ISRAEL NEWS 2006

Poll: Kadima 38-39 Labor 18-19 Likud 14-17 NRP/Nat'l Union 10-11
By Dr. Aaron Lerner.   22 February 2006

#1 Telephone poll of a representative sample of 509 adult Israelis (including Arab Israelis) carried out by Maagar Mohot ("Brain Trust") for Israel Television's "Mishal Cham" on 20 February 2006. #2 Telephone poll of a representative sample of adult Israelis (including Arab Israelis) carried out by Dialogue for Haaretz and Channel 10
week 20 February 2006 http://news.walla.co.il/?w=//863889. [Among the 120 are 18 "floating" votes, belonging to respondents who are  still undecided on which way to vote, and distributed among the different parties.]


Knesset election vote expressed in mandates [current in brackets]
#1  #2
38 39 [00] Kadima
17 14 [40] Likud
18 19 [22] Labor
00 00 [15] Shinui (both the party and the break-away "Secular Zionist
Party")
09 09 [11] Shas
09 09 [08] Arab parties
05 05 [06] Yachad [Meretz]
10 11 [07* & 6] National Union & NRP
07 07 [07*] Yisrael Beiteinu [Lieberman]
06 07 [05] Yahadut Hatorah
01 00 [00] Green Leaf (legalize hashish) - does not pass minimum
* National Union & Yisrael Beiteinu together have 7 seats
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Statement From the Prime Minister's Bureau [PA elections]

(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser). Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert this evening , held a security discussion in the wake of the results of the Palestinian Authority (PA) elections.  Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Public Security Minister Gideon Ezra, Minister Tzahi Hanegbi, IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz, ISA Director Yuval Diskin and other senior officials attended the discussion. The following statement was released: "Today, it became known that the PA elections have resulted in a victory for Hamas.  There is no doubt that - from Israel's point-of-view - a new situation has been created. In the Roadmap, the PA committed itself to dismantling all of the terrorist organizations operating in its area.  Israel has upheld the Roadmap and has demanded - and continues to demand - that PA Chairman Abu Mazen implement the obligation to dismantle the terrorist organizations and their infrastructures. Approximately one year ago, the PA decided to hold elections for its Legislative Council and to enable the main terrorist organization - Hamas - to take part in these elections.  At the same time, the PA and its Chairman made a commitment - both to us and to the international community - that a condition for Hamas's participation in these elections was that upon their conclusion the PA would work to disarm Hamas and turn it from a terrorist organization into a political organization, in accordance with its requirements under the Roadmap. The international community agreed to reverse the order and allow the PA to hold the elections before the dismantling of the terrorist organizations. We demand that the PA and its Chairman honor this commitment in the shortest timeframe and both disarm Hamas and the other terrorist organizations and dismantle their other abilities to perpetrate acts of terrorism. The State of Israel will not negotiate with a Palestinian administration if its members include an armed terrorist organization that calls for the destruction of the State of Israel; in any case, Israel will continue to fight terrorism with a heavy hand, everywhere. Hamas has been declared to be a terrorist organization by most of the international community.  The international community will not accept a situation in which a terrorist organization takes part in an administration that seeks to enjoy international legitimacy. Acting Prime Minister Olmert and Foreign Minister Livni will be in contact with international leaders ahead of the upcoming Quartet meeting and the upcoming meeting of European Union foreign ministers, which are due to take place next week.  Israel will demand that the entire international community compel the PA and its Chairman to implement the commitment to eliminate Hamas as a terrorist organization that calls for Israel's destruction." [IMRA: It shold be noted that ealier this week FM Livni declined to answer . IMRA if  puttting all terrorists on the PA payroll as cops would constitute dismantling and disarming.]
 

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Transfer of "Erez" security crossing to the Ministry of Defense

IDF SPOKESPERSON ANNOUNCEMENT: As of today, January 19th 2006, responsibility over the 'Erez' security crossing will be transferred from the IDF to the Administration for Crossing Points in the Ministry of Defense. The crossing will be operated by a civilian company operating on behalf of the Ministry of Defense. Following the redeployment of Israeli security forces in the area after the completion of the disengagement from the Gaza Strip and in continuation with the broader initiative of transferring the responsibility over security crossings from the IDF to the hands of civilian bodies, the Erez workers' security crossing will be operated by a civilian company contracted by the State of Israel and under the direction of the Ministry of Defense, in accordance with the joint security guidance of the Ministry of Defense and the IDF. The transfer of the responsibility over the crossing will be carried out in a gradual and regulated manner. IDF officials will guide and direct those officials replacing them; this will include the establishment of a personnel interface and construction works inside the crossing, this in order to maintain the conditions required to operate the crossing more efficiently. The crossing will continue to service workers and merchants, humanitarian cases, diplomats, international organization workers and additional authorized groups entering and exiting the Gaza Strip, in accordance with the IDF and District Coordination Office policy of maintaining the fabric of life of the Palestinian population which is not involved in terror activity.

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THE JERUSALEM MUNICIPALITY TO NAME 160 STREETS IN EASTERN JERUSALEM
 

The Jerusalem municipality will approve 160 new street names in eastern Jerusalem over the next month. The names were chosen by a joint committee, consisting of municipal representatives, neighborhood dignitaries and eastern Jerusalem delegates. Background: For dozens of years many streets in eastern Jerusalem don't have any names or a specific address. This happened since under the Jordanian regime many streets were not named, in addition to the vast expansion of construction in the Arab neighborhoods. Once Uri Lupolianski was elected as mayor of Jerusalem he held a meeting with representatives from the Arab neighborhoods and local dignitaries, who asked him to settle the issue of street names and addresses, since this situation, that's been going on for dozens of years, caused the residents there serious difficulties to receive mail and other services. Mayor Lupolianski has ordered to establish a special committee to tackle this situation. "Every person should have an address. The importance of an address goes beyond the municipal level, it's also symbolic", Lupolianski noted. "An address helps to determine an identity and sense of belonging; it helps to feel at home. If we, as a state, wish to keep Jerusalem united, we must treat all the people equally and prevent any feeling of discrimination." The advising committee to the naming committee, headed by former city councilman Shimshon Nir, has done an extensive and thorough research, which resulted in locating many dozens of nameless streets, negotiations with local leaders and dignitaries and the recommendation to name 160 streets. The neighborhoods in question are Um Lison, A-Suana (Mount of Olives), Beit Zafafa, Sharafat, Jabel Mucaber, The Muslim Quarter, Silwan, Abidia, Isawiya, Zur Baher, Um Tuba, Ras El Amud and Shoafat. The recommended street names will be brought to approval in the next session of the municipal naming committee and then approved by the city council. -Br. Aaron Lerner

ISRAEL'S CABINET COMMUNIQUÉ
(Communicated by the Cabinet Secretariat). At the special Cabinet meeting today: 1. The Cabinet approved the appointment of three new ministers and a redistribution of portfolios among existing ministers.  Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said, "Our intention is to efficiently continue the work of government in all ministries.  The Government must provide services, make decisions and manage all systems in an orderly fashion; this is what we are doing and what we will continue to do.  Bringing in the new ministers and redistributing portfolios to existing ministers will enable us to do so in the best possible way." Attorney-General Meni Mazuz made it clear that the Government has been a transitional Government since 30.12.05 and discussed the relevant articles of Basic Law: The Government (http://tinyurl.com/2v5nk). Pursuant to Article 30b of Basic Law: The Government, the Cabinet decided as follows: MK Ronni Bar-On will serve as National Infrastructures Minister and Science and Technology Minister; MK Ze'ev Boim will serve as Construction and Housing Minister and Agriculture and Rural Development Minister; MK Yaacov Edri will serve as Health Minister and Negev and Galilee Development Minister; MK Meir Shetrit will serve as Education, Culture and Sports Minister, in addition to serving as Transportation and Road Safety Minister; MK Tzipi Livni will serve as Foreign Minister in addition to serving as Justice Minister and Immigrant Absorption Minister; MK Gideon Ezra will serve as Environment Minister in addition to serving as Public Security Minister; MK Avraham Hirchson will serve as Communications minister in addition to serving as Tourism Minister. The Knesset will be duly informed of the foregoing according to Articles 9a and 10 of Basic Law: The Government. Acting Prime Minister Olmert said: "Some of you are accepting upon  yourselves great responsibility as new ministers.  Do not forget that we are on the eve of elections and all of the rules, which Attorney-General Mazuz has communicated to each of you, must be remembered very well.  We have no reason to deal with appointments and I recommend that those holding senior positions - including ministry directors-general - continue to do so.  This is not the time for appointments, not even to positions-of-confidence.  This is important and I very much request that you see to it.  Of course, I wish each of you success.  I ask that you quickly take up those matters that need to be dealt with because several of these might naturally have been overlooked for some time and thus require your personal attention and involvement." 2. Pursuant to Basic Law: The Government and with the agreement of Acting Prime Minister Olmert, the Cabinet approved the appointment of MK Majli Wahabee as Deputy Minister in the Education, Culture and Sports Ministry. 3. The Cabinet approved Ministers Bar-On's and Edri's inclusion as members of the Ministerial Committee on Socio-economic Affairs, and Minister Tzahi Hanegbi's inclusion as a member of the Ministerial Committee on the ISA.

 

PM Hopes to Resume Talks with Israelis without Prior Conditions

RAMALLAH,  (WAFA - PLO news agency)- Prime Minister, Ahmed Qurei, hoped to resume peace talks with the Israelis without any prior conditions and directly after the legislative elections. During his meeting Wednesday with, Pierre Sane, Assistant Director-General of UNESCO for Social and Human Sciences, Qurei said that Jerusalem is a part of the 1967 occupied territories and the elections must be run in it freely  and without any obstacles. Qurei briefed his guest on the latest developments in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) and the Palestinian preparations to run the elections on time. He also tackled the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, and  the attacks on candidates which, "will effect the democratic process". For his part, Sane hoped the elections would run without hinders, affirming UNESCO's continuous support to the Palestinian people.


Likud party Chairman Hanegbi: I ran Likud while deciding on Sharon's offer  to join Kadima.

 Interim Likud party Chairman Tzahi Hanegbi told a noon conference today that for the past 17 days he has been running the Likud Party while considering an offer from Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to join Sharon's Kadima Party. Hanegbi explained that he already decided this past Sunday that he would join Kadima but decided to announce it only on Wednesday. During the course of the press conference a reporter noted that Hanegbi had taken a strong stand within the Likud against MK Netanyahu's initiative to have 61 MKs support Netanyahu's replacement of Sharon as prime minister - a move that could have seriously damaged the prospects of the Kadima party (the members of the party would have to run as members of the opposition, Sharon would be an MK and there would be enough time to require the Kadima Party to have primaries for their list instead of Sharon unilaterally setting the list - a process that would lead to serious infighting within the new party). Hanegbi replied that he opposed Netanyahu's move and was clear about it.- By Dr. Aaron Lerner.

Chaye Sarah in Hebron

Yesterday Hebron celebrated the purchase of Ma'arat HaMachpela, bought almost 4,000 years ago by the Patriarch Abraham, to bury his wife, Sarah. Annually, as this Torah portion is read, thousands of people arrive in Hebron for Shabbat to hear these verses recited at the very site Abraham purchased. This Shabbat, over 25,000 people from Israel and around the world, arrived in Hebron to participate in this special event. Hundreds traveled from the United States especially for this Shabbat, via Hebron's New York office, the Hebron Fund, and through AFSI.  In addition, thousands of Israeli couples and youth were hosted by Hebron and Kiryat Arba families. Youth slept in public buildings, prepared especially for Shabbat. Due to the warm weather, many also pitched tents in Hebron and Kiryat Arba. Shabbat meals were provided for those who made prior reservations. Families in Hebron and Kiryat Arba hosted dozens of people in their homes, with guests sleeping on any available floor space. Friday night, the multitudes gathered at Ma'arat HaMachpela, the Tomb of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs, for evening worship. The entire building was open to Jewish worshipers, including Ohel Yitzhak, the Isaac Hall, open to Jews only 11 days during the year. Huge prayer services were held both inside and outside, in the Ma'ara courtyard. Thousands joyously sang and danced the traditional Kabbalat Shabbat service. Following the evening meal, many of the guests attended classes and lectures in Hebron and Kiryat Arba. People could be seen roaming the streets of Hebron through the early hours of the morning. At five thirty in the morning, thousands gathered for early morning prayers at Ma'arat HaMachpela. A 'central service' began at eight o'clock in Ohel Yitzhak, with thousands crowding in and participating. Hearing the ancient words chanted, written by a scribe on parchment, describing the lengthy negotiations leading to Abraham's purchase of the caves and field, almost four millennium ago, at that very site, left everyone in awe. Following the services and afternoon meal, throngs toured Hebron's Jewish neighborhoods, with tours given in Hebrew, English, French and Russian. A festive 'third meal' was attended by hundreds of guests from the United States in the Gutnick Center. Hebron leaders, extremely happy with the huge turnout, said that this was the largest "Chaye Sarah" Shabbat gathering ever. They expressed hope that Israeli politicians and world leaders would take note of the tremendous international support for Hebron's Jewish community. They also commented that such a strong show of support should assist in efforts to prevent the possible expulsion of Jewish families from the 'Mitzpe Shalhevet neighborhood, which was ordered to be implemented before the end of 2005.