Jerusalem, 3 December 2001
Special Cabinet meeting: Palestinian Authority is an entity that supports terrorism;
Tanzim and Force 17 are terrorist organizations, and will be
acted against accordingly
(Communicated by the Cabinet Secretariat)
At the special Cabinet meeting last night (Monday), December 3,
2001:
1. The Cabinet has determined that last weekend's deadly and
cruel terror attacks illustrate our enemies' lack of inhibitions,
and requires actions more wide-ranging than those taken against
the Palestinian terrorism until now.
2. According to the decision by the Ministerial Committee for
National Security of October 17, 2001, the Government has
determined that the Palestinian Authority is an entity that
supports terrorism, and must be dealt with accordingly. In the
framework of this decision, the Ministerial Committee for
National Security is authorized to decide on operational steps
(military, diplomatic, information and economic). This
determination is subject to change - by Cabinet decision - if the
Palestinian Authority fulfills its commitments, according to the
agreements, to prevent and foil terrorism, punish terrorists and
dismantle the terrorist infrastructure.
3. By the authority of section 8 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (1948), the government hereby declares that the Tanzim and
Force 17 (Presidential Guard) are terrorist organizations, and
will be acted against accordingly.
4. Authorization of a small team of ministers (or a team with a
larger number of ministers - according to the Prime Minister's
decision - as long as the team includes at least the Prime
Minister, Defense Minister and Foreign Minister) to take
operative actions in the framework of the war on terrorism will
continue.
5. The Israeli information campaign will focus on Arafat's
responsibility for the terrorism emanating form the areas under
his control.
6. The Cabinet notes the decisions made today by the small team
of ministers.