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Subject: Israel in the News: Jerusalem Post 12/7-12/8, 1998
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From: Eddie Chumney
To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
Subject: Israel in the News --- Jerusalem Post

Monday, December 7, 1998 18 Kislev 5759

US seeks three-way summit

By DANNA HARMAN

JERUSALEM (December 7) - The US has suggested holding
a three-way summit next week among US President Bill
Clinton, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, and
Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat, US
officials said yesterday.

The meeting, which is tentatively scheduled to take
place at Erez junction on Monday - before Clinton
addresses the Palestinian National Council in Gaza -
has yet to be confirmed by the sides.

However, Netanyahu's communications director David
Bar-Illan said the prime minister "has always
expressed his willingness to meet with Arafat."

Top Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said, "There
was no problem with the meeting as far as the
Palestinians were concerned."

Clinton is expected to arrive here on Saturday night
and will divide his time equally between the
Palestinian Authority and Israel. He will spend his
nights at the Hilton Hotel in Jerusalem.

The president - accompanied by his wife Hillary,
daughter Chelsea, and reportedly the family dog Buddy
- will spend Sunday in Jerusalem, Monday in Gaza, and
go on a whirlwind tour on Tuesday - meandering around
Bethlehem and picnicking on Masada before flying
home.

Government officials are none too happy about the
proposed division of time.

A senior official at the Prime Minister's Office said
that treating Israel and the PA as equals is
"offensive," and that Clinton's trip to Gaza is
taking on a life of its own, much to the government's
chagrin.

"The visit to Gaza was intended to be a way of
disposing once and for all with the issue of the
Palestinian charter," said the official.

"The whole matter now risks being undermined,
however, as it seems like the vote will be a mockery
and the trip will be turned into an implied US
recognition of Palestinian statehood. Such
recognition would invite a unilateral deceleration of
Palestinian statehood on May 4 and cause havoc in the
peace process."

The official added that, while there are almost 300
PNC members living outside the country, the
government has received only 18 requests for entry
permits, including one from PLO political department
head Farouk Kaddoumi.

There is a fear on the part of the government,
therefore, that even if there is a vote on the
nullification of the sections of the Palestinian
charter calling for Israel's destruction, most of the
PNC members will be absent - obviously defeating the
purpose of the exercise.

Now that Clinton's visit to Gaza does not seem as
great an idea as it was touted as being during the
immediate aftermath of the Wye signing, government
ministers hurried to distance themselves from it.

At the weekly cabinet meeting yesterday, sources said
Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai denied he had
instigated the idea of the visit, and Netanyahu
insisted it was solely Clinton's initiative.

Industry and Trade Minister Natan Sharansky, in turn,
backed up Netanyahu, saying he remembered Clinton
suggesting the visit in the early days at Wye -
before Mordechai and Foreign Minister Ariel Sharon
had even arrived in Maryland.

Some ministers went so far as to suggest Clinton be
discouraged from coming completely, and Science
Minister Silvan Shalom and Netanyahu got embroiled in
an argument over who was leaking reports regarding
the invitation's origin.

The heated debate ended with Shalom telling Netanyahu
"he should be ashamed" of his behavior and Netanyahu
telling Shalom he "needed to learn some respect."

Shalom later apologized, and the argument was erased
from the protocol.

Mordechai suggested that the infighting end, and that
while the government's position regarding the PNC
gathering should be made clear - Clinton should be
welcomed with all the honor due the president of the
US.

In Gaza, meanwhile, oblivious to the Israeli
heartache over the visit, Palestinians were in full
preparation mode for the historic gathering.

Getting ready to welcome the Clintons to Gaza City,
flag makers manufactured some 25,000 little US
plastic flags yesterday and thousands more were
ordered from Taiwan.

Reporters were told to arrive in Gaza a day and a
half before the meeting for security checks, and
street cleaners took up their brooms.

In addition, despite the government's continued
claims that there would be no further redeployments
until the Palestinians stopped pressing for the
release of political prisoners, stopped all violence,
and stopped talking about the declaration of
independence - none of which has happened - the PA is
going full forward with its part of implementing the
accord.

Palestinian Police chief Ghazi Jabali said that
weapon confiscations would begin immediately, as the
15-day grace period for handing in illegal arms had
ended.

Violators are to be punished under the new
Palestinian weapons law, which imposes a maximum
three-year jail term and top fine equivalent of
around $7,500.

There was no Israeli comment on the weapons'
confiscation efforts, but Netanyahu did say that
regarding another matter - the prisoner uprisings -
the PA has a long way to go before the situation is
made right.

Netanyahu again accused the PA of inciting the
unrest, a charge that the PA hotly rejects.

Channel 2 reported, meanwhile, that Netanyahu had
secretly agreed to freeze the Wye implementation days
before the attack on the soldier in Ramallah took
place - and to use Palestinian violations as an
excuse.

The report said that MK Nissan Smoliansky (National
Religious Party) told Netanyahu that if he went ahead
with further West Bank troop withdrawals, the NRP
would topple the government.

Bar-Illan would not comment directly on the report.
He said Israel would live up to its part of the deal
once the Palestinians had lived up to their
commitments.

"The government insists on reciprocity and will
continue to insist on reciprocity and compliance by
the Palestinian Authority. We are not looking for
violations - unfortunately they are only too
obvious."

Margot Dudkevitch adds:

Responding to the announcement that Palestinian
security forces will crack down on illegal weapons
possession by imposing stiff fines or prison
sentences on violators, settler leaders said the move
is "allowing the cat to mind the cream."

A statement by the Council of Jewish Communities in
Judea, Samaria, and Gaza was skeptical about whether
Jabali would actually confiscate illegal weapons.

"The very person who said he would ignore requests to
fire policemen will carry out a show, but clearly has
no intention of confiscating the thousands of illegal
weapons," it said.

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

Monday, December 7, 1998 18 Kislev 5759

Levy refuses to join government

By SARAH HONIG

JERUSALEM (December 7) - Prime Minister Binyamin
Netanyahu tried hard last night to reach MK David
Levy by phone. Levy was not taking any calls.
Netanyahu will keep trying today.

All this follows Levy's surprise announcement that he
will not be returning to the government after all.
Coming hot on the heels of the Levy bombshell, it was
a very appeasing reaction from Netanyahu - but so far
to no avail.

At 6 p.m. yesterday evening, without any warning,
Levy issued a statement saying that, in view of the
"tendentious leaks and hostile rumor-mongering from
the prime minister's direction, it appears that he
has no intention of honoring the understandings we
have reached. I have arrived at the inevitable
conclusion that his offer was a hoax to begin with. I
have therefore decided to put an end to this useless
preoccupation. I will not join this government."

The prime minister heard the announcement on the
radio.

Despite the apparently resolute tone of the Levy
statement, and the impression that he will accept no
portfolio, Netanyahu almost immediately issued a
reply saying that he "believes Levy could contribute
to the government and aid it, especially at this
juncture."

More significantly, Netanyahu vowed to "continue the
efforts to bring Levy and the Gesher faction back to
the Likud."

While Levy spoke of returning to the government,
Netanyahu stressed the merger of Gesher into the
Likud. Political observers, as well as Gesher
sources, maintain that this is what Levy is really
after, rather than just a ministerial job. His Gesher
faction did badly in the local elections and Gesher
needs the Likud's safe haven.

As he had done in past political crises, dating all
the way back to the days of late prime minister
Menachem Begin, Levy made himself unavailable after
delivering his blow.

According to some in Gesher, he will agree to reenter
the government, if Netanyahu offers him the finance
portfolio "in earnest, without any strings attached
and preconditions."

Levy demanded that he be allowed to overhaul the
budget proposal. Netanyahu does not want to start
from scratch and he wants ultimate control over
treasury policy.

The Gesher sources share some Likud insiders' opinion
that this is just a tactical move on Levy's part to
pressure Netanyahu on the eve of the possible vote on
the early elections bill and on the economic
arrangements bill.

If Levy does not switch back to Netanyahu's side at
the last minute, Labor might submit the early
elections bill to a vote. Netanyahu could win a
week's postponement, however, by declaring it a
confidence vote.

However, Netanyahu would prefer not to resort to such
measures and he needs to pass the economic
arrangements bill. This makes it the ideal time for
Levy to increase his pressure on Netanyahu, said
Likud MK Reuven Rivlin, a former Levy ally. "I hope
that this is something which can still be fixed," he
said.

Shas MK Aryeh Deri said that "this is just a
bargaining ploy. The real differences between
Netanyahu and Levy are not all that great."

Meanwhile, the indications are that if Netanyahu does
convince Levy by tonight to take the Treasury
portfolio, Finance Minister Yaakov Neeman will not
oblige Netanyahu and resign, but will instead force
Netanyahu to fire him.

David Zev Harris adds:

Industry and Trade Minister Natan Sharansky last
night expressed his disappointment with Levy's
decision against rejoining the coalition.

"I would have welcomed David Levy, but not as finance
minister. It is a pity, because it was definitely
important to expand the coalition. But on the other
hand, you don't know what the conditions were."

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

Monday, December 7, 1998 18 Kislev 5759

Levy's decision boosts Labor's hopes

By SARAH HONIG

TEL AVIV (December 7) - Gesher leader David Levy's
announcement yesterday that he will not be entering
the government after all has infused Labor with new
hope that its early elections bill is not doomed.

Some Laborites predicted last night that they might
be able to put together the majority needed to pass
the first reading.

Labor will during the day reassess the bill's chances
and decide on whether to submit it for a vote this
afternoon.

If the bill passes all three readings, the Knesset
will be dissolved and early elections will be called.

Labor's final decision will hinge on whether the
bill's sponsors judge that it stands a chance of
winning the minimum support of 61 MKs.

One of the bill's sponsors, Labor MK Haim Ramon, was
buoyed by Levy's announcement.

If Levy and his three-member Gesher faction vote for
the bill, Ramon said, "the other votes needed to pass
it will be found. If Levy does not at the last moment
change his mind, then we will submit the bill."

Besides Levy, Ramon's chief hope is pinned on the
Democratic Arab Party, which is likely to favor his
bill now that the Wye process has been suspended.

Ramon said he can achieve the magical 61 MK figure
"even if the National Religious Party as a unit, or
any of its individual MKs, do not support the early
elections bill."

The catch is that if the bill is defeated in its
first reading today, it or a similar bill cannot be
submitted again for another six months, unless 61 MKs
are found to demand an earlier vote.

The Labor bill is sponsored by Ramon and party
secretary-general Ra'anan Cohen. Both conferred with
Labor Party chairman Ehud Barak yesterday and agreed
to adopt a wait-and-see attitude before deciding on
whether to postpone the vote or not.

Another early elections bill is also pending, this
one sponsored by Meretz MK Haim Oron.

Meanwhile, Barak presented his ideas for overhauling
Labor's image to the party central committee
yesterday.

The worried committee members did not get an answer
as to whether or not he supports doing away with the
primaries for Knesset candidates, as was done in the
Likud a year ago.

Barak did say he wants to change the party's name,
move it to new offices, employ new campaign experts
and substitute professional administrators for party
functionaries.

Barak told the central committee that he likes the
name New Labor, but will not decide until after the
party renewal has begun.

He also announced that he would personally head the
party's campaign headquarters in the next elections.

He wants the party to move out of its present home at
110 Hayarkon Street in Tel Aviv and relocate in a
modern new office complex, also in Tel Aviv, to
symbolize its renewal and modernization.

He has hired American campaign consultants, headed by
US President Bill Clinton's adviser James Carville.

Barak insisted that his moves are not a superficial
face-lift, but "a necessary change. Lets face it,
with the exception of 1992, Labor has lost every
election since 1977. It is fixed in the public mind
as outdated and bogged down by party hacks. Renewal
is a precondition for victory."

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

Tuesday, December 8, 1998 19 Kislev 5759

PM gains two-week respite

By SARAH HONIG and NINA GILBERT

JERUSALEM (December 8) - After a day of feverish
political activity, the early elections bill show
down never happened. It was put off for two weeks.

The mechanism of delay was a no-confidence motion by
United Torah Judaism. According to Knesset rules, a
vote which becomes a no-confidence motion is
automatically deferred by a week. Since US President
Bill Clinton will be in the region next week, Labor
consented to allow two weeks before the vote.

The deal was worked out as a compromise between the
far right MKs of the Land of Israel Front and the
Labor sponsors of the bill. Labor promised to agree
to a vote in a fortnight if a coalition faction
proposed no-confidence.

This suited the interests of all sides. Prime
Minister Binyamin Netanyahu gained more time to win
over more of his own coalition opponents.

After all the sound and fury, Labor was unsure it had
the minimum 61-MK majority. Postponement was safer
than risking the bill's failure, as that would
prevent its being submitted again for another six
months.

The Right needs to keep the early elections threat
hovering over Netanyahu's head to prevent a December
18th withdrawal from more Judea and Samaria
territory.

The deal sealed a long day in which Netanyahu could
not be sure of surviving and Labor could not be sure
of keeping its bill alive.

Finally Labor chairman Ehud Barak and bill sponsor
Haim Ramon huddled with Michael Kleiner, who heads
the Land of Israel Front, Benny Elon of Moledet, and
Hanan Porat and Zvi Hendel of the National Religious
Party.

Elon said later that he hopes "we will not see a
rerun of today's show later in the month. Perhaps we
will be convinced that Netanyahu has done serious
soul-searching and will conclude that he was duped at
Wye. If he opens his eyes, he will survive. If things
do not change, he will fall."

Shas leader Aryeh Deri, a key figure in strategy
consultations at Netanyahu's bureau, declared that
"the postponement did not come at the government's
initiative, but was Barak's handiwork. He was not
sure of his majority."

The Third Way's MK Yehuda Harel judged that "the
government is only out to survive, and the opposition
cannot control its lust for power. The early
elections folly has pushed Netanyahu into the arms of
rightist extremists once again, and the cause of
peace was foiled by none other than Labor. We have a
problem with a government that does not further
peace, and we cannot vote with an opposition which
includes Meretz and the Arabs."

The early elections bill was not the only victim of
yesterday's hectic goings-on. Also not voted upon
were the crucial economic arrangements bill, the bill
to change the electoral system, and a government bill
that would result in blocking Reform and Conservative
representatives from religious councils.

In an address to the House at the end of the debate,
an angry and tense Netanyahu blasted the opposition
for its lack of support for the government's policy
of not continuing with the Wye process unless the
Palestinian Authority fulfills its commitments.

Netanyahu also said that he could have avoided the
precarious situation if an agreement had been reached
with Gesher leader David Levy to join the government.

Levy shouted back at Netanyahu that his remarks were
"scandalous." When Levy later addressed the session,
he blasted Netanyahu, saying that an agreement had
been reached and he had done his best to try to
strengthen the government, but then it was decided
that he couldn't be entrusted with the Finance
Ministry.

"This is an attempt to smear me," he said.

Early in the afternoon, before the early elections
bill was due to come up for a vote, Minister Michael
Eitan, the government's liaison in the Knesset, began
a filibuster to give Netanyahu time to try to ensure
he would have a majority.

Netanyahu met for hours with MKs seen to be "weak
links" in the effort. However, it remained apparent
that the bill still had the support of at least 61
MKs, including those from Moledet, Gesher, Kleiner,
Dan Meridor (Likud), Ze'ev (Benny) Begin (Likud), and
Hendel and Porat. Tsomet's Rafael Eitan and Moshe
Peled were also expected to vote in favor of early
elections.

After the session last night, coalition whip Meir
Sheetrit was doubtful if the delay would bring about
a change in the coalition's ability to reject the
measure.

"What happened today will happen again next week," he
said.

Deri said Netanyahu "could have avoided all of this
maneuvering today and instead sat down with Labor
Party leader Ehud Barak and decided on early
elections or a national unity government."

Earlier in the day, Moledet leader Rehavam Ze'evi met
with Netanyahu, who reportedly asked him to join
government in exchange for not voting no-confidence,
given the impasse with the Palestinians.

Deri also reportedly asked Democratic Arab Party
leader Abdul Wahab Darawshe that his party's MKs
absent themselves, with the prime minister promising
to reconsider the party's budget demands, and a
promise to advance the peace process after the
Clinton visit.

Liat Collins adds:

Meretz has filed a no-confidence motion in the prime
minister, the first since the Wye agreement. The
motion is over the government's non-implementation of
that agreement.

"After Foreign Minister Ariel Sharon said in
Washington that there is no point in US President
Bill Clinton coming to Israel and, in any case, there
is no intention of carrying out the second further
redeployment, there is no point in providing a
political safety net any more," party leader Yossi
Sarid said last night.

Sarid said he had never believed Netanyahu intended
to carry out the Wye agreement, "and I said so all
along.The time has come to put an end to his policy
of trickery."

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