The casino-opening idea drew strong criticism from some government coalition partners. Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze\'evi, a member of the security mini-cabinet, is vehemently against the opening of the casino, and said he would act to thwart the idea. Ze\'evi says that Israel must not agree to any arrangement under which the PA \"agrees to stop shooting in one location, for financial reasons, but continues shooting at Netzarim.\"
MK Tzvi Hendel (National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu) was even more caustic: \"I am very thankful to Arafat for promising not to murder Jews in the vicinity of the casino, as long as we allow him to earn a million dollars a day by opening his casino… I am amazed at the government that is willing to entertain cynical notions of this sort…\"
Environment Minister Tzachi Hanegbi (Likud) is also against the idea, and MK Michael Kleiner (Herut) had sharp words too: \"Ariel Sharon is paying protection money to the Palestinian mafia, is gambling with Jewish lives, and is legitimizing the shooting of Jews in other places.\"
The Hevron Jewish Community: \"This initiative is a continuation of the twisting and dangerous path of Shimon Peres, the man who has already brought a heavy catastrophe upon Israel.\"
The National Religious Party faction plans to submit a no-confidence motion in the government, if in fact Prime Minister Sharon agrees to re-open the PA casino.
On the other hand, the chairman of the Vered Yericho community council, Raanan Avdi, expressed his support for \"an agreement that will restore normalcy to the Jericho region.\" To balance him out, Jordan Valley Regional Council head David Levy was unabashed in his criticism of the idea: \"This is unsurpassedly shameful and humiliating… Have we lost all our values? … It simply cannot be that we will buy our safety here by enabling Arafat to earn $1 million a day…\"
MK Tzvi Hendel (National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu) was even more caustic: \"I am very thankful to Arafat for promising not to murder Jews in the vicinity of the casino, as long as we allow him to earn a million dollars a day by opening his casino… I am amazed at the government that is willing to entertain cynical notions of this sort…\"
Environment Minister Tzachi Hanegbi (Likud) is also against the idea, and MK Michael Kleiner (Herut) had sharp words too: \"Ariel Sharon is paying protection money to the Palestinian mafia, is gambling with Jewish lives, and is legitimizing the shooting of Jews in other places.\"
The Hevron Jewish Community: \"This initiative is a continuation of the twisting and dangerous path of Shimon Peres, the man who has already brought a heavy catastrophe upon Israel.\"
The National Religious Party faction plans to submit a no-confidence motion in the government, if in fact Prime Minister Sharon agrees to re-open the PA casino.
On the other hand, the chairman of the Vered Yericho community council, Raanan Avdi, expressed his support for \"an agreement that will restore normalcy to the Jericho region.\" To balance him out, Jordan Valley Regional Council head David Levy was unabashed in his criticism of the idea: \"This is unsurpassedly shameful and humiliating… Have we lost all our values? … It simply cannot be that we will buy our safety here by enabling Arafat to earn $1 million a day…\"