Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Director-General Ilan Cohen this afternoon (Monday), 26.7.04, at the PMO in Jerusalem, chaired a meeting of the Disengagement Exceptional Cases Committee, which was established by the Cabinet on 6.6.04. 

The Committee members include Justice Ministry Director-General Aharon Abramovitz, Finance Ministry Director-General Yosi Becher, Welfare Ministry Director-General Dov Goldberger and Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Maj.-Gen. Yosef Mishlav.  Prime Minister’s Office Legal Adviser Shlomit Barnea and the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Settlement Affairs, Uzi Keren, also attended today’s meeting.

PMO Director-General Cohen said that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had instructed him, “not to compromise on needs related to residents’ security and human life,” and, “to allow - to the maximum extent possible - proper daily life during the entire interim period, including municipal activity and the supply of vital services to the residents.”

The Committee began its work several weeks ago and is currently examining approximately 350 projects that have been submitted up until now by the various ministries.  It was decided that the Committee would convene at least once every two weeks in order to consider requests directed to it.  It was further decided that projects defined as, “lifesaving,” would be decided upon within one week.

Gaza Coast Regional Council Chairman Avner Shimoni briefed the Committee regarding the Council’s requests.  The Council has decided to approve the replacement of 26 portable structures with bulletproof portable structures. The structures are designed for educational institutions and residences in Kfar Darom, Netzarim and Neveh Dekalim.

PMO Director-General Cohen discussed the appointment of Yonatan Basi and said that, “When the Prime Minister instructed me to choose the person who will be obliged to carry out this complicated and contentious task, he emphasized several basic conditions.  First and foremost is sensitivity and the ability to communicate with people living in the area so as to foster unity and not to cause rifts. 

The other condition is, of course, the ability to manage, carry out and understand projects in the areas of agriculture, business and security as they exist in the area.”  PMO Director-General Cohen said that before the choice of Basi, a long list of generals and senior business sector managers had been considered: “Yonatan is a settlement man, a security man and has extensive agricultural and Zionist experience.  His roots and his faith are also the roots of the people who will work with him.  Despite the great difficulty, Yonatan agreed to accept the position knowing that there is nobody better suited than himself who can understand the needs and the distress, and in order to prevent rifts in the nation.”