Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesman, Arye Mekel clueless on calm
understanding
Dr. Aaron Lerner Date: 19 June, 2008

IMRA interviewed Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesman, Arye Mekel, in
English, on 19 June 2009 five hours after the "calm understanding" went into
effect in the Gaza Strip:

IMRA: Is the manufacture and assembly of rockets prohibited in the Gaza
Strip during the calm period and if so if this an actionable violation -
Israel has the right to act against such activity?

Meckel: I don't know what is in there. There is nothing written. Everything
is a matter of understandings. There is no document. Therefore, I can't
tell you because, you know, it is not written anywhere.

IMRA: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs put out a briefing note today that on
the one hand says that "The goals of the calm are the total cessation of
terrorism and firing at Israel by all factions, the end of Palestinian
smuggling and military build-up." but on the other hand it says "Any
terrorist act originating from the Gaza Strip - regardless of which
organization is responsible - will be considered as a fundamental breach of
the understandings."

Since on the one hand it says that a military build-up is prohibited but on
the other hand it doesn't include that as something that Israel will respond
to you am I to understand that Israel isn't planning to respond.

Meckel: I wouldn't read anything into these sentences. Basically there is
no document therefore nobody knows what Israel will respond to. It is not
something that is written or signed or anything like that.

IMRA: From an Israeli "hasbarah" (AL: information) standpoint, is Israel
telling the world that it will only respond if there is firing or shelling?
Otherwise Israel won't respond?

Meckel: Any form of terror will be a violation of the understandings.

IMRA: If tomorrow or this afternoon there is a photo op at a rocket assembly
plant at Gaza City - is that an "act of terror" or what?

Meckel: I leave it to your judgment.

IMRA: For purposes of hasbarah, is the Government of Israel explaining now
to the world, as a warning, that it would consider the construction of
rockets or the building of bunkers to be an "act of terror" or Israel is
leaving it open and not explaining to the world what its position is on this
matter.

Meckel: We are saying that any act of terror will be a violation of the
understanding.

IMRA: Does Israel consider it to be an "act of terror" if the Palestinians
construct rockets and missiles in Gaza? Is that an "act of terror"?

Meckel: I think I already answered all your questions.

IMRA: Well, you have answered by not answering.

Meckel: Who are you anyway?

IMRA: I am Aaron Lerner, I am from IMRA.

I am still trying to understand for purposes of hasbarah. Israel is telling
the world that it considers the construction of rocket and missile in the
Gaza Strip to be an "act of terror" or Israel is not taking a position on
this?

Meckel: I told you. Any act of terror will be a violation.

IMRA: Is Israel considering it to be an "act of terror" to . . . .

Meckel: You ask it another ten times.

IMRA: You are not answering the question. You are not answering if Israel
would consider it to be an act of terror.

Meckel: I am sort of busy here.

IMRA (in Hebrew): You are not giving an explanation.

Phone line cut off.

Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(Mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-3-7255730
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
Website: http://www.imra.org.il