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ISRAELIS PLANNING BLITZKRIEG?

June 1, 2001

MID-EAST REALITIES © - www.MiddleEast.Org - Washington - 6/01/01: For a long time now we have been desperately warning about what the true Israeli intentions are. We have also been warning that the Palestinians are not at all prepared for these eventualities, neither with the terrible leadership provided by the "Palestinian Authority" nor for the world-wide information and public relations battle that accompanies all major developments in our world these days. And we have been warning as well that the situation in Washington is far worse for the Palestinians than their friends and supporters try to pretend, largely because the "client organizations" in their own way are just as bad as the "client regimes" who control them. These three press reports point the direction of what may be coming...maybe soon now:

SHARON CONSIDERS PLAN FOR 48-HOUR KNOCKOUT PUNCH

JERUSALEM — Special to World Tribune, 1 June: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has been presented with aplan calling for the destruction of the Palestinian Authority intwo days.

"It's clear that the continuation of the terrorism and therestraint cannot continue formuch longer, not more than a few days," Israeli President MosheKatsav toldstate-owned Israel Radio on Friday.

The plan presented by National Infrastructure Minister AvigdorLieberman wouldlaunch an Israeli military invasion of at least six major citiesin the West Bank andanother four in the Gaza Strip, Middle East Newsline reported.Israeli troops wouldbe given at least two days to destroy Palestinian militaryinstallations, weaponsfactories and arresting leaders of the Palestinian insurgency.

The Israeli capture of these cities would be brief, according tothe plan. The WestBank would then be divided into a series of provincesadministered separately byPalestinians. Israel would then discuss with new Palestiniansleaders such issues asself-rule.

"We have to go into Area A [PA territory] and destroy the entiremilitaryinfrastructure," Lieberman said.

Israeli officials said the military has drawn up similar plansand they are now beingreviewed by Sharon. The officials said Sharon is expected todelay any Israeli attackuntil after he returns from his European tour, which begins onSunday. The primeminister is scheduled to fly to Berlin, Brussels and Paris.

Katsav was speaking in Washington where he met his U.S.counterpart, GeorgeBush. Israeli sources said Katsav submitted to Bush a requestfrom Sharon for anadditional $800 million in U.S. military aid pledged by theprevious Clintonadministration.

Sharon is under increasing pressure from some of his Likud Partyand right-wingministers as well as Jewish settlers to launch an offensiveagainst the PA. OnThursday, several Israelis were arrested during a demonstrationin Jerusalem againstthe government's policy of restraint. "We need Winston Churchilland notChamberlain," Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, spiritual leader of theJewish settlement ofEfrat, said.

PA officials said they are preparing for an Israeli onslaught.They said Israel haswaged a psychological warfare that seeks to sow strife withinthe Palestinianleadership.

PA gunners fired mortars early Friday toward Jewish settlementsin the Gaza Strip.The Israeli military, as part of its unilateral ceasefire, didnot respond.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell telephoned PA ChairmanYasser Arafat andreiterated the U.S. demand to end the eight-month-old waragainst Israel.

ARAFAT WARNS OF ISRAELI ATTACK

BRUSSELS, Belgium –– AP - 31 May: Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat claimed Thursday that senior Israeli officials werepreparing a "new war" to paralyze his Palestinian Authority.

"I have received a letter saying the (Ariel) Sharon governmenthasadopted the principle of a new war against the Palestinianpeople," he saidin a speech to the upper house of the Belgian Parliament.

"The goal of the Israeli army in calling a truce is in fact tomobilize theIsraeli mass to prepare an atrocious war ... in which theywill use allmilitary means to paralyze the Palestinian Authority," Arafatadded.

Arafat was responding to comments from Israeli InfrastructureMinisterAvigdor Lieberman, a hard-liner in the cabinet of PrimeMinister ArialSharon's government, who said Israel should immediatelyreoccupyPalestinian-controlled areas in the West Bank and the GazaStrip.

"In the next 48 hours we need to go into all Palestinian areasand destroythe entire infrastructure of the Palestinian Authority,destroy the weaponscache of their forces including those of the militias,"Lieberman told Israeliradio.

Arafat addressed the Belgian Senate on the latest stop on aEuropean tourthat had earlier taken him to Russia and Denmark. He spoke inArabicand his comments were relayed by a French translator.

ISRAELI PRESIDENT WARNS ARAFAT

By David R. Sands

THE WASHINGTON TIMES - 1 June:Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has "a few days, nomore" to end the violence among his supporters or face asharply escalated Israeli military response, Israel´spresidentsaid yesterday. "People are fed up. Ourpatience is not unlimited," MosheKatsav said in an interview witheditors and reporters of TheWashington Times at Blair House,the United States´ officialexecutive guest residence.Mr. Katsav said he conveyedhis concerns to President Bush,Secretary of State Colin L. Powelland other top administrationofficials in meetings yesterday. Mr.Bush also hosted a working dinnerlast night for the Israeli president, who is on his firstofficialtrip to Washington since his surprise election lastsummer.Eight months of clashes between Palestinians andIsraelisecurity forces have intensified in recent days, despitetherelease last month of a report by a commission headed byformer Sen. George Mitchell calling for an immediatecease-fire and steps to rebuild the shattered peaceprocess.Four Israeli settlers have been killed in the pastthreedays, prompting intense political pressure on thegovernmentfor a crackdown."It is a question of a few days, not more, for YasserArafat to decide" whether to halt the violence, Mr. Katsavsaid in the interview.Should Israel respond militarily, the president said,itwould not be by reoccupying territory now administered bythe Palestinians, but by "an attack on the centers andsourcesof the terrorism," which he said included Mr. Arafat´sleadership group.Mr. Katsav also said he had told Mr. Bush he wasconvinced that Mr. Arafat has concluded that streetviolenceand terrorism are effective ways to achieve his politicalends.Mr. Katsav said Mr. Bush replied, "I hope you arewrong." But, the Israeli added, Mr. Bush "is not sure."White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said that, attheirmorning meeting, Mr. Bush had "reaffirmed America´ssupport for Israel and . . . discussed the United States´engagement to be a facilitator in the region." A U.S. diplomatic team headed by Ambassador WilliamBurns, Mr. Powell´s newly designated point man for theregion, has made little progress in arranging meetings togetthe two sides to discuss new security arrangements to haltthefighting.Palestinian officials contend Israel hopes to use thetruceto entrench itself in disputed territories. They point topassages in the Mitchell report that call for an eventualtotalfreeze on Israeli settlements in occupied territory, whichIsraeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has yet to accept.In Jerusalem yesterday, Mr. Sharon echoed Mr.Katsav´swarnings that Israel´s self-imposed cease-fire will endsoon ifMr. Arafat does not move to curb the violence."My blood is boiling," Mr. Sharon said during a visitto thefamily of a Jewish settler on the West Bank killed in aroadside ambush this week. "I will have to decide when todowhat I think has to be done."Israeli press outlets reported that Mr. Sharon hadphonedMr. Powell Wednesday after a car bombing in the coastalcity of Netanya to say the current situation wasintolerableand could not continue much longer.State Department spokesman Richard Boucher saidyesterday that Mr. Powell had talked to both Mr. SharonandMr. Arafat by phone Wednesday evening, imploring both tostop the fighting.Mr. Powell urged Mr. Sharon to "continue his policyofrestraint and de-escalation," Mr. Boucher said yesterday.But the Israeli prime minister is also under pressurefromdomestic critics to strike hard in the wake of the mostrecentviolence.Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a rival inMr. Sharon´s own Likud Party, urged a direct attack on thePalestinian Authority´s infrastructure."We must go from reaction to decisive action," Mr.Netanyahu said. "We must make it clear to Arafat that ifhecontinues his policy of terror, we will cause this corruptterrorist regime to collapse and we have the power to dothis."Mr. Katsav, 56, shot to international prominence lastJulywhen he upset former prime minister and Nobel Peace Prizelaureate Shimon Peres in a secret ballot of Israel´sparliament,the Knesset, for the largely ceremonial but high-profilepresident´s post.Mr. Katsav, who was born in Iran and moved to Israelasa boy, has been seen as a symbol of the politicalemergenceof the "second Israel" -- the wave of Sephardic Jews fromArab and Islamic countries who moved to the new Jewishstate in its early years and still form the bulk of thecountry´slower classes.A Knesset member for the conservative Likud Partysince1977, Mr. Katsav denied during last year´s voting that hewas running an "ethnic" campaign, but many saw his victoryas a challenge to the European-oriented Ashkenazi Jews whohave traditionally dominated the country´s politics.In yesterday´s interview, Mr. Katsav said:• Israel was convinced, based on its own intelligencesources, that Mr. Arafat had the power to bring theviolenceto a halt, even with loosely affiliated groups, such asHamas. •A combined appeal from Europe and the United Statesfor an end to Palestinian violence would force Mr. Arafattoback down.• Ordinary Palestinians have suffered even more thanIsraelis from Mr. Arafat´s record of broken promises andbythe violence that has claimed more than 500 lives sincethecollapse of the Camp David summit last summer.The Israeli president said that, while it was "verydifficult"for him to trust the Palestinian leader, he would continuetonegotiate with him."He´s my partner. He´s popular with his people. WhatcanI do?" Mr. Katsav asked."I want peace. Do I have any choice?"•Abraham Rabinovich in Je-rusalem contributed to thisreport.


June 2001


Magazine






TURKEY HEADING TOWARD "SOCIAL EXPLOSION"...i.e., "REVOLUTION"
(June 30, 2001)
In geostrategic and military terms, the unnamed U.S.-Israel-Turkish military alliance that emerged full-blown during the last decade -- of course with the Turks using the "peace process" as the excuse for such close relations between Turkey and Israel -- was one of the most important developments.

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTIONS EMERGING
(June 29, 2001)
In a sense there is an arms race under way at this time of a different kind -- a race for whether weapons of mass destruction will be used in a serious and ongoing way should a new war break out first in the Subcontinent over Kashmir or in the Middle East over Palestine.

LABOR AND LIKUD MORE ALIKE THAN DIFFERENT - MER FLASHBACK
(June 29, 2001)
Long before what was to happen with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak (remember him?), MER was informing who he really was and what to really expect. Same with regard to Shimon Peres. Expect the same cutting-edge information and analysis in the months ahead.

Washington Scene: THE HISTORICAL MOMENT
(June 27, 2001)
The Middle East region totters now between further repression and oppression, terrorism and war. The outcome in the short term is indeterminate of course. But the winds and directions are clear; however much camaflouged by the politicians and the usually gullible mass media.

THREATCON DELTA ORDERED TODAY
(June 22, 2001)
One day they will probably get Osama bin-Laden, former confident of King Fahd in Saudi Arabia, former CIA asset against the once mighty Soviet Empire, now arch nemesis of the American Empire.

"ALGERIA IS IN CRISIS"
(June 22, 2001)
"The Battle of Algiers" left North Africa biggest country terribly bloodied and traumatized. This time it was French imperialism and the French military that did the dirty horrifying deeds.

EGYPT ARMING WHILE REGIME IS SHAKING
(June 21, 2001)
Arab States, including Egypt, are arming at a growing pace. Even combined they are still no match to defeat Israel. But their detterence capabilities are growing, they might be able to seriously bloody Israel in years ahead...

ARAFAT'S FLUNKIES
(June 20, 2001)
There are many reasons the Palestinian people are suffering so terribly, worse by the year in fact, and are now endangered by the possibility of a second "nakba" (disaster).

"THE SECOND HALF OF 1948"
(June 20, 2001)
Official declarations and many reports in the Israeli media indicate that the Israeli military and political leadership are aiming, eventually, at a total destruction of the Palestinian authority, and, with it, the process of Oslo, which is now dominantly considered by them a 'historical mistake'.

TELEGRAPHING WHAT I S TO COME
(June 19, 2001)
Arafat had two roles he had been assigned. That's why none other than former "terrorist" Arafat was the most frequent visitor to the White House during the years 1993 through 2000.

SHARON'S LONG MARCH: NEXT TO WASHINGTON THEN TO THE ATTACK
(June 19, 2001)
Ariel Sharon is proving what others before him, including Generals Patton and MacArthur of American legend, learned about modern warfare. There's a heavy messure of political theatrics and personal legend involved in making war, more so now than ever in this age of instant TV and the Intenet.

SHARON Coming To US Again To Coordinate War Plans
(June 19, 2001)
Sharon is coming to the States again next week. Only a firm "absolutely not" from the Americans is likely now to prevent much further brutal subjugation of the Palestinians; quite possibly the exiling again of Yasser Arafat.

SON OF IMPORTANT ISRAELI FAMILY REFUSES OCCUPATION MILITARY SERVICE
(June 17, 2001)
Coordinated non-violent but serious civil disobedience -- there in the Middle East, in Europe, and in the United States -- that is what today's situation desperately calls out for.

ARIEL SHARON - WAR CRIMINAL?
(June 15, 2001)
Years ago the former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kurt Waldheim, was brought before a mock international court through a joint effort of Home Box Office (HBO) in the USA and a major British TV network. The question before the court was whether Kurt Waldheim was possibly guilty of war crimes ...

PREPARING FOR DESTRUCTION
(June 15, 2001)
"If a cease-fire does indeed take hold, then all the better... If Arafat rejects the document or professes to accept it, but does not fulfill his part of the bargain, Israel will win more points in the court of world opinion and a more conducive political backdrop will be created for a military response to Palestinian violence."

ALGERIANS FIRE INTO DEMONSTRATING CROWDS TODAY
(June 14, 2001)
The Berbers in Algeria, the brutal civil war in Sudan, the Palestinians in the once Holy Land, the Kurds in Iraq and Turkey, the ongoing Kashmir crisis -- all conflicts exploding throughout the greater Middle East region today in 2001, all conflicts the legacy of Western colonial policies of yesteryear and American imperial policies of today.

MARCH TO WAR CONTINUES: ISRAEL WARNS IRAN AGAIN
(June 14, 2001)
There are major historical and military reasons why Ehud Barak and Bill Clinton (representing of course huge constituencies who at the time pushed them to pursue the policies they did) pressed Yasser Arafat so hard to sign an agreement at Camp David.

THE SO-CALLED "AGREEMENT"
(June 13, 2001)
There is no real "agreement". There is a dictate. Yasser Arafat is in no position anymore to do much other than what his American handlers tell him to do; a day of reckoning he brought on himself by so many mistakes and so much corruption over such a long time.

Another Muslim Rep Foolishly Plays To The Cameras On Behalf of the Regimes
(June 13, 2001)
A week ago outside the State Department one of the latest Muslim organization reps to grab for the cameras -- Khalid Turaani -- declared in loud tones how the time had finally come for "civil disobedience" and how he and the other leaders of the assembled Muslim "client organizations" were going to get arrested in a peaceful protest ...

HASHEMITE KINGDOM CLOSES BORDERS TO PALESTINIANS
(June 13, 2001)
The Hashemite Regime has always, right from the start, been in deep collusion with the Israelis and since World War II with the CIA. This latest step to close off Jordan to Palestinians -- to essentially put a seal on the jar which now contains the Palestinians ...

CIA TELLS ARAFAT WHAT HE HAS TO DO AND WHAT IT WILL DO FOR HIM
(June 12, 2001)
When the Director of the CIA is himself involved so extensively, goes on site half way around the world for a lengthy stay, and the situation is so critical he has to publicly acknowledge his role ...

CLOVIS MAKSOUD DID IT TWENTY YEARS AGO, APPEARING WITH SHIMON PERES
(June 11, 2001)
Those who know Raghida Dergham know what she is, and its certainly not a truly independent journalist. She's been an opportunist for a very long time, and she's used her sexuality to climb the ladder with backing from one influential Arab diplomat or royal along the way for a long time now.

CALAMITY AHEAD
(June 10, 2001)
"A whole nation is now huddled around one tribal bonfire to lament its bitter fate, mourn its dead and ignore the dead of the other side. As usual, it views itself as the victim, turns the enemy into Satan and waits, inactive and bravely unthinking, for the calamity that is about to befall it and for which it is in no small measure to blame."

WAR POSSIBLE WARNS TOP SAUDI
(June 10, 2001)
Normally one of the last places one would turn for truthfulness, integrity, and information would be the Saudi royal family. Currently headed by a former playboy who drank, gambled, and womanized his life away in Beirut and London -- before assuming the throne -- it is the Saudi "royal family which epitomizes the "client regime" realities that have so fractured, weakened, and prostrated the whole region once known as "the Arab world."

CHRISTIAN LEADERS: WRONG TIME, WRONG ADVICE, WRONG REASONS
(June 8, 2001)
"Be assured of our prayers for you and the President and all others in the Administration as you seek to forge a fair and just policy for the two peoples and three faiths who share a common religious heritage in the land we hold as holy."

THE CRUEL REGIMES OF ARABDOM
(June 7, 2001)
There are huge cultural gulfs between East and West, old world and new world. And of course the West is extraordinarily dominant these days not only it terms of financial and military might, but also in terms of cultural influence and "moral" standards.

SHARON'S RISE
(June 7, 2001)
"In reality the Zionist and Hashemite leaderships continue to plot how to control and repress the Palestinians in ever more crafty and ever more duplicitous ways."

ARAFAT 4 YEARS AGO - MER FLASHBACK
(June 6, 2001)
Last year MER first carried information about the increasingly close CIA, Shinbet, and Mossad connections with Yasser Arafat's "Palestinian Authority".

MUSLIM ORGS EMBARRASS THEMSELVES AT STATE DEPT
(June 5, 2001)
With much press fanfare (they just love to play to the cameras) leaders of half a dozen Muslim American groups held a press conference gathering across from the State Department today.

DESPITE THE LULL, WAR CLOUDS LOOM
(June 4, 2001)
Despite the lull, there are many ominous signs of impending major attacks against the occupied Palestinians about to take place; and there is a real possibility of regional war.

EGYPTIANS THREATEN WAR!
(June 4, 2001)
When the American Secretary of State cancels long-planned foreign travel and publicly warns of the "abyss" from which "there may no return" you can bet the situation behind-the-scenes is far more dangerous and explosive than is publicly realized.

SHARON'S HAWKS PLAN FOR WAR
(June 3, 2001)
Peter Beaumont, foreign affairs editor, reports on Israel's growing mood for full-scale hostilities in the aftermath of 17 deaths in a nightclub suicide bomb attack

24-HOURS AND COUNTING
(June 2, 2001)
"Americans should not travel to Gaza at the present time and those who live there should depart to a safer location when they can do so." U.S. Embassy, Israel

HATED RAJOUB GETS READY
(June 2, 2001)
With the days of Yasser Arafat maybe coming to an end one way or another, with Feisal Husseini passed from the scene, with the other Palestinian tough guys bottled up in Gaza, the frontrunner strong man to "control" the Palestinian people throughout the West Bank and Jerusalem appears to be Jibril Rajoub.

ARAFAT'S LEGACY
(June 2, 2001)
Yasser Arafat was hired, courted, and well-paid to control his own people and lead them, however much they tried to resist, to the Apartheid-style arrangement the Israelis always had in mind with the so-called "Oslo Peace Process".

ISRAELIS PLANNING BLITZKRIEG?
(June 1, 2001)
For a long time now we have been desperately warning about what the true Israeli intentions are. We have also been warning that the Palestinians are not at all prepared for these eventualities, neither with the terrible leadership provided by the "Palestinian Authority" nor for the world-wide information and public relations battle that accompanies all major developments in our world these days.




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