Monday,
June 23
Israel
Expects PA to Assume Security Responsibility 'Within Days'
Israel will hand over responsibility
for security arrangements in parts of the Gaza Strip and Bethlehem
to the Palestinian authority 'within days,' according to senior
security sources. A senior Israeli official involved in the talks
between Gilad and Dahlan said that it appears the Palestinians are
still waiting for Hamas to announce whether it agrees to the cease-fire
proposal before accepting any such responsibility. An agreement
by Palestinian militias to suspend their armed uprising could be
a major
breakthrough and a way out of the deadlock. However, Israeli officials
remained deeply suspicious, saying a truce is just a ploy by militants
to win time to regroup for more shootings and bombings. (From Ha'aretz)
more
New
York Native Gunned Down by Terrorists Day After Son's Wedding
American-born Zvi
Goldstein, 47, was killed and his parents and wife were injured
on Friday, when Palestinian terrorists opened fire on their vehicle
just north of Ramallah. The family members were on their way to
Jerusalem to participate in a festive celebration marking the wedding
of Zvi's son, who had been married the day before. Despite IDF efforts
to provide improved security measures on road 60, Goldstein was
the 19th victim to be murdered in attacks on the road since the
start of the Intifada. (From Israel Insider) more
Terrorists
To Be Tried In U.S.?
U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (R.,
Pa.) is calling for the U.S. to ask Israel to extradite two Palestinian
terrorists who have been convicted of murdering American citizens
in Israel. Though they are already serving life sentences, Specter
feels that the American death penalty would be a more effective
punishment - and would even help Israel in its war against terrorism.
(From Arutz Sheva) more
Israel
Secures Receipt of $9 Billion in US Loan Guarantees - Treasury
Israel has effectively been given
official approval for $9 billion in US loan guarantees, and all
that remains are a few technical points to be ironed out, Treasury
Director-General Ohad Marani said Sunday. Taylor said the US is
very satisfied with the progress of economic reforms. However, the
final ratification of the deal is dependent upon continued adherence
to legislation, passed by Congress in April, which stipulates the
conditions for receipt of the loan guarantees. (From Jerusalem Post)
more
Mega
Mall to Open in Herzliya
A unique new mall in Herzliya -
the likes of which exist in only two places in the United States,
according to the owners - has drawn much attention not only for
its grandiose nature, but also because the mall will be open on
the Sabbath. The new Arena Mall on the Herzliya coast seems to have
everything: game-halls, a rain forest, eight movie theaters, Disneyland-style
rides and attractions, many dozens of stores, public auctions, and
much more. Parts of it are specially designed for teenagers during
certain hours, children at other hours, and businessmen and adults
at other times. "There's something for everyone," says
Moti Zisser, one of the owners, "whether they want to spend
five shekels or 1,000 shekels." (From Arutz Sheva) more
Harry
Potter 101 taught at Bar-Ilan University
Students studying literature don't
have to take the train from platform 9 3/4 to Hogwarts to read the
Harry Potter books in school next semester. It will do just as well
to take the bus to Bar-Ilan University, which has added Potter 101
to its curriculum of classics. Prof. Danielle Gorovitch, 37, a comparative
literature lecturer specializing in 12th century Celtic and Anglo-Saxon
folklore and tradition, will teach a course for the second time
on the classical influence on the modern hero, focusing on J.K.
Rowling's Harry Potter series and JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings.
"Throughout the Rowling hysteria, I've seen how nothing's changed
[since the 12th century]. People are still fascinated with the same
things the marvelous, magic, heroes who perform marvelous deeds
through their own maturity and friendship." (From Jerusalem
Post) more
Israeli
Marksman Takes Gold
Israeli marksman Guy Starik won
the gold medal in the World Cup Marksman Championship in Munich,
Germany last week. His success in the Free Rifle Prone competition,
with a total of 702.5 points, was also a new Israeli record and
will allow him to compete in next year's Olympic games in Athens.
Guy Starik, one of the top Olympic rifle shooters in the world,
represented Israel in two Olympic games (Atlanta 1996 and Sydney
2000). Israeli Alex Danielov, who also took part in the Munich competition,
took 5th place. (From Arutz Sheva) more
Tuesday,
June 24
Hamas
Cease-Fire Imminent? IDF, Egypt Say Yes
Hamas
appears to have decided in principle to carry out a cease-fire for
three months, an IDF intelligence Branch official told the Knesset
Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee today. The cease-fire would
be in effect in both Israel and the territories, according to the
official, although no formal decision has yet been made, as talks
continue within the organizations and with the Palestinian Authority.
Hamas has also not yet decided to whom to give its cease-fire commitment:
PA Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas or Egypt, he said. Similarly, the
Associated Press is reporting from Cairo that the Egyptian government
expects Palestinian groups to declare a cease-fire in attacks on
Israel within the next few days. (From Jerusalem Post) more
Israel
Arrests Dozens of Suspected Terrorists in Hebron
Israel arrested more than 130 Palestinians
in the West Bank city of Hebron on Tuesday, targeting Hamas as the
Palestinian government awaited word on whether the Islamic terror
group would agree to a cease-fire. Israel has said it will not halt
its campaign against terrorists unless Palestinian security forces
take tough action something Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas
has said he cannot do. The Israelis also charged five Israeli Arab
leaders with funneling at least $6.8 million to Hamas in a trial
that comes amid increasing tension between the government and the
Arab community. (From Jerusalem Post) more
Leon
Uris, Author of 'Exodus,' Dies Aged 78
Author
Leon Uris, who made it big with the best-selling "Exodus"
and other hugely popular novels, has died. He was 78. Uris died
Saturday of natural causes at his home in New York. Published in
1958, the 600-page "Exodus" was a sensation as millions
read Uris' detailed, heroic chronicle of European Jewry from the
turn of the century to the establishment of the State of Israel
in 1948. The novel was translated into dozens of languages and was
even distributed secretly in communist countries. '"Exodus'
has been the Bible of the Jewish dissident movement in Russia,"
Uris told The Associated Press in a 1988 interview. "It's referred
to as 'The Book'." (From Ha'aretz) more
Wednesday,
June 25
Suicide
Bombing Thwarted
Border Police units thwarted a
suicide bombing Wednesday morning when they captured two Tanzim
terrorists in Kfar Kassem, one of whom was carrying a bag containing
a 10-kilogram explosive device packed with nails and shrapnel. Police
arrested the two Fatah Tanzim terrorists, Nidal Abu Al-Hak, and
Muhammad Ramadan, both from Nablus on the West Bank, and detonated
the bomb in a controlled explosion, leaving a huge crater in the
ground. Kfar Kassam is an Israeli-Arab village 20 kilomoters (12
miles) northeast of Tel Aviv. Security services said the terrorists'
target was most likely the market in Petach Tikva. (From Jerusalem
Post) more
Five
Kassams Fired at Sderot Today; IDF Targets Terrorists
The IDF has confirmed that two helicopter
gunships fired several air-to-surface missiles late this afternoon
after terrorists were spotted deploying Kassam rocket launchers
in Khan Yunis. Two people are reported killed and over ten were
wounded. After a Kassam rocket hit the Negev city of Sderot this
morning, causing damage to a parked car, four more rockets hit open
areas in the town this afternoon. One of the five mortar shells
fired at Gush Katif last night scored a direct hit on a store in
N'vei Dekalim. The storeowner discovered the damage when he arrived
this morning, but the concrete ceiling absorbed much of the hit
and prevented greater damage. This morning, Arabs fired at an IDF
vehicle at Netzarim, and two terrorists who placed a bomb near Nachal
Oz alongside the Gaza fence were shot and wounded. Four mortar shells
hit Gush Katif this afternoon, causing no damage. A bus was shot
in the northern Shomron this afternoon; no one was hurt. (From Arutz
Sheva) more
IDF
Destroys House with Concealed Tunnel in Rafah
IDF bulldozers levelled a house
in which an underground tunnel was discovered, in the the Shalom
neighborhood of Rafah, reported Israel Radio. (From Jerusalem Post)
more
Five
Islamic Movement Officials Indicted
Indictments were read out in Haifa
District Court yesterday against five Islamic Movement northern
branch officials - including its leader, Sheikh Ra'ad Salah - and
two nonprofit organizations run by the movement. They were charged
with money laundering for Hamas, membership in a terror organization,
and contact with an Iranian intelligence officer. The prosecution
claims the defendants conspired to create institutions that would
raise money from Hamas offices overseas and transfer it to Hamas
charities in the West Bank and Gaza, to Islamic Movement offices
in Israel and to prisoners and detainees who were involved in security
offenses and terrorism - all to advance the cause of Hamas and the
Islamic Movement. (From Ha'aretz) more
Athletes
Make History with Israel Bobsled Team's Inaugural Season
For
the first time in history, Israel has a bobsled team. "When
you think of Israel, bobsled is not the first thing that comes to
mind," said Aaron Zeff, driver/pilot for the Israeli Bobsled
Team. "But we're proud to be a part of history in the making."
This spring marks the completion of the Israeli Bobsled Team's inaugural
season. Born out of sheer determination and an undeniable spirit
of competition, a former San Francisco 49er and a former U.S. Air
Force fighter pilot created the IBT in 2001. "We both love
speed, winter sports and Israel … it was natural for us to
be drawn to bobsledding," Zeff said. Sanctioned by the Israeli
Olympic Committee (IOC) and accepted by the Federation Internationale
of Bobsled and Tobogganing (FIBT) in January of 2003, the Israeli
Bobsled Team spent the past year training in two-man bobsled at
the Calgary Olympic Park in Alberta, Canada. This winter it brought
on board an additional brakeman, David Greaves of Winnipeg. Despite
a couple minor injuries, IBT cracked the 60-second ceiling, beating
seasoned teams. It is now focusing on next season's America, Europa
and World Cups. Its ultimate goal is to be selected to compete among
the most elite teams in the world, representing Israel, at the 2006
Olympics.
"We're serious athletes with a serious purpose and serious
ambitions," Zeff said. (From IBT Press Release) more
Thursday,
June 26
2
Would-be Suicide Bombers Killed in North; Israeli Killed in Shooting
Two Palestinian would-be suicide
bombers were shot dead Thursday afternoon by Israeli security forces
near Baka al-Garbiyeh, only hours after a Palestinian teenager shot
dead an Israeli in the northern village, situated close to the Green
Line border. Police sources said that members of a special police
unit shot the two, who were carrying explosives devices, and arrested
two others, apparently the would-be bombers' handlers, at the Kalaniyot
Junction, west of the village. Amit
(Amos) Mantin, 31, from Hadera, a technician for the Bezeq telecommunications
company, was shot dead by a 15-year-old Palestinian while traveling
with a Bezeq crew in the center of the village. The gunman approached
their vehicle, opened fire and fled. Martin was critically injured
and later died of his wounds. (From Ha'aretz) more
Truce
Announcement Not Expected Until Weekend
A formal announcement of an agreement
by armed Palestinian groups to cease attacks on Israelis is only
likely to be made on Saturday or Sunday. Palestinian officials involved
in the contacts have said they have secured a commitment by militia
leaders to halt attacks for three months. While the current agreement
is for a period of three months, Fatah member Kadura Faras suggested
that this could be extended. "This cease-fire is for three
months, but there is a good atmosphere and good cooperation with
the Israeli government, I think this hudna will become the framework
for internal Palestinian policy."
Earlier Thursday, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom praised comments
made by U.S. President George W. Bush the previous day calling for
the complete dismantling of terror groups, and not just a cease-fire.
Shalom told Israel Radio. "He is speaking in a more clear and
direct fashion than some Israelis because he knows that without
dismantling the terror infrastructure (progress in the peace process)
is impossible." Bush demanded that Hamas and groups like it
be taken out of business. "It's one thing to make a verbal
agreement," Bush said. "But in order for there to be peace
in the Middle East, we must see organizations such as Hamas dismantled,
and then we'll have peace, we'll have a chance for peace."
(From Ha'aretz) more
US
Congress Strongly Backs Israel's Stance on Terrorist Attacks
The House on Wednesday said Israel
was justified in its forceful response to Palestinian attacks and
concluded that Middle East violence will stop only when Palestinian
strikes cease. A House resolution, passed 399-5, condemned attacks
on Israel since President George W. Bush, Israeli Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas met in Jordan
three weeks ago to pledge for the US-developed peace plan. The resolution
"expresses solidarity with the Israeli people as they respond
to ongoing terrorist attacks" and "acknowledges Israel's
fight against terrorism as part of the global war against terrorism."
It expresses sympathy to the families of innocent Israelis and Palestinians
killed in the latest violence, and urged worldwide support for the
Palestinian Authority in its attempt to confront the attacks. House
Majority Leader Tom Delay said the only question was whether Palestinian
leaders "will stand with the civilized world in defiance of
evil or whether they will fail like their predecessors." He
brushed off Wednesday's cease-fire announcement. "Murderers
who take three-month vacations are still murderers," he said.
(From Jerusalem Post) more
Air
Force Gets First Druse Navigator
The grandson of a Syrian army volunteer
who once fought against Israel has become the Israeli Air Force's
first Druse Arab navigator. He received his wings Thursday. Identified
only as "Aleph," the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet,
the recruit completed two years of grueling training in a unit that
has one of the highest dropout rates in the Israeli armed forces.
Aleph's grandfather was a volunteer in the Syrian army, fighting
against Israel 55 years ago. But he later deserted and pledged allegiance
to Israel, becoming its first Druse officer, military sources said.
Israel's Druse minority, followers of a secretive offshoot of Islam,
are along with some Bedouins the only Israeli Arabs to serve in
the Israeli military. While other Arabs battle Israel, the some
75,000-strong Druse community long ago made a separate peace with
the Jewish state. Druse leaders agreed in the 1950s to subject their
young men to compulsory military service, earning in return a boost
in spending on schools, roads and services in Druse villages. (From
Jerusalem Post) more
Friday,
June 27
IDF
Soldier Killed in Counter-Terrorism Operation in Gaza
Israel
Defense Forces Staff Sergeant Erez Ashkenazi, from Kibbutz Reshafim
in the Beit She'an Valley, was killed early today in a Gaza Strip
operation against the Palestinian terrorist infrastructure. One
soldier was also wounded during the course of the operation that
began early this morning in Gaza City after the IDF received a warning
that a major terror attack was on the verge of being carried out
at the Karni-Netzarim crossing in the Gaza Strip. Four Palestinians
- three of them armed terrorists - were killed, and three terror
suspects were arrested as a result of IDF actions. In a separate
operation, IDF troops arrested overnight the head of Hamas in the
West Bank city of Jenin, Wael Ajoui. The IDF also arrested two Palestinians
in the Nablus area and six in the Hebron area overnight. (From Ha'aretz)
more
Israeli
Sources: IDF Pullout in Gaza Could Begin Monday
Israel and the Palestinian Authority
reached an agreement Friday for an IDF pullback in the Gaza Strip
and a transferal of security control to the Palestinians, during
a meeting between Palestinian Minister for Security Mohammed Dahlan
and Israel's coordinator in the territories, Major General Amos
Gilad. Officers in the field from both sides will meet Sunday to
finalize details and the pullout from Gaza is estimated to begin
as soon as Monday, sources in Jerusalem said. The meeting will focus
on arrangements for the movement of vehicles on the main "Tancher"
highway that bisects the northern and southern Strip; the sharing
of intelligence to prevent attacks on Israeli targets; and the deployment
of Palestinian security forces in areas evacuated by IDF troops.
The sources also said that the PA committed itself to work to end
all attacks in areas that will be under its control, including the
firing of Qassam rockets and mortars, to prevent arms smuggling,
to stop terror attacks using intelligence provided by Israel, and
cease incitement in the Palestinian media. But the PA stopped short
of committing to arrest Hamas activists.
Israel, for its part, has agreed to raise the quota of work permits
it issues to Palestinians and ease travel restrictions at the Rafah
crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, and the Allenby Bridge
border crossing between the West Bank and Jordan. In addition, Palestinian
vehicles will gradually be allowed to use the main highway. (From
Ha'aretz) more
Foreign
Ministry: Temporary Cease-Fire Is Irrelevant; Terror Must Be Stopped
Altogether
Diplomatic sources in Jerusalem
downplayed on Thursday the significance of a tactical cease-fire
(hudna) arranged by the Palestinian Authority, describing it as
"irrelevant". "This 'cease-fire' is poison covered
in honey," said Gideon Meir, the Foreign Ministry's Deputy
Director-General for Public Affairs. According to Meir, the cease-fire
may hold for a short while; but, once it disintegrates, Israel will
be forced to react to stave off terror attacks and will most likely
be blamed for "breaking the cease-fire." "This whole
business is an internal Palestinian matter," Meir said. "If
after the cease-fire [the PA] takes overall security responsibility
in certain areas, that is good. If not, Israel will need to continue
to do what the Palestinians aren't willing to do."
A senior official in the Prime Minister's Office said the cease-fire
development was "none of Israel's business" and that the
government was only concerned about whether PA Prime Minister Mahmoud
Abbas would fulfill the commitments he took upon himself at the
Aqaba summit earlier this month. Referring to Israel's release of
some security prisoners and the dismantling of some unauthorized
outposts, the official said, "we have done our part, and made
good on our commitments, now it is their turn. If there is any move
forward, if there is a cessation of violence it won't happen by
itself, but only if real steps are taken to stop the terror."
According to diplomatic sources in Jerusalem, Abbas hopes that the
three-month cease-fire will buy him enough time to organize the
PA's security apparatus and that an expected palpable easing of
conditions of the population will help him gain popularity on the
Palestinian street. Sources assessed that Abbas believed he would
be able to deter Hamas from staging attacks without actually having
to dismantle the organization. (From Jerusalem Post) more
Gay
Pride Parade in Tel Aviv; Lapid Calls for Equal Rights
The Gay Pride Parade - the central
annual event of the Israeli gay community - kicked off Friday afternoon
in Tel Aviv with a gathering in Rabin Square. In a speech marking
the start of the parade, Justice Minister Yosef Lapid called for
equal rights for homosexuals. (From Ha'aretz) more
Israel
Tourism Up 36 Percent in May
Tourism to Israel rose 36 percent in May
2003 over May 2002, according to figures released today by Rami
Levi, Tourism Ambassador of Israel to North and South America. "This
news is very exciting," Levi said. "It builds on a 17
percent increase in April, and double-digit increases in the first
three months of 2003," Levi added. "There
is a new optimism taking root in our part of the world," Levi
said. "One of the immediate results of this optimism is the
decision by Americans not to delay further their planned visits
to Israel." (From Jerusalem Post) more
news
archives
