The present Barak government conducted its last Cabinet meeting this morning. The Prime Minister reported on the measures decided upon to prevent further shooting attacks, and also took advantage of the occasion to \"express deep sorrow\" once again to the Israeli-Arab community over the deaths of 13 Arab rioters during the Rosh HaShanah violence last year. Barak is still hoping to gain a major portion of the Israeli-Arab vote.
In a related item, the police asked a group of Barak-supporters to press charges against Israeli-Arab youths who stoned them yesterday - but the victims declined. A convoy of some 30 cars from Ehud Barak\'s election campaign was stoned yesterday as they drove through the Israeli-Arab village of Majd el-Kurum near Karmiel to distribute campaign material. Five cars were damaged, but no one was hurt.
Barak\'s hope to gain the Arab vote may be a \'blessing in vain,\' however. The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and other Islamic clerics have issued declarations stating that participation in the Israeli election is a violation of Islamic law.
Outside the Cabinet meeting, despite heavy rain, several hundred members of Women in Green and Victims of Arab Terror protested, holding signs with the names and pictures of the hundreds of victims of Palestinian terrorism since the beginning of the Oslo process over seven years ago. This was the 36th consecutive such rally by Women in Green.
In a related item, the police asked a group of Barak-supporters to press charges against Israeli-Arab youths who stoned them yesterday - but the victims declined. A convoy of some 30 cars from Ehud Barak\'s election campaign was stoned yesterday as they drove through the Israeli-Arab village of Majd el-Kurum near Karmiel to distribute campaign material. Five cars were damaged, but no one was hurt.
Barak\'s hope to gain the Arab vote may be a \'blessing in vain,\' however. The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and other Islamic clerics have issued declarations stating that participation in the Israeli election is a violation of Islamic law.
Outside the Cabinet meeting, despite heavy rain, several hundred members of Women in Green and Victims of Arab Terror protested, holding signs with the names and pictures of the hundreds of victims of Palestinian terrorism since the beginning of the Oslo process over seven years ago. This was the 36th consecutive such rally by Women in Green.