DATE=4/16/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-229741
TITLE=ISRAEL INTELLIGENCE CHIEF (L ONLY)
BYLINE=MARK LAVIE
DATELINE=TEL AVIV
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE CHIEF OF ISRAELI ARMY INTELLIGENCE SAYS HE BELIEVES 
PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT YASSER ARAFAT HAS MADE IT CLEAR TO THE 
MILITANT HAMAS GROUP THAT THERE MUST BE  NO  TERROR ATTACKS ON 
ISRAEL FOR NOW.  MARK LAVIE IN TEL AVIV REPORTS THIS WOULD 
FULFILL ISRAEL'S MAIN DEMAND OF THE PALESTINIANS.  

TEXT:  "ABSOLUTELY," ANSWERED THE ISRAELI MILITARY INTELLIGENCE 
CHIEF, MOSHE YA'ALON, WHEN ASKED IF YASSER ARAFAT HAS ORDERED A 
"RED LIGHT" ON TERROR ATTACKS.  GENERAL YA'ALON TOLD THE ISRAELI 
NEWSPAPER MA'ARIV THAT MR. ARAFAT HAS TRANSMITTED HIS MESSAGE TO 
THE ISLAMIC MILITANTS BY VARIOUS CHANNELS, INCLUDING THE ARREST 
OF HAMAS LEADERS.  

THE VIOLENT DEATH LAST MONTH OF HAMAS MILITARY LEADER MUHYIDEEN 
AL-SHARIF SET OFF A CONFRONTATION.  HAMAS BLAMED ISRAEL AND MR. 
ARAFAT'S PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY.  THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY'S 
INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THAT MR. AL-SHARIF WAS KILLED BY RIVAL 
HAMAS LEADERS.  THEN MR. ARAFAT ORDERED THE ARRESTS.  

IN THE NEWSPAPER INTERVIEW, THE ISRAELI MILITARY INTELLIGENCE 
CHIEF SAID MR. ARAFAT HAS ALWAYS SEEN THE MILITANT ISLAMIC HAMAS 
AS A THREAT TO HIS LEADERSHIP AND TO THE PEACE PROCESS WITH 
ISRAEL.  GENERAL YA'ALON SAID MR. ARAFAT'S DECISION TO STOP HAMAS
ATTACKS ON ISRAEL IS A STRATEGIC MOVE, AFTER HE DETERMINED THAT 
TERROR ATTACKS IN RETALIATION FOR MR. AL-SHARIF'S DEATH WOULD 
HARM THE PALESTINIAN CAUSE.  

THE ISRAELI GENERAL SAID THE DECISION TURNS THE CLOCK BACK MORE 
THAN ONE YEAR, WHEN PALESTINIANS PROTESTED ISRAEL'S CONSTRUCTION 
OF A JEWISH NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE MOSTLY ARAB SECTION OF JERUSALEM.
THEN, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU CHARGED THAT MR. 
ARAFAT GAVE THE "GREEN LIGHT" TO PALESTINIAN EXTREMISTS TO CARRY 
OUT TERROR ATTACKS.  TURNING ON THE "RED LIGHT" HAS BEEN ISRAEL'S
MAIN DEMAND OF THE PALESTINIANS EVER SINCE -- A CONDITION FOR 
IMPLEMENTING PEACE AGREEMENTS.  

U-S ENVOY DENNIS ROSS IS DUE IN ISRAEL NEXT WEEK TO RESUME HIS 
PEACEMAKING EFFORTS.  OBSERVERS SAY THE STATEMENT BY ISRAEL'S 
CHIEF OF MILITARY INTELLIGENCE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE 
PALESTINIANS ARE CARRYING OUT ISRAEL'S NUMBER ONE DEMAND MAY HELP
MR. ROSS BREAK THE STALEMATE IN THE PEACE PROCESS.  (SIGNED)

NEB/ML/JWH

16-Apr-98 8:26 AM EDT (1226 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.