Jerusalem, 15 December 2002
Cabinet Communique
(Communicated by the Cabinet Secretariat)
At the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Sunday), December 15, 2002:
1. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said that in the next government he
intends to reduce the number of government ministries and that he met
this morning with the professional team appointed by the government
to discuss the issue. The team will submit its recommendations as
soon as possible.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon informed of his decision in accordance
with Basic Law: Government that he is appointing Minister Tzippi
Livni to serve as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development;
Minister Limor Livnat will serve as Minister of Science, Culture and
Sport in addition to her position as Education Minister; Minister
Tzahi Hanegbi will serve as Transport Minister in addition to his
position as Minister of Environment and Minister Danny Naveh will be
appointed as Minister for Trade and Industry.
2. The cabinet has appointed Minister Reuven Rivlin to be responsible
for the Broadcast Authority Law.
3. IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe Yaalon briefed ministers on
ongoing security matters and discussed the issue of suicide-attacks,
the security establishment's counter-terrorist actions, the arrest of
wanted Hamas and other fugitives, and the operation at Palestinian
Authority Preventive Security HQ in Gaza.
Chief-of-Staff Yaalon pointed out that since Operation "Defensive
Shield", more than 4,700 Palestinians involved in terrorism have been
arrested and - as of today - 109 homes have been demolished, most of
them in Judea and Samaria. The Chief-of-Staff discussed the
effectiveness of home demolitions.
Chief-of-Staff Yaalon said that approximately 200 terrorists - who
attempted to infiltrate communities and cross the fence into Israel -
have been killed in defensive actions in the Gaza Strip since
Operation "Defensive Shield".
Chief-of-Staff Yaalon added that aggressive IDF actions would
continue wherever such actions were necessary.
Chief-of-Staff Yaalon referred to the incident in which UNRWA
employee Ian Hook was killed and said that Israel has, on numerous
occasions, discovered UNRWA installations and vehicles have been used
for terror purposes.
Regarding the preparations for Christmas in Bethlehem, Chief-of-Staff
Yaalon made it clear to the clergy and to Palestinian civilian
officials that Israel will allow Christmas celebrations to be held
and will enable Israeli Arabs, residents of Judea and Samaria and
tourists to attend the festivities. However, the IDF has no intention
of withdrawing from the city. The Chief-of-Staff emphasized that
Israel will, for the time being, retain security responsibility for
Bethlehem.
Chief-of-Staff Yaalon also referred to the situation in the north.