Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : WAR on Terror. Will it engulf the Entire Middle East? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Nadine Carroll who wrote (1020)	12/3/2001 11:30:51 PM
From: David Alon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 32591

Cabinet declares PA 'entity that supports terror' By Aluf Benn, Ha'aretz Correspondent Sharon: "Arafat has chosen the path of terror ... to try to make diplomatic gains through murder." (Photo: Lior Mizrahi/Bowbow) The government voted to declare the Palestinian Authority "an entity that supports terror" after a marathon six-hour session Monday night, precipitating a major coalition crisis as Foreign Minister Shimon Peres led a walkout of Labor ministers in protest over the decision. The government also declared the Tanzim militia, which is associated with Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat's Fatah party, and the Force 17 presidential guard, terror organiations. An announcement published at the end of the meeting said that the security cabinet was authorized to decide on the operational measures needed to implement the cabinet's decisions. It also said that the decision regarding the PA and the Palestinian groups "can be changed... if the Palestinian Authority fulfills its obligations, according to agreements, to prevent terror, punish terrorists and to smash the terror infrastructure." The proposal to declare the PA a terror-supporting entity was put forward by Infrastructure Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Tourism Minister Benni Elon, both of the far-right Yisrael Beiteinu-National Union alliance, and was supported by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Peres and the other Labor ministers opposed the wording and walked out after Sharon refused a request by the foreign minister to delay the vote by a week. Before the Labor ministers' angry exit, Likud ministers Ruby Rivlin and Silvan Shalom, as well as the director of the Prime Minister's Office, Uri Shani, tried to forge a compromise with Peres, who proposed either to define the PA as an entity sponsoring terror, or to erase the definition from the decision altogether. But Sharon rejected all Peres's proposals, agreeing only to exchange the words "Palestinian Authority," for "Yasser Arafat." Peres called on Sharon "not to take steps that will hurt national unity," but the prime minister announced that he was bringing the proposal to a vote. At that point, the Labor ministers marched out in protest. The remaining ministers supported the prime minister's proposal, barring Dan Meridor (Center Party), who voted against, and Justice Minister Meir Sheetrit who abstained. During the meeting, Defense Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer opposed toppling Arafat and the PA, saying that "what comes the day after needs to be considered." Transport Minister Efraim Sneh criticized the decision-making process that preceded the IDF strikes in Gaza and the West Bank, insisting that it was unacceptable to carry out actions to which both the defense minister and foreign minister were opposed. The Air Force destroyed three of Arafat's helicopters in Gaza on Monday evening, as well as a police station in the West Bank town of Jenin. Peres heads for Bucharest on Tuesday morning, where he will meet with U.S. Secretary of Sate Colin Powell and with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov. On the agenda is the escalation in the conflict with the Palestinians. Lets just hope the left including Peres decides to quit, so Sharon can finish the job.