From: Arutz-7 Editor <editor7@virtual.co.il>
To: arutz-7@ploni.virtual.co.il, arutz7-b@ploni.virtual.co.il
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Friday, July 10, 1998
Arutz Sheva News Service
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Friday, July 10, 1998 / Tammuz 16, 5758
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. CABINET SEC'Y CONFIRMS 13% WITHDRAWAL
2. YESHA RABBIS DO NOT SHIRK RESPONSIBILITY
1. CABINET SEC'Y CONFIRMS 13% WITHDRAWAL
For the first time, an official in the Prime Minister's Office has
confirmed that Netanyahu has agreed to a withdrawal from 13% of Judea and
Samaria. Cabinet Secretary Danny Naveh said, however, that the
negotiations are stalled because the PA refuses to comply with the
commitments it undertook in the framework of the Oslo accords. Two
Palestinian Authority seniors will continue their meetings with American
officials in Washington today.
3. YESHA RABBIS DO NOT SHIRK RESPONSIBILITY
The Council of Rabbis in Judea and Samaria responded today to Dr. Joseph
Burg, former long-time head of the National Religious Party. Burg said
this morning that the issue of a withdrawal from Judea and Samaria is not a
matter to be decided by rabbinic authorities. Council chairman Rabbi
Eliezer Melamed said that it is incumbent upon the rabbis to express their
position on societal Halakhic matters that are connected to the Nation of
Israel and the commandment of settling the Land. Rabbi Melamed added a
political note, to the effect that the last time the NRP ignored the
position of the religious-Zionist rabbis, and supported the withdrawal from
Sinai and the uprooting of settlements there, its Knesset membership
decreased from 12 mandates to 5.
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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, July 12, 1998
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org> Sunday,
July 12, 1998 / Tammuz 18, 5758
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. U.S. RESIGNS FROM OSLO PROCESS
2. PALESTINIAN-INITIATED CONFLICT FEARED
3. COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY
4. THIRD WAY ON WAY OUT?
1. U.S. RESIGNS FROM OSLO PROCESS
The United States is essentially withdrawing from the diplomatic
process between the Israelis and the Palestinians. So blare headlines
in Israel's daily papers. U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
announced on Friday that the fate of the next withdrawal is dependent
upon direct talks between the two sides. Prime Minister Binyamin
Netanyahu expressed satisfaction with the U.S. position, and other
Jerusalem sources said that this basically returns the ball to the
Palestinian court, "since they have not been making any moves towards
fulfilling their obligations." A Jerusalem The Palestinians claim
that the U.S. has betrayed them, and say that it is not fair that the
Americans hold both sides responsible for the failure of the talks.
The U.S. should "force Israel to accept [its] initiative," said a top
Palestinian negotiator.
2. PALESTINIAN-INITIATED CONFLICT FEARED
Israel's military intelligence branch believes that the likelihood of
the Palestinian Authority initiating a war in 1999 has increased.
According to a national security appraisal currently being prepared,
armed conflict could begin in or shortly after May 1999, when Arafat
has said he would declare an independent state. The PA could mobilize
violent street protests via its Fatah movement, while simultaneously
activating its 36,000-strong armed police against Israel. In
addition, the PA has prepared special terrorist units, including
Arafat's Force 17, for special missions in the West Bank and Gaza.
Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk A-Shara warns that the situation in the
Middle East is now more dangerous than it has been since the Madrid
Conference. Meretz leader MK Yossi Sarid also fears that violence
will break out, and attacked the U.S. for abandoning the process
which, he said, the Israelis and Palestinians will never be able to
revive on their own. Cabinet Secretary Danny Naveh said today that
even if the Americans do not participate directly in the talks, their
initiative and representatives will play a role behind the scenes.
3. COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY
Today's government meeting featured ministerial criticism of the
continued transfer of monies to Yasser Arafat's personal account,
despite the widespread corruption within the Palestinian Authority.
The issue was raised by Minister Natan Sharansky, with the support of
Minister Ariel Sharon. Minister Shaul Yahalom reported that thousands
of Palestinian debtors to Israelis never show up for court proceedings
dealing with their debts. Attorney-General Rubenstein confirmed the
report. Communications Minister Limor Livnat told the government that
the Palestinian radio stations cause disturbances to control tower
communications at Ben Gurion International Airport. She said that
these stations continue to broadcast anti-Israel incitement.
4. THIRD WAY ON WAY OUT?
Knesset Member Alex Lubotsky has called upon his colleagues in the
Third Way party to resign from the government coalition - not because
of the delay in the second withdrawal, but because a national unity
government is not being formed. Party leader Avigdor Kahalani is known
to be against quitting the coalition. The party leadership will
convene this week to discuss Lubotsky's proposal.
**********************************************************************
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, July 13, 1998
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Monday, July 13, 1998 / Tammuz 19, 5758
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. THE PROCESS
2. MKs TO MEET WITH HUSSEINI
3. ARABS TRANSFER STOLEN CAR OPERATIONS
4. WOMEN'S RIGHT TO KNOW
***SPECIAL INSERT: THE LATEST PALESTINIAN INCITEMENT
1. THE PROCESS
In a speech today to a gathering of Israel Bonds leaders from the
United States, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu praised U.S.
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright for her call for direct talks
between Israel and the Palestinians. Netanyahu said that Israel is
willing to begin talks of this nature immediately, "until their
successful conclusion." He said that he has already reached an
understanding with the Americans regarding both the second withdrawal
and the Palestinian obligations, and that "only narrow gaps remain
until we conclude the agreement."
Minister Natan Sharansky, a member of the security mini-Cabinet, said
today that he would vote for an additional withdrawal from Judea and
Samaria "only if a comprehensive agreement is reached, one that
includes the fulfillment of Palestinian obligations and an
understanding on the exact extent of a third withdrawal." In a talk
with Arutz-7 today, Sharansky criticized the Third Way party for its
ultimative demand that Netanyahu carry out the second withdrawal
immediately.
2. MKs TO MEET WITH HUSSEINI
Seven opposition Knesset Members, including Haggai Merom of Labor and
Dedi Tzucker of Meretz, plan to meet tomorrow with Palestinian
Authority official Feisal Husseini at the Orient House in Jerusalem,
to discuss ways of fighting the government's policy of razing illegal
Arab structures. Several grams of explosives were detonated across
from the Orient House today. The police are investigating the
circumstances of the explosion.
3. ARABS TRANSFER STOLEN CAR OPERATIONS
The Arab chop-shops for stolen cars are migrating from Area B (Israeli
security control) to Area A (full Palestinian control). Police
sources explain that this is due to the recent police success in
raiding Arab chop-shops. The police are aware that the transfer of
the Palestinian stolen car operations to Area A will make it
significantly more difficult to act against them, as has been proven
by the increase in car thefts in recent weeks. The Palestinian police
do not act against the Arab car thieves, nor against the greatly
increasing activities of illegal Arab video cassette and
CD-duplicators.
4. WOMEN'S RIGHT TO KNOW
It was recently announced - and then denied - that the Public Council
for Demography would submit a proposal to the government for the
encouragement of a higher Jewish birth rate and the prevention of
abortions. The possibility of such a plan sparked a protest from the
Naamat and WIZO women's groups. Chedvah Almog, president of Naamat,
told Arutz-7 today that methods employed by pro-birth groups are
unfair. "A woman goes to an abortion clinic, which she has a right to
believe is a private matter, and suddenly she becomes a target for
these groups," she said. Rachel Silvetsky, chairperson of the
religious women's organization Emunah, also participated in the
discussion on Arutz-7 today. She said, "Religious women customarily
go to a rabbi to discuss the issue of abortions, which is a complex
issue in Judaism, and they are able to hear an authoritative opinion.
Non-religious women, too, should have the right of freedom of choice,
but unfortunately do not have complete information. When they arrive
at an abortion clinic, they are only informed of one aspect, but do
not hear [about the advantages of] not having an abortion. We believe
that women have the right to know both sides." Ms. Almog agreed that
women should have the right to know both sides, but insisted that they
not be "forcibly convinced" one way or another; to this Ms. Silvetsky
also agreed.
SPECIAL INSERT: THE LATEST PALESTINIAN INCITEMENT
At a recent Israeli Cabinet meeting, Minister of Communications Limor
Livnat presented samples of Palestinian Authority television
programming featuring severe incitement against Israel and inculcation
of values of violence and hate. The samples were prepared by
Palestinian Media Watch, under the direction of Itamar Marcus, and was
translated by Dr. Aaron Lerner of IMRA. The samples include the
following:
Item on Summer Camps In Khan Yunis, Gaza - July 7, 1998:
A boy sings, "I came to you; I came to you with sword in hand; I
came to you to join and stand strong; so they won't be insolent to
me.... I call for revolution in my land; we will carry it to the quiet sea;
your day is near, occupier; and then we will close accounts; our
account has no end in rocks and bullets."
One of those responsible for the camp on behalf of the "Authority for
the Direction of Policy and Concepts" explains that they are training the
youngsters in various areas, amongst them, "firearms, of course."
A boy and his classmates recite responsively:
"Children are victorious; Training with weapons; Revolution,
revolution until the victory"
Item on Children's Club Program - June 19, 1998:
A girl sings, "Hey hello Jerusalem, I am the salvation...; I will
never be silent, never; I will return with tomorrow; and with me
my heart and determination for Jihad; and after the religion you
are the most important thing to me..."
A boy sings, "We are your children Palestine, standing strong,
standing strong; Whatever the occupiers do, they continue with their
blows; We will learn the religious verses and fight our enemies; We
have abandoned the entire world, in the conflict we have abandoned;
Standing strong, standing strong, until the liberation of all of
Palestine; We will oust the occupiers, we will live in security;
No...and no flexibility, until all of Palestine returns to our
homeland in peace, flying the flag of victory."
A film clip that has been broadcast scores of times in the last months
shows children playing and singing, "My box in my room. My room in my
house. My house in my neighborhood. My neighborhood in my country.
My country is very nice, it has houses and oranges and neighbors and
trees..." (In the background are pictures of children playing and a
colorful model of hills upon which are being built homes and trees
planted. Between frames for a split second the picture of an Israeli
soldier advancing with a rifle is shown.) At the end of the clip,
children present themselves by first name and home, among them
Jerusalem, Haifa, Jaffa etc.
**********************************************************************
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, July 14, 1998
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Tuesday, July 14, 1998 / Tammuz 20, 5758
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Delivered Daily via Email, Sunday thru Friday
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. LAST-MINUTE EFFORTS TO PREVENT GUNS-DELIVERY TO ARABS
2. BAR-ILLAN, EITAN REACT TO NEW AMERICAN POSITION
3. NETANYAHU: NO CONCESSIONS ON PALESTINIAN TRAFFIC IN GAZA
4. BAR ILLAN ON U.N.
1. LAST-MINUTE EFFORTS TO PREVENT GUNS-DELIVERY TO ARABS
Last-minute efforts are being made to prevent the supply of
mini-Ingram sub-machine guns to the Palestinian police in Hevron.
Dozens of the weapons arrived in Ben Gurion International Airport this
morning, bound for Hevron. A spokesman for the Hevron Jewish
Community Hevron said today, "It is outrageous that the government is
equipping the Arabs with weapons, while at the same time it
confiscates weapons from Jewish residents who wish to defend
themselves." Labor MK Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, a former high-ranking IDF
officer, said that if he were Defense Minister, he would not allow
additional automatic weapons into Hevron. He estimated that the
amount of weapons in the possession of Hevron's Arabs is ten times
more than that permitted by the Hevron Agreement. MK Nisan Slomiansky
(NRP) said that it is ridiculous for the government to give additional
weapons to the Palestinians while at the same time demanding that the
Palestinians give over their illegal surplus of weapons.
2. BAR-ILLAN, EITAN REACT TO NEW AMERICAN POSITION
The Americans are coming closer to blaming Israel for the impasse in
the talks on the second withdrawal. State Department spokesman James
Rubin said yesterday, "Let me make this very clear - the Palestinians
have said yes in principle to [our] ideas. We have been working with
the Israelis to determine whether they can respond with a second yes
to our ideas. The Israelis have moved in that direction, but gaps
remain. The Israelis have indicated they have concerns about some key
elements in our ideas which they have expressed to us; and we have
made it clear to them that many of these concerns are concerns that
can only have an impact if they are expressed directly to the
Palestinians... So, in short, the ball is not in the Palestinian court
as I've seen it suggested. The ball is in the court of the Israelis
to try to work with the Palestinians and work with us to come to a
second yes. We have a yes from the Palestinians, and we are looking
to get ourselves in a position where the Israelis can say yes, as
well."
Minister of Agriculture and former Chief of Staff Rafael Eitan
rejected today any American implication that Israel is to blame in the
current impasse. Visiting today in the Golan, Eitan said, "Israel
must look out for its own interests, and if this leads to our being
blamed, that's better than self-disintegration and endangering our
future." He said that he does not fear a flare-up of violence in
Yesha: "The Arabs have what to fear, because the Israeli reaction
will be so strong that they won't forget it for many years."
David Bar Illan, Director of Policy Planning and Communications in the
Prime Minister's Office, told Arutz-7, "It should be noted that the
Palestinians are the ones who broke off the bilateral talks 15 months
ago, after the decision to build Har Homa. This is revealing of the
Palestinian policy that believes that international pressures can gain
them more than direct talks." He added, "The fact that the Americans
now understand that only direct talks can bring the desired results is
very encouraging."
Direct negotiations between Israel and the PLO will likely begin
within a few days, after Yasser Arafat returns from his trip to China.
Maariv newspaper reports that Prime Minister Netanyahu is willing to
step down from his demand that the Palestinian National Council
convene at this juncture to change the charter calling for Israel's
destruction. Bar-Illan categorically denied this report.
3. NETANYAHU: NO CONCESSIONS ON PALESTINIAN TRAFFIC IN GAZA
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu met yesterday with Gaza Coast
Regional Council head Aharon Tzur and MK Tzvi Hendel, who preceded
Tzur in that position. Netanyahu told them that Palestinian traffic
will not be allowed on the coastal road. The Palestinians blocked
three Jewish communities for twelve hours two weeks ago, demanding
that they be allowed to travel on the coastal road. The IDF does not
allow them to do so, for security reasons.
A Border Guard policeman was injured lightly-to-moderately in a
violent scuffle today with Palestinian police, on the Kisufim highway
near Gaza. Military sources report that the clash broke out because of
an argument about the operation of the joint patrol.
4. BAR ILLAN ON U.N.
David Bar Illan, Director of Policy Planning and Communications in the
Prime Minister's Office, related today to the UN criticism of Israel's
decision to expand the municipal boundaries of Jerusalem. He said,
"It's hard to relate seriously to the UN, as even the nations that are
friendly to us vote against us in the UN because even they don't take
the UN so seriously. There are countries that have even taken part in
air shows with us because of their friendship with us and yet still
vote against us in the UN. So it's hard to take the UN so seriously.
On the other hand, we would be very happy if the attitude in the UN
was a bit more fair... The fact that Israel is the scapegoat for many
issues in the UN is very sad, and reflects an unflattering picture of
international ethics."
**********************************************************************
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, July 15, 1998
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Wednesday, July 15, 1998 / Tammuz 21, 5758
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Delivered Daily via Email, Sunday thru Friday
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. SUBMACHINE GUNS ON WAY TO ARABS IN HEVRON
2. MORDECHAI TO LEAD TALKS WITH PLO
3. GERMANS DISCRIMINATE AMONGST JEWS
1. SUBMACHINE GUNS ON WAY TO ARABS IN HEVRON
Defense Minister Yitzchak Mordechai announced in the Knesset today
that the Hevron-agreement clause to provide the Palestinian
para-military force in Hevron with additional mini-Ingram submachine
guns will be implemented as planned. Minister of Transportation Shaul
Yahalom, and others, had asked Mordechai not to go ahead with the
plan. Yahalom wrote an urgent letter to Mordechai last night, in
which he said that the submachine guns should not be given over until
the issue can be discussed at the next government meeting. Yahalom
wrote that providing the weapons to the Arabs at this time increases
the mortal danger to the Jewish residents of Hevron, and will render
"ludicrous" the Israeli demands for the reduction of the Palestinian
police force and the number of their weapons. An IDF spokesman said
that the Hevron-bound mini-Ingrams are a present from the government
of Holland.
Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Shaul Mofaz, in office only since last week,
visited Hevron yesterday. The Hevron Jewish Community organized what
was described as a "very warm" welcome for him outside Beit Hadassah,
including a children's choir and a bouquet of flowers. Community
leaders gave him a letter detailing the security issues that face the
residents, and specifically asking that the government cease arming
the Palestinian security forces in the city.
2. MORDECHAI TO LEAD TALKS WITH PLO
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu convened the security mini-cabinet
this morning for three hours. No major decisions were made, although
Defense Minister Mordechai was authorized to represent Israel in the
direct talks with the PLO. Mordechai and Shas party leader MK Aryeh
Deri are pressuring Netanyahu to accept the American proposals. The
Prime Minister met early this afternoon with leaders of the coalition
parties, and briefed them on the second withdrawal talks.
Leading Palestinian Authority figure Saeb Erekat said that Mordechai
will meet with possible-Arafat-successor Abu Mazen in the coming days;
the Israelis had asked to meet with Yasser Arafat himself, who
refused. Erekat said that the U.S. promised Arafat that if an
agreement was not reached within one week, the Americans would
publicize their plan, and would place the blame for the failure of the
talks on Israel. He also said that the Palestinians will not agree to
re-open for discussion the issues on which they have already reached
an agreement with the Americans. Erekat further said that the PLO
charter has already been changed, and that there is therefore no need
for the Palestinian National Council to reconvene to change it. The
State Department spokesman said yesterday that "both sides have not
fulfilled their commitments under Oslo, and that's well-known..."
Itim news agency quotes a senior diplomatic source as saying that the
talks will deal only with the changing of the Palestinian charter
calling for Israel's destruction, and the delineation of 3% of the 13%
second withdrawal. Mordechai, however, says that the talks should not
be limited in any way. Minister Ariel Sharon said today that the
government would fall if it carries out 13% withdrawal now and a 1%
withdrawal later.
3. GERMANS DISCRIMINATE AMONGST JEWS
The Germans do not recognize the right of Holocaust survivors who live
in territories captured by Israel in 1967 to receive war reparations.
This is true for Jerusalem neighborhoods such as Ramat Eshkol as well.
MK Chanan Porat will meet this afternoon with the acting German
Ambassador to Israel on the topic. "The Germans are the last ones who
are permitted to perform a 'selection' on Jews," Porat said.
In other Holocaust-related news, the mayor of Beit Shemesh, Danny
Vaknin, has been called upon to cancel the twin-city arrangement with
the Croatian city of Split, if the latter does not change the name of
a local street. The city of Split has named a street in honor of Mile
Budak, who served in the World War II Croatian government which
carried out a genocide policy against Croatian Jewry. Simon
Wiesenthal Center director Dr. Efraim Zuroff wrote in a letter to
Mayor Vaknin, "It is unthinkable that any Israeli city be twinned with
a municipality that chooses to perpetuate the memory of our worst
enemies."
____________________________________________________________
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