News and Observations from Israel 5.7.96 (fwd)

[Brock Rozen]

Sender: im...@netvision.net.il
Subject: News and Observations from Israel 5.7.96

News and Observations from Israel

Aaron Lerner 5 July, 1996

*** TURKEY MAY SIGN MORE AGREEMENTS WITH ISRAEL IF NECESSARY
"If Syria does not stop harbouring terrorism against Turkey, Turkey
may need to sign another agreement with Israel to crack down on
terrorism. It is a question of survival for Turkey, and if
survival requires us to do so, we may not only cooperate with
Israel but with any country in the world"
Turkish Ambassador to Cairo
("Al Ahram" 27 June - 3 July 1996)

*** EGYPT: WE ALONE WILL DECIDE ON OUR WEAPONS
"While Egypt is committed to the peace treaty with Israel,
including the security enhancement arrangements stipulated by it,
its right to bolster its own defense capability is legitimate and
incontestable...This right is Egypt's alone to exercise, in
accordance with what it deems necessary to provide for and bolster
its security and safety."
Ambassador Sayed Qassem, Assistant Egyptian Secretary of State
for International Cooperation and Multinational Relations=20
("Al Ahram" 27 June - 3 July 1996)
=20
*** EGYPT: ISRAEL MUST WITHDRAW TO '67 BORDERS
Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa told a meeting in London that
the final arrangement with the Palestinians must include a
Palestinian state and withdrawal to the 4 June 1967 lines. He also
called for the nuclear disarmament of the Middle East.
("Haaretz" 4 July, 1996)

*** A=B2RAFAT ALLOWS IYASH FAMILY TO REBUILD HOUSE
Yasser Arafat has given permission to the family of Yihi Iyash (the
"engineer") to rebuild their house located in Area "B". The Idf
leveled the house as punishment for the terrorist attacks of Iyash.=20
Since the IDF order was a security related order, Israel maintains
that Arafat does not have the authority to give permission for the
house to be rebuilt in the area which is under Israel's security
control.
("Maariv" 5 July, 1996)

*** THOUSANDS CALL "DISSENGOFF DISSENGOF" AT FUNERAL NEA=B2R JENIN
Participants at the funeral of an Islamic Jihad activist, Tzalah A
Tachiana, found dead in his El Bira home, called out for revenge
against Israel and its collaborators with the cry "Dissengoff
Dissengoff". Tachiana was buried near Jenin in a funeral ceremony
which included Palesitnain and Islamic Jihad flags.
("Haaretz" 5 July, 1996)

*** JERUSALEM ARAB NEWSPAPERS BOLDER UNDER NETANYAHU ADMINISTRATION
Arab newspapers are willing now to criticize the Palestinian
Authority. Newspapermen in East Jerusalem explain that during the
Labor government Jerusalemites feared the Palesitnain secret polcie
of Jibril Rajoub, centered in Jericho. Now, in the age of the
Netanyahu administration, the Arabs of Jerusalem are more certain
that the Israeli authorities won't let Arafat and his men hurt
them.
Leftist columnist Danny Rubenstein
("Haaretz" 5 July, 1996)

*** LABOR PARTY ASSUMPTIONS
"The previous government - particularly when Rabin was Minister of
Defense and Ehud Barak was COS - bet that in the months between a
diplomatic breakdown with Syria and the outbreak of war the
American would cover the IDF's shortages. This willingness to rely
on such a critical bet, is like the assumption of permanent
political, economic and security aid to the tune of $2 billion a
year in the past two decades will last forever and the presidents
in Washigngton will continue to leave Isael alone on the nuclear
issue. This assumption is based on the old formula thaat Israel
wants peace and the Arabs refuse is. If the situation changes and
the Arabs want peace (in exchange for land) and Israel refuses,
then all the assumptions are off and Isael wont go to war in the
best condition. At the opening of the war the cost and nature of
the war will be set. And the open goal of the Syrians, warns
Syrian researcher Chai Saif, is to cause as many as Israeli losses
as possible.
Columnist Ami Oren
("Haaretz" 5 July, 1996)
=20
*** HIZBULLA MAY ALREADY HAVE LONG RANGE KATYUSHAS
According to reports in the foreign press, the Hizbulla may already
have Katyushas with an extended range of 30-040 kilometers - enough
to reach Haifa Bay, Iran manufactures a 141 mm truck mounted
Katyusha with a range in excess of 40 kilometers.
("Yediot Ahronot" 5 July, 1996)
=20
*** DANNY ROTHCHILD: NO TRADE UNLESS EASE SECURITY REQUIREMENTS
"SO long as there is no easing of the security issue it will be
impossible to have trade with Jordan and the Palestinian Authority.=20
Something which will also impact trade relations with Egypt."
Danny Rothchild, retired senior IDF officer who played
a key role in the negotiations with the PLO.
("Haaretz" 5 July, 1996)
=20
*** HAMAS DID NOT FORGE POSTER IN NAME OF FATAH IN HEBRON
While earlier in the week, the Israeli defense establishment
claimed that the posters calling for a renewal of the intafada
which were put up in Hebron under the name of Fatah were actually
put up by members of Hamas, it turns out that Fatah activist "Asmi"
was behind the posters. Israel Radio correspondent Yoni Ben
Menachem reported that the head of a Hebron Fatah group by the name
Asmi, was arrested in Bethlehem by Palestinian Police for being
behind the posters in Hebron.
(Israel Radio 5 July, 1996)

**** GOVERNOR OF PA MONETARY AUTHORITY ARRESTED BY PA
Dr. Fouad Beseiso, Governor o the Palestinian Monetary Authority,
was arrested by the Palestinian Police on charges that he received=20
$ 100,000 in bribes from a Jordanian bank in return for permitting
the bank to operate in the autonomy. Beseiso was arrested in Gaza
after a number of members of the Palestinian Council gave an
ultimatum that they would not vote in support of the Arafat
government if he was not removed from his post. Beseiso had
earlier admitted to a committee of the Council that he has received
the money but claimed that it did not go to his own pocket but to
cover office expenses. The Attorney General's office denied that
Beseiso had been arrested.
("Haaretz" 4 July, 1996)

*** MK A SANA APPOINTMENT TO OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE DELAYED
MK Taleb A Sana's appointment to the Knesset Oversight Committee
has been delayed until he signs an agreement no to attend the
classified meetings of the Committee or ask to review the protocols
of those meetings. MK Hashem Mahameed, who previously sat in the
Committee, signed a similar agreement before joining the Committee
in the previous Knesset.
("Haaretz" 4 July, 1996)

*** IDF USING BOMB SNIFF=B2ING DOGS IN LEBANON
The Idf has been using bomb sniffing dogs to find bombs in Southern
Lebanon.. The dogs enjoy a 95% - 98% success rate. The dogs are
used by a special scout force called "Yael". The group also has
classified functions.
("Haaretz" 4 July, 1996)

*** VIP CARDS FOR MEMBERS OF PA COUNCIL
Jamil Tarifi, who represents the Palestinian Authority in the Civil
Affairs Coordination & Cooperation Committee (CAC), told reporters
after a meeting with Gen. Uri Shachor that an agreement has been
reached to issue VIP cards as follows: Level 1 - Ministers,
Directors, heads of security services, heads of the Executive of
the PLO who support the peace process. Level 2 - members of the
Palestinian Council, judges, deputy ministers. Level 3 - Junior
police officers, hospital directors, mayors and directors of
public institutions.
("Haaretz" 4 July, 1996)

=20
*** PM'S OFFICE STAFF: WE WON'T WORK ON FRIDAY WITHOUT CONTRACT
The workers in the Prime Minster's office warned that they would
not work on Fridays, when the Netanyahu cabinet meets, unless a
special collective contract is signed.
("Haaretz" 4 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
INTERNET ADDRESS: im...@netvision.net.il
pager 03-6750750 subscriber 4811

To subscribe:
A) Regular subscription via Virtual Jerusalem=20
http://www.virtual.co.il/city_services/lists/imra-l
B) For free fax subscription, please send request to
im...@netvision.net.il
Fax service limited to: American area codes 212, 313, 503, 514
(Montreal), 541, 718, 813 (Tampa) as well as Athens(+30 1), Lisbon
(+351-1), Croatia (+385), Zagreb (+385-1), United Kingdom (+44),
Sweden (+46), Australia (+61 - Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney,
Darwin), Seoul (+82-2), Hong Kong (+852)
New: Web Site http://www.aquanet.co.il/web/ray/imra.html

=1A