 | The Prime Minister |
|
| | | | Government |
|
| | | | Government Secretariat Office |
|
| | | | Prime Minister's Office |
|
| | | | History |
|
| | | | Briefing Room |
|
| | | | Contact Us |
|
| |  | Archive |
|
| |  |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
The weekly cabinet decisions |
|
|
|
|
|
The weekly cabinet decisions |
|
| (17/06/2002) |
At the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Sunday), 16.6.2002:
1. Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer briefed the Cabinet on the
current situation vis-a-vis Palestinian terror. The Defense Minister
stated that there has been a tangible drop in the scope of terror
activity as compared to the situation before Operation 'Defensive
Shield', and a very high rate of success in foiling attacks by defensive
and offensive actions on the part of Israel's security forces.
Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer stated there is still a not insignificant
number of attempted attacks, both in Israel and in Judea, Samaria and
Gaza, and those attacks are occasionally successful.
Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer gave details of the attacks that took place
in the past week in which three Israelis were killed and 20 were
wounded. Israel is continuing its intensive activities to prevent and
foil attacks wherever necessary.
Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer emphasized that the security situation is
dangerous due to the constant growth in motivation to attack Israel and
the constantly increasing rehabilitation of the terror infrastructure.
Israel is closely monitoring developments in the Palestinian Authority
and is maintaining a high state of alert on the northern front.
Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer and Defense Ministry Director-General Amos
Yaron reported on the start of construction of the security fence. The
Defense Minister stated that the fence is intended strictly for security
needs and has no political significance. The Government will hold
discussions on this topic in the coming days.
2. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon reviewed his visit to the United States
and Britain, and clarified that the aim of the visits was to influence
the processes occurring in our region, and to present anew Israel's
positions in relation to these developments. The Prime Minister said
that the visits were at the invitation of US President George W. Bush,
and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Prime Minister Sharon clarified that he raised the following points
during his talks in the United States:
· There will be no progress of any kind in the diplomatic process until
there is a cessation of terrorism, violence and incitement.
· In order to participate in any diplomatic activities, the Palestinians
must - in addition to halting the terror - implement substantial reforms
in all facets of life, including the electoral process.
· There will be no change in the Palestinian Authority, and its path,
without a substantial change in its method of financial oversight and
security mechanisms.
· Definition of timetables for any process is a mistake. It should be
in relation to proven results in the field.
· All future negotiations will be bilateral between Israel and the
Palestinians. Israel will not agree to discuss its future in any
international frameworks of any kind.
· Israel will not return to the 1967 borders.
· Discussion of settlements is part of the permanent agreement
discussions. Regarding the "Palestinian state" issue - the conditions
are not ripe for discussing the subject.
· After implementation of substantial reforms in the Palestinian
Authority, the cessation of terror and the holding of general elections
- Israel will be prepared to partake in discussions on the subject.
· Prime Minister Sharon also referred to the purpose of the regional
conference in his talks in the US. The results of the conference should
be the creation of teams to supervise the processes of change in the
Palestinian Authority, and working teams for discussions on regional
issues.
· Prime Minister Sharon expressed his opinion that no terror states or
states supporting terror should be invited to the regional conference,
and expressed the expectations that states that participate in the
conference will recognize Israel and establish relations with it.
· Prime Minister Sharon expressed, to his hosts, his concerns over the
military developments in the area of southern Lebanon with an emphasis
on the danger to regional and global stability from the developing
relationship between Iran, Syria and Hizbullah. In addition, the Prime
Minister also raised the issues of the missing Israeli captives and
Jonathan Pollard.
3. The Cabinet approved the principles of the income tax reforms
outlined in the recommendations of the Public Commission on Tax Reform
headed by Yair Rabinovich.
The Cabinet created a ministerial committee headed by Finance Minister
Silvan Shalom in order to discuss and approve a bill for implementation
of the commission's recommendations for tax reform. Ministers'
reservations regarding the commission's recommendations will be
discussed and decided by the ministerial committee.
4. The Cabinet adopted the recommendation of the Ministerial Committee
on Legislation regarding the 2002 Military Service Law (Reserve Duty -
emergency regulations), while restricting its validity until the end of
2002. Due to the security situation, the need has arisen to adjust the
law's articles on reserve duty in the format of an emergency
regulation. To this end, the aforementioned draft law proposes to
temporarily - until the end of 2002 - increase the maximum number of
annual days that reservists may be called up from 30 days to 37 days.
5. The Cabinet approved an emergency plan - which has been prepared by
the Veterinary Services in coordination with the Health Ministry - to
prevent human exposure to "mad cow disease." The emergency plan
includes the following points:
A. Mandatory testing of brain tissue from slaughtered cattle over 30
months of age, before its meat may be marketed for human consumption.
B. The removal and destruction of internal organs defined as being at
high risk for exposure to the disease (heads except the tongue,
intestines and spinal cord) from meat from cattle over 12 months of age.
C. Preventing the transportation and sale of cattle over 30 months of
age for slaughter in the Palestinian Authority.
In the framework of its decision, the Cabinet approved a budget for
implementing the plan.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|