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Mofaz agrees to be Israel's defense minister

Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Monday, November 4, 2002

JERUSALEM Ñ Israel's former chief of staff has accepted an offer to become the nation's new defense minister.

Shaul Mofaz has agreed to an offer by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to become Israel's defense minister. Mofaz's appointment will be submitted to the Knesset, or Israel's parliament, on Monday.

Mofaz replaces outgoing Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, who led the Labor Party in a walkout last week. The Labor Party move sparked efforts by Sharon to ensure a coalition majority of largely right-wing parties.

"Shaul Mofaz tonight notified that he accepts the position of defense minister," Sharon's office said in a statement on late Saturday. "The prime minister intends to bring the nomination for approval to the Knesset on Monday. The prime minister said he is confident that the rich experience of Mofaz will help him carry out his position successfully during this difficult period."

Israeli officials said the appointment of Mofaz Ñ who has advocated the exiling of Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat Ñ will not change the policies of the Sharon government. They said Sharon has relayed such a message to the United States.

Over the weekend, Israeli troops were said to have foiled an attempted suicide bombing. Military sources said Israeli soldiers detained two Palestinians who were trying to transport an explosive belt past a military checkpoint in the northern West Bank near Nablus.

In Jenin, Israeli troops detained an additional 10 suspected insurgents. More than 160 insurgents have been captured in the northern West Bank city.

PA Interior Minister Hani Al Hassan said the government does not oppose attacks on Jewish settlers, including suicide bombings. Al Hassan, whose appointment was ratified last week, said the government regards settlers as Israeli combatants.

"Settlers are not civilians," Al Hassan told a seminar. "What is he doing in my land with his weapon on his shoulder? We are not against martyrdom attacks."

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