ISRAEL
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- PM SHARON SPEAKS WITH TURKISH PM ERDOGAN
- IMRA: WORDS VS DEEDS?
IMRA - :November 22, 2003 - Communicated by the Prime Minister's
Media Adviser - Prime Minister Sharon
- told the Turkish PM that terror "must be fought without
compromise" as he prepares to accepts a cease-fire with
the terrorists according to which the terrorists won't be fought
unless they are shooting (or possibly shooting "significantly"
- meaning that they can murder an insignificant number of Israelis).
This would represent the second time in a short period that Sharon
compromises the fight against terror and there is every expectation
that, as in the previous hudna, the Palestinians will exploit
the situation to strengthen their terrorist forces.]
- Prime Minister Ariel Sharon today (Saturday), 22.11.2003,
spoke with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and expressed
his and the Israeli people 's condolences for the disasters which
have befallen Turkey in the past week. The Prime Minister pointed
out that Israel, which has been dealing with Palestinian terrorism
for years and has suffered many victims, well understands the
Turkish people's pain. The Prime Minister said that international
terrorism is the main danger, and the most tangible threat, to
the peace and stability of the free world, and added that it
must be fought without compromise. The Prime Minister stressed
that this is not a war against Islam but against terrorist elements
being led by Islamic extremist elements. Prime Minister Sharon
and Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan agreed to step up bilateral
cooperation in the war against terror and to close ranks in order
to defeat it. IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis -
http://www.imra.org.il
- -----
- PALESTINIAN ARAB VIOLATIONS OF PRESIDENT BUSH'S "ROAD
MAP" PLAN
- A Survey of Week #29: November 11, 2003 - November 21, 2003
- BACKGROUND: On June 24, 2002, President Bush set forth the
conditions that the Palestinian Arabs must fulfill in order to
merit U.S. support for the creation of a Palestinian Arab state.
Among the major obligations are that the Palestinian Arabs must
"dismantle the terrorist infrastructure," "end
incitement," "elect new leaders not compromised by
terror," and unequivocally embrace democracy and free market
economics. None of those conditions were fulfilled.
- In March 2003, Yasir Arafat chose Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen),
the number two man in the PLO since the 1960s, as the new prime
minister of the Palestinian Authority. Mazen took office on April
29, 2003. Less than a day later, the Bush administration unveiled
its "Road Map" plan, which set forth conditions that
the Palestinian Arabs must fulfill prior to the creation of a
Palestinian Arab state. On September 6, 2003, Abbas resigned;
the next day, Arafat named his replacement-- Ahmed Qurei, speaker
of the PA's Legislative Council and number three man in the PLO.
On October 6, 2003, Qurei was officially named prime minister
of the PA.
- The Road Map requires the Palestinian Arabs to undertake
concrete steps to combat terrorist groups and democratize Palestinian
Arab society. Those obligations, which are quoted below, were
supposed to have been fulfilled during Phase 1 of the Road Map,
which concluded at the end of May 2003, but they were not. This
report analyzes Palestinian Arab violations of those obligations
during the 29th week following the unveiling of the Road Map
plan, Nov.11 - Nov.17, 2003.
- I. "Cease All Violence" What They Are Required
to Do: The Road Map states: "In Phase 1 [May 2003], the
Palestinians immediately undertake an unconditional cessation
of violence." They did not do so. What They Did During Week
#28: During week #29, Nov.11 - Nov.17, 2003, there were at least
17 terrorist attacks or attempted attacks, in which 5 people
were wounded. (During the first 29 weeks since the Road Map was
issued, there have been a total of at least 731 Palestinian Arab
terrorist attacks or attempted attacks, in which 124 people were
murdered and 654 wounded.)
- November 11: Mortar rockets fired at Netzer Hazani ... Bomb
attack on Israeli soldiers in Shechem (Nablus) ... Israeli motorists
attacked near Hebron ... Shooting attack on Israeli soldiers
near Tulkarm ... Shooting attack on Israeli soldiers at the Israel-Egypt
border ... Shots fired and firebombs thrown at Israeli soldiers
near Otzrin. November 12: Shooting attack on workers in Morag;
one wounded. November 13: Shooting attack on Israeli soldiers
in Gaza. November 14: Shooting attack on Israeli soldiers in
Gaza. November 15: Shooting attack on Israeli soldiers near Rafiah;
four wounded. November 16: Mortar rockets fired at Israeli soldiers
near Rafiah ... Shooting attack on Israeli soldiers near Rafiah
... Mortar rocket fired near Gadid ... Shooting attack on Israeli
soldiers at the Israel-Egypt border ... Israeli motorists attacked
near Beitar Illit. November 17: Shooting attack on Israeli soldiers
in Tulkarm ... Bomb planted southwest of Jenin.
-
- II. "Call for Recognizing Israel and Ending Violence"
What They Are Required to Do: The Road Map obligates the Palestinian
Arabs to "issue an unequivocal statement reiterating Israel's
right to exist in peace and security and calling for an immediate
and unconditional cease-fire to end armed activity and all acts
of violence against Israelis anywhere."
- What They Did During Week #29: No such statement was issued.
On June 4, speaking at the Aqaba summit, then-prime minister
Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) said, "we repeat our renunciation
of terrorism against the Israelis wherever they might be."
But PA Minister of Information Nabil Amr explained (Doha Al-Jazira
Television, June 14, 2003): "As regards the word 'terrorism',
I do not know why when the Palestinians denounce the word terrorism,
certain people think that this means resistance. There is no
text anywhere that says that the Palestinian people's resistance
is terrorism, which we denounce...Yes, we denounce terrorism.
Anyone who says that denouncing terrorism means denouncing resistance
is doing an injustice to legitimate resistance and is in effect
labeling it with terrorism."
-
- III. "Arrest, Disrupt, and Restrain Terrorists"
What They Are Required to Do: The Road Map obligates the Palestinian
Arabs to "undertake visible efforts on the ground to arrest,
disrupt and restrain individuals and groups conducting and planning
violent attacks on Israelis anywhere." What They Did During
Week #29: In July 2003, there were several media reports of small
numbers of terrorists being arrested by the PA, but then quickly
released. The Jerusalem Post reported on July 21, 2003, that
a senior Israeli Army official "said sometimes 'they [the
PA police] arrest a militant under the most comfortable conditions
possible and release him' within hours. The longest a militant
has been held, he said, is four days." There have been no
additional reports of arrests since July.
-
- IV. "Confiscate Terrorists' Weapons" What They
Are Required to Do: The Road Map obligates the Palestinian Arabs
to "commence confiscation of illegal weapons." What
They Did During Week #29: On August 24, 2003, in response to
U.S. pressure, the PA announced that it had sealed up several
underground tunnels used to smuggle weapons from Egypt to Palestinian
Arab terrorists in Gaza. But Israeli government spokesman Dr.
Dore Gold said: "The way to deal with the tunnels, which
have been the main conduit for smuggling weapons, is to blow
them up, and not shovel some sand at the Rafah exit point in
front of a bunch of cameras. It's more for show than it is a
turning point in Palestinian security policy." (New York
Times, Aug. 24, 2003) There have been no subsequent reports of
any tunnel shutdowns. Similarly, in mid-July, there were media
reports that PA security forces had confiscated 20 illegal weapons
from individuals in Gaza. Israel Radio reported on July 12 that
the individuals were common criminals, not terrorists. On July
14, after media reports claiming that PA policemen were searching
cars for weapons, a "senior PA security official" denied
the reports, telling the Jerusalem Post: "What you saw on
television was not real; it was part of a drill. We carried out
an exercise with the participation of 600 policemen. That's all."
(Jerusalem Post, July 15, 2003) There have been no subsequent
reports of any confiscations.
-
- V. "Dismantle the Terrorist Infrastructure" What
They Are Required to Do: The Road Map obligates the Palestinian
Arabs to carry out the "dismantlement of terrorist capabilities
and infrastructure." What They Did During Week #29: The
PA did not outlaw Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Fatah, or any other terrorist
groups; there were no reports of the PA shutting down any bomb
factories or terrorists' training camps; the PA continued to
ignore Israel's 45 requests for the extradition of terrorists;
there were no reports of the PLO leadership punishing PLO factions
that are engaged in terrorism, such as the Popular Front for
the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the Democratic Front for
the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP). Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei
told the PA-affiliated newspaper Al Ayam on October 7, 2003:
"We will not confront, we will not go for a civil war."
-
- VI. "End All Incitement" What They Are Required
to Do: The Road Map requires that "all official Palestinian
institutions end incitement against Israel." What They Did
During Week #29: The PA's official newspapers, television, and
radio continued to broadcast a steady stream of anti-Israel,
anti-American, and pro-violence incitement, and PA officials
continued to make inciting statements. In addition, there was
no change in the PA's policy of inciting support for terror by
publicly praising terrorists, naming streets after them, and
paying salaries to imprisoned terrorists and their families.
For example, on November 14, 2003, the PA sponsored a public
rally in Tulkarm to commem- orate the 40th day since the death
of Sirhan Sirhan, a Fatah terrorist from Tulkarm who last year
murdered five people in Kibbutz Metzer, including a mother and
her two children. (Jerusalem Post, Nov. 15, 2003)
- Senior PA officials attended the rally, including Tulkarm
governor Izz al-Din al-Sharif, who appeared as the official representative
of PA chairman Yasir Arafat. Governor Sharif praised Sirhan as
a "struggler and martyr" and vowed that "the Palestinian
people will continue the resistance and struggle." Another
speaker at the rally, representing Arafat's Fatah movement, hailed
Sirhan as "a hero who managed to infiltrate the Zionist
settlement of Metzer." The Jerusalem Post reported that
he "urged young Palestinians to follow the example of Sirhan
and launch more attacks against Israel." A senior Fatah
leader in Tulkarm, Bassam Mirai, who also spoke at the rally,
praised Sirhans' "contribution and sacrifice."
-
- VII. "End Arab States' Support for Terror" What
They Are Required to Do: The Road Map states that during May
2003, "Arab states cut off public and private funding and
all other forms of support for groups supporting and engaging
in violence and terror." What They Did During Week #29:
There were no reports of any Arab states cutting off their support
for Palestinian Arab terrorist groups. On the contrary, the Palestinian
Arab newspaper Jerusalem Times reported on September 18, 2003,
that Jordan, which had previously acceded to a U.S. request to
"refrain from dealing" with Hamas leaders and Hamas
support groups and freeze their bank accounts, has now "retracted
its decision."
-
- VIII. "Consolidate Security Forces" What They Are
Required to Do: The Road Map obligates the Palestinian Arabs
to undertake "consolidation of security authority, free
of association with terror and corruption"; and "all
Palestinian security organizations are consolidated into three
services reporting to an empowered interior minister." What
They Did During Week #29: The Israeli daily Ha'aretz reported
on May 5, 2003, that "five different PA security organizations,
including Force 17 and the General Intelligence, remain under
the direct command of Chairman Yasir Arafat" and have not
been consolidated under the control of the Interior Minister.
Military Intelligence, the National Security Forces, and the
naval forces are also under Arafat's control. Only the remaining
two security agencies are under the Interior Minister. Arafat's
five are under the control of a newly-created agency, the National
Security Council, chaired by Arafat and his close aide Hanni
al-Hassan.
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- IX. "Institute Democratic Reforms" What They Are
Required to Do: The Road Map requires the Palestinian Arabs to
undertake a number of steps to transform their brutal, corrupt
dictatorial regime into a full-fledged democracy, including "immediate
action on credible process to produce draft constitution for
Palestinian statehood"; the holding of "free, open,
and fair elections"; and "steps to achieve genuine
separation of powers, including any necessary Palestinian legal
reforms for this purpose." What They
Did During Week #29: No such steps
were taken.
-
- * * * The Zionist Organization of America,
founded in 1897, is the oldest pro-Israel
organization in the United States. The ZOA works to strengthen U.S.-Israel relations,
educates the American public and Congress about the dangers that
Israel faces, and combats anti-Israel bias in the media and on
college campuses. Its past presidents have included
Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis and Rabbi Dr. Abba Hillel
Silver. IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis - http://www.imra.orh.il
- -----
- SAUDIS SEEK GERMAN NUCLEAR/ BIOLOGICAL/ CHEMICAL ARMORED
SYSTEM
- LONDON [MENL] -- Saudi Arabia has been negotiating for the
purchase of an advanced NBC armored system from Germany. The
Saudi Defense Ministry has been discussing the procurement of
scores of
Fuchs armored personnel carriers from the German defense group
Reinmetall.
The negotiations were accelerated in the aftermath of the U.S.-led
war in Iraq when coalition troops used the Fuchs to protect troops
from the prospect of an Iraqi nonconventional weapons attack.
Officials said the German government will convene its national
security council to determine whether the NBC [nuclear, biological
and chemical] systems would be exported to Saudi Arabia and the
United Arab Emirates. They said such a permit would await the
conclusion of talks with Rheinmetall.
- Rheinmetall has acknowledged negotiations with Saudi Arabia
for the Fuchs. A company spokesman said the talks were in an
advanced stage and that the proposed deal was worth hundreds
of millions of Euros. IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis
http:// www.imra.org.il
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- STATEMENT ON UN SECURITY COUNCIL ROADMAP RESOLUTION
IMRA: Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser.November
20, 2003 - IMRA has asked the Prime Minister's Office if the
reference to the Ha'aretz "Unofficial Text" of the
14 clarifications constitutes confirmation
by the Prime Minister's Office of the accuracy of the text. For
some reason until now the Government has refused to release an
official text of this important document. In light of the United
Nations Security Council resolution regarding the roadmap http://www.un.org/News/ossg/hilites.htm , Israel
would like to reiterate the following: The Government of Israel
accepted the roadmap along with 14 clarifications
http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/mfa/go.asp?MFAH0neq0
that it decided upon and this is the one and only diplomatic
plan that Israel is prepared to carry out.
- The peace plan known as "the roadmap", as accepted
by Israel, can be carried out only through negotiations and agreements
between Israel and the Palestinians. Judging in relation to the
plan's implementation will be in
the hands of the United States. Israel will not accept any other
intervention in implementing the plan.
- The State of Israel is committed to the roadmap and expects
and hopes that the Palestinians will begin to carry out their
commitments, including the cessation of terror, dismantling the
terrorist organizations and carrying
out a full reform of the Palestinian administration, thus making
it possible to reach a settlement that will lead to quiet and
peace for both Israel and the Palestinians. IMRA - Independent
Media Review and Analysis
http://www.imra.org.il
- -----
- MK SHTEINITZ: EGYPT ACTING TO PRESERVE PALESTINIAN TERROR
INFRASTRUCTURE
- IMRA, Aaron Lerner Date: 18 November 2003 - Speaking in a
live interview broadcast on Israel Radio this morning, Likud
- MK Yuval Shteinitz, Chairman, Foreign Affairs & Defense
Committee, warned that the Egyptians have acted in the past and
continue to act to preserve the Palestinian terror infrastructure.
Shteinitz noted that instead of encouraging the PA to disarm
the terrorists and break of the terror groups, Egypt is once
again brokering an arrangement to keep the terror groups, such
as Hamas, intact. He also pointed out that while Jordan acts
to prevent terrorists and weapons from crossing into Israel,
Egypt has allowed a continuous flow of terrorists and weapons
across its border into Israel.
- Shteinitz warned that Israel has paid a dear price in the
past for temporary quiet with the Palestinians under "cease-fire"
arrangements that were exploited by the Palestinians to expand
and improve their assault
capabilities. Repeating this mistake again would ultimately bring
a nightmare to Israel when the fighting resumes.
- Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director IMRA Independent Media Review
& Analysis - http://www.imra.org.il
- -----
- AL-AQSA MARTYR'S BRIGADES: USA AGREES THEY JOIN PA SECURITY
FORCE
- IMRA - Aaron Lerner - 17 November 2003 - Yediot Ahronot's
internet news service, YNET, reported that according to an internal
document of Yasser Arafat's Fatah, the Fatah al-Aqsa Martyr's
Brigades has agreed to a cease-fire proposal under which the
members of this leading illegal militia responsible for many
of the terrorist attacks in the last year would be integrated
into the Palestinian Authority security services. A senior member
of the al-Aqsa Martyr's Brigades told Ynet that the United States
has already accepted the proposal.
http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-2819519,00.html
- It should be noted that the Road Map explicitly requires
"consolidation of security authority, free of association
with terror. " That is "free of association with terror"
not "intimately associated with terror". Dr. Aaron
Lerner, Director IMRA - Independent Media Review & Analysis
- http://www.imra.org.il
-----
-
- A CEASEFIRE: "THE FIRST STEP"
- NEWSWEEK Nov. 24 2003 by Lally Weymouth - Ahmed Qurei wants
peace talks with Ariel Sharon, and also American backing. New
Palestinian prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, better known as Abu Ala,
appears
to have lost out in a power struggle with Palestinian president
Yasir Arafat. Last week, Arafat managed to consolidate control
of the Palestinian security services under his own command, defying
the wishes of the United
States, Israel and many Palestinians.
- YET IN A LENGTHY interview with NEWSWEEK's Lally Weymouth,
Abu Ala insisted he could deal both with Arafat and Israel. Sitting
in his office in Ramallah, he appeared confident that he would
soon hold talks with Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon. Excerpts:
Weymouth: The U.S. government fears that Arafat will undermine
you as he did Abu Mazen.
Ahmed Qurei: The real problem is Israel, not Arafat. Abu Mazen
is a good man who tried his best. I was at his first meeting
with Sharon. We came back with nothing. Then we went to Washington.
We met with President Bush who gave all his support to Abu Mazen.
I said to President Bush, 'Abu Mazen will go home with support
from your administration but he needs the support of the Palestinian
people. He won't have it unless the situation on the ground changes.
Please help with Sharon to change the situation.' But nothing
happened. Arafat certainly helped undermine Abu Mazen, don't
you agree?
Look, Arafat is a human being. He is the elected president and
he is under siege. He was not happy with Abu Mazen, and he will
not be happy with me if his situation remains as it is. Therefore,
one of the prerequisites of
my success is that Israel should change the way it deals with
Arafat: he should be free to go to Gaza or abroad.
- Perhaps Israel would do more if the terrorism stopped.
He is trying. Shouldn't he try harder? Arafat is in prison. And
the Israelis destroyed the Palestinian security services. Will
you ask Israel to stop targeted killings if you deliver a ceasefire
by Palestinian extremist groups? All the killings of Palestinians
should be stopped. The Israelis say they want actions, not words.
I feel the same way. You want them to stop targeted killings,
ease the checkpoints, what else? Demolishing houses. Also [they
should] release prisoners. Arafat created a national security
council that he may use to undermine your powers. No, it will
support our government.
- I know how to deal with Arafat. He gave me his support. If
Israel and the U.S. support us, I think things will move. What
happens if a bomb explodes in Jerusalem tomorrow and the Aksa
brigades take credit? We will run after them. There is a conviction
among the Palestinians that they will give this government a
chance. Do you think you could persuade Sharon to stop the wall
[Israel is building in the West Bank]? Sharon wants me to stop
violence and resistance. Why does he have the right to confiscate
our territory? Are you trying to unite the security services
under your command as the Roadmap specifies? The Roadmap is not
the bible. I will report to Arafat. Isn't Arafat unwilling to
accept the existence of a Jewish state?
- He likes the Jewish state more than I. Who is responsible
for all the agreements with Israel? He was the decision-maker.
What is your assessment of Prime Minister Sharon? As a person,
he is warm in a meeting, but he is not easy. I thought maybe
you and Sharon would declare a ceasefire to calm things down.
The ceasefire would be the first step. The end should be a permanent
status agreement. If the U.S. wants to help, it should call for
an international conference. http://www.imra.org.il
- -----
- PRIME MINISTER ARIEL SHARON'S SPEECH AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
- Prime Minister's Office - November 16, 2003 - Dear Friends
from the USA, Canada, Israel and all over the Jewish world, Good
evening.
- I am happy to welcome you in Jerusalem, our eternal capital.
Welcome home. Several days ago, I read a moving letter sent by
a young Jewish boy who lived in Israel last year, during a period
in which the terror attacks were
extremely severe. The letter was addressed to his friends who
were debating whether or not to come to Israel the following
year. I quote: "There is a word in Hebrew without a solid
translation in English - "davka".
In essence, "davka" means doing or thinking something
both in spite of and because of a given situation. I realized
after the end of my Jerusalem period, that "davka",
this year I am having the single most important and valuable
experience of my life. [.] I can [honestly] say that being in
Israel this year, "davka" - with all the misfortune
[.] that has been visited upon Israel - has been without doubt
such an utterly life changing experience that given the choice
being on Year Course this year or 3 years ago [.],I would easily
choose this year."
- "I do not wish for a second that you would think I am
in any way thankful that the conditions of my Year Course are
the way they are. I have felt the pain of terrorism deep in my
heart, and know what it feels like to hear the word "pigoo-ah."
That having been said, the things that have made my experience
this year so rich are exactly the things you are afraid of and
concerned about. So, do it." Ladies and Gentlemen, I would
like to thank you for coming here, to show solidarity with the
people of Israel. "Davka"- "davka" now, "davka"
to Israel, "davka" to Jerusalem.
- The solidarity you demonstrate here touches the heart of
every Israeli. Our joint work in shaping our common future is
of critical importance to the Jewish people. One thousand, nine
hundred and thirty three years ago, on a hill not far from here,
Roman soldiers burned the remains of our Temple, believing that
by doing so they had put an end to the Jewish history and legacy.
The historian Yosef Ben Matityahu at the time wrote that the
destruction of Jerusalem was so widespread: "so that one
who passes over the place of the destruction, would not believe
that there was in this place an inhabited city."
- However, their plan did not succeed. This is how we are.
Despite repeated attempts to eradicate the Jewish people from
the face of the earth, we "davka" grew and "davka"
developed a rich culture. We have "davka" always maintained
a connection with our homeland. Even during very hard times,
there were always Jews in Israel, and with G-d's help, we have
succeeded in realizing the dream of re-establishing an independent
and democratic Jewish state. During the last few years, our enemies
have risen against us again. Here in Israel by murderous terror
attacks, and all over the world, in hate-filled anti-Semitic
assaults against the Jewish people and the Jewish State. Yesterday,
we received a hard reminder. On Shabbat, synagogues were attacked
in Istanbul and Jews were killed and injured during their prayers.
Our enemies have yet to understand that the Jewish people cannot
be broken - cannot and will not be broken. Faced with these attacks,
we will not be deterred and will continue the journey which began
thousands of years ago.
- "Davka", we will carry on with the tremendous efforts
we are investing in our young generation - our future, and teach
them the history, culture and legacy of our people. "Davka",
we will continue to bring thousands of Olim from the Diaspora,
including the United States and Canada, to the only country where
Jews can lead full Jewish lives, to Israel. Aliyah will strengthen
Israel and ensure its future. A strong Israel is a guarantee
for preserving the existence of the Jewish people. Much as, during
the past three years, despite all the difficulties, we brought
over a hundred thousand Jews to Israel. "Davka", we
will develop our country, the State of Israel, in our land, the
Land of Israel, and in its center, our city - united and undivided
- Jerusalem. Dear Friends, In a few days, you will return to
your homes.
- When you get there, our work will only just begin. What can
you do? First and foremost, be Jewish. I am a Jew, and for me,
to be a Jew is the most important thing. Educate your children
to be Jewish and invest in Jewish-Zionist education. Make Aliyah
to Israel, help those who want to make aliyah and encourage your
friends and relatives to visit Israel. I have a dream, that every
Jew will visit Jerusalem at least once. I believe we must set
a goal that every young Jew will live here at least one year
during their lifetime. Invest in Israel. Help us develop and
strengthen the State of Israel, especially Jerusalem, the Negev
and the Galilee. Be ambassadors for the Jewish people and the
Jewish State. Each and every one of you can make a difference.
I believe that if we join forces, we will be able to ensure our
future, bring peace and security to our country and - with G-d's
help - realize all our hopes and dreams. Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me add something personal. I remember when I was wounded
and left alone during the battle to lift the siege over Jerusalem.
Being wounded was painful, but being left alone was even more
painful. 55 years later, we are still fighting for Jerusalem,
but when I see you all here tonight, I know that there is one
big difference: today we are not alone. Thank you. IMRA - Independent
Media Review and Analysis IMRA http:// www.imra.org.il
- -----
- FM SHALOM CONDEMNS ISTANBUL TERROR ATTACKS
Israel Government Press Office - November 15, 2003 - Statement
by Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Silvan
Shalom in Light of Today's Terrorist Attacks in Istanbul, Turkey
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom extended
his condolences to Turkey and the Turkish people, the Jewish
community in Turkey, and the families of the killed, and sent
his wishes for a speedy recovery to those injured in today's
terrorist attacks in Istanbul, Turkey.
- The two terrorist attacks at the two synagogues must be seen
within the context of the recent spate of anti-Israel and anti-Jewish
incitement in the Arab world, as well in light of the recent
anti Israel and anti Semitic remarks heard in certain European
cities in recent months. Today's terrorist attacks in Istanbul
were targeted against Jews who came to pray in synagogue, a place
of worship, prayer and peace, as well as of brotherhood. These
attacks were perpetrated against Turkey and the Turkish people,
and constitute another link in the chain of global terrorism
that has struck against Mombasa, Bali, Saudi Arabia, and other
targets. Israel expects the entire international community to
strongly condemn today's terrorist acts, and to take every measure
and to use all means at its disposal to fight terrorism and to
bring the perpetrators to justice.
- IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis - http://www.imra.org.il
- -----
- SAUDI SERMON: ISRAELI CONSPIRACY BEHIND RIYADH TERROR?
- [FBIS (US Government service) Translated Excerpt] Israeli
Conspiracy Behind Riyadh Terror? O God, destroy the occupier
Jews. Riyadh Kingdom of Saudi Arabia TV1 in Arabic, official
television station of
the Saudi Government, at 0915 GMT, 14 November 2003 carries a
23-minute live sermon from the Holy Mosque in Mecca.
- An unidentified shaykh delivers the sermon. He begins by
praising God, the messenger, and his companions and advises people
to obey God, stressing that the blessed month of Ramadan is a
month of worshipping and love for
- God and his messenger. He also urges Muslims to treat one
another well. The imam devotes the first sermon to obedience
to God as a way to success. In the second sermon, the imam calls
on Muslims to refrain from "hurting faithful men and women,
spreading panic, killing innocent people, and shedding prohibited
blood."
- He says: "Do they want to make themselves fuel for blind
sedition? What is the purpose of the black crime of killing children
and women in the month of Islam, in a Muslim capital, and in
a Muslim country, the country of the two holy mosques? They kill
and spread destruction. What is the purpose of this crime and
how can we explain this behavior?" Turning to the situation
in the "occupied" Palestinian territories, the imam
says that at a time when children, women, and men in Palestine
"are killed and their homes are demolished," "other
children, women, and men in Riyadh are killed, their homes are
demolished, and their property is destroyed."
- Condemning Israeli practices, the imam also says: "Terrorist
Israel is spreading corruption in Palestine, and other terrorists
are spreading corruption in Riyadh. Israel hates, kills, besieges,
and displaces Muslims in Palestine. What do these killers in
Riyadh want? Do terrorists in Israel and Riyadh have the same
goal? Is it their goal to kill more Arabs and Muslims and to
spread panic, trouble, and violence? Do they coordinate their
actions?" The imam then urges the society "to raise
its voice and to close their ranks in order to protect the country
and people from killing and black destruction."
- He praises the Saudi security forces and urges media organs
to play "a special role" by projecting the role of
the citizen "as a real partner." Concluding, the imam
prays to God: "O God, strengthen Islam and Muslims, humiliate
infidelity and infidels, and disappoint tyrants, atheists, and
Islam's enemies. O God, help your faithful servants score victory.
O God, protect us and our homelands and give wisdom to our leaders."
He goes on: "O God, help the mujahidin score victory, elevate
your word, and strengthen your religion. O God, help them score
victory in Palestine and elsewhere. O God, help them defeat their
enemy and your enemy. O God, destroy the occupier Jews, who are
spreading tyranny and corruption." With thanks to www.mideastweb.org/mewnews1.htm
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- ARAFAT'S APPOINTED MUFTI: NO COMPROMISE ON RETURN OF REFUGEES
- FBIS (US Government service) Translated Excerpt - [With thanks
to www.mideastweb.org/mewnews1.htm
- Ramallah Voice of Palestine, official radio station of the
Palestinian Authority, carries at 0940 GMT 7 November 2003 a
live sermon from Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
- Shaykh Ikrimah Sabri, "mufti of Jerusalem and all Palestine
and chairman of the Higher Islamic Council," delivers the
sermon, which he devotes to religious duties in the month of
Ramadan.
- On the refugee issue, the mufti says: "It is the right
of the refugees to return to their homes and the land of their
fathers and forefathers. This subject does not just concern 6
million refugees, but the entire people of Palestine and Muslims
everywhere in the world. We affirm that repatriation is a legitimate
right; it is one of the Islamic constants on which there can
be no dispute. The religious dictums that have been issued on
this subject are clear and frank, and we affirm them. If the
refugees cannot return now to their lands, this does not mean
that we should concede this right or accept illegal and distorted
solutions. The right exists to Doomsday. It does not fall due
to perdition, no matter how long it takes." The mufti concludes
with a general prayer for safety and relief and protection for
the Al-Aqsa Mosque. He also prays for mercy for the martyrs,
recovery for the wounded, and release for the prisoners. IMRA
- Independent Media Review and Analysis - http://www.imra.org.il
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