To: arutz-7@a7.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Thursday, July 8, 1999
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Thursday, July 8, 1999 / Tammuz 24, 5759
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. BARAK TO EGYPT
2. ACTIVISTS AGAINST ANTICIPATED ARAB APPOINTMENT
1. BARAK TO EGYPT
Prime Minister Ehud Barak flies to Alexandria tomorrow to meet with
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Barak's advisors stated today that he
will not agree to have Mubarak act as a mediator between Israel and the
Palestinians, noting the Egyptian President's "negative contribution" to
the Oslo process over the past few years. Foreign Minister David Levy said
this morning that the Barak-Mubarak meeting is designed only to "break the
ice," and that no great diplomatic achievements should be expected at this
point. Levy added his opinion that the new government should implement the
Wye withdrawals, explaining, "If we do not fulfill our obligations, we
cannot expect the Palestinians to carry out their side of the agreements."
A meeting is scheduled for this Monday between Ehud Barak and Yasser Arafat
on the Israeli side of the Erez Junction in the Gaza Strip. Barak plans to
meet with U.S. President Bill Clinton during the second half of next week
in Washington
2. ACTIVISTS AGAINST ANTICIPATED ARAB APPOINTMENT
The Israel police today prevented Kach activists from demonstrating in
front of Prime Minister Barak's home in Kokhav Ya'ir against the likely
appointment of an Arab MK to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense
Committee. One of the candidates for the post is MK Taleb Asana, who, at a
1995 Hamas/Islamic Jihad rally in Gaza, shouted, "We must continue the
struggle against Israel. We must liberate the capital of the Palestinian
nation, Jerusalem."
The other candidate is United Arab List leader MK Abdel-Malek Dahamshe, in
whose living room hangs a portrait of Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.
When questioned by Arutz-7's Ariel Kahane some months ago about having "a
picture of a terrorist in his home," Dahamshe replied, "You are a
terrorist, and so is anyone who calls people like him a terrorist. Ahmed
Yassin is not a terrorist. He is a man who works to defend the rights of
his people." This is a continuation of remarks he made in 1997, when he
told Arutz-7 what he thinks about Yassin (who was convicted of the murder
of at least two soldiers): "I identify with the man and everything he
represents. He is a hero... a man of peace, he is as far from a terrorist
as the earth is to the heavens. He is a freedom fighter, he is not against
Jews, but will fight with someone who does not give him his home peacefully."
Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg released a statement today in favor of "a
larger role" for Arab MKs in the legislature. "The Knesset is a mirror of
all Israel's citizens," he said. ""There cannot, and should not, be
any
obstacle to the participation of an Arab MK in any committee, as a member
or as chairman... including the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee."
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To: arutz-7@a7.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News Brief: Friday, July 9,
1999
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Friday, July 9, 1999 / Tammuz 25, 5759
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINE:
1. BARAK AND MUBARAK MEET IN EGYPT
Prime Minister Ehud Barak met this morning in the Ras A-Tin Palace in
Alexandria with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. At a press
conference afterwards, Mubarak lavished praises upon his guest, and
said that he is willing to grant an "extension" of about two months
for Barak to "learn the problems." He promised that Egypt would not
force its views on the Palestinians or on the Israelis. Barak, for his
part, refused to go into details when asked by reporters about his
diplomatic plans, saying only that advancing the peace process on both
the Palestinian and Syrian fronts is very high on his agenda. "I am
determined to make peace, while protecting Israel's national
interests," said the Prime Minister.
An Arab reporter asked Barak, "There is near world consensus that the
steps you should be taking next are the implementation of the Wye
agreement, the freezing of settlements, simultaneous re-launching of
all tracks. Do you agree with this strategy?" Barak responded, "It
may be better if we meet once again in a few weeks and I'll answer all
your questions. You are describing a too-detailed map for me at this
stage. But, I can repeat that Israel basically abides by
international agreements that have been taken by any previous
government. We, of course, expect all partners to respect their part
of it, and I am determined to follow in the footsteps of Prime Minster
Rabin and to move forward in the peace process, not just in talk but
in actions."
Before the meeting, Mubarak's office made clear that Egypt would make
no gestures towards Israel before the latter completes its Wye
withdrawals and freezes all construction in Judea and Samaria. Barak
will meet with Yasser Arafat on Sunday afternoon at the Erez Junction
in the Gaza Strip.
************************************************************************
To: arutz-7@a7.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <netnews@a7.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Sunday, July 11, 1999
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Sunday, July 11, 1999 / Tammuz 27, 5759
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. BARAK MEETS ARAFAT
2. NAVEH: BARAK SHOULD DEMAND RECIPROCITY
3. MINISTER OF JERUSALEM AFFAIRS SPEAKS
1. BARAK MEETS ARAFAT
Following the cabinet session, Barak traveled to the Israeli side of
the Erez Checkpoint in Gaza, where he met with PA Chairman Yasser
Arafat. The Prime Minister reportedly informed Arafat of his intent
to combat terror "more diligently than did Binyamin Netanyahu." Barak
also presented to Arafat a proposal to combine the Wye withdrawals
with the "final status" talks.
Late this afternoon, the two leaders held a joint press conference at
the Erez Checkpoint, during which each delivered a short speech and
fielded reporters' questions. "Our primary objective today was to
establish a basis of mutual trust, so crucial to the possibility of
any future agreements," Barak said. "Both sides have suffered enough."
Barak then stressed that Israel's security would not be compromised:
"I spent all of my life in the army, and I am therefore committed to
the security of the State of Israel. I was brought into politics just
four years ago by the late Yitzchak Rabin.
We must do what we can to ensure that our region is free of
terror..." Barak declared that his government would abide by all of its
international agreements, including the implementation of the Wye
accords.
Arafat then spoke in Arabic, with a simultaneous English translation:
"I hereby reiterate my full commitment to work as a partner with Mr.
Barak to achieve the peace of the brave, as I did with my partner, Mr.
Rabin. A just, comprehensive, lasting peace must be achieved on all
tracks, including the Syrian and Lebanese tracks.The Palestinian
Authority will continue to carry out its responsibilities pertaining
to the agreements it signed. We expect the Israeli government to
implement all of its Wye River obligations. This includes the freeing
of Palestinian prisoners; continued implementation of the Hevron
agreement; construction of the Gaza port; and the opening of a 'safe
passage' from Gaza to the West Bank. We will continue to express our
lack of tolerance for violence and terror, whether the terror is
committed by Israelis or Palestinians." Arafat also called on Israel
to discontinue all settlement activities and rejected any notion of
forgoing scheduled Wye withdrawals in favor of final-status
negotiations.
Barak responded to Arafat's comments by hinting that he was not about
to hastily freeze Jewish residential construction throughout Judea,
Samaria and Gaza. In response to an American reporter, Barak said,
"We will not establish any new settlements, nor we will dismantle any
at this stage... I am committed to a block of settlements. All of this
will be dealt with in the final status talks. We have no illusions
that we are about to enter a difficult set of negotiations, which will
have its ups and downs."
2. NAVEH: BARAK SHOULD DEMAND RECIPROCITY
Speaking to Arutz-7 today, former Netanyahu Cabinet Secretary and Wye
Accord negotiator MK Danny Naveh (Likud) said: "Since the elections, I
have not heard Prime Minister Barak once mention the need for the
Palestinian side to fulfill its obligations; I just hear him respond
to the demands that Israel implement the Wye Agreement. At Wye, we
were able to attain clear, concrete commitments from the PA that it
would dismantle terror organizations and their terrorist
infrastructures; gather illegal weapons; and reduce the size of the
Palestinian police force. I fear that if today, Arafat hears from
Barak that Israel has returned to the era of unilateral concessions
with no insistence on reciprocity, Israeli interests could be severely
damaged."
Naveh also criticized "Barak's statement on television over the
weekend that a Palestinian state is already in place, and what remains
is only its formal recognition." News Editor Ariel Kahane
interjected: "I understand that Barak was merely quoting Likud leader
Ariel Sharon's statement to that effect a year ago." Naveh: "Yes, he
did mention Mr. Sharon, but he said it in his own name as well. I
think that Mr. Barak committed a tactical error by saying this, since
Arafat is being led to believe that, from Barak's perspective, he has
basically been granted his state - without doing anything in return!"
3. MINISTER OF JERUSALEM AFFAIRS SPEAKS
"Palestinian sentiments regarding Jerusalem are identical to our own."
So says the Minister for Jerusalem Affairs in the Barak government,
Chaim Ramon. Speaking on Channel Two television last night, Ramon
predicted that the Palestinians would ultimately settle for de-facto
Israeli sovereignty over the city. In Ramon's view, if agreements are
reached on other main issues, "the Jerusalem issue will become less of
a problem."
**********************************************************************
To: arutz-7@a7.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Monday, July 12, 1999
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Monday, July 12, 1999 / Tammuz 28, 5759
------------------------------------------------
Delivered Daily via Email, Sunday thru Friday
--- See below for subscription instructions ---
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. KNESSET TO HOST ABU ALA
2. FIRST SIGNS OF A FREEZE
3. PONDERING THE GOLAN
1. KNESSET TO HOST ABU ALA
Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg has invited Abu Ala, the chairman of the
Palestinian Legislative Council, to visit in the Knesset. Abu Ala,
one of the architects of the Oslo agreements, has already accepted the
invitation.
Likud Knesset faction leader MK Ruby Rivlin said that the gesture
represents the recognition of a Palestinian state. About a year ago,
during a demonstration in Ramallah, Abu Ala trampled upon an Israeli
flag, on camera.
Likud Chairman Ariel Sharon said that though Prime Minister Barak
spoke yesterday about Israel's commitment to carrying out the Wye
Agreement, "we did not hear one word [at the press conference
following the meeting with Arafat] about the Palestinians fulfilling
their obligations!" Barak's diplomatic advisor Tzvi Shtauber, in a
possible attempt to compensate, said today that the new government
will insist that the Palestinians fulfill their own Wye commitments
simultaneously with the Israeli withdrawals. Sharon further said,
"Arafat talked about a 'peace of the courageous.' What this means,
really, is Israeli willingness to give in."
2. FIRST SIGNS OF A FREEZE
Minister of Industry and Trade Ran Cohen (Meretz) has instructed the
Investment Center not to approve any additional new factories in Judea
and Samaria "until the government determines its new order of
priorities." Cohen, speaking at a convention of industrialists today,
called upon his listeners not to invest a single agorah in factories
in Yesha, as "they don't supply work for the unemployed of the
development towns." Finance Minister Avraham Shochat said today that
such decisions are not in Minister Cohen's purview, but must be made
only by the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister. The Movement for
Quality in Government suggests that Cohen first learn his job before
starting to 'dry out' Yesha. The Yesha Council announced, "It's
ridiculous that the first step of the new 'government for all' is to
freeze investments in Yesha." Yesha leaders will raise this issue in
their meeting with Barak tonight.
The Yesha Council convened for several hours today to choose its
senior leadership. Benny Kashriel, Mayor of Ma'aleh Adumim, will
succeed Pinchas Wallerstein as Yesha Council Chairman. His deputy
will be Shomron Regional Head Bentzi Lieberman, and filling in during
Kashriel's absence will be Beit El Mayor Uri Ariel. The position of
Secretary-General will continue to be filled by Aharon Domb, after
attempts to convince Amanah settlement organization head Ze'ev
(Zambish) Chever to take the job proved fruitless.
3. PONDERING THE GOLAN
Representatives of various groups met on Friday to discuss ways to
deal with the increasing danger to Israeli sovereignty in the Golan
Heights. Col. (res.) Moshe Leshem, head of Gamla Shall Not Fall Again,
told Arutz-7 today, "I agree that our starting point today is worse
than it was under Rabin [who at least promised not to withdraw from
the Golan, which Barak did not do]." He also agreed that the press
would attempt to sway public opinion by "contrasting the beautiful
private homes in the Golan with scenes of bereaved mothers of soldiers
killed in Lebanon. However, we know that preserving our country is
always an uphill battle. We have not lost hope. We will begin with
some of the tried-and-trusted measures, such as large posters, and
stickers, and calls for trips to the Golan. We will place signs along
the eastern shore of the Kineret to remind swimmers that they may not
be able to do that much longer."
Golan Residents Committee Chairman Avi Ze'ira told IMRA recently that
his group is not going to blindly rely on old campaign themes. "We
are preparing an in-depth strategic study," he said, "[as] it is not
clear yet if the messages that worked well in the past will be
effective today.' Dr. Aaron Lerner of IMRA said that one new message
that could be tried is not that keeping the Golan will help prevent
war, "but that leaving the Golan will bring us closer to war,"
explaining that it will be very hard for the Syrians not to want to
attack Israel when the Galilee communities are such an inviting
target. "In addition, emphasizing the lack of reliability of the U.S.
as a guarantor could lead to great public objections to leaving the
Golan."
MK Moshe Arens, who served as Defense Minister up until last week,
said today, "Barak's idea of returning to the Grapes of Wrath
understandings <http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/mfa/go.asp?MFAH00qj0>
is
a very bad idea, as they allow Hizbullah to attack Israeli soldiers
and sometimes our northern communities. The quiet that has reigned
there for the last number of weeks can be directly attributable to our
attacks on civilian villages [from where Hizbullah attacked], and the
Syrians and Hizbullah understood that we would simply not tolerate
attacks upon our communities."
************************************************************************
To: arutz-7@a7.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Tuesday, July 13, 1999
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Tuesday, July 13, 1999 / Tammuz 29, 5759
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. BARAK WARNS OF TERRORISM
2. NEW YESHA COUNCIL CHAIRMAN CALLS FOR POPULATION DRIVE
3. BARAK KEEPS ALL CARDS CLOSE TO CHEST
4. FOREIGN MINISTER AND U.S. AMBASSADOR AGAINST ARAB GENEVA
CONFERENCE
1. BARAK WARNS OF TERRORISM
Prime Minister Barak's office has instructed the military and security
arms to be on the alert for possible terrorist activities. Barak
feels that the very fact that the political process has resumed may
incite Hamas or Hizbullah to commit acts of terrorism. The Prime
Minister discussed these fears with Egypt's President Mubarak and
Yasser Arafat this week, and warned them that terrorism could put the
brakes on the peace talks.
Light-weapons fire was shot towards an IDF jeep not far from Jenin
last night. No one was hurt, although bullet holes were found in the
jeep. The tracks of the attackers led to an area transferred to
Palestinian Authority control in the framework of the Wye Agreement.
2. NEW YESHA COUNCIL CHAIRMAN CALLS FOR POPULATION DRIVE
The new chairman of the Council of Jewish Communities in Judea and
Samaria, Benny Kashriel, said today that only "massive populating"
efforts in the Yesha communities will prevent their uprooting under
future diplomatic agreements. He called upon the communities to
disband their "absorption committees," and to accept anyone who wishes
to join. Kashriel denied his commonly-perceived image as a
"moderate," and said that he is in favor of "Greater Eretz Yisrael,
and the continued strengthening of the Yesha enterprise." He said, "I
will not accept the removal of even one house in Yesha. On the other
hand, we must recognize that the Oslo and Wye agreements exist, and we
must work within the limitations they place upon us."
3. BARAK KEEPS ALL CARDS CLOSE TO CHEST
Prime Minister Ehud Barak met with Golan and Yesha leaders last night.
The former warned him that a "severe split in the nation" would
result if Golan communities are uprooted. Barak did not go into
detail regarding his future plans for the area. In the meeting with
Yesha leaders, the two sides agreed not to surprise each other with
various sudden moves. Barak hinted again that he will likely have to
uproot some communities, and that he will implement the Wye Agreement.
Arutz-7 correspondent Haggai Huberman reports that, contrary to the
impression conveyed by both the Israeli and international press, the
Barak-Arafat meeting on Sunday has not made a major improvement in the
relations between the two sides. "The atmosphere at the meeting was
slightly better than before," Huberman said, "but the Palestinians are
still very wary of Barak's plans. Barak told Arafat several times on
Sunday that he wants to implement the Wye withdrawals in combination
with the final status talks, but the Palestinians insist that full
implementation of Wye must precede any such talks... Barak forced
Arafat to agree to two months' more of recess before formal contacts
begin. Arafat was very unhappy with this, but had no real choice. The
Palestinians fear that Barak plans to repeat Netanyahu's technique of
'buying time,' which is an especially sensitive issue for the
Palestinians. They know that U.S. President Clinton, who has been the friendliest
President to Arafat ever, has only one year left in office."
All in all, the Palestinians have significantly lowered their
expectations, Huberman added. With all of the problems entailed in
final status talks, "they don't expect to reach more than an agreement
of principles by the time Barak leaves office, leaving the actual
implementation of such principles for many years down the line."
4. FOREIGN MINISTER AND U.S. AMBASSADOR AGAINST ARAB GENEVA CONFERENCE
Foreign Minister David Levy discussed the upcoming Geneva Conference -
termed an "anti-Israel conference" by the Foreign Ministry spokesman -
with U.S. Ambassador Ned Walker yesterday. Levy expressed opposition
to the attempt "to resolve this dispute from international platforms."
Walker pledged that the U.S. would boycott the conference, and said
that his country is working to have the meeting cancelled. Prior to
his meeting with Walker, Levy had unsuccessfully pleaded with the
Palestinians to call off the gathering, which plans to deliberate on
what an Arab news service called "Israeli violations in the
Palestinian areas, especially the attempts to Judaize Jerusalem." The
Jerusalem Post reported today that a compromise may be worked out,
according to which the conference will open and then immediately
adjourn, to be reconvened in January 2000. Though 14 of 15 European
Union member states are in favor an indefinite postponement, France
has backed the Arab position that a date be set for reconvening the
meeting. Levy will meet with Egyptian Ambassador Bassiouny today at
the Foreign Ministry.
************************************************************************
To: arutz-7@a7.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Wednesday, July 14, 1999
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Wednesday, July 14, 1999 / Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av, 5759
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. CLINTON AWAITS BARAK AS BOY AWAITS TOY
2. PALESTINIAN "GESTURES" ARE ACTUALLY "OBLIGATIONS"
1. CLINTON AWAITS BARAK AS BOY AWAITS TOY
Prime Minister Ehud Barak is on his way to Washington, after meeting
with Turkish President Demirel in Jerusalem this morning. Barak, who
met last night with Jordan's King Abdullah, told the Washington Post
yesterday that the anticipations raised by his election had best be
lowered, and said that the negotiations with the Palestinians will be
"tough." As if to place Barak's suspicions in bold relief, a senior
State Department official said that the U.S. has "high hopes" from
Barak. U.S. President Clinton, with whom Barak will meet four times
during the week-long visit, is looking forward to Barak's trip, saying
today, "I'm as excited as a little boy with a new toy."
Itim correspondent Yoram Levy said today that the Americans are making
extensive efforts to ensure the success of the visit, including a
large dinner at the White House for Mr. and Mrs. Barak and an
overnight stay with the Clintons in Camp David. "Hanging in the
background is $1.2 billion that was promised to Israel if the Wye
Agreement is carried out," noted Levy. He observed that the Prime
Minister's office is happy with the pleasant relations forged at the
recent meetings with Arab leaders Mubarak, Arafat, and King Abdullah,
"although this is no more than should be expected for a new Prime
Minister in his first talks with regional leaders."
2. PALESTINIAN "GESTURES" ARE ACTUALLY "OBLIGATIONS"
The Arab nations' conference in Geneva, scheduled for the express
purpose of condemning Israel's settlement and other policies, will not
be held. Following strong Israeli and American protests, European
backing was secured for a compromise solution, according to which the
conference will convene only to vote on its indefinite postponement.
Foreign Minister David Levy has expressed Israel's anger at France for
being the only country not to back the proposal. A Palestinian
Authority source presented the cancellation as a "goodwill gesture by
the Palestinians" - despite the fact that the Oslo Agreements demand
that outstanding issues between Israel and the Palestinians be
resolved exclusively by the two sides in direct negotiations.
Dr. Aaron Lerner of IMRA further notes that, contrary to public
perception, the resumption of final-status talks before the full
implementation of the Wye Agreement is not an issue for negotiation,
but is rather mandated in the Wye Agreement itself. Lerner writes in
today's Jerusalem Post, "Yasser Arafat won't be doing Israel a favor
if he agrees to resume the final-status talks before the [next]
Israeli withdrawal. He's required to. Article IV of The Wye River
Memorandum states, 'The two sides will immediately resume permanent
status negotiations on an accelerated basis...
The negotiations will be continuous and without interruption."
************************************************************************