Subject: Arutz-7 News: May 7-12, 1998
Date: Wed, 13 May 1998 01:31:09 +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: Thursday, May 7, 1998
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Thursday, May 7, 1998 / Iyar 11, 5758 / 26 days to the Omer
------------------------------------------------
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. NETANYAHU STANDS STRONG
2. MOLEDET NOT JOINING GOVERNMENT
3. ARAFAT WANTS SETTLEMENTS DECLARED "WAR CRIMES"
* * * SPECIAL INSERT: Strong letter from U.S. House Speaker to
President Clinton
1. NETANYAHU STANDS STRONG
Coalition members of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee
were pleased with Prime Minister Netanyahu's presentation this morning
before the committee, in which he summed up the London talks. A
smiling Nissan Slomiansky, National Religious Party MK, said after the
session, "We have a strong and stable Prime Minister who is preserving
the Land of Israel." Committee Chairman Uzi Landau said that Netanyahu
is handling these talks better than he handled the Hevron talks. When
asked about reports that his (Landau's) name had come up as a possible
right-wing candidate for the next Prime Ministerial elections against
Netanyahu, Landau said that he sincerely hoped that Netanyahu would
remain firm and that there would be no need to field other candidates.
After the committee session, the Prime Minister told reporters,
"Israel is a sovereign country, and we will not accept dictates from
anyone else. No one will dictate our own security needs." He added
that he is not confident that the Palestinians are committed to
fulfilling their obligations, but that if and when he becomes
confident that they are fulfilling their obligations, he will convince
his coalition partners and the Land of Israel front to support the
agreement. Opposition leader MK Ehud Barak said that Israel is headed
for a blood-soaked war, while Meretz leader MK Yosi Sarid said that he
would eat a cigar if Prime Minister Netanyahu signs a peace agreement
with Arafat.
Prime Minister Netanyahu will depart for Washington next Monday,
despite previous American demands that he agree to a 13.1% withdrawal.
U.S. President Clinton, in fact, denied today that he and his
administration are pressuring Israel to cede its security needs. "I
don't believe Israel, or any other nation, should accept American
dictates in a peace process," said Clinton. Clinton's remarks
followed the release of the Gingrich letter attacking the pressures on
Israel (see below), and a press conference by six Democratic
Congressmen on the same topic. The six - Reps. Berman, Engel,
Rothman, Sherman, Deutsch, and Lowey - said that many members of
Congress would fight against attempts to use foreign aid as a means of
pressuring Israel.
Prime Minister Netanyahu will speak in Washington next week before the
AIPAC convention, and will participate in the Salute to Israel parade
in New York. Netanyahu (in Jerusalem) and Yasser Arafat (in Morocco)
are scheduled to hold a televised discussion over CNN this evening.
U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said that next week's
meeting in Washington is the last hope to save the Oslo process.
Albright agreed to Netanyahu's request to dispatch Dennis Ross to the
region today, and he will arrive tomorrow.
2. MOLEDET NOT JOINING GOVERNMENT
Moledet party leader Rehavam Ze'evi informed Prime Minister Netanyahu
today that he is suspending all further talks with him regarding the
possibility of Moledet joining the coalition.
3. ARAFAT WANTS SETTLEMENTS DECLARED "WAR CRIMES"
Yasser Arafat is attempting to initiate a U.N. decision that would
declare Judea, Samaria, and Gaza as "conquered territories," and the
Jewish communities there as "war crimes." Arutz-7 correspondent
Haggai Huberman reports that the exact international legal status of
Yesha has never been determined, because of its doubtful status until
1967; only Great Britain and Pakistan ever recognized the Jordanian
claims to sovereignty there. Arafat is discussing with Swiss
government representatives the possibility that the International Red
Cross will recommend the establishment of an international committee
that will examine the area's exact status and declare it "conquered
territory." Arafat will then be able to declare a Palestinian state
next May that will automatically encompass the entirety of Yesha. A
second Palestinian initiative would allow the U.N. to try the soldier
of any conquering army for crimes against the conquered population -
even if he has already been tried in his native country. The
Palestinians are also planning to attempt to have the world body
declare the transfer of any civilian population to conquered areas as
a war crime.
* * * SPECIAL INSERT:
Strong anti-pressure letter from U.S. House of Representatives Speaker
Newt Gingrich to President Clinton:
U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich wrote a
strongly-worded letter to U.S. President Clinton yesterday,
criticizing Clinton's one-sided pressure on Israel. The full text of
the letter follows:
Dear Mr. President,
I have followed the recent changes in your administration's Israel
policy with a deep and growing sense of concern.
I strongly believe that genuine and lasting peace in Israel can only
be achieved through voluntary direct dialogue between the parties, and
not as a result of heavy-handed outside pressure by the United States.
Israel must be able to decide her own security needs and set her own
conditions for negotiations without facing coercion from the U.S.
If your administration uses its influence to unilaterally design a
"solution" or force Israel to the table despite Israel's legitimate
concerns regarding terrorism, then we are removing any incentive for
Chairman Arafat and the Palestinian Authority to negotiate. What
motivation does Chairman Arafat have to move toward common ground when
America volunteers to drag Israel to his current position?
Worse, America's strong-arm tactics would send a clear signal to the
supporters of terrorism that their murderous actions are an effective
tool in forcing concessions from Israel. Such signals endanger Israel
and further weaken the peace process.
Our most loyal democratic allies in the region should not be punished
with threats and ultimatums, but given our fullest confidence as they
attempt to balance their mutual needs of peace and security.
America's best assistance can be offered as a facilitator, not a
bully.
Your administration must re-evaluate it policy in this area.
Sincerely,
Newt Gingrich
Speaker of the House
**********************************************************************
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 Brief: Friday, May 8, 1998
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Friday, May 8, 1998 / Iyar 12, 5758 / 27 days to the Omer
------------------------------------------------
Delivered Daily via Email, Sunday thru Friday
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. SLIGHT CHANGE IN NRP POSITION
2. ROSS TO ISRAEL TODAY
3. NETANYAHU AND ARAFAT FIELD INTERNATIONAL QUESTIONS
4. PM ANGERED BY HILARY'S PRO-PALESTINIAN REMARKS
1. SLIGHT CHANGE IN NRP POSITION
Rabbi Yitzchak Levy, head of the National Religious Party, is willing
to accept a further withdrawal from Yesha under certain conditions.
In an interview with Ha'aretz newspaper, the Education Minister stated
that he would determine his position on the matter not according to
the extent of the withdrawal, but rather according to what awaits
Israel afterwards. "If I become convinced that there will be no other
withdrawals, I'll feel calmer," he said.
2. ROSS TO ISRAEL TODAY
American mediator Dennis Ross will arrive in Israel today, in an
effort to convince Prime Minister Netanyahu to come to Washington next
week and sign an agreement with Yasser Arafat to withdraw from 13.1%
of Judea and Samaria. Other interpretations of his arrival are that
Netanyahu requested that he come, leading some to believe that the
Prime Minister had agreed to the withdrawal. Cabinet Secretary Danny
Naveh and Minister of Infrastructures Ariel Sharon have both announced
in the past hours that Israel cannot agree to a 13.1% withdrawal.
U.S. President Clinton, as well as spokesmen for his office and for
that of the Secretary of State, have said last night and today that
the cancellation of the Washington talks next week would cause the end
of the Oslo process.
3. NETANYAHU AND ARAFAT FIELD INTERNATIONAL QUESTIONS
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, and PLO Chairman
Yasser Arafat in Morocco, appeared on CNN last night, answering
questions from 200 reporters who gathered in CNN headquarters in
Atlanta. Arafat said that the Palestinians have the right to declare
a state in May 1999. He predicted that bedlam would break loose in
the Middle East if the present process fails, and called upon
Netanyahu to "abide by the majority in the Knesset who want to go
ahead with the next withdrawal." Netanyahu said that he is not sure
if he will go to Washington for talks next Monday. He said that
Israel is not willing to continue the negotiations if the Palestinians
don't fulfill their obligations. "We want them to fight terror not
one day or one month a year, but 365 days a year," said Netanyahu.
"We demand that they tear up their charter that calls for our
destruction."
Netanyahu also called upon Lebanon to "try us and see if we are
serious in our offer to withdraw. We are willing to meet directly or
indirectly with them, and to withdraw even tomorrow, if the Lebanese
army guarantees that Hizbullah will not take over our positions so
that they can bomb our towns."
4. PM ANGERED BY HILARY'S PRO-PALESTINIAN REMARKS
Prime Minister Netanyahu is reportedly fuming over American First Lady
Hilary Clinton's remarks in favor of a Palestinian state. She told
Israeli and Arab students that a Palestinian state would be a positive
development for the Middle East. After the statement caused the
expected storm, the White House quickly clarified that this was only
her private opinion. Among American/Jewish leaders criticizing the
statement were New York Senator Alfonse D'Amato, New York Governor
George Pataki, and Malcolm Hoenlein, chairman of the Conference of
Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
************************************************************************
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 10, 1998
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Sunday, May 10, 1998 / Iyar 14, 5758 / 29 days to the Omer
------------------------------------------------
Delivered Daily via Email, Sunday thru Friday
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. WASHINGTON SUMMIT CALLED OFF
2. YESHA COUNCIL NOT COMPLACENT
3. NATIONAL UNITY ON TABLE
4. RABBI EXPLAINS PARTICIPATION IN RALLY AGAINST RELIGIOUS COERCION
1. WASHINGTON SUMMIT CALLED OFF
The Washington summit has been canceled, according to a White House
announcement. A spokesman explained that the summit was originally
planned to be held only if Israel would agree beforehand to the
American proposals. American mediator Dennis Ross will hold a last meeting with Prime
Minister Netanyahu today before returning to the U.S. this evening.
Yosi Ben-Aharon, who served as Director-General of the Prime
Minister's Office under Yitzchak Shamir, told Arutz-7 that the
Americans will not remove themselves from the picture entirely, as has
been threatened, but will also not exert undue pressure on Israel to
change its position. "The most that they can do is to lay some of the
blame - not all of it - at Israel's doorstep. But they certainly
cannot cut off foreign aid, as this will simply not be tolerated by
Congress or the American public. The American administration
understands, too, that if Israel says clearly that a red line has been
reached beyond which it cannot go, then it [America] must backtrack -
as has happened in the past - and look for ways to bypass the
problem."
Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Mussa issued a veiled threat today,
saying that Netanyahu's decision not to go to Washington tomorrow is
most dangerous. He said that the Arab world is now waiting to see the
American reaction to this latest development.
2. YESHA COUNCIL NOT COMPLACENT
The Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza will
convene this evening for an urgent meeting on the issue of the
American pressure for a large withdrawal. The Yesha leaders continue
to be in contact with National Religious Party members, so that the
latter should encourage their Knesset representatives to stand firm in
their opposition to a further withdrawal.
3. NATIONAL UNITY ON TABLE
Talk of a national unity government has begun again. Labor party
leader MK Ehud Barak said that the issue did not arise in the
discussion he had on Friday with Prime Minister Netanyahu. The Prime
Minister's Office, however, said that it actually was discussed.
Analysts feel that Netanyahu's renewed interest in the idea is based
on the likelihood that the present coalition will not ratify a further
withdrawal.
4. RABBI EXPLAINS PARTICIPATION IN RALLY AGAINST RELIGIOUS COERCION
Thousands demonstrated last night in Rabin Square in Tel Aviv against
"religious coercion." Rabbi Menachem Froman of Tekoah, who
participated in and addressed the rally, explained to Arutz-7 today
why he did so: "This leftwards-leaning public differs with me on many
issues, but they are my brothers, and part of my nation. What bothers
them is the feeling that the religious community wants to take away
their freedom of expression, and so I think that it is important that
we not stand in direct opposition to them... We must calm their fears,
and show them that freedom is a very important concept in Judaism."
Arutz-7's Yehoshua Mor-Yosef responded, "But they are distorting that
very concept of freedom, in order to act immorally [referring to the
immodesty of the Jubilee Bells Bat-Sheva production that was called
off], and you are showing them that you 'understand' them." Rabbi
Froman answered, "I was invited to present the other side, which I
did. I explained at length why the production that Bat Sheva wished
to perform was totally offensive to religious sensibilities."
Mor-Yosef: "What, do you think that they don't understand without
your explanations? They use your presence there for their own
political purposes!" Rabbi Froman: "Not true. They simply don't
understand how essentially negatively we view a performance of
practically-naked dancers. They have a totally different point of
reference..."
**********************************************************************
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 11, 1998
Arutz Sheva News Service
Monday, May 11, 1998 / Iyar 15, 5758 / 30 days to the Omer
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. THIRD WAY: NETANYAHU PROMISED AN 11% WITHDRAWAL
2. YESHA PRESSURE CONTINUES
3. RECIPROCITY MAY BECOME LAW
* * * SPECIAL INSERT: Why A Palestinian Declaration Would Nullify the
Oslo Accords
1. THIRD WAY: NETANYAHU PROMISED AN 11% WITHDRAWAL
Sources in Jerusalem and Washington feel that it is likely that the
Washington summit will convene, in the final analysis, and that Israel
will commit itself to a large-scale withdrawal from Judea and Samaria.
Cabinet Secretary Danny Naveh and Prime Minister Netanyahu's
political advisor Uzi Arad said today that Israel seeks cordial
relations with the U.S., but will not surrender to dictates, nor will
it compromise on its security. Leaders of the Third Way party said
today that Netanyahu called Third Way leader Minister Avigdor Kahalani
and promised him that within two weeks he would sign an agreement in
Washington to withdraw from 11% of Yesha.
2. YESHA PRESSURE CONTINUES
Yesha Council leaders are not letting up. In a meeting last night
with National Religious Party leader Rabbi Yitzchak Levy, dozens of
Yesha community heads demanded that the NRP issue a clear ultimatum to
the Prime Minister: "Either a withdrawal, or a government." Rabbi
Levy did not agree, and even quoted rabbis who are against the NRP's
resigning from the government. The Yesha Council is planning to
sponsor a helicopter trip for NRP Central Committee members over Judea
and Samaria, so they may see for themselves what it called the
"damaging and dangerous consequences" of a withdrawal. Beit El Mayor
Uri Ariel accused the government of not carrying out plans to
construct additional by-pass roads for the benefit of Jewish residents
of Yesha.
Rabbi Menachem Felix of Elon Moreh and others have begun informal
contacts regarding the formation of an alternative political party to
the NRP. He explained to Arutz-7 today that if no political party in
Israel stands strongly for the Land of Israel, then the vacuum will be
filled in one way or another.
3. RECIPROCITY MAY BECOME LAW
The Knesset Law Committee voted by a one-vote majority this afternoon
to submit the "Reciprocity Principle" to the Knesset for first-reading
approval. The proposed law would make the release of terrorists from
prison contingent upon the extradition of terrorists from the
autonomous areas to Israel. Knesset Committee Chairman Chanan Porat
told the committee today that 9 out of the 36 terrorists whose
transfer Israel has requested are serving in the Palestinian
para-military police force.
* * * SPECIAL INSERT
The Government Press Office released the following this afternoon:
"A Unilateral Declaration of Palestinian Statehood Would Scuttle the
Oslo Accords. Under the Oslo Accords, the Palestinian Authority (PA)
is obligated to negotiate with Israel the permanent status of Judea,
Samaria and Gaza. The September 28, 1995 Interim Agreement ("Oslo 2")
states, "Neither side shall initiate or take any step that will change
the status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip pending the outcome of
the permanent status negotiations" (Article XXXI(7)). The intention of
this article is to ensure that neither side takes unilateral measures
to alter the legal status of the areas (such as annexation or
declaration of statehood).
The accord also states that the issues to be covered in the final
status talks are to include: "Jerusalem, refugees, settlements,
security arrangements, borders, relations and cooperation with other
neighbors, and other issues of common interest" (Article XXXI(6)).
Thus, the PA is obligated to negotiate these issues with Israel.
PA Chairman Arafat and other senior Palestinian leaders have
repeatedly stated their intention to unilaterally declare the
establishment of a Palestinian state in May 1999. This would render
the Oslo Accords null and void. If Chairman Arafat unilaterally
declares the establishment of a Palestinian state without negotiating
the matter with Israel, it would scuttle the Oslo Accords and compel
Israel to consider taking unilateral measures of its own.
************************************************************************
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 Brief: Tuesday, May 12, 1998
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Tuesday, May 12, 1998 / Iyar 16, 5758 / 31 days to the Omer
------------------------------------------------
Delivered Daily via Email, Sunday thru Friday
--- See below for subscription instructions ---
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. NETANYAHU OFF TO WASHINGTON
2. NETANYAHU ADVISOR: THIS PM HAS STOOD MORE FIRMLY THAN ANY OTHER
3. BARAK IN YESHA
4. IRAN HAS NUCLEAR WEAPONS
1. NETANYAHU OFF TO WASHINGTON
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will depart tonight for the United
States, where he plans to sign an agreement to carry out another
withdrawal from Judea and Samaria. He told Knesset Members of the
National Religious Party today that any agreement that he signs would
be brought to the government for its approval; he added, "If you want
to topple the government, then do so." He said that no Jewish
community in Yesha would be affected by the withdrawal. Israel stands
firm, said the Prime Minister, on the demand that the Palestinians
transfer the wanted terrorists who have found refuge within the
autonomous areas to Israel. He rejected the NRP request to begin
construction at Har Homa immediately, but promised that buildings
would be standing there by the next elections.
As a result of the discussion, the NRP representatives informed him
that they would absent themselves from the next no-confidence motion
against the government. Arutz-7 correspondent Meir Rabinovich has
learned that an internal questionnaire was circulated among the
hundreds of NRP Central Committee members, the results of which show
that a large majority are in favor of resigning from the government if
it decides to execute a further withdrawal from Yesha.
Arutz-7 has learned that Netanyahu, taking seriously the possibility
of early elections, has held discussions on the topic. Yesterday's
no-confidence motion ended in a tie, and coalition leaders are afraid
that future no-confidence votes will be even worse. 61 "yes" votes in
a no-confidence motion are required to topple the government.
2. NETANYAHU ADVISOR: THIS PM HAS STOOD MORE FIRMLY THAN ANY OTHER
Minister of Infrastructures Ariel Sharon, presently in Washington, has
expressed the fear that Prime Minister Netanyahu is planning to agree
to a withdrawal that will endanger the security of the State of
Israel. In his opinion, the withdrawal may be no larger than 9% of
Judea and Samaria.
Shai Bazak, press advisor to the Prime Minister, told Arutz-7 today
that although a U.S. State Department spokesman said that Netanyahu
was coming to Washington with "positive ideas," this does not mean he
will agree to a 13% withdrawal, or to any withdrawal that would
endanger Israel's security. Regarding the apprehensions expressed by Minister Sharon and
others,
Bazak said, "It has happened many times over the past year and a half that
people who are concerned about the Land of Israel criticize the Prime
Minister and say that he is about to cede Israel's security and land,
and then these same people congratulate him a week later on his strong
stand for not giving in on our interests. These are very hard
negotiations, and the Prime Minister has stood up to them and their
pressures better than any other Prime Minister in the past. Saeb
Erekat of the Palestinian Authority admitted yesterday that the
Palestinians had expected to receive 30% in each of the three
withdrawals, and now here we are, arguing over 13% for two of the
withdrawals together. On the other hand, it must be clearly
understood: if the Palestinians fulfill their obligations - mainly
their security obligations - and there is no threat to Israel's
security, then we will go forward with the diplomatic process."
3. BARAK IN YESHA
Accolades to opposition leader MK Ehud Barak from the Yesha Council
following his visit today to Yesha communities in the Binyamin Region.
Barak announced today, "The Labor party, and I personally, have red
lines. We will remain in Beit El and Ofrah forever. Similarly, we
must know that the Palestinians will remain in Ramallah forever." A
Yesha Council statement said that Barak's guarantee proves that even
the Labor party recognizes the permanence of the Yesha settlement
enterprise, and no longer believes in the Beilin-Abu Mazen plan.
Peace Now sharply criticized Barak, saying that if he continues to
exhibit a lack of understanding of what is need to achieve peace, the
peace camp will have to find another candidate for the Prime Ministry.
Barak visited in Nili, Dolev, Beit El, Ofrah, and Eli, accompanied by
Binyamin Regional Council head Pinchas Wallerstein. He met with
students, and visited the Beit El home of Yoel Tzur, whose wife Ita
and son Ephraim were murdered by Arab terrorists a year and a half
ago. He told reporters that he is full of admiration for the
development that has occurred in the Jewish communities over the past
years. He said that most of the Jewish residents of Yesha must remain
"under the control of Israel" even after the permanent arrangement,
and that there would not be a foreign army west of the Jordan River.
He expressed the hope, however, that Prime Minister Netanyahu would
not reject the American proposal for a further withdrawal from Judea
and Samaria.
4. IRAN HAS NUCLEAR WEAPONS
Commander of the Revolutionary Guard in Iran, General Yichye Rachim
Safawi, says that his country is in possession of nuclear weapons. He
told the Iranian newspaper J'amah that Iran has the right to keep such
weapons, and that it in fact has them. He said that he cannot expand
on the topic.
*************************************************************************