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From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Wednesday, January 6, 1999

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Wednesday, Jan. 6, 1999 / Tevet 18, 5759
------------------------------------------------
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. ISRAEL REJECTS U.S. REJECTION OF DEMAND
2. ILLEGAL P.A. WEAPONS ABOUND, AND OTHER VIOLATIONS
3. SHACHAK RUNNING FOR PRIME MINISTER

1. ISRAEL REJECTS U.S. REJECTION OF DEMAND
The U.S. State Department rejects Israel's demand that the PA refrain from
unilaterally declaring a state. State Department spokesman James Rubin
said on Monday that this is a "new condition" not included in the Wye
agreement and not supported by the U.S. David Bar-Illan, Director of
Policy Planning and Communications in the Prime Minister's Office, said,
"There are definite provisions in both the Oslo and Wye agreements against
any change of status in the territories. A declaration of a Palestinian
state would clearly be in violation of these clauses. The U.S. may claim
that the Palestinians are only expressing their aspirations, but in fact
this is a clear threat [to the status quo]." Although Rubin said that the
U.S. wants Israel to continue its withdrawals, Israel is of the position
that it can only do so if the Palestinians comply with their obligations
(see next article).

The State Department spokesman confirmed that American mediator Dennis Ross
will be making a trip to Israel to participate in a conference being held
at the Shimon Peres Peace Institute. Rubin was asked if he thought that
the trip should be reconsidered at this point, to avoid "having the primary
[American] negotiator appear at a Peres seminar [so soon before Israeli
elections]?" Rubin answered, "If you want to find a twisted way to report
the problem, I can't stop you."

2. ILLEGAL P.A. WEAPONS ABOUND, AND OTHER VIOLATIONS
A Foreign Ministry report distributed today shows that the Palestinian
Authority continues to hold large supplies of illegal weapons, and
continues to be in violation of a significant number of other Oslo and Wye
clauses. The report, which was circulated to Israeli ambassadors around
the world, states that the Palestinian side has not taken the necessary
measures to outlaw all organizations of a military, terrorist or violent
character... The Palestinians have also failed to comply with their
security work plan and to engage in 'full bilateral security cooperation'
as required. In addition, the continuation of the "revolving door" policy
whereby security offenders are subjected to token arrests and almost
immediately released is a source of great concern."

Instead of being collected and disposed of, as required, illegal weapons
are illegally held by the thousands by the PA and by individuals within the
autonomous areas. These weapons considerably exceed the numbers permitted
by the Interim Agreement and many of them, including mortars, mines and
grenade launchers, are totally prohibited by the Agreement. Unofficial
reports say that in addition to the some 60,000 weapons in the possession
of the PA, there are more than twice that amount in the hands of private
citizens.

The Palestinian para-military police force still has not been reduced to
24,000, as stipulated by the Oslo agreement, nor even to the Wye
Agreement's 30,000. The PA was to have transferred a list of Palestinian
policemen to the Israeli side for its approval. Notwithstanding repeated
statements by the Palestinian side that the list will "shortly be
transferred to Israel", it has still not been received by the Israeli side.

The Palestinians have refused to convene several committees that were
stipulated by the Wye Memorandum. These include a trilateral committee
dealing with the unauthorized introduction of weapons and explosive
materials into the Palestinian areas, the Legal Committee, and the Standing
Cooperation Committee.

3. SHACHAK RUNNING FOR PRIME MINISTER
Amnon Lipkin-Shachak announced his candidacy for Prime Minister today. He
has still not finalized with his partner Dan Meridor which of the two of
them will lead the list. At a press conference in Tel Aviv today, Shachak
said, "Netanyahu is dangerous for the country... The Labor party has not
succeeded in uniting the nation. Barak is very talented, but the movement
that he leads cannot win the election... Both of the major parties are
stuck in the 1950's. We need a new leadership, and we need unity, and
that's why I'm here."

Shachak said that he is against a unilateral withdrawal from Lebanon, and
that the key to the problem there lies with Syria. Jerusalem will
definitely remain under Israeli sovereignty, according to Shachak, and
other issues under negotiation with the Palestinians, such as a Palestinian
state, the communities in Yesha, water, and more, will be decided during
the talks with them. He said that he would definitely run together with
Dan Meridor, and was sorry that the final details between them couldn't be
worked out sooner. Meridor said later today that he and Shachak would make
every effort to cooperate.

Reactions:
* Aviv Bushinsky, Netanyahu's press aide, said that the Prime Minister was
sorry that Shachak had chosen to open his campaign with remarks "bordering
on incitement."

* Science Minister Silvan Shalom, reacting to Shachak's campaign-opening
remarks today, said, "There is really no difference between him and Barak.
He presented a very left-of-center platform. In the end, the choice [in
the second round of elections] will be between Barak and Netanyahu."

* Health Minister Yehoshu Matza said that it was unfortunate that Shachak,
"speaking in the name of unity, chose to begin his campaign with hatred
[for Netanyahu] and divisiveness. Aside from that, he had no new messages
for the nation."

* Labor MK Yossi Beilin said, "The only differences between Shachak and
Barak is that Shachak gave Syria veto-power over our plans in Syria, and
that he does not demand immediate enlistment into the army of yeshiva
students. Aside from that, he presented a pretty pale imitation of Barak,
and I would rather have the original."

* Prime Ministerial-hopeful Benny Begin: "There is no major difference
between Barak, Netanyahu, or Shachak. All three of them are planning a
withdrawal from the Golan and the continued abandonment of Judea and Samaria."

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

To: arutz-7@a7.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Thursday, January 7, 1999

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Thursday, Jan. 7, 1999 / Tevet 19, 5759
------------------------------------------------
Delivered Daily via Email, Sunday thru Friday
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. LIKUD BEGINS CAMPAIGN
2. SHACHAK: THE DAY AFTER
3. PRESSURES ON PORAT
4. AMERICANS DON'T ACCEPT RECIPROCITY CONCEPT

1. LIKUD BEGINS CAMPAIGN
The Likud officially opened its election campaign today, with a press
conference by Justice Minister Tzachi Hanegbi and Danny Naveh at Beit
Sokolov in Tel Aviv. They strongly attacked Labor leader Ehud Barak,
and basically ignored Amnon Lipkin-Shachak. Hanegbi said that the
Likud will show the "tremendous differences between the positions of
the Likud and Labor" during the campaign. Naveh read off the
telephone number of Yasser Arafat, and called upon Barak to phone
Arafat and say, "Don't worry, if I win, everything will be OK." They
quoted previous Barak statements to the effect that he can't come out
openly with his dovish views because he wants to be elected, and that
if he were a young Palestinian now, he would join a terrorist
organization. Minister Michael Eitan said at the time that Barak's
latter statement particularly worries him because "Barak is in a
position of influence and will run for Prime Minister."

Labor party leader Ehud Barak spoke yesterday at Machon Meir, a
religious-Zionist yeshiva in Jerusalem. Barak is a childhood friend
of Rabbi Dov Begun, head of the Yeshiva. The Prime
Ministerial-hopeful spoke in favor of drafting Yeshiva students,
giving priority to "education instead of Yesha communities," and other
similar issues. One student said afterwards, "He deserves credit for
his forthrightness, even though he knew we would not agree with what
he said." Another student commented, "He simply explained all the
reasons why we should not vote for him."

2. SHACHAK: THE DAY AFTER
Amnon Lipkin-Shachak, speaking on television last night after calling
Prime Minister Netanyahu "dangerous to the public" earlier in the day,
did not rule out cooperation with Netanyahu after the election, "so
long as there is room for decent cooperation." Shachak also said that
he would consider joining a Netanyahu-led coalition in the event that
Netanyahu were to win the election.

Shachak's debut yesterday - his official entry into the Prime
Ministerial race, sections of which were rebroadcast numerous times
throughout the day on radio and television - apparently did not help
him. A Gallup poll last night showed that 34% of the public now
support him less than they did before, and 54% said they were not
convinced by his presentation. Hundreds of phone calls were received
at Likud headquarters expressing objections to Shachak's "Netanyahu is
dangerous" remarks, even from those who are not Likud members.
Shachak implied last night on television that he would evacuate Yesha
communities, and mentioned specifically the north-Shomron towns of
Kadim and Sanur.

3. PRESSURES ON PORAT
MK Chanan Porat is facing pressure from two sides. The National
Religious Party is pressing him to remain in the party, while members
of the new Tekumah movement want him to join their ranks. The latter
say that the NRP will in any event not grant Porat a realistic spot on
its Knesset list. Porat says that he will decide his political future
within a few days.

4. AMERICANS DON'T ACCEPT RECIPROCITY CONCEPT
Israel's Ambassador to the U.S. Zalman Shoval wrote a commentary in
The Washington Times yesterday, explaining that the Palestinians had
gone back to what he called "business as usual," and were not living
up to their obligations. State Department spokesman James Rubin,
reacting to the article, said yesterday, "We do not share Ambassador
Shoval's assessment at all. The Palestinians have, in fact, worked
hard to implement many of their commitments under the Wye agreement,
including annulling clauses in the Palestinian National Council
Charter, and stepping up the fight against terror. There are some
commitments that still have to be fulfilled; but in our view, overall,
they are making progress here. Let me point out that it is the
Israelis that have not fulfilled any of their Phase 2 obligations by
failing to pull back further re-deployment, as required by Phase 2."

In contrast, a Foreign Ministry report showed yesterday that the
Palestinians have in fact not collected illegal weapons, have not
taken any action against incitement in the press and in schools, and
have not agreed to convene certain committees, among other violations.
Regarding security measures, the report said that the Palestinians
have not outlawed military, terrorist or violent organizations, have
failed to comply with their security work plan and to engage in full
bilateral security cooperation as required. The report also noted
"with concern" the continuation of the revolving-door policy whereby
security offenders are subjected to token arrest and almost
immediately released. Israel's policy is explained in the report:
"Most of the [Palestinian] obligations... are still awaiting
implementation. [T]he Government of Israel has reiterated its
commitment to the Wye Memorandum in all its aspects... Israel will
continue to negotiate all outstanding issues and implement its
obligations on the basis of reciprocity." Germany's Foreign Minister
Fischer said yesterday that a unilateral declaration of a Palestinian
state would not be acceptable. Germany will hold the rotating
presidency of the European Union for the next six months.

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

To: arutz-7@a7.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News Brief: Friday, January 8, 1999

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Friday, Jan. 8, 1999 / Tevet 20, 5759
------------------------------------------------

TODAY'S HEADLINE:
1. BENNY BEGIN TO THE RIGHT OF NETANYAHU

BENNY BEGIN TO THE RIGHT OF NETANYAHU
Benny Begin, running for Prime Minister on a nationalist-camp ticket,
says that he does not rule out the establishment of a joint political
bloc with Moledet - although real contacts between him and Moledet
leader MK Rehavam Ze'evi have yet to begin. Begin was sharply
critical in the past of Ze'evi's idea of a "transfer" of Arabs from
Judea and Samaria. On the other hand, Begin has been in ongoing touch
with Moledet's other Knesset Member, Rabbi Benny Elon, and leaders of
Tekumah. Begin said, "I don't understand how Yesha residents can
support Binyamin Netanyahu, when they know that only a few weeks after
his re-election he will resume the withdrawals."

In the current issue of Time magazine, Prime Minister Netanyahu is
quoted as saying, "I could have kept the government had I submitted to
the terms posed to me from my right wing, which said that if I would
tear up Oslo and the Wye accord, they would stay. I refused, and
equally I refused subsequent conditions from the left that said I
[should] go ahead and implement Oslo regardless of Palestinian
violations and no matter what violence the Palestinians perpetrate on
us... The Wye Agreement is not suspended... If they would comply with
their obligations and cease their violations, we would implement the
next phase well before the elections."

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

To: arutz-7@a7.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Sunday, January 10, 1999
Reply-to: netnews@a7.org

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Sunday, Jan. 10, 1999 / Tevet 22, 5759
------------------------------------------------
Delivered Daily via Email, Sunday thru Friday
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**************************************************

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. RIGHT-WING ELECTION NEWS
2. LEFT-WING ELECTION NEWS

1. RIGHT-WING ELECTION NEWS
MK Benny Begin, running to the right of Binyamin Netanyahu for
Prime Minister, told Arutz-7 today that a government headed by him would not
transfer territories to Yasser Arafat "under any circumstances."
Begin expressed concern and sadness over the "weakness and apathy that
has overtaken many members of the national camp, who are willing to
continue to support a candidate [Netanyahu] who has said openly that
he plans to withdraw from further territories in Judea and Samaria."
Begin added, "There are many people who say that they would love to
vote for me but are afraid that I won't win. If all those who believe
in my position would vote for me, then that which they fear won't
happen." He also said that he does not foresee a scenario wherein his
candidacy would cause Barak and Shachak to run against each other in
the run-off election.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu noted at today's Cabinet
meeting that Egypt is pressuring Arafat not to declare a state on May 4. The Prime
Minister said that Egypt's interest in this matter is to cause the
current government not to return to power, "and it is important for
the Israeli public to know this."

Communications Minister Limor Livnat is likely to announce this week
that she plans to remain in the Likud. Her representatives have conducted
negotiations with Prime Minister Netanyahu's office over the past
weeks, but it is not yet known under what terms she might remain.

2. LEFT-WING ELECTION NEWS
Collette Avital, the Foreign Ministry's deputy director-general for
European Affairs, plans to run on the Labor Knesset ticket in the
upcoming elections. She has been suspended from her Foreign Ministry
position since the beginning of the police investigation on charges
that she leaked secret documents to the Israeli press...

Party leader MK Ehud Barak intends to reserve places on the Labor
Knesset list for representatives of other parties likely to join Labor for the
upcoming elections. This is causing a measure of unrest within the
party. MK Uzi Baram said that lower-level MKs should not have to risk
losing their seats in order to make way for newcomers.

Former Mossad head Danny Yatom has announced that he is joining the
Labor party...

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

To: arutz-7@a7.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Monday, January 11, 1999
Reply-to: netnews@a7.org

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Monday, January 11, 1999 / Tevet 23, 5759
------------------------------------------------
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. ARENS JOINS THE LIKUD FRAY
2. EFFORTS TO UNITE RIGHT-WING
3. PERES CALLS FOR PALESTINIAN STATE
4. LUBOTSKY FOR MERIDOR

* * * SPECIAL INSERT: OFFICIAL EGYPTIAN MEDIA ANTI-SEMITISM

1. ARENS JOINS THE LIKUD FRAY
Moshe Arens declared his candidacy for the leadership of the Likud
party today, against Binyamin Netanyahu and Uzi Landau. He said that
he respects both of the two, but he feels that he is the only one who
can lead the Likud to victory in the national election. Arens said
that he was against the Oslo, Hevron, and Wye agreements, and that
even though the government must fulfill its contracts, "there is much
room for negotiation on the implementation of these agreements." He
called upon Yitzchak Mordechai and Limor Livnat to remain in the party
- which will apparently occur - and upon Benny Begin and Dan Meridor
to return to the party. Preliminary polls give Arens 26% support in
the Likud, as opposed to 6% for Uzi Landau. Minister Michael Eitan
attacked Arens today for abandoning the party after it loss in the
1992 elections, instead of helping to rebuild it.

Arens was against the withdrawal from Sinai in 1982 and the
accompanying uprooting of settlements there. He later said, however,
that he is not a believer in the "Greater Land of Israel," and was not
against the withdrawal from Gaza. Arens was Foreign Minister during
the second national unity government of 1988, and served as Defense
Minister twice: in 1983-84, and 1990-92. His response to the intifada
was criticized in Yesha (Judea and Samaria) circles as not being firm
enough, and he objected to the establishment of the new community of
Rechelim. Arens told Arutz-7 three months ago, "The Hevron agreement
was definitely a mistake. Instead of being a milestone on the road to
peace, it has become a millstone around the neck of the peace process.
The lives of the Jewish residents there are endangered every week, if
not every day." However, he said at the same time, "I am not against
a withdrawal from densely-populated Arab areas that will sooner or
later come under Palestinian control."

2. EFFORTS TO UNITE RIGHT-WING
A group of twelve millionaires from the United States, led by Dr.
Irving Moskowitz, will begin a series of meetings with the leaders of
the nationalist-camp parties today. Their short-range goal is to unite
the parties for the upcoming elections, and to underwrite any costs
that may be incurred as a result. Their long-range goal, as Dr.
Moskowitz explained to an Arutz-7 reporter today, is to prevent
further withdrawals and the division of Jerusalem.

3. PERES CALLS FOR PALESTINIAN STATE
Shimon Peres received a rousing wave of applause today from the
Palestinian Legislative Council when he announced that he is in favor
of a Palestinian state. Peres was accompanied to today's session in
Ramallah by international guests of the Peres Center for Peace, such
as Michael Gorbachev, Henry Kissinger, and others. Gorbachev also
addressed the 88-member Council - of which only 40 showed up today -
as did Yasser Arafat. Benny Begin, reacting to Peres' remarks today,
said that they simply show what were his true intentions when he
initiated the Oslo process over five years ago.

4. LUBOTSKY FOR MERIDOR
MK Alex Lubotsky (Third Way) told Arutz-7 today that he plans to
support Dan Meridor for Prime Minister. "He is the candidate of
national appeasement," Lubotsky explained. "The day after the
election, if Binyamin Netanyahu is elected, half the nation will be
gripped by a strong desire to pack its suitcases, whereas if Ehud
Barak wins, the other half will feel complete suffocation. However,
if Dan Meridor wins, I am convinced that even those who did not vote
for him would feel that an appropriate choice was made, that he is a
person with whom they could identify and who can lead the nation."

Arutz-7's News Editor Haggai Segal then asked Lubotsky how his support
for Meridor squares with the latter's position on the Golan, as
expressed last night. Meridor, responding last night at Tel Aviv
University to a question about a withdrawal from the Golan Heights,
said: "Territory isn't everything. To attain peace, Israel withdrew
from the Sinai Desert." After some hesitation, Lubotsky said, "Look,
I also agree that territory isn't everything - there are other issues.
In every issue in Israeli society there is a third way, but there is
no 'third way' regarding the Golan, because Israel will not be able to
sign a peace deal with Assad's regime unless we withdraw from the
entire Golan, all the way up to the Sea of Galilee, period. It seems
to me that there is a large majority of Israelis who just won't agree
with that. If some kind of compromise arrangement were possible,
there might be something to talk about, even as far as the Third Way
is concerned."

Lubotsky added that it would be natural for his Third Way party to
merge with the new Meridor-Shachak party: "In general, I think that
it is problematic that there are so many small parties, each with its
own exact niche. The fact that there are two immigrants' parties, and
two hareidi parties, and little parties for workers, and for
environmentalists, etc., makes it difficult for the Knesset to
function, and destroys the political system. I am in favor of making
political alliances, even if the price is not being able to express
one's exact political philosophy. I mean, if I were to establish a
party that would reflect my precise viewpoints exactly as I see them
in every aspect, it would barely attract the support of my wife."

>From the Egyptian daily Al-Ahram, November 29, 1998 (article by Ragev
al-Bana on Israel's treatment of the Palestinians and human rights):
"Who would have believed that there would be a country in the world
which
even now follows the Nazi example in its treatment of prisoners?"

>From the Egyptian daily Al-Ahram, November 14, 1998:
"The Jews have been behind all of the wars and their goal was
corruption
and destruction. This is their means of getting rich quick after
wars."

>From the Egyptian weekly October, October 11, 1998 issue (article by
Muhammad al-Takhlawi):
"Research done regarding the Torah proves that there is no one with
whom the Jews have not quarreled, including God.. the Torah makes clear
that quarreling and strife are among the foundations of the "Israeli
personality", for immediately upon birth, the Jew imbibes conflict
with his mother's milk and therefore one can not find a Jew who is not
involved in some dispute. [the Jew is] a man of quarrel and conflict,
who sows enmity with his hidden fingers throughout the entire world."

>From the Egyptian weekly October, October 4, 1998 issue (article by
>Mustafa Mahmoud):

"Any one who studies the Jewish heritage can not help but feel that
all conspiracies against religions and generally all destructive upheavals
and the undermining of values and basic principles - all are the
result of this heritage. Jewish guidance directs every axe of
destruction. Satan worship is part of Judaism and especially its
concealed aspects, such as the Kabbalah, as is the goal of destroying
the monotheistic religions."

>From the Egyptian daily Al-Akhbar, September 25, 1998 (article by
>Wahya Abu
Thawkra entitled, "The Holocaust, Netanyahu and Me"):

". the Jews invented the myth of mass extermination and the
fabrication that
6 million Jews were put to death in Nazi ovens. This was done with the
aim of motivating the Jews to emigrate to Israel and to blackmail the
Germans for money as well as to achieve world support for the Jews.
Similarly, Zionism based itself on this myth to establish the State of
Israel. I continue to believe that the Holocaust is an Israeli myth
which was invented to blackmail the world."

>From the Egyptian daily Al-Ahram, September 21, 1998 (article by Anis
Mansour):

".racism, chauvinism and the principle of ethnic purity are all
elements
of Zionism, regardless of the revocation of the UN resolution on this
subject."

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

To: arutz-7@a7.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Tuesday, January 12, 1999
Reply-to: netnews@a7.org

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Tuesday, January 12, 1999 / Tevet 24, 5759
------------------------------------------------
Delivered Daily via Email, Sunday thru Friday
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. ELECTION NEWS
2. NETANYAHU BUOYED BY POLLS
3. RELIGIOUS COUNCILS LAW WON'T BE CHANGED
4. NETANYAHU "LOOSENS THE BELT"

1. ELECTION NEWS

MK Haggai Merom announced today that he is leaving the Labor party to
join Amnon Lipkin-Shachak's new "centrist" party. Merom sharply criticized
the Labor party and its leader, Ehud Barak. He said that Labor party
members are like "mice following the Pied Piper into the sea." He
said that other prominent members of Labor will soon join the new
party.

The Tekumah movement has officially registered itself as a party.
Tekumah leaders are continuing their contacts with Benny Begin and with
Moledet leaders in an effort to establish a joint nationalist camp
front for the elections. ..

The National Religious Party has finalized its party platform for the
May elections. Among other points, the platform negates the Wye Agreement,
opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state, and supports the
expansion of the Yesha settlement enterprise. The platform does not
rule out the possibility that the NRP will join a Labor-led coalition
in the event that Ehud Barak wins the Prime Ministerial race.

2. NETANYAHU BUOYED BY POLLS
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has succeeded in closing last week's
10% gap between himself and Ehud Barak. According to a Gallup poll
publicized yesterday, a two-way contest, if held today, would result
in both leaders gaining 45% of the vote. Amnon Lipkin-Shachak's lead
over Netanyahu in such a contest has fallen drastically to 9%.
Arutz-7 correspondent Chizki Zisman reports that Netanyahu's election
campaign has experienced a new burst of energy in the past day, and
that Netanyahu consented to interviews today after two weeks of near
silence. The poll also found that Benny Begin would capture 10% of the
first-round ballot.

Dr. Aaron Fine of the Tatzpit Research Institute cast doubt on the
poll results. Speaking with Arutz-7 today, he said that it is "highly
improbable that Netanyahu could gain 10% on Barak within a week,
especially since nothing dramatic has happened in Israeli politics
during this time." Fine said that Israelis have by now had many
negative experiences with surveys, such as those carried out before
the 1996 elections which proved to be inaccurate.

3. RELIGIOUS COUNCILS LAW WON'T BE CHANGED
The religious parties suffered a loss today when the Knesset Law
Committee rejected a proposed change to the Religious Councils Law,
which would have prevented the inclusion of Reform members on the
councils. Seven committee members, including religious MKs Lubotsky
and Weinberg, voted against the change; six voted in favor. The
religious parties are now considering voting against the budget
arrangements bill, in response. The Meimad movement, however, gave
its blessing to the decision.

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