BARAK'S 3 NO'S AS BUSH CALLS FOR 7 MINUTES

The Americans leaked it, a 7-minute Saturday call from the new U.S. Pres to the sinking Israeli PM -- leaked its brevity that is. "The president expressed a desire for a strong, close relationship with Israel and a desire to see peace in the region based on a secure Israel," said Bush's weekend National Security Council spokeswoman, Ellen Countryman, who added that Bush made a dozen or so calls to foreign leaders that day.

Looks like the new right-wing American government -- with George W. actually a personal friend of Ariel Sharon though he understandably prefers to be discreet about this -- knows what is coming. And as the Americans get ready to "deal with Iraq" (a George W phrase for he is indeed a man of few worthwhile words) the Israelis ready to install their bloodshedder-in-chief preparing for more military rather than political battle. Oh yes, by the way, it's now "nuclear Iraq", for the Iraqis according to more timely leaked reports, are said to have at least two primitive nuclear bombs with more acoming. And sure enough, even before taking the Prime Minister's office, Sharon's people are already threatening striking Iran and Egypt!

While Barak was tossing out his three "No's" (see the article below), Israel's Arabs (defying their own imposed leader Yasser Arafat), let it be known they are going to sit out this Barak-Sharon contest and let fate take it's course. Not only have all the major Arab parties said so in public, but assassination squads continue to warn Arafat to watch it. Last week the head of Palestinian TV in Gaza and a close Arafat friend -- he personally helped carry the coffin in fact -- was gunned down by masked men. Yesterday in Nablus, another corrupt Arafat official was dealt with in similar manner while demonstrations took place condemning Arafat's then current "Taba" negotiations.

BARAK VOWS NOT TO JOIN SHARON-LED UNITY GOVERNMENT:

NO SHARON, NO PERES, NO LEAVING POLITICS!
By Yossi Verter - Ha'aretz Political Correspondent

[Ha'aretz 28 January 2001]: Prime Minister Ehud Barak said last night for the first time that he would not join a national unity government led by Ariel Sharon, since its policies would be too extremist. Speaking to a group of writers and performing artists at his official Jerusalem residence, Barak also reiterated that he would not step aside to allow Shimon Peres to run and indicated that he would not leave politics if defeated on February 6.

Referring to belligerent statements made by Sharon's likely coalition party, MK Avigdor Lieberman, Barak said that Sharon, if elected, would form a "Tehran-Aswan government." (Lieberman has mentioned the Iranian and Egyptian cities as potential targets for Israeli retaliatory attacks.)

Barak expressed confidence that his campaign would coalesce during the last five days before the elections and said that the current gap is really less than the surveys indicate.

ALL ISRAELI ARAB PARTIES CALL FOR ABSTENTION FROM PM ELECTION
By Ori Nir and Jalal Banna, Ha'aretz Correspondents

Ha'aretz (Bulletin) 27 January 2001: The Arab Democratic Party decided Saturday to call on its voters to boycott the upcoming prime ministerial election. In doing so, the Arab Democratic Party joined the rest of the Arab parties calling on their constituents not to support Ehud Barak or Ariel Sharon.

Ten days before the election, all the Arab parties and non-parliamentary political movements in the Arab sector have called on their supporters to abstain from the prime ministerial election. The only differences between the parties lie in whether to boycott the election or to express their protest against both candidates by submitting a blank ballot.

This united protest front by the Arab parties was reached after the Arab Democratic Party followed in the footsteps of Hadash, the largest and most diverse party in the Arab sector, which decided over the weekend to urge its supporters to submit a blank ballot.

In opposition to Hadash, whose call for a blank ballot leaves room for a change of mind if any sort of agreement is reached with the Palestinian Authority before the election, the Arab Democratic Party called for an absolute boycott of the election and did not acknowledge the possibility of an agreement with the Palestinians.

Senior members of the Arab Democratic Party said their decision had been made after long deliberation and differences of opinion. Some members supported the blank ballot option. The decision of Hadash surprised the Arab sector even though the party's leaders have supported this position for over a month, despite the fact that it strikes a blow to Barak. In recent days, Barak supporters had expressed hope that Hadash would decide to urge its constituents to support Barak.

Without the support and assistance of Hadash, Barak's staff will have to rely on Labor and Meretz supporters in the Arab sector as well as a limited number of independents who support Barak.

Thousands of Balad (National Democratic Alliance) activists demonstrated Saturday in Nazereth with the slogan "Boycott the election and the Zionist parties." The demonstration began with a procession down the main street of the city and ended with speeches by senior members of Balad.

Balad Chairman Dr. Azmi Bishara called for boycotting the prime ministerial election and sharply criticized the "historical leaders of the Palestinian nation" and members of it, such as Nayef Hawatmeh, who called on Israeli Arabs to support Barak. With regard to fears that Sharon would win the election, Bishara said, "Both candidates are bad. Are they trying to scare us? We are stronger and more resistant than Sharon."