President Moshe Katzav added his voice to those opposed to Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg\'s planned visit to the PA - and Likud officials are threatening to take Burg to court if he insists on going. Pres. Katzav said that he himself recently declined a similar invitation because of the objections of Prime Minister Sharon. \"Burg doesn\'t require Sharon\'s approval - but he should at least have the Knesset\'s approval,\" Katzav said. \"But he does not have this.\" Katzav added that such a visit, \"when we continue to suffer from grave terrorist attacks, which we know are encouraged and organized by PA officials,\" cannot be acceptable. He noted that a visit to the PA body by Burg would greatly damage Israel\'s campaign against the PA and against terrorism.
The Knesset legal advisor expressed his opinion that while Speaker Burg does not require Knesset approval of the visit, his actions are not those of a private citizen but rather represent the entire Knesset, and he would therefore be well-advised to \"heed the sentiments of the Knesset.\" Burg said in response that he would \"listen to the Knesset sentiments, but act according to my own sentiments.\"
Foreign Minister Shimon Peres supports Burg\'s visit, but Labor Party leader Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer appeared to be looking for ways to prevent the meeting without appearing to be too right-wing. He intimated last night that, as Defense Minister, he could not approve the Ramallah visit because of its security dangers. He also said that Burg, who recently lost to Ben-Eliezer in the election for Labor Party leader, could not appear before the PA parliament without Ben-Eliezer\'s approval as party leader.
Likud counsel Eitan Haberman informed Burg that his visit as Knesset Speaker would not be a private one, and \"the Israeli and international public may mistakenly come to believe that such a visit represents the will of the Knesset of Israel… The Knesset did not ask you to appear in Ramallah, nor did it approve it.\"
The Knesset legal advisor expressed his opinion that while Speaker Burg does not require Knesset approval of the visit, his actions are not those of a private citizen but rather represent the entire Knesset, and he would therefore be well-advised to \"heed the sentiments of the Knesset.\" Burg said in response that he would \"listen to the Knesset sentiments, but act according to my own sentiments.\"
Foreign Minister Shimon Peres supports Burg\'s visit, but Labor Party leader Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer appeared to be looking for ways to prevent the meeting without appearing to be too right-wing. He intimated last night that, as Defense Minister, he could not approve the Ramallah visit because of its security dangers. He also said that Burg, who recently lost to Ben-Eliezer in the election for Labor Party leader, could not appear before the PA parliament without Ben-Eliezer\'s approval as party leader.
Likud counsel Eitan Haberman informed Burg that his visit as Knesset Speaker would not be a private one, and \"the Israeli and international public may mistakenly come to believe that such a visit represents the will of the Knesset of Israel… The Knesset did not ask you to appear in Ramallah, nor did it approve it.\"