party's demands, and that that the
government's social policies are "obtuse." Levy also criticized the
government's diplomatic policies, saying that it has "departed on a
flight for nowhere." Political commentators feel, despite Levy's
assurance that "this is not an empty threat or a trick," that the way
will yet be found to fend off the resignation. They feel that
although the government would continue to have a parliamentary
majority, Levy's resignation would cause Netanyahu grave political
harm. One solution to the crisis, aside from meeting Levy's demands
outright - which would likely bring about Finance Minister Yaakov
Ne'eman's resignation - is to delay the vote on the budget for several
days. Legally, the budget need not be approved until March 31, 1998.
Different opinions were heard by Knesset Members of the NRP about
Foreign Minister Levy's announcement. MK Chanan Porat said, "[God is]
blessed for having exempted us from [Levy]." MK Shaul Yahalom,
however, called upon the Prime Minister to make every effort to
convince the Foreign Minister not to resign. Ministers Mordechai and
Hanegbi said that it was important that Levy not resign.
The Knesset held several votes on various objections to the
budget-arrangements bill today, and rejected almost all of them. A
storm erupted in the Knesset when it was announced that Ne'eman would
not be the one to present the agreements made with United Torah
Judaism, the NRP, Moledet, and Yisrael B'Aliyah. Even when Deputy
Minister Sylvan Shalom went to the podium to read the agreements in
place of Ne'eman, the MKs refused to settle down, and a recess was
called. After the recess, Ne'eman agreed to read the agreements, and
he specified that they would not break the framework of the budget.
3. DEMOCRATIC SENATOR CALLS FOR MORE ISRAELI SECURITY
U.S. Senator Daniel Innouye (D-Hawaii) has called upon American Jewry
to make its voice heard to ensure that Israel's security be preserved
in the course of the American-brokered Oslo peace process. Until now
many Republican Congressmen have come out against the Clinton
administration's stance on the diplomatic process, but Innouye is the
first leading Democratic Senator to do so. Yoram Ettinger, a former
senior diplomat in the Israeli Embassy in Washington, told Arutz-7
today that Innouye is a very influential figure in Congress, and that
Clinton is in no position to clash with leading members of Congress.
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From: Arutz-7 Editor <editor7@virtual.co.il>
To: arutz-7@ploni.virtual.co.il
Subject: Arutz-7 News Brief: Friday, January 2, 1998
Arutz Sheva News Service
Friday, January 2, 1998 / Tevet 4, 5758
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. NETANYAHU SEEKS TO APPEASE LEVY
2. ISRAEL'S POPULATION TO REACH 6 MILLION IN 50TH YEAR
1. NETANYAHU SEEKS TO APPEASE LEVY
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said today that he intends to stand
by his essential budgetary commitments to Foreign Minister David Levy.
Sources in the Prime Minister's Office say that they will do all they
can to ensure that neither Levy nor Finance Minister Yaakov Ne'eman -
who insists on limiting the budget deficit - will resign. Feeling is
strong there that in any event new elections will be held this year,
but Netanyahu prefers that they be held on the backdrop of
Oslo-process issues, and not budgetary ones. Several government
ministers said last night and today that Levy's demands are just, and
Minister Moshe Katzav said, "If there are social needs, I'm not
worried about another 1/2% inflation." The Knesset vote on the budget
is now scheduled for Monday, January 5.
2. ISRAEL'S POPULATION TO REACH 6 MILLION IN 50TH YEAR
The Central Bureau of Statistics also released population figures,
estimating Israel's population at the end of 1997 at 5.9 million,
including 4.7 million Jews. This represents a population increase for
1997 of 2.5%, similar to the rate for 1996. This may be compared to a
global average increase of 1.4%. Approximately 60% of the rise in the
Jewish population was through natural increase. Approximately 66,500
people immigrated to Israel in 1997, of which 87% came from the
countries of the former Soviet Union. Fittingly, Israel's population
will pass the 6 million mark in its 50th year.
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From: Arutz-7 Editor <editor7@virtual.co.il>
To: arutz-7@ploni.virtual.co.il
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Sunday, January 4, 1998
Arutz Sheva News Service
Sunday, January 4, 1998 / Tevet 6, 5758
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. FOREIGN MINISTER LEVY ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION
2. LEVY ATTACKS LABOR, TOO
3. MINISTERS CRITICIZE LACK OF HEVRON SECURITY
4. LAND OF ISRAEL PRESSURES CONTINUE
1. FOREIGN MINISTER LEVY ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION
The national political, financial, and diplomatic frameworks were
jolted late this afternoon when Foreign Minister David Levy announced
his plans to resign this evening from the government. Despite his
having received a letter guaranteeing him 350 million shekels worth of
his demands, he said that his partnership with the present government
"has ended, period." He mocked the letter, asking with derision how
the money had all of a sudden appeared, and accused the government of
a lack of social sensitivity. Most political commentators agreed that
the government would not fall as a direct result of the resignation,
as 61 MKs still remain in the coalition, but that elections during
1998 are now more likely than ever.
Many question remarks remain, such as whether U.S. mediator Dennis
Ross will arrive in Israel this week as planned, and whether Prime
Minister Netanyahu will meet with U.S. President Clinton later this
month, also as planned. In addition, tomorrow's vote on the budget is
likely to be pushed off again, given the new situation. Prime
Minister Netanyahu, who was meeting with new American Ambassador
Edward Walker when Levy announced his resignation, summoned Finance
Minister Ne'eman to his office afterwards. The Prime Minister will
hold a press conference of his own this evening at 8 PM.
2. LEVY ATTACKS LABOR, TOO
Foreign Minister Levy, in announcing his resignation this afternoon,
also ridiculed "elements in the Labor party" who had hinted that they
had had contacts with him, including promises of places on their
electoral list in the next election. "Who even spoke with you?" he
asked scornfully. "Who even cares about you? How can you spread such
falsehoods, which are designed to distract from the real issues!" The
resignation of Foreign Minister Levy will take effect 48 hours after
it is submitted to the Prime Minister.
3. MINISTERS CRITICIZE LACK OF HEVRON SECURITY
Strong criticism of the deteriorating security situation in Hevron was
proffered by several ministers in today's cabinet meeting.
Transportation Minister Rabbi Yitzchak Levy (National Religious Party)
warned his colleagues that "the handwriting of blood is already
written on the wall." Ministers Sharon, Edelstein, and Livnat also
complained of the security in Hevron. On Friday, two home-made pipe
bombs were hurled into the nursery, but miraculously no one was hurt.
Rabbi Levy demanded that Defense Minister Mordechai take specific
steps to enhance the security of the residents there, noting that
"[the Arabs] have already fingered the nursery school in Avraham Avinu
neighborhood." In response, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Amnon
Lipkin-Shachak said, "Even if we place an extra battalion of soldiers
in Hevron, it will be impossible to prevent all the terrorist
activities there." Hevron spokesman Noam Arnon later told Arutz-7,
"This area is under Israeli security-control, and the IDF must
actualize its control, and not allow terrorists to roam free while
forbidding Israelis from entering."
The Kasba market, from where the attacks apparently originated, is
located within the Israeli-controlled area of Hevron. It has been
declared off-limits to Jews by the IDF, however, and is
infrequently-patrolled by the IDF. "[This makes] it fertile ground
for terrorists to operate from, and rock, fire-bomb and pipe-bomb
attacks originate from within the Kasba," said a spokesman for the
Jewish community. Residents of Hevron have registered their protest
of the situation in various ways over the past two days. Thousands
prayed Sabbath prayer services outside the entrance to the Kasba, and
yesterday afternoon, over 600 Israelis marched the streets of the
Kasba. Early this morning, more than 100 Israelis from Hevron and
Kiryat Arba entered an abandoned house in the Kasba. The building was
purchased by the Jewish Community of Hevron in 1983, but Israeli
citizens who moved into the home were expelled by the army. Within an
hour of today's move, security forces surrounded the premises, and an
agreement was reached, according to which the residents would leave
the building and would not be arrested. However, as they left the
building, Israeli police did in fact detain them for a while, and a
video film of the morning's events was confiscated from Hevron
spokesman David Wilder.
4. LAND OF ISRAEL PRESSURES CONTINUE
The Land of Israel front in the Knesset plans to convene tomorrow, an
hour before the scheduled vote on the budget. Twelve MKs of the front
sent a letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu, saying that they will act
to topple the government if he transfers any additional territories to
Arafat and the Palestinian Authority.
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From: Arutz-7 Editor <editor7@virtual.co.il>
To: arutz-7@ploni.virtual.co.il
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Monday, January 5, 1998
Arutz Sheva News Service
Monday, January 5, 1998 / Tevet 7, 5758
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. BUSINESS AS USUAL
2. NEW ELECTIONS FORESEEN BY SOME
1. BUSINESS AS USUAL
Despite Foreign Minister David Levy's bombshell resignation from the
government last night, government business appears to be continuing as
usual. Coalition coordinator MK Meir Shitreet even feels that because
of the resignation, the coalition parties are more committed to
strengthening the government than they were before. "The coalition is
more compact, true, but it is firmer and more stable," he said. The
Knesset passed the 1998 budget by a comfortable majority late this
afternoon. Prime Minister Netanyahu, speaking to the Knesset before
the final budget vote, said that he will retain the 350 million
shekels worth of "social aid and help to the development towns" that
he promised David Levy, and that he will act to find ways to rearrange
the budget to find the funds within 45 days. His announcement caused
a tumult amongst the opposition MKs.
On the diplomatic front, American mediator Dennis Ross is expected to
arrive tomorrow, as scheduled. Ross will meet first with Palestinian
Authority head Yasser Arafat in Bethlehem, and will go from there to
Jerusalem.
2. NEW ELECTIONS FORESEEN BY SOME
Several politicians and commentators are of the opinion that Levy's
resignation will set into motion a process leading to new elections by
this summer. Many Likud ministers called upon Levy to rescind his
resignation, and several expressed pessimism that the government could
endure under the new circumstances. The Yisrael B'Aliyah ministers,
Sharansky and Edelstein, said that they hoped a national unity
government [Likud and Labor] would be established. Religious party
MKs were in agreement in their expectation that the government would
continue to exist even without Levy. Tsomet leader Rafael Eitan said
that he is in favor of early elections, if both big parties agree.
Prime Minister Netanyahu seemed to be optimistic that the government
would remain stable.
Opposition members, on the other hand, greeted Levy's resignation with
barely-concealed glee. Labor party leader Ehud Barak said, "I
congratulate David Levy on the courage and strength of character that
he has shown... I find his criticism of the Netanyahu government to be
correct, and similar to what we have been saying for many months. The
resignation is a sign that the government has come to the end of its
road... Netanyahu should resign... We will be in contact with all the
parties... Levy's resignation is an important step towards new
elections, which I am certain we will win." Several Labor figures
negated the option of a national unity government, saying that it will
happen only after they win the coming election.
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From: Arutz-7 Editor <listmgr7@virtual.co.il>
To: arutz-7@ploni.virtual.co.il
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Tuesday, January 6, 1998
Arutz Sheva News Service
Tuesday, January 6, 1998 / Tevet 8, 5758
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. JOINT TURKISH-ISRAELI MANEUVERS
2. ROSS ARRIVES, GREETED BY PROTESTORS
3. JUST THE FACTS
1. JOINT TURKISH-ISRAELI MANEUVERS
The controversial joint naval maneuver between Israel, Turkey and the
United States will take place tomorrow, 150 kilometers from the shores
of Israel and Lebanon. Defense Minister Yitzchak Mordechai praised
Jordan's decision to send a senior observer to the exercise, and
reiterated that the exercise - the rehearsal of a life-saving mission
- is not directed against any state in the region. Arab countries and
Greece continue to strongly condemn the mission. The U.S. has sent a
destroyer to participate, Turkey will dispatch two 4,000-ton frigates,
including one with a helicopter, and Israel has allocated a Saar Five
missile boat with an Atalef helicopter, as well as a Saar Four missile
boat. Haaretz reports that although non-combative in nature, the
exercise will demand a high level of navigating and operational
competence, particularly in coordinating the landing of helicopters
between participating vessels.
2. ROSS ARRIVES, GREETED BY PROTESTORS
Dennis Ross, special American mediator for the Israeli-Palestinian
talks, will begin his latest round of consultations upon his arrival
in Israel today. Nationalist groups are planning to greet him with
rallies and demonstrations, calling upon him to relax American
pressure on Israel and to demand that the Palestinians fulfill their
obligations. The National Religious Party's Rabbi Yitzchak Levy,
Minister of Transportation, told Arutz-7 today that his party
continues to demand that the government regard as its goal not the
implementation of the Oslo process, but the attainment of peace with
security, the preservation of the Yesha communities, and the
fulfillment of previous Palestinian obligations. "A large-scale
withdrawal, such as that being discussed by the Americans, stands in
contradiction to the government commitment to maintain the security
and well-being of the Yesha townships," he said.
3. JUST THE FACTS
The Palestinian Police number some 36,000 policemen, about 50% more
than the amount permitted by the Oslo agreements. This is one of the
statistics revealed in a Yesha Council special publication tracking
the implementation of the Israeli-Palestinian agreements. The 16-page
report, complete with color photographs, will be published tomorrow,
and will be distributed together with national newspapers over the
next few days. Aharon Domb, Secretary-General of the Yesha Council,
told Arutz-7 today that the report is simply a collection of facts,
and is intended for the center-to-left audience "that may not be so
familiar with the situation. Even Meretz and Labor MKs raised their
eyebrows when they read some of these facts." The report asserts that
a large portion of the policemen have been provided with weapons
stolen from the IDF, and that 70 of the policemen are wanted by Israel
for committing acts of terrorism. Another statistic from the report:
43,000 cars were stolen in Israel this past year, compared with 21,000
in 1992 - the year before the signing of the Oslo agreement.
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