Subject: Arutz-7 News: May 1-6, 1998
Date:    Wed, 13 May 1998 01:33:12 +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, arutz7-b@ploni.virtual.co.il
Subject:       Arutz-7 News: Friday, May 1, 1998

Arutz Sheva News Service
     <http://www.a7.org> 
Friday, May 1, 1998 / Iyar 5, 5758 / 20 days to the Omer
------------------------------------------------
Delivered Daily via Email, Sunday thru Friday
  --- See below for subscription instructions ---

Arutz Sheva Salutes Israel on its 50th Independence Day

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
  1. AL GORE IN ISRAEL
  2. NETANYAHU PROMISES HAR HOMA CONSTRUCTION SOON
  3. U.S. CONGRESSMEN ADDRESS LETTER TO ATT.-GEN. RENO
  4. U.S. HOUSE OF REPS COMMEMORATES ISRAEL'S 50TH YEAR
  5. DANCE COMPANY PACKED BAGS AND LEFT

1. AL GORE IN ISRAEL
U.S. Vice President Al Gore continues his visit in Israel for the Jubilee
celebrations.  He met this morning with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu
for several hours and discussed issues including the negotiations with the
Palestinian Arabs, Iran's nuclear capabilities, and an Israeli withdrawal
from Lebanon.  During the afternoon hours, the Prime Minister will convene
the security mini-cabinet to formulate Israel's positions to be presented
at next week's summit conference in London.  Later in the afternoon,
Netanyahu will host a festive lunch in honor of Gore at the King David
Hotel in Jerusalem.

At a joint press conference following this morning's Netanyahu-Gore
meeting, both leaders emphasized that their closed session together was not
a continuation of the on-going negotiations.  Vice President Gore opened
his speech:  "Thank you for a very stimulating and interesting and
far-reaching and even philosophical discussion - one of the most
interesting I have enjoyed in quite some time.  I want to underscore the
fact that this was not a negotiation, and I am not a negotiator.  I am here
to help celebrate a remarkable milestone in the history of one of the most
vibrant democracies in the history of the earth."  Prime Minister Netanyahu
stated: "We are committed to achieving peace.  It is a different peace than
the one we have in western Europe or in North America.  It is a peace in a
predominantly un-democratized area...  We have to know and be secure that
we can defend the peace.  A peace that cannot be defended will not hold...
The determination of what Israel needs for its security - rightly the U.S.
and Israel agree should be left in Israel's hands.  We are grateful to the
U.S. for helping us in these efforts."

Speaking at last night's Jubilee Bells Independence Day celebration in
Jerusalem, U.S. Vice President Gore blessed Israel that it should "achieve
peace and not only a peace process."  Gore also said that he sees the State
of Israel as the fulfillment of Ezekiel's prophesy of the Revival of the
Dry Bones.  Prime Minister Netanyahu, speaking afterwards, spoke of the
hope that has accompanied the Jewish people throughout its history.  He
thanked all of Israel's friends around the world for their hopes that
Israel can bridge the river between annihilation and salvation.  The Prime
Minister ended his speech with the opening sentences of the Prayer for the
State of Israel.

2. NETANYAHU PROMISES HAR HOMA CONSTRUCTION SOON
Minister of Education Rabbi Yitzchak Levy stated this morning that Prime
Minster Netanyahu promised representatives of the National Religious Party
that construction at the Har Homa residential community would begin after
Independence Day.  Levy added that the Prime Minister did not obligate
himself to any date or construction schedule.

Close to 15,000 people participated yesterday afternoon in a
cornerstone-laying ceremony at the Har Homa site in southern Jerusalem.
Politicians spoke, musicians played, and participants conducted traditional
Independence Day barbecues.  A left-wing counter-demonstration was held
about a kilometer away.  One protestor managed to reach the Har Homa stage
and grab the microphone from Yesha Council leader Aharon Domb for a few
moments.

3. U.S. CONGRESSMEN ADDRESS LETTER TO ATT.-GEN. RENO
Sixty-two U.S. Congressman have signed a letter to U.S. Attorney-General
Janet Reno demanding that the Department of Justice prosecute Palestinian
Arab terrorists who have murdered U.S. citizens.  The letter, initiated by
Reps. Matt Salmon (R-AZ) and Jim Saxton (R-NJ), was co-signed by both
Republicans and Democrats including Chairman of the Senate Banking
Committee Alfonse D'Amato, House Speaker Newt Gingrich, House Judiciary
Committee Chairman Henry Hyde, and House Int'l Relations Committee Chairman
Ben Gilman.  Segments from the letter follow:

"...The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has thus far failed to indict a
single Palestinian terrorist believed to have participated in the murder of
American citizens... Many of the suspects in these murders are believed to
be living freely and openly in Palestinian-controlled territory.  While
some are serving time in Palestinian jails, this alone should not preclude
the DOJ from issuing indictments, particularly given the fact that the
Palestinian judicial system has often released terrorists well before their
complete sentences have been served."

"The DOJ should pursue these killers of American citizens abroad with the
same vigor it has pursued the murderers of Americans killed in terrorist
attacks here in the U.S.  Americans traveling or living abroad have often
been desirable targets for terrorist attacks.  If we are to deter such
attacks in the future, it is essential that our law enforcement agencies
pursue these cases aggressively and to the fullest extent of the law.  It
is our view that the DOJ must investigate, indict, and prosecute these
individuals without further delay."

4. U.S. HOUSE OF REPS COMMEMORATES ISRAEL'S 50TH YEAR
Also in Congress, the House of Representatives adopted a resolution
commemorating Israel's 50th anniversary.  The unanimous measure commends
the "people of Israel for their remarkable achievements," and "reaffirms
the bonds of friendship and cooperation which have existed between the
United States and Israel for the past half-century."  House Speaker Newt
Gingrich announced that he will lead a congressional delegation to Israel
in May in celebration of Israel's 50th anniversary.  New York Governor
George Pataki is in Israel for the celebrations and signed a unique
agreement of cultural cooperation with Prime Minister Netanyahu.

5. DANCE COMPANY PACKED BAGS AND LEFT
The Bat Sheva dance Company did not appear at the Jubilee Bells celebration
last night in Jerusalem.  The dancers rejected the compromise that had been
reached, according to which they would not disrobe
completely from their Hassidic garb, but only partially.  Head of the dance
group, choreographer Ohad Naharin, announced that he will resign.  A
notable portion of the audience greeted the announcement with applause.
Minister of Agriculture Rafael Eitan did not appear at the ceremony in
protest of what he called religious coercion.

*******************************************************************

From:          Arutz-7 Editor <editor7@virtual.co.il>
To:            arutz-7@ploni.virtual.co.il,arutz7-b@ploni.virtual.co.il 
Subject:       Arutz-7 News: Sunday, May 3, 1998

Arutz Sheva News Service
     <http://www.a7.org> 
Sunday, May 3, 1998 / Iyar 7, 5758 / 22 days to the Omer
------------------------------------------------
Delivered Daily via Email, Sunday thru Friday
  --- See below for subscription instructions ---

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
  1. NETANYAHU TO LONDON
  2. PM GIVES GUARANTEE TO NRP MINISTERS

  * * *SPECIAL INSERT
Excerpts from a Wall Street Journal editorial

1. NETANYAHU TO LONDON
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is scheduled to depart for London
early this evening, where he will meet tomorrow with his British
counterpart Tony Blair and U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
 Israeli government sources assume that the U.S. will not present its
proposal for a 13% withdrawal as an ultimatum, although it will
request Israel's official response to it within a matter of days. 
Albright has expressed pessimism about the success of the London
talks.  U.S. Vice President Al Gore, on his way to Egypt, held a
surprise meeting this morning at Ben Gurion International Airport with
Prime Minister Netanyahu.  Gore apprised Netanyahu on his meetings
with Yasser Arafat.

2. PM GIVES GUARANTEE TO NRP MINISTERS
Prime Minister Netanyahu provided Ministers Rabbi Yitzchak Levy and
Shaul Yahalom with a written guarantee at today's government meeting
that he will not conclude any final agreements in London.  He further
wrote to the NRP ministers that he would make no decisions before
bringing the issues to a cabinet debate, and that he would continue to
insist on reciprocity from the Palestinians.  

Yesha Council leaders met all night with Knesset Members, rabbis, and
other leaders of the Judea, Samaria, and Gaza communities.  The issue
at hand: worrisome reports that Netanyahu is prepared to agree to an
11% withdrawal, and that he may gloss over his demands for reciprocity
from the Palestinians.  The Yesha Council wrote to 1000 members of the
National Religious Party central committee, requesting that they
encourage the NRP Knesset Members to stand fast against a withdrawal. 
The letter, signed by Council heads Aharon Domb and Pinchas
Wallerstein, reads, "The government stands before possibly the most
fateful question of this generation: whether to accept international
dictates to surrender parts of our homeland, or to sustain the
existence of the Jewish communities in the land we have inherited from
our forefathers."  The letter states that if the withdrawal is carried
out, the lives of thousands of Jews in almost 20 Jewish communities
will become intolerable.  "They will become surrounded by a hostile
Palestinian entity which - according to Arafat's announcements - will
become a Palestinian state next year," continued the letter. 

It is assumed that Netanyahu's written promise to the NRP ministers
today was in reaction to the pressure exerted upon him by the Yesha
Council members and others.

* * *SPECIAL INSERT
Excerpts from a Wall Street Journal editorial of Friday, May 1, 1998:

...After the 1967 Six-Day War, no longer were Israeli farmers and
fishermen in the Galilee threatened by Syrian gunners on the Golan
Heights; no longer were holy sites in Jerusalem's old city and on the
west bank of the Jordan denied to Jews, and, most importantly, no
longer would Israelis have to fear for the very existence of their
state...

As for the creation of a Palestinian Arab state, foreseen in the 1947
U.N. resolution backing Israel's creation, the task was made nearly
impossible by the lack of politically moderate Arabs with whom to
deal. Extremist forces had murdered many such "collaborators," while
others had fled. Though Israel's military might remained unchallenged,
political desperation led it eventually to recognize an organization
dedicated to its own destruction--the Palestine Liberation
Organization or PLO. The Oslo Accords were born.

In terms of granting political independence to West Bank Arabs, the
Accords have been a success; 98% now live under Palestinian Authority
rule. But this is not a liberal political order, and in terms of
satisfying Palestinian Arab aspirations for a viable state, large
obstacles exist. PA President [sic] Yasser Arafat walked away from the
bargaining table more than a year ago to protest Israeli construction
near Jerusalem. He still has not removed calls for the destruction of
Israel from the PLO charter, and he continues to make hateful and
inflammatory statements that undermine chances for peace.

It is quite understandable, then, that so many Western politicians and
pundits are pessimistic about the prospects for real peace in Israel's
near future. More perplexing is the instinct  to blame the impasse on
Israel. Perhaps it is because the circumstances of Israel's creation
still raise questions of political legitimacy, including claims that
all Israeli land was essentially stolen from the Arabs. But it should
be kept in mind that the original Jewish state was a U.N. creation.
How many of Israel's critics live in states whose boundaries were
defined by anything other than conquest?

In a region where corrupt, despotic government is too common, Israelis
have built a liberal-democratic civilization, however vulnerable that
system may be to the imperfect political foresight of political men
and women. Much remains to be done, including freeing the Israeli
economy to produce wealth for Arabs and Jews alike and help cement
genuine peace in the region. But if Israel's anniversary should serve
to remind us of anything, it is that although "peace now," or anything
"now," is not the nature of politics, courage and conviction can
achieve much over time.

**********************************************************************

From:          Arutz-7 Editor <editor7@virtual.co.il>
To:            arutz-7@ploni.virtual.co.il,arutz7-b@ploni.virtual.co.il 
Subject:       Arutz-7 News: Monday, May 4, 1998

Arutz Sheva News Service
     <http://www.a7.org> 
Monday, May 4, 1998 / Iyar 8, 5758 / 23 days to the Omer
------------------------------------------------
Delivered Daily via Email, Sunday thru Friday
  --- See below for subscription instructions ---

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
  1. COUNTER-PRESSURE FROM WITHIN
  2. ARUTZ-7 FILES SUIT

* * * SPECIAL INSERT:
Four Years to the Jericho-Gaza Agreement


1. COUNTER-PRESSURE FROM WITHIN
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu met with his British counterpart
Tony Blair in London this morning, and afterwards with U.S. Secretary
of State Madeleine Albright.  Sources within his entourage said that
he is prepared to agree to an 11% withdrawal, and possibly even 13% if
the Palestinians cede their demand for a third withdrawal.  David Bar
Ilan, however, who serves as Director of Policy Planning and
Communications in the Prime Minister's Office, told BBC today that
Israel is against a withdrawal of more than 9%.  

The Yesha Council reiterated its threat again today to act to topple
the government if it agrees to a withdrawal from Judea and Samaria. 
Arutz-7 has learned that three of the more prominent leaders of Yesha
- Yaakov Katz (Katzeleh), Uri Ariel, and Ze'ev Chever (Zambish) -
worked intensively during the 48 hours that preceded Prime Minister
Netanyahu's trip to London to organize a firm parliamentary resistance
to any further concessions. After a marathon series of meetings, a
solid bloc of nine MKs in the Land of Israel Knesset Front issued a
public call to the Prime Minister to remain firm against American and
European pressure to make further concessions to Arafat.  They warned
that should Mr. Netanyahu agree to any unilateral withdrawal from
Judea and Samaria, they would immediately work to bring down his
government.  MK Michael Kleiner, Chairman of the Land of Israel
Knesset Front, told the BBC that Netanyahu's remaining in power is
directly dependent on his remaining firm in his negotiations with the
Americans, Europeans and Arabs.

Education Minister Rabbi Yitzchak Levy (National Religious Party) said
that the Prime Minister should be wary of the NRP's reaction if he
does not adhere to his principles in London.  He said that the NRP
would formulate its reaction to the government's decisions based on
the capacity of the Yesha communities to continue to thrive and live
securely.

2. ARUTZ-7 FILES SUIT
Arutz-7 Israel Radio has filed a petition in the Supreme Court against
intentions to shut down its broadcasts.  The station's attorney, Dr.
Yaakov Weinroth, claimed in the suit that forcibly closing it down
would be a blow to the freedom of occupation and freedom of
expression.  He denied that Arutz-7 broadcasts illegally, and wrote
that the station must not be treated differently than Abie Nathan's
Voice of Peace.  

Yaakov Katz (Katzeleh), in the name of the leadership of Arutz-7,
issued a call to Attorney-General Elyakim Rubenstein: "You know, as
does everyone else, that all the accusations against are no more than
a blood libel... So why would you give an order to close down Arutz-7,
against all principles of justice, when this is not done even against
Palestinian radio, or against Arab radio stations in the Galilee, or
against stations that broadcast illegally all over the country?  Just
against us?!  Just us, who are not in violation of any law, and you
know that this is so... We are allowed to have studios in Beit El,
where we don't have any transmitters, and we are allowed to talk by
telephone to the ship at sea [from where the transmissions are then
broadcast]...  A very large national religious public cannot
understand how Elyakim - who is supposed to be its representative, for
after all he graduated from Yeshivas, and is a Torah scholar - many
people are asking us by phone and fax how is it possible that he is
heading the effort to close us down, merely in order to find favor
with the people around him and the left?!  We call upon you, Elyakim,
to wake up, and to stop persecuting us!" 


SPECIAL INSERT:
In honor of the fourth anniversary of the signing of the
"Gaza-Jericho" agreement with the Palestinians, the Israel Government
Press Office published an article entitled "Four Years of Israeli
Concessions and Palestinian Violations."  Excerpts follow:

At a ceremony in Cairo on May 4, 1994, Israel and the Palestinians
signed the Gaza-Jericho Agreement. The accord led to the establishment
of the Palestinian Authority (PA) shortly thereafter. Each side
undertook numerous obligations, chief among them Israel's commitment
to turn territory over to the PA, and the Palestinian commitment to
combat terror and prevent violence. Over the past four years, Israel
has made the following tangible concessions and proposals to the
Palestinians:

1) Israeli forces withdrew from Jericho and most of the Gaza Strip
(May 1994) 2) After the signing of the September 1995 Oslo 2 Accords,
Israeli forces withdrew from six cities in the West Bank: Jenin,
Tulkarem, Kalkilya, Nablus, Ramallah, Bethlehem 3) After the signing
of the January 1997 Hebron Accord, Israeli forces withdrew from 80% of
Hebron, one of Judaism's holiest cities. 4) On March 6, 1997, the
Israeli Cabinet approved the first phase of the further West Bank
redeployments, consisting of 9.1% of the territory. This included 7%
of territory that is currently Area B (Israeli security control,
Palestinian civilian control) and 2.1% of Area C (exclusive Israeli
control). The redeployment would have tripled the size of West Bank
territory under exclusive Palestinian control. The PA rejected the
Israeli Cabinet decision. 5) On March 19, 1997, Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel is prepared to enter final
status talks with the Palestinians immediately, offering an
accelerated timetable under which the negotiations would be completed
within six to nine months. The PA rejected the Israeli proposal. 6) On
November 30, 1997, the Israeli Cabinet approved in principle the
second stage of the further redeployments in the West Bank. Subsequent
meetings have been held to work out the conditions and details of the
move.

As a result of Israel's withdrawals, more than 95% of Palestinians in
Judea, Samaria and Gaza now live under Palestinian administration.

>From the Palestinian side, the four years since the Gaza-Jericho
Agreement have been marked by systematic Palestinian non-compliance
with their main obligations under the accords.  Various Palestinian
commitments contained in the May 1994 Gaza-Jericho Agreement were
recycled in the September 1995 Oslo II Accord and reaffirmed in the
January 1997 Hebron Accord, yet they remain unfulfilled.  Following is
a summary of a table outlining Palestinian actions vis-a-vis their
obligations:

a. The Commitment to Eliminate Articles in the PLO Covenant Calling
for Israel's Destruction:

First undertaken in the first Oslo agreement in Jan. 1993, reaffirmed
in the Gaza-Jericho Accord of May 1994, the Oslo II Accord of Sept.
1995, and the Hevron Protocol of Jan. 1997.  In April 1996, the
Palestinian National Council empowered a legal committee to redraft
the Covenant. No PNC action has been taken since to effectuate
changes. 

b. The Commitment to cease anti-Israel incitement:
Undertaken and reaffirmed as above.  PA officials and media regularly
incite hatred and violence against Israel.

c. The Commitment to Uproot Terrorist Infrastructure:
First Undertaken in the Gaza-Jericho Accord, and reaffirmed in the
Oslo II Accord and in the Hevron Protocol.  Some terrorists have been
arrested but most have been freed.  Some terror attacks have been
prevented, but no action has been taken against the terrorists'
military infrastructure.

d. The Commitment to Transfer of Terror Fugitives:
Undertaken and reaffirmed as above. All of Israel's requests for 33
fugitives have been ignored.

e. The Commitment to Disarm/Disband Terror Groups:
Undertaken and reaffirmed as above.  The PA has disbanded none of the
major terror groups.

f. The Commitment to Confiscate All Illegal Weapons:
Undertaken and reaffirmed as above.  Weapons caches have been
uncovered with great fanfare, but tens of thousands of weapons are
still in terrorists' hands.

g. The Commitment to cease PA Activity in Jerusalem:
Undertaken and reaffirmed as above.  Several PA offices continue to
operate in Jerusalem.

**********************************************************************

From:          Arutz-7 Editor <editor7@virtual.co.il>
To:            arutz-7@ploni.virtual.co.il,arutz7-b@ploni.virtual.co.il 
Subject:       Arutz-7 News: Tuesday, May 5, 1998

Arutz Sheva News Service
     <http://www.a7.org> 
Tuesday, May 5, 1998 / Iyar 9, 5758 / 24 days to the Omer
------------------------------------------------
Delivered Daily via Email, Sunday thru Friday
  --- See below for subscription instructions ---

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
  1. LONDON TALKS END WITH NO RESULTS
  2. PALESTINIANS THREATEN VIOLENCE
  3. JUDGE ISSUES ORDER AGAINST CLOSING ARUTZ-7

1. LONDON TALKS END WITH NO RESULTS
The London summit has ended, without results.  The talks will
apparently be continued in Washington next week.  The main points of
contention revolve around the exact extent of the withdrawal from
Judea and Samaria, and the implementation of the reciprocity
principle.  The Americans did not submit their proposal during the
talks.  Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced at a press
conference this afternoon that significant progress was made in
several areas.  This was in opposition to statements by Palestinian
and American spokesmen; State Department spokesman James Rubin said,
"It is hard to be optimistic about the talks."  

2. PALESTINIANS THREATEN VIOLENCE
Ahmed Tibi, top advisor to Yasser Arafat, said today that the
Palestinians are willing to accept every detail of the American
proposal for an Israeli withdrawal.  Palestinian spokesmen have begun
again to threaten violence throughout Judea and Samaria if Israel does
not agree to their demands. Palestinian Authority Secretary Ahmed
Abdul Rahman said today that the crisis in the London talks proves
that the entire peace process is a plot against the Palestinians, and
predicted that the region will quickly fall into a state of
pandemonium.  "Netanyahu must understand that when he says no to the
Americans, there is a price that he must pay," declared Abdul Rahman.

3. JUDGE ISSUES ORDER AGAINST CLOSING ARUTZ-7
Supreme Court Justice Yaakov Tirkel issued a restraining order today,
forbidding the government from closing Arutz-7 or taking action to
prevent Arutz-7 from broadcasting.  The order is in effect until the
petition filed yesterday by Arutz-7 against the police, the
Communications Ministry, and the Attorney-General is heard.  Today's
order requires the government to explain why it should not return the
equipment it confiscated three years ago, and why it should curtail
freedom of expression, freedom of occupation, and human dignity and
freedom by closing the station.  

***********************************************************************

From:          Arutz-7 Editor <editor7@virtual.co.il>
To:            arutz-7@ploni.virtual.co.il,arutz7-b@ploni.virtual.co.il 
Subject:       Arutz-7 News: Wednesday, May 6, 1998

Arutz Sheva News Service
Wednesday, May 6, 1998 / Iyar 10, 5758 / 25 days to the Omer
------------------------------------------------
Delivered Daily via Email, Sunday thru Friday
  --- See below for subscription instructions ---

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
  1. AMERICAN PRESSURE MAY LEAD TO EARLY ELECTIONS 
  2. OLMERT OR LANDAU MAY RUN AGAINST NETANYAHU
  3. BAR ILLAN ATTEMPTS TO CALM FEARS

1. AMERICAN PRESSURE MAY LEAD TO EARLY ELECTIONS 
The U.S. says that the Washington summit meeting which was discussed
yesterday in London will be held only if Israel agrees beforehand to a
13% withdrawal.  Prime Minister Netanyahu said today that he will not
give in to American dictates, but Yesha Council members say that they
have learned that he is prepared to agree to a withdrawal from more
than 11% of the area.

MK Michael Kleiner, leader of the Knesset Land of Israel front, told
Arutz-7 today that he understands the pressures facing Netanyahu, but
that the simple consequence of giving into these pressures is new
elections. Deputy Education Minister Moshe Peled (Tsomet), MK Tzvi
Hendel (NRP), and other MKs also reiterated today their determination
to bring down the government if a 13% withdrawal is in fact decided
upon.  NRP Minister of Transportation Shaul Yahalom said today that
his party would not be able to continue in the coalition if it decides
to withdraw from 13% of Yesha. Members of the Eretz Yisrael Knesset
front have already begun to signal their intentions; today ten of them
absented themselves from the Knesset - leading to government losses on
several votes - as they toured by helicopter some of the areas that
are scheduled to be included in the upcoming withdrawal.

Ze'ev Chever (Zambish), a leading member on the Yesha Council, said
that there still remains the hope that the Prime Minister is bringing
the issue to the government not to have it the accept the American
demands, but to reject them.  "The coming days will tell," he said. 
He said that a 13% withdrawal would leave tens of thousands of Jews in
Yesha surrounded by Palestinian territory, similar to Netzarim and
Kfar Darom in Gaza.  "It is impossible to think that such a situation,
where so many people are dependent on army escorts to leave and come
home every day, will last for long.  Whoever brings about such a
situation knows that it cannot last, and he will simply bring upon
himself the fall of his government," Chever said.

2. OLMERT OR LANDAU MAY RUN AGAINST NETANYAHU
Leaders of the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria are considering
fielding a candidate of their own to run against Binyamin Netanyahu
within the Likud for Prime Minister.  Alternatively, the candidate may
run independently in the national elections.  Two names most
frequently mentioned are those of Ehud Olmert and Uzi Landau.  Olmert,
presently mayor of Jerusalem, is well-regarded in the
religious/hareidi camp "for having kept his campaign promises." 
Landau is the Chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense
Committee, and has said that he will vote against the government if it
decides on a withdrawal from Judea and Samaria.  

3. BAR ILLAN ATTEMPTS TO CALM FEARS
David Bar Illan, Director of Policy Planning and Communication in the
Prime Minister's Office, told Arutz-7 today that Israel is firm in its
demand that the Palestinians fulfill their obligations before Israel
carries out any withdrawal.  He said that the Americans have agreed to
80% of Israel's reciprocity demands.  Regarding the demand to
extradite wanted terrorists to Israel, Bar Illan said that the U.S.
has proposed that they be held in a Palestinian prison under American
supervision; he did not say what Israel's position is on this
proposal.  "In any event," said Bar Illan, "this withdrawal will not
lead to any Jewish townships being surrounded by Palestinian
autonomy."

***********************************************************************


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