Update II/084 - Democracy on Trial
s...@borealis.com
April 18, 1996.. 29 Nissan 5756..Volume II, Number 084 ..Update from Israel
.
Cairo Attack
The official report released by the Egyptian Ministry of the Interior states
the following:
At close to 7:00am, this morning, four terrorists, armed with automatic
weapons, opened fire on a tourist bus near the Europa Hotel, in Cairo.
The hotel is frequented by Israeli tourist. This particular group of
visitors were Greek. At least 17 persons were killed and approximately 20
were injured, some seriously.
^^^^
CNN's correspondent on the scene in Cairo reports the nationality of the
victims as Greek. The terrorists were reported as entering the Europa Hotel
and continuing the attack from inside. The Israeli Foreign Ministry is
refusing any comment on the incident at this time. (Galei Tzahal/Army
Radio..4.18,,10:40am, CNN..4/18..0:30am, BBC..4/18..10:25am).
****
Zo Artzeinu (This is Our Land) Trial Opens
Today, the Jerusalem Magistrates Court heard the opening of "State of Israel
vs. Moshe Feiglin, Shmuel Sackett and Rabbi Benny Alon", the leaders of Zo
Artzeinu.
The State of Israel accuses Zo Artzeinu's leadership of organizing illegal
and violent anti-Oslo Accords demonstrations during the months of August,
September and October 1995.
In the first day of court hearings the prosecution called upon Commander
David Krauzer, Commander of Operations of the Jerusalem Police District,
Deputy Commander Mickey Levy, the Deputy Commander of the Jerusalem Police
District, and Yael Gvertz, a features writer for Yediot Achronot Newspaper.
Gvertz is the first of more than two dozen journalists whom the prosecution
has called to the witness stand.
Krauzer accused Zo Artzeinu of instigating violent actions against the
police during their demonstrations. During cross examination, however,
Krauzer admitted that no one identified with Zo Artzeinu had been violent
against the police.
Deputy Commander Mickey Levy, in his sworn testimony, claimed that Moshe
Feiglin and other members of Zo Artzeinu had beaten police to attempt to
prevent his arrest at a demonstration. Zo Artzeinu, however, surprised the
court with television news footage which showed Mickey Levy arresting
Feiglin when Feiglin's hands were tied by a large, visible rope. Feiglin had
had his own hands tied to demonstrate the commitment of Zo Artzeinu to
non-violence. The film clearly showed that no one had tried to prevent
Feiglin's arrest.
Yael Gvertz testified that Feiglin had incited violence during the
demonstrations. However, under cross examination she admitted that her
information stemmed from what she had heard from other reporters.
Zo Artzeinu's legal counsel, Yair Berger, asked whether the Israeli Court
was not violating a fundamental principle of journalistic ethics by asking
reporters for "character references".
Note: Deputy Police Commander Mickey Levy was also a witness in the recent
trial against Women in Green Co-Chairwoman Nadia Matar. Matar, a petite
woman, was accused of beating up Levy.
Following the defense council presentation of a video from Israel's Channel
2 TV, the Matar case was dismissed. There also, the film showed Commander
Levy attack while arresting Mrs. Matar, without any provocation. Following
the viewing of the video in the Court, the State asked that the case be
dismissed. (SNS..4/18).
****
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****
Rabbi Ginzburgh
Rabbi Yitzchak Ginzburgh will be celebrating his victory, with his followers
in the United States next week, Sunday April 21, 8:00pm, at the Oholei
Menachem Ballroom, 667 Eastern Parkway, in Crown Heights Brooklyn.
This function is organized by his many students and followers. They will be
joined by many admirers and supporters. It is hosted by the Lubavitch
Community of Crown Heights, World Headquarters of the Lubavitch
International Community.
Rabbi Ginzburgh was freed from administrative detention after Prime Minister
Shimon Peres personally signed an administrative order to arrest the world
renowned Rabbi. He was set free by the Supreme Court shortly before
Passover. (SNS..4/18).
****
Biography of a Katusha
The Katusha is a versatile 120mm rocket with a range of 12.7 miles. It can
be launched individually from tubes, using a simple electric power source,
such as a car battery, or, more commonly, from truck-mounted rocket
launchers in salvos. The launchers are easy to dismantle and transport. As
rockets go, it is an older design, with its origins in Soviet 1940s rocket
systems.
Worthiness through long usage and its robust design have maintained it as a
respectable battlefield weapon for many decades. It has recently been used
in Grozny (the Russian assault on Chechenya) and in Bosnia.
The payload varies, as a number of different warheads can be used, including
chemical warheads. A full salvo from a launcher such as the BM-21 (a truck
mounted multiple launcher), has a potential explosive power comparable to
the payload of four Iraqi Scud missiles, although of course the range is
much shorter.
Katushas are supplied to Hizbullah by its Iranian patron, smuggled to
Lebanon through Syria. So far Israeli Military Intelligence has shown no
sign of being able to discover the pipeline or mount an action against it.
(IRIS, London Daily Telegraph, US Military 'BattleTech' simulation database).
****
Stop the Attack
B'Tzelem, the Israeli civil-rights' group, has called upon the government to
cease Operation "Grapes of Wrath", and to allow the Lebanese refugees to
return to their homes. (Arutz-7 News..4/17).
****
Chai Vekaiyam Trial
The trial of six members of Chai Vekaiyam, who are charged with disturbing
the public order during an attempt to pray at the Temple Mount six months
ago, begins today. The appeal of ten other members of the organization, who
have been in prison for a week, will be heard tomorrow. They are refusing
to promise not to pray at the Temple Mount in return for their release.
(Arutz-7 News..4/17).
****
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****
The Yasur Helicopter
After a quarter of a century of service in the IDF Air Force, statistics
show that one out of every five Yasur helicopters in the IDF's fleet has
crashed. This means of the 54 helicopters in the Air Force fleet, 10 have
crashed. Ninety-two soldiers met their deaths in the helicopters.
The last accident (Update II/039) was approximately 2 weeks ago. Seven
soldiers were killed.
Many Air Force pilots have been critical of Air Force leaders for not having
installed "black boxes" in the helicopter. The black boxes are invaluable in
determining information following the crafts' failure or crash. Col. Eliezer
Cohen (IDF Air Force) was extremely critical of the IDF's failure to install
back boxes. Colonel Cohen is one of many officers who flew the Yasur
choppers and was critical of the IDF's inaction. "Ask Bodinger (OC IDF Air
Force) why there are no black boxes" stated Colonel Cohen.
Several questions have come up regarding the latest Yasur crash. It appears
that they will remained unanswered because there is no black box. (Yediot
Achronot Newspaper..4/18..Page 19).
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****
Outraged
The Arab Terror Victims Association has issued a statement expressing its
outrage over the government's decision to permit 455 members and observers
of the PNC to enter into the PLO-controlled areas to attend the upcoming
conference.
"We did not know that we will have to pay such a high price, to permit these
murderers into Israel to change the PNC Charter" stated the group's
Spokesman. (SNS..4/18).
****
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