To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@israelnationalnews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Thursday, February 22, 2001

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Thursday, Feb. 22, 2001 / Sh'vat 29, 5761
------------------------------------------------

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. WANTED: LABOR PARTY DEFENSE MINISTER
2. HENDEL TO BE DEPUTY DEFENSE MINISTER?
3. MOSLEMS TO JEWS: DON'T TOUCH THE WALL!
4. MUBARAK JUSTIFIES PALESTINIAN KILLING
5. MORE RAIN NEEDED

1. WANTED: LABOR PARTY DEFENSE MINISTER
An anti-unity government group of Labor government Ministers and MKs met
this morning at the office of Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami. They
sharply attacked the party's apparent decision in favor of joining the
government. Ben-Ami said, "The claim that they are joining in order to
'supervise over Sharon and make sure he does not make mistakes' is the old
and nauseating Mapai-style arrogance. [Mapai is the forerunner of the
present-day Labor party.] The nation sent us to the opposition and
apparently thinks that Sharon is a responsible man, so why do some Labor
members feel that they know better?"

Among those attending the meeting in Ben-Ami's office were Ministers Yossi
Beilin and Yuli Tamir, as well as MKs Avi Yechezkel, Yael Dayan, Ophir
Pines, Collette Avital, and Labor member Yuval Frankel. Beilin said that if
Labor joins the unity government, the party would fall apart. He has said
in the past that he would quit the party if it joins a national-unity
government.

The number of Labor party candidates for Defense Minister has now risen to
five: former Defense Minister Shimon Peres, former IDF General Binyamin
Ben-Eliezer, Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh, former IDF Deputy Chief
of Staff Matan Vilnai, and Interior Minister Chaim Ramon. Although some
Laborites are in favor of trading the Defense Ministry post for Finance, it
appears that the majority is against. If Peres is appointed Defense
Minister, Avraham Burg - who is running for party leader - will make a bid
to become Foreign Minister.

Labor withdrew its objections last night to the appointment of MKs Rehavam
Ze'evi and Avigdor Lieberman - both of National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu - as
ministers in Ariel Sharon's government. The decision - Likud MK Ruby
Rivlin called it a "cave-in" - came a day after Sharon announced that they
would in fact be appointed. Rivlin surprised Arutz-7's Haggai Segal today
by saying that although he was interested in becoming Justice Minister, he
may end up benefiting from the dispute over the Interior Ministry between
Yisrael B'Aliyah and Shas, and serve there instead.

2. HENDEL TO BE DEPUTY DEFENSE MINISTER?
MK Tzvi Hendel, also of National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu, is being mentioned
for the post of Deputy Defense Minister. He told Arutz-7 today, "I was
surprised, but the head of the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council - someone
whose ideas are not generally right-wing, but who knows me from the area
[Hendel lives in Gush Katif, not far from Sha'ar HaNegev] said to me,
'Look, if it was up to me, I wouldn't want you guys in the government - but
if you're already going to be there, you should try to be appointed Deputy
Defense Minister." Others have seconded the idea, and Hendel said, "In the
end, of course, Sharon will decide - I don't think that anyone has any
particular objections, but it's a question of arithmetic, because each
party of the coalition needs to get a certain amount of posts... It could
very well work out, however." He said that the new government's military
responses in its very first days will be very critical, and will determine
how we will live with the Palestinians for the next coming months or years.

Regarding the possible appointment of Peres as Defense Minister, Hendel
said, "Because of our bad experience with other parties attempting to
disqualify us from the government, we don't want to do the same to
others. My stance is that they'll be judged for their actions. But my
opinions on Peres and Beilin are known: they are the ones who brought Oslo
and the Oslo War upon us, and I would be happy if they would leave public
life - but in the end we're not the ones to decide."

3. MOSLEMS TO JEWS: DON'T TOUCH THE WALL!
Palestinian Authority Mufti Sheikh Ekrima Sabri has issued a religious
ruling forbidding Jews from touching the Western Wall. The edict followed
the discovery of Israeli intentions to repair some stones in the Wall had
become loose. The Moslems claim that the Wall is part of the Temple Mount,
which they claim belongs to them. Mai Soleb, English spokesperson for
Sheikh Sabri, told Dr. Aaron Lerner of IMRA yesterday, "The [Western] Wall
is part of the Al Burak Wall which is part of the Al Aqsa mosque so the
Jews have no right to the place... The whole problem is that the place
does not relate to them so whatever they do with it - putting in papers,
practicing their prayers, all these things are not things that we want..."

Lerner then said, "So as far as Islam is concerned, the Jews should not be
putting notes in the Wall, they should not be touching the Wall, they
should not be doing anything with that wall." Soleb responded,
"Exactly. And we believe that this is our religious property and we will
take it back from them one day."

Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau reacted with disdain to what he called the
Moslems' "disgraceful effort to rewrite history." He told Ha'aretz, "In
this generation there are still those who were saved from fire with numbers
from Auschwitz on their arms, and yet despite everything there are
Holocaust deniers - so too there is no surprise there are those who are
ready to distort a 2,000-year-old historical truth."

4. MUBARAK JUSTIFIES PALESTINIAN KILLING
The cold peace with Egypt is getting colder. Government sources in
Jerusalem are fuming at Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak for justifying
Palestinian terrorism. At a press conference in Italy this week, Mubarak
said he understands the motivation of Palestinians to kill
Israelis. Jerusalem sources say they expect Egypt to help bring peace
between the sides, and not justify Palestinian violence.

5. MORE RAIN NEEDED
The level of the Kinneret is now 213.28 meters below sea level, or 28
centimeters below the government-mandated red line. It is a meter lower
than it was last year at this time. Uri Saguy, chairman of Israel's
Mekorot Water Company, said that despite the rains of the last few days, if
the winter continues at its present dry rate, the water crisis would reach
"unprecedented proportions." Another Mekorot official said today that even
if the Kinneret fills up, "Israel is a land of milk and honey - not of
water, and we must act that way." He said that desalination is an
acceptable plan of action, but that barely any progress has been made in
that direction. Rain is expected today and tomorrow.

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To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com,arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor<neteditor@israelnationalnews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News Brief: Friday, February 23, 2001

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Friday, Feb. 23, 2001 / Rosh Chodesh Adar 5761
------------------------------------------------

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. UNITY GOV'T EXPECTED EARLY NEXT WEEK
2. SHARP ZOA RESPONSE TO BUSH PRESSURE

1. UNITY GOV'T EXPECTED EARLY NEXT WEEK
National Unity Government negotiations between Likud and Labor hit a
snag last night over the issue of the assignment of ministerial
portfolios - with Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon unprepared to hand
over the Finance Ministry to Labor. Negotiators meet again today in
an effort to conclude the talks. This coming Monday, Labor's central
committee will convene to vote on whether or not to join a Sharon-led
government, as well as to approve the list of proposed Labor ministers
in such a government. Meanwhile, Y-Net reports that the battle over
the party leadership between former allies Chaim Ramon and Avraham
Burg has intensified. Outgoing Communications Minister Binyamin
Ben-Eliezer is the third self-declared candidate for the top Labor
job.

After a short and dismal 18-month stint on the Israeli political
scene, the Centrist party has decided to disband. So reports today's
edition of Ha'aretz. MKs Dan Meridor and Roni Milo are presently
"leaning right" and may return to the Likud, where they each started
their political careers. MK Uri Savir, a behind- the-scenes architect
of the Oslo process, and Dalia Rabin-Philosoph, the daughter of the
late Yitzchak Rabin, appear headed for Labor. Former IDF Chief of
Staff Amnon Lipkin-Shachak - who, in 1999, had his sights set on the
Prime Minister, but who had to settle for a minor portfolio in the
Barak government - said recently that he would likely retire from
political life.

2. SHARP ZOA RESPONSE TO BUSH PRESSURE
A report in the Washington Post yesterday prompted Zionist
Organization of America (ZOA) President Morton Klein to dispatch an
urgent telegram to US President George W. Bush. According to the
Post, the Bush administration is pressing Israel "to turn over an
estimated $54-million in tax money owed to the Palestinian Authority
and urgently needed to pay the salaries of its security forces and
civil servants." The Post added that both Secretary of State Colin
Powell and the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Martin Indyk, have also been
exerting pressure on Israel to release the funds.

In his communique to Bush, Klein writes: "Arafat's Preventive Security
Forces have been engaged in constant shooting attacks and other
violence against Israel. How can Israel be asked to provide funds for
the salaries of those who are murdering its citizens?" Klein proposed
that if need be, the tax money be held in escrow pending the outcome
of lawsuits against the Palestinian Authority by victims of
PLO-sponsored terrorism. Four such suits are currently pending in
Israel and the U.S., Klein observed, adding that ''if any of them end
in judgment in favor of the victims, the Israeli-held tax money should
be attached to satisfy such judgments, just as U.S law was recently
amended to allow American citizens victimized by terrorism sponsored
by Iran and Cuba to attach Iranian and Cuban assets held by the U.S.
government."

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

To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com,arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor<neteditor@israelnationalnews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News:Sunday, February 25, 2001

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Sunday, Feb. 25, 2001 / Adar 2, 5761
------------------------------------------------

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. POWELL AND SHARON MEET
2. SHOVAL SUMS UP POWELL VISIT
3. PERES TO LEAD LABOR PARTY
4. SHARON MEETS WITH CHIEF RABBIS

1. POWELL AND SHARON MEET
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell met last night with outgoing
Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and had breakfast this morning with Prime
Minister-elect Ariel Sharon. Following a short meeting with President
Moshe Katzav, Powell is now on his way to meet with Yasser Arafat;
Arafat is in Ramallah for the first time since he began the current
mini-war.

Sharon and Powell appear to be in agreement that the Oslo process is
no longer the central issue in the Middle East, and has been replaced
in large measure by Iraq and its dangerous weapons-buildup. Powell
said, however, that Israel's main concern should be the Palestinian
front, and not Iraq. Sharon made clear that Arafat must be made to
understand that he must stop the violence, and that Israel would not
conduct talks before that; Powell agreed. "Peace is supposed to bring
security," Sharon said. "It must be quite clear that Israel has the
ability to maintain its security."

Also participating in the Barak-Powell meeting last night was IDF
Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Sha'ul Mofaz. Powell was concerned by Mofaz's
forecast that the Palestinian violence will only get worse. Mofaz
said that Palestinians are sure to increase their attacks on IDF
forces, as well as on Yesha communities and roads. Terrorism by
Hizbullah and others is also expected to be stepped up, Mofaz told
Powell.

Powell was also informed by "senior diplomatic sources" in Jerusalem
that if the Hizbullah attacks on the northern border continue, Israel
will have no choice but to react forcefully against Syrian and
Lebanese targets. He concluded his Israeli visits today in the Yad
Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum in Jerusalem.

Sharon said today that if Arafat makes a clear call for the cessation
of all Palestinian violence, and renews security cooperation with
Israel, he - Sharon - would agree to allow goods into Gaza. Regarding
the transfer of monies from Israel to the PA, Sharon said this would
occur only after the violence has totally ended. A Palestinian source
confirmed today that Muhammad Rashid, Arafat's economic advisor, had
met recently with aides of Sharon, on a series of economic and
closure-related issues.

2. SHOVAL SUMS UP POWELL VISIT
Zalman Shoval, Sharon's diplomatic advisor, told Arutz-7 today that
Powell's visit was "successful - and this was manifest in his remarks
both in public and private. He understands that before any talks can
resume, there must be a total cessation of violence. The new
Administration reflects a better understanding of Israel's needs than
the previous, and Powell will tell Arafat that the ball is in his
court. We will not suffice with nice statements in front of foreign
leaders or press - statements which have nothing behind them. We
demand clear instructions from Arafat to stop the violence, and a stop
to incitement that has increased over the past months. We are talking
about a package of concrete steps, without which we cannot make
progress neither economically nor diplomatically." When asked what
will happen if Arafat does not accede to these demands, Shoval said,
"Well, the Palestinian people will suffer, as they have for many
years, and the responsibility will be upon him. And if he expects
American support for his goals, he will not get it..."

3. PERES TO LEAD LABOR PARTY
Prospects for a national-unity government are looking up once again,
after the Labor party practically decided today to appoint Shimon
Peres its temporary chairman. The future of such a government
appeared to be in doubt last night, following the surprise reversal by
Labor Party Secretary-General Ra'anan Cohen, who said that the
internal fighting within Labor does not allow for its entry into such
a government. Ministers Yossi Beilin and Shlomo Ben-Ami continue to
oppose joining a unity government, while Peres is strongly in favor.
Minister Chaim Ramon, a central figure in the internal Labor party
disputes of the past three weeks, now says he no longer opposes
joining a unity government, but that he will not take part in it.
Labor now demands that MK Benny Elon (National Union) not be named
Chairman of the Knesset Law Committee. The Labor Central Committee
will convene tomorrow to vote on the questions of joining the
government and naming Peres the party head.

The initiative to name Peres was an initiative of Labor MK Effie
Oshaya, who feels that the vacuum of leadership created by Barak's
resignation is destructive to the party and must be filled. Oshaya's
idea was based on the confidence that likely candidates for the party
leadership such as Avraham Burg, Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, and Chaim Ramon
would agree to this arrangement - on condition that Peres guarantee
that he would not use his short stint as a springboard from which to
launch a run for permanent party chairman. Meanwhile, tensions
between Burg and Ramon have surfaced; the two are good friends who
said in the past that they would never run against each other. Now,
however, the promise appears to have been forgotten, and harsh words
have been exchanged between their two camps.

4. SHARON MEETS WITH CHIEF RABBIS
Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon paid a visit to the offices of
Israel's Chief Rabbis today, Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau and Rabbi Eliyahu
Bakshi-Doron. Rabbi Lau said that they discussed three points:
"First, the strengthening of united and Israeli Jerusalem's status, as
well as those of the Temple Mount and the holy sites - especially in
light of the Moslem mufti's unfounded claims that the Western Wall is
not Jewish... Secondly, the issue of unity within our society...
Third, a stronger emphasis on the education to Jewish values - I'm not
talking about observance and 'repentance,' but rather more
knowledge..."

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

To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com,arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor<neteditor@israelnationalnews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News Brief:Monday, February 26, 2001

Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Monday, Feb. 26, 2001 / Adar 3, 5761
------------------------------------------------

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. STORMY LABOR PARTY MEETING
2. MUSICAL MINISTERIAL CHAIRS
3. NSC CHAIRMAN GEN. UZI DAYAN: IT'S TIME TO FIGHT THE P.A.

1. STORMY LABOR PARTY MEETING
The Labor Party Central Committee convened in the Cinerama building in
Tel Aviv this afternoon for a stormy session on whether or not to join
the Likud-led national-unity government. Outside the building, Labor
party ushers used force to prevent young party members from protesting
against the intention to join the unity government; police were called
in to intervene. The young Laborites were infuriated at the party
leadership for not letting them into the hall: "We sacrificed
ourselves in the intersections during the election campaign, but now
they're not letting us in. This is how they disgrace us!"

The latest positions in the Labor party, as expressed today:

Shimon Peres, addressing the Committee this afternoon, said that the
nation is facing very difficult threats from Iraq and elsewhere, and
"This is also our country - shouldn't we have a say in these matters?
. We must not be an elitist party! Listen to the voice of the public
- including within our own party - which wants a unity government!"
He quoted passages from the unity-government guidelines showing that
the Likud was in favor of territorial compromise and "equal rights for
minorities."

Avraham Burg said that he is now against a unity government, if the
National Religious Party and the National Union are members. His
father, the late Dr. Yosef Burg, headed the NRP for many years. MK
Burg told the Committee today, "In a normal situation, the party that
loses must go home, re-organize, and prepare to offer an alternative
the next time. But in this case, the public is facing a terrible
problem, and for this reason - not for any other - would we consider
joining a unity government. I am in favor of Labor going towards the
center of the political map, but not in this type of right-wing unity
government..."

Chaim Ramon, who was booed inside the hall, said he is no longer
against a unity government, but he himself will not serve as a
minister. In a fiery speech, he said, "We have long ceased to listen
to the public - both in the diplomatic arena, and in the
economic-social sphere. Do you think that the public was ready to
uproot tens of thousands of settlers from their homes? It was not,
but we didn't listen..."

Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami spoke against joining the unity government,
and said that if Labor joined the government, the party would fall
apart. Peres dismissed this warning: "Don't threaten us - it won't
fall apart."

Minister Yossi Beilin, a staunch objector to a unity government,
addressed most of his remarks to his mentor Shimon Peres, and said,
"Don't do this to yourself, to us, or to Yitzchak Rabin."

Former Minister Moshe Shachal told the Committee, "Did anyone ask if I
agreed to divide Jerusalem? Did anyone ask if I agreed to give away
the Jordan Valley? Did anyone ask if I was willing for the party to
take positions way to the left of Meretz, without consulting the party
membership?"

The vote will take place later tonight.

*** As we go to press: The Central Committee decided to take into its
own hands the matter of who will serve as Labor party ministers in a
future unity government. This means that neither Shimon Peres nor any
group of ministers will be able to present Ariel Sharon with an
organized list of ministers for his government; instead, each minister
will be voted on separately, and whoever has more power and support
within the Committee for his desired post will win it.

2. MUSICAL MINISTERIAL CHAIRS
On the assumption that a national unity government will in fact arise
- an assumption that had seemed fairly safe until today - the future
member-parties are anxiously awaiting the beginning of the talks that
will determine what ministerial portfolios they will receive. The NRP
continues to demand Education and Communications - despite the fact
that Ariel Sharon promised that the former would remain with the
Likud, and the fact that the latter has apparently been promised to
Labor.

The National Union party continues to insist, against the demands of
the Labor party, that MK Benny Elon be named Chairman of the Knesset
Law Committee. The National Union is gathering the support of other
future coalition parties in this demand.

3. NSC CHAIRMAN GEN. UZI DAYAN: IT'S TIME TO FIGHT THE P.A.
"It is not practical to reach a full agreement with the Palestinians
at this time, even if the violence stops." So said National Security
Council Chairman Maj.-Gen. Uzi Dayan, in an appearance before the
Industrial Guild in Tel Aviv this past Friday. "We must respond to
their call for war, while leaving an opening for a staged agreement."
He said that the Palestinians must be made to understand that "they
cannot fight in the present while talking about the future. We must
set clear goals in our war against the Palestinians."

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