The Cabinet decided this afternoon to accept a proposal to end the nearly five-month-old siege on Yasser Arafat. The ministers made the decision at the end of a several-hours long meeting and following heavy pressure by U.S. President George Bush. The plan is to have the six wanted terrorists in Arafat\'s compound - four murderers of Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze\'evi and two men who organized the Karin-A weapons ship - held behind Palestinian bars but under the guard of British and American jailers. This arrangement is apparently intended to ensure that the terrorists actually sit in prison for their full prison terms, following a speedy \"mock trial\" by the PA last week. The actual murderer was sentenced to 18 years, and the others to 12, 8, and 1 year, respectively.
When the American-British idea was first raised this morning, the Cabinet was split 13-13. When Prime Minister Sharon took advantage of the lunch break to call Bush and inform him of the problem, the American leader said to tell the Cabinet that it was his [Bush\'s] personal request that the idea be approved. Sharon did in fact make a personal and emotional plea to this effect, saying that it was particularly hard for him to give up on the idea of trying the murderers because he was a good friend of Rehavam Ze\'evi, but that this was important for Israeli-American relations. Several ministers, including those from Shas and two from Labor - Itzik and Cohen - were persuaded to change their minds, and the proposal passed, 17-9. Voting against were Ministers Sharansky, Livnat, Landau, Naveh, HaNegbi and Shalom, and the three newest additions to the government: Effie Eitam, Rabbi Yitzchak Levy, and David Levy.
Once Israeli troops pull back from Arafat’s headquarters in the next day or two, he will be allowed to move freely within PLO controlled areas. However, Israel has yet to grant Arafat complete freedom of movement and allow him to travel outside of areas under his control.
Immediate ramifications: Bush invited Sharon to the U.S. within the coming week The White House spokesman praised the Israeli decision, calling it \"helpful,\" and said that the next move now must be Arafat\'s... An official Palestinian decision on whether or not to accept the British/American jailers is awaited; Palestinian spokesmen have not yet given a clear response Once the six terrorists are given over to the foreign jailers, Arafat is to be allowed to roam free within Palestinian Authority areas after nearly five months in his Ramallah compound It is expected that in exchange for the Israeli consent, the U.S. will take Israel\'s position regarding the UN\'s Jenin \"fact-finding\" committee (see below)
MK Benny Elon (National Union) said afterwards that the decision is a \"disgrace for the State of Israel,\" and that Prime Minister Sharon had broken his oft-stated promise not to rest until Ze\'evi\'s murderers were handed over to Israel. Palmach Ze\'evi, son of the murdered government minister, said, \"Sharon\'s consent to the American dictate is a surrender to the double standard that America employs against Israel.\"
When the American-British idea was first raised this morning, the Cabinet was split 13-13. When Prime Minister Sharon took advantage of the lunch break to call Bush and inform him of the problem, the American leader said to tell the Cabinet that it was his [Bush\'s] personal request that the idea be approved. Sharon did in fact make a personal and emotional plea to this effect, saying that it was particularly hard for him to give up on the idea of trying the murderers because he was a good friend of Rehavam Ze\'evi, but that this was important for Israeli-American relations. Several ministers, including those from Shas and two from Labor - Itzik and Cohen - were persuaded to change their minds, and the proposal passed, 17-9. Voting against were Ministers Sharansky, Livnat, Landau, Naveh, HaNegbi and Shalom, and the three newest additions to the government: Effie Eitam, Rabbi Yitzchak Levy, and David Levy.
Once Israeli troops pull back from Arafat’s headquarters in the next day or two, he will be allowed to move freely within PLO controlled areas. However, Israel has yet to grant Arafat complete freedom of movement and allow him to travel outside of areas under his control.
Immediate ramifications: Bush invited Sharon to the U.S. within the coming week The White House spokesman praised the Israeli decision, calling it \"helpful,\" and said that the next move now must be Arafat\'s... An official Palestinian decision on whether or not to accept the British/American jailers is awaited; Palestinian spokesmen have not yet given a clear response Once the six terrorists are given over to the foreign jailers, Arafat is to be allowed to roam free within Palestinian Authority areas after nearly five months in his Ramallah compound It is expected that in exchange for the Israeli consent, the U.S. will take Israel\'s position regarding the UN\'s Jenin \"fact-finding\" committee (see below)
MK Benny Elon (National Union) said afterwards that the decision is a \"disgrace for the State of Israel,\" and that Prime Minister Sharon had broken his oft-stated promise not to rest until Ze\'evi\'s murderers were handed over to Israel. Palmach Ze\'evi, son of the murdered government minister, said, \"Sharon\'s consent to the American dictate is a surrender to the double standard that America employs against Israel.\"