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 22, 1998
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Wednesday, July 22, 1998 / Tammuz 28, 5758
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. ARAFAT ENDS TALKS
2. SHARON: SECRET NEGOTIATIONS WITH SYRIA HAVE BEGUN
3. HENDEL STRIKES BACK
4. GOLAN BILL PASSES
5. COALITION POLITICS
6. JORDANIANS FEAR FOR KING HUSSEIN
1. ARAFAT ENDS TALKS
Yasser Arafat announced in Gaza this afternoon that the bilateral
negotiations with Israel have ended, and that "no progress was achieved."
He said that Israel had not come to the talks with any new proposals. The
PLO Chairman said that he would not object to another American mediation
attempt. Beforehand, Defense Minister Yitzchak Mordechai had called for
American intervention in the talks.
At this hour, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Mordechai are meeting with Third
Way party leader Minister Avigdor Kahalani, in an attempt to convince him
not to quit the coalition in the event that no agreement is reached on a
withdrawal before the end of the current Knesset session.
2. SHARON: SECRET NEGOTIATIONS WITH SYRIA HAVE BEGUN
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu denies reports that he is conducting
secret talks with the Syrians about a retreat from the Golan Heights. This
follows Minister Ariel Sharon's announcement last night to the effect that
Netanyahu is holding talks with Syria. Ma'ariv reporter Menachem Rahat
told Arutz-7 that Sharon's statement is mainly an attempt to prevent the
government from toppling: "He is telling the Third Way - which is
demanding a 13% withdrawal, or else - that they should not be so pushy,
because a similar withdrawal awaits them in the Golan Heights." The
assumption is that the Third Way, which was elected on a platform of
retaining the Golan, would then back down from its threats against the
government. Rahat said that Sharon is also doing all he can to prevent
such a large withdrawal: "Sharon is acting like a politician, but he also
apparently truly believes that although a withdrawal is unavoidable, more
than 9% is simply too dangerous for Israel."
Rahat further said that he feels that Netanyahu is actually interested in
carrying out the withdrawal, but that the Palestinians may not let him:
"Netanyahu insists on certain security requirements, and even though he has
conceded on some points - such as not requiring the Palestinian National
Council to change the PLO charter, but rather some other Palestinian body;
not demanding the extradition of terrorists, but rather their incarceration
under American supervision; not requiring the return of illegal weapons to
Israel, but rather their collection by the Palestinians - it seems to be
not enough for the Palestinians. It could be that Abba Eban was right when
he said that the Palestinians never miss a chance [to miss a chance]."
3. HENDEL STRIKES BACK
Fears have re-arisen among the Knesset Land of Israel front that Netanyahu
will implement the withdrawal during the summer Knesset recess. In an
interview with Arutz-7 today, MK Tzvi Hendel was very firm: "If Netanyahu
plans to carry out a 'fast one,' by agreeing to a withdrawal and carrying
it out during a time when we, his friends and allies in the coalition,
cannot object, and on such a critical issue for our nation, then I can tell
him that we also know how to play these kind of games." Hendel's fears
were re-kindled because his attempt yesterday to allow no-confidence
motions during the recess was not successfully completed.
Hendel said, "If Netanyahu pulls this trick, we have several options.
First of all, we can vote together with the opposition next week in favor
of dissolving the Knesset, if I do not receive a perfect guarantee from
Netanyahu that he will not pull such a trick. Secondly, there is a
no-confidence motion scheduled for next week. And thirdly, I believe that
we will have the support of the Supreme Court if we introduce a
no-confidence motion during the recess, because both the Knesset legal
counsel and the Attorney-General have approved the idea."
Hendel further said, "Aside from the political aspects, if it turns out
that the Prime Minister has crossed the red lines that he himself
established - reciprocity, the extradition, the extent of the withdrawal,
the inclusion of the third withdrawal within the second one - then we will
have no choice but to vote against and topple the government."
4. GOLAN BILL PASSES
The Knesset voted today by a large majority, 65-32, that no sovereign
Israeli territory - such as the Golan Heights - could be transferred to a
foreign country without the support of at least 61 Knesset Members and
without a popular referendum. Science Minister Sylvan Shalom announced
from the Knesset podium before the vote that the government does not oppose
the proposal.
5. COALITION POLITICS
22 Labor party Knesset Members have signed a letter promising not to
support a no-confidence motion against Netanyahu throughout 1998, if he
carries out the second withdrawal. This could be, according to sources
within the Knesset, the beginning of an initiative by Shimon Peres to
convene a national unity government (comprised of both the Likud and Labor).
Mr. Netanyahu said again today that he will not give in to any coalition
pressure regarding the next withdrawal. He said that the purpose of the
current negotiations with the Palestinian Authority is to achieve an
appropriate balance between Israel's security interests and the
implementation of the reciprocity principle. This is an apparent reference
to the "phased withdrawal" plan, wherein the withdrawal is carried out in
stages at the same time that the Palestinian fulfill their commitments in
stages.
6. JORDANIANS FEAR FOR KING HUSSEIN
King Hussein of Jordan is ill with cancer. Currently hospitalized in the
U.S., he wrote to his brother Crown Prince Hassan - who is next in line to
the throne - that he will begin chemotherapy treatment within the coming days.
*************************************************************************
Thursday, July 23, 1998 29 Tammuz 5758
Jerusalem Post - Internet Edition
Jordan's
Hassan mediates in talks
By
JAY BUSHINSKY, LIAT COLLINS and STEVE RODAN
JERUSALEM
(July 23) - The intervention of Jordanian
Crown
Prince Hassan to prevent the total collapse of
the
Israeli-Palestinian talks enabled Defense
Minister
Yitzhak Mordechai to announce that he would
be
meeting Palestinian Authority Deputy Chairman
Mahmoud
Abbas today.
"The
defense minister received a message that the
Palestinians
are interested in renewing contacts,"
Mordechai's
spokesman Avi Benayahu said. "We expect
that
there will be a meeting today."
However,
Abbas, upon returning from Amman last night,
denied
that the talks would resume.
"We
have not agreed on holding further meetings with
Mordechai
after the Palestinian leadership decided to
stop
negotiations," he told Reuters.
This
formulation could signal disagreement at the
highest
level of the Palestinian leadership about
whether
to proceed with the peace process at this
stage
and under the current circumstances.
PA
Chairman Yasser Arafat, asked whether he had
called
for a halt in the negotiations replied,
"Approximately."
Hassan's
skillful diplomacy achieved an objective
sought
by the US but which the State Department
preferred
to leave in his hands, rather than become
directly
involved in a potentially dangerous dispute
between
the two sides.
A
concurrent attempt by Mordechai to bring US special
envoy
Dennis Ross back to the Middle East in the
belief
that he could bridge the chasm between him and
Abbas
was rebuffed by US diplomats.
Foreign
Ministry Director-General Eytan Bentsur
attributed
the Jordanians' decisive involvement to
the
talks conducted earlier this week in Jerusalem by
Jordanian
Foreign Minister Jawad Anani with Prime
Minister
Binyamin Netanyahu.
"Since
Anani's visit and the briefing he received
from
the prime minister, Jordan has been fulfilling a
constructive
role," Bentsur said.
Mordechai
was unequivocal in his belief that Ross
could
rescue the fledgling peace effort, resuscitated
Sunday
at the behest of US Secretary of State
Madeleine
Albright.
"What
is necessary now is for US negotiator Dennis
Ross
to arrive in the area and to complete the
negotiations
between the Palestinians and Israel,"
Mordechai
said.
A
State Department official said he was not aware
that
Ross had any plans to visit the Middle East.
"We
are in touch with both parties on a very regular
basis,
but there's not going to be a big American
initiative
at this stage," the official told Reuters.
However,
a different senior US official said the US
is
leaning toward sending Ross to the region.
However,
this official did not think the negotiations
are
at an advanced enough stage for Ross to help
clinch
an agreement.
"Personally,
I think that it's a ploy by Netanyahu to
drag
out the negotiations and give the impression
that
there's progress," the official said.
Mordechai
was insistent on the need for American
intervention.
"What
it needs is that the highest levels of the
Palestinian
and Israeli sides will have a meeting to
conclude
the subjects that we are discussing now. It
is
possible. And if the US will really take part now
in
continuing its initiative, will make a little bit
more
effort so we can reach an agreement."
Mordechai
said security remains one of the last
issues
in dispute. On other issues, he said, Israel
and
the Palestinians are very close.
"I
think if the US takes part, we can move forward,"
he
said.
Arafat
was adamant earlier in the day that direct
talks
with Israel were finished, saying this week's
round
of negotiations failed to produce any results.
Arafat,
speaking hours after his decision was
endorsed
by the Palestinian leadership, informed
former
prime minister Shimon Peres of the suspension
of
talks during a meeting in Gaza.
The
two men discussed the proposals submitted by
Israeli
negotiators during the three sessions with
the
Palestinians.
Later,
Arafat adviser Nabil Abu Rudeineh blamed
Israel
for the failed talks.
"The
talks came to a deadlock because of the
insistence
of Israel to refuse to accept the US
initiative,"
he said. "The Israeli side did not
present
any new ideas."
PA
officials said Israel did not fulfill their basic
demand
to continue the talks: an Israeli government
acceptance
of the US proposal to hand over 13.1
percent
of the West Bank to full Palestinian control.
They
said the Israelis proposed creating a new
"nature
reserve" area that would be off-limits to
Palestinian
or Israeli construction.
Such
a proposal, the officials said, constituted an
Israeli
attempt to change the US plan.
"We
won't accept any attempt to change what already
has
been agreed upon," PA chief negotiator Saeb
Erekat
said.
PA
officials said they expected a new shuttle effort
by
Ross.
They
said they would not oppose Ross's arrival in the
region
but asserted that Washington must carry out
its
pledge to release the US plan and assign blame
for
its failure.
Arafat
termed the Israeli invitation to Ross to
return
to the region as "an attempt to return the
issue
to the Americans, which we are not against."
Hillel
Kuttler contributed to this report.
********************************************************************
Thursday, July 23, 1998 29 Tammuz 5758
Jerusalem Post - Internet Edition
Barak
tells 'groveling' party to take
'political
Viagra'
By
MICHAL YUDELMAN
TEL
AVIV (July 23) - Labor Party leader Ehud Barak
yesterday
blasted the party initiative to give Prime
Minister
Binyamin Netanyahu a parliamentary "safety
net"
that would allow him to pursue a redeployment
agreement,
describing Labor as "a groveling poodle"
in
need of "a political Viagra pill."
Under
the plan, Labor would promise not to try to
topple
the government for four months, to give
Netanyahu
a chance to arrive at and implement a
redeployment
agreement.
Barak
was angered at the desire of the safety-net
promoters
to promise Netanyahu any breathing space in
advance.
"Labor
has turned itself into a political and public
joke,"
Barak said at a stormy faction meeting, which
ended
with a decision to put off the decision
regarding
a safety net until Netanyahu is close to
reaching
an agreement on the pullback.
MK
Shimon Peres, who initiated the safety-net plan,
was
in Gaza meeting Palestinian Authority leader
Yasser
Arafat and did not attend the meeting.
"Labor
appears like a limp party which has lost the
will
to live and needs a political Viagra to lead the
state,"
Barak said.
He
called the safety-net plan "a slippery political
trick."
"Whoever
reaches national unity in this way - like
some
groveling, crawling poodle begging for tidbits -
will
look like a fig leaf hanging on the nakedness of
this
government," Barak said.
He
said what Labor was doing "is political madness
and
political suicide."
The
initiative was headed by MK Rafi Edri, who signed
a
number of faction members on a letter urging the
party
to back Netanyahu for four months. Among the
signatories
were Peres, Uzi Baram, Yossi Beilin, Yael
Dayan,
Nissim Zvilli, Sallah Tarif, Nawaf Massalha
and
Rafi Elul.
Peres
defended the move, saying peace is more
important
than personal or partisan issues. He said
Labor
was always in favor of the pullback, and it was
vitally
important to counterbalance the 10 right-wing
MKs
threatening to topple Netanyahu if he implements
the
pullback.
"In
my view, endangering the pullback is a fatal blow
to
the state. We're providing a backing for peace,
not
for Netanyahu. Peace is the issue, not Labor.
It's
legitimate to ask to discuss a safety net."
He
said Labor's backing is intended to guarantee
Netanyahu
implements the pullback, and would be
revoked
if, for example, Netanyahu begins building on
Har
Homa.
MK
Dalia Itzik said, however, "Peres is making a big
mistake.
I know he's very concerned for the peace
process,
he's thinking of what's best for the country
and
our children. But Netanyahu is deceiving him, as
he's
deceiving his colleagues."
About
the differences in Labor, Itzik said "Every
time
Barak takes off, someone from within the party
shoots
him down."
She
added that as far as a unity government is
concerned,
Peres was quite isolated in the faction.
MK
Avraham Shohat said Peres's move "is political
idiocy,
a fatal error, a radical and worrying lack of
judgment.
Labor is wearing a sack on its head and
lets
Netanyahu tie its hands behind its back."
MK
Eli Goldschmidt said "we all know ways to trip up
our
leaders; it's a genetic self-destructive motif."
Labor's
bickering over the safety net drew fire and
mocking
remarks from both the opposition and
coalition.
One
Likud MK observed mockingly that "Arafat is
breaking
up the talks and Labor's MKs are laying
themselves
on the fence to provide Netanyahu with
backing
for a pullback."
MK
Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism) said "it's
crime
and punishment. Whoever takes on the haredim
breaks
his political neck. This is what happened to
Barak.
He's destroyed his leadership, split Labor and
ruined
his camp. He is no longer the leader of this
camp."
Meretz
came out sharply against Labor, which it
accused
of being ineffective as opposition.
*********************************************************************
Thursday, July 23, 1998 29 Tammuz 5758
Jerusalem Post - Internet Edition
Palestinians
get 'embassy' in Britain
By
JAY BUSHINSKY and DOUGLAS DAVIS
JERUSALEM
(July 23) - The British government raised
the
diplomatic rank of the Palestinian mission to the
Court
of St. James to that of "Palestinian General
Delegation,"
thereby affording it virtually the same
status
enjoyed by a bona fide embassy, an official
said
yesterday.
Deputy
Foreign Minister Derek Fatchett was described
as
the driving force behind this move, which took
Israeli
diplomats by surprise.
A
European diplomatic source attributed Fatchett's
initiative
to a desire to be "in line with the
European
Union's approach" to the Palestine
Liberation
Organization's representatives.
"It's
not really such a big deal," he said.
The
Foreign Ministry said yesterday that it is
concerned
about the upgrade and instructed the
Israeli
Embassy in London to ascertain all the
pertinent
details.
Meanwhile,
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu
yesterday
launched a vigorous attack on the European
Union
over its threats to exclude Israeli goods made
across
the Green Line from the 1995 economic accord
between
the EU and Israel.
In
an interview with London's Daily Telegraph,
Netanyahu
said it would be unwise for France to
attempt
to drag the EU into an anti-Israel crusade.
He
said that Israel's gross domestic product is fast
approaching
40 percent of the combined GDP of the 22
Arab
states, and within 15 years it would be
equivalent
to 80%.
"Israel's
economy will be almost equal to the
economic
potential of the entire Arab world," he
said.
"I think people, including Europe, need to
reevaluate
its assessments of where its interests
lie."
Sanctions
against Israel, he continued, would not
work,
"not just because we have a robust economy.
It's
also because of the sheer injustice and blatant
unfairness
of a democratic country that is being
pressed
by other democratic countries to do something
that
endangers its security."
Netanyahu
said he did not think that Washington,
impatient
with Israel over the peace process, might
"wink"
at the specter of the EU flexing its muscles
in
this way.
"You
can't wink in the international community
without
everyone knowing," he said. "I don't think
America
is about to send such a message, winking or
otherwise."
On
the question of whether violence might follow
further
redeployments, he said that "if the
withdrawals
are irresponsible and bring us more or
less
the indefensible 1967 boundaries, the answer is
an
unqualified yes."
Commenting
editorially, the paper noted: "For too
long,
EU intervention in the Middle East has been
motivated
by folie de grandeur and resentment of
American
'hegemony.' The effect has been both to
worsen
relations with Israel and to encourage a
stiffening
of Palestinian demands.
"The
late Moshe Dayan once said that whereas the
Soviet
Union held the key to war in the Middle East,
America
held the key to peace. If he were alive
today,
he might say that the EU is capable of
throwing
only a spanner in the works."
**********************************************************************
Thursday, July 23, 1998 29 Tammuz 5758
Jerusalem Post - Internet Edition
Government
not worried over Jordanian
stability
By
JAY BUSHINSKY and news agencies
JERUSALEM
(July 23) - King Hussein's admission that
he's
probably suffering from lymphoma was met
yesterday
with wishes for recovery from regional
leaders
and speculation on the future of the
Hashemite
kingdom.
Besides
expressing hope that Hussein would be able to
overcome
cancer, Israeli leaders said yesterday they
believe
Jordan's stability is not endangered by his
illness,
citing the competence Jordanian security
forces
have demonstrated in quashing extremism and
disorder.
These
qualities came into focus as government
officials
contemplated the political consequences of
the
62-year-old monarch's medical condition and
considered
whether his prospective successors would
be
able to govern effectively.
That
Crown Prince Hassan, who holds the royal status
of
regent, was able to wield the requisite influence
to
bring the Israeli and Palestinian delegations back
to
the negotiating table last night was interpreted
as
evidence of his political acumen and skill.
Prime
Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said his overriding
hope
is that Hussein's "spiritual and physical
powers"
will enable him to achieve a speedy and
thorough
recovery.
Netanyahu's
Communications Director David Bar-Illan
described
Hussein as "a friend of Israel and a friend
of
peace."
In
a radio interview broadcast shortly after
Hussein's
illness was made public, Netanyahu said he
regrets
the monarch is suffering and hopes he will
recover.
"He
must know that on this point I speak not only in
my
own name and on behalf of the Israeli government
but
also for the entire nation of Israel, which
favors
peace with Jordan and appreciates the
courageous
steps taken by King Hussein with us in
recent
years," Netanyahu said.
Palestinian
Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat also
wished
Hussein well, telling reporters, "I hope he
will
be in good health very soon."
Hussein
has said he will undergo chemotherapy if a
diagnosis
of lymphoma is confirmed at the Mayo
Clinic,
where he is expected to remain for about
three
weeks, the clinic said yesterday.
Hussein
sent a letter to Hassan, which was read on
Jordanian
television, saying he felt better but would
begin
chemotherapy if the cancer diagnosis is
confirmed.
"Everyone
said although all the symptoms point to me
having
lymphoma, they cannot until now diagnose this
for
certain," the king said in the letter to his
brother.
The
Mayo Clinic's brief statement quoted the king's
letter
as saying, "My general condition is better,
although
I still suffer from bouts of fever. I am
still
on antibiotics and I am in high spirits."
Jordanian
officials said clinic doctors were
examining
lymph node tissues for suspected lymphoma.
"The
type of treatment depends on the type, grade and
stage
of the disease... complete recovery can happen
in
certain types of localized lymphoma," one doctor
in
Jordan said.
Since
undergoing cancer surgery at the clinic six
years
ago, Hussein has returned for regular checkups.
He
had an operation on his prostate last year and
later
had a swollen lymph gland removed.
In
January, he was treated in London for a bacterial
infection
that caused him extreme exhaustion and
recurrent
fever.
**********************************************************************