PLO and Resolution 181

HA'ARETZ 5/2/99 via IMRA: "The PLO delegation to the United Nations is attempting to revive the United Nations Trusteeship Council so that it can address the status of the territories intended for a Palestinian state under the Partition Plan of November 1947 (Resolution 181).

Sources at the United Nations explained that the PLO initiative to renew the Council's activities is part of a diplomatic effort by Nasser Al-Kidwa, the PLO Observer at the UN, to further international recognition of the legal validity of the Partition Plan.

Until 1994, the United Nations Trusteeship Council dealt with attempts to achieve self-determination or independence for territories under colonial rule or a League of Nations mandate.

The Council was dissolved in November 1994 after its objectives were said to have been achieved.

According to the UN Charter, the Council's activity can be renewed upon the request of the UN General Assembly or a special decision of the Security Council.

Nasser al-Kidwa's initiative to revive the Council is in line with statements made recently by senior Palestinian Authority officials on the subject of Resolution 181.

In an interview with the Al-Ayyam newspaper last week, Palestinian Planning Minister Nabil Shaath said that, "international action will take place at the international Trusteeship Council in the framework of the implementation of UN General Assembly resolutions, including Resolution 181."

In another interview, with the newspaper Al-Quds, Shaath said, "if the resolution [Resolution 181] is implemented, all the Palestinian lands which Israel occupied beyond the Partition borders will be transferred to the United Nations, including eastern and western Jerusalem. The UN will act in the same manner as in Namibia - it will hold a referendum among the Palestinian people concerning these lands."

PLO Observer Nasser Al-Kidwa claims that "the end of the Interim Period (on May 4) requires a legitimate point of departure. The Partition Plan of November 1947, which served as the legal basis for the establishment of the State of Israel, must also serve as the basis for the establishment of the Palestinian state."

In response, Israel's Ambassador to the UN Dore Gold said, "Until now, Israel has acted on the assumption that any arrangement with the Palestinians over the West Bank and Gaza would be permanent. The PLO's renewed focus on Resolution 181 proves that the Palestinian intention is that such an arrangement would not be the last word."

Assad worn out, "wouldn´t even be able to negotiate generous offer"

YEDIOT AHARONOT 4/29/99: "Syrian President Hafiz al-Asad's regime is "worn out," and is incapable of reaching a peace settlement with Israel, Bruce Reidel, the official in charge of Syria and Lebanon in the US National Security Council, said. In a meeting with Uri Lubrani, the Israeli coordinator on Lebanon affairs, Reidel said that "even if an Israeli government is formed after the Israeli elections that makes al-Asad a generous offer, I am not certain that he has the ability to accept it."

Reidel's remarks, which reached the prime minister and foreign minister yesterday from the Israeli Embassy in Washington are based on reports by the US Embassy in Damascus.

Reidel also noted: "This is a regime whose legitimacy is low among the public and which is mainly busy trying to settle the handing over of power."

US Ambassador Walker furious

IDF RADIO 4/29/99: "There is renewed tension between the United States and Israel. US Ambassador Ned Walker is furious with the prime minister, who said yesterday that Clinton's letter to 'Arafat had been coordinated with him in advance. US elements said in reaction that Netanyahu had not even seen the letter.

This clash now seems to have been the reason for US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's sharp remarks against the prime minister last night. Our political correspondent Raviv Drucker reports in the studio:

[Drucker] The US-Israeli axis keeps warming up. Yesterday we heard the US secretary of state make sharp remarks of a truly unprecedented nature, saying on record that the prime minister had violated an explicit pledge to President Clinton regarding settlement construction. And now we learn that US Ambassador to Israel Ned Walker is simply livid at Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

It all began when Netanyahu suddenly summoned all the foreign ambassadors to a briefing in Jerusalem. At the briefing, speaking in the presence of everyone, including Walker, he said Clinton's letter to 'Arafat had been coordinated with him from A to Z, that it had his consent, and that some of the letter's ideas had been drawn from his own ideas.

Ned Walker and the embassy retorted: Wrong, unfounded, the opposite is true: Netanyahu never even saw the letter, he may get to see it in a few days. Incidentally, 'Arafat is yet to publicize this three-page letter. The US Embassy's reaction to this report: No comment."

Bibi on Moscow TV

Moscow's NTV 4/29/99--Interview with Prime Minister Netanyahu: "...Let us return to the subject of Russia. You have frequently held talks in Moscow about halting deliveries of Russian missile and nuclear technologies to Iran. You have spoken and spoken about this but what happens next?

[Netanyahu] We are following with great attention Iran's capabilities for creating missile, bacteriological and chemical weapons. We consider that this is a great threat both to Israel and to Russia. Iran is a radical, ideological and fanatical power.

Their missiles can reach Moscow and other parts of Russia. This is a danger to peace throughout the world. Unfortunately, Russian technology is seeping through to Iran. But Moscow has assured me that it will undertake all possible measures to stop this leak. And I have no grounds not to believe this.

[Q] But I saw you about a year ago with [Yevgeniy] Primakov, who was then foreign minister, in this very hall and you spoke to him on the same subject. And what happened?

[A] On my part I do all I can, constantly and tirelessly, in order to restrict the flow of technology to Iran because I think that this is a danger for the future of the world...

[Q] You know that Russia is in a difficult economic position and Iran can provide Moscow with cash. But what can Israel provide? Friendship? Friendship compared with money?

[A] How can we even start to compare this with the trivial matter of money. Moreover, the price of oil has fallen recently. Iran cannot pay anything. I can offer the Russian authorities the following variant. For example, two days ago I received from an American firm which bought an Israeli company 700 million dollars in cash. A couple of months ago another Israeli company was bought for 500 million dollars. And earlier another one for a quarter of a million. This third company was set up in 1997 by Israeli lads who are barely over 20 years old. And they received millions of dollars.

Where does this money come from?

It is the result of intellectual work. They are being paid for their good brains, for telecommunications. Israel does have things to trade in. And all of this is being done by Israelis including by repatriates from the former Soviet Union who are taking part in the development of the free market and technology.

There are a million such repatriates in Israel. And we have achieved remarkable success with your help. Repatriates can create joint businesses with Russia and with Russian companies.

If we have an alliance between Russian potentials and Israeli technology and we sell manufactured goods to third countries, then this will provide jobs for Russians and earnings and success for us.

Can you compare this possibility with Iran's proposals about some cash payments?

Moreover, you know how fond I am of Russia. I love everything Russian. I admit that the majority of my closest friends are people from Russia.

[Q] Yes, you may love them, but the Israeli police do not love Russians. They regard them as dumb blondes, prostitutes, mafia. These labels are constantly used in the press and are hung on repatriates.

[A] Do not forget that I do not run the Israeli police. I think that this refers to a few individuals and not to the police as a state institution. Let me express my own opinion: the contribution made to our society by repatriates from Russia. I think that the leap forward made by Israeli technology was made possible precisely thanks to the contribution made by repatriates from the former Soviet Union. They brought in much that was new. They changed the face and the culture of the country. They changed Israel intellectually.

All spheres of life in our country received a major stimulus because of this latest repatriation. I think that the arrival of another million people from Russia would be the best present for Israel.

If I catch anyone who is guided by the stereotypes which you mentioned I have this instrument to put this right. [Netanyahu bangs on table with gavel]

[Q] I'll hold you to that. What is your attitude to the possibility of the declaration of an independent Palestinian state?

[A] I think that people who have come from Russia will understand the position I hold against the Palestinian state. Russia is a very big country with many peoples who could demand unlimited sovereignty. But these people and their idea of splitting up the country into small states are, I think, mistaken.

There are already somewhere about 180 countries in the world. But there are ethnic conflicts everywhere and if the way out is sought in splitting up at the expense of other states, then there could be 300, 400 or even more countries in the world and there would be chaos and not peace.

I am not opposed to the idea that the Palestinians could conduct their own affairs where Arafat holds sway and we do not. But where is their freedom of speech, freedom of the press, democracy? They have a certain degree of power on Palestinian territories. Let them conduct their affairs as they wish, but not to the detriment of our, Israeli, security.

We do not want to have a state right next door which can bring in freely from Iran or Iraq Stingers or SS-20s or aircraft which if necessary could begin to strike Israel. In other words, let them have power which obtains on their own territory but not the strength which would give them the possibility or the potential possibility to attack us.

[Q] The last aspect is connected with sovereignty. What if Arafat declares his state? Will there be war?

[A] This would be a big mistake on his part and we shall make an adequate response, as far as we can. This will be dangerous for the world, too. But the majority of countries support us.

There is no need for you to smile. America does, too. Because I shall never allow anyone to divide up territory unilaterally without an agreement. In particular, I shall never allow Jerusalem to be divided.

[Q] What will you do about the settlements?

[A] All of our settlements have been recreated. They first appeared before 1948 and we returned there after the 1967 war. They were deserted areas, there was nothing there. We say to the Arabs: build your houses there. We have allowed them to build but they did nothing. During my term of office we have not built a single new settlement which would not be allowed..."

Protest against Joseph Zogby former head of Arab lobby

MA'ARIV 4/22/99: "Political figures in Israel are angry over Joseph Zoghby's appointment as an aide to US Assistant Secretary of State Martin Indyk. His father, Jim Zoghby, used to head the Arab lobby in Washington, is an influential figure in the US capital, and has connections to President Clinton.

Joseph Zoghby gained prominence in Israel five years ago, when he was arrested after breaking into a terrorist's house in East Jerusalem's Jabal al-Mukabbir which had been sealed by the security forces.

In the year before his appointment Zoghby wrote two acerbic articles, in one of which he called Israel "a monster" and a "foreign oppressor" and argued that the Israelis were colonialists who violate human rights and in the other he called Israel "an apartheid state."

State Department sources say that Zoghby enjoys their full support. A source in Washington expressed astonishment at Israel's interference in the appointment of US citizens, both Jews and Arabs, to positions in the US Administration.

"Zoghby was appointed eight months ago," said the sources. "The timing of the Foreign Ministry's leak is apparently connected to the election campaign in Israel and the hostile relations between Netanyahu and Indyk."

[ZINC ED. NOTE: It is ZOA that first brought the issue to light through a series of press releases. The first ZOA press release is dated April 19th. A later ZOA release indicated that Joseph Zogby "is leaving his State Dept. post, following protests by ZOA." At this time, it is unclear whether he will depart. Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs, Martin Indyk, is furious with the ZOA protest, and has publicly indicated that the issue is still open and that Zogby might remain.]

Or on more for PA

GLOBES 4/27/99: "Ya'aqov Or, coordinator of activities in the territories, said at a convention at Haifa University on the subject of the Palestinian economy that the Palestinians are not taking advantage of the economic possibilities opened up to them by Israel in the framework of international agreements. Or cited as examples the permits given to Palestinian workers and truck traffic.

Regarding permits for Palestinian workers, Or said that some 100,000 Palestinians had been engaged in 1998 by Israeli employers. He estimated that if the security situation continues stable there will be more Palestinians workers within the confines of Israel, "although it should be borne in mind that we, in Israel, are in a state of recession."

Or said that Israel is currently distributing 27,000 permits to Palestinian businessmen, so that they can enter Israel freely "and we are prepared, as the needs dictates, to increase this number."

Or voiced complaints against the Palestinian Authority [PA] officials in the mater of permits given for Palestinian trucks wanting to enter Israel: "We can allow hundreds of trucks to enter, but the PA is not forwarding any names."

According to Or, "It is always very easy to blame Israeli security, but it isn't always only a matter of security." Or said that Israel would shortly invest a few million dollars to assist in setting up a third industrial park in the West Bank area, to be held jointly by Israel and the Palestinians.

Or added that for international community projects to be more extensively implemented, more cooperation was needed between all parties, especially as regards water."

Merger: Meretz is One

MA'ARIV 4/25/99: "Meretz campaign headquarters will merge with One Israel's headquarters after the first round of voting, and activists from both camps will work under one roof in an attempt to defeat the Likud in the runoff. Contacts to this effect were held under a heavy veil of secrecy and the One Israel movement is trying to conceal its ties with Meretz out of fear that its image will appear too leftish.

Last week, a secret meeting was held between Knesset Member [MK] Mikha Goldman and One Israel team and Meretz MK Hayim Oron and his team. The meeting was held in Ramat Gan, the headquarters of One Israel's organizational and runoff staff.

The teams discussed organization after the first round of voting, the distribution of tasks, and the manning of particularly problematic ballot boxes in the runoff. The teams will meet again in the near future with reserves Colonel Hayim Mendel-Shaqed, who served as Ehud Baraq's aide-de-camp when the latter was chief of staff and was recently appointed by Baraq to be in charge of the runoff.