CABINET COMMUNIQUE: Ministries, "Defensive Shield" statistics, UNRWA,
Bethlehem

(Communicated by the Cabinet Secretariat)
Sunday, December 15, 2002

At the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Sunday), 15.12.2002:

1. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said that in the next government he
intends to reduce the number of government ministries and that he met
this morning with the professional team appointed by the government to
discuss the issue. The team will submit its recommendations as soon as
possible.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon informed of his decision in accordance with
Basic Law: Government that he is appointing Minister Tzippi Livni to
serve as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development; Minister Limor
Livnat will serve as Minister of Science, Culture and Sport in addition
to her position as Education Minister; Minister Tzahi Hanegbi will serve
as Transport Minister in addition to his position as Minister of
Environment and Minister Danny Naveh will be appointed as Minister for
Trade and Industry.

2. The cabinet has appointed Minister Reuven Rivlin to be responsible
for the Broadcast Authority Law.

3. IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe Yaalon briefed ministers on ongoing
security matters and discussed the issue of suicide-attacks, the
security establishment's counter-terrorist actions, the arrest of wanted
Hamas and other fugitives, and the operation at Palestinian Authority
Preventive Security HQ in Gaza.

Chief-of-Staff Yaalon pointed out that since Operation "Defensive
Shield", more than 4,700 Palestinians involved in terrorism have been
arrested and - as of today - 109 homes have been demolished, most of
them in Judea and Samaria. The Chief-of-Staff discussed the
effectiveness of home demolitions.

Chief-of-Staff Yaalon said that approximately 200 terrorists - who
attempted to infiltrate communities and cross the fence into Israel -
have been killed in defensive actions in the Gaza Strip since Operation
"Defensive Shield".

Chief-of-Staff Yaalon added that aggressive IDF actions would continue
wherever such actions were necessary.

Chief-of-Staff Yaalon referred to the incident in which UNRWA employee
Ian Hook was killed and said that Israel has, on numerous occasions,
discovered UNRWA installations and vehicles have been used for terror
purposes.

Regarding the preparations for Christmas in Bethlehem, Chief-of-Staff
Yaalon made it clear to the clergy and to Palestinian civilian officials
that Israel will allow Christmas celebrations to be held and will enable
Israeli Arabs, residents of Judea and Samaria and tourists to attend the
festivities. However, the IDF has no intention of withdrawing from the
city. The Chief-of-Staff emphasized that Israel will, for the time
being, retain security responsibility for Bethlehem.

Chief-of-Staff Yaalon also referred to the situation in the north.