Communicated by the Cabinet Secretariat Jerusalem, April 11 1999 Cabinet Communique   At the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Sunday), 11.4.99: 1. The Prime Minister addressed the Foreign Minister's visit to Russia, noting that the Opposition has entrenched a miserable custom of attacking the Prime Minister and senior Cabinet ministers when they undertake important diplomatic missions abroad, as in the case of the Foreign Minister's current trip. The Prime Minister said that these Opposition attacks should be viewed with severity, since this is an important visit -- which comes at the invitation of the Russian foreign minister -- during which the Foreign Minister will raise, as the first matter on the agenda, the Russian commitment for joint action to prevent the transfer of non-conventional technologies to Iran. The Prime Minister emphasized that Israel is coordinating with the United States concerning the policy to combine incentives for and pressure on Russia toward preventing this transfer. The Prime Minister added that, contrary to press reports, Israel has reached no agreement to cooperate with Russia in outer space. "Israel is clearly not isolated in the world; to the contrary, Israel is expanding its international ties. It is vital for Israel to maintain good relations with Russia in order to, among other things, prevent phenomena which we perceive as negative." 2. The Cabinet charged a special ministerial team, to be headed by the Absorption Minister, to prepare a program for the absorption of the 100 refugees from Kosovo who are to arrive in Israel for an initial period of six months. Bringing the refugees to Israel is a development of the humanitarian aid which the Government of Israel, in conjunction with the Jewish Agency, has rendered to the refugees -- included the construction of an IDF field hospital and the airlift of medical equipment, tents, blankets and other supplies. 3. In accordance with the recommendation of the Communications Minister, the Cabinet appointed Dan Nadiv as Postal Authority Director, in place of Moshe Terry. 4. In accordance with the stipulations of the 1982 Telecommunications Law, the Cabinet approved funding by commercial broadcasts for earmarked channels -- to include one or more channels in foreign languages designated for immigrants; one or two news channels; and one channel for Israeli and Mediterranean music. 5. The Public Security Minister updated the Cabinet on the ordered closure of two Jerusalem offices affiliated with the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinian Prisoners' Association and Ibrahim Kandalaft agreed to immediately cease activities on behalf of the Palestinian Authority in Jerusalem. As such, Kandalaft will not enter his Ha'Neviim Street office in Jerusalem and the Palestinian Prisoners' Association will vacate its Abu- Obaideh Street office by this Thursday. 6. In light of the serious drought, without precedent in the past 60 years, the Cabinet decided to enact emergency regulations governing the supply and consumption of water, and to immediately submit a bill to the Knesset which will extend the validity of said regulations until the end of 1999. The Cabinet also decided that a commission will be appointed to present within two weeks its proposal for the payment of compensation to farmers. 7. The Cabinet decided to finance the expense of a "protective basket" for taxis in the following manner: a) the Government will fund the cost of a defensive driving course for taxi drivers, b) the Government will fund the cost of installing a protective screen inside taxis, and c) the Government will pay half the cost of installing a control mechanism, with the other 50% being recognized as an expense for tax purposes. 8. The Cabinet decided to approve the conclusions of the Ministerial Committee on Diaspora, Immigration and Absorption Affairs with regard to the immigration and absorption of Ethiopian Jews in Israel, as follows: a) the consular missions in Ethiopia and Israel that are responsible for addressing the right of Ethiopians to immigrate to Israel will be expanded, b) priority will be given to directing Ethiopian immigrants arriving in Israel to permanent housing, and; c) those Ethiopian immigrants who have been living in hostels and caravan sites for over five years will be given increased mortgages to purchase housing, beyond the scope of mortgages currently available.