Israel Line 6/16/00
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Friday, June 16, 2000
*ANNAN ANNOUNCES FULL ISRAELI COMPLIANCE WITH 425
*ALBRIGHT TO RETURN TO REGION
*BARAK, YISHAI MEET TO DISCUSS COALITION CRISES
*DOCTORS’ STRIKE REACHES 100-DAY MARK
*12 TIBETAN TEENAGERS IN ISRAEL FOR LEADERSHIP TRAINING
*ECONOMIC BRIEFS
ANNAN ANNOUNCES FULL ISRAELI COMPLIANCE WITH 425
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan declared today in a press conference at the
United Nations that Israel has withdrawn from Lebanon in full compliance
with UN Security Council Resolution 425, Israel Radio, KOL YISRAEL, reported.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese government announced on Thursday the formation of
a force of 500 soldiers and 500 police officers to be deployed in South
Lebanon. To strengthen the Lebanese government's grip on
the country, a growing number of U.S. Congressional officials and
pro-Israeli groups are calling for more vigorous U.S. action to end Syria's
presence in Lebanon. Ned Walker, Assistant Secretary of State on the Middle
East, told a special meeting of the Senate Foreign Affairs subcommittee that
the Clinton administration hopes for change in Lebanon without having to
resort to "negative action." Walker added that the United States hopes that
in the wake of Assad’s death, the new Syrian leadership will give up its
presence in Lebanon, sever its ties with terrorism, and negotiate a peace
agreement with Israel.
Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara said in an interview on Lebanese
television late last week that "Syria's presence in Lebanon is definitely
temporary. Nobody can imagine that Syria's presence, that is the military
presence in Lebanon, is permanent." Al-Shara’s statements were prompted by a
campaign waged by opponents of Syrian military hegemony in Lebanon.
According to Israel Radio, KOL YISRAEL, Lebanese newspaper A-Naar reported
today that seven Lebanese citizens were injured in South Lebanon in clashes
between Amal and Hizbullah terrorists. The scuffle followed arguments
between members of the two organizations regarding, among other issues, the
hanging of pictures of their respective group leaders.
ALBRIGHT TO RETURN TO REGION
U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is scheduled to return to the
Middle East at the end of next week to determine whether conditions are ripe
for a three-way summit between U.S. President Bill Clinton, Prime Minister
Ehud Barak and Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat, HA’ARETZ
reported. The Prime Minister's Office announced the Albright meeting on
Thursday following the Clinton-Arafat meeting in Washington. The
announcement also noted that the Washington talks between Israeli and
Palestinian negotiators would continue for several additional days.
According to THE JERUSALEM POST, U.S. Middle East peace envoy Dennis Ross
is expected to visit the region before Albright.
Meanwhile, during his meeting with Arafat, Clinton asked whether the
Israeli-Palestinian talks were in danger of collapse. Arafat answered, "No,
I think it's an important moment and we have to keep working on it."
Following the meeting, Arafat told reporters the discussions had been "very
fruitful."
BARAK, YISHAI MEET TO DISCUSS COALITION CRISES
Prime Minister Ehud Barak met today with Minister of Labor and Social
Affairs and Shas leader Eli Yishai in an attempt to resolve the coalition
crisis by the end of the weekend, Israel Radio, KOL YISRAEL reported. In an
effort to allow more time for negotiations, Barak moved Sunday’s Cabinet
meeting to Tuesday.
Shas is demanding the establishment of a third, separate, broadcasting
authority under which the Shas radio stations could broadcast legally. One
Israel officials informed Shas that the attorney general was unwilling to
approve its request but that the Shas stations would enjoy full autonomy as
part of the Second Broadcasting Authority with no programming interference.
In addition, Shas would appoint the directors and broadcasters of the network.
DOCTORS’ STRIKE REACHES 100-DAY MARK
The strike in the health system, which began 100 days ago, will continue
on Sunday, as doctors shut down operating facilities and surgical
outpatient wards in all hospitals, HA’ARETZ reported. A protest march in
front of the homes of Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Minister of Finance
Avraham Schochat is slated to take place today.
Heads of the Israel Medical Association and officials in the Finance
Ministry’s budget and wages department continue mediation efforts in an
attempt to end the strike. Both doctors and treasury officials, however, are
pessimistic about mediation because of the disparity in their respective
positions.
Despite that the strike has lasted for 100 days, neither hospital
directors nor doctors find themselves under strong pressure from the public.
Senior officials in the health system said one of the major reasons for the
strike’s failure is that it has not had a serious, adverse effect on the
health of the public.
12 TIBETAN TEENAGERS IN ISRAEL FOR LEADERSHIP TRAINING
Twelve Tibetan teenagers are taking part in a privately organized
leadership training and cultural preservation program in Israel, THE
JERUSALEM POST reported. The program for the Tibetan teens was organized by
Dr. Chaim Peri, director of the Yemin Orde Youth Village and educational
complex, in conjunction with Tibetan government-in-exile education minister
Rinchen Choegyl, with the assistance of the Israeli Friends of the Tibetan
People. The project is being funded by Ahava USA, which markets Dead Sea
cosmetics products in the United States.
The three-month program concentrates on leadership training, preservation
of cultural heritage and developing democracy. Students also receive
instruction in English and computers. "The program aims to put them in the
state of mind for nation building. They are not just being hosted by a
country, but will also experience how government works in a free and
democratic nation—one which has gone through experiences similar to their
own," said Peri.
The Dalai Lama was said to be deeply moved by Israel’s success in reviving
its ancient culture and language while forging a vibrant and democratic
nation. He met Peri several years ago and asked him to help the young retain
their rich cultural heritage and gain the skills necessary to become Tibet's
future leaders.
The teenagers and two of their teachers are being hosted at Yemin Orde on
Mount Carmel, south of Haifa. The group traveled several weeks ago from
India, the location of the Tibetan government-in-exile, to Amman, Jordan and
then crossed the border into Israel.
ECONOMIC BRIEFS
* Palo-Alto-based Sun Microsystems has donated NIS 2 million (approximately
$500,000) to set up computer science centers in two Israeli and three
Palestinian universities as part of its continuing effort to educate
computer scientists around the world, HA’ARETZ reported. The funds will
finance a cooperative venture that includes Tel Aviv University, the
Technion, An-Najah University in Nablus, Al-Azhar in Gaza and Al-Quds in
Jerusalem. Sun is one of the first American computer and software companies
to create cooperative technology projects for Israelis and
Palestinians and has recently established software development centers in
Ireland, India and France.
* An online project management system run by Israeli company i-scraper is
aiding in the building of Microsoft's new office complex in Reading,
England, HA’ARETZ reported.
i-scraper is running the project for Microsoft England in its new office
complex covering 70,000 square feet, at an estimated cost of $20 million.
Today’s Israel Line was prepared by Batsheva Genut and Aylon Slater at the
Consulate General of Israel in New York
Israel Line is a daily summary of major news items taken directly from the
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