|
Weekly Cabinet meeting 26.1.2003 |
|
| (26/01/2003) |
At the weekly Cabinet meeting, 26.1.2003:
1. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon discussed the issue of US economic aid
and reminded ministers that a delegation headed by Prime Minister's
Bureau Director Dov Weisglass went to the US two weeks ago to deal with
the matter. The Prime Minister welcomed the continuation of the
Israel-US talks, as per the White House announcement of last Friday, in
which the US reiterated its deep commitment to Israel's economic
progress. The Prime Minister added that the US had made it clear that
while it recognized the damage that the continuing war on terrorism has
inflicted on the Israeli economy, it had great confidence in the Israeli
economy and was considering ways to strengthen Israel's economic
future. Finally, the Prime Minister noted that the US statement said
talks on the issue would resume in the near future, and remarked that
this boded well vis-א-vis Israel's request for economic assistance.
2. Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz briefed ministers on ongoing security
issues, relating specifically to the inspectors' report on their
findings in Iraq, which is due by the end of the month; the Israeli
elections; US President Bush's State of the Union address, which is
expected to clarify his intentions vis-א-vis Iraq; and the 'Bush-Blair'
summit to be held on Saturday 31.1.2003.
Defense Minister Mofaz said that Israel remains in the throes of a
terrorist onslaught in the run-up to the elections, and added that the
scope of warnings and attempted attacks is very high. The Defense
Minister discussed the Cairo meeting, work being carried out on the seam
line fence, Hizballah's attack against a northern IDF outpost which
included missile and mortar fire, the preparations for the elections and
a possible US attack on Iraq.
3. The Cabinet ratified an aviation agreement with Macedonia.
|
|