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03 December 2010
PM Netanyahu's Remarks at the Security Cabinet Meeting Regarding the Massive Carmel
Fire
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
"We have just heard a briefing by the professional elements and the responsible ministers.
I would like to thank Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch, who is in command on behalf of the Government, for all
of the activity there.
We are in a very harsh event. We have over 40 dead. People are missing; people
are injured. Many of these people perished in admirable courage and sacrificed themselves in order to save others.
I would like to note our participation in the families' grief and we send wishes for a rapid recovery for the wounded.
We know that approximately 15,000 Israelis have been evacuated from their homes. We support them and we will take care
of them. We will see to all the rebuilding, renovation and compensation as necessary in order to restore them to normal
life. We will rehabilitate the Carmel with as national reconstruction plan.
I would like to praise the work being done in the field that is being carried out with exemplary
cooperation. I would like to thank the Israel Police, the Fire and Rescue Service, the IDF, MDA, the hospitals and the
Prison Service – which suffered a terrible blow; we are will with the families of the Prison Service personnel.
I would also like to thank Israel's citizens who have shown patience and equanimity, and are heeding directions in an exemplary
manner, and therefore, it is possible to realize our first goal.
Our first goal is that there be no more loss of life. To this end, I gave instructions
yesterday, which are being carried out, for evacuations whenever there is even the slightest concern that the fire might reach
communities or neighborhoods. This is being carried out in an exemplary manner.
The second thing is to recognize the fact that our firefighting measures cannot provide an
answer to forest fires of this magnitude, especially in the face of such winds. We do not have such equipment.
Only airborne forces have such equipment and since yesterday we have been in contact with many foreign governments, in cooperation
with the Foreign Ministry and Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman, in order to bring these forces to Israel.
At this stage, four aircraft have arrived from Greece. I would like to thank my friend
and colleague, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, who responded immediately, and the mobilization here is exceptional,
with all the crews and their logistical support.
I would also like to thank Cypriot President Demetris Christofias for dispatching a plane
and a helicopter. The response was immediate, the aircraft are here. I would also like to thank UK Prime Minister
David Cameron. Two British helicopters from Cyprus are here. All of these forces are helping us. UI would
like to thank Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who offered and sent two planes, which are here; we welcome this.
I would like to thank Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov for sending 100 firefighters, who are here. I would like
to thank Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin who sent a very large Russian plane, perhaps the largest of its kind in the
world, which is en route. It will be here this afternoon.
We have also received aid and very generous offers of assistance from Egypt, Azerbaijan,
Spain, Croatia, France and Jordan. I think that this symbolizes the unprecedented response to my appeal, to our appeal,
for international assistance. This is important to the State of Israel in every respect, especially that of putting
out the fires.
We are also in contact with the US. We are checking into the possibility of bring more
planes here, if it becomes necessary, and from Canada as well. We have already hired an American plane from a private
company, a 'supertanker' that will arrive here tomorrow afternoon. We are in he midst of a disaster of international
proportions and we must use all forces, first of all to extinguish the fire; that is the first goal.
We will also organize two things: First, at the Sunday Cabinet meeting, we will submit a
national plan to deal with all of the needs of those who were injured and are in distress, and next week we will submit for
Cabinet decision and implementation a plan to purchase aircraft."
End of Press Release
When Bibi Netanyahu was Finance Minister I approached
him in person at Jerusalem's Cafe Atara and asked for him to notify his secretary that I would be calling for an appointment
to speak with him in his office about battered women. He looked at me and replied, "Battered women, what can I do for battered
women?..." Today Prime Minister Netanyahu called for new measures on behalf of women who live with an abusive partner. Thank
you Mr. Netanyahu. Now, if you would only take action in the Sovereign State of Israel to encourage that the penal code be
rewritten to call for True Justice against those husbands who murder the mothers of their children. The man who commits this
crime should never be released from jail. Period. No exceptions.
Cabinet Communique
(Communicated by the Cabinet Secretariat)
At the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Sunday), 28.11.10:
1. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the following:
"Today, the cabinet will discuss one of the components of the plan
for stopping the wave of illegal infiltrators into the country. This growing wave threatens Israelis' jobs, is changing
the character of the country and we must stop it. We do not intend to arrest refugees from war. We allow them
to enter and will continue to do so. But we must stop the mass entry of illegal infiltrators who are looking for work
due to the very harsh repercussions that this wave will have on the character and future of the State of Israel.
This Government, unlike its predecessors, acts. The first thing
that we have started to do is to erect a fence and a ground barrier along our south-western border. This is happening right now. At the same time, we will impose very heavy fines on those who employ illegal workers. We must provide
a humanitarian response for those employees who will be out of work. We must give them food, lodgings and medical services
until they leave the country; therefore, we will decided today on housing facilities similar to those in the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and other countries. The fourth thing is action in the
international sphere, to repatriate the infiltrators to their countries of origin and to intermediate countries from which
they will make their way to their countries of origin. This is an integrated national plan that is designed to finally
change direction; after years of talk, we are finally taking action to change the direction of mass entry into the State of
Israel."
"Today, we are marking International Women's Day. We will mark the day by discussing the issue of violence against women. Last year, in Israel, 16
women were murdered by their partners. This is intolerable, as is violence that does not result in murder. Today,
we will do two things: One, I have asked the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women to formulate a national plan on the struggle against violence against women, and this is being done in coordination
with Minister Limor Livnat, Minister Yitzhak Herzog and Deputy Minister Gila Gamliel. At the same time, we will invest
NIS 7.1 million in renovating shelters and giving grants to victims of violence in order to assist them in integrating into
the labor market. I believe that these are necessary and underscore our commitment to rid society of this blight, and
to fight it every way possible."
"Today, we will also submit to the Cabinet a plan on reducing the
emission of greenhouse gases. This plan is necessary given the process of global warming. We see, for example,
that we are facing the driest winter in decades. We do not know when it will end but it has very severe environmental
implications regarding – inter alia – water use and air pollution. All of these phenomena require us to
join in the national and international effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
This plan has been worked on by Environmental Protection Minister
Gilad Erdan, Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz, Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer and their people, along
with National Economic Council Chairman, Eugene Kandel, and Prime Minister's Office Director-General, Eyal Gabai. It
is a NIS 2.2 billion, ten-year plan that will already invest NIS 500 million over the next two years. We intend to deal
with a variety of issues, starting with reducing home consumption, encouraging green construction, and Israeli technologies
that promote greater energy efficiency while maintaining the environment. We will take another series of steps, the
goal of which is place the State of Israel along with the other advanced countries in this field."
"Today we, and the Ethiopian community, mark the Sigd holiday. I and several other ministers intend to be at this evening's great event. Last week we decided to bring the remaining Falashmura to Israel. Today, we will decide on adding 30 civil service positions for academics from the Ethiopian community.
I believe that this reflects our commitment and our desire to see members of the community integrate into the national leadership,
in the public sector as well as in the private sector."
2. Deputy Minister Gila Gamliel discussed International Women's Day
and the phenomenon of violence against women in Israel. Click here for further details.
3. The Cabinet decided to amend its 21.11.10 decision and appointed Noga Keinan to replace Prof. Ben-Zion Zilberberg on the committee that will evaluate candidates
for the post of Civil Service Commissioner. Click here for further details.
4. The Cabinet approved the following Foreign Service appointments:
Alon Bar – Ambassador to Spain & non-resident Ambassador
to Andorra;
Yosef Levy – Ambassador to Serbia & non-resident Ambassador
to Montenegro;
Jack Yaakov Revach – Ambassador to Belgium & non-resident
Ambassador to Luxembourg;
Elhanan Ben-Tora – Ambassador to El Salvador & non-resident
Ambassador to Belize.
5. The Cabinet approved a decision regarding the allocation of 30
civil service positions in 2011 to academics from the Ethiopian community. Click here and here for further details.
6. The Cabinet approved a decision regarding the establishment of
a housing center for infiltrators in the south of the country. Click here and here for further details.
7. The Cabinet approved a decision to reduce the emission of greenhouse
gases in Israel. Click here, here and here for further details.
PM Netanyahu's Remarks at the Start of the Weekly Cabinet Meeting
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
I would like to express shock over the murder of seven-year-old Leon Kalantarov and eight-month-old Fruma Anshin. Today, we will establish a ministerial committee chaired by Justice Minister Yaakov Neeman, and including
Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch and Social Welfare and Social Services Minister Yitzhak Herzog, to examine what
steps the Government must take – in addition to those already in place – in order to assure the security of our
children from such horrors.
Today, the Cabinet will also discuss strengthening the communities adjacent to the
Gaza Strip. This area has suffered severely in the past decade from terrorist attacks and rocket and missile fire.
Our policy is clear to all and I think it also became clear over the weekend – to respond aggressively to any firing at our territory and at our communities. There is no doubt that
this policy, in addition to Operation Cast Lead, has increased deterrence against attack on our communities. But we believe that we cannot suffice thereby.
Therefore, the Prime Minister's Office, along with the Finance Ministry, has formulated a Government package for investment in infrastructures and development in order to help the communities adjacent to the Gaza Strip, especially Sderot, in which most of the population is
concentrated, but there are other communities that have suffered, and some of which are still suffering. This NIS 300
million plan will meet their needs. I think that this is a welcome and important step that the Government is taking."
Prime Minister Netanyahu also commented on the need to bolster respect for, and study
of, the Hebrew language and commended a plan to this effect by Education Minister Gideon Saar. The Prime Minister also
spoke in favor of declaring the birthday of Eliezer Ben-Yehudah as a national day for the Hebrew language.
End of press release
PM Netanyahu’s Remarks at the Start of the Weekly Cabinet Meeting
(Communicated by the Prime Minister’s Media Adviser)
(…).
"I add and update members of the Government that on Tuesday, I will meet Egyptian
President Hosni Mubarak in Egypt, at my request. I think that we have an interest in advancing the peace process in
various ways. Omar Suleiman was here last week. I met with him and other officials and I intend to continue this
important dialogue. I have also asked Minister Ben-Eliezer to join me on this trip."
PM Netanyahu's Remarks at the Start of the Weekly Cabinet Meeting
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
Following are Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks at the start of the weekly Cabinet
meeting today (Sunday), 20.12.09:
"I want to express outrage over the theft of the entrance sign to the Auschwitz death camp. I call upon the Government of Poland to act in order to catch these disturbed criminals who desecrated the place where
over a million Jews were murdered. It is important to preserve the memory of the crime and therefore it is important
to preserve the crime scene of the worst incident in the history of the Jewish People and of all humanity.
Today, we will discuss a new law in the war on alcoholism. According to the WHO, Israel
is second in the world in consumption of alcohol by eleven year-olds, and the rate of consumption among 15-7 year-olds is
over 50%. We are at the onset of an epidemic.
We said that we would propose far-reaching draft legislation on the sale of alcohol to minors.
The new law forbids the consumption of alcohol in public places, increases the punishment for anyone selling or providing
alcohol to minors and bans the sale of alcohol from 23:00-07:00 at most sales outlets, as well as additional restrictions.
This law is part of the national program to lower alcohol consumption that will be submitted
for Cabinet approval. I remind you that we promised to advance this topic. We are advancing it here today via
an extensive program and specific legislation. I expect the Knesset to pass the legislation which we will approve today,
here in the Cabinet, from there to the Knesset plenum and to the committees. We are in need of this legislation promptly.
Israel awaits it."
End of press release.
Weekly Communique Submitted To The Press
Posted 14 September 2009
The following quote is an excerpt from the Minutes of this week's Cabinet Meeting
in Israel. The quote is taken from the comments made by Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu concerning aggression launched
against the Sovereign State of Israel from Lebanon last week.
"Last Friday, Katyusha missiles
were fired from Lebanese territory at the western Galilee. We view this with utmost gravity. I have said that
we will not hold back in the face of firing at Israeli territory and we will not countenance any missiles or other kind of
terrorism directed at Israeli citizens. Alongside IDF artillery fire, we submitted a complaint to the UN Security Council
over a violation of the ceasefire specified by UNSC Resolution #1701. It is clear that this firing was from south of the Litani River, in
complete contravention of #1701.""
CABINET COMMUNIQUE
(Communicated by the Cabinet Secretariat)
At the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Sunday), 9.8.09:
1. In the framework of the Cabinet discussion on the continued activity of the SELA Disengagement Authority, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the following remarks:
"We must take greater action and soon in order to complete
dealing with our brothers whose lives were destroyed and we, as the Government, Governments of Israel, promised to deal with
them and rehabilitate the ruins of their lives. This means financial and social rehabilitation, rehabilitation in every
sense of the word but now and not later.
We will determine all the procedures and I asked my friend, Minister Daniel Hershkowitz,
who heads the ministerial team, to also submit recommendations and needs for implementation in order to end this tragedy.
What was done cannot be undone. We can only conduct genuine introspection and say that the unilateral evacuation from
the Gaza Strip brought neither peace nor security. To my regret, the opposite occurred and we know that Gaza became
a Hamas base under Iranian control from which thousands of missiles have been fired, including in the last campaign.
In short, this did not bring peace.
I think that we are committed to two things. First, the rehabilitation of
our brothers, as I said. Second, we will not repeat this mistake. We want multi-lateral agreements based on two
basic components: One, the genuine recognition of the State of Israel and two – of course – security arrangements,
the honoring and enforcement of which will be assured. Regarding the unilateral evacuation from Gaza, these two elements
were lacking. We will see to it that if there is a turn towards peace by the more moderate Palestinians, we will insist
on the following components: Recognition and genuine demilitarization will find expression in, and be integral parts of, the
peace arrangements."
Following the presentation of the status of the SELA Disengagement Authority's policy
towards former residents of Gush Katif and northern Samaria and the subsequent discussion, it was decided – in continuation
of the Cabinet's 24.8.08 decision – that:
A. Prime Minister's Office Director-General Eli Gabai and Finance Ministry Budget
Director Udi Nisan will – in consultation with the SELA Disengagement Authority Director and with regard to the status
of the policy towards former residents of Gush Katif and northern Samaria – determine the budgetary framework and job
positions of the SELA Disengagement Authority for 2010 and will adjust the Prime Minister's Office budget accordingly.
The budgetary framework and job positions of the SELA Disengagement Authority for 2010 will not exceed those of 2009.
B. The inter-ministerial team established in accordance with the aforesaid decision
will complete its work and submit its recommendation to Prime Minister Netanyahu by 1.2.10 in order to allow the Prime Minister
to decide on the conclusion of the SELA Disengagement authority's operations by 31.12.10 as per Article 9 of the 2005 Disengagement
Plan Implementation Law.
C. To the extent that Prime Minister Netanyahu exercises his authority and decides
to close the SELA Disengagement Authority, the Prime Minister's Office budget will be adjusted accordingly.
Click here for further details.
2. Interior Minister Eli Yishai and Interior Ministry Director-General Gavriel Maimon
briefed the Cabinet on the local councils situation and their recovery plans. Click here for further details.
3. Pursuant to Article 12 of the 1959 State Service Law (Appointments) and the recommendation
of Culture and Sports Minister Limor Livnat, the Cabinet appointed Orly Froman as Culture and Sports Ministry Director-General,
effective 1.9.09.
4. The Cabinet decided to approve Bank of Israel Governor Prof. Stanley's Fisher's
recommendation regarding various memorial medallions. Click here for further details.
5. The Cabinet noted President Shimon Peres' upcoming visit to Russia.
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Communicated to the International
Foreign Press on the 12th of March 2011 at 17:54 hours.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vehemently condemns the murder of an innocent family while
it slept. The Prime Minister is demanding of the Palestinian Authority that it halt the incitement in the mosques and
via the Palestinian Authority-controlled media.
The Prime Minister stands with the settlers during this difficult hour and said that a society
that permits such wild incitement is one that eventually brings about the murder of children, and said "We
all know, as do those who want to strike at us will know, that the future of the settlements will not be decided upon by terror".
The Prime Minister held consultations with the Minister of Defense, the Chief of Staff and
the head of the General Security Service and ordered continued activities be conducted for the apprehension of the murderers.
In addition, the Prime Minister spoke with the Foreign Minister about condemning the incitement in the Palestinian Authority
and in the international arena and will hold additional consultations with the security services.
On Sunday the 6th of February the following Minutes of
the Cabinet Meeting were submitted to the Government Press Office.
CABINET COMMUNIQUE
(Communicated by the Cabinet Secretariat)
At the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Sunday), 6.2.11:
1. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the appointment of the next IDF Chief-of-Staff:
"The stability of the IDF is always important, but it is much more important now given the
deep shocks in our region. The IDF needs stability; therefore, over the weekend, I determined, along with Defense Minister
Ehud Barak, to decide regarding the appointment of the next IDF Chief-of-Staff.
I would like to express appreciation for Maj.-Gen. Yoav Galant, a seasoned fighter with experience,
who contributed greatly to the security of the state. I know that he has undergone not simple experiences in recent
months and I also understand the depth of his disappointment. This is natural; this is human. But in the circumstances
that have been created, my duty as Prime Minister is to make clear decisions in order to lift the cloud of uncertainty from
the IDF senior command.
Maj.-Gen. Gantz has done the entire track which qualifies him to be the next commander of
the IDF, including his recent tenure as Deputy Chief-of-Staff. He is an experienced commander and an excellent officer.
He has all the qualities and all the necessary experience to be an excellent IDF Chief-of-Staff.
I would like to take this opportunity to also express my deep appreciation for Maj.-Gen. Yair Naveh and Maj.-Gen. Gadi Eizenkot, who were also considered for the post. I must note that both of them expressed their full willingness to serve under
designated IDF Chief-of-Staff Benny Gantz. I believe that this shows that the Chief-of-Staff and the General Staff will
cooperate and work together as a united team. This is important both for the IDF and the State of Israel."
Prime Minister Netanyahu also referred to the explosion in the Egyptian gas pipeline:
"On Friday, 4.2.11, an explosion occurred in an Egyptian gas pipeline leading to a halt in
the supply of natural gas to the State of Israel. Israel is prepared for such situations and has the possibility of
immediately switching to alternative energy sources. It is important to note that we are prepared for any scenario and
I ask that National Infrastructures Minister Uzi Landau to detail these preparations and the possibilities at our disposal.
In any case, due to these advance preparations, no problems are expected in the supply of gas to the State of Israel.
I believe that the shocks in our region underscore and reiterate that Israel is an island
of stability in turbulent area and we will continue to do everything to ensure the security and vital interests of the State
of Israel, in the face of the major challenges yet before us as well."
2. The Cabinet noted Attorney General Yehudah Weinstein's 3.2.11 opinion regarding Maj.-Gen.
Yoav Galant, in which the former presented broader and more updated data than he had prior to the Cabinet's previous decision
to appoint Maj.-Gen. Galant as the next IDF Chief-of-Staff, and decided – after considering the matter in all its aspects
– to cancel its 5.9.10 decision to appoint Maj.-Gen. Galant as the next IDF Chief-of-Staff.
3. The Cabinet noted Defense Minister Barak's statement that he intends to submit for Cabinet
approval the appointment of Maj.-Gen. Gantz as the next IDF Chief-of-Staff, pending an examination by – and opinion
from – the public committee on senior appointments, chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice Jacob Turkel.
4. Pursuant to Article 12 of the 1959 State Service Law and in accordance with the recommendation
of Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Yaalon, the Cabinet appointed Yosef Kuperwasser as the Director-General of the Strategic
Affairs Ministry, effective 1.3.11. Click here for further details.
5. The Cabinet approved the following Foreign Service appointments:
Yaakov Hadas-Handelsman – Ambassador to the European Union;
Gil Haskell – Ambassador to Kenya and non-resident Ambassador to Uganda, Zambia, Tanzania,
Malawi and the Seychelles;
Yuad Magen – Ambassador to Colombia; and
Hagit Ben-Yaakov – Ambassador to Latvia and non-resident Ambassador to Lithuania.
6. Pursuant to Article 31A of the 2009 Law on the Inclusion of Biometric Means of Identification
in Identity Documents and in a Data Base, the Cabinet appointed the Ministerial Committee on Biometric Applications, to be
chaired by Prime Minister Netanyahu. The other members of the Committee are Interior Minister Eli Yishai (Deputy Chairman),
Justice Minister Yaakov Neeman, Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch, Home Front Defense Minister Matan Vilnai and
Minister Michael Eitan. Attorney General Weinstein and the Prime Minister's Office Director of Biometric Applications
are permanently invited to the committee's meetings.
The Committee will act on behalf of the Government regarding implementation of the directives
in the aforesaid Law.
7. The Cabinet approved an increase in the number of TV channels to be available to the public
for free. Click here and here for further details.
8. The Cabinet approved the establishment of 15 additional urban task forces and to expand
the activities of existing task forces. Click here and here for further details.
9. Pursuant to its 24.2.08 and 7.12.08 decisions, the Cabinet decided to complete as soon as possible, during 2011, and, if need be, in early 2012, the implementation
of a NIS 125.5 million plan for the structural reinforcement of residences in the area adjacent to the Gaza Strip. Click
here for further details.
End of press release.
Last evening 28th June, 2009 - at approximately
23:30 the following excerpt from the Minutes of the weekly Cabinet Meeting reached the foreign press here.
Mossad Deputy Director Decides to Conclude his Duties
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
"The Deputy Director of the Mossad requested to conclude his duties and leave office in the near future. Prime Minister Netanyahu and
Mossad Director Meir Dagan wished him success and commended his long and fruitful service. "The State of Israel owes
him a great deal," the Prime Minister said."
(Communicated by the Prime Minister’s Media Adviser)
"Last Thursday, I returned from an important and successful round of talks with Italian and
French leaders. The goal of the visit was to brief them on our principles for a peaceful solution as I expressed them
in my Bar-Ilan University speech, and persuade them that this is the correct, just and practical path to achieve an agreement between us and the Palestinians.
Over three days, I met with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, Italian Prime Minister
Silvio Berlusconi, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, French Prime Minister Francois
Fillon and French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde, as well as with leading Italian and French opinion-makers and commentators,
and I found that my interlocutors were attentive. Regarding the principles that we presented, I saw that there was a
genuine international willingness to accept them as foundations for peace.
The first principle is the need for explicit Palestinian recognition of the State of Israel
as the national state of the Jewish People. The second need is the demilitarization of a Palestinian state in such a
manner that all of Israel's security needs will be met. The third item is that there must be international backing of
these security arrangements in the form of explicit international guarantees. The fourth item is that the problem of
refugees must be resolved outside the borders of Israel. The fifth item is the need that the agreement be an end to
the conflict. This is to say that the Palestinians will not be able to raise additional claims following the signing
of a peace agreement.
These principles are very solid and were raised very clearly by myself and by those in my
delegation, which included Finance Minister Dr. Yuval Steinitz and Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan, and I think,
I know, that they expressed a very broad national consensus."
(Communicated by the Cabinet Secretariat)
At the weekly Cabinet meeting yesterday (Sunday), 24.5.09:
1. The Cabinet marked the 42nd anniversary of the unification
of Jerusalem. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the following remarks:
"Today, we will devote part of the Cabinet meeting to strengthening Jerusalem. During
the ceremonies marking the unification of the city, I underscored the importance that we ascribe to
strengthening the heritage of Jerusalem in the history of Israel, and to preserving and developing the Temple Mount, the Western
Wall and the Old City. These things are important to us in order to ensure that we are preserving our past. But this meeting will be
mainly directed to assuring the future of Jerusalem as an open and prosperous city that embraces its future. This we
must do by developing transportation, employment, housing, culture and higher education. All these things require Government
investments and inter-ministerial coordination. Therefore, today we will establish a ministerial committee, to be chaired
by me, and a director-generals committee to be chaired by Prime Minister's Office Director-General Eyal Gabai. We will
enact a series of plans that we will advance in cooperation with the Jerusalem. I would like to reach a situation in
which the trend of leaving Jerusalem for Tel Aviv is halted and perhaps even reversed, with all due respect to Tel Aviv.
We want to preserve Jerusalem's past and ensure its future as a city and mother in Israel."
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat thanked Prime Minister Netanyahu, on behalf of the residents of
Jerusalem, for the invitation and for his steadfast position on the unity and strengthening of Jerusalem. The Mayor
briefed ministers on his plans for strengthening Jerusalem and noted that he views this as a national mission.
2. The Cabinet established the Ministerial Committee on Greater Jerusalem Affairs, to be
chaired by Prime Minister Netanyahu. The committee will deal with matters regarding Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, including its development and the welfare of its residents, and issues regarding local authorities in the greater Jerusalem
area. Click here for further details.
3. Prime Minister Netanyahu briefed ministers on his recent trip to the United States.
He noted that during his 2.5-day visit he met with President Barack Obama, including a private talk that lasted almost two hours; Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates,
National Security Adviser Gen. (ret.) James L. Jones and George Mitchell. He also spent an entire day in Congress, including
meetings with the Democratic leadership, key committee members and the Republican leadership as well. He also met with
the Congressional Jewish forum. The visit accomplished several important things in which the Obama administration came
towards Israel and reinforced several very important matters for Israel. There were also areas in which there was no
agreement. The Prime Minister commented on the four main topics of discussion during his meetings: Iran, the regional
peace process, bilateral relations and the diplomatic process with the Palestinians.
Prime Minister Netanyahu noted that considerable time was devoted to the most important issue
– the Iranian, and added that President Obama made it unequivocally clear that the US views development of military
nuclear capabilities by Iran as a threat not only to Israel but to the US as well, and that their obligation is to prevent
this. For his part, the Prime Minister made it clear to the President that Israel maintains its right to self-defense.
In referring to the re-establishment of the traditional understandings at the presidential-prime
ministerial level, Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasized that this re-establishment was complete and satisfactory from Israel's
point-of-view. "I see this as an important achievement which, by the way, was also accompanied by concrete matters regarding
the needs of the defense establishment," the Prime Minister said.
Regarding the regional peace process, President Obama is committed to the effort to persuade
Arab countries to enter into the peace process and expand the circle of peace. The US intends to persuade Arab countries
to advance steps to normalize relations with Israel already at the beginning of the process. This is to be welcomed
and we both encourage and support it because we believe that it will strengthen peace and stability.
On the Palestinian issue, Prime Minister Netanyahu made it clear to President Obama that
Israel is prepared to immediately open negotiations with the Palestinians, with the understanding that these negotiations
will deal with diplomatic, economic and security matters.
On the issue of settlements, the Americans presented their position, which demands that Israel
honor previous commitments to freeze settlements.
Prime Minister Netanyahu summarized his visit and said that there was broad and good agreement
on the Iranian issue, on bilateral strategic relations, on the issue of regional peace as well as on our desire to resume
the negotiations with the Palestinians. No agreement has been reached yet on the issue of "two states for two peoples;"
neither is there any agreement at the moment on the issue of halting construction in the settlements.
4. Defense Minister Ehud Barak and the IDF Chief Reserve Officer briefed ministers on the
reserve system, which is the backbone of the IDF, reservists' motivation and the obligation to maintain this motivation.
The IDF Chief Reserve Officer emphasized that reservists are reporting for duty out of the sense that they are contributing
to the state and to the IDF.
5. Pursuant to Article 21 of the 2001 Reserve Duty Law, the Cabinet established the Ministerial
Committee on Reserve Duty, to be chaired by Defense Minister Barak. Click here for further details.
6. Defense Minister Barak, Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai and senior Defense Ministry
officials briefed ministers on the upcoming national home front drill.
Prime Minister Netanyahu said: "I would like to reiterate that this is a routine drill that
was planned several months ago and is held annually. Its objective is to test coordination between the civilian and
military networks that would operate on several fronts in time of emergency. Government operations will also be tested,
especially local councils' preparedness for various scenarios."
7. Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that Minister Meshulam Nahari would be responsible
for issues regarding Jewish society and heritage. Click here for further details.
8. Pursuant to Article 12 of the 1959 State Service Law (Appointments), the Cabinet appointed
Hagai Peleg as Director-General of the Public Security Ministry, in place of Dan Brinker, effective immediately.
9. Pursuant to Article 12 of the 1959 State Service Law (Appointments), the Cabinet appointed
Ronen Falut as Director-General of the Public Affairs and Diaspora Ministry.
10. The Cabinet established and appointed the members of the ministerial committees on Environmental
Protection and Climate Change Preparations; Science and Technology Affairs, Interior Affairs and Services, Social Welfare
and Social Services, and the Development of the Negev and the Galilee. Click here for further details.
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