Jerusalem, 10 March 2002
Cabinet Communique
(Communicated by the Cabinet Secretariat)
At the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Sunday), March 10, 2002:
A. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said that we have again endured a day
of many difficult losses. At the same time, the IDF, Israel Police
and the security services have taken vigorous and wide-ranging action
and have recently made outstanding efforts. There are many warnings
and Israel is, in effect, at war and this must be understood. The
Israeli people must remain united and steadfast and do all that is
necessary to overcome the waves of terror.
Prime Minister Sharon said that he has reached the conclusion that
due to the scope of the terror and its level, and given Israel's
broad actions against terror, there was no possibility in the current
situation of achieving a number of days of absolute quiet. Israel
tried this but the attempt was foiled and not by it. The Prime
Minister made it clear that the issue of a cease-fire is the main
goal which we must strive for. Therefore, over the weekend, he
informed the US that he was willing to proceed directly to a
discussion of the Tenet plan. "We want to make every effort to reach
a cease-fire and we will make every effort to reach a cease-fire.
However, we will continue the stepped-up efforts on our part against
the infrastructure of terror. This activity continues and it will
continue as long as the terror does," the Prime Minister said.
Prime Minister Sharon made it clear that when Israel comes to discuss
a political settlement, there will have to be quiet because it is
impossible to conduct negotiations on a political settlement under
fire.
Prime Minister Sharon offered the government's condolences to the
families which have lost loved ones and its wishes for a speedy
recovery to the wounded.
Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer briefed the Cabinet on current
security matters and said that Israel is in the midst of a wave of
sharp escalation. He referred to the terrorist attacks which occurred
during the past week and the injuries that both IDF soldiers and
civilians have suffered as a result. The Defense Minister said that
alongside the terrorist attacks and their victims, the security
establishment foiled many attacks this past week which could have
caused a high number of casualties. The Tanzim - which has been
responsible for most of the recent attacks and the murder of many
Israelis - stands at the center of the campaign of terror.
Defense Minister Eliezer commented on the IDF actions in the refugee
camps. He said that after the IDF had completed its actions in the
Balata and Jenin refugee camps, it operated this week in Tulkarm and
the Mt. Gilo area and in the al-Aida refugee camp. The IDF's taking
control of Tulkarm was very successful. The Defense Minister noted
that hundreds of men were taken captive, fugitives were arrested, and
war materiel laboratories and bombs were discovered, and added that
14 Kassam rockets, four launchers and approximately 40 Kassam
warheads were seized, along with solid fuel and other war materiel.
In the Bethlehem region, the IDF took control of Beit Jala, al-Khader
and the al-Aida refugee camp, and is still active there.
Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Shaul Mofaz briefed the Cabinet on last
week's military actions.
B. The government decided to assist and encourage socio-economic
activity in downtown Jerusalem as follows:
The Interior Ministry will increase the balancing grant to Jerusalem
for 2002 by NIS 15 million with the goal of providing municipal rate
discounts to merchants and workplaces in downtown Jerusalem. The
Jerusalem Municipality - backed by the Finance Ministry - will add
NIS 10 million to the financing of the aforementioned discounts. The
municipal rate discount will be up to 50% of the rate due in 2002.
The Jerusalem Municipality will recommend to the Interior Minister
the criteria for the discounts. The discount will be given in the
first half of 2002. In June 2002, the need for continuing granting
discounts will be reexamined.
NIS 20 million - from the Industry and Trade, and Construction and
Housing Ministry budgets - will be allocated towards renovations in
the city center.
NIS 15 million - from the Tourism Ministry budget - will be allocated
for marketing and events.
NIS 15 million - from the Construction and Housing Ministry and
Jerusalem Municipality (backed by the Finance Ministry) budgets -
will be allocated to completing the development of the Mahane Yehuda
market.
The Jerusalem Municipality will be ready to begin implementation of
the aforementioned projects by Independence Day.
NIS 15 million - from the Tourism Ministry budget - will be allocated
towards encouraging occupancy in city hotels; all government
ministries and companies will hold all 2002 conferences and seminars
in Jerusalem.
The Ministerial Committee on Jerusalem Affairs will consider
additional steps to strengthen the city via the development of
infrastructure in the city center and encouraging the purchase of
apartments in the city.
Downtown Jerusalem extends approximately 500 meters from the Russian
Compound to the Mahane Yehuda market and approximately 400 meters
from Beit Yisrael Street to the Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall. Eleven
terrorist attacks - in which 39 people were killed and over 500 were
wounded - have taken place in this area in the past six months. In
the wake of these attacks, there has been an unprecedented nadir in
economic activity in the city center, including hotel occupancy.
Granting municipal rate discounts to downtown merchants, renovating
the area, and marketing activities and events, will encourage the
public to return to the Jerusalem city center and boost hotel
occupancy.