Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., January 15, 2009 Tevet 19, 5769 | | Israel Time: 15:07 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage web haaretz.com Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File

The intifada was planned in advance Brig. Gen. (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser, former head of the research unit in Military Intelligence (MI), rejects all the accusations against the research unit under his command: The disengagement: "MI never adjusted its assessment to what the leadership wanted. Indeed, our view of the implications of the disengagement was that it would be construed as an achievement for terrorism. But in the long term we thought that pressure would mount on the organization to stop perpetrating terror from the Gaza Strip and to become part of the government (as in fact happened). Repeatedly we pointed out the organization's commitment to the 'armed struggle' idea. Everything we said was based on insights derived from intelligence material." Advertisement Palestinian Authority election: "We completely ruled out the possibility of a Fatah victory and instead put forward two main possibilities: a tie or an impressive victory by Hamas, which would lead to the creation of 'Hamastan.' We tried to persuade the decision makers to prevent the movement's participation in the election or even to cancel the election, to avert a Hamas victory. All the discussions before the election were conducted on the basis of the working assumption that Hamas would emerge with a significant achievement and might even win." George W. Bush letter and the road map: "The question of whether the letter will remain valid in the future was definitely asked, both by me and by others. The fact that it is difficult to provide a clear answer does not detract from the letter's importance. By the same token, a president could also disavow a commitment to the Palestinians. I don't recall the director of MI being persuaded to make light of the road map. I do recall that we took a very active part in the committee that formulated Israel's response to the document and treated it very seriously." Yasser Arafat and the intifada: "I did not say that Arafat did not want an agreement. He was ready for an agreement on his terms - terms Israel could not possibly accept. I assume that all the assessments about Arafat's behavior in August and September 2000 were written by Lavie. In Central Command, where I was then serving as the intelligence officer, our assessment was that the Palestinians were bent on a confrontation, and we deploy ed accordingly. The claim that Marwan Barghouti was taken by surprise [by the eruption of the intifada] is absolutely ridiculous. Barghouti himself related how the events on the Temple Mount were planned ahead of Ariel Sharon's visit and how the Palestinian leadership was quick to exploit them in order to launch a campaign that was planned in advance. "On the day after the start of the intifada the Palestinian Information Ministry had already issued the first leaflet of a joint forum of all the Palestinian organizations headed by Barghouti, calling for an escalation of the confrontation, and afterward directed the violence. Mamduh Nofal, one of Arafat's closest advisers, described how the decision on the outbreak of the campaign had been made: 'It [the intifada] is not a mass movement separate from the PA, nor did it erupt by itself. On the contrary: It started on the basis of a decision from above by the PA before it became popular activity." (Akiva Eldar) Bookmark to del.icio.us   Following Chavez Bolivia cuts ties with Israel, says it seeks war crimes charges. Who needs the Knesset? Arab parties: We'll establish an alternative Arab parliament.

Read & React Bradley Burston: In Gaza's shadow: Obama's Inaugural message Send response Harel & Issacharoff: Egypt's Gaza truce plan is mostly bad for Hamas Responses: 45 U.S., Israel near deal aimed at halting Gaza arms smuggling Responses: 19 Gideon Levy: The IDF has no mercy for the children in Gaza nursery schools Responses: 41 U.S. may cut $1billion in loan guarantees to Israel over West Bank settlements Responses: 13 More Headlines 14:56 Gaza hospital, UN facility hit in Hamas-IDF fighting 14:21 UN Chief: Success of Gaza truce deal depends on Israel's will 15:04 Israeli charged with attempting to spy on behalf of Iran 15:00 Livni urges Red Cross to press Hamas for access to Gilad Shalit 13:37 U.S., Israel near deal aimed at halting Gaza arms smuggling 12:23 ANALYSIS / Key to Israeli exit from Gaza rests with Egypt, U.S. 14:58 Hamas agrees in principle to Egypt offer for Gaza truce 12:22 ANALYSIS / Egypt's Gaza truce plan is mostly bad for Hamas 13:47 WATCH / Obama: We must engage Syria and Iran in Middle East peace efforts 15:02 Gaza militants fire 22 rockets at Israel, one hitting Gedera 12:00 Israelis receive SMS messages apparently from Hamas warning of `surprises` in Gaza 11:57 Unsung Israeli hero risks his life to save Gaza children 13:04 U.S. may cut $1 billion in loan guarantees to Israel over West Bank settlements 14:26 Protesters against Gaza op heckle Israeli ambassador at Holocaust ceremony in Poland 12:01 Poll shows most Israelis back IDF action in Gaza 13:46 Israel Foreign Ministry preparing for 'day after' IDF leaves Gaza 12:17 Venezuela: We cut ties with Israel over 'persecution of Palestinians' 14:47 The IDF has no mercy for the children in Gaza nursery schools 08:27 False rumors of Shalit release do not faze family and friends 09:25 Pro-Gaza demonstration in Ramallah canceled for a lack of protesters 09:36 Israeli Arab singer urged to step down from Eurovision, so as not to present 'false image' of coexistence 08:45 IDF helping coordinate aid for civilians in Gaza Strip 05:46 Operation Cast Lead taking toll on Israeli businesses overseas Previous Editions Select Day 14 jan 13 jan 12 jan 11 jan 09 jan 08 jan 07 jan 06 jan 05 jan 04 jan 02 jan 01 jan

Special Offers Advertisement Summer in Israel Israeli style - Tzofim Chetz V'Keshet 2009 Blue And White Forever Israel Army T-shirts Wear with Proud Donate the Soldiers Kit You can make a direct IMPACT! on the life of an Israeli soldier State of Israel Bonds During this time of market volatility, Israel bonds can help. SURF RAMBAM Keep current about new-wave medical care, education and research. Summer Camp in Israel The best place for your children this summer Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved