---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 09 Jul 2000 18:20:13 +0300
From: Arutz-7 Editor <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Sunday, July 9, 2000
Arutz Sheva News Service
<www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Sunday, July 9, 2000 / Tammuz 6, 5760
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. GOV'T CRUMBLES AS BARAK HEADS FOR SUMMIT
2. PARTING WORDS
3. BARAK HAS ALREADY GIVEN IN
4. PROTESTING THE SUMMIT
5. DON'T FORGET THE MIAs
6. INCREASE IN GAZA TERRORISM
1. GOV'T CRUMBLES AS BARAK HEADS FOR SUMMIT
Prime Minister Ehud Barak is determined to depart tomorrow for
the Camp David summit, even though he now represents a government
that has the overt support of only 32 Knesset Members and the
tacit support of all the Arab minority. Shas today became the
fourth party to decide to resign from the Barak government in
less than three weeks; the coalition, which has been reduced by
more than half over this period, now comprises only One Israel
and the Centrist party. Meretz resigned almost three weeks ago,
Yisrael B'Aliyah quit today, the NRP will resign tomorrow, and
Shas ministers will submit their resignations tonight or
tomorrow. The departure of Shas is expected to pave the way back
for Meretz, but this will still give the government only 42
Knesset seats.
Prime Minister Barak apparently foresaw the above developments.
After meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair in London
last week, Barak said that he would continue on his chosen
diplomatic path with the Palestinians "even if I have the support
of... only a quarter of the Knesset." He may not have foreseen,
however, that Foreign Minister David Levy would announce
dramatically that he will not take part in the summit. Political
commentators see today's refusal of the Foreign Minister to take
part in Barak's long-coveted summit with the Palestinians as a
major slap in the face to the Prime Minister.
Barak responded to the resignation of Shas by expressing sorrow
over what he called the "narrow political considerations" of
political leaders who are "for the first time showing the world
that on the eve of crucial negotiations, Israel is not united on
the issue of peace." He said that he would continue to struggle
for Israel's security interests, and would leave no stone
unturned in the quest for peace. Shas Minister Eli Yeshai,
announcing his party's decision to resign today, said that the
resignation would strengthen Barak during the summit, in that it
would show Clinton that the Israeli public does not support an
agreement that is detrimental for Israel.
Withdrawal of support in Barak began today with the submission of
Yisrael B'Aliyah leader and Interior Minister Natan Sharansky's
resignation, continued with the promise of a vote this afternoon
by the NRP's Central Committee to quit the coalition, and
climaxed dramatically with the decision by Shas ministers to
tender their resignations. Shas political leader Minister Eli
Yeshai met with the Prime Minister this morning and demanded that
Barak present his "red lines" before departing for the summit.
Barak refused to do so, explaining that this would be interpreted
by the Palestinians as merely "opening positions," but Yeshai
said afterwards that he was "not convinced;" most Shas ministers
recommended leaving the government.
2. PARTING WORDS
Natan Sharansky's letter of resignation to the Prime Minister
included the following:
"I joined the government that you headed with mixed
feelings of hope and fear... I hoped that the world-view that
you laid out on the eve of the government's formation, as well as
your military understanding, would lead the State of Israel to
peace with borders and conditions that would guarantee its
physical and national existence. I feared [though] that... for
unforeseen reasons the hopes would not be met. I am sorry that,
at the end of a year of your leading the government, it is clear
that my fears have prevailed and my hopes for the most part have
proven false... Mr. Prime Minister, contrary to your promises,
you do not act as the Prime Minister of everyone. Your
leadership sharpens that which divides the people, and deepens
that which tears us apart. Under your leadership, agreements
were signed with the Palestinians that... conflict with the
understandings upon which your coalition was based, that a large
portion of your coalition partners reject, and that do not enjoy
the broad support of the public."
Sharansky continued,
"You [Mr. Barak] will come to the summit conference in
the USA, at a decisive moment in the life of the Jewish People
and its state, weakened, without red lines, without the support
of the government, and without the support of most of the nation.
Under such conditions, the agreement that you can reach is
dangerous from a diplomatic standpoint and has the potential to
divide the nation - a division from which, God forbid, there will
be no return.
"All of this could have been different if you had agreed
to establish a national unity government based on a consensus of
red lines, with which you would have come to the summit
conference as a strong leader supported by his government and
people. Peace can only be made when most of the government, the
Knesset, and the public support it. This was the case with the
peace agreement with Egypt that was signed in Camp David over
twenty years ago, this was the case with the peace agreement with
Jordan, and this is the only way to make a durable peace with the
Palestinians. Any other path is an illusion that may bring us to
the brink of destruction.
"I turned to you a number of times in writing and
verbally, warning you about the path you are following, and I
called on you to establish a national unity government. I am
sorry that you did not heed my warnings and did not answer my
call and you continued on your path.
This is too dangerous a path, and I cannot be a partner to it,
and I therefore resign from the government."
Sharansky, immediately following his resignation, set up a
protest tent outside the Prime Minister's Office, where he will
work for the establishment of a National Unity government. He
told Arutz-7 today that such a government is now his main goal,
and praised Foreign Minister David Levy for his stance.
Deputy Minister Sha'ul Yahalom of the NRP, speaking with Arutz-7
early this afternoon, expressed enthusiasm for the decision to
resign that his party was about to make. He was asked if he
plans to vote against the Prime Minister in tomorrow's
no-confidence motion, "even if this further weakens Barak's
prestige on the eve of this important summit?" "This is exactly
what I hope will happen!" Yahalom said. "Hopefully, tomorrow's
vote will topple the government!"
3. BARAK HAS ALREADY GIVEN IN
Voice of Israel Radio reported late this afternoon that
diplomatic sources in Jerusalem say that Barak and the
Palestinians are already close to a final agreement, and that it
involves "far-reaching Israeli concessions." Details on the
concessions were not provided.
Despite the resignations and threats to resign looming in the
background, Prime Minister Barak headed today's weekly Cabinet
meeting by reviewing the preparations for the Camp David summit
and detailing the main issues on the agenda. He reiterated his
confidence that if an agreement is achieved, it will be ratified
by an overwhelming popular majority. The Prime Minister
emphasized that the government is aware of the great
responsibility entailed in not achieving an agreement.
Despite the fact that the Knesset will vote on a number of
no-confidence motions against Barak tomorrow, and despite the
uncertainty over whether the government will fall as a result,
Barak at present has no plans to call off his trip to Washington.
Shinui (six seats) and United Torah Judaism (five) have not yet
decided how they will vote in tomorrow's votes.
Barak said that specifying "red lines" in exact detail is liable
to weaken Israel's negotiating position - but he did note these
lines in a general form: no return to the 1967 lines, a united
Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty, no foreign army west of the
Jordan River, a majority of the Jewish residents of Judea,
Samaria and Gaza to remain in settlement blocs, and no Israeli
recognition of legal or moral responsibility for creating the
refugee problem.
Commentator Nadav Ha'etzni told Arutz-7 today, "There is some
historic justice in the fact that David Levy and Shas appear to
be leaving Barak - because in his attempt to try to be the 'Prime
Minister of all,' he thought he could bring these two elements
into his coalition, at the expense of everything he believes
in... He then thought that with their support, he could finalize
agreements with the Palestinians - but this has fallen apart
specifically because these groups cannot agree to them... His
plan is apparently to ignore the coalition and Knesset, and go
straight to the nation. But if so, he will not succeed - at
least according to the latest polls, which show that almost 2/3
of the country are against even his opening positions."
Meanwhile, the Palestinians have hardened their positions.
Palestinian "Information Minister" Yasser Abed Rabbo said today
that they would refuse any "partial" or interim deal, and they
would not agree to suspend deliberations on the status of
Jerusalem or on the refugees. The Palestinians announced
yesterday that Palestine National Council member Hanan Ashrawi
would serve as spokesperson for their delegation in Washington,
and Prime Minister Barak then countered by sending Ministers
Rabbi Michael Melchior and Yuli Tamir to serve in a similar
capacity. Other senior officials will be leaving in the coming
days to join the information effort, in both New York and
Washington.
4. PROTESTING THE SUMMIT
Hundreds of women from the 40,000 Mothers group demonstrated this
morning with black umbrellas in the Rose Garden outside the
Knesset. The umbrellas symbolized Chamberlain's capitulation to
Germany before World War II, leading to the Holocaust and murder
of six million Jews. The Bnei Akiva youth movement has issued a
call to all its members to take part in all "activities on behalf
of settlement in Eretz Yisrael."
Kabbalist Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri took an aerial tour of the
Binyamin communities today, and landed by helicopter on Mt. Artis
in Beit El. He was accompanied by hundreds of dancing students,
town leaders, and local residents to the yeshiva, where Beit El's
Rabbi Zalman Melamed asked him for a blessing that all Yesha
residents should be able to remain in their homes. Rabbi Kaduri,
who similarly blessed the Golan residents several months ago,
responded with a heart-felt prayer for the peace and welfare of
the Yesha inhabitants.
At least two cases of violence against nationalist-camp
protestors have been registered since last night. Two Yesha
Council activists were assaulted early this morning while trying
to hang posters in a gas station near Beit Lid outside Netanya.
One of them suffered a broken jaw. In the Negev city of Arad,
residents of Susia were assaulted today while staging a protest
vigil.
Yesha Council activist Ariel Hazani, speaking with Arutz-7 from
the Hillel Yaffe Hospital in Hadera, recounted the first
incident. He said that at about 5:30 AM, "we were about to hang
up posters, when four men called out to one of us from a nearby
gas station. The men approached us, then began taking things out
of our car, and began punching us. One of our people was hit in
the face, the other was punched in the jaw... It lasted a total
of five minutes, and at one point a group of about ten Arabs who
were working nearby joined the scuffle and started beating us
too. I was finally able get to my phone and call the police, and
the attackers fled." Labor party sources said that the attackers
could not have been organized by their party, since their first
meeting to discuss their upcoming public campaign in support of
Barak was held only last night.
IMRA noted today that during the course of the 1999 election
campaign, some of the organizations supporting Ehud Barak used
illegal campaign contributions to hire thugs who tore down
Netanyahu banners and assaulted people holding signs in support
of Netanyahu. IMRA further noted that men dressed as Department
of Public Works (DPW) workers were seen removing banners against
withdrawal on the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem highway this morning, while
leaving banners in support of the Barak government. A DPW
spokesperson told IMRA that DPW workers remove all banners.
During the course of the 1999 election campaign, teams hired to
support Ehud Barak to tear down Netanyahu banners wore DPW
uniforms.
5. DON'T FORGET THE MIAs
Yonah Baumel, whose son Zechariah and two other soldiers have
been missing since the Sultan Yaaqub battle in Lebanon 18 years
ago, demands that the fate of the missing soldiers be accorded at
least as much attention during the summit as the Palestinian
security prisoners. "Just like the Palestinians have made the
prisoners a cardinal issue," Baumel wrote to IDF Chief of Staff
Lt.-Gen. Sha'ul Mofaz, "so too must Israel make the missing
soldiers an issue during this critical hour." On Friday, Baumel
sharply attacked Prime Minister Barak for his neglect of the
matter.
6. A Palestinian terrorist cell shot at an Israeli guard post
near Kfar Darom from a moving car last night. No one was hurt.
IDF soldiers returned the fire, and an Arab woman was killed.
The army, after investigating the incident, apologized to the PA
for what it called its "mistaken shooting." There has been an
increase in attempted Palestinian terrorist attacks in the area.
Hebrew News Editor: Ariel Kahane
English News Editor: Hillel Fendel
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Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, YHVH, TZEVAOT
FROM THE DESK OF: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
*Mike Spitzer* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
~~~~~~~~ <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
The Best Way To Destroy Enemies Is To Change Them To Friends
Shalom, A Salaam Aleikum, and to all, A Good Day.
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