Prime Minister Sharon was to have spoken at the Likud faction meeting this afternoon, but his appearance was canceled at the last moment. Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, however, told his Labor party Knesset faction this afternoon that he is \"disappointed with the Washington\'s conciliatory policy towards terrorism-supporting Moslem nations.\" He said that the message being delivered to Iran - \"possibly the most dangerous country in the world, with capabilities in unconventional warfare that will allow it to build a nuclear bomb by 2005\" - as well as to Syria are not strong enough. Though Hamas is on the State Department list of terrorist organizations, Ben-Eliezer expressed disappointment that it was not included on the White House list as well.
Concerning Arafat, the Defense Minister said that the PLO leader has taken advantage of the present situation to \"supply the Americans with needed quiet - this is why he is expressing opposition to Bin Laden and preventing the Palestinians from demonstrating against the U.S. He has changed his plan of action, without changing his strategic goals. He presents himself as one who is committed to a ceasefire, even though he does not fight terrorism as strongly as we want, nor is he arresting wanted terrorists.\"
Concerning Arafat, the Defense Minister said that the PLO leader has taken advantage of the present situation to \"supply the Americans with needed quiet - this is why he is expressing opposition to Bin Laden and preventing the Palestinians from demonstrating against the U.S. He has changed his plan of action, without changing his strategic goals. He presents himself as one who is committed to a ceasefire, even though he does not fight terrorism as strongly as we want, nor is he arresting wanted terrorists.\"