Word: shamir
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Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir responded to the outcry by clamping new restrictions on Palestinian workers. Computers are churning out expanded lists of Palestinians banned from entering Israel for security reasons, while authorities raided restaurants, shops and factories last week and rounded up more than 1,000 illegal Arab workers. Economics Minister David Magen promised to introduce measures to cut in half the number of Palestinians from the territories working in Israel...
Ironically enough, the crackdown has won support from Shamir's foes, but not for reasons that would please him. Though critical of the latest hardships being imposed on Palestinians, Israeli doves applauded Shamir for unintentionally underscoring Israel's pre-1967 borders. Says Peace Now activist Tzaly Reshef: "It's a first and positive step toward building separate entities." The policy was also welcomed by Palestinian strike enforcers, who have beaten and executed Arabs in an unsuccessful effort to impose an embargo on Israel...
...latest feud between the U.S. and Israel suggests that Bush may need to rethink his strategy. Shamir's ideological commitment to the status quo remains unshakable, and the threat of Iraqi missiles and Palestinian support for Saddam has only reinforced his views. Although the Administration's strong-arm tactics generated plenty of anger and anxiety in Jerusalem last week, the U.S. notably failed to elicit even a hint of flexibility...
Then again, Washington did not exactly send an unequivocal message. Not only did the Senate overwhelmingly (76 to 23) approve Israel's $3 billion-plus annual aid package, but it also tacked on an additional $700 million worth of military hardware. With a carrot like that, Shamir can hardly be blamed for ignoring Bush's stick. As long as those funds keep flowing, the Israeli government is unlikely to change course despite the growing animosity between the two leaders. Says Shamir spokesman Avi Pazner: "We've shown that we don't knuckle under to pressure...
...Shamir is not the only obstacle to compromise. The gulf crisis has reduced the conflict between Arabs and Jews to its basest level of hatred and anger. Even before the Temple Mount tragedy, moderates on both sides were running for cover as the region's turmoil radicalized the Palestinians and hardened Israeli attitudes. Frustrated by their inability to budge Israel after three years of revolt, many Palestinians have embraced Saddam's militancy on the mistaken theory that they have nothing to lose. In turn, a growing number of Israelis have concluded that Palestinian treachery somehow excuses Israel's occupation...