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Sunday, June 18, 2006
CABINET COMMUNIQUE

CABINET COMMUNIQUE
(Communicated by the Cabinet Secretariat)

At the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Sunday), 18.6.06:

1. Defense Minister Amir Peretz briefed ministers on current security events
and said that Hamas immediately began an escalation following the tragic
events of 9.6.06 on the Gaza beach. He said that Hamas was acting openly
and had fired approximately 100 rockets from 9.6.06 until today (inclusive).

Defense Minister Peretz said that Israel had engaged in pinpoint action
against the movement of rocket launchers ( http://tinyurl.com/on2hv ) in
order to prevent the launchings. Israel had passed messages on to those
responsible that no allowances would be made for any elements engaged in
launching - or in directing the launch of - rockets against its communities.
While this message had been received, the Defense Minister said that Israel
would show neither patience nor forbearance towards those who continue to
fire rockets at its territory.

Regarding the inquiry into the events of 9.6.06 ( http://tinyurl.com/fu9zp )
in which seven members of one Palestinian family were killed, Defense
Minister Peretz said that he had personally checked the facts several times
and added that this was a very credible inquiry that may certainly be relied
upon and accepted.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that he completely believed in the IDF
inquiry and added that the Cabinet supported the IDF and Defense Minister
Peretz. The Prime Minister said that such wars do not come with insurance
certificates that guarantee that civilians will never be hit because the
reality is more complex. Those who complain must ask themselves how many
thousands of Kassam rockets have been fired and whom they are being fired
at. He emphasized that no Israeli commander had ever ordered that civilians
be shot at simply to kill civilians and that he has no reason to cast doubt
on the Israeli security establishment inquiry. The Prime Minister
reiterated that the Cabinet had full confidence in the way that this issue
was handled.

2. Prime Minister Olmert briefed ministers on his encouraging meetings in
Europe with - inter alia - British Prime Minister Tony Blair
( http://tinyurl.com/o2zh4 ) and French President Jacques Chirac
( http://tinyurl.com/pkkze ).

3. Vice Premier Shimon Peres briefed ministers on his visit to Kazakhstan
for the Conference on Interactions and Confidence Building Measures in Asia.

4. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni briefed ministers on her meetings in Europe
with - inter alia - her European Union counterparts
( http://tinyurl.com/f5ggd ) and with Russian envoy Sergey Yakovlev
( http://tinyurl.com/g8w36 ).

5. The Cabinet decided - in continuation of its previous decisions regarding
aid to Sderot and communities in the vicinity of the Gaza Strip - to approve
the recommendations of Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Ra'anan Dinur regarding
upgrading the special aid plan for Sderot and the communities near the Gaza
Strip as follows:

In light of continued terrorist activity directed against Sderot and the
communities near the Gaza Strip, the Government will act to strengthen the
residents of Sderot and of the communities near the Gaza Strip and their
ability to deal with the special security conditions that have been created
in the area. The communities included in this decision are those that were
determined by the Cabinet in August and November 2004.

The aid will be given in the fields of education, culture, sport and
building reinforcement. Financial assistance will also be provided from
Finance Ministry sources. The aid program will be spread over the years
2006-2008 and its goals are as follows - to strengthen the sense of personal
security; to strengthen residents' social resilience; to improve the
quality-of-life and attractiveness of the area and its potential to draw new
residents; and to help younger residents of the region to stay in the
region.

Residents of Sderot and its environs have suffered for years from eunending
terrorist activity, including the firing of rockets. There has been an
escalation in recent weeks; 166 Kassam rockets and mortar rounds have been
fired in May and June so far.

It was decided to immediately approve educational and cultural activities
for all age brackets during the summer and the autumn holidays, and to
establish a staff of directors-general to determine policy for reinforcing
educational institutions.

PMO Dir.-Gen. Dinur will formulate a supplementary aid package within 30
days.

6. The Cabinet decided to update the health services basket; see
http://tinyurl.com/fws6g for details.

7. The Cabinet decided to amend its 26.6.05 decision
( http://tinyurl.com/zxvqm ) regarding the children, parents and siblings of
those people present in Israel illegally as follows:

The Interior Minister shall be entitled to grant permanent residency permits
to children of people present in Israel illegally, who have struck roots in
Israeli society and culture, in accordance with their request, and who meet
all of the following conditions:

* The children is currently in Israel, was present here for at least six
continuous years and entered Israel prior to the age of 14.

* The parents of the child initially entered Israel with proper visas and
entry permits according to the 1952 Entry Into Israel Law, prior to the
child's date of birth or entry into Israel.

* The child speaks Hebrew.

* The child is currently in first grade or higher in an Israeli school or
has finished his studies.

* In order to meet this arrangement, applicants will have to produce clear
evidence to support their application including via a hearing and by
producing documentation regarding place of residence in Israel, the date of
entry into Israel or birth here, and place of study in Israel.

This decision is a one-time arrangement and does not alter Government
policy. To this end, applications for status by those who meet the
foregoing criteria must be submitted to Interior Ministry Population
Authority offices no later than 31.8.06.

The foregoing will not apply to those who have a criminal or security
impediment to receiving status in Israel.

See http://tinyurl.com/fws6g for additional details.

8. The Cabinet discussed the development of water technology in Israel; see
http://tinyurl.com/fws6g for details.

9. Pursuant to the 1954 Bank of Israel Law, the Cabinet appointed Prof. Zvi
Esckstein ( www.tau.ac.il/~eckstein/ ) as Deputy Governor of the
Bank of Israel.

10. Pursuant to the 1959 Civil Service Law (Appointments), the Cabinet
appointed Mordechai Mordechai as Director-General of the Communications
Ministry.

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