|
weekly Cabinet meeting 02.02.2003 |
|
| (02/02/2003) |
At the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Sunday), 26.1.2003:
1. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon made the following remarks:
"Yesterday, at 16:00 local time, contact with the space shuttle Columbia
was lost. Seven astronauts - including the first Israeli astronaut,
Col. Ilan Ramon - were aboard the shuttle.
From the moment that we were notified about the loss of contact, we -
along with the rest of the world - monitored the updates about the
situation that we received from NASA with hope, trepidation and prayer,
until the bitter moment when it became clear to us beyond all doubt that
the seven astronauts had perished in the shuttle explosion.
From here, on behalf of the government and people of Israel, I would
like to send our sincerest condolences to the families of the American
astronauts, to US President George W. Bush, and to the American people.
It is at times like these that we feel our common fate, identity and
values, and shared vision, which we realized during Col. Ilan Ramon's
journey into space.
I regret that I did not know Ilan personally, not as well as I would
have liked. But I was familiar with his record as a daring fighter
pilot and an excellent commander.
I spoke with Ilan before he lifted off on his last mission and I also
spoke with him during the flight. In my conversations with Ilan, I
became acquainted with a man of values, who deeply loved this people and
this land, a man who should not have been taken from us so suddenly -
along with the hopes, dreams, history and future of all of us - to a
place higher than we can realize.
Last night, I spoke with Ilan's father, Eliezer, and with his wife,
Rona. I am sure that everyone will join me in conveying our condolences
and support to this wonderful family, a family that we are all proud of.
The seven astronauts who perished yesterday in the space shuttle
Columbia disaster are part of the heavy price that the human race must
pay in its quest for knowledge and in its desire to explore other
worlds. Their deaths will not be in vain. Mankind's journey into space
will continue. US-Israeli cooperation in this endeavor will continue as
well. The day will come when other Israeli astronauts will be launched
into space. I am certain that the memory of Ilan Ramon, Israel's first
space pioneer, will be etched in our hearts.
All Israelis bow their heads in memory of Col. Ilan Ramon and the crew
of the shuttle Columbia, heroes of our journey into space."
US Ambassador to Israel Daniel C. Kurtzer made the following remarks:
"Mr. Prime Minister and distinguished members of the Cabinet:
Seventeen days ago, Americans and Israelis turned their eyes towards the
heavens with pride and anticipation as the Columbia space shuttle lifted
upward carrying seven brave astronauts. Our two nations shared joy and
admiration for the heroism and bravery of the crew. We shared hopes and
dreams of the advances that this mission promised for the betterment of
humankind.
Today Americans and Israelis come together again to mourn those seven
astronauts: Col. Rick Husband, Commander William McCool, Lt. Col.
Michael Anderson, Capt., Dave Brown, Dr. Kalpana Chawla, Dr. Laurel
Clark, and Col. Ilan Ramon.
In paying tribute to these heroes, our two nations can draw on deep
reservoirs of courage, character and fortitude. As we share triumphs,
we also share misfortune. But even during this period of mourning and
reflection our gaze is drawn inexorably towards the same aspirations
that drew Ilan Ramon and his colleagues into space. Just last week,
Col. Ramon said from space, "The world looks marvelous from up here - so
peaceful, so wonderful and so fragile." His words evoked thoughts of an
American poet, who said after an earlier Apollo flight "to see the earth
as we see it now - small and beautiful and blue in that eternal silence
where it floats, is to see ourselves as riders on the earth together;
brothers on that bright loveliness in the unending night; brothers who
see now that they are truly brothers."
Americans and Israelis are brothers indeed - on earth and in space. As
President Bush told the American people last evening, "the cause in
which these [brothers and sisters] died will continue. Mankind is led
into the darkness beyond our world by the inspiration of discovery and
the longing to understand. Our journey into space will go on."
May the memories of the fallen astronauts be blessed."
2. IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe Ya'alon briefed ministers on
ongoing security matters, commenting on methods employed by Israel in
the face of the threat of Palestinian terror, the possible US attack
against Iraq, and the situation on the northern border. Chief-of-Staff
Ya'alon gave detailed information on IDF operations designed to prevent
the launching of Kassam rockets, and operations aimed at disrupting the
organizing of terror attacks.
|
|