Israel Resource Review |
7th Febuary, 2001 |
Contents:
Official PA radio news - ELECTION NIGHT COVERAGE the P.B.C. V.O.P. (Voice of Palestine) Radio: February 6
Special Bulletin, 9 p.m., Israel Election Night
Summary and Analysis
Already at 9 p.m. V.O.P. quoted Danish reports that Ariel Sharon had won the
Israeli elections, but it noted that a final result would come with the 10 p.m.
Israeli television exit polls. V.O.P. said most recent polls showed a gap of
20-percent for Sharon over Barak.
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V.O.P. noted that there was a strong boycott of the elections by Arab
voters, with most Arab communities showing less than one percent turn-out by
six thirty p.m., while overall voting at that time had reached 58 percent.
V.O.P. broadcast warnings by West Bank Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti that
the Intifada would continue and even intensify.
"Sharon is the last bullet in the Israeli ammunition clip," asserted
Barghouti. He said that israelis would discover that Sharon could not bring
them security and that he would be the biggest failure in their history.
The only way to work with Sharon, Fatah Secretary Barghouti said, was to
continue and escalate the Intifada.
V.O.P. repeated Yasser Abd-Rabbo's comments that a Sharon victory
represented a victory for the Fascist and extremist Right in Israel.
Radio Analysis and Excerpts
Summary and Analysis
V.O.P. escalated its verbal pummeling of Ariel Sharon Tuesday, but stopped
just short of a direct endorsement of Ehud Barak. V.O.P. basically said
"Sharon is an evil monster", pronouncing him a racist and Fascist as
well as a mass murderer, even as it largely ignored the call by many
Israeli Arab politicians and Islamic leaders for a boycott or a blank ballot.
During V.O.P.'s morning news shows, it portrayed Sharon as someone who
continued to flout the law in Israel and Arab sensibilities, asserting that
Sharon was planning to make an illegal campaign appearance in the "colony of
Gilo" in Jerusalem (i.e. the Jerusalem neighborhood that had been targeted
by Palestinian snipers for several weeks).
The Palestinian Authority Minister of Information, Yasser Abd-Rabbo, was
the featured 8:05 a.m. Tuesday morning interview, and he said that Sharon
represented the "extremist right wing" in Israel and its "fascist" approach
to the use of power.
In its news summaries, V.O.P. said "Israeli voters are choosing between the
head of the Labor party, Ehud Barak, and the extremist, right-winger, the
leader of the Likud party, Ariel Sharon." Barak was pictured as indecisive
and a sure loser, while Sharon was depicted as a fascistic mass murderer.
There was no mention in the headlines of the option of boycotting the
elections or casting a blank ballot.
The tone of programming is reflected by anchorman Samir Interr's Monday
morning political profile summation of Sharon:
"Ariel Sharon has a history spattered with blood and massacres."
At the same time, V.O.P. did not hide its disappointment with Barak, calling
him inconsistent and indecisive, and V.O.P. gave a lot of air time to coverage
of what it called continuing Israeli aggression.
Elsewhere V.O.P. gave unusually great prominence to the demands of Libyan
leader Muamar Qadhafi that sanctions be lifted against his country and that
international figures such as Nelson Mandela review the Lockerbie verdict.
At the same time, V.O.P. continues to champion the cause of Saddam Hussein's
emergence from isolation and his forging of new economic and political ties.
Second Special Bulletin, 11 p.m.
Summary and Analysis
In its 11 p.m. broadcast, The Voice of Palestine referred to the election
victory by "the extremist Likud leader Ariel Sharon." However, V.O.P. featured
comments by PA President Yasser Arafat that he would respect the election
results in Israel.
V.O.P. also removed the caustic anti-Sharon comments of Yasser Abd-Rabbo
(Sharon as fascist) and Marwan Barghouti (escalating intifada).
Arafat's spokesman Nabil Abu-Irdeineh said that the Palestinian Authority
would be willing to work with the new government provided it worked on the
peace process linked to "international legitimacy" (i.e. UN resolutions) and
the principle of "land for peace."
Still, the tone of the broadcast was markedly anti-Sharon.
"Israeli television predicts a 19-point advantage for the extremist Likud
candidate Ariel Sharon over his rival Barak," the program began.
"We respect the choice of the Israeli people and will work for the
continuation of the peace process," V.O.P. quoted Arafat.
"We will work with any Israeli prime minister, but what interests us is
the commitment to the peace process," said Abu-Irdenieh in a
prepared statement.
Abu-Irdeineh hinted strongly that the PA expects Sharon to abide by
understandings reached with Barak and other Israeli leaders. Abu-Irdeineh
said the agreements were between the PLO and the Israeli government. He
further said that peace, security and regional stability were conditional on
the Palestinians getting an independent state with complete sovereignty and
independence including holy Jerusalem.
V.O.P. noted that Sharon had invited Barak to join a unity government.
V.O.P. also reported that President George Bush was set to call and
congratulate Sharon, but that Denmark had announced its disappointment with
the victory of "the extremist Sharon" and what effect this might have on the
peace process.
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Official PA radio news - February 7th & 8th
The Palestinian toughened its tone Thursday morning following a cabinet
meeting Wednesday night, signaling its demands that Israel-under a Sharon
Government-- hold fast to all understandings reached with the Barak
government as well as the Palestinian versions of UN resolutions. The Voice
of Palestine also featured speakers who unabashedly spoke about extending
and escalating the "Intifada" for the sake of pressuring Israel.
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Summary and Analysis, February 7
On the 'morning after,' V.O.P. gave full coverage to the Israeli election
victory of Ariel Sharon, emphasizing international concern for a continuing
peace process. At the same time, V.O.P.'s second item-carrying over from
Tuesday night-was Yasser Arafat's statement saying the Palestinian Authority
respected any choice by the Israeli electorate.
V.O.P. reiterated its late Tuesday night messages as expressed by Arafat
and his spokesman, Nabil Abu-Irdeineh who insisted that the Palestinians
"would cling to red lines" (i.e. no concessions on most important issues).
Abu-Irdeineh hinted strongly that the PA expects Sharon to abide by
understandings reached with Barak and other Israeli leaders, especially, but
not only, the principle of territory for peace. Abu-Irdeineh said the
agreements were between the PLO and the Israeli government. He further said
that peace, security and regional stability were conditional on the
Palestinians getting an independent state with complete sovereignty and
independence including holy Jerusalem.
V.O.P. noted that Sharon had invited Barak to join a unity government, but
Barak had now announced his intention to resign the Labor Party leadership
and even to leave political life (Note: This second element is overstated).
The morning round-up also featured Sports and Culture Minister Matan
Vilnai's complaint that the lack of voting by the Arabs had cost Barak the
election, and it also headlined leftist party Meretz member Ran Cohen"
saying that Meretz would oppose any national unity government.
{NOTE: as is the custom on V.O.P., there were no Hebrew speakers
featured-even as short inserts with Arab talk-overs. The only Israeli
politicians interviewed in recent days (and in general) were Arab Knesset
members of leaders of the Islamic Movement all of whom favored boycotting
the elections.}
PA Parliamentary Minister Nabil Amr, in a relatively short interview,
admitted that the Palestinians were surprised by the magnitude of the Sharon
victory, but Amr stressed "this great percentage gap (i.e. big advantage for
Sharon) does not mean confidence in Sharon but speaks of the circumstances
of the failure of Ehud Barak."
V.O.P. also reported that President George Bush called to congratulate
Sharon, but V.O.P. stressed that the congratulations from Bush and others were
linked to Sharon pursuing the peace process.
In short, the Voice of Palestine and the Palestinian Authority have
three prime messages in the day following Sharon's victory:
- Barak lost big because he failed to deliver peace;
- the Palestinians will deal with sharon as long as he accepts
Palestinians interpretations of international resolutions and
Palestinian-Israeli agreements and understandings;
- The palestinians will continue their struggle for immediate
implementation of their rights (this message was somewhat muted on Tuesday
night and Wednesday morning but was strengthened through the day Wednesday
and Thursday morning February 8.
(The Voice of Palestine was similar to the Voice of Israel-and most
Israeli television commentaries-- in stressing the personal failure of
Barak, and in ignoring analysis-done on January 30, 2001-- by the Tami
Steinmetz Center at Tel Aviv University, for example, which showed that more
than 70 percent felt Barak's approach to the Palestinians was "too
conciliatory.")
Morning Round-up Headlines, Wednesday February 7
- "Ariel Sharon , the leader of the rightist Likud realizes his
triumph, clearly and convincingly, over Ehud Barak, the resigning prime
minister, and exceeding the opinion polls with an advantage of 25 percent;
- Near-total boycott of the elections by Palestinians inside the Green
Line and 'day-off' for Israelis;
- Resigning Prime Minister Ehud Barak acknowledges the overwhelming
defeat and announces departure from head of Labor Party and political life;
- Ariel Sharon calls for unity government with Labor Party and other
parties;
- Israel and the region enter a new stage, waiting and watching to see
fate of the peace process, and actions of Sharon and his government towards
peace;
- And the stance Sharon had announced during the election campaign
consists of an absolute fixture that the Oslo Agreement is dead,
(preferring) long-term staged agreement while refusing to withdraw the army
from additional (literally: new) territories, and continuing the occupation
on all of Jerusalem, refusing to dismantle existing settlements and refusing
the return of the Palestinian refugees;
- The reactions from the (Palestinian) National Authority speak of
working together with the prime minister of any elected Israeli government,
in that the Palestinian side and the Israeli government are obligated to
the peace process and respecting the agreements;
- The American president George Bush telephones to congratulate Sharon,
expressing readiness to work with Sharon.for the sake of peace;
- The European Union congratulates Sharon expecting him to progress in
the direction of peace."
Morning Headlines, February 7
7 a.m. / 8 a.m. / 9 a.m.
- "The triumph of the extremist Likud candidate in the Israeli
election by about 25 percent over his labor party rival, resigning Prime
Minister Ehud Barak. According to Central Election Commission figures, after
99-percent of the vote, Sharon has 62.5-percent and Barak with 37.4-percent;
- And from the perspective of reactions, His Excellency President Yasser
Arafat says we will respect the choice of the Israeli people;
- The president's advisor, Nabil Abu-Irdeineh, says the National
Authority will work with any prime minister elected by the Israeli people
and what interests us is the obligation to the peace process.;
- Sharon invited Barak to join a national unity government.but Barak
resigned the Labor Party leadership and his membership in the Knesset.;
- Regarding Sharon's victory, Economic Development Minister Shimon
Peres said he would have beaten Sharon had he (Peres) been the candidate;
- More than 130 citizens were injured in attacks by Israeli forces
parades of rage that took place throughout the homeland, especially in
attacks by Occupation soldiers in the northern approaches to El Bireh, Bir
al-Nidam, Nabi Saleh, the prefecture of Hebron and Qalqilya.;
- A Palestinian delegation led by Feisal al-Husseini went to Amman
yesterday for talks with Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdel-Hilal al-Khatib;
- Egyptian President Husni Mubarak and Tunisian President Zaid Abdeen
Ben Ali asserted the need for an international protection force for our
Palestinian people in the light of continuing Israeli aggression;
- Ethiopia and Eritrea agree on zone of justice and Ethipian withdrawal
next Monday;
- American Secretary of State Colin Powell gives a special commentary
to diplomats in Washington, calling for continued peace talks in the Middle
East, referring to 'steps for the sake of peace' instead of 'peace
process.'"
Quote of the Day
"In his election campaign Israeli Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon
set a clear platform. First of all, the Oslo Agreements from 1993 was dead
and would not return.
Second, there would not be a withdrawal from new (i.e. additional)
lands. But Sharon declared his intent for peace and said 'we
will not return to Nablus and Jericho.
Third, the continuation of Israeli occupation on all of Jerusalem and
the refusal to accept any partition.
Fourth, there will NOT be any removal of any settlement because
settlements exist in security zones, according to his view,.and this
includes the Jordan Valley.
Fifth, the Palestinian state has to be demilitarized." (From the first
morning-after election report by Nizar al Ghul, 7:15 a.m., Wednesday)
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