Subject: Arutz-7 News: March 5-11, 1998
Date: Wed, 11 Mar 1998 23:31:42 +0000
To: "Arutz-7 List"<heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>
From: Arutz-7 Editor <editor7@virtual.co.il>
To: arutz-7@ploni.virtual.co.il
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Thursday, March 5, 1998
Arutz Sheva News Service
Thursday, March 5, 1998 / Adar 7, 5758
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. NETANYAHU TO EUROPE
2. URI ARIEL: WHY SHOULD WE GIVE MORE LAND FOR NOTHING?
1. NETANYAHU TO EUROPE
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu departed this morning for a visit in several
Western European countries, and met this afternoon with King Juan Carlos of
Spain. Mr. Netanyahu will travel from Spain to Germany, Norway, and
England. He and Minister of Defense Yitzchak Mordechai, who will be leaving for Europe
tonight, will explain the Israeli position in the current impasse with the
Palestinians. The Prime Minister told reporters today, "The Europeans do not
truly understand the Middle East situation." The topic of an organized
withdrawal from Lebanon will also be discussed. Yediot Acharonot reported
today that a secret Israeli-Lebanese channel of communication has been opened
recently, between Netanyahu-aides Danny Naveh and Uzi Arad, and a top aide of
Lebanese President Elias Hrawi.
2. URI ARIEL: WHY SHOULD WE GIVE MORE LAND FOR NOTHING?
Leaders of the Yesha Council have asked for an urgent meeting with Minister
Ariel Sharon regarding his plans for a withdrawal from Yesha and his attitude
towards a Palestinian state. Beit El Mayor Uri Ariel, a leading member of the
Yesha Council, told Arutz-7 today that he and his colleagues Ze'ev Chaver and
Yesha Council head Pinchas Wallerstein stand by their threat to act to topple
the government if it decides on a withdrawal. "I have heard it quoted in
Sharon's name that Israel must get used to the idea of a Palestinian state,
while ensuring that it does not endanger our security. If he said this,
this is very grave, because... this is a contradiction in terms: The Palestinian
entity now is endangering our security, and how much more so would a Palestinian
state endanger us... We will object to the formation of a Palestinian state as
strenuously as we know how..."
Ariel objects to holding talks with the Palestinians before they fulfill their
end of the Oslo agreements: "Israel demands reciprocity, but has not received
anything... The PA keeps selling us the same merchandise again and again. It
continues to allow Hamas to operate, and we can only be thankful that lately
they have not been successful... I advise the government to concentrate on
demanding Palestinian fulfillment of obligations."
When asked whether he would continue to object to a withdrawal even if carried
out in stages, Ariel said, "The salami method is well-known, and dangerous, as
the Prime Minister himself has said. We plan to meet with other government
ministers as well, not just with Sharon, so that they should not be surprised
that we plan to work to topple the government if it goes on this path... This
irresponsible withdrawal will not lead to peace - the most that they're
talking about now is "understandings" or an "arrangement," but it certainly will not
bring peace - and will not gain us anything. In May 1999 the Oslo agreement
ends, and Arafat will declare a state, so why should Israel volunteer to give
him more parts of the heart of Eretz Yisrael for his state in exchange for
absolutely nothing?"
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From: Arutz-7 Editor <editor7@virtual.co.il>
To: arutz-7@ploni.virtual.co.il, Michael@virtual.co.il
Subject: Arutz-7 News Brief: Friday, March 6, 1998
Arutz Sheva News Service
Friday, March 6, 1998 / Adar 8, 5758
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. TWO REMARKS DRAW FIRE
2. EITAN: BARAK'S REMARK A "CERTIFICATE OF POVERTY"
3. PM IN EUROPE
1. TWO REMARKS DRAW FIRE
Two remarks yesterday and the day before have brought wide-spread
criticism upon those who made them. Maj.-Gen. (res.) Shlomo Gazit
said on Wednesday to a Tel Aviv University audience that the IDF
soldiers who wear knitted kippot (yarmulkes) remind him of those who
wore the swastika in the Nazi army. He quickly apologized, but the
audience remained in shock. Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Amnon
Lipkin-Shachak released an announcement this morning strongly
condemning the statement, and former Chief of Staff Rafael Eitan, now
Minister of Agriculture, demands that Gazit be discharged from all
public organizations of which he is a member. Education Minister
Rabbi Yitzchak Levy said that the kippah represents Judaism and love
of man. He said that Gazit's statement is a manifestation of the
depth of self-hate felt by certain Jews.
Former Education Minister MK Amnon Rubenstein, of Meretz, condemned
Gazit for his "shocking and horrific" words. Moledet leader MK
Rehavam Ze'evi, a former IDF general, said that the "knitted-kippot"
are among the best of the IDF's soldiers, and they are the pioneers of
the modern settlement enterprise. The Meimad movement termed Gazit's
remarks "grave incitement."
2. EITAN: BARAK'S REMARK A "CERTIFICATE OF POVERTY"
The second controversial statement was made yesterday by opposition
leader MK Ehud Barak. In an interview that will be broadcast tonight
on television, Barak said that if he were a young Palestinian now, he
would join a terrorist organization. Former Prime Minister Yitzchak
Shamir said that these are most grave remarks, that are actually
propaganda for young Arabs to enlist in terror organizations, which
harm citizens as opposed to soldiers of an army. Science Minister
Michael Eitan said that Gazit's remarks were more shocking than
Barak's, but that Barak's words worry him more because he is in a
position of influence and will run for Prime Minister. Asked by an
interviewer if he would have joined an Arab terror organization if he
was a young Arab, Eitan said that even in war there are human rules,
and that nurseries and schools cannot be targets of terror such as
that carried out by the Arabs against us over the years, such as the
crushing of children's skulls with rocks. "For him to have said that
he would have done this is a mark of discredit," concluded Eitan.
3. PM IN EUROPE
Prime Minister Netanyahu has arrived in Bonn, Germany, after his short
visit in Spain. He will meet with Chancellor Kohl, and will then fly
to Oslo for the Sabbath. On Sunday, he will meet in Great Britain
with Prime Minister Tony Blair.
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From: Arutz-7 Editor <editor7@virtual.co.il>
To: arutz-7@ploni.virtual.co.il
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Monday, March 9, 1998
Arutz Sheva News Service
Monday, March 9, 1998 / Adar 11, 5758
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. ARABS CAUSING SECURITY PROBLEMS
2. MORE BARAK REMARKS
1. ARABS CAUSING SECURITY PROBLEMS
27 mayors of towns near the border with the autonomous areas wrote
today to Public Security Minister Avigdor Kahalani, claiming that the
security situation in their towns has become unbearable and that they
are living in anarchy. Arabs carry out "sorties" from within the
Palestinian Authority, steal cars and agricultural equipment, and
escape safely back home to the PA. They warn that if immediate action
is not taken, a catastrophe could occur.
The windshield of an Israeli car was smashed this morning by an Arab
stone-thrower near the Gush Katif community of Kfar Darom in Gaza.
Kfar Darom residents say that Arab attacks on their cars have greatly
increased over the past month.
2. MORE BARAK REMARKS
"I plan to reach the leadership of this country with you or without
you," said Labor party leader MK Ehud Barak to an audience of hundreds
of party members yesterday. He said that certain members of the party
are disturbing him on his way to capture the helm of the country. He
was apparently referring to an initiative by Labor party
Secretary-General MK Raanan Cohen to revoke the present law allowing
for the direct election of the Prime Minister (a law which Barak
supports.) "No leader has reached the top without a strong and united
party behind him," Cohen told Arutz-7 today. "I am sure that is what
Barak meant to say, and if it did not appear that way, then I can only
be sorry." Arutz-7's Haggai Segal asked Cohen if the abundant
criticism of Barak by the rank-and-file MKs does not hurt the party.
Cohen replied that Barak "had, has, and will have the support of the
party."
Cohen explained that he and many other MKs wish to return to the old
system of electing the Prime Minister (in which the elections are for
a party list, and not for a specific person; the President of the
State then entrusts whichever MK he chooses - usually the leader of
the largest party - with the task of forming a government.) "The
present system crushes the big parties, creating many small
special-interest parties, leaving the big parties with fewer Knesset
seats to deal with the major problems of the country such as defense
and the economy. The old system is more appropriate to our political
climate," said Cohen.
Regarding Barak's remarks last week that if he were a Palestinian of
the right age, he too would have joined an Arab terrorist
organization, coalition head Likud MK Meir Shitreet said the
following: "Something bad has been coming over the left-wing
parties... I don't suspect Barak of wanting to justify Arab terrorism.
But this wretched remark of his proves his lack of experience as a
leader." MK Gideon Ezra said, "[Barak's remark] is an admission that
the Oslo agreement has failed, for it is based on the consent of both
sides to educate against terrorism."
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From: Arutz-7 Editor <editor7@virtual.co.il>
To: arutz-7@ploni.virtual.co.il, Michael@virtual.co.il
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Tuesday, March 10, 1998
Arutz Sheva News Service
Tuesday, March 10, 1998 / Adar 12, 5758
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. TERRORIST QUOTES BARAK; BARAK ATTACKS LIKUD
2. GOVERNMENT MEETING: CAR THEFTS, NEW SETTLEMENT
1. TERRORIST QUOTES BARAK; BARAK ATTACKS LIKUD
Tsurif-cell terrorist Aiman Kapisha, speaking to reporters in a
military court today, enlisted the support of none other than Labor
party leader MK Ehud Barak for his actions. Barak recently said on
television that if had been a young Palestinian, he would have joined
a terrorist group. The terrorist quoted Barak, and said that he
(Kapisha) is merely a soldier engaged in a mission to free his
homeland. The Tsurif cell was involved in the murder of 11 Israelis
in several attacks. The Victims of Arab Terror organization had
earlier requested that the Attorney-General begin an investigation
into Barak on suspicion of incitement to violence.
Barak expressed "shock" over the attempt to portray "me, someone who
has dedicated his entire life to fighting Arab terrorism, as someone
who defends it." Barak said that the Likud is using his words in a
cynical manner and is distorting them. "The right-wing is willing to
impair the security of the state for the sake of its narrow political
interests," charged Barak.
The Likud responded to Barak's statement of today with an announcement
of its own: "The Likud sharply condemns the words of Labor Party
Chairman Ehud Barak, who said that the Likud distorted his...
declaration that he would have joined a terrorist group if he was a
young Palestinian. Barak is again running away from responsibility.
Instead of apologizing for his miserable remark, unprecedented in
Labor party history for its stupidity, and which has already caused
damage to the war against terrorism, Barak feels that he can insult
the public's intelligence and throw the blame for his mistakes on the
Likud..." Deputy Defense Minister Sylvan Shalom said, "Barak's
remarks reflect a severe deficiency in his sense of judgment. It
brings Palestinian youth to feel that if they don't join a terrorist
organization, something is lacking in their patriotism." The Knesset
will hold a session on Barak's remarks tomorrow, at the request of the
Likud.
2. GOVERNMENT MEETING: CAR THEFTS, NEW SETTLEMENT
The government ministers, who convened today for their weekly Cabinet
session, heard details of Prime Minister Netanyahu's talks with
European leaders. He said that he had discussed with them, among
other issues, his initiative to adopt U.N. resolution 425 regarding an
IDF withdrawal from Lebanon. Netanyahu also reiterated today the
government's demand for Palestinian Authority fulfillment of its
obligations as a pre-condition for a future withdrawal from Yesha.
The alarming rate of car thefts was raised, and it was decided to hold
a special meeting on this topic in the near future. Police
Commissioner Yehudah Wilk reported to the ministers that the rate of
car thefts has actually dropped slightly of late, as a result of more
specialized police efforts (see first article).
The government also announced that it would establish a new communal
settlement in the Adulam region, between Beit Shemesh and Gaza. This
is a part of Infrastructures Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to establish
a stronger Jewish presence in the area. The new community will be
called Massuat Guvrin. Prime Minister Netanyahu announced at the
meeting that the present government has a different policy than its
predecessor, which established no new settlements.
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From: Arutz-7 Editor <editor7@virtual.co.il>
To: arutz-7@ploni.virtual.co.il, Michael@virtual.co.il
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Wednesday, March 11, 1998
Arutz Sheva News Service
Wednesday, March 11, 1998 / Adar 13, 5758
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. ARAB RIOTING IN VARIOUS YESHA LOCATIONS
2. KNESSET STORM OVER BARAK REMARKS
3. DIPLOMATICALLY SPEAKING
1. ARAB RIOTING IN VARIOUS YESHA LOCATIONS
IDF forces were rushed to the Ayosh Junction between Beit El and
Ramallah early this afternoon after Palestinian Arabs began
systematically stoning Israeli cars. One Arab was wounded in the leg
when an Israeli shot in self-defense after his car was surrounded and
attacked by a mob of Arabs. The soldiers who arrived on the scene
drove the attackers back into Ramallah, and a battle of stones and
rubber bullets ensued. Similar violence is occurring in Dura and
Hevron. Some 20 Arabs have been injured thus far.
Stones continued to be thrown by local Arabs this morning on IDF
soldiers in Hevron. Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Amnon Lipkin-Shachak
asked the PLO's Abu Mazen to act to calm the tensions in the area.
Hevron Jewish community spokesman Noam Arnon told Arutz-7 today,
"Unfortunately, the type of shooting on the Avraham Avinu neighborhood
from the Abu Sneinah hills that happened here last night is exactly
what we warned about when the Hevron Accords were signed." An
announcement from the Hevron Jewish community reminded that Netanyahu
had promised at the time, 'If they shoot from the hills, we will go in
with tanks.'" Arnon said that the residents were very disappointed
with the IDF response. "The IDF has the right to enter
Palestinian-controlled territory in cases like this to pursue the
shooters, but it did not do this," he said.
Shortly before 3 PM this afternoon, the IDF instructed the students at
Yeshivat Od Yosef Chai at Joseph's Tomb in Shechem to evacuate the
premises, for fear that the riots would spread.
2. KNESSET STORM OVER BARAK REMARKS
The Knesset held a stormy session today about Labor party chairman MK
Ehud Barak's remarks that he would have joined a terrorist
organization had he been a young Palestinian. MK Michael Kleiner
said, "MK Barak, if the television announcer had asked you if you
would have joined the Nazis had you grown up in Germany, would you
have also answered as you did?" Opposition MKs protested loudly, two
MKs were expelled from the plenum, and a recess was called. Barak
himself, speaking at the Knesset rostrum afterwards, said, "No one
should try to teach me how to fight terror. I was on the hijacked
Sabena airplane during the rescue when we thought it might blow up any
second, and I was in Beirut in the middle of the night dressed as a
woman, and I have been involved in the planning and implementation of
many other anti-terrorist activities. Whoever reads my remarks will
see that I expressed no support for terrorism." Deputy Defense
Minister Sylvan Shalom, speaking for the government, said that he
cannot understand why Barak didn't simply do the expected and
straightforward thing and apologize for what he said. He said that
Barak's lack of judgment and his refusal to admit his mistakes show
that he does not deserve the position of national leadership that he
seeks.
The Knesset also discussed the remarks of Gen. (res.) Shlomo Gazit,
who said that he is reminded of Nazis wearing swastikas when he sees
IDF soldiers wearing knitted kippot (yarmulkes). NRP MK Nissan
Slomiansky called for Gazit to be stripped of his rank, and said that
he should not be allowed to appear before soldiers in an official
capacity.
3. DIPLOMATICALLY SPEAKING
Martin Indyk, United States Undersecretary of State for Middle Eastern
Affairs, said last night that the U.S. has no intention of forcing a
political solution upon Israel and the Palestinians. Indyk appeared
at a hearing of the International Relations Committee in the House of
Representatives. Prime Minister Netanyahu met with Jordan's Crown
Prince Hassan in Tel Aviv last night.
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