December 6-10, 2004

• SECURITY
  • IDF Soldier Killed and Four Wounded in Central Gaza
  • Israeli-Arab Suspected of Spying for Iran Arrested
  • PM Sharon Defends IDF Amid Criticism of Conduct in Territories
  • Terrorists Escape Air Strike; Palestinian Violence Continues
  • Four Israelis Wounded by Mortars in Gaza
• DIPLOMACY
  • Egypt Frees Azzam Azzam after 8 Years
  • Israel, Egypt to Launch a Strategic Process
  • Israel Would Only Take Part in a U.S.-Backed Peace Conference
• PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS
  • PA Leaders on the Way to Damascus
  • PA Leaders Meets Terror Chiefs in Damascus
  • Millions in Financial Aid to Reach PA
  • Poll in PA: 52 Percent Oppose Terror Against Israel
• COALITION NEGOTIATIONS
  • Coalition Talks Ready to Start
• NOBEL PRIZE
  • Israelis to Receive Nobel Prize Tonight in Stockholm

 

SECURITY

IDF Soldier Killed and Four Wounded in Central Gaza
Tuesday, December 7, 2004

An Israel Defense Forces soldier was killed and four others were wounded in a pre-dawn attack today northwest of the Karni Crossing in the central Gaza Strip, HA'ARETZ reported. Hamas claimed responsibility for the bomb attack. The deceased soldier was identified as Staff Sergeant Nadav Kudinsky, 20, of Kiryat Gat. He was laid to rest this afternoon at the cemetery in his hometown.
The four soldiers were wounded - two moderately and two lightly - in an ensuing gun battle as they moved to extricate their comrade who had been killed by the bomb blast. The two who sustained moderate wounds were evacuated to Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva. One of the soldiers who was lightly wounded was taken to Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon.
According to Israel Radio, Hamas announced at a press conference today that it had lured the soldiers to the scene of the bombing by feeding misleading information through a Palestinian known to be an informant for the Israel Security Agency. The army was lured to the scene of the attack after being told that senior Hamas officials wanted by Israel were in the area. The attack comes after several weeks of relative calm in the Strip, following the death of Yasser Arafat.
Hours later, an Israel Air Force helicopter fired a missile at armed Palestinians in the same area, killing a member of Islamic Jihad. The IDF said the terrorist was involved in the predawn attack on troops.

 

Israeli-Arab Suspected of Spying for Iran Arrested
Tuesday, December 7, 2004

An Israeli-Arab man from northern Israel was arrested and interrogated by the Israel Security Agency for allegedly operating as an Iranian agent, police revealed on today, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. Muhammad Ghanem, 56, from the Arab-Israeli town of Baka al-Gharbiya, arrived in Saudi Arabia several years ago, where he was recruited by Iranian agents for the purpose of gathering intelligence information as well as recruiting Israeli students for aiding him in his missions. Ghanem, arrested on September 11th, has been in the custody of the ISA and the police international crimes unit. Charges will be brought against him Wednesday.
The ISA said Ghanem was apprehended before he managed to cause any major harm. However, security officials did not rule out that any information he transferred might have been important.
Ghanem is suspected of assisting the enemy in time of war, of passing information to Iran, and of being in contact with foreign agents. Ghanem was jailed in the 1980s for attacking an Israeli soldier and attempting to steal his weapon. It was allegedly during his time in jail that he made links with the individual who linked him to the Iranian intelligence.

 

PM Sharon Defends IDF Amid Criticism of Conduct in Territories
Wednesday, December 8, 2004

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon defended Israel Defense Forces troops Wednesday amid reports that soldiers have acted unethically and criminally in several incidents involving Palestinians in the territories, HA'ARETZ reported. Sharon expressed his trust that the IDF will probe recent faults. "if there are faults they must be investigated. But again, we must understand who the army is facing," Sharon said.
The IDF has been under intense scrutiny in recent weeks over allegations of use of excessive and improper force in operations aimed at curbing terrorists. The IDF released figures Wednesday showing that since the beginning of the year, 148 unarmed Palestinians have been killed by IDF fire in Gaza and the West Bank, at least 29 of them, by army count, innocent bystanders. Unarmed casualties include militants who launched firebombs or rocks at troops or civilians. According to the figures, militant groups tried to send 343 suicide bombers, six of whom managed to execute their missions. In comparison, in 2003 militants tried to launch 436 suicide bombers, of which 18 culminated in an attack, IDF figures indicated. More than 100 terror attacks have been averted, and about 3000 Palestinians have been arrested since the start of the year, the official said. In addition, there were 250 shooting attacks since the start of the year, 60 percent less than last year.

 

Terrorists Escape Air Strike; Palestinian Violence Continues
Thursday, December 9, 2004

A preventive air strike wounded four Palestinian terrorists traveling in a vehicle between Rafah and Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip this afternoon, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. Among the targeted individuals were Jamal Abu Samahdna, one of the two Gaza commanders of the Popular Resistance Committees, and two of his bodyguards.
Last October's attack on a U.S. diplomatic convoy, in which three Americans were killed, is suspected to have been orchestrated by the organization. Israel has said it would not carry out offensive operations to ensure calm in the run-up to Palestinian elections January 9th, unless it was attacked or had information on a pending attack.
Also on today, an elite IDF force apprehended Fatah fugitive Faiz Abu-Safira in Tulkarm. He is wanted for allegedly planning and carrying out shooting attacks in the Tulkarm region. Earlier today, two Qassam rockets were fired towards an Israeli town in the northern Gaza Strip. This morning, six mortar shells were fired at Jewish towns in the Gaza Strip, and a seventh was aimed at an IDF post in southern Gaza.
Meanwhile, IDF soldiers killed five armed Palestinian in two separate incidents overnight Wednesday along the Philadelphi Route along the Egyptian border with the Gaza Strip. The army said all five were involved in attempts to smuggle weapons and place bombs in the area.

 

Four Israelis Wounded by Mortars in Gaza
Friday, December 10, 2004

Four Israelis were wounded, two of them seriously, in a mortar attack on the Jewish town of Neveh Dekalim in the southern Gaza Strip, HA'ARETZ reported. An 18-year-old man and an eight-year-old boy were seriously wounded and two other men were lightly wounded. Hamas claimed responsibility for the mortar barrage. In a separate incident, Palestinians fired a Qassam rocket this morning at the border fence separating Israel from Gaza south of the Sufa crossing. There were no casualties and no damage was caused.
In other news, Air Force planes attacked Thursday night a building in Bet Lahiya in the Gaza Strip that was used to store Qassam missiles and manufacturing weapons, Israel Radio, KOL YISRAEL reported. There were no reports of injuries. The building's owner is a well-known member of Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades in the area.
IDF troops captured Fatah operative Fahad Abu Stira on Thursday. He is suspected of involvement in a number of shooting attacks on Israelis in Samaria. IDF officers also believe he was planning to carry out terror attacks in the next few days.

 

DIPLOMACY

Egypt Frees Azzam Azzam after 8 Years
Monday, December 6, 2004

Egypt released on Sunday Azzam Azzam, an Israeli Druze businessman arrested and jailed in Egypt eight years ago on charges of espionage, HA'ARETZ reported. At the time of his conviction, Azzam was running a textile factory in Egypt. Israel has always strongly denied to Egypt that Azzam had anything to do with Israeli security agencies.
Meanwhile, Israel freed six Egyptian students who were captured in August this year on suspicion of planning terrorist attacks in the south of the country. Israel also said it would consider releasing dozens of Palestinian prisoners who do not have "blood on their hands."
Minutes after arriving in Israel, Azzam had an emotional telephone conversation with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon who told him that he had promised his family to do everything he could to release him. "I love you very much," Azzam said. "I told my brothers that if I don't get out when Arik Sharon is prime minister, I never will. I am lucky to have been born in Israel and I'm proud of it."
The prisoner deal was presented as an exchange of personal gestures between Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Sharon. The deal was finalized during a visit to Cairo by Israel Security Agency head Avi Dichter and Sharon's military secretary Yoav Galant.

 

Israel, Egypt to Launch a Strategic Process
Monday, December 6, 2004

A day after Egypt surprisingly released Azzam Azzam, Minister of Defense Shaul Mofaz said today Israel and Egypt were set to launch a strategic process that will include deploying Egyptian forces at the Philadelphi corridor, along the border with Israel, as well as security cooperation against world terror, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. Egypt will also be training Palestinian officers in the West Bank, Mofaz told the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee today. MKs present at the meeting said the defense minister told the committee members that a new period had begun, with new opportunities that could make it possible to implement the disengagement plan "in a coordinated matter." Cairo had vowed to aid Israel in implementing the plan. After the disengagement is underway, Israel plans to transfer control of cities in Gaza and the West Bank to the Palestinian Authority.
The release of Azzam on Sunday is seen by many as a tightening of the relations between Israel and Egypt. Minister of Foreign Affairs Silvan Shalom, who for the last year has had contact with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman to facilitate Azzam's release, said he expected that the eventual return of the Egyptian ambassador, recalled shortly after the outbreak of violence in September 2000, would lead to the opening of relations with some 10 Arab states. Azzam's release provided Prime Minister Ariel Sharon with the opportunity to personally thank Mubarak for the "humanitarian gesture."

 

Israel Would Only Take Part in a U.S.-Backed Peace Conference
Monday, December 6, 2004

Israel would take part in a British-initiated international peace conference on the Middle East if Washington supported the summit, a senior Israeli official said today, HA'ARETZ reported. Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper, quoting unidentified senior diplomatic sources for its information, reported today that British Prime Minister Tony Blair would discuss details with Israeli and Palestinian leaders during a visit to the Middle East this month.
The conference, planned for late January or early February, was likely to be attended by foreign ministers but it was not yet clear whether Israel would send a delegation of that level.
The newspaper said the conference would probably be announced only after a January 9th Palestinian ballot to choose a successor to Yasser Arafat and would depend on the election of moderate former Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas.

 

PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS

PA Leaders on the Way to Damascus
Monday, December 6, 2004

PLO Chairman Mahmoud Abbas was expected to head a senior Palestinian Authority delegation set to visit Syria today for talks on the possibility of reaching a temporary truce with Israel and ways of restoring normal ties between Syria and the PLO, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. The delegation was to meet with Syrian President Bashar Assad and Hamas leaders Khaled Mashal and Musa Abu Marzouk.
Abbas renewed on Sunday his pledge to honor Yasser Arafat's legacy by working to establish a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital alongside Israel. "The true fealty to Arafat's memory would be to pursue his path to achieve Palestinian national goals, namely the establishment of a democratic state, with Jerusalem as its capital, that would live in peace and security next to Israel," Abbas said.
Meanwhile, in Gaza City, Mahmoud Zahar, a top Hamas official, denied that his movement had changed its policy towards Israel. "The strategy of Hamas is to liberate all the Palestinian lands," he said. "This is a known strategy. We believe in the liberation of al the Palestinian lands as stipulated by the Koran. In order to achieve this, we must pass through a number of phases." He also denied that Hamas was prepared for a truce with Israel.

 

PA Leaders Meets Terror Chiefs in Damascus
Tuesday, December 7, 2004

A Palestinian authority delegation, led by PLO Secretary General Mahmoud Abbas met today with the leaders of Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Popular Front - General Command in Damascus, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. The Palestinian team was also due to hold talks with Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal. The delegation was expected to arrive in Beirut today for similar talks with Lebanese leaders and representatives of Palestinian groups in Lebanon. The talks, according to Palestinian sources, focus on the upcoming presidential election for the PA and the possibility of reaching a temporary truce with Israel.
Syria and the Palestinian Authority agreed on Monday to patch up their differences by ending decades of animosity and restoring normal ties. The decision was made during a 90-minute meeting in Damascus between a senior PA delegation led by Abbas and Syrian President Bashar Assad. The visit to Damascus by the top PA officials was the first of its kind since the death of Yasser Arafat and the election of Abbas as his replacement. The delegation also included Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei and Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath.

 

Millions in Financial Aid to Reach PA
Thursday, December 9, 2004

Palestinian officials said they were pleased with the outcome of the annual conference of Mideast donor nations in Oslo, saying they had secured more than $500 million in pledges and an international commitment to revive the peace process, Israel Radio, KOL YISRAEL, reported. The Mideast donor nations called for an international effort to support the Palestinian economy and revive the peace process. Participants at the conference expressed optimism over recent signs of reconciliation between Israel and the Palestinians.
Meanwhile, the Bush administration announced Wednesday it would be giving $20 million in direct aid to the Palestinian Authority to help it through its financial crisis. However, the administration said it would impose restrictions on the funds. Under pressure from U.S. lawmakers, the administration backed off from plans to provide the money directly in support of the January 9th Palestinian presidential elections. The move breaks the longstanding restrictions on giving direct U.S. aid to the PA.

 

Poll in PA: 52 Percent Oppose Terror Against Israel
Thursday, December 9, 2004

A poll conducted by the Jerusalem Media and Communication Center indicates a dramatic decline in Palestinian support for acts of violence targeting Israelis, HA'ARETZ reported. For the first time since the outbreak of violence in September 2000, a majority of Palestinians, some 52 percent, oppose actions of terror against Israel. The figures also indicate public support among Palestinians for a Palestinian Authority initiative to reach an agreed-upon cease-fire with all terror groups.
Half of those polled believe that the positions of Palestinian Authority leaders would change as a result of Yasser Arafat's death, while half believe that they would not change. A clear majority among those polled (57 percent) prefer a two-state solution, while 24 percent supported the creation of a bi-national state. Only 12 percent favor the creation of an Islamic state on all areas between the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.
Some 32 percent of those polled said that they would vote for PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas in the January 9th election for PA chairman; 26 percent said that they would cast their ballot for jailed Tanzim leader Marwan Barghouti.

 

COALITION NEGOTIATIONS

Coalition Talks Ready to Start
Friday, December 10, 2004

Following a vote by the Likud Central Committee Thursday night giving him the green light to start coalition negotiations with Labor and religious parties, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon phoned opposition chairman Shimon Peres this morning and invited Labor to enter into national unity government talks, HA'ARETZ reported. Labor leaders are scheduled to meet on Saturday at 8:00 p.m. to approve the step. Labor faction chairwomen Dalia Itzik said today that her party would demand the portfolios of interior, education, social affairs, and environment. Labor is expected to request the title of vice premier for party leader Shimon Peres.
Itzik added that Labor would only sit in a government with parties that support the disengagement plan, a clear warning to Shas, whose spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef has still not changed his religious ruling against the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank.
MKs of United Torah Judaism are split over whether to request a minister, or to control a ministry via a deputy minister. The faction also wants the chairmanship of the Knesset Finance Committee for MK Ya'acov Litzman.

 

NOBEL PRIZE

Israelis to Receive Nobel Prize Tonight in Stockholm
Friday, December 10, 2004

Professors Avram Hershko and Aaron Ciechanover of the Technion's Faculty of Medicine and the Rappaport Family Institute of Research in Medical Sciences will receive the Nobel Prize for chemistry at a ceremony tonight in Sweden, HA'ARETZ reported. The two arrived in Stockholm at the beginning of the week for the "Nobel Week" of lectures and receptions.
Ciechanover, 57, Hershko, 67 - the first Israelis to win the prestigious chemistry prize - along with Irwin Rose, 78, were honored by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences for their work in the 1980s that discovered one of the cell's most important cyclical processes, regulated protein degradation. The three scientists will share the prize of $1.25 million.
Ciechanover, Hershko and Rose found that proteins that could cause disease are "labeled" for destruction with a molecule called ubiquitin which dispatches them to the body's "waste disposal" units, called proteasomes. The marked proteins are then chopped to pieces. When such degradation fails to work correctly, the result can be diseases like cervical cancer and cystic fibrosis. Lars Thelander of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry said the trio's work was highly relevant for cancer research. Ciechanover said it had already "led to development of numerous drugs for degenerative diseases and malignancies that big pharmaceutical companies are busy working on."

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