May 17 - 21, 2004

• SECURITY
  • IDF Takes Widespread Actions Against Gaza Terrorists
  • "Rainbow" Operation Underway in Rafah to Destroy Arms Smuggling Tunnels
  • Iran, Syria and Hezbollah Behind Arms Smuggling, Says IDF Chief
  • Counter-Terror Actions in Rafah Enter Second Day
  • Sharon To Present Revised Gaza Withdrawal Plan
  • Tanzim Leader Barghouti Convicted For Deaths of 5 People
  • Operation Against Arms Smuggling Tunnels Expands
  • New York Times Reporter in Gaza Escapes Abduction Attempt
  • IDF Redeploys in Rafah, but Operation Is Not Over
• DIPLOMACY
  • Israel Gives Jordan Assurances Regarding Disengagement Plan
  • Rice Urges Qurei to Reform Palestinian Security Forces
  • Jordan's King Abdullah Suggests Arafat Should Step Down
• ECONOMY & HIGH-TECH
  • Economy Jumps by a Surprising 5.5 Percent
  • Netanyahu to Increase Old Age Allowances
• SOCIETY
  • Jerusalem Day Celebrations Kick Off
• SPORTS
  • Israeli Wins European Judo Championship
  • Arab Israeli Club Makes Soccer History

SECURITY

IDF Takes Widespread Actions Against Gaza Terrorists
Monday, May 17, 2004
Israel Defense Forces troops successfully completed a major operation in the southern Gaza Strip today, isolating the town of Rafah from the rest of Gaza and neighboring Egypt, HA'ARETZ reported. Seven IDF tanks and armored bulldozers, backed by helicopter gunship, moved into the area between Rafah and the town of Khan Yunis in an attempt to prevent terrorists from moving freely between the two towns. The IDF operation was also aimed at destroying tunnels used to smuggle weapons from Egypt into the Strip, and at arresting wanted terrorists. Palestinians fired anti-tank missiles at troops, but no injuries were reported.
The IDF is weighing whether to dig a deep moat along the length of the Philadelphi Route, in order to further isolate the Palestinian Rafah from the neighboring Egyptian town of the same name.
The IDF has stepped up its efforts to fight terrorism originating from Gaza after 13 soldiers were killed last week in three separate attacks across the Strip, two of them at the southern tip. On Sunday night, IDF troops killed three Palestinians carrying an explosive device and approaching the security fence in the central Strip, next to Kibbutz Be'eri.

"Rainbow" Operation Underway in Rafah to Destroy Arms Smuggling Tunnels
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Carrying out an operation codenamed 'Rainbow', Israel Defense Forces entered Rafah today to conduct extensive searches for fugitives and arms tunnels, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. IDF sources said that the Rafah operation would be extensive and complicated, and would continue as long as necessary. The army has given an oxygen tank to the Rafah hospital, and has allowed a Red Cross team into the city.

Iran, Syria and Hezbollah Behind Arms Smuggling, Says IDF Chief
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Chief of staff Lt.-Gen Moshe Ya'alon shed light today on the arms smuggling process by Palestinians that prompted Israel Defense Forces operations in Gaza, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. Ya'alon explained that the weapons had been arriving at Sinai beaches, and from there were transported to the Gaza Strip. "The operations are being financed almost entirely by Iran and organized via Damascus and Lebanon with the aid of the Hezbollah," Ya'alon continued. There has recently been an improvement in the quality of arms being smuggled in, he said, including Katyusha rockets, and anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles.
According to the IDF chief of staff, Egyptian efforts to prevent the terrorist activities are not sufficient, and although Israel is holding a dialogue with Egypt to improve their operations, only Israel can do this job. "The absence of control by Israel over the (Philadelphia) route will result in the Gaza Strip's saturation in arms, which will make it difficult for us to operate in the future," Ya'alon observed.
Concerning allegations of human rights abuses, Ya'alon stressed that the IDF did not shoot at ambulances in spite of a lengthy history of Palestinian abuse. "Palestinians have always exploited Israel's humanitarian sensitivity," he said, and even recently had used UNRWA and Red Cross ambulances to transport arms and IDF soldier body remains to their strongholds.

Counter-Terror Actions in Rafah Enter Second Day
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Israel's military operations against the terrorist infrastructure in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip continued today, HA'ARETZ. The Israel Defense Forces is investigating an incident in which at least 15 Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded this afternoon in an explosion that occurred as a crowd of protestors - among them gunmen - paraded in the Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip. The IDF expressed deep sorrow over the loss of civilian lives and said that at no point was intentional fire opened in the direction of civilians. "The Israeli army is investigating this incident. This is a combat zone filled with explosive devices laid in advance by the Palestinians. It is premature to know exactly what happened in Rafah," IDF Capt. Sharon Feingold explained. Earlier, five armed Palestinians were killed in the Tel Sultan neighborhood of Rafah when they attempted to attack Israeli troops. The IDF is operating in Rafah to destroy tunnels used to smuggle weapons and ammunitions used in terrorist attacks against Israel.
More info @ www.mfa.gov.il

Sharon To Present Revised Gaza Withdrawal Plan
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon plans to present the government with a revised disengagement plan within the next two weeks, ARMY RADIO reported. The two major differences between the old and revised plan is that the withdrawal will now be conducted in stages, and that all houses once occupied by Jewish residents will be destroyed. However, industrial zones would be transferred to Palestinians through international channels. According to the plan, the settlements of Netzarim, Kfar Darom and possibly Morag would be evacuated.
Meanwhile, according to THE JERUSALEM POST, Israel is working with the United States, European Union, United Nations, Egypt and Jordan to deploy international inspectors to maintain civil order following an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. "Which ever way you look at it, it is clear the Palestinians cannot assume their own responsibility, and it may be necessary for the international community to assist in this matter," a senior military official told MAARIV. Another defense official added: "It is time to re-evaluate our conception regarding the involvement of a limited but dominant international body."

Tanzim Leader Barghouti Convicted For Deaths of Five People
Thursday, May 20, 2004
Former West Bank Tanzim commander Marwan Barghouti was convicted by the Tel Aviv District Court today for the deaths of five people, HA'ARETZ reported. The five were murdered in 3 different terror attacks staged by Barghouti. The Tanzim leader was also found guilty of attempted murder, membership in a terror organization and conspiring to commit a crime. However, the court acquitted him of 33 other murders, noting the absence of evidence that he was a full partner in those incidents. The prosecution was seeking today to sentence him to five life terms.
The court ruled that Barghouti was directly responsible for a January 2002 terror attack on a gas station in Givat Zeev in which Israeli Yoela Chen was murdered. Barghouti had admitted his responsibility for this attack. The attack in which a Greek monk was murdered in Ma'aleh Adumim on June of 2001 was also carried out at the instruction of Barghouti, the judges said. The former Tanzim leader, the court ruled, also approved the March 2002 attack at Tel Aviv's Seafood Market restaurant in which three people were murdered, as well as a car bomb attack in Jerusalem.
The judges said Barghouti's orders for terror attacks were sometimes "based on instructions" from Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat. "Arafat would never give explicit instructions for attacks but he let it be known when the timing was right," the judges said.

Operation Against Arms Smuggling Tunnels Expands
Thursday, May 20, 2004
The IDF Operation codenamed Rainbow in the south Gaza Strip town expanded today as troops continued to target the terrorist infrastructure in the area, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. A total of seven Palestinian terrorists were killed today in the Rafah refugee camp. Israeli forces increased their activities against arms smuggling in Rafah, entering the Brazil neighborhood, south-east of Tel Sultan. Military intelligence shows that most arms smuggling tunnels have entrances and exits in the Brazil neighborhood.
Minister of Justice Yosef Lapid explained Israel had to act against terrorists in Rafah because they were trying to smuggle in Strela anti-aircraft missiles capable of shooting down civilian airliners. "If this happens, God forbid, and airplanes are shot down, people will ask us why we didn't act to stop it," Lapid said. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority turned down an Israeli offer to evacuate Palestinians wounded as a result of IDF activities in Gaza to hospitals in Israel.

New York Times Reporter in Gaza Escapes Abduction Attempt
Thursday, May 20, 2004
New York Times Jerusalem bureau chief James Bennet narrowly escaped a kidnap attempt by Palestinians while covering Israel's military operation in the Rafah refugee camp on Wednesday, HA'ARETZ reported. Bennet said that he was speaking on his cellular phone in front of a Rafah hospital when an unidentified Palestinian smiled at him, said, "welcome", and offered his hand. When Bennet shook his hand, the man and another Palestinian grabbed him and tried to thrust him into an old Mercedes car that pulled up with its back door open, recalling kidnappings of foreigners by Muslim terrorists in wartime Beirut in the 1980s.
Responding to Bennet's cries, the police at the hospital thwarted the abduction. The kidnappers then jumped in the car and sped away, escaping the police.

IDF Redeploys in Rafah, but Operation Is Not Over
Friday, May 21, 2004
The Israel Defense Forces withdrew its troops from parts of the southern Gaza Rafah refugee camp today, but military sources indicated that Operation Rainbow, aimed at arresting terrorists and arms smugglers in the refugee camp, was not over yet, HA'ARETZ reported. Troops are now deployed along the perimeter of Rafah's Tel Sultan neighborhood.
The commander of the IDF troops in Gaza, Brigadier General Shmuel Zakai, said today that Operation Rainbow would not end in the coming days, and that the army had received no order to leave Rafah. He added that the nature of the operation demanded that the IDF reduce its troop presence in the camp, in order to allow the local population to obtain food and medicine, and to ensure maximum flexibility for the operation.
The IDF said it deliberately demolished seven homes, including one belonging to an Islamic Jihad militant. Other damage to homes and roads was caused by heavy military vehicles and Palestinian militant roadside bombs, the army said.

 

DIPLOMACY

Israel Gives Jordan Assurances Regarding Disengagement Plan
Monday, May 17, 2004
Minister of Foreign Affairs Silvan Shalom conveyed a message from Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to Jordan's King Abdullah II according to which the prime minister would personally keep the Jordanian leader updated on every development regarding the disengagement plan, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. According to the letter of commitment, Israel will actively discourage Palestinian refugees from crossing the border into Jordan - a matter of concern expressed several times in the past by the Jordanian government. Shalom said Israel saw Jordan as a stabilizing force in the region.
Meanwhile, Israel and Jordan upgraded a trade accord Sunday with an aim to do more business with Europe. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum meeting in Jordan. The Israeli-Jordanian agreement signed Sunday by Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor Ehud Olmert and his Jordanian counterpart Mohammad Halaiqah, expands on an accord signed months after the 1994 Israeli-Jordanian peace treaty.

Rice Urges Qurei to Reform Palestinian Security Forces
Monday, May 17, 2004
U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice met with Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei in Berlin today, and urged him to reform the Palestinian security forces, HA'ARETZ reported. She also told Qurei the United States did not believe Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat was conducive to the peace process and that the PA had to battle terrorism.
Rice's comments echoed remarks made a day earlier by Powell, urging the Palestinian leadership to take control of their security forces away from Arafat. "What they need to do is to wrest control of the security forces from Chairman Arafat by saying to him your policies have not been successful, your leadership has not been successful in moving this process forward," Powell said. He also suggested that Arafat should be persuaded to quit as head of the PA to make way for a successor willing to end terror against Israel.
Rice said Sunday that the United States was ready to be a partner in helping the Palestinians build their own state, in accordance with the stalled road map. However, this offer depends on the Palestinians building "accountable political and economic institutions," including security services controlled by an "empowered prime minister" who can use them "to fight terrorism."

Jordan's King Abdullah Suggests Arafat Should Step Down
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
In a "New York Times" interview published today, King Abdullah II of Jordan said Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat should consider stepping down from is position, MA'ARIV reported. "I think Arafat needs to have a long look in the mirror to be able to see whether his position is helping the Palestinian cause or not", Abdullah said. If Arafat were to step down, the Jordanian leader stated, the Palestinians would make progress towards statehood. "If this allows the Palestinians to get beyond the obstacle that they are facing now with the United States and Israel, then that's something the Palestinians need to sort out and sort out quickly," he said. Abdullah also said at a regional conference in Jordan on Monday that the lack of coordination from the three or four governing bodies in the Palestinian Authority was another detrimental factor. "The Palestinians need to help themselves first before others can help them," Abdullah said.

 

ECONOMY & HIGH-TECH

Economy Jumps by a Surprising 5.5 Percent
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
The economy experienced a dramatic 5.5 percent growth in the first quarter of this year, according to Central Bureau of Statistics, HA'ARETZ reported. The figure is higher than the most optimistic predictions made by the Finance Ministry, the Bank of Israel and other forecasters. The business sector leaped by an even more dramatic 9.2 percent during the first quarter compared to 3.6 percent in the previous quarter. The first-quarter growth rate is the highest recorded in a single quarter since Q3 2000. The increase in the business sector is mainly attributed to an upsurge in industrial and commercial activity, including catering and accommodation services, and most of the financial and business services. The Bank of Israel's latest growth forecast mentions growth of "only" 2.8 percent. The CBS figures indicate that the first-quarter increase in gross domestic product reflects an increase in all sectors. Goods and services exports rose by a steep 49.5 percent due to the sharp increase in industrial exports (73.2 percent) and diamond exports (39.1 percent). In addition, there was an unusually large increase in agricultural exports (31.5 percent).

Netanyahu to Increase Old Age Allowances
Friday, May 21, 2004
Minister of Finance Benjamin Netanyahu intends to announce during next week's cabinet meeting his intention to increase the old age allowance by a few hundred Shekels per person, beginning January 2005, MA'ARIV reported. The old age allowances were cut during the economic emergency plan passed by the government in 2002, and the increase is viewed as a corrective measure designed to help one of the population sectors most severely affected by the recession. However, the ministry does not intend to increase government expenses but will finance the increased old age allowance by reducing other budgets.
According to the calculations conducted by the National Insurance Institute, an increase of NIS 300 would raise most elderly citizens above the poverty line. According to statistics to be presented to the government by the NII, 20 percent of the elderly in Israel lives below the poverty line, even after receiving the allowance. In 2003, approximately one in ten Israelis was over 65, and by 2020 the percentage of 65+ is expected to reach 11.85 percent.

 

SOCIETY

Jerusalem Day Celebrations Kick Off
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Celebrations for the 37th Yom Yerushalaim (Jerusalem Day) marking the liberation and unification of the capital during the Six-Day War in 1967 were launched Tuesday night and will take place throughout today, MA'ARIV reported. On that occasion, the Central Bureau of Statistics published today data pertaining to the city. The population of Jerusalem currently stands at 692,000 - 67 percent of it Jewish, 33 percent Arab. The population growth rate among the Arab sector is more than double that of the Jewish one - 2.7 percent in comparison to 1.2 percent. Between 1999 and 2002, 125,000 people immigrated to the city, while over 207,000 left.
A colorful parade took place from City Hall to Saker Garden on Tuesday. In addition, a national women convention was held in the city and a cross-country youth march of some 10,000 teenagers was organized. During the day, tours and musical shows were to take place around the city. Commemorations were also to include a memorial service for Ethiopian Jews, a State memorial ceremony honoring those killed during the 1967 war and the dancing flags parade from Saker Garden to the Wailing Wall. Over 1000 police officers were on duty to secure the events.

 

SPORTS

Israeli Wins European Judo Championship
Monday, May 17, 2004
Arik Ze'evi successfully defended his European Judo Championship and won the title for the third time in four years with a win over former Olympic gold medalist Antal Kovacs of Hungary in the final on Sunday in Bucharest, Romania, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. "The third European title is the sweetest because I know that no other Israeli athlete, in any sport, has accomplished such a feat and also because it was accompanied by several difficulties," Ze'evi said. Ze'evi, who competes in the under-100 kg division, sent a message that he is in top form just three months before the Olympic Games in Athens, where he plans to improve on his fifth place finish from Sydney 2000.
On Saturday, Yoel Razvozov won a silver medal in the under-73 kg division. In recent years, Israel has developed into a European power in judo. The Israeli delegation to the Olympics will consist of five judokas, the highest number in Israel's history.

Arab Israeli Club Makes Soccer History
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
The soccer team of Bnei Sakhnin made sporting history on Tuesday night when it became the first non-Jewish soccer club to win the State Cup (Israeli soccer championship) by beating Hapoel Haifa 4:1 at the Ramat Gan national stadium, MA'ARIV reported. In front of 35,000 spectators - the majority supporting Bnei Sakhnin, a town with a population of 21,300 - Haifa led 1-0 at half-time but Avi Danan, Lior Asulin and Gavriel Lima all scored during the second half to seal the victory. The win guarantees Bnei Sakhnin a place in the European soccer championship next year. As President Moshe Katsav handed the trophy to Sakhnin, the club's fans erupted in celebrations that lasted well into the night. In the town itself, which had been empty until the end of the game, those who hadn't made the journey to Ramat Gan began their celebrations. Fireworks were set off at the town hall and thousands poured out into the streets to be joined later by the fans returning from the game.

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