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Cabinet Communique |
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| (14/07/2002) |
At the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Sunday), 14.7.2002:
1. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon opened the Cabinet meeting by expressing
on his behalf, and on the behalf of the Cabinet, his deep sorrow on the
passing of former IAF Commander Benny Peled. Prime Minister Sharon
described him as a special person, an outstanding pilot in the IAF, and
an IAF Commander who was entrusted with the most difficult missions
during one of the most difficult times the State and the Air Force has
ever known. He will be remembered as one out of the best of the IDF
commanders, one of the best of the IAF Commanders and one of the best of
the pilots.
On his behalf, and on the behalf of the Cabinet, Prime Minister Sharon
extends his condolences to the family of Maj.-Gen. Benny Peled.
2. The Cabinet decided to refer the issue of Jewish settlement and
community settlement to the public committee headed by Yaakov Ne'eman.
The Cabinet accepted Prime Minister Sharon's proposal as follows:
A. To define that Jewish settlement in the land of Israel is an
expression of the fulfillment of Zionism, and is essential for the
protection of the State, its security and its borders;
B. To charge the Public Committee for Constitutional Affairs and Basic
Laws, headed by Dr. Yaacov Ne'eman, with examining the issue of Jewish
settlement, and community settlement in general, and to make
recommendations to the Cabinet based on the legal situation;
C. To oppose the proposed law by MK Haim Druckman, or any other private
bill on the issue that will be brought for a vote in the Knesset, before
the aforementioned recommendations have been proposed to, and examined
by, the Cabinet.
Prime Minister Sharon noted that the Cabinet decided last week to
authorize Cabinet Secretary Gideon Saar to examine changes in MK
Druckman's proposed law. The examination revealed that there is a doubt
over whether there is actually a need for this legislation.
Prime Minister Sharon emphasized that the Government is committed to the
values of Jewish settlement. This settlement determined the borders of
the country, and currently, and for the foreseeable future, will
constitute an essential layer of the national security.
The Ne'eman Committee is made up of representatives of the various
ideological streams that have joined together to make up the Government,
professional people and jurists acceptable to all sides.
They are dealing with questions touching upon the identity of the State
of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. It would be correct for
them to evaluate the current legal situation, non-legislative processes
that can be undertaken, and if there is a need for legislation at all -
what legislation.
3. Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer briefed the Cabinet on the
current security issues noting that IDF activity and presence in
Palestinian cities is continuing as necessary in light of the many
warnings that exist of attacks in Israel. The Defense Minister further
said that the security forces have achieved impressive accomplishments
in foiling intended attacks, but that despite the IDF activities in the
cities, there still exists the possibility of terrorist attacks of all
types, including serious ones, taking place because the motivation to
carry out terror attacks has not decreased. Furthermore, Defense
Minister Ben-Eliezer said that the security establishment is following a
policy of differential curfews in cities where the tendency is to ease
up on the civilian population, but under no circumstances at the expense
of security.
Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer noted that the phenomenon of mortar
shelling exists in the Gaza Strip.
In the economic humanitarian area, in an effort to relieve the economic
distress of the civilian population, the entry of 7,000 Palestinian
workers into Israel has been permitted. Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer
believes that it is necessary to consider increasing this number in
order to improve the economic situation of the population.
Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer related to the activities along the seam
line and the "Jerusalem envelope" and clarified that he is accelerating
the works as much as possible.
Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer also related to the Southern Command where
the war against the smuggling of weapons along the Egyptian border
through tunnels to the PA continues.
Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer also related to the intentions of Hizbullah
in the north to carry out a significant large attack while IDF forces
maintain their vigilance to prevent developments that will expand the
cycle of violence on the northern border.
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