Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said today that the international pressure against Arafat has not pushed the PLO leader to fight against terrorism. On the contrary, Arafat is now trying to reach a deal with the Islamic Jihad and Hamas terrorist organizations that will enable them to continue to murder Jewish civilians in Israel. Arafat hopes to alleviate some of the diplomatic pressures by limiting the terrorist activity to Israeli citizens located in Yesha (Judea, Samaria, and Gaza) alone. Ben-Eliezer also said that Arafat has had countless opportunities to combat terrorism and has missed every one of them.
There was a sharp difference of opinion at the weekly cabinet meeting between Prime Minister Sharon and Ben-Eliezer over the granting of permits to 6,000 Arab laborers to enter Green Line Israel for agricultural work. Sharon was angered when he learned that Ben-Eliezer gave the okay, saying he was not consulted. Ben-Eliezer stressed that he does not want to bring down the Palestinian Authority and therefore is permitting the laborers to enter. Sharon remained opposed to the gesture, saying that the PA must feel \"pressured and threatened.\"
There was a sharp difference of opinion at the weekly cabinet meeting between Prime Minister Sharon and Ben-Eliezer over the granting of permits to 6,000 Arab laborers to enter Green Line Israel for agricultural work. Sharon was angered when he learned that Ben-Eliezer gave the okay, saying he was not consulted. Ben-Eliezer stressed that he does not want to bring down the Palestinian Authority and therefore is permitting the laborers to enter. Sharon remained opposed to the gesture, saying that the PA must feel \"pressured and threatened.\"