Subject: Arutz-7 News: May 21 - June 2, 1998
Date: Wed, 3 Jun 1998 00:33:26 +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 21, 1998
Arutz Sheva News Service
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Thursday, May 21, 1998 / Iyar 25, 5758 / 40 days to the Omer
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. SHARON REJECTS PM'S PLAN FOR WITHDRAWAL
2. ARAFAT HINTS AGAIN: OSLO IS ONLY TEMPORARY
SPECIAL INSERT: RECENT PALESTINIAN VIOLATIONS OF OSLO
1. SHARON REJECTS PM'S PLAN FOR WITHDRAWAL
Minister of Infrastructures Ariel Sharon and the Prime Minister remain in
dispute over the extent of an additional withdrawal from Judea and Samaria.
At a meeting between the two leaders last night, Sharon adamantly rejected
Netanyahu's plan for a 13% pull-out from Judea and Samaria. According to
the proposed plan, the U.S. will invest $1 billion to develop an additional
network of bypass roads and tunnels in the area. The new roads would
diminish the extent of isolation of some 15 Jewish townships which a 13%
retreat would leave surrounded by Arafat-controlled regions. Sharon called
the plan "ridiculous and dangerous" especially in light of the U.S.
administration's refusal to cancel a yet-to-be third withdrawal before
commencement of final-status talks. The deliberations between Minister
Sharon and Prime Minister Netanyahu are scheduled to continue next week,
when Netanyahu returns from his visit to China.
Former Science Minister MK Benny Begin (Likud) said today that the Prime
Minister was not telling the truth to his own cabinet when he denied having
consented to a 13% withdrawal in Washington. MK Begin said that during the
negotiating period preceding the pull-out from parts of Hevron, Netanyahu
communicated incomplete and false reports at cabinet meetings regarding the
agreement in the making.
Political sources in Jerusalem expect that it will become clear later today
how the U.S. will respond to Israel's refusal to concede more than it has
already offered. Upon his return to Washington, U.S. President Clinton is
expected to discuss the matter with his advisors.
2. ARAFAT HINTS AGAIN: OSLO IS ONLY TEMPORARY
In a May 10th Al-Quds newspaper interview, Yasser Arafat once again
explained to the Arab readership that his agreement to the Oslo accords is
to be compared to the pact which Muhammad made with the Arabian tribe of
Koreish. Muhammad, who signed the ten-year peace treaty, overcame the
Koreish tribe once he had amassed enough strength. This quote and others
are documented in a Government Press Office release today which is attached
at the end of this news report.
SPECIAL INSERT
ARAFAT AGAIN CALLS OSLO ACCORDS A TEMPORARY TRUCE
Palestinian Council Brands Israel 'Racist Zionist Colonialist'
(communicated by the Israel Government Press Office)
THE OBLIGATION
Under the terms of the Oslo Accords, the Palestinian Authority (PA) is
obligated to refrain from incitement against Israel.
In his exchange of letters with Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on September
9, 1993, Chairman Yasser Arafat wrote, "the PLO renounces the use of
terrorism and other acts of violence and will assume responsibility over
all PLO elements and personnel in order to assure their compliance, prevent
violations and discipline violators."
The Interim Agreement (Oslo 2) of September 28, 1995 (Article XXII) states
that Israel and the PA "shall seek to foster mutual understanding and
tolerance and shall accordingly abstain from incitement, including hostile
propaganda, against each other and, without derogating from the principle
of freedom of expression, shall take legal measures to prevent such
incitement by any organizations, groups or individuals within their
jurisdiction."
In the Note for the Record which accompanied the Hebron Protocol of January
15, 1997, the Palestinians reaffirmed their commitment regarding,
"Preventing incitement and hostile propaganda, as specified in Article XXII
of the Interim Agreement."
THE VIOLATIONS
Following are statements of incitement and threats of violence made by
senior Palestinian officials in the past week, in violation of the Oslo
accords and the Hebron Protocol.
* "Question: Do you feel sometimes that you made a mistake in agreeing to
Oslo?
Arafat: No... no. Allah's messenger Mohammad accepted the al-Khudaibiya
peace treaty and Salah a-Din accepted the peace agreement with Richard the
Lion-Hearted."
[Note: Arafat is referring to the Khudaibiya agreement made by Muhammad
with the Arabian tribe of Koreish. The pact, slated to last for ten years,
was broken within two years, when the Islamic forces - having used the
peace pact to become stronger - conquered the Koreish tribe. His reference
to Salah a-Din is to the Muslim leader who, after a cease-fire, declared a
jihad against the Crusaders and captured Jerusalem. This marks the second
time in a month that Arafat has compared the Oslo Accords with the
temporary truces signed by Muhammad and Salah a-Din. Previously, he made
the comparison in an interview with Egyptian Orbit TV on April 18, 1998.]
--- PA Chairman Yasser Arafat in a newspaper interview
(cited in Al-Quds, May 10, 1998)
* "The Palestinian people were and remain a victim of the international
colonialist Zionist plot which began with the Balfour Declaration of
1917... Israel has not halted its implementation of the racist Zionist
colonialist policies which are responsible for the calamities that have
befallen our people."
--- from an official statement issued by the PA's Legislative Council on
May 12, 1998 to mark fifty years since "the 1948 calamity" (the
establishment of Israel)
(Al-Hayat Al-Jadeeda, May 13, 1998)
* "Our choice is the military option. We must put an end to the despicable
negotiations. The time has come for jihad [holy war] and martyrdom."
--- Shiekh Hamed Bitawi, chairman of the Palestine Religious Scholars
Association and head of the PA's Sharia Court of Appeals in Nablus
(Al-Jazira television, May 14, 1998)
* "We shall uproot the settlement occupation from our souls, we shall
disturb their tranquillity and abandon our fears and instill our fear
within them. We are not frustrated so long as the intifada renews itself in
our veins... hear our cry, for our hands are extended, but if you do not...
calamity will come upon the head of the oppressor."
--- from the lead editorial in the official PA newspaper Al-Hayat Al-Jadeeda
(May 15, 1998)
* "Peace is a strategic choice, but it is not a sacred choice if the
occupation and the Judaization continue."
--- announcer on the official PA radio station the Voice of Palestine (May
15, 1998)
* "Whomever has occupied part of Palestine or Jerusalem faces jihad [holy
war] until Judgment Day. Our destiny is jihad..."
--- Sheikh Muhammad Hussein, in the weekly Friday prayer sermon at Al-Aksa
Mosque broadcast on the official PA radio station
(Voice of Palestine, May 15, 1998)
**********************************************************************
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 26, 1998
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Tuesday, May 26, 1998 / Rosh Chodesh Sivan 5758 / 45 days to the Omer
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TODAY'S HEADLINE:
1. NRP NOT LIKELY TO VOTE NO-CONFIDENCE OVER HAR HOMA
SPECIAL INSERT: Palestinian Officials Disparage Jewish Holy Sites
1. NRP NOT LIKELY TO VOTE NO-CONFIDENCE OVER HAR HOMA
The NRP is a-buzz following the suggestion of MK Chanan Porat to vote
no-confidence in the Prime Minister on the issue of the delay in
building on Har Homa. Party leader Rabbi Yitzchak Levy and Knesset
faction leader Shmaryahu Ben-Tzur are against the notion. The faction
will convene to discuss the matter within the coming days. Labor MK
Yosi Beilin announced last night that his party would soon propose a
no-confidence motion entitled, "The Prime Minister's Zig-Zag Policy
Regarding Har Homa."
SPECIAL INSERT
(communicated by the Israel Government Press Office on May 26, 1998)
Palestinian Officials Disparage Jewish Holy Sites
Senior Palestinian Official claims Western Wall is "Just a Fence
Around a Moslem Holy Site"
Under the terms of the Oslo Accords, the Palestinian Authority (PA) is
obligated to promote mutual understanding and tolerance with Israel.
The Interim Agreement (Oslo 2) of September 28, 1995 (Article XXII)
states that Israel and the PA "shall seek to foster mutual
understanding and tolerance and shall accordingly abstain from
incitement, including hostile propaganda, against each other and,
without derogating from the principle of freedom of expression, shall
take legal measures to prevent such incitement by any organizations,
groups or individuals within their jurisdiction." In the Note for the
Record which accompanied the Hebron Protocol of January 15, 1997, the
Palestinians reaffirmed their commitment regarding, "Preventing
incitement and hostile propaganda, as specified in Article XXII of the
Interim Agreement."
The Government Press Office reports the following Palestinian
violations of the above - statements by senior Palestinian officials
disparaging Jewish holy sites and threatening potential worshippers:
* "Moslems have no knowledge or awareness that the Temple Mount has
any sanctity for Jews... why should we allow the Jews to share in
places which our holy to us and to Islam?... for 600 years, the
Moslems ruled the land, since the Caliph Omar, and only now have the
Jews remembered to demand a right to the Temple Mount. The Moslems
will never permit anyone to enter the Temple Mount... If the Jews
really want peace, they must absolutely forget about having any rights
over the Temple Mount or Al-Aksa Mosque... the Western Wall also
belongs to Moslems, and was given to the Jews as a place of prayer
only because the British asked and the Moslems agreed out of the
goodness of their hearts. The Western Wall is just a fence belonging
to a Moslem holy site. Since 1967, the Israelis have dug and searched
for proof that the site is holy to them, but they have not found any
sign of the existence of a Temple or a Jewish community at the site.
For us, the Moslems, the place is holy and was always such. I heard
that your Temple was in Nablus or perhaps Bethlehem."
--- Sheikh Ikrama Sabri, the official PA Mufti (senior Muslim cleric)
who was appointed to his position by Yasser Arafat, in an interview with
the Israeli weekly Makor Rishon, May 22, 1998. [Note: PA Chairman
Yasser Arafat has made similar claims in the past. Arafat said, "That
is not the Western Wall at all, but a Moslem shrine." (Maariv, October
11, 1996)]
* "Any extremist who enters the Temple Mount compound will not leave
it alive."
--- Hatam Abdel Kader, member of the PA's Legislative Council, in an
interview with the official PA radio station the Voice of Palestine,
when asked about the possibility of Jews praying on the Temple Mount
(Voice of Palestine, May 24, 1998)
* "The archeology of Jerusalem is diverse - excavations in the Old
City and the areas surrounding it revealed Umayyad Islamic palaces,
Roman ruins, Armenian ruins and others, but nothing Jewish. Outside of
what is mentioned/ written in the Old and New Testaments, there is no
tangible evidence of any Jewish traces/ remains in the old city of
Jerusalem and its immediate vicinity."
--- PA Information Ministry Press Release, December 10, 1997
* "Be alert and treat Joseph's Tomb and Rachel's Tomb as parcels of
Palestinian land which must be liberated, and treat Joseph and Rachel
as two people who died, like anyone else."
--- excerpt from an article in the official PA newspaper Al-Hayat
Al-Jadeeda, December 1, 1997, concerning Jewish holy sites in Nablus
and Bethlehem
* "The 'Al-Buraq' Wall [the Western Wall] is a part of the Al-Aqsa
Mosque. The Jews have no relation to it, whether or not a decision to
expropriate it was made."
--- PA Mufti Ikrama Sabri in the Palestinian daily Al-Ayyam, November
22, 1997
*************************************************************************
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 27, 1998
Arutz Sheva News Service
Wednesday, May 27, 1998 / Sivan 2, 5758 / 46 days to the Omer
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. SAUDI PAPER AGAINST ARAFAT
2. IRAN TO GIVE HAMAS $15 MILLION A MONTH TO CLASH WITH ISRAEL, PA
1. SAUDI PAPER AGAINST ARAFAT
An editorial in an official Saudi Arabian newspaper has harsh
criticism of Yasser Arafat. The paper, Al Riyadh, calls Arafat
"senile" and "defeatist." The paper writes that the Palestinians are
convinced that Arafat is no longer fit to lead them, because of his
age, his senility, and his inability to keep up with the Israeli
government's maneuvers.
2. IRAN TO GIVE HAMAS $15 MILLION A MONTH TO CLASH WITH ISRAEL, PA A
detailed agreement has been signed between Hamas spiritual leader
Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Iran. According to the French Arabic-language
newspaper Alouten al-Araby, the agreement specifies that Iran will
provide Hamas with at least $15 million every month. Hamas will
undertake to act against both the Palestinian Authority and Israel,
with the purpose of destroying the Oslo process. Iran will help Hamas
carry out terrorist activities abroad, and a Palestinian "Hizbullah"
along the lines of the Lebanese Hizbullah will be formed.
***********************************************************************
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 28, 1998
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Thursday, May 28, 1998 / Sivan 3, 5758 / 47 days to the Omer
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. PROPOSAL FOR A REACTION TO A PALESTINIAN STATE
2. ILLEGAL PA ACTIVITY IN JERUSALEM
3. KAHALANI BACKS LARGE WITHDRAWAL
4. PERES CENTER TO GIVE PA, JORDAN $1 MILLION
1. PROPOSAL FOR A REACTION TO A PALESTINIAN STATE
"When They Declare Independence, We Will Impose our Sovereignty."
This is the headline of an article written by Shlomo Filber, Deputy
Director of the Yesha Council, in the most recent issue of Nekudah.
Speaking with Arutz-7 today, Filber explained that Lag Ba'Omer 5759
(May 4, 1999) could be an important day in Israeli history: "If the
PA carries out its threat to declare independence on that day, then
Israel's reaction must be to declare its own sovereignty in response -
at least over those territories that are presently under our control,
i.e., Area C, including all the settlements, and more. We may be able
to declare our sovereignty over other areas as well, but this could
cause us complicated international questions in certain areas... it
depends, to some extent, on what Arafat's declaration of independence
includes." He explained that the more territory Arafat claims, the
more Israel could claim.
Filber further explained, "If Israel would have annexed these
territories earlier, it would not have been recognized by the
international community. Our annexation of eastern Jerusalem, for
instance, has been recognized by only two nations. But if Arafat
takes a unilateral step, and then Israel takes a counter-measure, my
evaluation is that Europe would not take the drastic step of
recognizing only his claims, which would in effect be saying that from
now on they are making a drastic change in their foreign policy and
only recognizing the Palestinian side."
Filber explained that he is calling for the beginning of preparations
for this eventuality, including discussing it and coming to a
consensus on it, then preparing a bill for the Knesset, canvassing the
Knesset Members, and preparing an information campaign. "We must have
people understand that Area A is primarily empty of Arabs, as the
idea of 'ruling over another people' and the fear of a 'bi-national
state' has been a great obstacle in the way of annexation. We have to
explain that we are talking about approximately 70% of Yesha, with
only some 80,000 Arabs [less than 6% of the total number of Arabs in
Yesha]."
When asked if this represents an official recognition by the Yesha
communities of a Palestinian state, Filber answered, "We are talking
about something that Arafat will do, not something that Israel or the
Yesha Council will do. If he declares a state, something which is out
of our hands, then we have to attempt to make the most out of this, or
create a counter-threat to attempt to stop him. We have to be able to
say to Arafat that if he declares a state, he will directly cause us
to annex the settlements and he will not be able to prevent this."
2. ILLEGAL PA ACTIVITY IN JERUSALEM
The Palestinians have systematically ignored their Oslo commitment not
to exercise authority or conduct activities in Jerusalem. An Israeli
Government Press Office memorandum, released yesterday, lists several
flagrant PA violations in this regard: Operations of the Palestinian
Jerusalem ministry in the Orient House; the office of the official PA
Mufti operates on the Temple Mount; operations of PA security forces
in Jerusalem; and others. The entire text of the memorandum is
included at the end of this report.
3. KAHALANI BACKS LARGE WITHDRAWAL
Third Way party leader Minister of Public Security Avigdor Kahalani
says that there is no alternative but to withdraw from at least an
additional 10% of Judea and Samaria. He thus joins Minister of
Defense Yitzchak Mordechai, who has also made similar declarations.
Government sources are now denying reports that Prime Minister
Netanyahu has agreed to withdraw from 15% of Yesha. Netanyahu has
instructed that the next withdrawal include 11% from the
mountain-ridge area [between Shechem and Hevron], and the remainder
will be from the Judean Desert. The Third Way is against this plan.
Yasser Arafat has agreed to allow the Americans another two weeks to
convince Israel to accept their proposal.
4. PERES CENTER TO GIVE PA, JORDAN $1 MILLION
The Peres Peace Center will invest one million dollars in the
Palestinian Autonomy and Jordan for the development of the fisheries
industry there. Shimon Peres said that the funds were raised from
Jewish philanthropists around the world.
SPECIAL INSERT
How the PA Escalates Illegal Activity in Jerusalem
(communicated by the Israel Government Press Office, May 27, 1998)
Under the terms of the Oslo Accords, the Palestinian Authority (PA) is
prohibited from operating in Jerusalem. The Interim Agreement ("Oslo
2"), signed on September 28, 1995, sets limits on the PA's
jurisdiction, stating that it does not include "issues that will be
negotiated in the permanent status negotiations: Jerusalem,
settlements, specified military locations, Palestinian refugees,
borders, foreign relations and Israelis" (Article XVII (1a)). Thus,
the PA is barred from exercising any authority or conducting any
activity in Jerusalem. In the Note for the Record which accompanied
the Hebron Protocol of January 15, 1997, the PA reaffirmed the above.
PA activity in Jerusalem is a flagrant violation of the Oslo Accords
and the Note for the Record of the Hebron Protocol. It reflects the
PA's concerted efforts to subvert Israel's sovereignty in the city. To
comply with the accords, the PA must cease all its activity in
Jerusalem.
The latest Palestinian violation took place on May 26, 1998, when
approximately 40 members of the PA's Legislative Council (PLC),
including six PA "Ministers", gathered in the Old City of Jerusalem to
protest Jewish construction. Abu Alaa, speaker of the PLC, declared it
to be an "historic event" and announced that it was the first official
PLC meeting convened in Jerusalem. Israeli police dispersed the
meeting.
Other illegal PA activities in Jerusalem include the following:
* The "Ministry of Jerusalem Affairs" headed by Faisal Husseini
operates out of the Orient House under the cover of the "Arab Studies
Society." Husseini participates in cabinet meetings of the Palestinian
Authority with full ministerial status.
* Sheikh Ikrama Sabri, the official Mufti (senior religious cleric) of
the PA, operates out of an office on the Temple Mount. Appointed by
Arafat nearly three years ago, Sabri assumed his post by ousting the
Jordanian appointee. His weekly prayer sermons regularly contain
vitriolic incitement against Israel and the United States.
* The Palestinian security forces operate in Jerusalem, engaging in
threats, intimidation and interrogation of city residents. Forces
stationed outside the city also conduct operations in Jerusalem. PA
security agents serve as bodyguards for Palestinian officials and
institutions in the city, and they are active on the Temple Mount. In
February 1998, the PA attempted to set up a security company in the
city to be used as cover for the operations of its security forces.
* In March 1998, 16 surveyors working on behalf of the Israeli
Ministry of Transportation were detained in Jerusalem by the PA and
taken to Ramallah and Abu Dis for interrogation.
* In February 1998, the PA Ministry of Youth and Sports attempted to
convene four conferences in Jerusalem.
* In December 1997, the PA attempted to conduct a population census in
eastern 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 Brief:Friday, May 29, 1998
Arutz Sheva News Service
Friday, May 29, 1998 / Sivan 4, 5758 / 48 days to the Omer
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. YESHA COUNCIL: A LEAFLET TO EVERY HOME
2. NO CONFIDENCE IN ARAFAT
1. YESHA COUNCIL: A LEAFLET TO EVERY HOME
The Council of Jewish Communities in Judea and Samaria will begin a
major information campaign next week against further withdrawals. A
leaflet will be distributed to every home in the country warning of
the harmful consequences of the proposed withdrawal from Yesha.
Enclosed in the leaflet will be a map depicting the extent of
withdrawal currently under discussion, and showing the ramifications
on Israel's security, the unity of Jerusalem, water sources, and the
Yesha communities. The Yesha Council will also conduct helicopter
tours over Judea and Samaria for Likud and National Religious Party
committee members, to impress upon them the consequences of a further
withdrawal.
2. NO CONFIDENCE IN ARAFAT
A first-ever no-confidence motion against the authority of Yasser
Arafat will apparently be introduced tomorrow in the Palestinian
Legislative Council. At least one-quarter of the 88 members of the
PLC have requested that a special session be held tomorrow to discuss
this possibility. Itim news agency reports that the request is a
result of the growing unrest caused by what is seen as foot-dragging
in carrying out political reforms, and suspicions of corruption and
poor management.
***********************************************************************
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, June 1, 1998
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Monday, June 1, 1998 / Sivan 7, 5758
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. IT'S UP TO 15% NOW
2. PALESTINIANS ARE PROUD OF PAKISTAN
3. CONSERVATIVE SERVICE NEAR THE WALL
1. IT'S UP TO 15% NOW
The security mini-cabinet convened this morning for its continued
discussions on a second withdrawal from Judea and Samaria.
Afterwards, the weekly government meeting dealt with the same issue.
Diplomatic sources in Jerusalem estimate that Prime Minister Netanyahu
will agree to a 15% withdrawal, on condition that it include the third
withdrawal, and that the Palestinian Liberation Organization charter
calling for Israel's destruction be changed. Transportation Minister
Shaul Yahalom said today that the National Religious Party would agree
even to a 13% withdrawal.
2. PALESTINIANS ARE PROUD OF PAKISTAN
The Palestinian Authority's representative in Pakistan announced today
that the day that Pakistan carried out its nuclear tests was a holiday
for the Palestinians, and that they are proud of Pakistan's step.
Similar praises have been showered upon Pakistan from several Arab
nations.
3. CONSERVATIVE SERVICE NEAR THE WALL
A group of Conservative worshipers held a morning prayer service near
the entrance to the Western Wall plaza yesterday, Shavuot. The police
originally told them that they could not do so, but in the end,
protected them from a large group of young hareidi students who
objected to the change in the status quo. Arab stone-throwers
attacked Jews as they left the Old City after the morning prayers, and
several of the Jews responded with stones of their own. There were
arrests and light injuries on both sides.
***********************************************************************
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, June 2, 1998
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Tuesday, June 2, 1998 / Sivan 8, 5758
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* * * CORRECTION:
The last sentence in the second article of yesterday's news report
should have read:
Transportation Minister Shaul Yahalom said today that the National
Religious Party would not agree even to a 13% withdrawal.
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. MORDECHAI IN CAIRO
2. MK GABBAI: ARABS BUILD ILLEGALLY, WHILE HAR HOMA STANDS DESOLATE
1. MORDECHAI IN CAIRO
Minister of Defense Yitzchak Mordechai flew to Cairo today to meet
with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and other Egyptian leaders. The
three-hour discussions centered around the negotiations with the
Palestinian Authority, and also touched upon India's and Pakistan's
nuclear tests. Mordechai said afterwards, "The time has come to make
a decision," and opined that an additional withdrawal would be carried
out soon. The Egyptian Defense Minister congratulated his Israeli
counterpart on the birth of his son this week, and said that Mordechai
has thus brought honor to the international community of Defense
Ministers.
2. MK GABBAI: ARABS BUILD ILLEGALLY, WHILE HAR HOMA STANDS DESOLATE MK
Eli Gabbai (National Religious Party) is planning to absent himself
from the no-confidence motion in the Prime Minister this afternoon
(the 50th such motion proposed by the opposition since the last
election), and is hoping to convince his party colleagues to do the
same. Gabbai will lead a group of would-be Har Homa residents to a
tour of the site, and hopes in this way to convince Mr. Netanyahu to
build at Har Homa. "I do not represent the hawkish wing of the NRP,"
Gabbai told Arutz-7 today, "but the situation at Har Homa, in which I
was involved as Deputy Minister of Jerusalem, disturbs and angers me
greatly. The Arabs build in Jerusalem right and left, mocking the
building regulations, flooding every corner with their tall buildings,
while this government has not yet built a thing at Har Homa, and we
continue to stutter and hesitate. Building in Har Homa would also be
a strong sign of our firm stance on Jerusalem. This is not an issue
for left and right, but rather for all of Israel." Gabbai said that
he does not want to vote against the current government, but will
continue to wage demonstrations of this sort, or stronger ones, until
the goal is reached.
As if to somewhat belie some of what Gabbai said, six illegal Arab
structures were razed in the Jerusalem area today.
***********************************************************************