Lowering the Watershed

[Israel]

Arutz Shtaim Live Broadcast: July 10, 2003

[In Tel-Aviv]

Announcer: Hello, we... we are sorry to interrupt you. Just a few minutes ago, it seems that, there was a shooting in Yerushalaim. The Prime Minister, um... has been shot. I'm sorry, we still have very little information.

Sorry, just a moment... [announcer touches his earpiece] it appears that the spokesperson for the Prime Minister's office is about to make a statement. We now go live to Yerushalaim.

[In Jerusalem]

Spokesperson: Members of the press, my fellow Israelis... the Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon after fighting for his life at the Hadassah Medical Center for several minutes, has succumbed to his wounds. It is with a very heavy heart that I tell you this. I will take questions in just a few minutes.

 

[Israel]

CNN Live Broadcast: July 10, 2003.

[In New York]

Announcer: Ambassador Kurtzer has issued a statement, expressing the condolences from all Americans to the Israeli people. Preparations are already underway for Sharon's state funeral-[announcer touches her earpiece]

There has been an update: the Israeli Cabinet has elected Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom as Interim Prime Minister, and in a few minutes he will appear before members of the press to give a live statement. Here is a live update from Israel:

[In Jerusalem]

Correspondent: It appears that despite the disarray of the last few hours, the Israeli leadership remains organized and functioning. The local police have urged residents to remain indoors as security forces scour for potential threats.

[Commotion in the background]

Here's the Prime Minister now.

[Off-scene] interpreter: Hello, everyone. I would like to ask for a moment of silence, in honor of our great leader, and my personal friend, Ariel Sharon.

[Some seconds later]

Interpreter: It is with utmost solemnity that I take office. I hope that Israelis across the country will stand beside me, and my colleagues, through this difficult time as we try our best to resolve the matter.

Shin Bet are searching for the perpetrator of this heinous crime. I can safely assure you, those brave men will not rest until he or she is caught and brought to justice.

I have been informed, just before I took to this podium, that there have been several incidents throughout the country... primarily against Arabs. I want to make this clear: I will not tolerate self-prescribed vigilantism and zealotry.

Thus, we make no presumptions claims about who may have been responsible. We must put logic first, if we are to find the perpetrators. Ariel would've said the same thing. I will now answer questions.

[Points to one]

Journalist: David Kale, the Guardian. Do Israeli security forces have any particular suspects?

Interpreter: There are the um, "usual suspects," for example: Hamas, the Al-Aqsa Brigade, various Kahanists. I assure you, they will act with coordination and efficiency when dealing with them.

[Points to one]

Interpreter: Mira Tinan, Jerusalem Post. Once the crisis is over, what vision do you have for the country?

[Translating Shalom]

I want to continue the policies of my predecessor, following certain principles: defending my countrymen while seeking a lasting peace, increasing trade while protecting the rights of our workers, and most of all seeing that the country remains united in the face of crisis.

 

[Israel]

Fox News Live Update: July 11, 2003.

[In New York]

Announcer: We now go to the White House for President Bush's press conference.

[In Washington, DC]

Bush: Good morning, everybody.

Press: Good morning, Mr President.

Bush: On the behalf of all Americans, I would like to extend my condolences to the State of Israel and it's people. I do, sincerely, hope that the assassin will face proper justice, as determined by the Courts of Law.

I will, of course, attend the funeral of Mr Sharon. The Israeli government has not yet set a specific date, but as far as I understand they're, um, shooting for next week. All right, everybody, questions?

[Points to one]

Journalist: Dale Carlo, Washington Post. There are celebrations being held in the Palestinian territories, with some people handing out candy. What's your reaction?

Bush: Utter disgust. I understand they have differences, but this? Come on! A decent amount of respect! Wait a few days, for God's sake!

[Points to another]

Journalist: Vivian Gale, London Times. In the West Bank, Jerusalem, and to a lesser extent in Tel-Aviv and Haifa, there have been numerous attacks against Israeli-Arabs. Care to comment?

Bush: Obviously, I um... I can only rebuke such actions. But I am confident that the Israeli police will deal with them efficiently and see order restored.

[Aid whispers to Bush, hands over a document]

Bush: It appears there's been an update: the spokesperson for Shin Bet has announced that they have arrested a suspect, Mahmoud al-Tibia, in Homat Shmuel. I assure you, more information will come in.

 

[Israel]

Shin Bet Profile: Mahmoud al-Tibi.

Birth-date: April 27, 1983

Gender: Male

Nationality: Palestinian

Religion: Sunni Muslim

Parents: Ali and Leila Tibi

History:

Born in Nablus in 1983. He was first arrested in 1990, at the age of seven, when he threw stones at a Merkava along with some other boys from his neighborhood. He was released shortly thereafter.

He was accepted into the Al-Quds University in 2001, age eighteen, and moved to the Yerushalaym campus. He partook in several demonstrations concerning housing demolitions, the Right of Return, and other related issues.

On November 6, 2002, his sister, Amal, boarded a bus in Haifa and detonated three kilos of explosives strapped under her sweater. Fourteen Israeli civilians were killed. Palestinian security forces raided her apartment in Ramallah, and found a videotape which recorded her confession, including her allegiance to the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade.

On June 1, 2003, Mr Tibi's father was beaten severely in Yitzhar. Apparently, he was forced out of his car by Jewish settlers, and hit repeatedly with clubs and batons. He was rushed to the nearest hospital, but his heart stopped beating after six hours.

 

[Andre27]

I'm a bit confused, how is the assassination from an Israeli Prime Minister going to lower the watershed?

If the assassin was Palestinian then the gap would be widened to the point where it could not be bridged in the next 25 years or more.

If the assassin was from orthodox Jewish origin it still would not help in bridging the gap.

 

[Israel]

Al Jeezera Interview With King Fahd: July 16, 2003.

Interviewer: Salam alaikum, Your Majesty.

Fahd: Salam alaikum.

Interviewer: Sir, um... what is your reaction to the assassination of Prime Minister Sharon?

Fahd: At least, the world is free of one more devil.

Interviewer: Care to elaborate?

Fahd: Listen... I cannot condone the act, but neither can I condemn it. The fact is, Sharon was a butcher: Qibya and Sabra/Shatila, to name a few of his crimes. In the West Bank, Gaza, he continued to build illegal settlements. He authorizes military tactics which result in hundreds of civilian casualties. You expect a Palestinian not to take such an opportunity?

Interviewer: Yes, but, what about the Americans-

Fahd: The Americans can kiss the rears of the Zionist lobbyists as much as they wish, they still need our oil. What trumps what: the sensitivities of a few Jews, however rich, or cheap gasoline?

Interviewer: And there's the geographical advantage of Saudi Arabia.

Fahd: Of course. If we wanted, we could certainly block access to the Persian Gulf... indeed, all of the Arabian Sea! The world must not underestimate our military capabilities. We are not a puppet state.