Subject: Israel News: June 22 - 23, 1998 (Jerusalem Post)
Date:    Thu, 25 Jun 1998 00:00:44 +0000
To:      "Arutz-7 List"<heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>

 

Monday, June 22, 1998       28 Sivan 5758 
Jerusalem Post - Internet Edition

                    PM RAPS ALBRIGHT 

                    By JAY BUSHINSKY 

                    JERUSALEM (June 22) - Rejecting foreign criticism
                    of his government's plan to transform Jerusalem
                    into "a 21st-century metropolis," Prime Minister
                    Binyamin Netanyahu yesterday singled out US
                    Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

                    Netanyahu accused Albright of jumping to hasty
                    conclusions instead of "checking with me first."
                    He told a news conference, held shortly after the
                    administrative expansion won the cabinet's
                    unanimous approval, that "this is not a change of
                    status from the political standpoint."

                    He said he was "astounded" by the negative foreign
                    reactions, describing them as "empty balloons."
                    Referring to the American reaction, Netanyahu said
                    he hopes his discussion with Albright succeeded in
                    clarifying Israel's position.

                    He went on to say that on Thursday he conferred
                    with US Ambassador Edward Walker about the
                    destruction of illegal housing in Jerusalem,
                    regardless of whether it is built by Jews or
                    Arabs, and that the subject of the metropolitan
                    plan did not come up - despite the fact that it
                    was first broached in the cabinet on Tuesday.

                    The plan would annex some land around Jerusalem
                    and create a "Greater Jerusalem" via an umbrella
                    municipality that would coordinate administrative
                    powers with nearby towns.

                    The towns mentioned in the plan include Givat
                    Ze'ev and Ma'aleh Adumin in the territories, as
                    well as Mevasseret Zion and other towns inside the
                    Green Line.

                    The exact areas to be covered, the
                    responsibilities of the umbrella authority, and
                    who would have the right to vote in Jerusalem
                    municipal elections are yet to be determined.

                    The next step is for the Interior Ministry to
                    prepare a detailed plan for both the annexation
                    and the creation of the umbrella authority. The
                    plan is to be submitted to the cabinet after the
                    first of August and to the Knesset when it
                    reconvenes in September.

                    Interior Minister Eli Suissa met last night with
                    Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert for preliminary
                    discussions on the plan's details, according to
                    Israel Radio.

                    Albright told Netanyahu on Friday that his
                    announced expansion plans for Jerusalem were being
                    viewed "as something that was not helpful to the
                    peace process," Albright said in an interview
                    yesterday on NBC's Meet the Press. Netanyahu
                    "clarified" his intentions as being municipal in
                    nature, she said.

                    However, when asked about yesterday's cabinet
                    decision, Albright said that "anything that is
                    done at this point on something that is a
                    final-status issue cannot really be helpful when
                    we are in a period... of very intensive and
                    constructive dialogue" to restart the peace
                    process.

                    "Right now, there are talks going on in a variety
                    of levels," Albright said. "I've said this many
                    times: that unilateral acts of any kind at this
                    point do not help."

                    Olmert, who shared the podium with Netanyahu,
                    justified the idea of incorporating several of the
                    towns on the city's western periphery into a
                    single super-municipality on the grounds that
                    "there is no justification for so many local
                    councils and their respective bureaucracies and
                    budgets."

                    On the other hand, he stressed that only those
                    communities which have land reserves on which
                    housing can be built will be annexed. He excluded
                    Mevasseret Zion from this category and said he did
                    not intend to annex it.

                    Netanyahu accused the Palestinian Authority of
                    whipping up overseas opinion against the scheme,
                    implying that this was done in retaliation for
                    Israel's successful campaign to thwart its attempt
                    to win UN recognition of its purported status as a
                    "virtual state."

                    "We are not trying to unravel the Oslo Accords,"
                    he went on. But he charged that the PA not only
                    violated them by its abortive UN initiative, but
                    also by trying to infiltrate its security
                    personnel into the city and setting up offices as
                    well.

                    Netanyahu insisted that there is no political
                    significance to the plan's timing. Originally, he
                    had intended to present it in conjunction with the
                    annual Jerusalem Day festivities, but it was
                    impossible to prepare it by then, he said.

                    Having won Finance Minister Yaakov Neeman's
                    support from the outset, Netanyahu said an initial
                    allocation of NIS 340 million had been earmarked
                    for the project "without requiring any alteration
                    of the national budget. The purpose is to attract
                    thousands of young people to Jerusalem by enabling
                    them to buy apartments and providing suitable
                    places of public entertainment," he said.

                    At the same time, the underlying objective is to
                    expand Jerusalem's industrial base by introducing
                    more high-tech firms and "turning it into Israel's
                    Silicon Valley," he said.

                    Declaring that the plan's benefits would accrue to
                    the city's Arabs as well as to its Jews, Netanyahu
                    said his government is "the first" to invest in
                    Jerusalem's eastern [Arab] neighborhoods. "Go
                    there and take a look," he told the journalists.
                    "You'll see the new streets and sidewalks and all
                    the other improvements."

                    Another of the plan's goals, he said, is to
                    "develop and protect" the city's sites associated
                    with Jewish history. Asked if its Christian and
                    Moslem sites would be given similar treatment, he
                    replied in the affirmative.

                    Olmert came to his aid, noting that the
                    municipality had invested in the Garden of
                    Gethsemane and that the overriding purpose is to
                    make these places attractive to tourists.

                    The cabinet communique was unequivocal about the
                    implications of its decision. It said the main
                    components would "enlarge Jerusalem's area of
                    jurisdiction, establish an 'umbrella municipality'
                    around Jerusalem, streamline services in the
                    expanse of Jerusalem, and encourage
                    science-oriented industries in Jerusalem."

                    Netanyahu was quoted as having told the ministers
                    that, "there was no basis for the condemnation of
                    Israel because of this plan. Israel is working for
                    the strengthening of Jerusalem. No one is talking
                    about changing Jerusalem's political status, and
                    there is no addition of territory on the east of
                    the city, but on its west."

                    He expressed hope that "Israeli elements" were not
                    encouraging the Palestinians to assail Israel on
                    this issue. "This is a blessed thing which raises
                    Jerusalem to the top of the government's
                    priorities," he said.

                    (Elli Wohlgelernter and Hillel Kuttler contributed
                    to this report.)

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Monday, June 22, 1998       28 Sivan 5758 
Jerusalem Post - Internet Edition


                    PA WARNS OF HARSH RESPONSE TO JERUSALEM PLAN 

                    By STEVE RODAN 

                    RAMALLAH (June 22) - The Palestinian Authority
                    yesterday warned of a harsh Palestinian reaction
                    to the government's plan to expand Jerusalem.

                    PA officials described the plan as a declaration
                    of war against Palestinian residents of Jerusalem
                    that places them under siege and confiscates
                    dozens of square kilometers in the West Bank. They
                    said the PA would recruit international pressure
                    to annul the government program.

                    Planning Minister Nabil Shaath said last night
                    that the PA had filed a complaint to the UN
                    Security Council over Israel setting up an
                    umbrella authority for greater Jerusalem, Itim
                    reported.

                    PA Chairman Yasser Arafat's adviser Nabil Abu
                    Rudeineh said he condemned the cabinet decision to
                    expand the authority of Jerusalem's municipality
                    to include planning to the east and north of the
                    city. "It's a new attempt to finish the peace
                    process and to torpedo US efforts to rescue the
                    peace process," he said. "It's provocative,
                    uncalled for, and a dangerous violation of the
                    [peace] accords."

                    "Jerusalem is entering a period of siege in the
                    full sense of the word," said Palestinian
                    Legislative Council member Ziad Abu Zayyad. "What
                    is happening in Jerusalem is an historical crime
                    against the Arabs and Moslems."

                    PA officials charged that the Israeli plan is
                    meant to stretch Jerusalem's borders to include
                    "up to 10 percent of the entire West Bank,
                    expanding the city to six times its current size
                    to encompassing 600 square kilometers."

                    Abdullah Abdullah, director of the PA's Geographic
                    Center, said the plan is not new and seeks to
                    include many more Jewish residents in an attempt
                    to alter the demography of Jerusalem, which is now
                    seeing a huge increase in the Arab population. He
                    called on the PA to establish what he termed
                    "clear programs to significantly increase the
                    number of Palestinian residents in east
                    Jerusalem."

                    Faisal Husseini, who holds the Jerusalem portfolio
                    in the PA, warned that the plan would lead to
                    Palestinian violence in the city and endangers
                    what little is left of the peace process.

                    News agencies add:

                    Egypt yesterday criticized the plan, calling it an
                    "aggression on the peace process."

                    "The matter has become a new Israeli policy, to
                    make its occupation firm and [to] torpedo the
                    peace process entirely," Foreign Minister Amr
                    Moussa told reporters. "We ask the Israeli
                    government to review this policy that forms an
                    aggression on the peace process," Moussa said.

                    Jordan described cabinet approval of the plan as
                    "provocative."

                    "We ask the Israeli government to stop these
                    anti-peace measures, that hinder the peace
                    process," Jordanian Foreign Minister Jawad Anani
                    said. "These measures create an explicit offensive
                    for the occupied Palestinian lands and infringe
                    the accords and agreements that Israel has
                    signed."

                    The European Union said it is concerned the plan
                    would complicate the peace process. Britain, which
                    currently holds the six-month rotating presidency
                    of the European Union, issued a statement on
                    behalf of the EU.

                    "We are concerned at the Israeli government's
                    endorsement of plans which will alter the
                    demographic balance in the Jerusalem area," it
                    said. "The European Union has repeatedly called
                    for a halt to unilateral activity in Jerusalem.
                    The plans currently under discussion would
                    complicate the peace process at a very sensitive
                    time."

                    (Mohammed Najib contributed to this report.)

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

Monday, June 22, 1998       28 Sivan 5758 
Jerusalem Post - Internet Edition


                    GOVERNMENT TO DISCUSS PULLOUT REFERENDUM

                    By DAN IZENBERG and news agencies 

                    JERUSALEM (June 22) - Government representatives
                    are due to meet today in the office of Justice
                    Minister Tzahi Hanegbi to consider a proposed
                    referendum on the question of a second
                    redeployment.

                    Interior Minister Eli Suissa, Communications
                    Minister Limor Livnat, Attorney-General Elyakim
                    Rubinstein and officials of the Prime Minister's
                    Office, the Justice Ministry and the Interior
                    Ministry have been invited to attend.

                    The participants will discuss the experiences of
                    other countries with plebiscites and the length of
                    time it will take, and how much it will cost, to
                    hold one.

                    "The committee will research the experiences other
                    countries have had with referendums, a time frame
                    for such a vote, and the budgetary requirements
                    involved," said Justice Ministry spokeswoman Etty
                    Eshed.

                    Asked yesterday at a press conference about the
                    chances of a referendum, Prime Minister Binyamin
                    Netanyahu said: "I am giving it very serious
                    consideration, but I have not yet decided on the
                    matter."

                    A senior government official conceded that the
                    referendum idea has become "much more serious." He
                    noted that Netanyahu has asked Livnat to draw up a
                    detailed proposal of how it might work.

                    Responding to Netanyahu's plans to hold a
                    referendum, MK Michael Kleiner (Gesher) - who is
                    chairman of the Land of Israel Front, which
                    opposes a further redeployment - said yesterday he
                    would support the move only if the referendum is
                    carried out by ballots.

                    Kleiner, who claims to have initiated the idea of
                    a plebiscite, said a referendum carried out
                    electronically or via telephones would lead to
                    widespread abuse and false figures.

                    He said he will set the wheels in motion to
                    enforce a law that will demand a 75-percent
                    majority in order for the referendum to pass. He
                    recalled that similar steps were used by former
                    French president Charles DeGaulle when he carried
                    out a referendum to return Algeria.

                    "Today we are on the verge of making a decision to
                    withdraw that will lead to war in May 1999," he
                    said.

                    Political sources from both Labor and Likud said
                    Netanyahu's campaign adviser, American Arthur
                    Finkelstein, is behind the decision to hold a
                    referendum on the pullback. Netanyahu reportedly
                    consulted Finkelstein on the issue several days
                    ago, and Finkelstein's top aide was reported to be
                    in Jerusalem for this purpose.

                    Sources in the Prime Minister's Office said the
                    aide is here to advise Netanyahu on the Likud's
                    campaign for its candidate for Tel Aviv mayor,
                    Doron Rubin. But senior political sources said it
                    would be safe to assume Finkelstein's exorbitantly
                    expensive services would not be engaged merely for
                    the local campaign, especially on the eve of the
                    pullout when Netanyahu may fear for the future of
                    his coalition.

                    (Jay Bushinsky, Margot Dudkevitch, and Michal
                    Yudelman contributed to this report.)

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

Tuesday, June 23, 1998       29 Sivan 5758 
Jerusalem Post - Internet Edition


                    MINISTERS DIVIDED OVER HOLDING REFERENDUM


                    By DAN IZENBERG, MICHAL YUDELMAN, and LIAT COLLINS
                    

                    JERUSALEM (June 23) -- The government appeared
                    divided yesterday over holding a referendum on
                    implementing the second pullback, and if so, what
                    kind of referendum would be conducted.

                    The Prime Minister's Office said that Prime
                    Minister Binyamin Netanyahu had not yet decided
                    "on the details of a referendum," Itim reported.

                    Justice Minister Tzahi Hanegbi and Communications
                    Minister Limor Livnat yesterday recommended
                    holding an "advisory" referendum whose outcome
                    would not legally bind the government or the
                    Knesset, the two said.

                    Trade and Industry Minister Natan Sharansky,
                    meanwhile, supports a binding referendum, as does
                    Education Minister Yitzhak Levy, noting this is
                    the National Religious Party's traditional stance
                    on matters concerning territorial compromise.

                    However, Levy's party colleague, Transport
                    Minister Shaul Yahalom, expressed strong
                    opposition to the referendum idea, as did
                    Agriculture Minister Rafael Eitan, who wants early
                    elections.

                    Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai said he has
                    more questions than answers concerning the idea.

                    "I don't know what a public referendum is: How it
                    is carried out; in what time frame; what it costs;
                    whether it is necessary?" Mordechai said. "I think
                    the main thing is to preserve the momentum in the
                    progress of the negotiations with the
                    Palestinians; that the Palestinians will do what
                    they promised."

                    Roman Bronfman (Yisrael Ba'aliya), who heads the
                    forum of moderates in the coalition, said the
                    plebiscite would be an attempt to postpone the
                    redeployment.

                    Beyond the coalition, the referendum idea was
                    attacked by both President Ezer Weizman and
                    opposition leaders, headed by Labor Party chairman
                    Ehud Barak.

                    Weizman doubted the point of holding a referendum,
                    because the debate on the pullout is not over and
                    the main issue will be the final-status agreement.

                    "The pullback is not a completed thing, and I
                    don't know if one can hold a referendum on a
                    partial issue. I have doubts," he said.

                    Weizman noted if the referendum contributes to the
                    peace process, he would not object, "but if I see
                    it's a way to waste time, I won't be pleased."

                    Labor MKs said the idea is a delaying tactic and
                    predicted it would be wasteful.

                    "Only a sleepwalking government can take a
                    question to which the answer is as clear as day,
                    and throw away NIS 100 million on a referendum,"
                    Barak said. He added that the only referendum
                    needed is on the government's continued term -
                    elections.

                    He called on the government to "stop hiding behind
                    gimmicks and advisory referendums and embarrassing
                    delaying tactics and face the public with its
                    policy - or rather lack of policy - in elections."

                    Hanegbi, however, said: "Even though it would only
                    be advisory, this type of referendum would have a
                    profound influence [on MKs]."

                    "The government would not be able to ignore its
                    results. The positive thing about it is that it
                    can be carried out in a relatively tolerable
                    amount of time, it involves the six million
                    citizens of Israel in the decision, and it will
                    soften the raging disputes which we are bound to
                    face following the government's dramatic
                    decision," he said.

                    Government officials estimated it would be
                    possible to hold the referendum within two months
                    of passage of the law and that it would cost NIS
                    100 million, excluding campaign costs.

                    Hanegbi and Livnat explained that members of the
                    public would be asked to vote "yes" or "no" on the
                    question of whether they approve of the agreement
                    reached by the government on the second
                    redeployment. After the results of the referendum
                    are in, the Knesset would be asked to vote on the
                    redeployment agreement; that vote would be
                    binding.

                    "This is not a stalling tactic," Livnat said.
                    "Everyone must understand that we don't want such
                    a decision to be made by a one-vote majority."

                    Labor MK Shimon Peres said he does not understand
                    the reason for a referendum since it is known the
                    majority of the people support the pullout.

                    Other Labor MKs also blasted the proposal. "It's
                    an absurd, ridiculous and strange creature," said
                    MK Dalia Itzik.

                    Haggai Merom was the only Labor MK to come out in
                    support of a referendum, which he said is a useful
                    constitutional instrument, especially since the
                    Knesset does not reflect the public's will.

                    Steve Rodan adds:

                    Palestinian Authority Secretary-General Ahmed
                    Abdul Rahman said he regards the idea as an
                    attempt by the Netanyahu government to avoid
                    honoring its commitment to further redeployment
                    and to gain time to expand settlements.

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Tuesday, June 23, 1998       29 Sivan 5758 
Jerusalem Post - Internet Edition


                    Weizman: Netanyahu misled me claiming 2nd pullback
                    was sealed 

                    By MICHAL YUDELMAN 

                    JERUSALEM (June 23) -- President Ezer Weizman
                    yesterday lashed out at the government,
                    criticizing it for its handling of the economy,
                    the peace process, and the referendum and
                    complaining that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu
                    misled him about the second pullback.

                    At a breakfast with Netanyahu a week and a half
                    ago, Weizman was given to understand that the
                    pullback was a done deal to be implemented by
                    mid-June, the President said.

                    After that he had urged Labor Party leader Ehud
                    Barak to provide Netanyahu with a parliamentary
                    safety net and to persuade Arab leaders to support
                    the move.

                    Today, he said he understands the pullback is not
                    close.

                    "I have reasons to be disappointed with the way
                    the peace process is conducted. The peace process
                    is mired down and limping, and the economy is
                    stuck together with it," Weizman told a group of
                    Labor MKs at a meeting initially called to discuss
                    a parliamentary safety net for the pullout
                    agreement.

                    Explaining his refusal to speak at the Zichron
                    Ya'acov economic conference as scheduled on
                    Sunday, Weizman said he had agreed to speak a
                    month or two ago, when he had grounds to believe
                    the peace process would advance, but his
                    expectations were thwarted.

                    Had he spoken at the conference, he said, his
                    address would have been angry, so he decided to
                    cancel it.

                    "One of the things which hurt me and angered me
                    the most was that they've taken the joy out of the
                    peace process," Weizman said. "All my life I've
                    dealt with economy, security, and peace, and I am
                    convinced you cannot sever the economy from the
                    general peace policy. Today, the peace is limping,
                    and the economy along with it."

                    Weizman said Israel's economy started to flourish
                    "after we signed peace with Egypt, shook [Yasser]
                    Arafat's hand, and made peace with Jordan. The
                    doors of the world opened to us and investments
                    started pouring in. Today there's a recession,
                    growing unemployment, a drastic reduction in
                    investments."

                    Weizman said he did not know whether the safety
                    net is relevant at this stage, but expressed
                    belief that Labor would support the pullback if
                    and when it is presented to the Knesset.

                    The MKs attending the meeting were Yossi Beilin,
                    Haggai Merom, Ophir Pines, Rafik Haj-Yihia, Eitan
                    Cabel, and Rafi Elul.

                    The prime minister's bureau would not comment on
                    Weizman's statements.

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