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To: Arutz-7 List <heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>, Israel News List
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Subject: Arutz-7 News: April 18-23, 1999
Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1999 16:05:35 -0800
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To: arutz-7@a7.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Sunday, April 18, 1999
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Sunday, April 18, 1999 / Iyar 2, 5759 - Day 17 of the Omer
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. NETANYAHU MUST "REALIZE HIS POTENTIAL" TO WIN
2. TIDBITS
1. NETANYAHU MUST "REALIZE HIS POTENTIAL" TO WIN
Labor Party leader Ehud Barak continues to lead Prime Minister Binyamin
Netanyahu by 5-7% in polls in a second-round Prime Ministerial vote.
However, notes Bar-Ilan University pollster Dr. Yaakov Katz, "most of
the 10% of voters who are still undecided are expected to vote for
Netanyahu." One of the factors that will probably affect
second-round voting patterns, according to Katz, is the composition
of the Knesset following the first-round vote, in which
the parties' representation will be decided. "[Paradoxically,] Netanyahu
may do better in the second round if the left obtains a 'blocking majority'
in the elections," said Katz. "In such a scenario, otherwise-disgruntled
former Netanyahu voters may come out and vote for him in an effort to
salvage something for the right wing."
Katz also observed that some 20% fewer Israeli-Arabs are expected to vote
in the second round than in the first, a factor that is bound to hurt
Barak's chances of being elected: "They don't have a particular allegiance
to Barak, nor a particular reason to vote in large numbers in the second
round." On the other hand, the hareidi community, which almost
unanimously supports Netanyahu, will probably experience a high turn-out in
both rounds even without being brought there by party activists. The third
group - new Russian immigrants - poses a question mark for the second
round, however, and their turn-out for the second round is not at all
clear. Polls show that the Russian immigrant community supports Netanyahu
by a margin of 2 to 1. Though he hesitated to predict who will win next
month, Katz encapsulated the situation as follows: "Netanyahu has a greater
potential of voters than Barak. The question remains as to whether he'll
be able to actualize that support."
2. TIDBITS
Steven Spielberg's cartoon movie The Prince of Egypt, depicting the Exodus
of Moses and the Jews, has been censored by the Egyptian government. The
present-day Egyptians feel that the movie "distorts history," and that its
main objective is to "increase Jewish profits.".
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Date: Mon, 19 Apr 1999 16:43:50 +0300
To: arutz-7@a7.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Monday, April 19, 1999
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Monday, April 19, 1999 / Iyar 3, 5759 - Day 18 of the Omer
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. LIKUD WOOS RUSSIAN VOTE
2. OSLO EXPERT: PALESTINIAN STATE IS A VIOLATION
3. BENNY BEGIN'S LETTER
1. LIKUD WOOS RUSSIAN VOTE
Preparations for the political parties' television campaigns have gone
into high gear. The Likud's campaign team, headed by Prime Minister
Netanyahu, met this morning in G&G studios in N'vei Ilan, just outside
of Jerusalem. Since it only has 19 MKs in the current Knesset - given
the decision by Tzomet to run alone and Gesher's joining of Barak's
"One Israel" - the Likud has comparatively little television campaign
time. It will therefore insist that any debate between Netanyahu and
Barak take place in the framework of a regular television talk-show,
and not at the expense of Likud television time.
The Likud held what Prime Minister Netanyahu called a "tremendously
successful and uplifting" campaign kick-off last night in Jerusalem.
New Russian immigrants spoke at the convention, expressing their
support for the party. Strategists for both Netanyahu and Ehud Barak
realize that the support of the new immigrants is critical (see next
article). At this point, polls show that Netanyahu has a strong lead
over Barak in this sector.
2. OSLO EXPERT: PALESTINIAN STATE IS A VIOLATION
Oslo-agreement architect Yoel Zinger has determined that Israel has
the right to annex parts of Judea and Samaria, in the event that the
Palestinian Authority unilaterally decides to declare a state. In an
article in the American quarterly journal The National Interest,
Zinger writes that a Palestinian declaration of a state would be a
flagrant violation of the Oslo accords, and that it would immediately
entitle Israel to annex parts of Yesha without the consent of the PA.
The Egyptian paper Al-Wafd reported today that Arafat plans to declare
a Palestinian state a few weeks after the election in Israel.
3. BENNY BEGIN'S LETTER
Hundreds took part in yesterday's kick-off of the National Union's
election campaign, at Beit Orot in Jerusalem. Party leader Benny
Begin attacked the call by National Kibbutz Movement leader Avshalom
Villen to "halt the influx of religious officers into the top brass of
the IDF." Chanan Porat criticized the diplomatic policy of Prime
Minister Netanyahu, while Rehavam Ze'evi said that the upcoming
election is the most fateful in the history of the State.
Benny Begin, the National Union's Prime Ministerial candidate, sent a
letter to the residents of Judea, Samaria, and Gaza this week, asking
for their support: "There is no doubt that Mr. Barak and Mr. Mordechai
and Mr. Netanyahu plan to continue to abandon parts of Samaria, Judea
and the Gaza Strip to the PLO and Hamas. The three have in effect
resigned themselves to the establishment of a Palestinian state...
>From the standpoint of protecting our country, every vote given to Mr.
Netanyahu or the Likud in the coming elections is a wasted vote.
Moreover, such a vote means that the [Yesha] voter has not only
accepted the establishment of a PLO-Hamas state next to his home, but
also effectively gives Mr. Netanyahu a license to continue abandoning
the territory. If Mr. Netanyahu gets your support, he will abandon
the territory in your name." Begin writes that his candidacy for Prime
Minister presents the only alternative to this disastrous policy: "No
more territory should be transferred to foreign rule... A vote for
our Knesset list will enable the building of a political power that
can influence the government's policies, perhaps even decisively."
(translation courtesy of IMRA)
**********************************************************************
To: arutz-7@a7.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Tuesday, April 20, 1999
Reply-to: netnews@a7.org
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Tuesday, April 20, 1999 / Iyar 4, 5759 - Day 19 of the Omer
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINE:
1. NATO BOMBED ALBRIGHT'S PLACE OF REFUGE
NATO BOMBED ALBRIGHT'S PLACE OF REFUGE
The Russian news agency Itar-Tass reports that an unexploded NATO bomb
in a Serbian village now sports a graffiti message written by local
residents: "Thank you, Mrs. Albright, for the gift sent to us in
exchange for our hospitality." The story behind the message is summed
up in a 60-year-old photo, published in the Cyprus Mail at the end of
last week, showing a little girl hugging a little boy. The boy in the
picture, now Mr. Lutko Popich, explained that the girl is now
Madeleine Albright, Secretary of State of the United States of
America. He told a Cyprus Mail reporter, Louisus Antonio, that in
1939, Madeleine Albright's family escaped from the Nazis in
Czechoslovakia and found refuge in his father's home in the Serbian
village of Varnatchka Bana. This same village, 60 years later, was
bombed last week by NATO forces, led by the United States, and the
same villagers who hosted little Madeleine and her family were forced
to flee.
Antonio reported that he recently visited various areas in Yugoslavia
that were bombed by NATO, together with a group called "Doctors for
Peace." He wrote that he found much evidence, including photos, of
Ms. Albright's presence in the above-mentioned village of Varnatchka
Bana during the specified period. Popich - the "boy" in the picture -
said that he wrote a letter to Secretary Albright, asking her to stop
the bombing on his birthplace that had served as her refuge. He said
that he had not received a response. Varnatchka Bana, famous for its
hot springs, is located 80 kilometers from the city of Kraljevo.
**************************************************************************
To: arutz-7@a7.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Thursday, April 22, 1999
Reply-to: netnews@a7.org
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Thursday, April 22, 1999 / Iyar 6, 5759 - Day 21 of the Omer
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. PA OFFICES IN ORIENT HOUSE TO BE CLOSED
2. CENTRIST PARTY HOPES BARAK-VOTERS WILL SWITCH TO MORDECHAI
3. NETANYAHU'S RELATIONS WITH SHARANSKY & HAREIDIM IMPROVE
1. PA OFFICES IN ORIENT HOUSE TO BE CLOSED
The Cabinet finally decided today, after many threats to do so, to
close Palestinian Authority offices in the Orient House in eastern
Jerusalem. Internal Security Minister Avigdor Kahalani was instructed
to take immediate steps to close the offices. The decision was made
following the hosting by Feisal Husseini of foreign consuls in the
building yesterday. The Cabinet also decided to take steps against PA
figures who are engaging in illegal diplomatic activity in the Israeli
capital.
David Bar-Illan, Director of Communications and Policy Planning in the
Prime Minister's Office, spoke to Arutz-7 today - before the decision
was announced - about yesterday's meeting in the Orient House: "It's
clear that this provocation is connected with the election campaign
and the Palestinians' desire to embarrass the government and Mr.
Netanyahu... In the past, we have not objected to meetings with
foreign consuls, because they are mainly administrative officials, not
diplomatic. But in this case, Husseini specifically publicized this
meeting as a diplomatic one, such that we will have to take the proper
steps in response."
Bar-Illan also related to today's Ha'aretz report that Israel is once
again making overtures to Damascus to take up Golan Heights
negotiations from where they left off under the Rabin-Peres
government. "More disinformation," he called it, adding, "I am very
surprised that Ha'aretz chose to publish such nonsense as a top story.
It seems that sometimes, and especially during an election campaign,
people tend to believe pretty much anything, and then publicize it
without asking questions. Our position is what it has always been,
that there is no agreement between Israel and Syria. Israel is
prepared to return to the negotiating table with Syria without any
preconditions."
2. CENTRIST PARTY HOPES BARAK-VOTERS WILL SWITCH TO MORDECHAI
Centrist Party leader Yitzchak Mordechai denied today Prime Minister
Netanyahu's claim that he [Mordechai] is planning to withdraw his
candidacy for Prime Minister. It is commonly felt that Netanyahu
wants Mordechai to remain in the race, to ensure that Ehud Barak does
not receive more than 50% of the vote in the first round. Ma'ariv
reported today that senior Labor party MK Chaim Ramon met recently
with the Centrist list's #4 candidate, Roni Milo, on this issue. If
Mordechai withdraws his candidacy, Barak is reportedly prepared to
offer him the Defense Ministry in a Barak-led government. Barak denied
the reports. MK Haggai Merom (Centrist party, #10) told Arutz-7
today, "If anyone from our party is secretly negotiating with Barak's
people, he is working on his own, without the approval of Yitzchak
Mordechai or any of the party seniors."
"But why not, after all?" asked News Editor Haggai Segal. "Let's say
that two or three days before the elections, Yitzchak Mordechai
remains significantly behind in the polls. Why wouldn't you then
strike a deal with Barak, so that at least you'll obtain the Defense
portfolio?" Merom responded: "Let me explain the strategy of the
Centrist party. As of now, many people still hope that Barak can beat
Netanyahu in the second round. However, after analyzing the
information, we know that this cannot happen. This is the reason,
incidentally, that Netanyahu is working so hard to ensure that Barak
makes it to the second round!.. Right now, Barak's lead over
Netanyahu is a mere 2%, and it is shrinking weekly. Don't forget that
in 1996, Shimon Peres held a 6% advantage just a few days before the
elections, and Netanyahu won. We feel that Barak will suffer a similar
fate. We hope, therefore that the 'level-headed population' from the
center and leftwards will understand that only Mordechai can defeat
Netanyahu in the second round. We hope that when this group sees
Barak beating Mordechai in the first round, but losing to Netanyahu in
the second round, they will change their vote at the last moment from
Barak to Mordechai."
3. NETANYAHU'S RELATIONS WITH SHARANSKY & HAREIDIM IMPROVE
Relations between Yisrael B'Aliyah leader Natan Sharansky and Prime
Minister Netanyahu are improving. Sharansky responded to Netanyahu's
invitation to fly with him yesterday to the Negev town of Ofakim for a
concert for new immigrants. Sharansky's media advisor Moti Morel said
later that if Ehud Barak continues to disseminate disinformation to
the effect that Sharansky supports Barak, the Yisrael B'Aliyah leader
will publicly declare his support for Netanyahu.
Still in the south, Netanyahu met today with the Vizhnitzer Rebbe, who
heads Agudat Yisrael's Council of Torah Sages. The meeting was
described as very warm. Political correspondent Menachem Rahat said
that Ehud Barak continues to commit errors that push the hareidim into
the arms of Netanyahu. "Barak has done several things recently that
have greatly angered the hareidi sector. The first was when he called
for the enlistment of yeshiva students. Then a few days ago, he said
that, if elected Prime Minister, he would not entrust the Interior
Ministry with a party that 'makes it hard for non-Jews to immigrate to
Israel.' Finally, the recent campaign by Barak's One Israel list
calling for hareidim to abstain in the coming election - these things
are pushing hareidi leaders back to Netanyahu, even though they are
not thrilled with him." More meetings are planned between the Prime
Minister and the Vizhnitzer Rebbe, and the two may publicize a joint
statement.
***********************************************************************
To: arutz-7@a7.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News Brief: Friday, April 23, 1999
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Friday, April 23, 1999 / Iyar 7, 5759 - Day 22 of the Omer
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. ABU ALLA: NO PEACE WITHOUT RETURN OF 1948'S REFUGEES
2. REACTIONS TO ORIENT HOUSE CLOSURE
3. ELECTION SHORTS
4. AMNESTY BLASTS PA REGARDING PRISONERS
1. ABU ALLA: NO PEACE WITHOUT RETURN OF 1948'S REFUGEES
Palestinian "Parliament" Chairman Abu Alla announced today that there
will be no peace without the full return of all the Arab refugees of
1948 to their homes. Abu Alla bases himself on United Nations
resolution #181 of 1948, calling for the partition of Palestine into
two separate states - one Jewish and one Arab. (The Arabs did not
accept the resolution at the time, and attacked the State of Israel on
the day it declared independence.) Abu Alla made the statement today
after meeting with the Australian Parliament Speaker in Ramallah.
2. REACTIONS TO DECISION TO ORIENT HOUSE CLOSURE
The Cabinet decision of yesterday to close three or four Palestinian
Authority offices in the Orient House has aroused many reactions, both
for and against. President Weizman said that the Orient House is not
worth "blowing up the peace process." The Likud party said that the
decision is a proof of the Netanyahu government's firm Jerusalem
policy. The National Union party congratulated the government,
although it noted that "the value of the decision will be measured
only by its implementation." Meretz leader Yossi Sarid said that his
party sees the Orient House as the legitimate diplomatic mission of
the Palestinian Authority, and is against its closing. The PA
announced that consuls from Great Britain, Holland, France, and
Belgium came yesterday to the Orient House to show their solidarity
with the PA, following the government's decision to close the
building.
Public Security Minister Avigdor Kahalani said today that it would be
a few days before the orders to close the PA offices would go into
effect. The Jerusalem Police said it would not happen before the
elections. "Feisal Husseini's meeting with the foreign consuls on
Israel's Independence Day was an intentional provocation," said
Kahalani, "as was his announcement then that Jerusalem is the capital
of the new Palestinian state. Israel cannot allow this." He said
that the police will be able to deal with whatever violence is planned
as a result of the closings. Peace Generation activists said they
would "bodily prevent the Orient House from being closed." Prime
Minister Netanyahu said that the meetings in the Orient House were
against Israeli law and in violation of the Israeli-Palestinian
agreements.
3. ELECTION SHORTS
A poll published in Makor Rishon today foresees the following
results:
One Israel/Labor will receive 28 Knesset seats, Likud - 27, Shas - 12,
Centrist - 10, National Union - 8-9, Meretz - 8, National Religious
Party - 5. The poll was conducted by Dr. Yaakov Katz of Bar Ilan
University...
The leaders of the National Union party gathered in the Ramada
Renaissance Hotel in Jerusalem last night, for an evening devoted to
English-speakers. Benny Begin and Rabbi Benny Elon addressed the crowd
of over 700 people in English, while Chanan Porat and Rehavam Ze'evi
spoke in Hebrew with simultaneous translation...
United Torah Judaism has decided that one of its main campaign
themes will be that only education to Jewish values and Judaism can
guarantee that the violence in our society will cease...
The Likud has decided that each Minister and Knesset Member will
take personal responsibility over a local campaign chapter, and will
accompany it until the moment the polls open...
4. AMNESTY BLASTS PA REGARDING PRISONERS
Amnesty International reports that the Palestinian Authority has held
hundreds of political detainees for lengthy periods without trial, and
tortured many of them. Specifically, about 370 prisoners suspected of
collaboration with Israel or of membership in Islamic groups have been
held for over a year without being charged, according to the report.
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