To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor <feedback@israelnationalnews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Thursday, July 5, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Thursday, July 5, 2001 / Tammuz 14, 5761
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. ONE OUTPOST REPLACED BY SOLDIERS
2. DEFENSIVE OFFENSIVE MEASURES
3. SHARON GOES CENTRIST, AND OTHER POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
4. ISRAELIS ARE SYMPATHETIC TO YESHA
5. P.A. PERPETUATES REFUGEES' STATUS
1. ONE OUTPOST REPLACED BY SOLDIERS
The civilian outpost outside the Shomron town of Einav was evacuated today,
and will be taken over by the army. The outpost was established two weeks
ago following the terrorist murder of leading Einav citizen Doron
Zisserman. Former Yesha Council head Pinchas Wallerstein, who represents
the Yesha Council in its outpost-related talks with government and military
officials, told Arutz-7 today where the Council stands on the
matter. "We're not conducting real negotiations," he said, "because after
all, the army can do what it wants. I had two meetings with Defense
Minister Ben-Eliezer and two with the head of the Central Command."
Wallerstein, head of the Binyamin Regional Council, said that it is not
even clear to him how many outposts are under discussion, and that the
Council therefore demands a clear list of both manned and non-manned
outposts. Wallerstein agreed that Prime Minister Sharon's position on the
matter was not entirely clear. It was reported yesterday in the name of
Labor Party sources - but not confirmed elsewhere - that Sharon had agreed
to their removal. "In any event," Wallerstein summed up, "our position is
simple: Outposts that arose for security purposes, such as the one near
Einav, and the army is willing to take them over, we have no objection to
their removal. But regarding those that arose for settlement purposes,
such as Tamar in Efrat, there is no way that we will agree to evacuate them."
2. DEFENSIVE OFFENSIVE MEASURES
The army continued taking measures to prevent another murder by Bedouin
Arabs in the Southern Hevron Hill area today. IDF bulldozers again knocked
down temporary Bedouin buildings between Yata and Susia, where Ya'ir
Har-Sinai was killed three days ago. The Arab villages in the vicinity are
under army closure. In a joint army-police operation last night in Area B
(Israeli security control), four Arabs from the Shomron village of Marda
were arrested in connection with placing bombs, as well as shooting and
firebomb attacks at Israeli cars.
Palestinian fire was directed this morning at the Yesha town of Psagot,
adjacent to Ramallah and north of Jerusalem. Psagot was the target of
non-stop shooting for several weeks a few months ago; after a period of
quiet, shooting has once again resumed with several incidents in the past
week... Over 50 hand grenades were thrown onto an IDF outpost on the
Israeli-Egyptian border near Rafiach during the night. A bomb was also
planted there this morning; it exploded with no casualties... Gaza Arabs
also fired a mortar shell into Netzarim last night, while in Judea, Arabs
fired at an army jeep. No one was hurt.
Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, meeting this afternoon with Kibbutz
Movement leaders in Tel Aviv, said that 20 suicide bombers are ready and
waiting to be dispatched by Palestinian terrorist organizations. He also
said that the Palestinians send children out to place bombs, and accused a
Hamas man of murdering a 12-year-old boy just so he could blame the
Israelis for the act.
3. SHARON GOES CENTRIST, AND OTHER POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
"Prime Minister Sharon was always known for his wonderful sense of
humor." So said this morning Labor Party Secretary-General Raanan Cohen,
referring to Sharon's offer last night for Labor to run together with Likud
on one ticket in the next Knesset elections. Both Labor and Likud members
were not happy with the idea. Likud Knesset faction head Ze'ev Boim and MK
Moshe Arens said today that the ideological gap between the two parties is
unbridgeable. National Religious Party head Rabbi Yitzchak Levy said,
"Sharon had better choose very quickly whether he is headed left or right."
The Labor Party's Central Committee convened today for a political debate,
and for the presentation of the two candidates for party head and Prime
Minister: Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer and Knesset Speaker Avraham
Burg. The aforementioned MK Cohen would not commit himself as to whether
the word "Oslo" would appear on the next Labor Party platform, but said
that the word "peace" certainly would appear.
MK Prof. Moshe Arens (Likud) has been visiting Yesha towns over the past
few weeks, attempting to gather support for the Likud among the residents
of Judea and Samaria. He said that he tells them that if they wish to have
an influence on the future of the party and the country, they should
register for the Likud. Asked if he was trying to have the Likud "swing
back to the right," Arens answered, "It's no secret that I'm quite against
this policy of restraint and unilateral ceasefire, which I think does not
provide the necessary security to Israel's citizens in Yesha."
Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze'evi said last night that his National
Union-Yisrael Beiteinu is "suspending" its membership in the Cabinet, in
protest over the government's policy of restraint. In particular, Ze'evi
said he was irked by Foreign Minister Peres' recent meeting with Yasser
Arafat. Ze'evi and his party colleague Infrastructures Minister Avigdor
Lieberman will remain in the national unity government, but plan to boycott
its meetings.
4. ISRAELIS ARE SYMPATHETIC TO YESHA
A poll conducted by The Tami Steinmetz Center for Peace Research shows
that, contrary to some misconceptions, Israeli public admiration and
sympathy for the population of Yesha is on its way up. For instance, 75%
of the respondents feel equally troubled by attacks on either side of the
Green Line, and that the government must respond equally forcefully to
both. Even among those who voted for the left-wing Meretz party, 61% feel
this way. 58% say that settlements contribute to the nation's security,
and 63% feel that past Israeli governments were right in establishing the
settlements. On the other hand, 40% say they would be in favor of
"evacuating ALL the settlements in case they are the last obstacle to a
final agreement with the Palestinians." Tami Steinmetz herself told
Arutz-7 today that this number is "surprising, because in the past, less
than 30% said they would even favor evacuating MOST of the settlements
under such circumstances." 40% still support Oslo, but only 16% believe it
will bring peace.
5. P.A. PERPETUATES REFUGEES' STATUS
A study by Uriyah Shavit and Jalal Bana (Ha'aretz Magazine, July 6, 2001)
quotes official UNRWA statistics indicating that there are currently 3.7
million Arabs who qualify for refugee status under the Palestinian demand
for "right of return." (UNRWA is the UN agency that deals with the Arab
refugees.) The writers indicate that the agency's records "tend to be
exaggerated," and attribute this to the refugee population's tendency not
to report deaths, so as to enable the uninterrupted collection of the food
rations of the deceased.
Other explanations for the high number of "refugees" include also the
following: UNRWA uses what the authors call an "expansive" definition of
refugees, such as the inclusion of children and grandchildren, as well as
"Palestinians" who lived in the area in question for as little as two years
(!). Furthermore, UNRWA's figures are based on a figure of 730,000
refugees in 1949 - while according to Joan Peters, author of From Time
Immemorial, the true number of 1949 refugees could be as low as 430,000
(based on calculations by researcher Walter Pinner) or 539,000 (according
to "an oft-cited study based on League of Nations. records and Arab census
figures").
Where are these refugees-and-their-descendants now? Abandoned by their
host countries. The vast majority of these Arabs have never received
citizenship in their host countries of Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon (Jordan is
a major exception). Instead, they were concentrated in squalid refugee
camps, left as a living, suffering symbol of Arab rejection of the State of
Israel. The situation continues today in the Palestinian Authority, as
well; Shavit and Bana quote Israeli researcher Yitzchak Ravid to the effect
that "the Palestinian Authority has some reservations about improving the
situation in the refugee camps..." Ravid also wrote (not quoted by Shavit
and Bana), "[Like the Arab nations,] the PA, too, maintains the refugees'
special status in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza, and abstains from allowing them
to assimilate within the local population."
****************************************************************
To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor <feedback@israelnationalnews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News Brief: Friday, July 6, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Friday, July 6, 2001 / Tammuz 15, 5761
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. STATE MAY BAN ALL ENTRY TO TEMPLE MOUNT
2. SHARON EXPLAINS POLICY TO FRENCH PM, AND TO WORLD
3. ISRAEL MAINTAINS HIGH CREDIT RATINGS
1. STATE MAY BAN ALL ENTRY TO TEMPLE MOUNT
The Supreme Court asked the State this week to respond within a week
to Moshe Yogev's petition demanding to be allowed to visit the Temple
Mount. Atty. Naftali Wurtzberger, representing Yogev, told the Court
this week that the Holy Sites Law stipulates that members of all
religions may enter the Mount, and the continuing ban on Jews from
doing so is unacceptable. State Atty. Osnat Mandel said that under
consideration is the possibility of forbidding Moslems to enter the
Mount for as long as Jews may not enter. Jerusalem Police Chief
Mickey Levy said that bloodshed may result from such a move. Justice
Michael Heshin said, "There is an uncomfortable feeling that the Arabs
are setting policy, that whoever is strongest wins... There is a
feeling of helplessness, for the security situation will not improve
tomorrow..."
It was reported today that the Moslem Waqf's illegal construction
continues non-stop on the Temple Mount, causing irreparable damage to
Jewish antiquities there. The Temple Mount, where the two Holy
Temples stood and the third one will be built, is the world's holiest
site in Judaism. Photos published in today's papers show a giant
electric saw cutting through ancient stones.
2. SHARON EXPLAINS POLICY TO FRENCH PM, AND TO WORLD
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met with French Prime Minister Jospin
today, explaining to him the necessity of Israel's newly-affirmed
policy of "targeted killings" of Arabs engaged in terrorism. Sharon
is set to return to Israel this afternoon. Speaking yesterday at a
joint wreath-laying ceremony with German Chancellor Schroeder at
Gruenewald railway station in Berlin, the Prime Minister said the
following:
"Here at Gruenewald railway station, on these platforms, on [a day in]
November 1942, three children of the Bobkar family - Maly, Hala and
Abraham - stood here by themselves. Perhaps the two older sisters
held their seven-year-old brother by the hand. They stood here
without mother or father and the train came. The transport number was
#23, the destination was Auschwitz. They were among the first. The
Wansee Conference [where the Nazis formulated the Final Solution for
the "Jewish Problem"] had taken place not long before, on the other
side of the forest... The three children joined thousands of men,
women and children who were brutally uprooted from their daily lives
and sent - starting in October 1941 - from Berlin to the Lodz, Warsaw
and Riga ghettos and - starting in August 1942 - directly to
Auschwitz... Out of 75,000 Berlin Jews, approximately 60,000 were
murdered in the death camps...
"I come here today from the Land of Israel where I was born, in which
I live and for which I have fought all my life. Maly, Hala and
Abraham Bobkar were from my age group when they set out from here on
their last journey. The same historical process that scattered my
people across the entire globe and founded the Zionist movement is
what led to the fact that they, and not I, were on transport #23.
"Today, 56 years after the final group was sent from platform #17 at
Gruenewald, we must remember, more than ever, that the State of
Israel's right to defend itself is a major right and obligation which
has been given us in order to prevent the recurrence of the events we
recall as we stand here on this platform. We must remember that the
Jewish people have one small state in which we have the right and the
power to defend ourselves with our own forces, and we must daily thank
the Al-mighty for this... We will preserve this right more than
anything..."
3. ISRAEL MAINTAINS HIGH CREDIT RATINGS
International rating agency Standard & Poor's continues to give
Israel's credit rating a score of "A-", citing the country's
commitment to price stability and fiscal discipline. "Substantial
progress has been made over recent years in the pursuit of these
economic policy objectives," the report said. S&P also affirmed
Israel's "stable" economic outlook, giving it high ratings for local
currency issued credit, foreign currency, and local currency senior
unsecured debt. An official of S&P praised the government's decision
this week to establish a monetary advisory panel to the Bank of
Israel.
*************************************************************
To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor <feedback@israelnationalnews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Sunday, July 8, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Sunday, July 8, 2001 / Tammuz 18, 5761
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. SHAS HINTS AT ULTIMATUM TO SHARON
2. JEWS FAST, TEMPLE MOUNT DESTRUCTION CONTINUES
1. SHAS HINTS AT ULTIMATUM TO SHARON
Health Minister Nissim Dahan (Shas), visiting Hevron's Jewish areas
today, spoke to Arutz-7 today about his party's past and present
positions, and hinted at its future plans. Dahan was first asked
about Shas' calls of late for a strong military response against the
PA, in light of its past support for the Oslo process. His response:
"Our position has always been that the security of all citizens in
Israel, including that of those who live in Hevron, is of paramount
importance. We thought that if we offer our hand in peace, we would
be able to attain this goal. Throughout the years, we demanded that
Israel must make a call for peace. But unfortunately it turns out
that we made a mistake in our partner, and that instead of a peace
partner he is really an arch-terrorist and murderer. Once we
fulfilled our role and made our peace offer, and saw that it went
unanswered, we have no further obligation, and now the time has
arrived to speak to [the Palestinians] only in the language they
understand, the language of force. This is what we demand of the
Prime Minister."
Dahan expressed disdain for the method in which his Cabinet colleagues
Rehavam Ze'evi and Avigdor Lieberman of the National Union-Yisrael
Beiteinu party expressed their similar demand:
"What is this business of not showing up for Cabinet meetings? If
they want to resign in protest, then let them resign. But simply not
to show up? And what happens if we lose an important security vote
because they're not there? We [Shas] prefer to continue to sit at the
government table and speak strongly for what we believe." Asked if
Shas is giving any time limits on their demands, Dahan said, "There
are things that we'd prefer not to speak of publicly. But what you
mentioned is one of the things that we know how to do..."
2. JEWS FAST, TEMPLE MOUNT DESTRUCTION CONTINUES
Dr. Gabi Barkai of the Committee to Prevent Temple Mount Destruction
told Arutz-7 today that the pace may have slowed down somewhat, but
the Moslem Waqf's illegal construction activities is causing ongoing
destruction to the Jewish artifacts on the holy site. "Aerial photos
show that the works continue," Barkai said, "and we can see heavy
machinery moving around all over the Mount. In addition, hundreds of
Arab volunteers go to the Temple Mount every weekend and help out in
earthmoving works. Trucks are not permitted to enter, but the
destruction continues nonetheless." He said that a giant
stone-cutting saw is hard at work, cutting down ancient stones: "The
Waqf is apparently preparing for the time when they may not be allowed
to bring building materials in - so instead of using 'modern' stones,
they will use the ancient ones. We of course don't have exact
information, since we are not allowed to enter the site to see for
ourselves..."
Michael Ben-Ari of the Movement for the Establishment of the Holy
Temple later spoke on Arutz-7, in honor of today's Fast of Shiva Assar
[17] B' Tammuz commemorating the beginning of the destruction of
Jerusalem. His comments on the situation:
"It is once again the 17th of Tammuz, and again we cry and fast. We
have been doing this for many years now, and we must again ask
ourselves: What is the purpose of this fast? After the destruction
of the First Temple, the Jews in Babylonia, who were living quite
comfortably, asked a supposedly Halakhic [Jewish legal] question:
Must we continue to commemorate these days of fasting? They asked
this question even as a small remnant of Jews in Jerusalem was trying
to do what they could to rebuild the Temple, against all odds. The
situation was not unlike today's. Basically, their question was, "Is
this attempt to rebuild the Temple something serious, or just a
passing fad?" The Prophet's answer was that fasting is not an end,
but rather a means to repentance and to real deeds. Whoever sits in
Babylonia and doesn't help out in the efforts to rebuild, his fast is
not accomplishing its goal; deeds are required, as well as great
faith...
"Once again now, we see on television and in the newspapers the
pictures of the destruction on the Temple Mount. It's our own fault,
for being apathetic to the Temple Mount... This is the time to get up
and do deeds, to prove to ourselves and to the world that it's ours -
or at least to stop these acts of destruction!"
Ben-Ari announced that next Wednesday in Jerusalem, many leading Yesha
rabbis and yeshiva heads will convene and will "hopefully make some
important decisions that will renew our connection with the Temple
Mount. We must do what we can, and G-d will do as He sees fit."
****************************************************************
To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor <feedback@israelnationalnews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Monday, July 9, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Monday, July 9, 2001 / Tammuz 18, 5761
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINE:
PERES CONTINUES TO DEFEND ARAFAT
The government convened for its weekly meeting this morning. The two
National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu ministers, Rehavam Ze'evi and Avigdor
Lieberman, were not present; they are boycotting government meetings
in protest of its continuing restraint in the face of ongoing
Palestinian aggression. Foreign Minister Shimon Peres (Labor) drew
the wrath of Housing Minister Natan Sharansky (Yisrael B'Aliyah) when
he asked his colleagues not to verbally attack Arafat "because he is
admired in the world and by his people." Sharansky responded, "Stalin
too was admired by his people."
Industry Minister Dalia Itzik (Labor) staunchly defended the policy of
restraint, "even though it costs us a [certain] price." Speaking to
Prime Minister Sharon, she said that if there is a war, "you will face
the investigative committee alone, without all these ministers and the
right-wing who are now pushing you into war." Labor and Welfare
Minister Shlomo Benizri argued, "We are in essence paying a tax with
the killing of one or two Yesha residents each week. For how much
longer? Who determines the limits? The Palestinians are playing us
with the salami method; instead of killing us in large numbers in mass
attacks, they kill us only one at a time."
Later this afternoon, Peres told his Labor Party colleagues that
Yasser Arafat made an official decision two days ago to take
significant measures to stop Arab terrorism against Israel. Peres
admitted that the results on the ground do not bear this out, but said
that within a few days, "we can expect to see Arafat begin arresting
Hamas terrorists within the autonomous areas." Walking a fine line,
Peres said that the government will not deviate from its policy of
self-defense, but added, "Whoever thinks that there is a plan to hit
Arafat is mistaken... So are those who think that it is possible to
reach a situation of 'no attacks.'" Arutz-7's Haggai Seri reports
that Peres also said that today's razing of illegal Arab structures
was a mistake, "because it is hard to explain it to the world."
**************************************************************
To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com
From: Arutz-7 Editor <feedback@israelnationalnews.com>
Subject: Arutz-7 News: Tuesday, July 10, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Tuesday, July 10, 2001 / Tammuz 19, 5761
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. NETANYAHU: I STOPPED TERRORISM
2. DEFENSIVE MEASURES: YES OR NO?
3. MINISTER HANEGBI AGAINST SHARON'S POLICY, BUT UNDERSTANDS HIM
1. NETANYAHU: I STOPPED TERRORISM
"The Palestinians must be made to know that a natural outgrowth of
their continued violence against us will be strong Israeli actions
against the PA itself, and that we will do everything to bring Arafat
down." So said former Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu last night,
in an exclusive interview with Arutz-7 English Radio. Interestingly,
his successor, former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, also addressed this
question last night, telling a Tel Aviv audience that a military
operation to dissolve and eradicate the PA, was a most problematic
option that should only be entertained as a last resort and with the
support of the international community.
Netanyahu told Arutz-7's Shlomo Quinn and Ray Rublin that for him, the
question of whether he would be able to stand up to international and
other pressures is not hypothetical: "I already did it. I withstood
all the international pressures, and brought terror to a standstill.
I did it during the [Hasmonean] Tunnels incident when I brought in
tanks, and Arafat immediately understood... I did it later when I
stopped funding to the PA after 2-3 bombings, and Arafat saw that the
PA was in danger of collapse... The only way to stop terrorism is by
putting economic and military sanctions on the sponsoring regime.
Chasing down individual terrorists is OK, but that won't do the job;
there has to be action against the PA itself..."
Netanyahu said that he regretted handing over Hevron, "even though I
did leave security patrols in the Abu Sneineh hills." He emphasized
that during his tenure, only 2% of Israeli-controlled territory was
handed over to the PA; he did not mention that the Wye Agreement
called for the transfer of another 7.1% of territory under Israeli
military control to the PA.
Netanyahu related an incident that occurred during a recent interview
with CNN: "The anchorwoman said that the Palestinians say you're
taking their land, and I answered, 'It's not their land.' At that
point, there was a hush in the studio, and I began hearing people
there saying, 'What did he say? It's not their land?"' and I said
again, "It's not their land. It's been our land for over 3,000 years.
It's been our eternal city Jerusalem and our sacred Temple Mount, for
3,000 years... They can stay if they want, we're not pushing them
out, but they can't push US out of our ancestral homeland. This
message is probably more important than anything else we can say, and
I encourage everyone to emphasize this." The interview with Netanyahu
can be heard at
"www.israelnationalnews.com/metafiles/asx/engnews/features/bibi.asx"
Ehud Barak, for his part, said he supports the national unity
government headed by Likud Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and its
policies in the current crisis. Barak blamed Yasser Arafat for the
collapse of the Oslo process, adding that the negotiations were based
on the mistaken premise that Arafat would act as the leader of a
nation.
2. DEFENSIVE MEASURES: YES OR NO?
Should Jews in Yesha encourage the army to provide them with defensive
measures, such as bulletproof vests, helmets, and more bulletproof
buses? Surprisingly, opinion on this touchy issue is divided. An
open letter distributed last week in Yesha calls upon the government
not to rely on "fortifications," but to take active steps such as
increased road patrols and "shaving down" trees and buildings that can
serve as camouflage for terrorists. "Instead of actively fighting
terrorism," the letter reads, "a handcuffed army proposes illusory
alternatives in the form of fortification measures. Instead of
removing the terrorists from the roads, they suggest that we travel in
pairs and can't travel on many roads. Instead of active measures, we
are proposed to have buses and armored cars. We call upon the Yesha
public to refuse the suggested plans, and revert to the demands for
true security." Ofrah-resident Uri Elitzur, one of the signatories,
elaborated:
"If a person walks in the street and someone assaults him, he can
raise his hand in front of his face to block the punch, but then he'll
get punched in the stomach instead. In this situation, the only true
defense is to fight back. Some fortifications are necessary, but we
are against the thought that this is a solution to the main part of
the problem. Therefore, instead of falling prey to this idea, it's
better to be less fortified."
On the other hand, Elitzur's neighbor Shai Ben-Yosef says, "Security
is not only security, but also the sensation of security. It's
impossible to reach 100% safety - but if someone's sense of security
increases because he's wearing a vest or taking other measures, then
it will be easier for him to continue his role as an active member of
our communities. The measures don't say anything about a reduced
determination to remain here; on the contrary."
On the other hand, Hevron resident Eyal Noked said, "If we [in Hevron]
had agreed to the army's demands that we travel only with armored
buses, and walk only in pairs or with army escorts, and the like, no
one would ever come to visit the Machpelah Cave, our lives would be
very cold, and we would be no safer than we are now! The army offered
the same conditions to a certain community in Gaza, and the people
there now greatly regret having agreed to them."
Yesha Council spokesman Yehoshua Mor-Yosef told Arutz-7's Kobi Sela
today that the Yesha Council has not yet analyzed the question, and
acknowledges that most initiatives on this issue are private ones:
"Clearly, the best solution would be to defeat terrorism. But until
this is done, certain measures to increase both security and the
sensation of security must be taken, such as frequent public
bulletproof transportation for those who want and bulletproof vests on
deposit at the gates of the community for drivers who wish."
Mor-Yosef said that from the Council's point of view, "obligatory
traveling in pairs" must not become the atmosphere.
3. MINISTER HANEGBI AGAINST SHARON'S POLICY, BUT UNDERSTANDS HIM
One of the most notable sharp exchanges at yesterday's Cabinet meeting
was between Environment Minister Tzachi Hanegbi (Likud) and Prime
Minister Sharon. After Hanegbi said that an Israeli attack toppling
the PA and deposing Arafat would not be a bad thing, Sharon responded
angrily, "You're all big heroes with all your advice. At the end of
the day, the responsibility is mine. This region is not going to
war." Hanegbi spoke to Arutz-7 today, and defended his positions:
"If it was up to me, the restraint would have ended long ago. I
wouldn't call it a policy of 'havlagah' - total holding back - because
not a few terrorists have disappeared; instead I would call it 'ipuk,'
restraint. The policy had its advantages at the beginning, but it's
beginning to lose its effectiveness, as the Palestinians are
interpreting it as our weakness... The best defense is a good
offense, and we must now begin a major campaign against the PA, so as
to exact a large price from them and turn them into the ones who have
to defend themselves..."
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