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Subject: Israel in the News: Jerusalem Post 12/8-12/9, 1998
Date: Tue, 8 Dec 1998 15:25:36 -0800
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From: Eddie Chumney
To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
Subject: Israel in the News: Jerusalem Post - 12/8 - 12/9, 1998

Tuesday, December 8, 1998 19 Kislev 5759

Redeployment won't take place on time

By DANNA HARMAN and HILLEL KUTTLER

JERUSALEM (December 8) - The next redeployment under
the Wye agreement will not take place on the 18th of
this month as planned, Foreign Minister Ariel Sharon
informed the US yesterday.

Sharon's office said he made it clear, during
separate meetings with US Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright and special Mideast envoy Dennis
Ross, that the withdrawal could not take place
because the Palestinian Authority has violated "each
and every one of the sections of the Wye accord and
because of the incitement by the PA for a new
intifada."

Sharon further said he was sorry to have to make such
an announcement, and that the government had truly
intended to meet the time schedule for the next
withdrawal, but that the "circumstances are such that
nothing can now be done to make the government take a
different path."

A senior official in the Prime Minister's Office said
that while the redeployment would not take place on
the 18th, it could be carried out at a later date "if
the Palestinians fulfill their obligations."

Sharon later told the National Press Club that
Netanyahu made his announcement on suspending the
redeployment last week, rather than delaying it until
just before the withdrawal, out of "respect" for
Clinton's upcoming trip.

"We decided to give an early warning to the
Palestinians, to try to change their behavior. But
what happened is, it became worse and worse from day
to day," he said.

Sharon also indirectly criticized Clinton for
considering flying into Gaza International Airport,
saying that it complicates the situation and raises
Palestinian expectations.

"I think that one of the problems, dangers, now is
that the PA gets the feeling that they are totally
backed by this great democracy. This feeling creates
a situation of more violence," Sharon said.

"Therefore, though we welcome President Clinton's
visit - he has the warmest welcome to come, and to
visit with the Palestinians, with us - we think all
of us have to be careful not to create false
expectations which only add friction and tension."

At a joint press conference at the State Department
held after his 80-minute session with Albright,
Sharon also said: "If the Palestinians don't comply
with the Wye agreement, every part of it, Israel will
not be able to continue, although we would like to.
We believe that every step should be taken and
everything should be done on a basis of mutual
reciprocity.

"I am sorry to say that there are violations of
almost every paragraph. There is no doubt that the
new intifada, activated and encouraged by the
Palestinian Authority, in itself creates an obstacle
to the continuation of the peace process, which we
all wish to achieve."

Sharon also warned that if the Palestinians declared
a state next May, Israel would immediately annex
parts of Judea and Samaria.

Albright called on both Israel and the Palestinians
to "fulfill their obligations" under the Wye deal so
as to "create an environment" to allow the peace
process to proceed.

She said she conveyed to Sharon "the importance of
the Israeli side fulfilling its obligations" and
spoke with PA Chairman Yasser Arafat by telephone
about "the necessity of living up to security
obligations."

Albright did not say whether the next Israeli
redeployment must proceed, even if the PA does not
meet Netanyahu's demands that it agree that Israel
alone determines the composition of the prisoners to
be released and that it must renounce plans to
declare a state next May.

But she repeated American policy opposing unilateral
steps that affect the final-status agenda.

"We think that Wye is very carefully written and we
want to see both sides carry out what they need to
do," Albright said.

She also asserted that "violence is not the answer"
and that "solutions can only come from negotiations."
She said that message is one that Clinton "clearly...
will be delivering" during his visit.

Sharon reiterated that the government is committed to
the peace process but intends to scrutinize
Palestinian compliance before each of the remaining
redeployment phases.

Albright agreed with Israel's emphasis on
reciprocity, a point Sharon made light of when he
said that just as he ate breakfast with Albright, she
is also invited to eat with him on his Negev ranch.

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

Wednesday, December 9, 1998 20 Kislev 5759

Likelihood of unity government recedes

By SARAH HONIG

TEL AVIV (December 9) - The pressure on Prime
Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to move for national
unity intensified yesterday, though the likelihood of
such a coalition receded as quickly.

The latest to join the chorus of ministers calling
for a unity government was Communications Minister
Limor Livnat, hitherto one of the staunchest
opponents of a coalition which would include Labor.
Her relations - both personal and ideological - with
Netanyahu have deteriorated considerably recently.

Eleven of the 17 ministers have now gone on record as
demanding that Netanyahu take action to move for
national unity. In addition to Livnat, they are
Finance Minister Yaakov Neeman, Foreign Minister
Ariel Sharon, Tourism Minister Moshe Katsav, Health
Minister Yehoshua Matza, Science Minister Silvan
Shalom, Labor and Social Affairs Minister Eli Yishai,
Interior Minister Eli Suissa, Industry and Trade
Minister Natan Sharansky, Absorption Minister Yuli
Edelstein, and Internal Security Minister Avigdor
Kahalani.

Netanyahu's problem, however, is that he has not
dared to make a public proposal to Labor for fear
that he would be rebuffed - and also lose the support
of the National Religious Party.

In Labor, it was roundly admitted yesterday that
whatever limited readiness there was to consider the
notion several weeks ago has all but disappeared,
because the government is seen as being on its last
legs, and support for national unity would be
regarded not as a partnership, but as rescuing a
bitter rival.

Netanyahu dismissed the idea of making a special
effort to form a national unity coalition. "Anyone
who shares our policy guidelines is invited to join.
If not, then not," he said. "I have not heard Labor
coming out against releasing terrorist murderers,
against Palestinian Authority incitement for the
unambiguous nullification of the Palestinian
Covenant, etc. I don't think the other side is
interested in joining us."

Netanyahu also said he will not "bow down to
inordinate demands from whichever side - be it right
or left. We will pursue our policies come what may."

His spokesman said he had turned down demands from
the Land of Israel Front, which included annexation
of territory and no more territorial concessions to
the PA unless they are approved unanimously by the
inner cabinet. The latter would give its most recent
recruit, Education Minister Yitzhak Levy (NRP) veto
power over any future pullback.

A source close to Labor MK Shimon Peres, up until
recently a tireless campaigner for unity, said that
"at this juncture and in these circumstances he too
would oppose the notion. Anyone in Labor expressing
the slightest sympathy for the unity idea now would
be cutting his own political throat."

Livnat stated that "national unity is a must, at
least until May, so that we can face in unison [PA
Chairman Yasser] Arafat's threat to set up a
Palestinian state. I am not talking about expanding
the coalition by two or three MKs."

She argued that "this is the moment of truth. It is
impossible to maneuver as we have any longer. The
country cannot be run without a convincing majority.
Should Labor, however, prefer narrow partisan
interests, there will be no alternative but to go to
early elections as soon as possible."

Shalom said that "we would be better off to initiate
the elections ourselves, so we can control the date
and the preparation."

Katsav, however, warned his colleagues not "to expect
any chivalry from Labor. We have talked of national
unity previously and there have been plenty of
overtures to Labor. In all cases, the reply was a
mocking rejection."

Tsomet leader Rafael Eitan said that "all this is
idle talk. There will be no national unity government
because Labor doesn't want it. For the past year,
long before Wye, I warned that early elections are
inevitable. I still think that the earlier we go to
the voters, the better. What we saw in the Knesset
Monday makes a laughingstock of this nation."

Likud dissident Dan Meridor dispelled a little of the
mystery about how he would have voted on early
elections. "Netanyahu assumed that I would vote
against the government, and I suppose he was not
wrong," he said.

David Levy poked fun at Livnat - who so strenuously
opposed his return to the Likud - for having
"suddenly discovered the national unity bandwagon.
How interesting that those who so recently shoved
every spoke they could in its wheel, now rush to
climb on board."

Levy also did "not think that efforts to get me back
to the coalition would be useful."

Yet political observers noted he did not entirely
slam the door on the possibility. Likud MK Yisrael
Katz blamed Shas's Aryeh Deri for foiling the deal
with Levy, while Deri said "the failure was the fault
of people like Katz and Livnat, who made such a fuss
about the addition of Gesher members to the Likud
central committee. Because of this petty internal
Likud fight, the coalition was not expanded."

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

Wednesday, December 9, 1998 20 Kislev 5759

Labor, Meretz differ on date of
no-confidence votes

By LIAT COLLINS

JERUSALEM (December 9) - It is still not clear when
the next votes of no-confidence will be heard,
following the insistence by Meretz that they come up
this Monday, and the willingness of Labor to postpone
them to the following Monday.

Apart from the vote on the early elections bill,
which was turned into a no-confidence motion at the
last moment this week, Meretz has filed its own
no-confidence motion in the prime minister - the
first since the Wye agreement. The motion is over the
government's non-implementation of the agreement.

Party leader Yossi Sarid said, "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. The time has come to put an end to his policy
of trickery."

No-confidence motions are usually held the Monday
after they are submitted. However, since this falls
during Clinton's planned visit to Israel, even if he
does not visit the Knesset, there is talk of
postponing significant votes - like a no-confidence
motion - to the following Monday. Sarid's faction
objects to the two-week postponement.

Meretz whip Haim Oron, who together with Labor's Haim
Ramon was one of the MKs behind the bill calling for
early elections, is demanding the vote on this bill
be heard this coming Monday.

The Labor faction executive, on the other hand, last
night authorized party whip Elie Goldschmidt to
inform Knesset Speaker Dan Tichon that Labor agrees
to postponing the no-confidence vote on the early
elections bill until Monday, December 21, because of
the Clinton visit.

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

Wednesday, December 9, 1998 20 Kislev 5759

Right, center move new party plans forward

By DAVID ZEV HARRIS

JERUSALEM (December 9) - Two new parties have moved a
step closer to existence this week, according to
sources in both the center and right.

The move for a right-wing party based on the Land of
Israel Front gained momentum after the postponement
of Monday's vote on early elections.

"We've been pushed into speeding up our plans, having
seen that elections could be held as early as 60 days
after the vote eventually takes place in two weeks,"
said front's leader MK Michael Kleiner. "Yes, I am
pushing the movement at the moment, but I have no
obsession with leading the party. But I won't rule it
out."

Knesset sources said that Kleiner, Likud MKs Ze'ev
(Benny) Begin and David Re'em, and Tsomet MKs Haim
Dayan and Moshe Peled are likely to be among the
first to join such a party. It is also hoped that the
National Religious Party MKs would join.

Kleiner reckons, on average, the front receives the
support of some 19 MKs, with 15-25 voting with it on
a regular basis. The hard core is 12-13.

Meanwhile, the announcement of the creation of a
centrist party, in all probability under the
leadership of MK Dan Meridor (Likud), is expected
within weeks, according to a source close to the
movement. It is still unclear who would receive the
No. 2 spot, with former deputy chief of General Staff
Matan Vilna'i most likely, although organizers are
still waiting to hear from former chief of General
Staff Amnon Lipkin-Shahak.

The movement also hopes to take in MKs Yehuda Harel
and Alex Lubotzky of The Third Way, while attracting
considerable membership from Meimad, said the source.

Once formed, the party will have to compete for the
middle ground with former Tel Aviv mayor Ronni Milo,
who now heads the centrist Atid party.

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

Wednesday, December 9, 1998 20 Kislev 5759

US condemns Palestinian violence

By DANNA HARMAN and HILLEL KUTTLER

JERUSALEM (December 9) - US special Mideast envoy
Dennis Ross tried yesterday to calm Israeli fears
about the upcoming visit of President Bill Clinton.
He assured the government that only an "unmistakable
and unambiguous" nullification of the Palestinian
Covenant sections negating Israel's existence would
be acceptable, and spoke out against Palestinian
violence on the West Bank.

Ross, who is making a quick one-and-a half-day visit
to the region, met with both Prime Minister Binyamin
Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser
Arafat to try to air some of the many problems with
the Wye accord implementation process before
Clinton's scheduled arrival Saturday evening.

The government presented Ross with a long list of
Palestinian violations of the accord, including
Arafat's recent statements on a declaration of
independence on May 4, 1999, incitement to violence
over the release of political prisoners, and slack
security cooperation.

Arafat, during a dinner in Ramallah, urged Ross to
use his influence to convince Israelis of the
importance to the Palestinian people of releasing
more political prisoners. The Palestinian street,
Arafat reportedly said, is growing increasingly
frustrated.

At a press conference following his meeting with
Netanyahu, Ross said that while "obviously" there are
differences between Israel and the Palestinians over
the prisoner release, "the place to deal with
differences is in discussions at the table, not on
the street. There is no place for violence in this
process."

He also reiterated the US stand that Netanyahu is
fulfilling his commitments made at Wye on prisoner
release.

Meanwhile, even though the invitations to the
upcoming Palestinian National Council meeting in Gaza
make no mention of a vote, Ross assured the
government that only an "unmistakable and unambiguous
nullification of that charter" would be acceptable.
Ross hesitated to use the word "vote," but, as one
senior Israeli official mused, "how else do you get
an unmistakable nullification?"

Netanyahu played down the importance of a two-thirds
vote, legally the only way to change Covenant
sections. "It must be serious," said Netanyahu.
"There must be a reasonable number of participants...
I can't say if that is exactly two-thirds plus one or
two-thirds minus two. This is not a scientific
matter."

A senior official in the Prime Minister's Office said
it had been agreed at Wye that Israel would not
demand a two-thirds vote, only a simple majority.

Finally, Netanyahu, continuing to make amends for his
statements earlier this week which hinted that
perhaps Clinton should stay home, stressed that the
president is a wanted guest. "Whether or not he
manages to assist the process is of no matter.
President Clinton is always welcome," he said.

Ross refused to get drawn into the Israeli debate
over who had invited Clinton to Gaza in the first
place, saying simply that the Americans had
originally suggested the visit, and adding that
Clinton was not put off by the various difficulties.

"President Clinton had an awful lot to do with
putting the Wye agreement together," he explained,
"and obviously, it is very logical that... the
president come and do all he can to put things back
the way they ought to be."

In Washington, Foreign Minister Ariel Sharon said
there is "no chance" the government will carry out
the second phase of the redeployment, scheduled to
occur next week, due to continued Palestinian
violations of the Wye accord.

He told Israeli reporters that he had conveyed this
message to his American interlocutors, including
Clinton, and none of them told him that Israel must
disregard Palestinian performance and move ahead
anyway.

"In all my discussions, I never found even a hint
that Israel must fulfill its commitments while the
other side violates its commitments," Sharon said
before flying to New York. "The American view is that
everything must be solved by negotiations. This is
accepted by us. But there was no pressure on Israel -
I emphasize this - to fulfill our side while the
other side doesn't."

During Sharon's meeting late Monday with National
Security Adviser Sandy Berger, Clinton stopped in for
what Sharon described as an "enthralling" hour-long
chat, during which he told Clinton of Israel's
concern over PA officials and media encouragement of
terrorism.

Sharon also met Monday with Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright and Central Intelligence Agency
Director George Tenet.

At his press conference, Sharon also expressed hope
that Clinton's visit will "improve the atmosphere."

He turned aside suggestions that he had sent mixed
messages during his visit to appease supporters at
home, by denying that he had told Albright that
Israel would delay the second redeployment, at the
same time that his office in Jerusalem was telling
Channels 1 and 2 that that was his message to the
administration.

"I don't deal with any wheeling and dealing," he
said. "The things I told the American government here
are very clear, that Israel is truly adhering to Wye;
but a situation has arisen of real [Palestinian]
violations."

Reuters adds:

Albright urged Israel and the Palestinians to meet
their commitments under the Wye agreement and said
Clinton would go ahead with his controversial trip to
the region.

Speaking after a NATO meeting in Brussels, she told a
news conference: "It's important for the Palestinians
to live up to their obligations in terms of taking
care of the security situation... and also for the
Israelis not to add conditions."

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