Israel Line 6/29/00
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Thursday, June 29, 2000
*BARAK: AGREEMENT MUST BE DISCUSSED AT SUMMIT
*INDIAN FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS ISRAEL
*KNESSET TO DEBATE LAW ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING
*MORE MINORITIES TO BE INTEGRATED INTO CIVIL SERVICE
*ECONOMIC BRIEFS
BARAK: AGREEMENT MUST BE DISCUSSED AT SUMMIT
Prime Minister Ehud Barak said today that an agreement with the
Palestinians must be discussed at a summit, Israel Radio, KOL YISRAEL,
reported. Barak noted that U.S. President Bill Clinton should determine the
appropriate timing for a summit and invite the parties.
Barak said that should a final agreement be reached, it would strengthen
Israel's security in the future. He added that there needs to be flexibility
on both sides, not only on the part of Israel.
Senior officials in Jerusalem estimate that chances for a summit are
currently at "no more than 50 percent," MA'ARIV reported. Other officials
said that the summit will not take place before the end of July or the
beginning of August.
At a press conference on Wednesday, following U.S. Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright's visit to the region, Clinton acknowledged the need for
a summit to resolve key disputed issues. "Permanent Status issues can not be
resolved without the leaders convening in order to make difficult
decisions." Clinton will decide on an appropriate time for the summit after
meeting with Albright today.
INDIAN FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS ISRAEL
Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh is slated to arrive in Israel on
Friday, marking the first Indian Foreign Minister to visit Israel since
diplomatic ties were established in 1992, HA'ARETZ reported.
Singh's four-day trip follows a visit earlier this month by Internal
Affairs Minister L.K. Advani in what the New Delhi government is describing
as sustained high-level political contacts with Israel. Singh is scheduled
to meet with President Ezer Weizman, Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Minister of
Foreign Affairs David Levy and Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat
to discuss the status of the Middle East peace process.
In Tel Aviv, Singh will inaugurate the $1.25 million Nehru Library and
Gandhi Students' Activities Center, to which India has contributed books and
money.
KNESSET TO DEBATE LAW ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING
A bill proposed by Member of Knesset Yael Dayan (One Israel) on penalizing
those convicted of human trafficking was finalized on Wednesday by the
Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, and will soon be brought to
the Knesset plenum for approval, HA'ARETZ reported.
According to the bill, the penalty for those convicted of human trade will
be 16 years imprisonment. The bill also states that human trafficking is not
limited to the exchange of money, but includes all types of remuneration.
Special counts of the proposed law were added to toughen punishment against
individuals who engage in the selling or buying of an individual for the
purpose of forcing her or him to work in prostitution.
MORE MINORITIES TO BE INTEGRATED INTO CIVIL SERVICE
Minister of Finance Avraham Shochat decided on Wednesday to integrate 300
Arab, Druze and Caucuses university graduates into work in Government
ministries, HA'ARETZ reported.
The decision will be implemented gradually over the next four years, with
75 professionals being integrated each year. The integration policy is a
continuation of Shochat's previous policy pursuant to which 160 members of
minority groups were incorporated into the civil service. He also asked the
civil service commissioner to prepare a multi-year plan for the integration
of minorities.
ECONOMIC BRIEFS
* Nokia has announced that it plans to invest in Israeli start-up companies,
GLOBES reported. In a visit to Israel this week, Nokia chairman Jorma Ollila
met with the heads of several start-up companies involved in cellular
Internet to explore investment opportunities.
* A new venture capital fund that will invest in companies specializing in
communications, media and information technology will be headed by Eitan
Ben-Eliyahu, former Officer in Command of the Israel Air Force, GLOBES
reported. The new fund, the Israeli branch of U.S. East-West Fund, has
raised $250 million from private investors in the United
States.
Today's Israel Line was prepared by Aylon Slater and Jeremy Bob at the
Consulate General in New York.
Israel Line is a daily summary of major news items taken directly from the
Israeli media.
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