Word: shamir
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Saddam's outburst set off alarms in Jerusalem. "Let there be no doubt," responded Israel's Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, "Israel will also know how to defend itself in the future and defeat the evil designs of its enemies." White House press secretary Marlin Fitzwater said the Bush Administration found Saddam's remarks "deplorable and irresponsible." Fitzwater called for concrete steps "to rid the region of chemical and other conventional weapons and to move toward peace...
...produce a rare moment of unity last week among Israel's factious politicians, pushing aside the machinations that followed the March 15 collapse of Israel's national unity government. Last Wednesday Labor leader Shimon Peres claimed that he had cobbled together a coalition to displace the caretaker Shamir. Peres plans to present his new government to the Knesset this week for a vote of confidence...
...Shamir's campaign backfired, and the eight-hour Knesset debate reflected the deep divisions within the Israeli electorate. Peres accused Shamir of "murdering the peace process" and asked, "Who will believe you again in this country? You have broken every promise." Shamir lambasted Peres for "shameful" appeasement of the Arabs, retorting, "We are not afraid of peace, we are afraid of irresponsible concessions...
When the votes were tallied, Shamir sank his head into his hands, perhaps to blot out the triumphant smile on Peres' face. President Chaim Herzog is now expected to give Peres the first shot at forming a new coalition, a process that could take weeks -- and that typically brings out the worst in Israeli politics. Since Labor has only 39 seats in the Knesset, against Likud's 40, Peres must bargain for the support of the smaller parties, ranging from Arab communists to Orthodox rabbis. The balance of power is held by the fickle religious parties, which control 18 seats...
...government is expected to give a short-term boost to the peace process by swiftly approving Baker's plan. But when it comes time to deal, his narrow coalition is likely to face intense opposition from a newly unified right-wing. Should Peres fail to form a government, Shamir will try to cobble together his own majority. If he succeeds, the path to peace will be thoroughly mined by a Cabinet laden with extremists. Should both leaders be unsuccessful and Israelis have to return to the polls, another parliamentary deadlock is expected. The fourth option, which has already been suggested...