April 16, 2002
Embassy Briefing

1. Arrest of Marwan Barghouti, the mastermind of terror
2. Regional Conference
3. Operation Defensive Shield Update
4. Demonstrate Your Support for Israel
5. Excerpts from Prime Minister Sharon’s CNN Interview, April 15, 2002

1. Arrest of Marwan Barghouti, the mastermind of terror
   
   Marwan Barghouti is responsible for numerous murderous terrorist attacks, in which many civilians were killed, including some non-Israelis. The Tanzim organization and the Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades carried out these attacks, and both these organizations received their orders directly from Barghouti. These organizations have been responsible for over 60 percent of the terrorist attacks carried out against Israel over the last year and a half.
   
   Barghouti will be tried in Israel. The fact that he is a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council only serves to highlight the close ties between the Palestinian Authority and the terrorists.
   
   
   
2. Regional Conference
   
   Once Operation Defensive Shield has been completed, Israel's proposal of a regional conference will provide an opportunity to advance on the diplomatic track. This groundbreaking initiative underscores Israel's commitment to peace.
   
   It is important that the regional conference establishes the foundations for a true and lasting peace. Therefore, only those parties demonstrating a commitment to peace will attend such a conference; not those supporting violence and terrorism.
   
   Following the presentation of the proposal of a regional conference, Prime Minister Sharon held a conversation with President Bush (April 15), in which the two leaders emphasized their commitment to peace and the need to combat terrorism.
   
   
   
3. Operation Defensive Shield Update
   
   We intend to leave Palestinian cities within a week. Two problem spots may remain: There are terrorists entrenched in Bethlehem's Nativity Church and in Arafat's headquarters in Ramallah. Israel expects their surrender.
   
   In the refugee camp in Jenin, the evacuation of Palestinian bodies and their identification continues, in coordination with Palestinian representatives. Once they are identified, the bodies are transferred to the families. Yesterday, the evacuation process was temporarily disrupted, after booby traps were discovered on some of the bodies.
   
   
   
4. Demonstrate Your Support for Israel
   
   Demonstrate your support by signing a letter of support, entitled "A friend of Israel". This text shall be presented to the ambassadors of Israel in every country and published in the media on April 17th, 2002.
   
   Thus far, over 1,000,000 people around the world have signed the text.
   
   View and sign the text at http://www.our-support.com
   
   
   
5. Excerpts from Prime Minister Sharon’s CNN Interview, April 15, 2002

Moshe Fox
Minister of Public Affairs
Embassy of Israel, Washington DC