Israel's attorney general to Barak: Don't sign agreement during campaign
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Wednesday, January 3, 2001
JERUSALEM — Attorney General Elyakim
Rubinstein has urged Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak not to sign an agreement with the Palestinians
during the election campaign.
In a letter to Barak, Rubinstein said such an agreement would be
unprecedented at a time when the prime minister has resigned and does not
enjoy a majority in parliament. Rubinstein said he opposes Barak's
endorsement of a U.S. plan that would transfer the Temple Mount to
Palestinian rule, Middle East Newsline reported.
"I raise doubt as to the moral authority of the government as the
resigned prime minister awaits reelection and when the president of the
United States, who is acting as midwife for the agreement, will no longer
bear any responsibility for the implementation of the agreement since his
days at the White House are over and the operative meaning of the agreement
will be the removal of settlements, dramatic changes in Jerusalem cutting
into the very bone of the city," Rubinstein wrote. "The government is the
representative of the entire public and thus should carefully weigh heavy
nation-dividing decisions made during its waning hours."
The letter angered Barak's allies, who have called for Rubinstein's
dismissal. For his part, Barak called the letter "strange" and said it
reflects what the prime minister termed Rubinstein's right-wing views.
Barak has issued his campaign message to Israelis for elections on Feb. 6: vote for me or face
war with the Arab world.
Barak has threatened Israelis that a vote for Likud chairman Ariel
Sharon will bring the Jewish state closer to war. The message is said to be
geared toward the nearly 1 million Russian immigrants in the country.
"I will win this election,'' Barak told Russian state television. "The
real choice is Barak and war. I don't want to put Sharon off peace, but
[it's] Barak or war."
Barak, who trails in the polls against Sharon, said the mini-war in the
area will increase unless the Palestinian Authority agrees to the proposals
submitted by U.S. President Bill Clinton. He said at that point, Barak will
have to review the situation.
"If the Palestinians are not ready to move the process forward at this
time, their negative answer is liable to lead to increased violence," Barak
told the Cabinet. "In such a situation, Israel will take a time-out and
prepare for a unilateral separation while leaving the door ajar to a
continuation of the process when the Palestinians are ready for it. If it
becomes clear that the other side is unwilling, Israel will have answers and
positions — and will be prepared — for every possibility."
Barak said he will wait two weeks until he makes such a determination.
Clinton leaves office on Jan. 20.
Wednesday, January 3, 2001
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