 | The Prime Minister |
|
| | | | Government |
|
| | | | Government Secretariat Office |
|
| | | | Prime Minister's Office |
|
| | | | History |
|
| | | | Briefing Room |
|
| | | | Contact Us |
|
| |  | Archive |
|
| |  |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
At the weekly Cabinet meeting Sunday, 19.10.2003: |
|
|
|
|
|
At the weekly Cabinet meeting Sunday, 19.10.2003: |
|
| 20/10/2003 |
1. Minister Limor Livnat raised the issue of negotiations over the MIAs and
POWs that are now being discussed in the media and said that the facts
should be presented to ministers either in the framework of the Cabinet or
the Ministerial Committee for National Security.
Prime Minister Sharon responded that there is no final agreement as yet and
added that there are still a large number of questions, issues and claims,
which have yet to be finalized. The Prime Minister said that there is no
intention of preventing any action that would assist in locating Ron Arad,
and added that such action is indeed being taken.
The Prime Minister remarked that details of the negotiations must not be
made public since this would likely cause the process to fail and emphasized
that every effort must be made to return any Israeli citizen imprisoned in
an Arab country, or by held by a terror organization, to Israel.
Prime Minister Sharon assured ministers that there would be ample time and
opportunity for ministers to familiarize themselves with the issues and to
express their opinions.
2. Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz briefed ministers on ongoing security
matters and described the current Palestinian political situation as one of
crisis, lacking in security, and in which Abu Alas emergency government is
hanging by a thread due to the obstacles Arafat has put in its way. Arafat
continues to prove that he is a serious impediment to the development of a
regime that could enter into talks with Israel.
Defense Minister Mofaz added that in Israels strategic view, US President
George Bushs vision and the roadmap remain the primary context and
framework for progress with the Palestinians. Unfortunately, Israel has
been unable to find a Palestinian partner with which to make peace and is
therefore being forced to continue to take all the necessary steps to fight
terror and halt terror attacks. Israel has increased its operations against
terror since the deadly attack at the Maxim restaurant in Haifa, including
carrying out preemptive operations to target terrorists, arrests,
comprehensive and continuous operations against tunnels in Rafiah, a
complete closure, roadblocks and an increased IDF presence on the seam zone,
reinforcing crossing points in the security fence so as to prevent suicide
bombers from entering, and calling up reservists.
Defense Minister Mofaz discussed the terror attack against the Americans in
the Beit Hanun area and noted that this was a planned attack, which lent
credence to Israels position that security chaos has resulted from the
Palestinian refusal to deal with terror. The terror attack is another test
for the Palestinian leadership; however, it has not resulted in actual steps
against the terrorist infrastructure. The Defense Minister noted that
Israel is treating this attack as an attack against Israel and added that it
will be investigated accordingly.
Defense Minister Mofaz said that there has been a tense quiet on the
northern border since Israels aerial attack on Syria, an attack that
presented the Syrian establishment with a military dilemma. Israel
continues to hold Syria responsible for any attacks originating in its
territory or in areas under its control, including Lebanese and Palestinian
terror.
Foreign Minister Shalom briefed ministers on diplomatic matters, including
the evacuation of Israelis from La Paz, which was carried out professionally
and responsibly. Foreign Minister Shalom thanked the Bolivian and Peruvian
governments for their help in the evacuation.
The Foreign Minister noted that the US House of Representatives passed the
Syrian Accountability Act which enacts economic sanctions against Syria
due to Syrias continued support of terror and Damascuss control over
Lebanon.
Foreign Minister Shalom emphasized that this law presents a clear and strong
message to Syria and to President Assad, that the US is serious about
dealing with Damascuss dangerous and irresponsible support of terror.
3. The Cabinet approved the appointment of Eliyahu Cohen as Israeli
Ambassador to Japan.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|