Amidst UN reports that the Americans had bombed a hospital and killed up to 100 civilians in Afghanistan came an American demand that Israel withdraw from areas in and around six PLO-controlled cities. At the same time, the U.S. is also placing heavy pressure on Yasser Arafat to bring all fighting against Israel to an absolute halt. Messages to this effect were given him by the Consul-General in Jerusalem, a series of European emissaries, and even in a personal letter from U.S. President George Bush.
The U.S. is also giving moral support to Israel on the northern front. It warned the Lebanese government not to allow Hizbullah attacks on Israel, saying that it would not be able to stop an Israeli retaliation.
Yossi Ben-Aharon, former head of ex-Prime Minister Yitzchak Shamir’s office, explained why Prime Minister Sharon said that there are those who are needlessly sowing panic regarding a \"crisis\" in American-Israeli relations: \"There is absolutely no crisis, and Sharon is right. True, the U.S. would like there to be quiet here, so that there won\'t be an excuse for Arab nations not to help in the coalition. But the U.S. is also not closing its eyes to our situation, and knows of all the provocations that we faced. But it\'s easier for the U.S. to pressure Israel, and to play on our democracy, while the totalitarian Arab regimes are less \'pressurable.\' They simply claim, \'I can\'t do anything about it or else I\'ll get murdered,\' and that\'s that.\"
The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations reacted strongly to the American demand for an Israeli withdrawal. Calling it \"unrestrained\" and \"offensive to common sense,\" the organization\'s statement said, \"The demand for a withdrawal is a blow to Israel\'s right to self-defense.\"
Polls continue to show overwhelming support in the Israeli public for the IDF\'s actions in Area A. A survey in Yediot Acharonot today shows that 68% of Israelis feel that the American pressures on this matter must be rejected.
The U.S. is also giving moral support to Israel on the northern front. It warned the Lebanese government not to allow Hizbullah attacks on Israel, saying that it would not be able to stop an Israeli retaliation.
Yossi Ben-Aharon, former head of ex-Prime Minister Yitzchak Shamir’s office, explained why Prime Minister Sharon said that there are those who are needlessly sowing panic regarding a \"crisis\" in American-Israeli relations: \"There is absolutely no crisis, and Sharon is right. True, the U.S. would like there to be quiet here, so that there won\'t be an excuse for Arab nations not to help in the coalition. But the U.S. is also not closing its eyes to our situation, and knows of all the provocations that we faced. But it\'s easier for the U.S. to pressure Israel, and to play on our democracy, while the totalitarian Arab regimes are less \'pressurable.\' They simply claim, \'I can\'t do anything about it or else I\'ll get murdered,\' and that\'s that.\"
The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations reacted strongly to the American demand for an Israeli withdrawal. Calling it \"unrestrained\" and \"offensive to common sense,\" the organization\'s statement said, \"The demand for a withdrawal is a blow to Israel\'s right to self-defense.\"
Polls continue to show overwhelming support in the Israeli public for the IDF\'s actions in Area A. A survey in Yediot Acharonot today shows that 68% of Israelis feel that the American pressures on this matter must be rejected.