Wednesday, April 11, 2001

*BUSH: VIOLENCE MUST STOP
*GOVERNMENT ISSUES WORK PERMITS TO 4,000 PALESTINIANS
*AMMAN CONFERENCE DENOUNCES USE OF CHILDREN IN WARFARE
*HEBRON HOSTS PASSOVER CELEBRATION
*ECONOMIC BRIEFS

BUSH: VIOLENCE MUST STOP
  Meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah II on Tuesday, U.S. President George
W. Bush said, "Our country is very interested in working with all parties.
However, first and foremost the violence must stop," HA'ARETZ reported. Bush
added that it is important for all parties in the Middle East to use their
influence to stop the violence.
  Before the meeting, Bush and Abdullah had lunch together. Bush said the
session was productive and meant to lay the foundation for peace in the
Middle East.
  Meanwhile, according to Israel Radio, KOL YISRAEL, Palestinian security
officials refused to attend a joint Israeli-Palestinian security meeting
scheduled for Tuesday night. Their decision followed Palestinian-launched
mortar attacks against Israeli communities and an Israel Defense Forces
response targeting Palestinian Authority security installations in the Gaza
Strip.
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GOVERNMENT ISSUES WORK PERMITS TO 4,000 PALESTINIANS
  One thousand Palestinian workers entered Israel on Tuesday, the first of
4,000 who were issued permits to return to their jobs in Israel, THE
JERUSALEM POST reported.
  The Government issued the permits to West Bank and Gaza residents,
following through on its a promise to ease restrictions on Palestinians not
involved in terrorist attacks. Permits were also granted in February, but
several days later a Palestinian bus driver bringing workers into Israel
plowed into soldiers and civilians standing at a bus stop, killing eight.
Candidates for permits include Palestinian workers age 35 and older who are
married and have children, people Israel believes may be less likely to
carry out attacks.
  The Palestinian bus driver who perpetrated the February attack was a
35-year-old father of five. The Israel Defense Forces coordinator for the
West Bank and Gaza said about the issuing of permits, "It's a calculated
risk. The Government policy is to ease restrictions on the population and at
the same time fight terrorism." He added, "We hope to enlarge it [the number
of permits] in the coming weeks, maybe by tens of thousands, but it depends
on the security situation. If the situation will be stable, we hope their
working will be stable too."
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AMMAN CONFERENCE DENOUNCES USE OF CHILDREN IN WARFARE
  Eighteen Middle Eastern states and numerous human rights groups and
non-governmental organizations called on regional governments today to
outlaw the use of children in combat, THE JERUSALEM POST reported.
  In a declaration issued at the end of a three-day conference in Amman on
child soldiers, some 110 delegates urged all armed forces and rebel groups
to "end the recruitment and use of children under 18, including girls."
Delegates singled out the Palestinian Authority, Algeria, Sudan and Iraq,
among other countries, and said, "We are all responsible for guaranteeing
the security and the lives of children, ensuring that they do not
participate in the cruel wars that belong to the grown-up world. They should
be left on school benches." Adherence to the non-binding protocol on
children's rights passed by the UN General Assembly in May 2000 was urged.
  Meanwhile, hundreds of Palestinian children are currently undergoing
training in the use of automatic rifles and other military-style weaponry at
five camps in the PA-controlled Gaza Strip.
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HEBRON HOSTS PASSOVER CELEBRATION
  Thousands of Israelis traveled to Hebron on Tuesday to celebrate Passover
with local residents and to visit the Cave of the Patriarchs, a Jewish holy
site, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. Hebron is hosting a three-day festival
for the Passover holiday.
  In a show of support for local residents who have come under sniper fire
over the past several months, visitors walked along streets, prayed at the
Cave of the Patriarchs and picnicked at an adjoining plaza. Visitors also
participated in guided tours conducted by Hebron Jewish Community
representatives. On April 1, 10-month-old baby Shalhevet Pass was killed by
Palestinian sniper fire in Hebron.
  The annual one-day festival was spread out over three days because of the
high demand for bulletproof buses.

Over fifteen thousand individuals gathered at the Western Wall on Tuesday to
participate in Passover prayers despite the security situation, MA'ARIV
reported. Israel's Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi Yisrael Lau said, "We will not let
anyone scare us away from praying in our most holy place. It is heartwarming
to see so many people celebrating together."
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