News and Observations from Israel 1.8.96 (fwd)
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Subject: News and Observations from Israel 1.8.96
News and Observations from Israel
Aaron Lerner 1 August, 1996
*** IRAQ AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS
According to a report by the London based International Institute
for Strategic Studies (IISS), Iraq has developed a number of means
to deliver biological weapons: 122mm Katyushas, 115 mm cannon, air
bombs, and missile heads for the Al Hussein missile of the type
shot at Israel. The biological weapons are based on viruses,
bacteria and molds. The weapons are designed against humans,
animals and crops. Iraq has large stores of anthrax as well as
poisons.
("Haaaretz" 29 July, 1996)
*** NORTH KOREA SOLD 370 SCUD MISSILES TO IRAN, IRAQ, SYRIA & LIBYA
South Korean military sources told Janes Defense that North Korea
can produce 150 missiles a year and in the last decade supplied 370
SCUD missiles to Iran, Iraq, Syria and Libya.
("Haaretz" 30 July, 1996)
*** POLICE IDENTIFY 22 PALESTINIAN RIOTERS AT SHILO
Israel Police have identified 22 Palestinians from the village of
Krayot who participated in a riot on the agricultural land of the
Israeli settlement Shilo last week. During the course of the riot,
the Palestinians destroyed a fence, burned fields and damaged
equipment. Israeli authorities intervened only after Shilo
residents acted to defend their property. Of the 22 Palestinians,
only two have been detained so far. Two settlers have also been
detained.
The head of the Israeli Civil Authority for the area, Shimshon
Arbel, asked representatives of Krayot to produce evidence of their
ownership of the agricultural land but so far they have not
presented any evidence.
("Haaretz" 27 & 30 July, 1996)
*** PALESTINIAN VIOLATIONS TO INCREASE ISRAEL-PA CONTACTS?
A senior Israeli security source claims that the senior level of
the Palestinian Authority (PA) is instructing their people to
violate the agreements so that the Israelis will have more meetings
with the PA to discuss violations. According to the source, the PA
wants more contacts to help their image among the local population.
Among the violations included in a lists prepared by the IDF is
activity by plainclothes PA police in villages under Israel's
security authority. These police search homes and kidnap villagers
for interrogation.
("Haaretz" 27 & 30 July, 1996)
*** ISRAEL POLICE DETAINS ABAS ZAKAI OF PA COUNCIL
Abas Zakai, an elected member of the Palestinian Council and a
member of the Fatah Central Committee, was detained for
interrogation when he crossed the The Allenby Bridge. This is the
second time he has been detained in the last month. Zakai was
detained as part of a police investigation of charges that Zakai
destroyed a Jewish archeological site in Area C located next to his
home in order to make way for a new house he was building. Zakai
is also the subject of an investigation of his role in the
destruction of earth moving equipment during a riot by residents of
Samoa. Zakai was asked to meet with the police several times but
refused to cooperate, claiming immunity based on his position in
the PA. Zakai was released after several hours and continued to
his home in a PA car. Jamil Tarifi , who represents the PA in the
Civil Affairs Coordination and Cooperation Committee (CAC)
expressed surprise over the action, which he claimed was a gross
violation of the immunity provided Zakai by the agreement.
[While the agreements expedite the passage of VIPs through the
border, they do not provide any special immunity to the VIPs -
IMRA]
("Haaretz" 31 July, 1996)
*** ABU ALAH THREATENS TO RESIGN AS CHAIRMAN OF PALESTINIAN COUNCIL
Abu Alah, the Chairman of the recently elected Palestinian Council
threatened to resign from his position in protest of interference
by Yasser Arafat in the work of the Council. Arafat had criticized
the Council for planning deliberations on Palestinian legislation
for the interim period. Arafat wants the law to come first from
the Legal Committee of the Palestinian National Council - which
includes many representatives from outside the Autonomy. Abu Alah
charged that Arafat's move essentially stripped the elected Council
of its authority.
("Haaretz" 31 July, 1996)
*** SYRIAN COS: WAR OPTION STILL EXISTS
The Chief of Staff of the Syrian Army warned that "from Syria's
standpoint, the military operation still exists as one of several
options. We want to achieve peace by all possible routes, among
them of course the diplomatic route...Syria was forced to go to war
in the last decades because of Israeli aggression against Arab
lands."
("Haaretz" 31 July, 1996)
*** ABU MEDDIEN: SETTLEMENTS WILL =B2LEA=B2D TO BLOODBATH
"When they [Israel] confiscate my land and my water and my future,
this is like a declaration of war, and a war which will include a
bloodbath."
PA Minister of Justice Freih Abu Meddien
("Haaretz" 31 July, 1996)
*** ARAFAT: YEHI AYASH IS A MARTYR
"We are obligated to all of the martyrs who died for Jerusalem,
from Achmad Mussah to the last holy one, Yehi Ayash [who was
responsible for, among other things, a series of terrorist attacks
before the elections - IMRA]."
Yasser Arafat at a Gaza rally
("Haaretz" 28 July, 1996)=20
*** LEVY CALLS ON ARAFAT TO CLOSE FOUR INSTITUTIONS IN JERUSALEM
Foreign Minster David Levy sent a message to Yasser Arafat
demanding the closing of four Palestinian institutions in
Jerusalem, among them the office of the Director of the Youth and
Sports Department located in Orient House.
("Haaretz" 28 July, 1996)
*** NEEMAN: EXTRADITION OF 18 BY PA IS HIGH PRIORITY
Minister of Justice Yaacov Neeman told the widow of Uri Megidish,
who was murdered in Gush Katif in March 1993, that "Israel's
demands for the extradition of 18 Palestinians charged with the
murder of Israelis who escaped to the Autonomy has a high priority
for the government." Neeman also said that he has presented Prime
Minister Netanyahu with a legal brief detailing the legal basis for
Israel's request for the extraditions. It is believed that two of
the people responsible for the murder of Megidish are now serving
in the Palestinian secret police.
("Haaretz" 30 July, 1996)
*** ARAB STATES WARN WEST: DON'T BE SOFT ON ISLAMIC MILITANTS
The centers of activity of the Arab militant organizations are
found today in the West: Holland, Belgium, France, Germany, Canada
and the U.S.. The Arab governments warn the Western states again
and again that their ignoring the Islamic political presence in
their countries will not only hurt the Middle East in the future
but also the West.
"Haaretz" reporter Guy Bachor
("Haaretz" 1 August, 1996)
*** KIBBUTZ MOVEMENT TO ESTABLISH SETTLEMENTS
The secular Kibbutz Movement is planning to establish a series of
settlements from Gaza to Hebron as part of a land race between the
Arabs and Jews. The Palestinian Authority (PA) would like a 5
kilometer wide "free passage corridor" between Gaza and Hebron
which would cover 200 square meters of land inside the Green Line
and there is intensive Arab settlement activity going on now to lay
claim to the land in the proposed corridor. The Kibbutz Movement
wants to establish Jewish settlements in the corridor before the
land is completely lost.
("Haaretz" 1 August, 1996)
*** RETURNED BODIES NOT CHECKED FOR CAUSE OF DEATH
The bodies of MIA's Yoseph Fink and Rachamim Alsheich were not
checked for cause or time of death before they were buried after
being returned from Lebanon. The IDF spokesman claimed that the
autopsies were not performed because the families did not ask for
them.
("Haaretz" 28 July, 1996)
*** CHANGE IN IDF DEPLOYMENT IN JORDAN VALLEY
In response to the terrorist attack in the Jordan Valley on June
26, the IDF has, for the first time, assigned regular army forces
to patrol the most sensitive areas by the Jordan River. Reserve
units assigned to the area now receive special training on throwing
grenades and charging positions. In addition, the brush is being
cut down by the Jordan River in order to afford a clear view.
("Haaretz" 29 July, 1996)
=20
*** U.S. EXPANDING SATELLITE STATION IN AUSTRALIA FOR ISRAEL
The U.S. is expanding the satellite station in Australia so that it
will be able to supply real time warnings to Israel of missile
launches against it on a continuous basis. This information was
supplied to Israel during the Gulf War.
("Haaretz" 28 July, 1996)
=20
*** ISRAEL-TURKEY STRATEGIC COOPERATION AGREEMENT CONTINUES
A large Turkish delegation visited Israel to continue joint
military cooperation in accordance with the agreement signed last
February. According to the agreement, there are 8 joint air
exercises a year. The Director of the Ministry of Defense, David
Ivry, will be going to Turkey to sign an additional agreement to
cover cooperation between the two countries in the defense
industries.
("Haaretz" 28 July, 1996)
*** TURKISH PM TO VISIT IRAN
The Prime Minister of Turkey will visit Iran in August. Senior
officers from the Turkish army are slated to visit Iran shortly to
investigate Iranian claims of Turkish helicopter attacks in Iranian
territory during which 6 Iranian civilians were killed. Turkey
denies involvement in the attacks.
("Haaretz" 28 July, 1996)
*** JOINT INDUSTRIAL PARK AT KARNI CROSSING IN GAZA
Minister of Industry and Trade, Natan Sharansky, decided at a
meeting in Washington with the president of the World Bank to have
a series of meetings between Israel, the Palestinians and the World
Bank to establish a joint industrial park at the Karni crossing in
Gaza.
("Haaretz" 31 July, 1996)
=20
*** INCREASE IN DRUG USE IN IDF
According to a summary report from the Chief Prosecutor in the IDF,
incidents of drug use in the IDF almost doubled in the last year.
("Maariv" 30 July, 1996)
*** SOLDIER IN SUPPORT SERVICES SERVE 2 YEARS - COMBAT UNITS 3
While soldiers serving in combat units serve the full 3 years,
draftees serving in such support functions as drivers, cooks, and
administration are serving only two years. This information was
revealed during the course of discussions of the IDF budget. IDF
officials explained that while the number of draftees has increased
in recent years, the policy of early release is expected to lead to
a decrease in the overall size of the army.
("Haaretz" 29 July, 1996)
*** CHANGES IN YOUNGER GENERATION OF PEACE NOW
"Public image was very important to them [the older generation of
Peace Now], what was said about them. Me and my generation, are
free of this mind-set. We don't care if we are called 'Arab
lovers'. They cared that it be clear that they are acting out of
purely Israeli interest. For us this consideration is less
important. I don't mind telling the Palestinians about what I did
in the army, or the things which I am sorry I did. From our
standpoint, the area is already divided differently: not Israelis
against all the rest, rather the peace camp against all the rest.=20
>From our standpoint, the peace camp includes the Palestinians who
belong to it. We have no hesitation in this matter.
Chen Raz (26), Youth Organizer for Peace Now =20
Peace Now Youth has 1,000 active members and a total of 4,000 who
participated in some activity. As a youth movement it receives
funding from the Ministry of Education.
("Haaretz" 1 August, 1996)
*** LIMITS ON ENTRY OF FOREIGN PERFORMERS
The Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Education have
decided to act to limit the visits of foreign performers who are
taking the jobs of immigrant artists. Under the new procedure,
famous performers will still have no problem working in Israel but=20
others will have to apply for work permits and face the same
criteria as any other foreigner seeking employment. =20
("Haaretz" 30 July, 1996)
=20
*** MOTORCYCLES NOT BEING USED TO ENFORCE TRAFFIC RULES
Sources in the Traffic Safety Authority complain that of the 26
Harley Davidson motorcycles purchased by the Israel Police, there
are 17 functional and they are being used to escort visiting VIPs
rather than for traffic enforcement. =20
("Maariv" 30 July, 1996)
*** EGYPT NOT GETTING SHARE OF FOREIGN INVEST=B2MENT
Of the estimated $105 billion in foreign investment in developing
countries in the past four years, only $500 million has been
invested in Egypt.
("Haaretz" 28 July, 1996)
*** GONEN SEGEV: I DON'T NEED PERMISSION TO JOIN EISENBERG GROUP
Former Minister of Energy Gonen Segev, advised Attorney General
Michael Ben Yair, that he does not have to wait the legal "cooling
off" period before join the Eisenberg Group because he will be
working for a foreign company in the group handling energy matters
in the Far East. It is charged that while Minister of Energy,
Segev gave special preference to the Eisenberg Group. Segev joined
the Rabin government after breaking off from the nationalist Tzomet
Party to form the Yaud Party. His vote, along with that of fellow
Yaud MK Alex Goldfarb, tipped the scales in favor of the Labor
government in several no confidence votes.
("Yediot Ahronot" 31 July, 1996)
Dr. Aaron Lerner, Associate =20
IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-904719/Fax 972-9-911645
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