1. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert made the following remarks: “This is a very
difficult morning for all of us. The severe blows on Haifa follow the
murderous attacks on population centers throughout the country.
difficult morning for all of us. The severe blows on Haifa follow the
murderous attacks on population centers throughout the country.
These attacks are designed to hurt civilians because this is Hizbullah’s criminal
war against Israel and its residents. On behalf of the Cabinet and the
people of Israel, I would like to send condolences to the families of those
IDF soldiers and civilians who were killed and best wishes for a full
recovery to those who were wounded, and to embrace the abductees and their
families.
Several days ago, the State of Israel was attacked from the north. This
attack follows the terrorist attack from the Gaza Strip. In both instances,
the attacks began without any reason and they are mostly directed against
innocent Israeli civilians within the sovereign territory of the State of
Israel. In both the north and the south, there is no claim by any regional
or international element whatsoever that Israel is in an area the
sovereignty of which is disputed. The State of Israel cannot countenance
this. We have no interest or desire to hurt the Lebanese or the Palestinian
peoples. We want to live our lives quietly and to be good neighbors.
To my regret, there were those who incorrectly interpreted our aspiration to
live in peace. We have no intention to give in to these threats. We know
that many tests yet await us. Our enemies are trying to disrupt life in
Israel – they will fail. The public is strong and united in this struggle.
In both north and south, the resolve being demonstrated by the public is an
important part of the strength of the State of Israel and we are very proud
of this. We must show patience and forbearance. This struggle is under no
time constraints; this is a daily struggle and we – the Israeli Government
and public – will continue to show equanimity, determination and sagacity as
necessary. Our struggle is both moral and just and no other people in the
free world would act as we have.
The Government is ready to extend immediate assistance to the residents of
the north – in all areas. Government representatives, at all levels, have
been instructed to formulate a socio-economic assistance plan. Throughout
the operation, an interministerial Directors-General committee, chaired by
Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Director-General Ra’anan Dinur will – in full
coordination with the Finance Ministry – provide assistance as necessary to
the residents.
The decisions that we face are difficult and complex. My Government is
determined to continue doing whatever is necessary in order to achieve our
goals. Nothing will deter us, whatever far-reaching ramifications regarding
our relations on the northern border and in the region there may be.
In conclusion, I would like to tell Defense Minister Amir Peretz, IDF
Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz, Israel Police Commissioner Moshe Karadi
and all members of the IDF and the security services: I am proud to live in
a state with such an army and with such security services. Continue the
struggle without hesitation, the entire people of Israel are behind you.”
Defense Minister Peretz, IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Halutz, GOC
Intelligence Maj.-Gen. Amos Yedlin, Israel Security Agency Director Yuval
Diskin, Israel Police Commissioner Karadi and GOC Home Front Command
Maj.-Gen. X briefed ministers on current events regarding the security
forces’ fighting against Hizbullah, the activities of the IDF Home Front
Command and the Israel Police regarding the home front in the north, and
assistance to citizens that have been wounded.
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni briefed ministers on the position of the
international community regarding the fighting in Lebanon. She discussed
Lebanese Prime Minister X’s speech in which he proposed a ceasefire and to
deploy the Lebanese Army in the south, and the recent UN Security Council
discussion on the crisis between Israel and Lebanon
().
Finance Minister Avraham Hirchson briefed ministers on the consultations he
held last Friday, 14.7.06, with the participation of Finance Ministry and
Bank of Israel personnel on the economic situation and the attitude of the
international community to the Israeli economy during the fighting. He said
that the Israeli economy was stable and strong and added that the
international community had expressed confidence in its stability. He noted
that Finance Ministry personnel are tomorrow (Monday), 17.7.06, going to the
communities that have been hit by Katyusha barrages in order to assess the
damages.
Prime Minister Olmert said that since last Wednesday, 12.7.06, approximately
1,400 rockets have landed inside Israel. “1,400 hits means 1,400 attempts
to attack citizens of the state of Israel in their homes and places of work
with unparalleled and bloodthirsty cruelty and brutality. We see here the
gap between us when we act with exemplary caution and respect for the
sanctity of life and human dignity – and the brutality that we see on their
part.”
Prime Minister Olmert emphasized that Israel is not fighting Lebanon but the
terrorist element there, led by Nasrallah and his cohorts, who have made
Lebanon a hostage and created Syrian- and Iranian-sponsored terrorist
enclaves of murder.
Prime Minister Olmert said that the State of Israel’s greatest asset at the
current time is the spirit of its people, who give strength, security and
encouragement that it is possible to be proud of. “Whoever does not
understand the ability of this people shows that he has learned nothing from
the years of the intifada. Haifa, which endured the 4.10.03 terrorist
bombing at the Maxim restaurant () and the 31.3.02
bombing at the Matza restaurant? Haifa has known bereavement over the years
but has been resolute; these Katyushas will not frighten it, these rockets
will not subdue us. The strength is given to us by this nation, this spirit
and the bravery of these soldiers, from the professionalism of the security
forces. The wisdom to define the correct boundaries, knowing against who
and what, how many, when and where, when to say ‘yes’ and when to say ‘no’,
this is our responsibility.
It must be clear that Israel will not return to the status quo that
prevailed before last Wednesday; this situation was intolerable from the
outset.”
Prime Minister Olmert added that in continuation of Defense Minister Peretz’
s decision from last night to declare a special situation on the home front,
the Cabinet would discuss the extension of the order beyond the 48 hours
from the time of the declaration, after it receives the recommendations of
the aforementioned interministerial team chaired by PMO Dir.-Gen. Dinur and
after they have been examined by Prime Minister Olmert, Finance Minister
Hirchson and Defense Minister Peretz.
Prime Minister Olmert referred to the Shalit, Goldwasser and Regev families,
whose sons have been kidnapped: “I know what situation these families are in
and I tell them that Defense Minister Peretz and I are certain that all of
us see the abducted soldiers before our eyes all the time. We need to do
everything to bring them back home. The entire Jewish People is concerned
for them. We must act here with courage, responsibility and caution and we
must try to do so with all our hearts.”
Prime Minister Olmert said that we would continue in this campaign as
necessary and added that it is clear to all that we will not stop until we
can tell the Israeli people that the threat hanging over it has been
removed.
The Cabinet decided: “In continuation of Defense Minister Amir Peretz’s
decision at 21:30 last night (Saturday), 15.7.06, regarding the declaration
of a ‘special situation on the home front’ as detailed in the declaration,
the Cabinet would discuss the extension of the order beyond the 48 hours
from the time of the declaration, after it receives the recommendations of
the aforementioned interministerial team chaired by PMO Dir.-Gen. Dinur and
with the participation of representatives from the Defense, Finance,
Justice, Industry, Trade and Employment, Tourism, Agriculture and Rural
Development, Health, Interior and Public Security ministries, and the Vice
Premier’s Office, and any other relevant ministry according to the decision
of PMO Dir.-Gen. Dinur. The interministerial team’s recommendations will be
examined by Prime Minister Olmert, Finance Minister Hirchson and Defense
Minister Peretz before being submitted for Cabinet approval.”
2. The Cabinet approved the following Foreign Service appointments: Anna
Azari – Ambassador to Mexico; Yaakov Rosen – Ambassador to Jordan; Daniel
Shek – Ambassador to France and Non-Resident Ambassador to Monaco; Noah
Gendler – Ambassador to Bulgaria; Tzion Evroni – Ambassador to Ireland; Chen
Evri – Ambassador to Latvia and Non-Resident Ambassador to Lithuania; Zeev
Boker – Ambassador to Slovakia; Ran Shai – Ambassador to Kazakhstan and
Non-Resident Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan; Avraham Hadad – Ambassador to Cyprus;
Daniel Kedem – Ambassador to Ivory Coast and Non-Resident ambassador to
Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo and Liberia; Gideon Bachar – Ambassador to Senegal
and Non-Resident Ambassador to Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone and
Gambia; Ehud Eitam – Ambassador to Costa Rica and Non-Resident Ambassador to
Nicaragua; Gideon Meir – Ambassador to Italy and non-Resident Ambassador to
San Marino; Eli Yehiye – Ambassador to Greece; Ilan Alger – Ambassador to
Switzerland and Non-Resident Ambassador to Liechtenstein; Yitzhak Bachman –
Ambassador to Guatemala and Non-Resident Ambassador to Honduras; Yosef
Livneh – Ambassador to Mexico and Non-Resident Ambassador to the Bahamas;
Tzuriel Rafael – Ambassador to El Salvador and Non-Resident Ambassador to
Belize; Nadav Tamir – Consul-General in Boston; Rada Mantsour –
Consul-General in Atlanta; and Roi Rosenblit – Chief of Mission in Qatar.
3. Pursuant to its authority under the 1959 Civil Service law
(Appointments), the Cabinet appointed Nahum Itskovitz as Director-General of
the Tourism Ministry; see for details.
4. Pursuant to its authority under the 1959 Civil Service law
(Appointments), the Cabinet appointed Eli Cohen as Finance Ministry Director
of Wages and Labor Agreements; see for details.
5. Pursuant to its authority under the relevant 1953 and 1968 laws, the
Cabinet appointed Joseph Lapid as Chairman of the Yad Vashem Council.
6. The Cabinet approved the draft of the 2006 Plant Council Law; see
for details.
7. The Cabinet discussed the draft 2006 Rabbinical Courts Law and
transferred it to the Ministerial Committee on Legislation for further
discussion.
8. The Cabinet decided to transfer the draft 2006 Political Parties Law
(Primaries) to the Ministerial Committee on Legislation for further
discussion.
BreuerPress-info
war against Israel and its residents. On behalf of the Cabinet and the
people of Israel, I would like to send condolences to the families of those
IDF soldiers and civilians who were killed and best wishes for a full
recovery to those who were wounded, and to embrace the abductees and their
families.
Several days ago, the State of Israel was attacked from the north. This
attack follows the terrorist attack from the Gaza Strip. In both instances,
the attacks began without any reason and they are mostly directed against
innocent Israeli civilians within the sovereign territory of the State of
Israel. In both the north and the south, there is no claim by any regional
or international element whatsoever that Israel is in an area the
sovereignty of which is disputed. The State of Israel cannot countenance
this. We have no interest or desire to hurt the Lebanese or the Palestinian
peoples. We want to live our lives quietly and to be good neighbors.
To my regret, there were those who incorrectly interpreted our aspiration to
live in peace. We have no intention to give in to these threats. We know
that many tests yet await us. Our enemies are trying to disrupt life in
Israel – they will fail. The public is strong and united in this struggle.
In both north and south, the resolve being demonstrated by the public is an
important part of the strength of the State of Israel and we are very proud
of this. We must show patience and forbearance. This struggle is under no
time constraints; this is a daily struggle and we – the Israeli Government
and public – will continue to show equanimity, determination and sagacity as
necessary. Our struggle is both moral and just and no other people in the
free world would act as we have.
The Government is ready to extend immediate assistance to the residents of
the north – in all areas. Government representatives, at all levels, have
been instructed to formulate a socio-economic assistance plan. Throughout
the operation, an interministerial Directors-General committee, chaired by
Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Director-General Ra’anan Dinur will – in full
coordination with the Finance Ministry – provide assistance as necessary to
the residents.
The decisions that we face are difficult and complex. My Government is
determined to continue doing whatever is necessary in order to achieve our
goals. Nothing will deter us, whatever far-reaching ramifications regarding
our relations on the northern border and in the region there may be.
In conclusion, I would like to tell Defense Minister Amir Peretz, IDF
Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz, Israel Police Commissioner Moshe Karadi
and all members of the IDF and the security services: I am proud to live in
a state with such an army and with such security services. Continue the
struggle without hesitation, the entire people of Israel are behind you.”
Defense Minister Peretz, IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Halutz, GOC
Intelligence Maj.-Gen. Amos Yedlin, Israel Security Agency Director Yuval
Diskin, Israel Police Commissioner Karadi and GOC Home Front Command
Maj.-Gen. X briefed ministers on current events regarding the security
forces’ fighting against Hizbullah, the activities of the IDF Home Front
Command and the Israel Police regarding the home front in the north, and
assistance to citizens that have been wounded.
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni briefed ministers on the position of the
international community regarding the fighting in Lebanon. She discussed
Lebanese Prime Minister X’s speech in which he proposed a ceasefire and to
deploy the Lebanese Army in the south, and the recent UN Security Council
discussion on the crisis between Israel and Lebanon
(
Finance Minister Avraham Hirchson briefed ministers on the consultations he
held last Friday, 14.7.06, with the participation of Finance Ministry and
Bank of Israel personnel on the economic situation and the attitude of the
international community to the Israeli economy during the fighting. He said
that the Israeli economy was stable and strong and added that the
international community had expressed confidence in its stability. He noted
that Finance Ministry personnel are tomorrow (Monday), 17.7.06, going to the
communities that have been hit by Katyusha barrages in order to assess the
damages.
Prime Minister Olmert said that since last Wednesday, 12.7.06, approximately
1,400 rockets have landed inside Israel. “1,400 hits means 1,400 attempts
to attack citizens of the state of Israel in their homes and places of work
with unparalleled and bloodthirsty cruelty and brutality. We see here the
gap between us when we act with exemplary caution and respect for the
sanctity of life and human dignity – and the brutality that we see on their
part.”
Prime Minister Olmert emphasized that Israel is not fighting Lebanon but the
terrorist element there, led by Nasrallah and his cohorts, who have made
Lebanon a hostage and created Syrian- and Iranian-sponsored terrorist
enclaves of murder.
Prime Minister Olmert said that the State of Israel’s greatest asset at the
current time is the spirit of its people, who give strength, security and
encouragement that it is possible to be proud of. “Whoever does not
understand the ability of this people shows that he has learned nothing from
the years of the intifada. Haifa, which endured the 4.10.03 terrorist
bombing at the Maxim restaurant (
bombing at the Matza restaurant? Haifa has known bereavement over the years
but has been resolute; these Katyushas will not frighten it, these rockets
will not subdue us. The strength is given to us by this nation, this spirit
and the bravery of these soldiers, from the professionalism of the security
forces. The wisdom to define the correct boundaries, knowing against who
and what, how many, when and where, when to say ‘yes’ and when to say ‘no’,
this is our responsibility.
It must be clear that Israel will not return to the status quo that
prevailed before last Wednesday; this situation was intolerable from the
outset.”
Prime Minister Olmert added that in continuation of Defense Minister Peretz’
s decision from last night to declare a special situation on the home front,
the Cabinet would discuss the extension of the order beyond the 48 hours
from the time of the declaration, after it receives the recommendations of
the aforementioned interministerial team chaired by PMO Dir.-Gen. Dinur and
after they have been examined by Prime Minister Olmert, Finance Minister
Hirchson and Defense Minister Peretz.
Prime Minister Olmert referred to the Shalit, Goldwasser and Regev families,
whose sons have been kidnapped: “I know what situation these families are in
and I tell them that Defense Minister Peretz and I are certain that all of
us see the abducted soldiers before our eyes all the time. We need to do
everything to bring them back home. The entire Jewish People is concerned
for them. We must act here with courage, responsibility and caution and we
must try to do so with all our hearts.”
Prime Minister Olmert said that we would continue in this campaign as
necessary and added that it is clear to all that we will not stop until we
can tell the Israeli people that the threat hanging over it has been
removed.
The Cabinet decided: “In continuation of Defense Minister Amir Peretz’s
decision at 21:30 last night (Saturday), 15.7.06, regarding the declaration
of a ‘special situation on the home front’ as detailed in the declaration,
the Cabinet would discuss the extension of the order beyond the 48 hours
from the time of the declaration, after it receives the recommendations of
the aforementioned interministerial team chaired by PMO Dir.-Gen. Dinur and
with the participation of representatives from the Defense, Finance,
Justice, Industry, Trade and Employment, Tourism, Agriculture and Rural
Development, Health, Interior and Public Security ministries, and the Vice
Premier’s Office, and any other relevant ministry according to the decision
of PMO Dir.-Gen. Dinur. The interministerial team’s recommendations will be
examined by Prime Minister Olmert, Finance Minister Hirchson and Defense
Minister Peretz before being submitted for Cabinet approval.”
2. The Cabinet approved the following Foreign Service appointments: Anna
Azari – Ambassador to Mexico; Yaakov Rosen – Ambassador to Jordan; Daniel
Shek – Ambassador to France and Non-Resident Ambassador to Monaco; Noah
Gendler – Ambassador to Bulgaria; Tzion Evroni – Ambassador to Ireland; Chen
Evri – Ambassador to Latvia and Non-Resident Ambassador to Lithuania; Zeev
Boker – Ambassador to Slovakia; Ran Shai – Ambassador to Kazakhstan and
Non-Resident Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan; Avraham Hadad – Ambassador to Cyprus;
Daniel Kedem – Ambassador to Ivory Coast and Non-Resident ambassador to
Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo and Liberia; Gideon Bachar – Ambassador to Senegal
and Non-Resident Ambassador to Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone and
Gambia; Ehud Eitam – Ambassador to Costa Rica and Non-Resident Ambassador to
Nicaragua; Gideon Meir – Ambassador to Italy and non-Resident Ambassador to
San Marino; Eli Yehiye – Ambassador to Greece; Ilan Alger – Ambassador to
Switzerland and Non-Resident Ambassador to Liechtenstein; Yitzhak Bachman –
Ambassador to Guatemala and Non-Resident Ambassador to Honduras; Yosef
Livneh – Ambassador to Mexico and Non-Resident Ambassador to the Bahamas;
Tzuriel Rafael – Ambassador to El Salvador and Non-Resident Ambassador to
Belize; Nadav Tamir – Consul-General in Boston; Rada Mantsour –
Consul-General in Atlanta; and Roi Rosenblit – Chief of Mission in Qatar.
3. Pursuant to its authority under the 1959 Civil Service law
(Appointments), the Cabinet appointed Nahum Itskovitz as Director-General of
the Tourism Ministry; see
4. Pursuant to its authority under the 1959 Civil Service law
(Appointments), the Cabinet appointed Eli Cohen as Finance Ministry Director
of Wages and Labor Agreements; see
5. Pursuant to its authority under the relevant 1953 and 1968 laws, the
Cabinet appointed Joseph Lapid as Chairman of the Yad Vashem Council.
6. The Cabinet approved the draft of the 2006 Plant Council Law; see
7. The Cabinet discussed the draft 2006 Rabbinical Courts Law and
transferred it to the Ministerial Committee on Legislation for further
discussion.
8. The Cabinet decided to transfer the draft 2006 Political Parties Law
(Primaries) to the Ministerial Committee on Legislation for further
discussion.
BreuerPress-info
