Posted on 02/04/2007 2:41:35 PM PST by IsraelBeach
Israel Cabinet Welcomes First Arab Muslim Minister
By Israel News Agency Staff
Jerusalem ----- February 4.... The following was communicated by the Israel Governmental Cabinet Secretariat to the Israel News Agency.
At the weekly Cabinet meeting today in Jerusalem, Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert congratulated Israeli Minister Raleb Majadele on his participation in his first Cabinet meeting: “Welcome. On behalf of the entire Government, I wish you success in fulfilling your position.”
The Deputy Director of the Israel Security Agency briefed ministers on events in the Gaza Strip, including the violent clashes between various Palestinian elements and the political situation between the various organizations.
Israel Prime Minister Olmert said: “As we have clearly said all along, we have nothing to do with - and we are not involved in - the issue of Palestinian domestic events. This is their internal matter, which we are not happy about, and which we do not believe constitutes any sort of breakthrough that can be of long-term assistance in creating a desirable process. We are certainly that the positions represented by Abu Mazen - and not those of Khaled Mashal and Hamas - be those represented by the Palestinian government. We are against Hamas as long as it adheres to its positions and represents the policy that it represents. If Hamas would adopt the Quartet principles, recognize the agreements that have been signed with Israel, recognize the State of Israel’s right to exist, completely halt terrorism and - of course - return Gilad Shalit, such a government - even if Hamas is part of it - would be a partner for negotiations.”
Prime Minister Olmert said that US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice will visit Israel in the coming weeks and would hold a joint meeting with himself and the head of the Palestinian Authority. The intention is to examine the political horizons that could advance the Israeli-Palestinian dialogue process according to the Roadmap.
Israel Prime Minister Olmert expressed the hope that the Palestinians will be ready to conduct the process according to the appropriate conditions - without terrorism and violence, without Kassams and without suicide attacks. A situation in which terrorism and suicide attacks continue will not create the conditions conducive to the diplomatic process.
The Israel Cabinet discussed the necessary steps for reducing social gaps and increasing the rate of participation in the labor force. Finance Minister Avraham Hirchson and senior Finance Ministry officials briefed ministers on the proposals on the issue. Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer, Prime Minister’s Office National Economics Council Chairman Prof. Manuel Trajtenberg and the Director-General of the National Insurance Institute presented ministers with their views on the issue.
Pursuant to Israel Basic Law: The Government the Cabinet decided to transfer authority for non-Jewish communities from the Prime Minister’s Office (which were granted to it in the 21.12.03 Cabinet decision) to the Interior Ministry; this decision will be submitted for Knesset approval.
The Israel Cabinet rejected Minister Meshullam Nahari’s appeal against the Ministerial Committee on Legislation and Law Enforcement’s decision to approve certain amendments to the legislation on beverage container deposits.
The Cabinet accepted Environmental Protection Minister Gideon Ezra’s appeal against the Ministerial Committee on Legislation and Law Enforcement’ s decision to oppose MK Avshalom Vilan’s draft amendments to the legislation on beverage container recycling.
The Cabinet approved the wording of the memorandum on cooperation between the Public Security Ministry and the US Department of Homeland Security (USDHS), which Public Security Minister Avi Dichter is due to sign at his 7.2.07 meeting with USDHS Secretary Michael Chertoff. In its 24.12.06 decision, the Cabinet appointed Israel Public Security Minister Avi Dichter to be responsible for cooperation with the USDHS.
The Israel Cabinet discussed changes in the activities of the Netiv Liaison Bureau and appointed an interministerial team to examine the issue and submit its conclusions to the Cabinet within 75 days.
Pursuant to Israel Basic Law: The Army of the Israel Defense Forces and in accordance with the recommendation of Israel Defense Minister Amir Peretz, the Cabinet appointed Maj.-Gen. (res.) Gaby Ashkenazi as IDF Chief-of-Staff, effective 14.2.07. Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz will conclude his tenure as IDF Chief-of-Staff upon Maj.-Gen. (res.) Ashkenazi’s assumption of the post. The IDF Chief-of-Staff will serve for four years. The Government shall be entitled - in exceptional circumstances only - to extend his tenure for an additional period not to exceed one year.
Prime Minister Olmert said: “Gaby is an esteemed commander and leader with a very impressive record of IDF service. I have no doubt that he will lead the IDF in dealing with everything that it needs to deal with, to full proficiency and to the achievements that are essential to the security of the State of Israel. On behalf of myself and the entire Government, I would like to take this opportunity both to congratulate him and to salute IDF Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz for his brilliant service for the people of Israel.”
The Cabinet approved a multi-year plan for the development of sewage infrastructure in communities in the non-Jewish sector.
Editor's Note: Former US President Jimmy Carter should without delay rename his book: Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid to Palestine: Stop the Terrorism. Perhaps in meeting with Israel's new Arab Muslim minister Raleb Majadele, Carter would "review" the use and association of the word "Apartheid" with Israel. But then again, President Jimmy Carter, who appeared as more of a racist coward and cerebrally ill equipped to confront and debate attorney Alan Dershowitz, will most likely ignore Minister Majadele as he did the fourteen members of a leadership group who resigned from the Carter Center over concerns that Carter's book on the Middle East does not represent "the Jimmy Carter we came to respect and support."
The members of the 200-member Board of Councilors, a leadership advisory group founded in 1987, join a longtime Carter aide, Jewish groups and lawmakers who have publicly criticized the former president's book "Palestine: Peace, Not Apartheid" for inaccuracies and distorting history.
"It comes to the result of deep soul searching and a tremendous amount of angst," said Steve Berman, a member who was appointed six months ago.
Carter is accused of supporting Palestinian suicide bombings and the incitement of violence by those in Palestine through many statements he made in his book including a passage, which appears on page 213 of the book, which reads: "It is imperative that the general Arab community and all significant Palestinian groups make it clear that they will end the suicide bombings and other acts of terrorism when international laws and the ultimate goals of the Roadmap for Peace are accepted by Israel."
Jimmy Carter's appearance recently at the Brandeis campus in Boston was followed by an appearance by Harvard University law professor Alan Dershowitz, who has been critical of the book. Although Carter refused to debate Dershowitz and even to appear with him, Dershowitz told the students in attendance that he appreciated the former president's apology for the stated passage above.
"You heard the Brandeis Jimmy Carter today, and he was terrific," Dershowitz said. "I support almost everything he said. But if you listen to the Al Jazeera Jimmy Carter, you'll hear a very different perspective."
ping for future.
Pity,... they never heard the fable of the Frog and the Scorpion.
Is this fable about French and Arabs? ;-)
Funny,... but NO.
What better and more effective tool than to have an Arab Israeli Muslim minister address the Palestinians rather than have Israeli Jews do the same?
Perhaps but I still think you're cluthcing an Asp to your chest and expecting it not to strike.
Israel's slow-motion suicide continues under the traitor Olmert. When will the Jews eliminate him? Don't they have a Talmudic law which calls for the death of Jews who aid the enemy?
Just like in the U.S., a wolf has entered the hen house.
That is incitement to assainating or murdering an Israeli Prime Minister!
You and I may not agree with Olmert, but he was democratically elected. One assassinated Prime Minister for Israel, Yitzhak Rabin, was more than enough. Suggest you chose your words more carefully.
I know that's rhetoric, but that's still inappropriate.
Although I do intensely dislike his politics.
"Deputy Director of the Israel Security Agency"???!!!
You have GOT to be kidding me. This world grows more absurd by the hour.
Its happening right here friend, with Ellison in the House.
Nonsense. Is there such a Talmudic law or not? I ask this because I recall some Israeli rabbis publically calling for such a thing with regard to Rabin (who was killed by a Jew of course) and Ariel Sharon, and they were not charged with incitement.
I doubt if the Israeli Attorney General consults the Original Testament. I think what you are looking for is, in a democracy, termed TREASON.
I gotta agree with htis view- While it's possible they are keeping hteir enemies close, I think more probably they are just committing one suicide maneuver after another- perhaps thinking that 'being nice' to the palis will undo 1000's of years of hatred.
The following link is a signature link and does not relate to this thread http://sacredscoop.com
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