Subject: Arutz-7 News: Thursday, January 15, 1998
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 1998 23:00:47 +0000
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Subject: Arutz-7 News: Thursday, January 15, 1998
Arutz Sheva News Service
Thursday, January 16, 1998 / Tevet 18, 5758
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. NY TIMES "ERROR"
2. THRONGS TELL NETANYAHU: BE STRONG!
3. LIVNAT: LUNCH IS LESS IMPORTANT THAN LAND OF ISRAEL
4. ALBRIGHT UNAWARE OF CLINTON DECLARATION
5. OPEN LETTER TO CLINTON
***SPECIAL INSERT: Text of "Note for the Record"
1. NY TIMES "ERROR"
The Committee for Accuracy in Middle-East Reporting - CAMERA - reported
today on a blatant falsehood published in yesterday's New York Times by NY
Times Jerusalem Bureau Chief Serge Schmemann. Referring to the Palestinian
commitments whose implementation the Israeli government required as
prerequisites for an Israeli withdrawal, Schmemann wrote, "The 'note for
the record' [attached to the Hevron agreement of Jan. 1997] signed by
Warren Christopher -- who was secretary of state at the time -- included
none of these requirements. What it said was, 'We intend to continue our
efforts to help ensure that all outstanding commitments are carried out by
both parties in a cooperative spirit and on the basis of reciprocity.'"
In fact, the "Note for the Record" that was attached to the Hevron Accords
was prepared by Ambassador Dennis Ross, not Christopher, and does clearly
list numerous key Palestinian responsibilities, including preventing
incitement and hostile propaganda, fighting terror and
preventing violence, and acting upon requests for transfer to Israel of
terrorist suspects. See the text of the "Note for the Record" following
today's report.
Arutz-7 called the Jerusalem bureau of the New York Times today, asking for
a clarification. Mr. Schmemann's response: "No comment."
CAMERA adds that Schmemann's entire article is replete with inaccuracies
and imbalance, and that it strongly implies that Israel is purposefully
asking making new demands because it does not want to come to an agreement
with the Palestinians. As mentioned, however, the demands are not new. Of
the eight paragraphs that contain reactions to Israel's announcement, seven
of them are from either Palestinians or Netanyahu's political opponents.
2. THRONGS TELL NETANYAHU: BE STRONG!
Over 30,000 people gathered in Rabin Square last night to call upon Prime
Minister Netanyahu to resist American pressures to withdraw from Yesha.
They distributed pamphlets, viewed video clips of incitement that were
broadcast last week on Palestinian television, and heard speeches.
Among those who addressed the audience, former MK Rabbi Chaim Druckman
said, "To our Prime Minister: You are about to depart to meet the leader of
the world's superpower. We are with you, and we strengthen you to stand
firm for our Land." MK Chanan Porat (NRP) said, "In this plaza, that has
known suffering and pain, where was slain a Prime Minister [Rabin] - who,
even if we differed with his path, was dear to all of us - in this place
was sung a song of peace. Sometimes, this song was directed against us,
and it hurt us deeply. From this place, I wish to call to all our
brothers, the residents of Tel Aviv and the Sharon, those on the right and
those on the left, to all of us, let's sing a song of peace! But first of
all - between ourselves! Between Jews and Jews! And then we will be able
to call out together, Am Yisrael Chai!"
Other speakers at the rally included MK Rehavam Ze'evi (Moledet), Likud MK
Benny Begin, Tzomet MK Chaim Dayan, MK Michael Kleiner of Gesher, Yesha
Council head Pinchas Wallerstein, and Segal Megidish, whose brother was
killed by Arab terrorists. Gandi said, "Mr. Prime Minister, tell the
Americans that you have only one map in your briefcase - that of the
Bible!" An important political statement was made by Kleiner, who said, "I
would like to announce here that I have reached a personal decision not to
vote against the government [even though Gesher as a whole may do so] as
long as it stands firm on the needs of the Land of Israel."
3. LIVNAT: LUNCH IS LESS IMPORTANT THAN LAND OF ISRAEL
The government met today for the third part of its discussion on the stance
to be taken by Prime Minister Netanyahu during the talks in Washington next
week. No final decisions were taken, and the ministers will convene again
on Sunday, the day before Netanyahu's departure. Communications Minister
Limor Livnat said that she is not worried about the fact that Clinton will
not hold a joint press conference or dine with the Prime Minister during
the visit, as is usual. "The Land of Israel is more important than lunch,"
she said. Transportation Minister Rabbi Yitzchak Levy (NRP) said, "The way
that the American government is treating Israel is a disgrace. We must be
strong to stand up for what is good for the State of Israel."
The Government Press Office published the main points of the demands that
Israeli has upon the Palestinian Authority. Israel insists that Arafat
change the Palestinian covenant, prevent incitement in official media,
confiscate illegal weapons, and to transfer to Israel 34 terrorists who
have found refuge with the autonomy. In addition, Israel demands that
12,000 policemen - one-third of the force - be discharged, as the
agreements stipulate that the Palestinian police force number only 24,000.
A report released in Norway yesterday shows that the number of Palestinian
policemen per citizen is the highest in the world - one policeman for every
75 citizens.
4. ALBRIGHT UNAWARE OF CLINTON DECLARATION
On March 14, 1996, U.S. President Bill Clinton made a public declaration at
the grave of Nachshon Wachsman, an American-Israeli citizen murdered by
terrorists. The declaration was made in the presence of Nachshon's
parents, then-Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres, and then-U.S. Ambassador
to Israel Martin Indyk. Clinton stated then that the U.S. would not ask
Israel to continue with the Oslo process until Arafat arrests and hands
over Muhammad Deif, the man who masterminded Nachshon's murder. Israel
Resource News Agency reports, however, that Arafat himself informed Indyk
in December, 1997, that the PA refuses to apprehend Deif.
Arutz-7 has learned that on Dec. 19, 1997, U.S. Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright participated in a conference call with Jewish leaders in
the U.S., sponsored by the Conference of Presidents. One participant,
Farley Weiss, Vice President of the National Council of Young Israel, asked
her a question regarding apparent U.S. reluctance to pursue Palestinian
Arab terrorists such as Mohammed Deif who have murdered Americans and have
found refuge within Palestinian Authority territory. Her answer was that
the U.S. policy
concerning terrorists has not changed and that she does not know who
Mohammed Deif is or anything else about the issue.
In response, Esther Wachsman, Nachshon's mother, told Arutz-7 yesterday
that she is "shocked" to hear that Ms. Albright does not know anything
about the man behind her son's murder and a top Hamas terrorist.
5. OPEN LETTER TO CLINTON
In an open letter to U.S. President Bill Clinton, "Peace for Generations"
chairman Daniel Yosef writes, "More than four years after Yasser Arafat
pledge in writing... to change the [covenant], they not only remain intact,
but serve as the living ideology of the PA in the nursery, schools, TV
programs, and in the mosques... Only yesterday a death lab was discovered
in Nablus before it could claim hundreds of lives and untold terror and
suffering. President Clinton: We will not gamble with the lives of our
children or grandchildren. We seek Peace for Generations, not just for
now. [In addition,] what convinces you in English must be consistent with
what Chairman Arafat is teaching youth in Arabic."
SPECIAL INSERT:
***** Text of "Note for the Record" attached to the Hevron agreement *****
ISRAELI RESPONSIBILITIES -
The Israeli side reaffirms its commitments to the following measures and
principles in accordance with the Interim Agreement:
1. Further Redeployment Phases
The first phase of further redeployments will be carried out during the
first week of March.
2. Prisoner Release Issues
Prisoner release issues will be dealt with in accordance with the Interim
Agreement's provisions and procedures, including Annex VII.
3. Outstanding Interim Agreement Issues
Negotiations on the following outstanding issues from the Interim Agreement
will be immediately resumed. Negotiations on these issues will be
conducted in parallel:
a) Safe Passage
b) Gaza Airport
c) Gaza port
d) Passages
e) Economic, financial, civilian and security issues
f) People-to-people
4. Permanent Status Negotiations
Permanent status negotiations will be resumed within two months after
implementation of the Hevron Protocol.
PALESTINIAN RESPONSIBILITIES -
The Palestinian side reaffirms its commitments to the following measures and
principles in accordance with the Interim Agreement:
1. Complete the process of revising the Palestinian National Charter.
2. Fighting terror and preventing violence.
a) Strengthening security cooperation.
b) Preventing incitement and hostile propaganda, as specified in
Article
XXII of the Interim Agreement.
c) Combat systematically and effectively terrorist organizations and
infrastructure.
d) Apprehension, prosecution and punishment of terrorists.
e) Requests for transfer of suspects and defendants will be acted
upon in
accordance with Article II(7)(f) of Annex IV to the Interim Agreement. [see
below]
f) Confiscation of illegal firearms.
3. Size of Palestinian Police will be pursuant to the Interim Agreement.
4. Exercise of Palestinian governmental activity, and location of
Palestinian governmental offices, will be as specified in the Interim
Agreement.
The aforementioned commitment will be dealt with immediately and in
parallel.
Prepared by Ambassador Dennis Ross at the request of Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu and Ra'ees Yasser Arafat.
++++++++
Interim Agreement, Annex IV Article II(7):
f. 1. Both sides, upon receipt of a request in accordance with this
Article, shall effect the arrest and transfer requested.
2. If the individual requested is detained in custody or is serving a
prison sentence, the side receiving the request may delay the transfer to
the requesting side for the duration of the detention or imprisonment.
++++++++
****************************
Hebrew News Editor: Haggai Segal
English News Editor: Hillel Fendel
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