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Subject: Israel in the News: 10/25/98 - 12/4/98
Date: Tue, 8 Dec 1998 15:21:00 -0800
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From: Eddie Chumney
To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
Subject: Israel in the News: 10/25/98 - 12/4/98

ISRAELI REBELS PUT MOSQUE ON HIT LIST
by Marie Colvin and Uzi Mahnaimi, Tel Aviv London Times, October
25

ISRAEL'S internal security service has warned Benjamin Netanyahu,
the prime minister, that a newly formed Jewish underground may
try to bomb Muslim holy shrines or assassinate Arab and Israeli
leaders in an effort to stop troops withdrawing from the West
Bank.

Shin Bet, the Israeli equivalent of MI5, sent the alert to
Netanyahu in Washington just hours after he had signed an interim
peace accord with Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian leader. The
agreement commits Israel to pull out from 13% of the West Bank,
making Netanyahu the first Israeli rightwinger to yield any of
the territory many regard as an integral part of the holy land of
the Jewish state.

The security report, handed to Netanyahu by Israel Hasson, deputy
head of Shin Bet, contained evidence collected by the
organisation's Jewish section, which monitors religious
extremists. It suggested the gravest danger was a threat to the
Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, the third holiest site to Muslims.
An attack would "ignite the Muslim world and could lead to the
announcement of a holy war against Israel by millions of Muslims
all over the world," said an Israeli source who saw the document.

VATICAN WANTS ROLE IN JERUSALEM NEGOTIATIONS
Jerusalem, Oct 26 (Agence France Press) via Kahl's I & G News

The Vatican asked Monday to take part in upcoming
Israeli-Palestinian negotiations on the future of Jerusalem and
called for a "special international status" for its holy places.
"The Holy See believes that it's important for its representative
to sit at the negotiating table to make sure that they are fair
and that no aspect of the problems will be forgotten," Vatican
Foreign Minister Jean-Louis Tauran said.

The monsignor, who was speaking during a two-day symposium
organized by Jerusalem's Latin Patriarchate, reiterated the
Vatican position that Israel "was illegally occupying Jerusalem."
There is nothing preventing a unique and unified Jerusalem from
becoming the symbol and national center of two peoples (Israeli
and Palestinian) who demand that it be their own capital," he
said. "Any unilateral solution undertaken by force cannot be a
solution," he said, adding that Jerusalem's holy places must be
protected "by a special international status."

And another view --

VATICAN CALLS FOR SPECIAL STATUS FOR JERUSALEM
Reuters via IsraelWire-10/27

Vatican Foreign Minister Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran said on
Monday Jerusalem was too sacred for its future tobe decided only
by Israelis and the PLO Authority (PA). "The Holy See believes
in the importance of extending the representation at the
negotiating table in order to be sure that no aspect of the
problems is overlooked and to affirm that the whole international
community is responsible for the uniqueness and the sacredness of
this incomparable city," Tauran said.

In a speech during a visit to Jerusalem, Tauran said Israelis and
Palestinians -- due to decide the future of the city holy to
Jews, Moslems and Christians in so-called final-status talks --
must consider other interested parties. "The meaning and value of
Jerusalem are so great, are so unique, that they go beyond the
interests of one state or beyond bilateral agreements between one
and another states," he said.

"It is essential that the parties to the negotiations take fair
and appropriate account of the sacred and universal character of
the city. "This requires that any possible solution should have
the support of the three monotheistic religions, both at the
local level and at the international level," said Tauran,
attending a church conference in East Jerusalem.

Last May, the Pope said he hoped "international guarantees of the
unique and sacred character of the Holy City" would be in place
by 2000. Israel has said there is no need for such guarantees
because the Jewish state sufficiently protects the rights of
Christians, Moslems and Jews in Jerusalem. But the Pope has
called Jerusalem a special case among the world's cities and said
it should become a place where all peoples could meet in peace.

VATICAN: JERUSALEM SHOULD BE PROTECTED BY INTERNATIONAL STATUTE
Weekend News Today By Andra Brack Source: Ha'aretz,IsraelWire,
and Reuters Oct 27, 1998

The Holy See believes Jerusalem should by protected by "a special
internationally guaranteed statute," Monsignor Jean Louis Tauran
announced yesterday. Tauran, who is responsible for the Vatican's
foreign policy, issued the statement at a world conference of
bishops meeting in Jerusalem to discuss the city's future. The
Vatican expressed the conviction that "there is an obligation to
find a realistic solution to the problems of Jerusalem, to all of
them, according to their particular characteristics," and the
hope that "the aspirations for dialogue and peace will contribute
to the implementation of what has been agreed upon" at the Wye
Plantation talks.

Tauran wrote that the distinction often made between the question
of the Holy Places and that of Jerusalem is unacceptable to the
Holy See. The prevailing situation in the holy city was reached
and is preserved by force. "Since 1967 in a part of the city are
to be found most of the holy places of the three monotheistic
religions. East Jerusalem is illegally occupied. It is therefore
wrong to claim that the Holy See is only interested in the
religious aspect or aspects of the city and overlooks the
political and territorial aspect. The Holy See is indeed
interested in this aspect and has the right and duty to be,
especially insofar as the matter remains unresolved and is the
cause of conflict, injustice, human rights violations,
restrictions of religious freedom and conscience, fear and
personal insecurity."

The Holy See "has the right and duty of reminding the parties of
the obligation to resolve controversies peacefully, in accordance
with the principles of justice and equity within the
international legal framework," Tauran wrote. Still, he
maintained, "there is nothing to prevent Jerusalem, in its unity
and uniqueness, from becoming the symbol and the national center
of both the peoples that claim it as their capital. But if
Jerusalem is sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims, it is also
sacred to many people from every part of the world ."

"This requires that any possible solution should have the support
of the three monotheistic religions, both at the local level and
at the international level," said Tauran, attending a church
conference in East Jerusalem. Last May, the Pope said he hoped
"international guarantees of the unique and sacred character of
the Holy City" would be in place by 2000. Israel has said there
is no need for such guarantees because the Jewish state
sufficiently protects the rights of Christians, Moslems and Jews
in Jerusalem. But the Pope has called Jerusalem a special case
among the world's cities and said it should become a place where
all peoples could meet in peace.

JERUSALEM

SPREAD LOVE FOR THE LAND WHERE THE REDEEMER LIVED
VATICAN CITY, OCT 17, 1998 (VIS)

The Holy Father today received the participants in the meeting of
the Equestrian Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, led by
Grand Master Cardinal Carlo Furno. "Innerly strengthened by
devotion to the Cross of Christ," he told them, "you will know
how to spread all around you love for the land where the Redeemer
lived during his earthly life."

Referring to their "precious service for the unity of believers,"
the Pope spoke of the importance of "being committed promoters of
ecumenism, creating fitting initiatives of cooperation with other
Christian confessions, as well as seeing to the attentive and
useful dialogue with followers of other religions, under the
guidance of bishops, so as to fortify peace in the Land of the
Prince of Peace, in Jerusalem which is the symbol of eternal
happiness."

John Paul II encouraged them to make the Holy City "the goal of
your spiritual path of penance and conversion. In such a spirit,
approach the Holy Places and be promoters of pilgrimages to
Jerusalem, whilst recommending the Way of the Cross to those who
cannot go there." "Belonging to the Order of the Holy Sepulchre,"
he concluded, "will thus be a stimulus for personal ascesis
focussed on meditation of the profound lessons which come from
the Cross."

GSS PHOTOGRAPHING RABBIS -
IsraelWire-10/29-16:53-IST

Agents of the General Security Service (GSS/Shin-Bet) were on
hand yesterday to photograph leading rabbinical figures, who were
attending a gathering in the Tel-Aviv study hall of the Admor
(Chassidic Rebbe) of Sadigora. At the gathering, the prominent
Torah personalities in attendance proclaimed, "In accordance with
our Holy Torah, the Oslo process is null and void." In attendance
were rabbinical leaders of the National Religious Camp, leaders
of the North African community, and chassidic leaders.

Rabbi Yaakov Friedman, the Sadigora Rebbe stated, "The land
concessions are likely to have a profound negative effect in the
heavens since this is an abandonment of the chosen land."

A security agent who made no attempt to hide his presence,
photographed the prominent rabbis. The rabbis who were aware of
what was taking place, told reporters "The attempt to scare us
will not work."

A LOST AND FOUND TRIBE: 1.5 MILLION JEWS ON INDIA-BURMA BORDER
By Kaye Corbett Copyright 1998, WorldNetDaily TORONTO

Nearly 1.5 million Jews, known as the "Children of Menmasseh,"
who live on the border of India and Burma, could be one of the
lost tribes of Israel and, more startlingly, the majority of them
are also Messianic Jews (believers in Jesus Christ -- Yeshua).

There are other smaller groups of Jews in India -- the Bene
Israel of Western India, the Cochin Jews of the Malabar Coast and
the Baghdadi Jews of Bombay and Calcutta. However, the Children
of Menmasseh are undoubtedly one of the largest groups with an
estimated 1.2 to 1.5 million people. Menmasseh is believed to be
a corrupted version of the word for the biblical tribe (Manasseh
or Menashe).

Two-time Emmy Award winner Simcha Jacobovici, of Toronto, spurred
renewed interest in the mystery by making a documentary, called
"Quest for the Lost Tribes." He traveled along the Old Silk Route
with his camera looking for clues. The TV program will air on
A&E.

In addition, Canada's national weekly magazine, Maclean's, has
featured a story called, "The Jews of Asia -- Canadians Urge
Israel to Aid a Lost Tribe." It also has been a prominent story
in Toronto's Globe & Mail and the Canadian Jewish News.

Maclean's also noted that the issue "strikes to the heart of the
'Who is a Jew?' debate that has long raged both inside and
outside of Israel."

"There are 1.5 million of them scattered throughout India and in
my opinion I believe they are one of the lost tribes," Felix
Golubev has been quoted as saying. Golubev worked as a production
manager on Jacobovici's documentary and was with the Menmasseh
for 10 days.

It's believed only 5,000 of the 1.5 million are not believers in
Jesus.

PALESTINIAN COVENANT ISSUE STILL SMOLDERING, THREATENS CRISIS
October 27, 1998 By Nicolas B. Tatro, Associated Press JERUSALEM
(AP)

No sooner had Israeli and Palestinian negotiators returned home
than a new wrangle has developed over the PLO covenant, a
three-decade-old document that calls for armed struggle to
destroy the Zionist state. It could be a show-stopper, too. So
far, the two sides cannot agree on whether President Clinton will
host a peace festival in December as Palestinians envision or
oversee a somber parliament session to renounce the PLO's violent
past, as Israel wants.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised his right-wing
constituents that he would get the Palestinians' highest body to
repel the PLO's founding charter before handing over any land.
He contends that the 600-member Palestine National Council will
convene and, for all the world to see, officially cancel the
charter by the legally mandated two-thirds margin.

"Not so,'' say Palestinian officials. Despite Netanyahu's
contention that the job was left undone, they say the
parliament-in-exile already amended the charter by a vote of
504-54 in Gaza City on April 24, 1996. What will be held this
time is a "festival,'' said Nabil Shaath, a member of Arafat's
Cabinet. "It will be a popular demonstration to show support for
the peace process,'' Shaath told reporters in Gaza after
returning home.

HAMAS THREATENS TO TURN ON PALESTINIAN POLICE
Reuters November 1, 1998 JERUSALEM

The military wing of the Moslem militant Hamas movement warned
Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Authority Sunday that a crackdown
against Hamas may push some activists to turn their guns on
Palestinian police. Palestinian officials declined immediate
comment. The warning, in a leaflet faxed to Reuters, was the
first of its kind from the group which has always said its war
was with Israel and that it wanted to avoid dragging Palestinian
society into civil war.

"The Palestinian Authority's continued repressive
techniques...and its insistence on hitting the sons of Hamas and
the Qassam Brigades, may push many of the sons of Hamas and its
military wing because of savage pressures to reject abiding by
the orders and guidance of their leaders and to direct their war
and guns, out of necessity, against the Authority's security
apparatus,'' said the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades. "Holy war
and armed resistance is a strategic and consistent option which
will never cease no matter what the challenges,'' the statement
said.

HIZBOLLAH TELLS PALESTINIANS TO KILL ARAFAT
Reuters November 1, 1998 BEIRUT

Lebanon's radical Hizbollah group Sunday called on the
Palestinians to kill President Yasser Arafat for signing an
interim peace deal with Israel last month. Speaking at a mass
rally to denounce the U.S.-brokered Wye Plantation interim deal,
the pro-Iranian group's leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah branded
Arafat a traitor and told the Palestinians to attack Israelis to
foil the accord.

"Is there no Palestinian who can do what Khaled Islambouli did
and say that Arafat's presence on the face of this earth is
shameful to the Palestinians and the Moslems,'' the cleric asked.
Nasrallah was referring to the Egyptian Moslem militant who shot dead
former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat in 1981 for signing a 1979 peace
deal with Israel. "We call on the Palestinian people, the Arabs and
Moslems to topple Arafat before he implements the accord,'' Nasrallah
said as hundreds of supporters cheered.

DENNIS ROSS - NOT CIA - WILL 'JUDGE' SECURITY COMPLIANCE
By David Makovsky, Ha'aretz Friday, October 30, 1998

The Central Intelligence Agency will not make independent
judgments on Palestinian security compliance during the 12-week
implementation period, but rather send its data to the American
political echelon, which will make final determinations on how to act
upon the information, according to U.S. Special Middle East peace
envoy Dennis Ross.

In closed-door briefing at the State Department for
Arab-Americans and Jewish-Americans on Wednesday, Ross was asked
specifically about whether the CIA will form its own judgments or just
relay facts to superiors. The veteran diplomat left no doubts. "They
(CIA) will report to us on what is happening and then we will make the
judgments based on those facts," he said.

Another U.S. official said later that "Dennis will be the
implementation czar," meaning that Ross will serve as an
interpreter of the CIA data to the Clinton Administration, which
will make the determinations on Palestinian compliance, and not
the CIA agents in place monitoring the accords. Thus, not only
won't the CIA make its views of events public, its view will not
be the last word within the U.S. bureaucracy in determining
whether the Palestinians are fulfilling their security
commitments during the 12-week period.

ULTRA-ORTHODOX CLAIM ELECTIONS VICTORY IN JERUSALEM
November 11, 1998 By Sari Bashi, Associated Press Jerusalem
(AP)

Religious parties won nearly half the seats in Jerusalem's city
council, preliminary results showed today a development that
will give ultra-Orthodox parties a major say over the disputed
city's future. Jerusalem's secular mayor, Ehud Olmert, was
re-elected by a comfortable majority, but his slate for city
council won only two of 31 seats, sharply undercutting his
influence on crucial issues such as the budget.

Two ultra-Orthodox Parties, Shas and Agudat Israel, won five and
seven seats respectively, and the National Religious Party had
three seats, for a total of 15. Olmert blamed secular voters for a
turnout that fell far below that of religious residents of Jerusalem.
"The secular public that complained so much and was so afraid of the
ultra-Orthodox decided at the decisive moment to stay home and not
participate in the elections,'' Olmert told Israel radio. In many
ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods, voters were taken to polling stations by
buses organized by candidates for religious parties. Ultra-Orthodox
Jews make up about one-third of Jerusalem's population of 600,000.

ISRAEL MOVES AHEAD WITH JERUSALEM SETTLEMENT
Reuters November 12, 1998 Jerusalem

Israel published a tender Thursday for the construction of 1,025
homes at a disputed Jewish settlement site in Arab East Jerusalem a
day after approving a new interim peace deal with the Palestinians. A
government advertisement in the Ha'aretz newspaper called for offers
from contractors to build at Har Homa, known in Arabic as Jabal Abu
Ghneim. The groundbreaking at the hilltop site in March 1997 plunged
peacemaking into crisis. Israel plans to build 6,000 homes for
settlers at the site. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Jews
would be able to move into the neighborhood by 2000.

ARAFAT RENEWS DECISION TO SET UP STATE NEXT YEAR
Reuters November 14, 1998 Nablus, West Bank

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat said Saturday he was
determined to declare a Palestinian state next year with Arab
East Jerusalem as its capital ''whether they like it or not.''
Arafat said he was fulfilling his promise for statehood through
current peace moves with Israel which would give back to
Palestinians most of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

"We will declare our independent state on May 4, 1999 with
Jerusalem as its capital, yes Jerusalem, the eternal capital of
our state, whether they like it or not,'' Arafat said, addressing
thousands of Palestinians gathered in the West Bank city of Nablus in
celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Palestinian Liberation
Organization's declaration of independence.

Arafat said the creation of a Palestinian state in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip was a reaffirmation of the then exiled PLO's
November 15, 1988 declaration. "Now we are on our land and we
are regaining this holy land inch by inch until we set up our
state in 1999,'' he said.

"NEW MOON" PROCLAIMED FOR KISLEV
IsraelWire-11/20/98

On Thursday, the first day of the Jewish month of Kislev, a group of
persons congregated to declare the new moon, in accordance to Jewish
law as it was practiced during the period of the Holy Temple. The
following release was published yesterday by organizers of the event,
following the declaration.

"For the first time since the destruction of the Second Temple in
Jerusalem two thousand years ago, a Rabbinical Court today, declared
the new month at the gates of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. In the
presence of a contingent of Jews who profess the rebuilding of the
Third Temple on the Temple Mount, the month of Kislev was declared by
the Court."

At the head of the Court presided Chai Vekaiyam leader Yehuda
Etzion. Etzion, a leader of the campaign to permit Jewish prayer
services on the Temple Mount, proclaimed that the declaration of
the new moon by a Rabbinical Court at the entrance to the Temple
Mount. This was a major step towards the reclamation of the
Temple Mount into Jewish hands, a step which will lead into the
rebuilding of the Third Temple.

Etzion quoted the famous Rabbinical codifier, Maimonides, who
stated that " the proclamation of the months by a Rabbinical
Court is an obligation for every generation and that reliance on
the calendar alone presented serious problems in the observance
of Jewish holidays."

Organizers explained that this was by no means a symbolic gesture but
a genuine effort to renew the ancient practice of "declaring" the new
month as was done by the rabbinical court in the time of the Temple.

ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN TALKS ON FINAL SETTLEMENT TO RESUME
November 18, 1998 By Mark Lavie, Associated Press JERUSALEM (AP)

Israeli and Palestinian officials geared up today to relaunch
long-suspended talks about a final peace treaty, while snags
threatened the implementation of the Wye accord signed just last
month. The meeting was an indication that the peace process was
moving once again after a series of disputes.

Israeli Foreign Minister Ariel Sharon was to meet at the Foreign
Ministry in Jerusalem later today with Yasser Arafat's deputy,
Mahmoud Abbas, to discuss a permanent peace treaty between the
two sides. It will be the first official meeting about a final
status agreement since the ceremonial opening in May 5, 1996.
Abbas told the Voice of Palestine radio that his meeting with
Sharon will focus on the agenda for full-scale talks on a
permanent settlement, which he expected to begin in a week to 10
days. The interim framework, including the Wye accord, is set to
expire on May 4, 1999.

"At the end of final status talks, we see the creation of a
Palestinian state with Jerusalem as the capital because final
status negotiations are about borders and refugees, Jerusalem and
settlements,'' Abbas said.

FATAH ELECTS JERUSALEM REPRESENTATIVES
IsraelWire-11/19/98

PLO Authority (PA) Chief Yassir Arafat's Fatah movement has
elected Jerusalem representatives Tuesday for the first time.
Fatah, founded by Arafat, is the biggest component of the PLO,
which signed the Oslo autonomy accords creating the PA headed by
Arafat.

At the end of the Fatah meeting, the delegates approved a
statement saying "Jerusalem will know how to overcome terrorist
faits accomplis which find their deep roots in the Zionist
mentality and are expressed by the desire to extend the
settlements and Judaize the city." "Jerusalem is the key to peace and
war, and the battle for Jerusalem is that of all Palestinians, Arabs,
Moslems and faithful throughout the world," said the statement, read
by Husseini to reporters. "To fight the cancer of settlement activity
is a sacred duty, because the continuation of this activity will
torpedo the peace process," he said. (Jordan Times)

RABBIS ISSUE RULING PROHIBITING ASSISTING THOSE WHO WORK TOWARDS
GIVING AWAY LANDS
IsraelWire-11/16/98

Four prominent rabbinical personalities have affixed their
signatures to a ruling prohibiting assisting those powers who are
actively giving away portions of the Land of Israel.

The ruling states that any deal made by the leaders of the
government which negate Torah law, are not binding. The rabbis
also ruled that any discussion of giving away portions of the
Holy Land to gentiles can only serve to place us in danger and
will have disastrous results. "Anyone assisting in giving away
lands takes part in the spilling of Jewish blood," states the
ruling.

ARAB LEAGUE CHIEF TO VISIT VATICAN ABOUT JERUSALEM
Weekend News Today By Andra Brack Source: Arabic News Nov 26,
1998

Arab League Secretary-General Esmat Abdul Meguid will begin a
three-day visit to Vatican on December 17, during which he will
meet with Pope John Paul II for talks concerning the question of
Jerusalem. This visit, however, comes by the Arab League on the
international and European level in support of the Palestinian
cause and the question of Jerusalem, which is a primary issue in
the final settlement negotiations between the Israelis and the
Palestinian Authority.

During his visit, the AL chief will also meet with the Papal
Nuncio to hold detailed talks on methods of Arab - Islamic
coordination with the Vatican in order to guarantee "the rights
of Muslims and Christians in Jerusalem," and to highlight the
dangers of the Israeli measures in the holy city as well as to
confirm that East Jerusalem is an integrated part of the Arab
lands occupied in 1967.

UN ADOPTS 6 RESOLUTIONS FOR PALESTINE
Weekend News Today By Andra Brack Source: Arabic News Dec 3, 1998

The 53rd General Assembly on Wednesday adopted six resolutions on the
question of Palestine and two on the situation in Middle East, calling
for self-determination for the Palestinian people and demanding that
Israel withdraws from Syria's Golan Heights captured in 1967. The
resolutions over the two issues which are the topic of annual debates
at the General Assembly, were again endorsed by an overwhelming
majority. The United States joined Israel by casting the only
negative votes against five of the resolutions, while abstaining on
the one about Jerusalem. A resolution on the peaceful settlement of
the question of Palestine was adopted: for "fulfilling the rights of
the Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination,"
and "the withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied
since 1967." The resolution also "stresses the need for commitment to
the principle of land for peace. The resolution urged U.N. members
to expedite economic and technical assistance to the Palestinian
people and emphasized the importance for the United Nations' having a
more active and expanded role in the peace process.

Another resolution adopted considers as illegal, null and void a
1948 decision by Israel to impose its laws and jurisdiction on
all parts of Jerusalem, including the eastern part captured in
1967. Israel voted against the resolution. The resolution
deplored the transfer by some countries of their diplomatic
missions to Jerusalem, which Israel regards as its undivided
capital. Another adopted resolution called upon Israel to resume
peace talks on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks and to respect
undertakings reached in previous rounds.

ISRAELI ULTIMATUM POSES FRESH CHALLENGE IN MIDEAST
Reuters December 2, 1998 Jerusalem

An Israeli ultimatum served to the Palestinians has posed a fresh
challenge to the latest Middle East peace deal and brought a U.S. call
for the agreement to be implemented unchanged. The U.S. reaction, and
plans for a new visit by U.S. envoy Dennis Ross to the region next
weekend, followed a Palestinian request for Washington to intervene in
the latest dispute.

This erupted when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,
convening his inner security cabinet after Palestinians assaulted two
Israelis in the West Bank Wednesday, vowed to halt implementation of
the land-for-security deal until several conditions were met.
Netanyahu's communications chief David Bar-Illan said the violence
against the two Israelis was "instigated by the Palestinian
Authority,'' pointing to remarks by Palestinian officials calling for
confrontation with Israel.

The most significant was a demand that Palestinian leaders
promise not to declare a Palestinian state in the West Bank and
Gaza Strip next year. "Israel will carry out the next stage of
the withdrawal only if...the Palestinian Authority announces
clearly that it is abandoning its intention to unilaterally
declare a Palestinian state,'' a government statement said. The
statement's language was the toughest Israel has used since the
Wye accord was reached. Palestinians quickly rejected the
ultimatum.

NETANYAHU DEFENDS POSITION IN TALKS WITH ALBRIGHT
December 4, 1998 By Mark Lavie, Associated Press Jerusalem (AP)

Facing U.S. criticism, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright that he has made no new
demands on the Palestinians while suspending a West Bank
pullback, his senior adviser said today. Albright spoke to
Netanyahu by phone on Thursday to discuss the latest crisis,
which came just a little more than a week before President
Clinton's arrival in the region. David Bar Illan, Netanyahu's
policy adviser, said the Israeli leader told Albright that
Israel's conditions for renewing the handover of West Bank
territory to the Palestinians are not new.

Israeli Foreign Minister Ariel Sharon was to leave this weekend
for meetings in Washington with Albright and senior Clinton
administration officials. The first item on the agenda will be
the latest crisis with the Palestinians, said Sharon spokesman
Raanan Gissin. Sharon also will raise his ideas for a permanent
peace agreement with the Palestinians. Such an accord would have to
set final borders and determine the status of Jerusalem.

Final status negotiations were formally launched last
month, but the real work has not yet begun. Clinton will discuss
final status proposals separately with Netanyahu and Arafat when he
arrives in the region Dec. 12 in what would be the first serious
deliberations on the subject, the Haaretz daily said.

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