Jerusalem, 16 December 2001
Cabinet Communique
(Communicated by the Cabinet Secretariat)
At the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Sunday), December 16, 2001:
1. Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer briefed the Cabinet on
current security issues noting that the attack near Emmanuel
illustrates the responsibility of the PA, and its leadership, for
the continuing campaign of terror against Israel.
The PA knows
very well what stands behind the attack, and are very familiar
with the preparations in advance of the attacks, and the dangers
embodied in it - and stood by doing nothing. Therefore, and in
light of the intolerable situation, Israel has decided that what
Arafat will not do to root out terrorism, Israel will take upon
itself to do as much as it takes. Israel translated this decision
into a series of continuing operational steps, the goal of which
is to damage the sources of terror, the terrorist infrastructure,
the terrorist collaborators and their supporters; it is in this
spirit that the security establishment is operating.
Defense
Minister Ben-Eliezer reviewed the IDF's operations over the past
number of days in Judea, Samaria and Gaza, and explained last
night's IDF operation in Beit Hanoun.
2. The Cabinet voted to authorize the Finance Ministry's proposal
to adjust (cut) the proposed 2002 budget by 6.15 billion shekels.
The Finance Ministry will present a number of alternative options
for making the adjustments to the Cabinet in a meeting to take
place during the course of this week. A vote on the specific
details of the adjustments will take place at the upcoming
Cabinet meeting this week.