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May 25, 2001/Sivan 3, 5761, Vol. 53, No.34
Cracks deepen in Israeli unity government
DAVID LANDAU
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
JERUSALEM - The Mitchell Commission report on ongoing Israeli-Palestinian violence appears to be widening cracks in Israel's unity government, as well as in what has been the Israeli public's solid support for government policy.
Among its recommendations, which have recently drawn support of the Bush administration, the report calls for an immediate cease-fire followed by a cooling-off period and a series of confidence-building steps.
Among those steps is a call to halt all Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, including the "natural growth" of existing settlements.
Analysts parsed the words of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, the leader of the Likud Party, and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres - leader of the Labor Party, which joined the unity government that Sharon formed following his election in February - for signs of dissension.
The differences between the government's two principals are subtle, and could either be a question of nuance - or could represent more fundamental gaps.
Peres has said Israel will agree to a geographic settlement freeze - that is, it will not expand settlements' boundaries - but cannot freeze demographic growth within existing settlements.
Sharon, too, has insisted on the settlements' right to "natural growth," and pledged in comments on the Mitchell report May 22 that Israel would not expropriate any more Palestinian land for the settlements.
Opinion polls continue to reflect a high level of respect for Sharon and that most Israelis favor a halt to settlement construction - and a withdrawal from some settlements - in exchange for a truce.
On May 22, Sharon called for a truce and a cooling-off period, after which the two sides could begin implementing the Mitchell Commission report.
"I propose to our neighbors to work together for an immediate cease-fire and hope the Palestinians will answer the call positively," Sharon said.
While Sharon and Peres are trying to keep the differences between them as muted as possible - in the interests of government stability - other Cabinet members have been outspoken in their reaction to the settlement construction issue.
This has sparked speculation that the unity government may be seriously threatened by the Mitchell report, especially if the United States pushes to have it implemented.
Infrastructure Minister Avigdor Lieberman, a member of the hawkish National Union Party, warned this week that Israel's acceptance of the Mitchell panel's recommendations would spell the beginning of the end of the unity government.
Legislator Reuven Rivlin, a member of Sharon's Likud Party, termed the Mitchell recommendations "a prize to terrorism."
Meanwhile, Defense Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, a member of Labor, told the Israeli daily Ha'aretz he would be prepared to accept a full settlement freeze if it were limited to a period of months.
Significantly, Ben-Eliezer hinted broadly to the newspaper that he also would consider evacuating certain settlements - an option Sharon has categorically ruled out.
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