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Sample Issue of the LEKAREV REPORT

THE LEKAREV REPORT

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Your Daily News from Israel - January 9, 2004   15 Tevet 5764
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Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land who have fulfilled His Torah; Seek
righteousness, Seek humility.  Zephaniah 2:3

TORAH portion and commentary will be on our website by noon today.

HEADLINES

1. Powell rejects Qurei threat of bi-national state
2. Is Jordan the key to a Palestinian solution?
3. US says Israel will decide whether or not to pursue talks with Syria
4. Palestinians prefer terrorism to financial aid
5. 2000 Israelis headed to Gush Katif for Shabbat
6. Cold and Snow on Mt. Hermon; Kinneret is rising
7. Shabbat Shalom

POWELL REJECTS QUREI THREAT OF BI-NATIONAL STATE

In reaction to Palestinian Prime Minister Qurei's suggestion yesterday that the
Palestinians could opt for a bi-national state with Israel instead of
independence, US Secretary of State Colin Powell flatly rejected the idea and
said the US remains committed to a two-state solution between Israel and the
Palestinians.  The concept of a bi-national state - one country made up of Jews
and Arabs - is a recipe for disaster.  With the burgeoning population of the
Palestinians, can you imagine what the Knesset would look like in a few years?
It's a clever way to try to achieve what the Palestinians have not achieved
through terrorism - the destruction of Israel as a Jewish state.

Powell said that Sharon's plan for unilateral disengagement, outlined last month,
would not happen if the Palestinians would become reliable negotiating partners.

In response to a question as to whether a bi-national state is possible or
practical, Powell quickly told reporters: "No, we're committed to a two-state
solution. I believe that's the only solution that will work, a state for the
Palestinian people called Palestine, and a Jewish state, the state of Israel
which exists."

"I don't believe that we can accept a situation that results in anything one
might characterize as apartheid or bantuism," Powell added. (Qurei had used the
word "apartheid" in commenting on Sharon's unilateral plan)  "What we need right
now is for the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority to get control of
security forces and to use those forces and use the other tools available to him
to put down terror and to put down violence. And if that happens and we see that
kind of commitment, then I'm confident that we can move forward on the road map."

"Mr. Sharon's comments recently and some of the plans that he has talked about or
have been speculated about are just that right now, plans.  Mr. Sharon begins all
of his discussions by saying he would like to see a solution. He is looking for a
reliable partner he can work with. And his plans that he has spent some time
presenting recently suggest what he feels he might have to do if he doesn't have
a reliable partner. What we are trying to do is to get that reliable partner to
stand up and start acting."

IS JORDAN THE KEY TO A PALESTINIAN SOLUTION?

Recently, in addition to Sharon's unilateral plan, three other programs have been
presented to solve the Israel-P.A. problem that involve the Hashemite Kingdom of
Jordan. Two of the plans call for transfer of Palestinians out of Israel to the
neighboring kingdom.  One does not. 

Arutz Sheva reports that recently, former three-time Defense Minister Moshe Arens
expressed his opinion that Jordan should be Israel's partner in bringing peace
and stability to the Middle East.  In an interview with Haaretz this week Arens
said that a unilateral withdrawal "is myopic vision at its utmost... The
underlying assumption of Prime Minister Sharon's policy when he first took office
[was that] the first step on the road to peace must be the dismantling of the
infrastructure of Palestinian terrorism." Since the PA is "eminently incapable of
accomplishing [this], the inescapable conclusion is that a partner for
negotiating a settlement with Israel must be someone that is willing to take on
the terrorists and is capable of subduing them... Israel has a neighbor to the
east, which has demonstrated over the years both the determination and the
ability to suppress terrorism. It is Jordan..."

Arens, far from calling for a transfer of PA Arabs to Jordan, says that the issue
of "territorial compromise" would be "easier to handle in such a framework"
because of Jordan's contiguity with Judea and Samaria. He says that Israel should
work towards strengthening Jordan, as "the time may come when a prosperous Jordan
will feel sufficiently strong and confident to assume the role of representing
Palestinian interests in negotiations with Israel."

However, there are others who feel that Jordan provides the solution in more ways
than just "representing Palestinian interests." Tourism Minister Benny Elon, for
instance, has long proposed that if the goal is a two-state solution, then the
Palestinian state already exists - in Jordan. He avers that the Road Map is
merely a rehashing of the "unworkable and dangerous" goal of "trying to seat two
peoples on the western side of the Jordan River."

Then there's Uzi Cohen, the Deputy Mayor of Raanana and a leading member of the
Likud Central Committee. Cohen is pushing an initiative to transfer West Bank
Palestinians to a relatively empty area in western Jordan. He told Arutz-7 this
week about the plan that he presented at the Likud Convention this past Monday
night: "There's an area there of about one million dunams [1,000 square
kilometers, approx. 10% of the size of Lebanon, and 40% of Luxembourg]. A new
state will be established there: the Saudis will pay for it, the Americans will
build it, and we will plan it, and just like with Israel, little by little all of
them would stream into the new state and build it up.  Jordan, too, has a problem
with Palestinian refugees, which is getting worse and worse. This solution will
solve Jordan's problem as well. Once the new state is built and successful, there
will be a voluntary emigration to it."  Asked what happens if the Palestinians do
not agree, Cohen said, "None of the other plans are practical. This plan is in
their own interest."

US:  ISRAEL WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO HOLD TALKS WITH SYRIA

The Americans told Israeli officials this week that he United States does not
intend to push for or sponsor any resumption of Syrian-Israeli talks, but will
not object should Israel choose to take up Syrian President Bashar Assad's offer
to resume negotiations.

Skepticism among Israelis and Americans arises from the fact that if Assad was
truly serious about peace talks with Israel, diplomats say he should have
approached the matter through official channels not in a newspaper interview.
Their skepticism is further strengthened by the Syrian translation of the New
York Times article which differed significantly from what was published in the
American newspaper.

PALESTINIANS PREFER TERRORISM TO FINANCIAL AID

Palestinian organizations are refusing to accept U.S. foreign aid this year,
rather than sign a pledge promising that the money will not be used to support
terrorism.  The Palestinian Non-Governmental Organization's Network (PNGO), an
umbrella organization comprised of 92 Palestinian aid groups, is urging its
members to refuse to sign the pledge. The network includes hospitals, clinics,
seniors organizations, human rights and law groups and other civil organizations.
Phone calls yesterday to PNGO headquarters on the West Bank were not answered.
Groups such as Hamas do run social programs, but the groups also are behind many
of the hundreds of suicide bombings conducted against Israel in the past three
years.

The Palestinian Red Crescent (ambulance), which has received about $300,000 a
year in U.S. aid in the past, refused to sign the pledge and will forgo U.S.
funding this year.  "We would like to take funds from them, but without
conditions," Faiq Hussein, Red Crescent deputy director, told the Associated
Press.

Since the 1993 Oslo Accords, the United States has distributed $1.3 billion for
Palestinian programs in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, in humanitarian and
economic assistance.  Congress has appropriated $125 million for Palestinian
programs for 2003.

TWO THOUSAND HEADED FOR SHABBAT IN GUSH KATIF

Gaza Regional Council officials report that some 2,000 young Israelis are
expected to make their way to Gush Katif communities tomorrow for a solidarity
Shabbat with the residents of the Jewish towns in the area.  Gush Katif has
suffered numerous terror attacks during the years, and especially in the past
three and a half years.

COLD AND SNOW ON MT. HERMON

Winter has definitely come to Israel.  Snow is falling today as it did yesterday
on Mount Hermon in northern Israel and on the Golan Heights. Plows are operating
to clear main vehicular arteries and access roads to the Mount Hermon Ski Lodge.
The temperature on Mt. Hermon this morning is reported to be -2C (28.5F).
It has been raining heavily in lower regions of the Galilee and the Kinneret has
risen another 8 cm since January 1st.  Broadcasters are now predicting that if
the wet winter continues, it may be possible that this will be the year the Sea
of Galilee once again reaches its optimum level.  What a great blessing that
would be!!!!  Any prophetic implication?  Could very well be!!!  Let's keep
watching.

SHABBAT SHALOM

This Shabbat will be an excellent time to meditate on the first portion of Psalm
119 which we have memorized this week, as well as on the Torah portion and
Haftorah.  One of the principles clearly illustrated in this week's Torah portion
is this one:  "We all live forwards but we understand life backwards".  How often
we have said, "If I'd only known then..."  This week's Torah reading has powerful
insight for growing in wisdom so that hopefully in the future we will have less
to regret!

May your time of prayer and meditation be abundantly fruitful this Shabbat.

Shalom and blessings,

Leah

www.lekarev.org
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