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Weekly Cabinet meeting 17.8.2003. |
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Weekly Cabinet meeting 17.8.2003. |
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| 17/08/2003 |
At the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Sunday), 17.8.2003:
1. Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and OC Intelligence Maj.-Gen. Aharon Zeevy
Farkash briefed ministers on security issues; Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom
briefed ministers on diplomatic issues.
Defense Minister Mofaz discussed the fragility of the process with the
Palestinians, which was underscored last week by the attacks in Rosh Haayin
and Ariel. He said that behind the escalation are terrorist bodies that
have accepted the hudna but which have formulated dangerous
rules-of-the-game. Every perceived Israeli violation of the ceasefire is
subject to one-time terror. Tanzim elements in Judea and Samaria, which do
not consider themselves bound by the hudna, are constantly trying to
perpetrate attacks against Israel, most of which do not succeed. Arafat is
giving signals that are being interpreted by those around him and the Tanzim as hidden encouragement of terror and support for Iranian-backed terror by Hizballah and others. The Defense Minister stressed that Israels operative behavior is prudent and determined and added that there is no intention of changing it. In the events in both Nablus and Hebron, in which Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists were killed, Israel was acting against ticking bombs in areas that have not been handed over to Palestinian security control.
The Defense Minister said that Israels reaction to the Rosh Haayin and Ariel attacks concentrated on the Nablus-Jenin area and stepped up its counter-terrorist and preventive activity there. The Defense Minister
asserted that lately the PA has been passive given the security situation
and its security activity has been partial, localized and far from
satisfactory. Regarding the transfer of Palestinian cities to the PA, the
Defense Minister emphasized that he views the issue as important and not a
concession on Israels part. It entails assigning the PA with responsibility of dealing with terror infrastructures. To this end, he met twice with PA Minister Muhammad Dahlan and acquainted him with the severity of the security situation and stressed that if the PA fails to assume responsibility and deal with terror, it would then bear responsibility for the security escalation, possibly entailing the collapse of the process.
Defense Minister Mofaz said that a pointed discussion, it was agreed in
principle that Israel would transfer security responsibility for Jericho and
Kalkilya to the PA, and in a second stage, Ramallah and Tulkarm as well.
The handover of these cities will be conditional on a resolution of the
problem of the fugitives in each city; the Defense Minister will monitor
their implementation. The Defense Minister gave concrete security demands
to the Palestinian side; the security establishment will monitor their
implementation. Defense Minister Mofaz said that the aforementioned
agreement is important at a critical moment in the process and added that
the ball is now in the Palestinians court. He added that it must be
emphasized that progress in this process will be cautious and gradual, and conditioned on a series of approvals on Israels part; nothing is automatic and Israel has no intention of making concessions on its security needs and demands. Whenever and wherever the PA fails to deal with terror, Israel will do so. At the same time, Israel intends to continue easing
restrictions on the population in conformity with security needs. The
population is already feeling the change and for the first time has
become a restraining factor against terror.
Defense Minister Mofaz and OC Intelligence Maj.-Gen. Aharon Zeevy Farkash
commented on the growing tension on the northern front, which stems from
Hizballahs and Syris being ill at ease with the Israeli-Palestinian
process.
Defense Minister Mofaz said that Israel is holding not only Hizballah
accountable for what happens in the north, but the Lebanese and Syrian
governments as well, and added that deterrent messages to this effect have
been passed on to Beirut and Damascus.
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom discussed events in the north and said that
they were a focal point for wide-ranging diplomatic activity. The Foreign
Minister reported that he has instructed the Israeli Ambassador to the UN to
submit a complaint regarding the Hizballah attacks, and is initiating
discussions with several fellow foreign ministers, including US Secretary of
State Colin Powell. In addition, he has instructed Israeli embassies abroad
to emphasize in the seriousness with which Israel views the terror attacks
in Ariel and Rosh Haayin in particular and the continuation of terror in
general. The Foreign Minister also emphasized the importance of dismantling
the terrorist infrastructure, as is demanded by the road map.
Foreign Minister Shalom described Nabil Shaaths comments as extremely grave
and harsh, and that Israel has responded to them in the strongest possible
terms. The Foreign Minister further commented that European countries are
putting pressure on Iran regarding the nuclear issue.
Prime Minister Sharon commented on the various briefings and said that all
contacts and agreements reached between Defense Minister Mofaz and Muhammad
Dahlan were done so with his full knowledge and approval. The Prime
Minister added that Israels central aim has been and continues to be
achieving security and peace for the State of Israel and noted that the
implementation of the road map has not yet reached beyond the initial
stages. Following remarks by Attorney General Elyakim Rubinstein and in
recognition of the fact that there is no legal system in the Palestinian
Authority, the Prime Minister instructed that a senior Israeli legal
representative (the Justice Ministry Director-General or another senior
official) attend all meetings with Palestinian security officials.
2. The government decided to renew the activities of the ministerial team on
confirming the Holy Synod of the Greek-Orthodox Patriarchates 13.8.2003
choice of Metropolitan Eirinaios as Jerusalems Greek Orthodox Patriarch.
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