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Cabinet Communique |
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Cabinet Communique |
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| 10/03/2002 |
At the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Sunday), 10.3.2002:
A. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said that we have again endured a day of
many difficult losses. At the same time, the IDF, Israel Police and the
security services have taken vigorous and wide-ranging action and have
recently made outstanding efforts. There are many warnings and Israel
is, in effect, at war and this must be understood. The Israeli people
must remain united and steadfast and do all that is necessary to
overcome the waves of terror.
Prime Minister Sharon said that he has reached the conclusion that due
to the scope of the terror and its level, and given Israel's broad
actions against terror, there was no possibility in the current
situation of achieving a number of days of absolute quiet. Israel tried
this but the attempt was foiled and not by it. The Prime Minister made
it clear that the issue of a cease-fire is the main goal which we must
strive for. Therefore, over the weekend, he informed the US that he was
willing to proceed directly to a discussion of the Tenet plan. "We want
to make every effort to reach a cease-fire and we will make every effort
to reach a cease-fire. However, we will continue the stepped-up efforts
on our part against the infrastructure of terror. This activity
continues and it will continue as long as the terror does," the Prime
Minister said.
Prime Minister Sharon made it clear that when Israel comes to discuss a
political settlement, there will have to be quiet because it is
impossible to conduct negotiations on a political settlement under fire.
Prime Minister Sharon offered the government's condolences to the
families which have lost loved ones and its wishes for a speedy recovery
to the wounded.
Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer briefed the Cabinet on current
security matters and said that Israel is in the midst of a wave of sharp
escalation. He referred to the terrorist attacks which occurred during
the past week and the injuries that both IDF soldiers and civilians have
suffered as a result. The Defense Minister said that alongside the
terrorist attacks and their victims, the security establishment foiled
many attacks this past week which could have caused a high number of
casualties. The Tanzim - which has been responsible for most of the
recent attacks and the murder of many Israelis - stands at the center of
the campaign of terror.
Defense Minister Eliezer commented on the IDF actions in the refugee
camps. He said that after the IDF had completed its actions in the
Balata and Jenin refugee camps, it operated this week in Tulkarm and the
Mt. Gilo area and in the al-Aida refugee camp. The IDF's taking control
of Tulkarm was very successful. The Defense Minister noted that
hundreds of men were taken captive, fugitives were arrested, and war
materiel laboratories and bombs were discovered, and added that 14
Kassam rockets, four launchers and approximately 40 Kassam warheads were
seized, along with solid fuel and other war materiel.
In the Bethelem region, the IDF took control of Beit Jala, al-Khader and
the al-Aida refugee camp, and is still active there.
Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Shaul Mofaz briefed the Cabinet on last week's
military actions.
B. The government decided to assist and encourage socio-economic
activity in downtown Jerusalem as follows:
The Interior Ministry will increase the balancing grant to Jerusalem for
2002 by NIS 15 million with the goal of providing municipal rate
discounts to merchants and workplaces in downtown Jerusalem. The
Jerusalem Municipality - backed by the Finance Ministry - will add NIS
10 million to the financing of the aforementioned discounts. The
municipal rate discount will be up to 50% of the rate due in 2002. The
Jerusalem Municipality will recommend to the Interior Minister the
criteria for the discounts. The discount will be given in the first
half of 2002. In June 2002, the need for continuing granting discounts
will be reexamined.
NIS 20 million - from the Industry and Trade, and Construction and
Housing Ministry budgets - will be allocated towards renovations in the
city center.
NIS 15 million - from the Tourism Ministry budget - will be allocated
for marketing and events.
NIS 15 million - from the Construction and Housing Ministry and
Jerusalem Municipality (backed by the Finance Ministry) budgets - will
be allocated to completing the development of the Mahane Yehuda market.
The Jerusalem Municipality will be ready to begin implementation of the
aforementioned projects by Independence Day.
NIS 15 million - from the Tourism Ministry budget - will be allocated
towards encouraging occupancy in city hotels; all government ministries
and companies will hold all 2002 conferences and seminars in Jerusalem.
The Ministerial Committee on Jerusalem Affairs will consider additional
steps to strengthen the city via the development of infrastructure in
the city center and encouraging the purchase of apartments in the city.
Downtown Jerusalem extends approximately 500 meters from the Russian
Compound to the Mahane Yehuda market and approximately 400 meters from
Beit Yisrael Street to the Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall. Eleven terrorist
attacks - in which 39 people were killed and over 500 were wounded -
have taken place in this area in the past six months. In the wake of
these attacks, there has been an unprecedented nadir in economic
activity in the city center, including hotel occupancy.
Granting municipal rate discounts to downtown merchants, renovating the
area, and marketing activities and events, will encourage the public to
return to the Jerusalem city center and boost hotel occupancy.
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