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Communicated
by the Cabinet Secretariat and the Government Press Office
The
Cabinet has, this morning (Friday), 29.3.2002, issued the
following statement:
"The
Cabinet met last night in special session against the background
of the severe escalation in Palestinian terror.
The
Cabinet approved, in principle, a wide-ranging operational
action plan against Palestinian terror.
Israel
will act to defeat the infrastructure of Palestinian terror
in all its parts and components; to this end, broad action
will be undertaken until this goal is secured.
Arafat
- who set up a coalition of terror against Israel - is an
enemy; at this stage, he will be isolated.
The
Cabinet approved the mobilization of reserves as per operational
need."
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Address
by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
Press Conference, March 29, 2002
Good morning,
In the past
few days we have witnessed horrific terrorist attacks - the attack
during the Pesach Seder in Netanya, where 21 people were killed,
tonight's events in Eilon More, resulting in 4 deaths, and the incident
which is currently taking place in Netzarim where so far two people
have been killed.
I take this
opportunity to extend my condolences to the bereaved families. I
know that there is no remedy for your pain, and I believe that we
all share this expression of condolence and sympathy. I also wish
a speedy recovery to the wounded, among them there are still a large
number of people who are very severely injured.
All this has
happened at a time when Israel's hand was - and still is - extended
towards peace. We have done everything in our power to achieve a
cease-fire and an immediate entry into the Tenet process in order
to advance any possibility of a cease-fire. All we have received
in return was terrorism, terrorism and more terrorism.
No sovereign
nation would tolerate such a sequence of events.
Therefore, the
government, in a special session lasting throughout the night, and
in accordance with the recommendations from all the security agencies
- the Chief of Intelligence, the Chief of the GSS, and the Director
of the Mossad - has made the following decision:
The Government
has approved principles for extensive operational activity against
Palestinian terrorism. As we speak, the IDF is already inside the
"Mukta'a" in Ramallah.
Israel will
act to crush the Palestinian terrorist infrastructure, in all its
parts and components, and will carry out comprehensive activity
to achieve this goal.
Arafat, who
has established a coalition of terror against Israel, is an enemy
and at this point he will be isolated.
The Government
has authorized the mobilization of reserve forces, in accordance
with the operational needs, in order to enable the IDF ongoing,
lengthy activities in various terrorism centers.
On behalf of
the government of Israel and the citizens of Israel and on my own
behalf, I wish to extend my best wishes to the IDF for success in
this mission.
At times such
as these we are all required to demonstrate responsibility and mainly
unity, and I am confident that we will do so.
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