To: arutz-7@a7.org
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Thursday, August 26, 1999
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 08:04:56 PDT
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Thursday, August 26, 1999 / Elul 14, 5759
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. WYE WITHDRAWAL MAY BE SET FOR JANUARY
2. PALESTINIAN OFFICIALS DENY HOLOCAUST
1. WYE WITHDRAWAL MAY BE SET FOR JANUARY
It's not yet final, because the prisoner-release issue has not yet
been concluded, but it appears that the last Wye withdrawal will be
postponed for only a month and a half. The last withdrawal will
begin, according to reports emanating from the Israeli-Palestinian
talks, in mid-January - although Prime Minister Barak had wanted to
delay it until the final-status talks. A Prime Ministerial press
release issued last night after a meeting between the two sides
stated: "Israel made it clear to the Palestinian Authority that it
expects to receive satisfactory answers regarding the need to achieve
a full permanent settlement, as well as the final date for carrying
out the redeployment according to the Wye Agreement."
Late this morning, the Prime Minister's bureau announced that despite
earlier reports to the contrary, Israel would not oppose a signing
ceremony in Cairo "for the implementation of the Wye River Memorandum
and for the beginning of talks on the permanent settlement" in the
presence of U.S. Secretary of State Madeline Albright and Egyptian
President Hosni Mubarak. The bureau added, however, that it has not
yet received such an invitation from Egypt.
2. PALESTINIAN OFFICIALS DENY HOLOCAUST
The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) is urging Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright - who will meet today in Washington with PA
official Abu Mazen - to pressure him to publicly retract his claim
that the Nazis did not murder six million Jews. Abu Mazen, whose real
name is Mahmoud Abbas, is the author of a book, "The Other Side: The
Secret Relationship Between Nazism and the Zionist Movement," which
argues that the Nazis may have really killed less than one million
Jews and that "the Zionist movement was a partner in the slaughter of
the Jews."
Other senior Palestinians have also engaged in Holocaust denial in
recent years, notes ZOA President Mort Klein. On December 8, 1998,
Dr. Samir Sahda - General Secretary of the PA's Desk of National
Institutions - wrote in the official PA newspaper Al-Hayat Al-Jadida
that "Israel convinced the world of the lie of the massacre and racism
which they were exposed to in Germany, and [thus] gained world
sympathy." PA Communications Minister Imad al-Falouji and PA
General-Secretary Ahmed Abdul-Rahman were among the leaders of a
January 19, 1998 rally in Gaza in support of Roger Garaudy, who was on
trial in Paris at the time for his Holocaust-denial activities.
Abdu-Rahman said that films and books about the Holocaust "have told
what happened to the Jews in an unbelievable and exaggerated manner,
so why not give Garaudy the right to state his view of the issue?"
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To: arutz-7@a7.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Sunday, August 29, 1999
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Sunday, Aug. 29, 1999 / Elul 17, 5759
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINE:
WITHDRAWALS MAY BEGIN IN TWO WEEKS
The talks with the Palestinians continued this afternoon, following a
three-hour meeting last night. Prime Minister Ehud Barak told the
Cabinet today that there is still a chance that the Palestinians will
agree to delay the third stage of the second Wye withdrawal, in
exchange for Israeli concessions in other areas. The Palestinians,
however, reported today that Israel had dropped its "demand" to push
off the third stage. Israel's Gilad Sher and the Palestinians' Saeb
Erekat are attempting to conclude an agreement before the arrival of
U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright at the end of the week. If
so, a signing ceremony may take place in Cairo this Thursday.
Both sides say that it is up to the other to come forward with new
proposals. The main sticking points continue to be the release of
Palestinian terrorists, and the date of the final withdrawal. A
senior Israeli official said today that if the agreement is not
finalized by tomorrow, Israel will announce that it is carrying out
the Wye Agreement as it stands, without the concessions to which it
has already agreed.
The agreement being hammered out, according to press reports, includes
the following points: Israel will begin withdrawing from additional
areas of Yesha, and will release the first group of prisoners, ten
days after the signing. By October 1, the Palestinians will submit to
Israel their plan for collecting illegal weapons, as well as a list of
their para-military policemen. On that day, the "free passage" for
Palestinians from Gaza to Hevron will be opened, and work will begin
on the Palestinian seaport. A week later, the second group of
prisoners will be released, and Israel will complete the three stages
of the withdrawal by late January. Ehud Barak considers that one of
his main achievements in the present negotiations is the Palestinian
consent to begin six months of intensive, continuous talks for the
purpose of formulating a framework for the final-status agreement. If
these talks are completed by early 2000, Barak feels that it is
possible to reach a permanent arrangement with the Palestinians by the
end of the year.
**********************************************************************
To: arutz-7@a7.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Monday,August 30, 1999
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Monday, Aug. 30, 1999 / Elul 18, 5759
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. BARAK THREATENS TO IMPLEMENT WYE
2. BURGER KING BOYCOTT?
* * * SPECIAL INSERT:
Background on the talks with the Palestinians
1. BARAK THREATENS TO IMPLEMENT WYE
"Satisfactory answers have still not been received from the
Palestinians" regarding the outstanding issues between the Israelis
and Palestinians, according to the Prime Minister's Office. Barak has
"made it clear that if no understanding is achieved in the coming
hours, he will consider ordering the original Wye Agreement to be
implemented as written - [although] according to his knowledge, it
does not serve the sides' common interests particularly well." This
stance was reiterated to Egyptian envoy Osama El-Baz, who met with
Barak yesterday.
Israeli officials estimate that Arafat is attempting to stall until
the arrival of U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright this
Thursday, in the hope that she will rule in the Palestinians' favor on
the remaining unresolved issues: the release of prisoners, the date
of the third stage of the second Wye withdrawal, and a target date for
the formulation of final-status principles.
The Prime Minister's Office also stated that "there is no intention
whatsoever to release even one prisoner who belongs to Hamas or
Islamic Jihad." It was reported today, however, that the government
intends to free 350 imprisoned terrorists, including those who
murdered Palestinians and others who injured Jews. The Likud party
has gathered the necessary signatures for a special Knesset session
this Wednesday in light of the government's intention to release
prisoners with "blood on their hands."
See our Special Insert below for additional background on Barak's
stance in the current talks with the Palestinians.
2. BURGER KING BOYCOTT?
Jewish leaders in the U.S. and Israel are currently deliberating on
how best to respond to the closure by Burger King - in response to
Arab pressure - of its Ma'aleh Adumim branch. Though some groups are
considering boycotting the 45 other Israeli branches, others argue
that it is not appropriate to punish the Israeli franchisee, Rikamor,
which is itself a victim of the situation. In the U.S., Jewish
religious groups question the logic of boycotting a non-kosher
restaurant [several of the Burger King branches in Israel have full
rabbinical supervision].
Ironically, Burger King itself might have provided an alternative
approach for those wishing to express their disapproval of the
company's surrender to Arab pressure: In its August 26th press
release <http://www.burgerking.com/company/press_releases/08_26_99.htm>
explaining its decision to close the Ma'aleh Adumim branch, Burger
King gives its customers a brief summary of its holdings: "Burger
King Corporation is a part of Diageo [www.diageo.com],
the
international food and drinks company... In addition to Burger King,
other brands [of Diageo] include Pillsbury, Haagen Dazs, Johnnie
Walker and J&B Scotch whiskies, Smirnoff vodka, Gordon's gin, Baileys
cream liqueur, and Guinness stout."
Arutz-7 has also learned that Harp Lager and Kilkenny beer are brewed
by Diageo's Guiness subsidiary, and that Green Giant and Old El-Paso
brands are produced by the Pillsbury subsidiary. Other Diageo
holdings include: Guinness World Records, producer of the "Guinness
Book of Records," and a 34% stake in spirits maker Moet Hennessy.
Jewish leaders note that many of the above products have kosher
certification, and are produced internationally.
SPECIAL INSERT:
Background on the talks with the Palestinians
Arutz-7 correspondents conducted three conversations today - with
Likud MK Danny Naveh, National Union MK Benny Elon, and journalist
Haggai Huberman - that provide some additional perspective on the
current talks with the Palestinians. Huberman explained to Arutz-7's
Yosef Zalmanson the background of the talks and of Barak's threat to
carry out the Wye Agreement "as written:"
"Barak is sincerely interested in a final-status agreement, but the
Wye Agreement is not the best way to achieve this. If he gives up
much land now, the Palestinians will likely settle for that and not
come to a final-status agreement. He is therefore offering them all
sorts of goodies - such as more prisoners, free passage [from Gaza to
Hevron], the seaport -in exchange for final-status talks and a delayed
schedule of withdrawals.
If they don't agree, he is threatening them with a precise
implementation of the Wye Agreement - meaning that if they don't
fulfill all of their obligations, they may very well get nothing."
Huberman continued, "The Wye Agreement is built along a weekly
schedule. It was stopped somewhere around the fourth week - after the
first Israeli withdrawal, but before the 'establishment of [a]
weapons-collection program and collection stage,' the Palestinian
submission of the 'Policemen list,' and other Palestinian commitments.
If no agreement is reached in the current talks, the clock is
scheduled to begin ticking again on September 1 or thereabouts, and
will follow the same schedule. This means that before any further
Israeli withdrawals, Israel will have the chance to test whether the
Palestinians have fulfilled their commitments."
Zalmanson asked, "Previous Israeli governments failed to ensure the
Palestinian Authority's fulfillment of its obligations, yet were still
forced to yield to international and other pressure to carry out
withdrawals. How will Barak ensure that this situation will not
repeat itself?"
Huberman: "A main difference this time is that the Americans had an
interest in tripping up Netanyahu. They were shown clear evidence
that the Palestinians had not fulfilled their commitments - O.C.
Central Command Maj.-Gen. Moshe Ya'alon told me that he showed the
Americans incontrovertible evidence of such - yet they still announced
publicly that the Palestinians were in compliance with the agreement.
This time, they seem to have no interest in tripping up Barak, and he
hopes they will remain true to the facts."
Huberman also noted that the next scheduled Israeli withdrawal is from
5% of Yesha, which will come under Palestinian administrative control
(Area B). "This is serious, as the territory effectively becomes
Palestinian from many standpoints. But the IDF will still be able to
enter the area, which will not become [yet] a safe haven for
terrorists." The last stages of the Wye withdrawal will involve the
transfer of another 5% from Area C (full Israeli control) to Area B,
plus 7.1% from C to A (full Palestinian control) and 1% from C to B.
But these, too, may be able to be held up by Barak, as follows: If a
new agreement is contracted now, and the final-status talks become
stuck, he will not complete the withdrawal. Alternatively, if the Wye
Agreement is carried out 'as written,' and the Palestinians do not
comply with their obligations, he will also not withdraw. We must
remember: Barak is certainly not against withdrawing from parts of
Yesha to achieve his goal - that of reaching a final-status
agreement."
NAVEH: DOUBTS ABOUT BARAK
Arutz-7's Haggai Segal then spoke with MK Danny Naveh: "It's ironic,
isn't it, that a left-wing Prime Minister is trying to reduce the
damage of an agreement signed by a Likud government!"
Naveh [who served as Cabinet Secretary in that government]: "I wish
this were true. Instead, merely in order to save a few weeks on the
withdrawals, Barak is making great concessions - allowing the
Palestinians to build a seaport without the proper security
arrangements, releasing prisoners with blood on their hands, enabling
free passage from Gaza to Hevron without proper security arrangements,
etc."
Segal: "Barak is apparently very anxious to avoid the withdrawals
that your government promised at Wye."
Naveh: "These withdrawals, unfortunately, were promised by the
original Labor Rabin-Peres government in the Oslo agreement. If Barak
would be able to reduce the extent of the withdrawals, I would be the
first to congratulate him - but he is not doing so. Nor do we hear
anything about Israeli insistence on Palestinian compliance."
A-7: "Barak has said clearly that Wye will be carried out exactly the
way it's written, meaning that he will stand on Palestinian
compliance. and in fact he appears to be doing so, based on his
performance in these talks." Naveh: "The Netanyahu government made it
quite clear that it would insist on compliance - and we're not
referring only to lip service, but to really ensuring that the weapons
are collected and destroyed, etc. I have doubts whether Barak will do
this."
ELON: THE PALESTINIANS HAVE DONE AWAY WITH OSLO
Segal then asked MK Rabbi Benny Elon of the National Union, "There is
an old adage about the 'dogs barking at the departing train' - but
here the dogs aren't even barking! Why are you not protesting as
Barak is about to sign away parts of Eretz Yisrael?"
Elon: "I accept the criticism, but on the other hand, now - when Barak
is attempting to improve our situation - is not the time to protest.
We'll have a month before the withdrawals begin while Barak checks if
the Palestinians are fulfilling what they have promised - if they are
collecting the weapons and stopping the incitement, etc. During this
time, we'll have plenty of time to bark - but not necessarily at
whether they are keeping their commitments, as Danny Naveh said,
because that's not the issue. The more basic issue is that the
Palestinians claim that the Oslo process is over. They agree with
what we said last year, that on May 4, 1999 - the end of the five-year
deadline stipulated by Oslo - the Oslo Agreement was over and done
with. They feel no obligation to Oslo, and are going for a
permanent-status arrangement based on UN resolutions 242, 338, and
even 181 [that which recognizes the 1947 partition borders]. That is
what we'll have to bark about."
**********************************************************************
To: arutz-7@a7.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Tuesday, August 31, 1999
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Tuesday, August 31, 1999 / Elul 19, 5759
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. 250 TERRORISTS TO BE RELEASED
2. IN VIOLATION: PA HAS NAVAL COMMANDO UNIT
1. 250 TERRORISTS TO BE RELEASED
Israel will free 250 imprisoned terrorists, including those who have
killed other Palestinians. So agreed Israel's Gilad Sher and the
Palestinians' Saeb Erekat last night. The other outstanding issues
holding up the agreement have also reportedly been resolved, and the
signing of the agreement is likely to be this Thursday. Yasser Arafat
flew to Egypt late this morning, to discuss "last-minute obstacles" in
the talks with Israel with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Arafat
was accompanied by Abu Mazen and Nabil Shaath.
MK Rabbi Benny Elon (National Union) called upon the police to "hurry
and catch the murderers of Sharon Shteinmetz and Yechiel Finfiter, so
that they can be released in a few days in a festive ceremony after
the signing of the latest agreement." Acting Likud chairman Ariel
Sharon demands that the government suspend all talks with the
Palestinians until the PA catches the terrorists.
2. IN VIOLATION: PA HAS NAVAL COMMANDO UNIT
Yediot Acharonot reported today on yet another Palestinian Authority
violation of Oslo - one that could have serious implications for
Israel's security. "Under Israel's nose," reported Limor Shmuel, "the
Palestinians have established a naval offensive commando unit," two of
whose members were killed in a training exercise several weeks ago
while practicing the attachment of explosives to ships. The unit's
equipment was apparently smuggled into Gaza via the underground
tunnels from Egypt. The Oslo Accords permit the Palestinians to
operate a Coast Guard, but prohibit offensive activity such as the
formation of a commando unit.
MK Dr. Yuval Shteinitz (Likud) commented on Arutz-7 today about the
double murder and the reports of the Palestinian naval commando.
Shteinitz observed that the killings "show once again that terrorism
has returned to the political sphere both in threat and in practice...
Palestinian terror does not operate in a vacuum: its infrastructure
and development receives a blind eye, encouragement, and even active
support from the PA. Egypt is also involved; the army has recently
found another tunnel between the Sinai and Gaza for the smuggling of
ammunition to Palestinians - raising serious suspicions about Egypt's
real intentions... What Oslo essentially created was a light
Palestinian army adjacent to our main cities. The Palestinian
paramilitary land forces, and now the sea commando, could seriously
hinder the ability of IDF reserves to reach their positions in case of
war with another Arab state."
Shteinitz agreed with startling statements made yesterday by a leading
IDF Military Intelligence official to the members of the Knesset
Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. The officer said that Islamic
terror represents a "strategic threat" to Israel.. This contrasts with
expert opinions heard by the committee during previous sessions,
according to which terrorism could not threaten Israel's existence.
He said that Hamas is preparing to carry out major attacks on Israel,
and that Hizbullah has received enhanced arms shipments from Iran, via
Damascus. He emphasized the dangers to Israel from Iran and Iraq, as
well.
For the third time in two months, shots were fired last night towards
Kibbutz Migdal Oz in Gush Etzion. IDF forces returned the fire, but
the attackers were not caught.
***********************************************************************
To: arutz-7@a7.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Wednesday, September 1, 1999
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Wednesday, Sept. 1, 1999 / Elul 20, 5759
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. TOP-LEVEL REPORT: ARAFAT NOT FIGHTING TERRORISM
2. ARAFAT: I HELPED BARAK
1. TOP-LEVEL REPORT: ARAFAT NOT FIGHTING TERRORISM
One of the most basic principles of the Oslo and Wye Agreements - an
unyielding war by the Palestinian Authority against the terrorism
infrastructure - has not been fulfilled over the past months. Arutz-7
correspondent Haggai Huberman reports that a memorandum submitted to
top government officials states that Yasser Arafat has not issued
orders to firmly fight the terrorist organizations, nor to collect the
tens of thousands of illegal weapons circulating in Judea and Samaria.
The security elements report that following the major terrorist
attacks in 1996, Arafat responded resolutely, but that his weak
reaction of late has led to the sprouting of new terrorist groups
"under his nose." If a car-bomb hadn't detonated accidentally in
Hevron last month, wrote the security elements, the Hamas explosives
lab there would have gone unnoticed, and the major terrorist strike
planned by Hamas against Israelis may well have succeeded.
2. ARAFAT: I HELPED BARAK
An interesting indirect exchange between Yasser Arafat and Ehud Barak
this week: Arafat told American Congressmen visiting Gaza, "I hope
Barak remembers that I helped him win the elections, by pressuring
Azmi Bishara to withdraw from the campaign, which in turn led to the
withdrawal of [Yitzchak] Mordechai and Barak's victory." Barak's
reaction: "The Prime Minister's Office sees no need to respond to
every piece of nonsense spouted by various elements." So reported
Ma'ariv today.
**********************************************************************
To: arutz-7@a7.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Sunday, September 5, 1999
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.a7.org>
Sunday, September 5, 1999 / Elul 24, 5759
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. BOMBS IN TIBERIAS AND HAIFA GREET NEW AGREEMENT
2. GOV'T RATIFIES AGREEMENT; Y. LEVY AND SHARANSKY VOTE AGAINST
3. 200 PRISONERS TO BE RELEASED
4. PA TO CONTROL 40% OF YESHA
1. BOMBS IN TIBERIAS AND HAIFA GREET NEW AGREEMENT
Two attempted Arab terrorist attacks in Israel greeted the
newly-signed Sharm a-Sheikh agreement today. A car bomb on Alchadif
St. in Tiberias went off prematurely late this afternoon, killing the
two terrorists, and injuring four. One of the injured is in critical
condition, and the other three were lightly hurt. Shortly afterwards,
a bomb exploded in Haifa, killing one person - apparently the
terrorist who set it off. Security forces in Israel warned this
morning that terrorist attacks may be renewed in an attempt to derail
the diplomatic process.
2. GOV'T RATIFIES AGREEMENT; Y. LEVY AND SHARANSKY VOTE AGAINST
The government met for about eight hours today to discuss and approve
the Sharm a-Sheikh agreement signed last night between the Israelis
and the Palestinians. Only two ministers voted against: Natan
Sharansky (Yisrael B'Aliyah) and Rabbi Yitzchak Levy (National
Religious Party). The Knesset is scheduled to ratify the accord this
Wednesday.
Yasser Arafat plans to declare an independent Palestinian state in the
course of the year 2000, whether or not he reaches an agreement with
Israel on this point. He said that the Americans promised to support
this step. He made the remarks in Rome today, following the signing
last night of the agreement on the implementation of the Wye Accords.
Prime Minister Ehud Barak said at the signing ceremony last night,
"The nations of the Middle East are awaiting the rise of a new dawn,
that will bring with it a new era. I believe in a vision of peace and
security that will guarantee the needs of all the nations in the
region."
Reactions to the Sharm a-Sheikh agreement:
MK Rabbi Chaim Druckman (NRP): "This is a sad day. The Palestinians
are progressing steadily towards their goal of an independent state with
its capital in Jerusalem, as Arafat himself announced last night, and
we continue to retreat and give in. It seems that we've forgotten
that we are talking about our own homeland, and yet despite this, we
keep giving it away without getting anything in return. The absurdity
is simply outrageous: the Palestinians today expressed disappointment
with the agreement, while our government professes to be happy. This
is simply Chelm - to give up on land, while the other side isn't
keeping promises that it made long ago!"
"Catastrophic, terrible." - MK Moshe Katzav (Likud), adding that
this is the sixth time Arafat has promised a total of four Israeli Prime
Ministers the same things.
"This agreement shows that behind Barak's guise of a tough statesman,
is nothing more than a weak politician who cannot withstand pressure,"
said MK Uzi Landau (Likud) Asked if the Likud could really afford to
criticize Barak for signing an agreement based on the Netanyahu-signed
Wye accord, Landau said, "First of all, it's time that the Likud
admits that Wye was a bad thing. Secondly, no matter how bad Wye was,
this new agreement is even worse."
"Barak missed an opportunity to free Israel from the path of Oslo,
and did not remove the dangers inherent in the Wye Agreement about
which he himself warned." - The Yesha Council
"This is an important agreement. It's for things like this that we
are part of the government." - Minister Yossi Sarid (Meretz)
3. 200 PRISONERS TO BE RELEASED
A list of 200 terrorist-prisoners to be released as early as next week
has already begun to be prepared. For the first time, representatives
of the Palestinian Authority will be members of the committee that
will determine the prisoners to be freed. A second group, of 150
terrorists, will be released on October 8 - Palestinian "Prisoner
Day." Hamas and Islamic Jihad members will not be freed, nor will be
those who committed their crimes after the signing of the original
Oslo agreement in September 1993.
Dov Kalmanovitch, the first Jew injured in the intifada - he still
bears the scars of the burns over 75% of his body - has been active
against the freeing of Palestinian terrorists. With bitterness in his
voice, he told Arutz-7's Haggai Seri today, "The red lines have been
crossed, and I can promise you one thing: Not one Arab terrorist, not
even the most cruel murderer of Jews, will remain in Israeli prison
after the final status agreement. There is a minister in the
government who is working very strongly in order that this will
happen, the precedents have already been set, and the Palestinian
Authority will simply not give in until every prisoner is out."
4. PA TO CONTROL 40% OF YESHA
The first withdrawal of the Sharm agreement is scheduled for
Wednesday, Sept. 15. It will involve the transfer of 7% of Area C
(full Israeli control) to B (Palestinian administrative control).
According to the original Wye Agreement, only 5% was to be transferred
at this stage. Most of the area will be in the Binyamin-Ramallah
area, although final maps have not yet been drawn. The next stage
calls for the transfer of 3% from C to B, and 2% from B to A (full
Palestinian control). In the third stage, scheduled for Jan. 20,
2000, Israel is to transfer 1% of C to A, and 5.1% from B to A.
In total, another 8.1% of Israeli territory will come under total
Palestinian control, and another 2.9% will come under Palestinian
civil control. This will bring the total of Palestinian-controlled
Yesha to 40 % - 18% in A, and 22% in B. There then remains the third
Oslo withdrawal - the extent of which has not yet been determined -
and then the final-status agreement; the two may be merged.
In addition to the percentages, the location of the land to be
transferred to the PA represents another problem for Israel, noted
Arutz-7 correspondent Haggai Huberman: "Barak has totally eliminated
Netanyahu's idea of 'nature reserves' in the Judean desert - in which
the Palestinians would have civil jurisdiction, but no rights to build
- which in effect would have limited the true scope of the withdrawal
to merely 10% and not 13%. In the 'new Wye,' Arafat will be handed
the entire 13% (2% under Netanyahu, 11% under the new agreement) with
full building rights. What's worse, the land will be derived
completely from the Samarian mountain plateau. The additional 3%
represents no less than 150 square kilometers, a concession that will
necessarily have a serious impact on access by road to the Yesha
communities, especially on Route #60."
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