The Cabinet convened for several hours last night, after which the following statement was released:
\"The Government and people of Israel are shocked and outraged by the cold-blooded assassination of Minister Rehavam Ze\'evi… The murder of a member of the Israeli Cabinet and Knesset crosses all red lines... The responsibility lies squarely with Arafat and the Palestinian Authority…
\"In the interest of creating calm and advancing the cause of peace, and at the urging of our friends in the international community, we held meetings with Chairman Arafat, roadblocks were removed, and Israeli forces withdrew from Hevron. But the Palestinians only reciprocated with violence and murder. Many promises were made, but only little steps were taken to prevent terror.
\"The time for words has ended, and the time for deeds has come. Israel demands the extradition of those responsible for today\'s assassination, and expects this to be carried out immediately. We also demand that the terrorist organizations operating in the Palestinian areas be outlawed, disarmed, and dismantled. Arafat must not shelter them any longer.
\"Failure to meet these demands, which are grounded in signed agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, will leave us with no choice but to view the Palestinian Authority as an entity supporting and sponsoring terror, and to act accordingly.\"
Prime Minister Sharon was quoted as saying that he will breathe deeply, wait a few days, and if the murderers are not given over - he will strike out at Arafat. \"That which was, will no longer be,\" he said.
Several ministers said today that they agree with Finance Minister Silvan Shalom\'s idea that Arafat must be \"expelled from the region.\" At the meeting, Sharon suggested that Israel\'s demands from the PA include the turning over of all 108 wanted terrorists, or at least the ten who are considered \"ticking time-bombs;\" the Cabinet did not accept this idea. Various deadlines were suggested within which the PA must fulfill the demands, ranging from three to seven days, but at the end it was decided to leave it open and to convene again in the coming days.
Minister of Science, Culture and Sport Matan Vilnai (Labor), in a series of radio interviews this morning, acknowledged that the government set no deadline for Israel\'s ultimatum that the PA hand over the murderers of Minister Ze\'evi. Nor, said Vilnai, did the cabinet decide yet what it would do if the PA does not meet Israel\'s demands. Instead, the Cabinet will convene again within a short time to decide its next steps.
Cabinet Secretary Gideon Sa\'ar, however, said that if the Israeli demands are not met, Israel will act against the Palestinian Authority the same way the international community is acting against terrorist-sponsoring countries. \"Arafat and the PA are acting like the Taliban in Afghanistan,\" the Cabinet Secretary announced.
\"The Government and people of Israel are shocked and outraged by the cold-blooded assassination of Minister Rehavam Ze\'evi… The murder of a member of the Israeli Cabinet and Knesset crosses all red lines... The responsibility lies squarely with Arafat and the Palestinian Authority…
\"In the interest of creating calm and advancing the cause of peace, and at the urging of our friends in the international community, we held meetings with Chairman Arafat, roadblocks were removed, and Israeli forces withdrew from Hevron. But the Palestinians only reciprocated with violence and murder. Many promises were made, but only little steps were taken to prevent terror.
\"The time for words has ended, and the time for deeds has come. Israel demands the extradition of those responsible for today\'s assassination, and expects this to be carried out immediately. We also demand that the terrorist organizations operating in the Palestinian areas be outlawed, disarmed, and dismantled. Arafat must not shelter them any longer.
\"Failure to meet these demands, which are grounded in signed agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, will leave us with no choice but to view the Palestinian Authority as an entity supporting and sponsoring terror, and to act accordingly.\"
Prime Minister Sharon was quoted as saying that he will breathe deeply, wait a few days, and if the murderers are not given over - he will strike out at Arafat. \"That which was, will no longer be,\" he said.
Several ministers said today that they agree with Finance Minister Silvan Shalom\'s idea that Arafat must be \"expelled from the region.\" At the meeting, Sharon suggested that Israel\'s demands from the PA include the turning over of all 108 wanted terrorists, or at least the ten who are considered \"ticking time-bombs;\" the Cabinet did not accept this idea. Various deadlines were suggested within which the PA must fulfill the demands, ranging from three to seven days, but at the end it was decided to leave it open and to convene again in the coming days.
Minister of Science, Culture and Sport Matan Vilnai (Labor), in a series of radio interviews this morning, acknowledged that the government set no deadline for Israel\'s ultimatum that the PA hand over the murderers of Minister Ze\'evi. Nor, said Vilnai, did the cabinet decide yet what it would do if the PA does not meet Israel\'s demands. Instead, the Cabinet will convene again within a short time to decide its next steps.
Cabinet Secretary Gideon Sa\'ar, however, said that if the Israeli demands are not met, Israel will act against the Palestinian Authority the same way the international community is acting against terrorist-sponsoring countries. \"Arafat and the PA are acting like the Taliban in Afghanistan,\" the Cabinet Secretary announced.