Subject: Arutz-7 News: June 23-24, 1998 Date: Thu, 25 Jun 1998 00:03:46 +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: Tuesday, June 23, 1998 Arutz Sheva News Service <http://www.a7.org> Tuesday, June 23, 1998 / Sivan 29, 5758 ------------------------------------------------ Delivered Daily via Email, Sunday thru Friday --- See below for subscription instructions --- TODAY'S HEADLINES: 1. STILL UNDECIDED ON REFERENDUM 2. ARAB MK CALLS FOR MURDER OF ARAB LAND-SELLERS 3. ARUTZ-7 QUESTIONING AND SUPPORT CONTINUE 4. TENT-CITY PROTEST AGAINST WITHDRAWAL 1. STILL UNDECIDED ON REFERENDUM Government-coalition voices against the holding of a referendum on the second withdrawal issue are increasing. Minister Shaul Yahalom of the National Religious Party said that a plebiscite of this sort is "an attempt to bypass the democratic-chosen institutions and to distort the voice of the people who negated the path of the previous government." Likud MK Naomi Blumental said that there are many crucial issues on the agenda of the State of Israel, and "we cannot afford to conduct a plebiscite for each one." On the other hand, Moti Karpel of the Jewish Leadership movement is in favor: "True, we [the anti-withdrawal forces] will lose, but we will be a large minority, which will form the basis for a concrete alternative. When the 'fruits of Oslo' ripen, we will be able to harvest them." Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is known to be in favor of a binding referendum, although he said today that he had not yet made a decision on the matter. 2. ARAB MK CALLS FOR MURDER OF ARAB LAND-SELLERS Knesset Members of the Knesset Interior Committee toured the archaeological dig at the Ateret Cohanim property near Flower Gate in the Old City today, where Arab MK Salah Salim caused an uproar by calling outright for the continued murder of Arabs who sell land to Jews. Arutz-7 correspondent Haggai Huberman reports that Salim cried out, "When I see how the Jews are taking over these lands in Jerusalem, I am amazed at the Palestinians who do not continue to kill the land-dealers, and I call upon them to continue to kill them." Even after MKs Benny Elon and Nisan Slomiansky protested his remarks, Salim called again for the murder of the Arab sellers. The police have announced that they will begin a criminal investigation into the matter, and will ask Knesset Speaker Dan Tichon for permission to question Salim on charges of inciting to violence. The MKs also toured the Shiloach neighborhood in the ancient City of David. Several Jewish families have moved into the neighborhood in the past few weeks, below Dung Gate, and it is now mostly Jewish. 3. ARUTZ-7 QUESTIONING AND SUPPORT CONTINUE The police questioning of Arutz-7 employees continued today. Chief News Editor Haggai Segal was questioned this morning, as were several technicians, members of the ship's crew, and employees of the Arutz-7 advertising department. Many letters of support for Arutz-7 have been received at the station (by mail and e-mail) from all around the world. Rabbi Aaron Soloveitchik, Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva University in New York, transmitted a message in which he expressed sorrow that "you, who give over Torah in the greater Land of Israel, and teach the Land of Israel via the Torah, must stand against these libels, etc.... Both of these represent strength, and in their merit, may you be strengthened, continue to strengthen others, and all of Israel will be strengthened." 4. TENT-CITY PROTEST AGAINST WITHDRAWAL A makeshift tent city is scheduled to be inhabited, beginning this evening, by Yesha families, in protest of the possibility of an upcoming withdrawal. Some 50 families from Maaleh Levonah and Elon Moreh are expected to take up residence for the next several days in a lot outside the Prime Minister's Office, calling upon the government not to abandon their communities as lone enclaves within Palestinian Authority territory. The tent-city protest method was used four years ago before the Labor government withdrew from the Arab cities in Judea and Samaria; the Yesha residents begged the government not to turn over parts of the Land of Israel which would be used as places of refuge for Arab terrorists. A busload of families from Maaleh Levonah left this afternoon for the Western Wall, where they participated in a large-scale "Children's Prayers" ceremony with thousands of worshipers, on their way to the protest site. *********************************************************************** 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, June 24, 1998 Arutz Sheva News Service <http://www.a7.org> Wednesday, June 24, 1998 / Rosh Chodesh Tammuz 5758 ------------------------------------------------ Delivered Daily via Email, Sunday thru Friday --- See below for subscription instructions --- TODAY'S HEADLINES: 1. YESHA FAMILIES HOLD LIVE-IN STRIKE AGAINST WITHDRAWAL 2. MK RAMON ATTACKS NETANYAHU 3. COMMUNICATIONS MINISTRY LEGAL DOCUMENT BACKS UP ARUTZ-7 4. REFERENDUM ISSUE GAINS MOMENTUM, DESPITE MKs' RESERVATIONS 5. OSLO ARCHITECT AGAINST PALESTINIAN UPGRADE 1. YESHA FAMILIES HOLD LIVE-IN STRIKE AGAINST WITHDRAWAL Some thirty families from communities in Judea and Samaria are staging a live-in strike outside the Prime Minister's Office. They are protesting the government's intention to withdraw from extensive areas in Yesha, and to abandon their communities in enclaves surrounded by Palestinian autonomy. The families are from Maaleh Levonah, Elon Moreh, and Revavah. Next week, families from Beit El and other Yesha communities are to take their turn there; residents of other locations are also invited. Rabbi Yair Shachor of Maaleh Levonah told Arutz-7 today, "There are a lot of reasons for being here, but among them is that it is very important that those making the decisions should actually see, hear, and meet face-to-face with the people who are going to be affected by these decisions." He said that the site of the tent city is only 200 meters from the government buildings, and that the "personal effect" was bound to be felt. Rabbi Shachor said, "The advantage of being here is that we are engaged in around-the-clock activity: Reporters are here, and we can meet with Knesset Members and ministers, and talk to people in the street, and more. Even the students of Michlol Torah-Tech [a technological yeshiva in Maaleh Levonah] have moved here and are holding their classes here." Demonstrations against the withdrawal are scheduled to take place in dozens of intersections throughout the country tonight. 2. MK RAMON ATTACKS NETANYAHU Labor MK Chaim Ramon distributed a document among all the Knesset Members today, in which he claims to show that Prime Minister Netanyahu has not achieved any significant gains in the past six months of negotiations with the PA. Ramon says that in many instances, the Israeli position has been worsened. He revealed a document that he said he received from American sources, according to which Netanyahu has agreed to withdraw from 27% of Yesha: 12% to Palestinian administrative control, and 15% to total Palestinian control. In addition, Ramon said that the Prime Minister agreed not to confiscate lands, to cease razing illegal Arab structures, and not to significantly expand existing settlements, while the Palestinians have agreed not to allow Arab building in Area C (Israeli area). All these were already agreed upon six months ago, according to Ramon, who concludes that Netanyahu is "leading the nation astray" by making it appear as if intense negotiations have been going on all this time. The Prime Minister's Office has denied Ramon's statement. 3. COMMUNICATIONS MINISTRY LEGAL DOCUMENT BACKS UP ARUTZ-7 The investigation of Arutz-7 employees continued today, and still more employees have been summoned for tomorrow. Yediot Acharonot reports, based on police sources, that the police will recommend indicting some 30 Arutz-7 employees. The Arutz-7 management claims that this is a deliberate leak, designed to sow fear amongst Arutz-7 staff and supporters. Arutz-7's lawyers submitted an affidavit of the legal counsel of the Communications Ministry to the Supreme Court today, according to which Arutz-7's broadcasts emanate from outside Israel's territorial waters. The Court will hear the case in another two months. 4. REFERENDUM ISSUE GAINS MOMENTUM, DESPITE MKs' RESERVATIONS The Knesset House Committee will hold its first withdrawal-referendum session next week. "After all, we've never had a referendum in Israel before," said Committee Chairman Chanan Porat. He admitted that the chances that the right-wing will win such a referendum are slim. Porat also warned that we must not allow ourselves to become distracted by the referendum issue and not remember the major issue of "the tearing to pieces of parts of the Land of Israel." He said, however, that under certain circumstances some positive results could be achieved as a consequence of concentrating on the referendum. He said that a special majority (60-70%) must be required, that it must deal with a fully-formulated agreement without any "issues to be determined later," such as that of extradition of wanted terrorists, and that the question of the third withdrawal must be finalized beforehand. "It is inconceivable that the Israeli public should be asked to vote only on the question of a withdrawal, without relating to the other accompanying burning issues," Porat said. He said that after a recent long discussion with the Prime Minister, he has the impression that Netanyahu is determined to hold a popular vote regarding the withdrawal. Labor MK Shlomo Ben-Ami, speaking with Arutz-7 today, made some similar points. "I object to a referendum, because I am against the Netanyahu method of ruling - a method based on manipulation of the national agenda. He brings up the idea of a referendum, and now we all have to start discussing what kind of referendum, and how much it costs, and how it will work - instead of dealing with the real subject of the withdrawal itself!" Ben-Ami continued, "I ask you: Can we turn to the public today and present it with a finished plan, and say, here's a 13% withdrawal, with the boundary here and here, and here is a passage from Area A to B, and here from B to C, etc. - does anyone expect that the public will be able to understand this and give a yes or no answer? It's not serious!" 5. OSLO ARCHITECT AGAINST PALESTINIAN UPGRADE Excerpts of an interview with Joel Singer, former Legal Adviser of the Israel Foreign Ministry and the man responsible for drawing up the Oslo Accords, on Voice of Israel radio today: Question: This matter of the Palestinian Authority's intention to change its status, the status at the United Nations, is this a violation of the accords? Singer: I have no doubts about it and I wrote this a few years ago, that it would be a violation of the agreement and not just a minor violation but a most fundamental violation of the accord. I have repeatedly said that if the Palestinian side were to declare a Palestinian state or initiate any process whose intention would be to bring about the upgrading of the status of the autonomy at the United Nations to the status of a state, then this would be a flagrant violation of the agreement, a violation so fundamental that it would permit Israel to consider the adoption of very harsh steps in response." ************************************************************************ Sunday, June 21, 1998 27 Sivan 5758 Jerusalem Post - Internet Edition US REAFFIRMS PULLBACK PLEDGE By STEVE RODAN and MOHAMMED NAJIB RAMALLAH (June 21) - Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat received a commitment last night from US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright that the Clinton administration will not back down from efforts to obtain an Israeli withdrawal in the West Bank and will work to resume negotiations toward a final-status solution for the territories. Albright's message was delivered to Arafat in a letter by US Consul-General John Herbst during a meeting last night in Ramallah. PA sources said the message came amid increasing doubts among Palestinian leaders regarding Washington's commitment to press Israel to agree to relinquishing 13.1 percent of the West Bank to full Palestinian control. Arafat and Herbst also reviewed the latest development in the peace process and proposals by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to implement a further redeployment in the territories. PA sources said Netanyahu has offered several proposals that fall short of the 13.1 percent set by the US and that Arafat has rejected all of the Israeli ideas. Arafat is hoping to obtain an Israeli commitment to the US plan for West Bank withdrawal to coincide with his efforts to make changes in the authority, the sources said. During a tour of several West Bank cities, Arafat called for national unity and suggested the cabinet would soon be reshuffled. Arafat said his own Fatah movement and the Islamic and secular opposition needed to join together to battle what he termed "the plans to establish [Jewish] settlements on Palestinian lands that serve to provoke the masses." He also criticized what he called Israeli plans to set up more communities in Jerusalem. PA officials said Arafat has already set a cabinet reshuffle into motion. Education Minister Yasser Amr said five members from the PLO Executive Committee will be appointed ministers in the next cabinet. He did not name those appointed. Islamic opposition figures have already asserted they will not accept an invitation to join a new cabinet. The Islamic Jihad Movement released a statement on Friday that denied reports that it would seek positions in the PA. The movement reiterated its opposition to the Oslo Accords, adding that jihad, or holy war, is the only option for the Palestinians. During his West Bank tour, Arafat attended a ceremony that marked the fourth anniversary of PADICO, the Palestinian Industrial Development Corporation. PA officials said PADICO would seek to raise $1 billion for the Palestinian economy from investors and institutions abroad. They said a key element in the Palestinian plan is the Bethlehem 2000 celebrations, which they hope will bring hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and tourists to Bethlehem and other PA areas. Arafat commemorated the ground-breaking of a new Intercontinental Hotel in Bethlehem that officials hope will be finished in time for the Bethlehem 2000 celebrations. *********************************************************************** Sunday, June 21, 1998 27 Sivan 5758 Jerusalem Post - Internet Edition US 'misreading' JERUSALEM EXPANSION By JAY BUSHINSKY, HILLEL KUTTLER, and news agencies JERUSALEM (June 21) - The Clinton administration is "misreading reports in the news media" about Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's support for an expansion of Jerusalem's municipal services, a senior government official said yesterday. The expansion is to include communities to the west of the capital, including Givat Ze'ev, and Ma'aleh Adumim to the east. The cabinet plans to discuss the measure at its weekly meeting today and will probably approve it, said David Bar-Illan, the prime minister's communications adviser. Netanyahu is determined to bring up the plan at the meeting, despite US objections, Channel 1 reported last night. According to the senior official, the purpose of the plan is merely to create an "umbrella municipality," not to enlarge Jerusalem's urban boundaries or annex additional areas. This reaction came after expressions of displeasure and concern emanating from the US State Department about Netanyahu's intentions. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright spoke Friday with both Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat, raising her concerns with Netanyahu over Jerusalem, and with Arafat over the PLO's attempt to upgrade its status at the UN. She called the latter effort an "unproductive act," according to a participant. Army Radio said Albright told Netanyahu any attempt to expand Jerusalem would kill the peace process. In his daily briefing, State Department spokesman James Rubin criticized Israel's position as "extremely provocative," "unfathomable," and "the ticket to further instability." It also complicates Washington's effort to conclude an Israeli-Palestinian agreement and initiate final-status negotiations, he said. "Jerusalem is an extremely sensitive and emotional issue for Israelis, Palestinians, and Arabs alike. The unilateral action that this implies only undermines any sense of trust and confidence between the parties that is so essential to creating an environment for serious negotiations. They also create the impression that Israel has determined the status of key permanent-status issues before these negotiations have begun." The PA reacted with a statement saying, "The expansion of Jerusalem's boundaries will allow Israel to swallow 18 percent of West Bank land in order to establish settlements... It is unacceptable to the Palestinian leadership." Bar-Illan insisted that, "Any geographical expansion, if there is any, will be to the west of the city and will be within the Green Line and in no way will it affect the Oslo Accords. The purpose of the Jerusalem plan is to enable the city to enter the 21st century as an efficient and viable metropolis. No change in the city's status is intended." Bar-Illan attributed press reports of the prime minister's alleged announcement of such a change to "a mistaken translation," noting that he referred to "standing" not legal status. Referring to the proposed improvement of the city's transportation infrastructure and encouragement of new industrial enterprises, as well as other initiatives in education and the arts, he said: "The economic tax-base of the city will be expanded to include suburban areas to the west." He denied that the municipal program is related to the peace process, contending that "it is the conclusion of a study which began 16 months ago by various government and municipal offices," and will benefit all Jerusalem residents and substantially improve the standard of living and quality of life in the city. "No municipal expansion into areas outside the Green Line is planned," Bar-Illan said. "The law in Israel has always been enforced and will continue to be enforced, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or nationality. This applies to illegal construction, as well as to other violations of the law. "We are always concerned about what the US thinks... but there are certain things that are nothing more than domestic needs that we must provide and that we must act on when we feel they are necessary." Cabinet secretary Dan Naveh said on Channel 1 that Israel has every right to strengthen and develop Jerusalem. "We are talking about development of infrastructure in Jerusalem... This program is in no way contradictory to any agreements with the Palestinians." *******************************************************************