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Cabinet Communique |
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| 18/03/2002 |
At the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Sunday), 17.3.2002:
1. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon opened the Cabinet meeting by saying that
the central objective of the government is to achieve a cease-fire and
implementation of the Tenet document as soon as possible; and when we
arrive at the end of the cease-fire and Tenet stage - the diplomatic
negotiations will begin. Prime Minister Sharon emphasized that at this
time they are dealing with only one issue, and that is a cease-fire.
Prime Minister Sharon reported to the Cabinet on the two meetings he had
with US envoy General Zinni since his arrival in the country. Prime
Minister Sharon said he briefed General Zinni on the events that have
taken place since the end of his previous mission on 11.1.2002.
Beforehand General Zinni received a very comprehensive briefing by the
Defense establishment. Prime Minister Sharon said he emphasized to
General Zinni that the Tanzim, on the direct instructions of the
Palestinian Authority, perpetrates the vast majority of terror attacks.
In addition, the Prime Minister clarified that Israel wants to reach a
cease-fire, and Israel is committed to the security of its citizens.
Prime Minister Sharon stated that in the case of terror attacks taking
place, Israel will be forced to respond. Progress in the process must
be on a reciprocal basis, and built on the understanding that both
parties must fulfill their commitments according to the Tenet document.
Prime Minister Sharon told General Zinni that Israel will refrain from
various activities from the moment implementation of the Tenet process
begins, but this is under the assumption that the quiet will be
maintained by the Palestinians.
2. Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer briefed the Cabinet on current
security matters and noted that the arrival of General Zinni provides a
certain opening of hope for a cease-fire and calm, yet the attacks and
warnings of attacks continue at the same time. Alongside the terrible
attacks that were perpetrated over the last week, Israel registered a
high success rate of foiling attacks. The IDF completed the main
portions of its offensive activities in the "A" territories, cities and
refugee camps. The IDF activities were successful from a military
standpoint and proved that no center of terror is immune. The IDF
withdrew from most of the territory with the conclusion of activities,
just as Israel had declared it would at the outset.
3. The government decided to approve Prime Minister Sharon and Finance
Minister Silvan Shalom's proposal for the Bank of Israel law.
4. The government approved the following diplomatic appointments:
Ambassadors to Uzbekistan, Tajikistan (non-resident), Bulgaria, Ireland,
Thailand, China and Mongolia (non-resident), as well as Consul Generals
in Atlanta, Houston and Boston in the United States.
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