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The Oasis Casino in Jericho was the Palestinian Authority's main economic interest.
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| By israelinsider staff April 24, 2001 |
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The closure on the city of Jericho will be eased, Foreign Affairs Minister Shimon Peres said today. Speaking on Israel Radio, Peres said Israel would accede to the Palestinian request to open the area after being assured that the Palestinians could maintain security there and stop the shooting on the Jericho by-pass road.
Peres did not specifically refer to reopening the Oasis Casino, located on the outskirts of Jericho, which had been frequented nightly by hundreds of Israelis until the Intifada began. Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat reportedly asked Peres recently to allow Israelis back to gamble at the casino.
Defense sources were quoted in the media on Tuesday saying that authorities do not intend to allow Israelis back into Jericho for the time being. Even so, politicians were quick to question the wisdom of easing the closure on Jericho and allowing the Palestinians to reopen the casino.
Minister of Tourism Rechavam Ze'evi termed the move "incredibly stupid" and claimed the move would provide the Palestinians with a million dollar a day income because they "graciously" promise not to attack people near the casino.
Herut MK Michael Kleiner called any decision to lift the ban on Israelis traveling to Jericho a "wager on the lives of Jews," accusing Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of "paying protection money to the Palestinians in return for quiet in Jericho and thus gives legitimacy to attacks in other locations."
Former Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu also spoke against reopening the Jericho casino. "[The Palestinians] will be able to continue the terror and the violence everywhere else, at the same time that a stream of Israelis is providing them with the takings to continue financing this activity," Netanyahu said.
Attention was also directed to an alleged connection between the Prime Minister's son Omri Sharon and the idea to reopen the casino. Omri Sharon reportedly discussed the reopening of the casino at a meeting with Palestinian officials before the elections. Attending recent negotiations with Sharon was former GSS agent Yossi Ginossar, who allegedly has a financial interest in the casino. Sharon was also accompanied by Israeli lawyer Dov Weisglass, who also serves as attorney for one of the casino owners.
An unidentified senior security source was quoted by Israel Radio today questioning the wisdom of Israel withholding tax revenues owed the Palestinian Authority as long as the violence continued, but allowing the reopening of the casino, which could be used to fund the Intifada. The official suggested lightly that the solution to terror attacks inside Israel could possibly be opening joint Israeli-Palestinian casinos in all of Israel's major cities.
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