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CAPTAIN OF WEAPONS SHIP HIRED BY PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY
CAPTAIN
OF WEAPONS SHIP HIRED BY PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY According to Israel Radio,
KOL YISRAEL, captain Omar Acawi, who is being held in an Ashkelon prison,
was quoted as saying that he had once served as an officer in the Palestinian
Navy, and later worked as a naval traffic advisor for the PA Transportation
Ministry. Acawi said he was asked by a PA official in Greece, Adel Awadala,
to prepare the ship for transferring cargo, and was asked to arrive at a certain
location to load the cargo onto the ship. Acawi also admitted that he knew
the cargo contained weaponry that was bound for the PA. Summing up his visit,
Zinni said that along with serious challenges, it is clear that there are
real opportunities for progress. He will return to the region on January 18
for another round of talks, at which point he will assess the readiness for
the implementation of the Tenet report. Zinni also convened a joint Israeli-Palestinian
security meeting on Sunday and proposed the implementation of the "Dahaniya
outline," which involves mutual steps toward a cease-fire, as agreed
upon in a meeting between Minister of Foreign Affairs Shimon Peres and PA
Chairman Yasser Arafat in late September. Zinni described the meeting as "positive
and constructive." He asked the Israelis and Palestinians to continue
the security meetings with or without an American presence, in order to formulate
practical steps to increase security cooperation. He also asked them to plan
for the implementation of the Tenet report "at the right time." COMMISSION
TO COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM ESTABLISHED At the press conference
announcing the establishment of the commission, Melchior said, "we are
today witnessing a new campaign of anti-Semitism throughout the world which
finds statement in the demonization of Israel." He added that international
cooperation is necessary as "anti-Semitism is not specifically and only
a threat against Jews. Anti-Semitism is an existential threat to the basics
of civilization, it is a threat against any decency and any democracy."
Melchior said that the ICA will be an inclusive body, with a non-Jewish majority,
and will be combined effort of Jewish organizations, NGOs and academic groups
responsible for providing the theoretical basis and the research. The first will involve
the assembly of the forum’s temporary management team and the presidency of
the forum, by seeking world-renowned leaders willing to devote their time
to fighting anti-Semitism. The second stage will concern the establishment
of different action committees in several countries. The inclement weather
caused heavy traffic jams and the Jerusalem Police asked all workers to leave
their offices and return home. The main entrance to Jerusalem was closed and
Egged Bus Company canceled all intercity bus travel in and out of Jerusalem.
Jerusalem mass transit also ceased operation in all areas. According to HA’ARETZ,
the Jerusalem municipality took measures before the storm’s arrival, by preparing
80 heavy vehicles on Sunday, including snow plows and tractors. IDF snowplows
were clearing the snow from the main roads in the upper Galilee and the Golan
Heights. The IDF’s Northern Command will provide basic commodities to residents
in case of extreme conditions and the possibility of communities being cut
off due to the snow in the north. * Novartis Pharma Ag has
contracted Optimata, an Israeli biosimulation start-up, GLOBES reported. Within
the framework of the R&D project, Optimata will be utilizing its propriety
mathematical algorithms and software tools in conjunction with clinical and
preclinical information to further assess the action mechanism of a new drug
under development. Optimata will also employ its optimization platform to
provide improved schedules for various indications of the new drug. Israel Line is a daily
summary of major news items taken directly from the Israeli media. Peres is on a three-day
visit to India and is also slated to meet with his counterpart Jaswant Singh
and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. Since their establishment of diplomatic
relations in 1992, India and Israel have expanded defense cooperation and
counter-terrorism cooperation. New Delhi purchased aerial surveillance vehicles
from Israel and is currently negotiating the purchase of an Israeli made Phalcon
airborne early warning radar system, which military experts say will significantly
advance India’s military capability. The two nations have also been discussing
measures to fight terrorism. A Joint Working Group on terrorism is currently
meeting in Tel Aviv while Peres is in India. ISRAEL
ASKS EU TO LABEL HIZBULLAH, PFLP TERROR ORGANIZATIONS Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon sent a letter last week to his Spanish counterpart, Jose Maria Aznar,
to congratulate him on Spain’s acquisition of the rotating presidency of the
EU. In the letter, Sharon welcomed the inclusion of Hamas and Islamic Jihad
on the EU’s terrorist list, but added that Hizbullah and PFLP, "must
also be included on that list." Sadan, who was 37 at
the time of his death, was killed on March 7, 1992 when his car exploded in
a residential area. The blast also seriously injured two civilian passerby.
The investigation demonstrated that that explosives were planted alongside
the car. Three pro-Iranian terrorist organizations, among them Hizbullah,
claimed responsibility for the murder. Sadan is survived by
his wife and three children. Minister of Internal
Security Uzi Landau raised the request with American officials during his
visit there last July. Israel has nearly depleted its reservoir of robotic
bomb detectors over the past 15 months due to the immense number of explosive
devices planted by terrorists. In addition to robots and associated parts,
some of the money will be spent on sophisticated X-ray equipment to examine
suspect containers and trucks. Originally the young
mother thought that she had won NIS 100,000 (approximately $25,000) in the
weekly Mifal Hapayis lottery, but was surprised to discover how much she had
really won when she and her husband went to pick up their check at the lottery
office headquarters. "I started shaking
when the reality of the winnings sank in," she said. * The weight of Israeli
shares in the Morgan Stanley Capital International index for emerging markets
is expected to increase to 5 percent from the current 4.5 percent when the
index is updated, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. The MSCI index together with
the International Finance Corporation emerging markets index are believed
to be the major indices for investors in emerging markets and many portfolio
mangers invest in those markets based on their relative weight in each index.
Israel Line is a daily
summary of major news items taken directly from the Israeli media. PALESTINIAN
GUNMEN KILL 4 IDF SOLDIERS Hamas claimed responsibility
for the attack, according to the Qatar-based satellite TV station Al Jazeera.
The two attackers were identified as Mohammed Abu Jamus, 23, a member of the
Palestinian Navy and Imad Abu Rizak, 25, who was identified as a member of
Hamas. Both were residents of the Gaza Strip city Khan Yunis. The two Palestinians
cut through the border fence at 4:30am and opened fire with automatic weapons
and grenades. An IDF patrol in the area arrived at the scene. Both terrorists
were killed. According to initial
reports, the Palestinians also had explosive devices strapped to their bodies.
Maj.-Gen. Doron Almog, chief commander in the Gaza Strip, told reporters that
the terrorists were dressed in Palestinian Authority police uniforms, highlighting
coordination between Hamas and the PA. Despite the cease-fire, Almog said
that it was clear that Palestinians intend to continue attacking settlements
and IDF positions in the West Bank and Gaza. He also said that the two Palestinians
were aided by six others who accompanied them to the border fence. Following the incident,
authorities placed Kerem Shalom and neighboring Israeli villages Sufa, Hulit,
and Nir Yitzhak on an extremely high alert status. All the towns are within
Israel’s pre-1967 war border. Meanwhile, according
to IDF RADIO, the Security Cabinet convened today to discuss the attack. An
aid to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was quoted as saying,"If there had
been talk of seven days of quiet, the seven days of quiet are null and void.
As for everyone that perhaps had deluded themselves that these were days of
quiet, Arafat has come forward to once again prove that there are no days
of quiet. As a result, there will be grave consequences for the diplomatic
process." The PA condemned the attack. Today, two senior Israel
Defense Forces intelligence officials will brief U.S. Assistant Secretary
of State William Burns and meet with officials at the CIA and Pentagon in
Washington. Boucher said the U.S. is looking forward to hearing more details
to complement the evidence Israel has amassed. "The quantity and
the quality of the shipments are of serious concern. I think we find the fact
that there are Palestinians involved in shipping these weapons deeply troubling,"
Boucher said. United States Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld endorsed the
seizure of the ship as a necessary act of self-defense on Tuesday, saying,
"[The Israelis] clearly had very good intelligence that those weapons
were going to be used against them. And they intercepted the ship by preempting
that ship from landing and unloading and then those weapons to be used against
Israel." ISA,
POLICE ARREST WEAPONS SMUGGLERS, KILLERS OF 2 ISRAELIS The men were charged
with attempting to smuggle West Bank five mines and 15 hand-grenades into
the West Bank. Written instructions regarding how to produce the maximum number
of casualties were attached to the explosive devices. Meanwhile, the ISA and
the police announced the arrests of two Palestinians suspected of murdering
kashrut inspector Aharon Avdian from Zichron Ya’akov in July and Said Fuad
from Baka al-Garbiyeh in October. The two suspects, Rasam Fareed Hussein,
42, and his cousin Tarek Adnan Hussein, are residents of the West Bank village
Nizlat Isa. A third Palestinian, also a resident of the village, is suspected
of being an accomplice to the murders, but he evaded capture. During questioning,
both men confessed to links to the Fatah organization in the area of the West
Bank city of Tulkarem. Avdian was murdered while
shopping in the Baka al-Sharkiya market. It is believed that Tarek Hussein
opened fire several times at Avdian before fleeing to areas under PA-control
along with Rasam Hussein and the third suspect. Vic, 27, an immigrant
from Russia, was very effected by the terrorist attacks and decided that instead
of donating money, she would record "Ave Maria" in memory of the
victims. She sent the CD to Giuliani. "Your gesture is strengthening
our nation in these hard times," Giuliani wrote. In the new production,
Oded Kotler will play the role of Professor Higgins, Shaike Levy will play
the part of Alfred Doolittle, Eliza’s father, and Alex Ansky will play Colonel
Pickering. The musical is being produced by Micha Levinson and will be performed
at the Opera House in Tel Aviv. Israel Line is a daily
summary of major news items taken directly from the Israeli media.
* ZINNI: ARAFAT MUST TAKE MEASURES AGAINST TERRORIST INFRASTRUCTURE
* COMMISSION TO COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM ESTABLISHED
* HEAVY SNOW FALLS IN JERUSALEM, GALILEE, GOLAN HEIGHTS, MOUNT
HERMON AND THE WEST BANK
* ECONOMIC BRIEFS
The captain of the Karine A weapons ship carrying 50 tons of armaments, which
was seized by Israel Defense Forces off the southern coast of Israel on Friday
morning, confessed that he was hired by the Palestinian Authority to bring
the arms-laden ship through the Red Sea to PA-controlled shores, HA’ARETZ
reported. The PA has denied any responsibility for the vessel. Israel maintains
that senior Palestinian officials used PA funds to purchase the ship and its
cargo.
ZINNI: ARAFAT MUST TAKE MEASURES
AGAINST TERRORIST INFRASTRUCTURE
Before completing his mission to the Middle East on Sunday, U.S. Middle East
Envoy Anthony Zinni told Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat on Saturday
that he must not only reduce the number of terror attacks, but must also take
measures against the terror infrastructure, and that almost nothing has yet
been done in this area, HA’ARETZ reported. According to Zinni, the PA must
deal with the "ideological basis" of the terror organizations, their
commanders and the types of weapons they use. He discussed with Arafat Palestinian
efforts to arm themselves, saying, "Every time I come to the region,
Israel makes a gesture; it’s time you also made a gesture."
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Rabbi Michael Melchior announced on Sunday
the establishment of the International Commission to Combat Anti-Semitism,
HA’TZOFEH reported. The commission will be co-chaired by Melchior, Canadian
Member of Parliament Prof. Irwin Kotler and Former Swedish Deputy Prime Minister
Per Ahlmark.
HEAVY SNOW FALLS IN JERUSALEM,
GALILEE, GOLAN HEIGHTS, MOUNT HERMON AND THE WEST BANK
Heavy snow fell this morning in Jerusalem and the West Bank while snow also
blanketed the Upper Galilee, the Golan Heights, Safed and Mount Hermon on
Sunday night and throughout the morning today, YEDIOT AHARONOT reported. Snow
was also expected to fall in Mitzpeh Ramon in the Negev Desert. Heavy rains
fell in other parts of the country. According to the weather, snow is expected
to continue throughout the night.
During a cabinet meeting today, the Government made a decision to take special
measures to encourage Jews to make Aliyah (immigration to Israel) from France
and South Africa. New immigrants from both countries will be eligible for
a basket of new Aliyah benefits. Last week the Government offered a new Aliyah
basket to immigrants from Argentina.
ECONOMIC BRIEFS
* The Hebrew Uuniversity of Jerusalem intends to invest $40 million in a new
center for nanoscience and nanotechnology research, GLOBES reported. "The
Hebrew University of Jerusalem decided to establish the Center for Nanoscience
and Nanotechnology after comprehending the great importance of the field,
which has the potential to revolutionize technology in the 21st Century. The
center will have the appropriate conditions for sharing knowledge, expertise
and research methods between researchers from different disciplines. The center
will provide the necessary infrastructure for conducting research in this
fascinating field of science," said Professor Uri Banin of the Institute
of Chemistry. The new center will include units that will give researchers
access to state-of-the-art scientific equipment for characterization and preparation
of models.
* ISRAEL ASKS EU TO LABEL HIZBULLAH, PFLP TERROR ORGANIZATIONS
* TURKISH COURT SENTENCES TWO IN ISRAELI SECURITY CHIEF’S
MURDER
*
* UNEMPLOYED MOTHER WINS LOTTERY MILLIONS
* ECONOMIC BRIEFS
INDIA, ISRAEL DISCUSS MILITARY
COOPERATION, FIGHTING TERRORISM
Minister of Foreign Affairs Shimon Peres held talks with Indian Defense Minister
George Fernandes today as the two countries discussed ways to cooperate in
the war on terrorism, HA’ARETZ reported. An Israeli official from the Ministry
of Defense said Peres discussed the situation in the subcontinent where both
nuclear-capable India and Pakistan have mobilized troops after Pakistani terrorists
attacked India’s parliament building in mid-December. A Defense official from
India added that Peres and Fernandes also exchanged views on the security
situation, terrorism and defense cooperation. "Defense cooperation with
Israel is an ongoing thing," he said.
Israel has asked the European Union to add Hizbullah and Popular Front for
the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) to its list of terrorist organizations,
HA’ARETZ reported. The EU’s most recent list of terrorist groups, published
last month, included the military wing of the Hamas and Islamic Jihad, but
then Hizbullah was withdrawn from the list at the last minute, following pressure
from France.
TURKISH COURT SENTENCES TWO IN
ISRAELI SECURITY CHIEF’S MURDER
An Ankara court today handed down a death sentence to two Turkish men convicted
of murdering Ehud Sadan, who served as security chief at the Israeli Embassy
in Turkey, ten years ago, IDF RADIO reported. It is still unknown whether
the two will be executed or if their sentences will be commuted to life in
prison.
U.S. ASSISTING ISRAEL WITH COUNTER-TERRORISM
AID
The United States is giving Israel an extra $28 million in foreign aid to
purchase counter-terrorism equipment, primarily robots that perform controlled
explosions on suspicious objects, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. Under the terms
of the allotment, Israel must spend the money in the United States. "The
Israelis suffered a horrendous amount of bombings over the past several months,"
a U.S. official said. "The United States has helped out with some equipment
to save lives in the past. Much of that equipment has been damaged or destroyed,
so a request was made to see if we could come up with the money to replace
the damaged equipment and we did."
UNEMPLOYED MOTHER WINS LOTTERY
MILLIONS
A 30-year-old unemployed mother of two from central Israel won NIS 10,000,000,
(approximately $2.5 million)on Monday; the grand prize from last month’s Lotto
and Superball lotteries, MA’ARIV reported.
Al-Ahali, a new Arabic-language newspaper is slated to launch its first edition
this week, HA’ARETZ reported. The newspaper will be published bi-weekly, but
Ma’ariv, which is the principal shareholder, hopes to turn it into a daily.
Several Israeli Arab businessmen are minority shareholders in the venture.
According to Salem Jubarin, the editor-in-chief, the paper will have complete
editorial freedom.
ECONOMIC BRIEFS
* International rating agency Moody’s Investors Service has left Israel’s
credit rating unchanged at A2 despite the economic recession and the conflict
with the Palestinians, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. Moody’s also said it leaves
Israel’s rating outlook on foreign and local currency at "stable."
The agency said that "the rating incorporates the consequences of the
current global economic slowdown, the particular economic difficulties of
the high -tech sector, and the ongoing Palestinian intifada."
* US: PALESTINIAN INVOLVEMENT IN ARMS SMUGGLING OPERATION
OF ‘DEEP CONCERN’
* ISA, POLICE ARREST WEAPONS SMUGGLERS, KILLERS OF 2 ISRAELIS
* GIULIANI THANKS ISRAELI SINGER FOR SONG IN MEMORY OF
SEPTEMBER 11 VICTIMS
* ISRAELI ARAB TO PLAY LEAD ROLE IN MY FAIR LADY
* ECONOMIC BRIEFS
Palestinian gunmen killed four Israel Defense Forces soldiers early this morning
when they crossed a border fence and attacked the Africa outpost, on the Gaza
border near Kibbutz Keren Shalom, HA’ARETZ ON-LINE reported. Two soldiers
were injured in the attack, one of them seriously. They were evacuated to
Soroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva. All were members of a Bedouin unit.
US: PALESTINIAN INVOLVEMENT
IN ARMS SMUGGLING OPERATION OF ‘DEEP CONCERN’
The United States expressed "deep concern" on Tuesday over Palestinian
involvement in the illegal arms smuggling operation aboard the Karin A ship
last week, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. State Department spokesman Richard
Boucher said Palestinian captain Omar Acawis’s confession, admitting that
he took orders from a weapons agent in the Palestinian Authority, was credible.
The Israeli Security Agency and the Galilee regional police uncovered a weapons
smuggling ring attempting to smuggle explosive devices from Syria into the
West Bank with the help of Druze residents of the Golan Heights, HA’ARETZ
reported. Security forces arrested five people suspected of involvement with
the ring.
GIULIANI THANKS ISRAELI SINGER
FOR SONG IN MEMORY OF SEPTEMBER 11 VICTIMS
Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani sent a personal thank you letter
to
Vic, an Israeli singer from Haifa, for a song she recorded and dedicated to
the victims of the September 11 attacks, MA’ARIV reported.
ISRAELI ARAB TO PLAY LEAD ROLE
IN MY FAIR LADY
Mira Awad, 26, a Christian Israeli Arab from the village of Rama in the Galilee,
was selected to play the role of Eliza Doolittle in the Israeli musical production
of My Fair Lady, YEDIOT AHARONOT reported. Awad is a graduate of the Rimon
School for Music in Ramat HaSharon and competed against 119 other candidates.
ECONOMIC BRIEFS
* Venture capital fund Veritas Venture Partners has completed an initial financing
round of $50 million for its Fund 3, GLOBES reported. Veritas hopes to raise
$100 million by June 2002. The initial round began at the end of 2000 and
attracted foreign institutional and private investors. According to Veritas’
founding partner Gideon Tolkowsky, Fund 3 will make 15-18 new investments
over the next four years. Tolkowsky also said the fund will focus on seed
companies in communications, enterprise software and medical equipment.
* Electric Fuel announced that the latest addition to its disposable, back-up
Instant Power Batteries for digital cameras would support popular cameras
that take 4 AA-sized batteries, GLOBES reported. Electric Fuel says this is
the first time that the company has positioned its zinc-air fuel cell technology
in a product category that puts it in direct competition with alkaline batteries.
The new battery is compatible with more than 50 digital camera models from
camera manufacturers Olympus, Kodak and Nikon.
