Cabinet Communique on assassination of Tourism Minister
Communicated by the Cabinet Secretariat, October 17, 2001
The Cabinet released the following statement late Wednesday evening, October
17, 2001, following the assassination of Tourism Minister Rechavam Ze'evy
early yesterday morning:
- The Government and people of Israel are shocked and outraged by the
cold-blooded assassination of Minister Rechavam Ze'evy. Tonight, we mourn
together with his family. The murder of a member of the Israeli Cabinet and
Knesset crosses all red lines. No democracy can tolerate such an attack on its
elected officials. The responsibility lies squarely with Arafat and the Palestinian
Authority.
- The writing was on the wall.
The Popular Front announced that it was planning terrorist attacks - but
Chairman Arafat and the Palestinian Authority did nothing. Israel included
Popular Front leaders on the list of terrorist fugitives submitted to Arafat - but,
again, he did nothing. Israel began, this week, to withdraw its forces and ease
restrictions - serving only to open the door for terrorists to slip through.
In the interest of creating calm and advancing the cause of peace, and at
the urging of our friends in the international community, we held meetings with
Chairman Arafat, roadblocks were removed, and Israeli forces withdrew from
Hebron.
But the Palestinians only reciprocated with violence and murder. Many
promises were made, but only little steps were taken to prevent terror.
- The time for words has ended, and the time for deeds has come. Israel
demands the extradition of those responsible for today's assassination, and
expects this to be carried out immediately. We also demand that the terrorist
organizations operating in the Palestinian areas be disarmed and dismantled.
Arafat must not shelter them any longer.
Failure to meet these demands, which are grounded in signed
agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, will leave us with no
choice but to view the Palestinian Authority as an entity supporting and
sponsoring terror, and to act accordingly. Israel, meanwhile, will continue to
take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of its citizens.
- There can be no compromise with terror. It must be eradicated, without
distinction between its perpetrators and those who harbor them.
The terrorists and their sponsors, including Arafat, must be told,
unequivocally, that their crimes will not be tolerated by the civilized world.
We demand that Arafat stop his double-talk, and take serious and
concrete action against the terrorist factions operating freely in the Palestinian
Authority.
- Israel shares the commitment of the international community to peace and
stability. And we want peace with the Palestinian people. But peace and
stability will not be achieved without decisive action from Arafat to halt terror.