Prime Minister Sharon said today at today\'s cabinet meeting that, “If the weaponry had made its way to the Palestinian Authority, then Israel would have found itself facing a difficult and complicated threat.” The Prime Minister also said, “The weapon-smuggling ship is a grave development and reveals the true face of the Palestinian Authority and its being contaminated with terrorism.” Sharon said the ordeal \"casts doubt on any agreement that might be signed with the PLO.\"
Former Israeli liaison to the U.S. Congress Yoram Ettinger said that rather than channeling aid from the US and others to improve the quality of life of the Arabs living under Arafat\'s control, this smuggling attempt proves that, \"the PLO has abused donors money\" and has violated commitments fueling more terror and violence at the expense of both Arab and Jewish blood. Ettinger also recommends that the US Congress should suspend all transfers of funds to the PLO and all affiliated organizations until they uproot their terrorist infrastructure.
Former Labor MK Yossi Beilin dismissed the significance of the Palestinian
weapons acquisition program by pointing out that despite the Karin A incident, the Sharon Administration is continuing security talks with the PLO as if nothing happened.
Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer (Labor) addressing a Saturday night Labor Party forum said that the quiet in Israel over the past week was a tactical move by Arafat and nothing more. He added that there is nothing to indicate a change in policy by the PLO regarding its obligation to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure.
Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said that the seizing of the ship is an important turning point for the PLO in choosing, \"whether they support terrorism or they are against it.\" Peres told Army Radio, \"Israel will not be able to tolerate such incidents in the future.” However, Peres added, \"Israel will continue to aim towards negotiations with the Palestinians based on the Tenet and Mitchell plans.\" Since the ship was carrying Iranian weapons, Foreign Minister Peres will next week call upon the leaders of the international community to declare Iran a terror-supporting state.
Minister Natan Sharansky said that the capture of the weapons freighter was proof the PA does not honor any agreement, adding that there are many places in the world where there is terror, but only one place where terror has an \"Authority.\" Sharansky announced that Israel must now formally cancel the Oslo Agreements.
Dr. Aaron Lerner of the Independent Media Review and Analysis (IMRA) notes that just last week the Sharon administration decided in a \"gesture\" to the Arabs to extend the range for Arab fishermen so that they could reach off-shore areas that have more fish, despite an IDF warning that it would make it more difficult to monitor the boats. Lerner also points out that many Israelis commenting on the raid believe that this sole successful operation stopped the PA from equipping itself with illegal weapons. The IDF on the other hand has made no such claim. Lerner questions whether this attempt by the PLO to acquire advanced weaponry is just the, \"tip of the iceberg.\"
The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations released a statement saying, “There is added significance that the ship was caught just as Marine Corps General Zinni was visiting the region to assess the prospects for a ceasefire. Once again, Arafat’s public pronouncements in English are negated by the facts on the ground. It is clear that he had to have had personal knowledge of such an integrated operation and is working in total coordination and cooperation with Hamas and Hizbullah. There is no plausible deniability. His promises once again ring hollow as one contemplates the potential destruction that would have ensued had the weapons reached their destination.\"
“This is also a message to those who provide aid to the P.A. which continues to be diverted for the purchase of weapons, in violation of all their signed agreements,” said the statement signed by Presidents’ Chairman Mortimer Zuckerman and Executive Vice Chairman Malcolm Hoenlein.
The New York Times quoted senior officials in the Bush administration saying that the weapons freighter seized by Israel was most likely intended for Hizbullah and not the PA. These statements are in direct contradiction to Israeli intelligence information and disregard the fact that the Karin A freighter is a PLO vessel and was being operated by PLO naval personnel.
The Women In Green organization asks, “If this kind of action by the PA is done BEFORE the creation of another Arab State, within the Promised Land of Israel, what can be expected AFTER such a state is created?” Women in Green is intensifying its campaign to obtain signatures to their petition, “NO to a Palestinian State.” The petition can be signed at www.womeningreen.org .
Former Israeli liaison to the U.S. Congress Yoram Ettinger said that rather than channeling aid from the US and others to improve the quality of life of the Arabs living under Arafat\'s control, this smuggling attempt proves that, \"the PLO has abused donors money\" and has violated commitments fueling more terror and violence at the expense of both Arab and Jewish blood. Ettinger also recommends that the US Congress should suspend all transfers of funds to the PLO and all affiliated organizations until they uproot their terrorist infrastructure.
Former Labor MK Yossi Beilin dismissed the significance of the Palestinian
weapons acquisition program by pointing out that despite the Karin A incident, the Sharon Administration is continuing security talks with the PLO as if nothing happened.
Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer (Labor) addressing a Saturday night Labor Party forum said that the quiet in Israel over the past week was a tactical move by Arafat and nothing more. He added that there is nothing to indicate a change in policy by the PLO regarding its obligation to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure.
Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said that the seizing of the ship is an important turning point for the PLO in choosing, \"whether they support terrorism or they are against it.\" Peres told Army Radio, \"Israel will not be able to tolerate such incidents in the future.” However, Peres added, \"Israel will continue to aim towards negotiations with the Palestinians based on the Tenet and Mitchell plans.\" Since the ship was carrying Iranian weapons, Foreign Minister Peres will next week call upon the leaders of the international community to declare Iran a terror-supporting state.
Minister Natan Sharansky said that the capture of the weapons freighter was proof the PA does not honor any agreement, adding that there are many places in the world where there is terror, but only one place where terror has an \"Authority.\" Sharansky announced that Israel must now formally cancel the Oslo Agreements.
Dr. Aaron Lerner of the Independent Media Review and Analysis (IMRA) notes that just last week the Sharon administration decided in a \"gesture\" to the Arabs to extend the range for Arab fishermen so that they could reach off-shore areas that have more fish, despite an IDF warning that it would make it more difficult to monitor the boats. Lerner also points out that many Israelis commenting on the raid believe that this sole successful operation stopped the PA from equipping itself with illegal weapons. The IDF on the other hand has made no such claim. Lerner questions whether this attempt by the PLO to acquire advanced weaponry is just the, \"tip of the iceberg.\"
The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations released a statement saying, “There is added significance that the ship was caught just as Marine Corps General Zinni was visiting the region to assess the prospects for a ceasefire. Once again, Arafat’s public pronouncements in English are negated by the facts on the ground. It is clear that he had to have had personal knowledge of such an integrated operation and is working in total coordination and cooperation with Hamas and Hizbullah. There is no plausible deniability. His promises once again ring hollow as one contemplates the potential destruction that would have ensued had the weapons reached their destination.\"
“This is also a message to those who provide aid to the P.A. which continues to be diverted for the purchase of weapons, in violation of all their signed agreements,” said the statement signed by Presidents’ Chairman Mortimer Zuckerman and Executive Vice Chairman Malcolm Hoenlein.
The New York Times quoted senior officials in the Bush administration saying that the weapons freighter seized by Israel was most likely intended for Hizbullah and not the PA. These statements are in direct contradiction to Israeli intelligence information and disregard the fact that the Karin A freighter is a PLO vessel and was being operated by PLO naval personnel.
The Women In Green organization asks, “If this kind of action by the PA is done BEFORE the creation of another Arab State, within the Promised Land of Israel, what can be expected AFTER such a state is created?” Women in Green is intensifying its campaign to obtain signatures to their petition, “NO to a Palestinian State.” The petition can be signed at www.womeningreen.org .