Cabinet Communique on the closure of the areas

It had now become an almost routine pattern. Following a terrorist attack, Israel ordered the closure of the areas, thus increasing the sense of security in the country but creating vast unemployment and serious economic problems in Gaza and the West Bank. Israel had to contend with the problems of responding to demands from its own population to enhance its security, but also to bolster the position of Arafat and to maintain minimal economic viability in the areas. To establish a fine modicum between these two poles, the cabinet met and decided to maintain the closure for an additional week and to delay the implementation of already agreed upon issues such as safe passage and release of prisoners. Text of cabinet decisions follow:

At the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Sunday), 29.01.95:

1. Within the framework of the Ministerial Committee on National Security, the Cabinet was briefed on ongoing security matters.

2. The Cabinet held a political discussion, after which the Prime Minister and Defense Minister concluded the following:
   1. The peace process will continue - based upon the Declaration of Principles and the Cairo Agreement - while drawing and implementing the conclusions from the implementation of these agreements thus far, especially in the area of security.

   2. At this stage, the closure will continue for an additional week.

   3. The removal of the closure on laborers from the Gaza Strip will be examined in accordance with the ability of the PLO and the Palestinian Authority to fulfill their obligations, as set forth in the agreements signed with them.

   4. For now, the suspension involving treatment of a prisoner release and of the "safe passage" issue will continue.

   5. Approval is given for the bringing of 6,000 foreign laborers to work in construction and agriculture, in accordance with the details and conditions to be determined by the Labor and Social Affairs Minister and the Agriculture Minister.

   6. The Prime Minister has asked the Attorney-General to prepare an opinion on the possibility of arresting Israeli employers who hire laborers from the territories without permission.

   7. The Prime Minister seeks to act toward accelerating legislation to increase fines against those employers referred to in Section F.

   8. The Finance Minister, in conjunction with the other involved ministries and offices, will present the Cabinet with solutions for assistance on the matter of employment within Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip.

   9. With the goal of bringing about a separation between the populations of sovereign Israel and of the Palestinians in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza, the Prime Minister has asked the Finance and Police Ministers to create teams that will examine ways and processes to bring about such a separation, as well as its meaning and implications for the areas of economics and internal security.

   The Finance Minister has been asked to form a team that will examine the economic sphere. The Police Minister has been asked to form a team that will examine the area of internal security.

   The Ministers will coordinate their proposals with the ministers and various government bodies involved in the matter, and bring them to the Government or Cabinet within one month.