The Prime Minister\'s Office accuses former Justice Minister and longtime Oslo proponent Yossi Beilin of aiding Yasser Arafat\'s quest for an invitation to the White House. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon himself said, during yesterday\'s Cabinet meeting, that \"a former minister\" had \"turned into a lobbyist for the Palestinian Authority in Washington.\" Beilin\'s office denied the accusation, calling the report a lie. Sharon\'s aides charged Beilin with causing harm to government policy, according to which an Arafat visit to Washington would \"encourage terrorism.\"
Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer has announced the relaxation of restrictions on the PA city of Jericho. Israeli-Arabs with relatives in the city may now enter, as well as eastern Jerusalem medical personnel and others. Foreign Minister Shimon Peres declared again yesterday that Israel plans to make life easier for the PA population at large, without any demands in return. Opponents of the Jericho decision suggest that the city was chosen in order to pave the way for the re-opening of PA’s casino there. At present, Israeli Jews are not allowed into the city, rendering the re-opening of the casino a moot point.
Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer has announced the relaxation of restrictions on the PA city of Jericho. Israeli-Arabs with relatives in the city may now enter, as well as eastern Jerusalem medical personnel and others. Foreign Minister Shimon Peres declared again yesterday that Israel plans to make life easier for the PA population at large, without any demands in return. Opponents of the Jericho decision suggest that the city was chosen in order to pave the way for the re-opening of PA’s casino there. At present, Israeli Jews are not allowed into the city, rendering the re-opening of the casino a moot point.