http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/623113.html
Last update - 23:05 10/09/2005
Gov't likely to nix razing of Gaza synagogues
By Aluf Benn and Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondents and Haaretz Service
At least eleven ministers are expected to vote against the demolition of
some two dozen synagogues in the evacuated Gaza Strip settlements when the
cabinet convenes for its weekly meeting on Sunday.
Six ministers have made formal statements expressing their opposition to
the move over the weekend, joined by six other ministers who said in less
formal settings that they will vote against demolition at the meeting.
The ministers who expressed their opposition to the demolition of
synagogues in the Gaza Strip over the weekend are: National Infrastructures
Minister Benjamin Ben-Elizer, Health Minister Danny Naveh, Foreign Minister
Silvan Shalom, Education Minister Limor Livnat, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz,
minister without portfolio Tzachi Hanegbi, Tourism Minister Abraham Hirchson
and Communications Minister Dalia Itzik.
Advertisement
The other three ministers are Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz,
Environment Minister Shalom Simhon and Public Security Minister Gideon Ezra.
Only three minister have said for certain that they will vote in favor of
demolition: Interior Minister Ophir Pines-Paz, minister without portfolio Haim
Ramon and acting Science Minister Matan Vilnai. The remaining ministers,
including Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Vice Premier Shimon Peres and
Transportation Minister Meir Sheetrit are still unsure how they will vote.
Government sources in Jerusalem, however, believe Sharon will oppose the
demolition, despite the fact that he had previously supported the move.
Shalom explained his decision to vote against demolishing the structures,
saying Jewish leaders from all over the world warned him that razing the
synagogues could be a dangerous precedent justifying the demolition of Jewish
holy places by foreign governments.
"Jews do not destroy synagogues," said Shalom. "I hope the Palestinian
Authority will come to their senses and not allow barbarism and vandalism to
rule over the synagogues. If this does happen, the world will see what we're
dealing with."
Unfair to the Palestinians
Senior Palestinian officials said it would be best if Israel demolished
the buildings and did not leave the job for the Palestinian Authority.
Jibril Rajoub, a senior security aide to PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said
the PA could not guarantee the protection of the structures, "because the
Palestinians see them as symbols of occupation".
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat urged Israel to demolish the
synagogues, saying it would be unfair to put the Palestinians in a situation of
"damned if we do, damned if we don't."
"We maintain the highest respect for Judaism. We don't want to be put in
a situation that we are demolishing synagogues in front of the world, or some
of our people may do something that we don't want them to do," Erekat said.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~-->
Help save the life of a child. Support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
http://us.click.yahoo.com/ons1pC/lbOLAA/E2hLAA/BRUplB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->
***************************************************************************
Berdikusi dg Santun & Elegan, dg Semangat Persahabatan. Menuju Indonesia yg
Lebih Baik, in Commonality & Shared Destiny. http://www.ppi-india.org
***************************************************************************
__________________________________________________________________________
Mohon Perhatian:
1. Harap tdk. memposting/reply yg menyinggung SARA (kecuali sbg otokritik)
2. Pesan yg akan direply harap dihapus, kecuali yg akan dikomentari.
3. Reading only, http://dear.to/ppi
4. Satu email perhari: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
5. No-email/web only: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
6. kembali menerima email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ppiindia/
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
