Fatah problems?
London's AL SHARQ AL AWSAT 7/1/99: "Fatah Central Committee member 'Abbas Zaki has
denied any knowledge of a "very important letter" that Palestinian President
Yasir 'Arafat is said to have sent to the Jordanian leadership to intervene with the Fatah
leaders and supporters in Jordan and persuade them not to become involved in an internal
conspiracy by some of 'Arafat's closest colleagues to embarrass him and rebel against him.
During a telephone call from Amman to Al-Sharq al-Awsat he said that the Jordanian
scene is not conspiratorial nor is it a playground for fools, describing these rumors as
the "fabricated reports and fantasies of sick people" and praising in the same
context Jordan's leadership and government position on the Palestinian issue generally.
Zaki said that the position of Jordan's King 'Abdallah Bin-Husayn is becoming more and
more Palestinian-oriented by the day through the stepping up of the process of joint
Jordanian-Palestinian cooperation in the interests of the two peoples, describing these
reports as being designed to impede Syrian-Lebanese-Palestinian rapprochement.
In reply to a question about the criticism that has been leveled against 'Arafat by
some Fatah leaders in Amman, Tunis, and Damascus and the accusations that he has made
concessions to Israel, Zaki pointed out that "the focus on these three capitals
merely confirms that there is a real conspiracy against Palestinian interests and that the
concentration on Jordan was a desperate attempt to halt the progress being made by the
Jordanian and Palestinian leaderships in the development that is required in various walks
of life.
With respect to Tunis it is aimed at disrupting relations with Tunisia, which has
played host to the Palestinian leadership since 1982 and is still the main headquarters of
the decision-makers today."
Zaki added that the focus on Damascus, which witnessed the birth of the Palestinian
revolution in the media, is aimed against Syrian-Palestinian rapprochement, and described
Damascus as being truly qualified to defend Arab rights. He said that Syria would not set
up any hawkish leaders in opposition to 'Arafat because basically it has no quarrel with
him and because it would not countenance the possibility of a split, adding that Damascus
accredits the PLO bureau on the diplomatic list, grants it the requisite facilities and
deals with its affairs as matters of state.
There is therefore no truth in what some people are claiming to the effect that
Damascus takes sides with this faction or that against the Palestinian leadership. On the
issue of the contacts between Fatah leaders and the Islamic tendency and Hamas leaders,
Zaki said that this is being seen as an attempt to drive a wedge between Islamists and
nationalists, referring to the fabrication of news and information that was disseminated
within the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan during the second half of last year about an
attempt to assassinate Hammam Sa'id, one of the Muslim Brotherhood leaders in Jordan.
He added that he denied it before confirming it with the Palestinian leadership, since
he knows that such foolishness in Jordan is considered a taboo for the Palestinian
leadership, and that it is connected to the attempt by Israel's Mosad to assassinate Hamas
leader in Jordan, Khalid Mish'al. He said that, after speaking to 'Arafat and Mahmud
'Abbas [Abu-Mazin], all doubts in the minds of the Hamas leaders in Jordan and the leaders
of the Authority in Palestine were dispelled and the dispute was settled.
Zaki denied the allegations made against him personally as well as against Muhammad
Ghunaym [Abu-Mahir] and Muhammad Jihad to the effect that they have been conspiring
against 'Arafat, saying that Ghunaym and Muhammad Jihad are the most prominent and honest
of the Fatah leaders and constitute a safety valve in case of rebellion.
They are both fighting to protect the movement as a means of tightening its grip on the
occupation and removing it from the heart of the Palestinian people. Everyone is in
constant contact with President 'Arafat.
With regard to any connection between these reports and other reports about a
deterioration in 'Arafat's health, Zaki said that the Palestinian President's health is
good and that the rumors about this were no more than fabrication by the media and Israeli
intelligence to confuse matters for the Palestinians, adding in this respect that the
Palestinian leadership is in favor of holding an Arab summit, which Iraq would attend, and
that Syria is not against the summit or an appearance by 'Arafat at it although everyone
wants to be well prepared for it."
Barak favors loyalists over Arabs, women and veteran
politicians
AP 7/5/99: "Prime Minister-elect Ehud Barak appeared to favor loyalists over
Arabs, women and seasoned politicians in assembling the government he is due to present
this week. Barak's Cabinet appointments from his Labor party were to be sent to the
party's central committee for approval today. Several party members have already expressed
disappointment that the leader they helped elect to topple hard-line Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu -- and whose platform of change they had rallied around -- has largely
excluded Arabs and women from the coalition. "The main thing is, we toppled
Netanyahu,'' became the mantra for one disappointed legislator after another emerging from
meetings with Barak at party headquarters in Tel Aviv...
Barak's considerations apparently have more to do with loyalty than with pleasing party
constituencies. Former Foreign Minister David Levy and former Finance Minister Avraham
Shochat earned low points in their previous cabinet slots -- but they both get their jobs
back under Barak. By contrast, Shimon Peres, the former prime minister and foreign
minister who negotiated the breakthrough Oslo peace accords and who has cool relations
with Barak, was offered a vague new "regional development'' ministry.
An obviously piqued Peres said he was thinking it over. The former military chief's
triumphant landslide victory over Netanyahu was expected to give him the leverage to usher
in the change he campaigned for, including expanding the role of women in government and
being the first Israeli prime minister to appoint an Arab minister.
Israeli governments have traditionally explained the exclusion of Arabs from full
ministries by saying that Cabinet votes on crucial security issues should be confined to
those who have completed military service. That didn't wash with Salah Tarif, an
ex-paratroops captain and a member of the Druse sect, a non-Jewish minority that enlists
in the army.
``We, the Gentiles -- you have put us beyond the pale,'' Tarif said after Barak told
him he was not a candidate for a ministry. ``We don't get Cabinet ministries.'' The
omission stung, especially because Arab voters overwhelmingly backed Barak, who has
pledged to revive frozen peace talks with the Palestinians and Syria.
Of the 32 ministers and deputy ministers expected to hold office in Barak's expanded
government, only one slot has been offered to a woman -- no change from Netanyahu's
outgoing government. Barak had promised three women ministers. Yael Dayan, a veteran Labor
lawmaker and feminist, emerged dejected after Barak told her she was being offered neither
a spot in the government nor chairmanship of one of the legislature's committees.
"I told him that apart from my personal interest he owes an explanation to 2
million women citizens who voted for him and to half of the population who are women,''
Dayan said. "It's a scandal.''
Labour party to approve Barak's choices
ARUTZ7 7/5/99: "The Labor party's Central Committee will convene this evening to
approve the party's ministerial choices of Ehud Barak. The party will also choose between
MK Shalom Simchon - Barak's choice - and MK Avraham Burg for the position of Knesset
Speaker.
Shimon Peres will inform Barak beforehand whether or not he accepts the offer to be
Minister for Regional Development - with limited responsibilities - or if he would rather
not accept any ministerial post at all. Peres joins Uzi Baram, Yossi Beilin, Burg, and
others, who are not happy with their ministerial assignments. Only David Levy knows for
sure what his exact position will be: Foreign Minister.
The Shas Council of Torah Sages will decide today who will be the party's
representatives in the government. It is expected that Eli Yishai will continue as
Minister of Labor, Eli Suissa will become Minister of Religious Affairs, Shlomo Benizri
will graduate to Health Minister, and MK Yitzchak Cohen will be awarded the Ministry of
Infrastructures."
Likud opposition
ARUTZ7 7/4/99: "The Likud has begun its parliamentary opposition activity with a
request to Attorney-General Elyakim Rubenstein regarding the legality of Ehud Barak's
proposal to enlarge the government. The Likud feels that Barak's plan to change the law
and expand the government from 18 to 24 Cabinet ministers is "bending the basic laws
to his political needs," and should not be allowed. The party also plans to field
Moshe Katzav for the position of Knesset Speaker, and has begun canvassing support for his
election..."
Barak appoints Goldschmidt chairman of finance committee
THE JERUSALEM POST 7/5/99: "Prime Minister-elect Ehud Barak yesterday appointed
Elie Goldschmidt as chairman of the Knesset Finance Committee. Goldschmidt will replace
United Torah Judaism's Avraham Ravitz. "As someone who served on the finance
committee for almost five years, I'm aware of the enormous importance of this job, which
some compare to that of a minister," Goldschmidt said. Originally, Goldschmidt had
hoped Barak would ask him to take up the reins at the Agriculture Ministry.
Goldschmidt's hopes must have been boosted for an hour or two yesterday after the other
main candidate for the post, Shalom Simhon, was named as Barak's candidate for Knesset
Speaker. "Everyone has their desires and aspirations, but the reality is problematic
from the point of view of the number of ministers and the size of the [One Israel]
faction," Goldschmidt said..."
Barak's other appointments
HA'ARETZ 7/5/99: "Prime Minister-elect Ehud Barak has decided to give the Finance
Ministry to former finance minister Avraham "Beiga" Shochat, while the Internal
Security Ministry will go to Shlomo Ben Ami, who came in first in the Labor Party
primaries. Yossi Beilin has been offered the Justice Ministry, although the "personal
appointment" Barak is expected to announce today may be for the same post.
Barak spent about ten hours meeting senior Labor MKs in his office in Tel Aviv's Ashdar
Building yesterday in sessions devoted to what some of them called "doling out the
booty." Even so, most of the Laborites left Barak's office without a definite answer
as to what jobs they will hold in his government.
Senior One Israelites said they expected Haim Ramon would be appointed a minister in
the prime minister's office, serving as a kind of aide to Barak on party, parliamentary
and coalition-related matters. Binyamin "Fouad" Ben Eliezer has been offered the
Communications Ministry, though he may get Internal Security instead if Ben Ami decides to
forgo it.
Barak also told Dalia Itzik she would get an "operational portfolio," and
Itzik will have to choose between the Environment Ministry, the Ministry of Science,
Culture and Sport, or some combination of the two. Itzik's initial reaction to Barak's
promise of an "operational portfolio" was somewhat sarcastic.
"Are there any virtual portfolios?" she asked the prime minister-elect.
"No," Barak replied, "but there are ministers without portfolio - and you,
Dalia, will get an operational portfolio."
Barak is supposed to make most of his appointments final today, rather than on
Wednesday, when he is presenting the government to the Knesset. "He killed us,"
said one Labor MK, describing the seven weeks of waiting to hear what ministries the Labor
Party would get, "but he did not confirm the kill," he added, using terminology
from the elite commando units Barak once led in the army.
Labor's Central Committee has scheduled a meeting for tonight, when it is expected to
approve the appointments. Barak told several other MKs what jobs he has set aside for
them: Ophir Pines-Paz will be chair the Knesset's coalition factions; Elie Goldschmidt
will chair the Knesset Finance Committee, Shalom Simchon is Barak's candidate for Knesset
speaker, and David Levy will serve his third term as foreign minister this decade.
Leaving Barak's office, Levy said he and Barak would run foreign policy jointly and
shrugged off the appointment of Shimon Peres as minister of regional development. Barak
and Peres differed publicly last night over the jurisdiction of the newly-created
ministry, which is supposed to focus on the economic aspects of the peace process. Peres
demanded control of several functions currently subsumed under the Prime Minister's
Office, the Foreign Ministry, the treasury and the Ministry of National Infrastructures -
but Barak rejected the idea. Sources close to Barak said he sees the ministry as kind of a
"headquarters" responsible for drafting position papers, ideas and suggestions
for advancing various fronts of the peace process.
Last night, Barak suggested that once the new government is officially established, a
committee of directors-general could determine the structure of the new ministry. Peres
asked for time to consider the offer, and is expected to give Barak his response today.
Barak told Labor MK Nawaf Massalha he would be a deputy minister, though he did not
specify which ministry.
Shlomo Ben Ami, the reports of whose political demise were splashed through the weekend
papers, emerged smiling from his meeting with Barak - having discussed the treasury and
the police ministry. The discussion did not yield an explicit offer or promise, however.
Barak discussed the treasury with three MKs, the police ministry with two MKs, and
justice with two. Fear of Shochat outweighs Wall Street optimism [ZINC EDITOR'S NOTE:
Israel's inflation rate under Shochat was high; and so was Israel's national debt which
increased during his term.]"
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