Tuesday, April 17, 2001

* Family of Journalist Kidnapped by PA Ask Christian Community for Help
* U.S. Blames Hizbullah for Violence
* ISA: Gaza Preventive Security Force is a Terrorist Organization
* Plans to Build Tourism Industry in Jaffa Unveiled
* News 24 wins 24-hour News Channel Tender
* Economic Briefs

Family of Journalist Kidnapped by PA Ask Christian Community for Help
The family of Yussef Samir, an Israeli-Arab journalist who has been missing
since he was arrested by the Palestinian Authority 11 days ago, appealed to
representatives of the international Christian community to intervene in
locating him, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. The family met on Monday with a
group of 70 European Christian leaders, urging them to try and push for
European governments and the International Red Cross involvement in the
case.
  According to Israel Defense Forces intelligence reports, Samir is being
held captive by the PA's General Intelligence Service. Samir was last seen
in the Palestinian police headquarters in Bethlehem, where he was held for
questioning.
The Egyptian-born Samir defected to Israel three decades ago after writing
a series of articles critical of then-President Gamal Abdul Nasser. He later
obtained Israeli citizenship and worked as a journalist for Israel Radio's
Arabic department. Samir's daughter Chaya, a well-known Israeli singer, said
after the meeting on Monday, "I urge the enlightened world to wake up before
it is too late."
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U.S. Blames Hizbullah for Violence
U.S. officials blamed Hizbullah on Monday for the violence along the
Israeli-Lebanese border, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. White House
spokesperson Ari Fleischer said "In the last several days there has been a
dangerous escalation across the line of withdrawal, and the United States
condemns this escalation that was initiated by Hizbullah in a clear
provocation designed to escalate an already tense situation."
  U.S. State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher also addressed the issue
on Monday. "What we saw was an unprovoked attack," he said, referring to
Hizbullah. "It was a clear provocation that was designed to set off a cycle
of violence. And we think that's where the primary burden rests," he said.
  Boucher also addressed Assistant Secretary of State Ned Walker's visit to
Syria this week, saying that "we encourage everybody in the region to
exercise influence and look to the Syrians to exercise influence over
Hizbullah."
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ISA: Gaza Preventive Security Force is a Terrorist Organization
In a briefing to the Cabinet on the state of the Intifada in Jerusalem on
Monday, Director of Israeli Security Agency Avi Dichter said that the Gaza
Preventive Security Force, led by Mohammed Dahlan, has become "a full
fledged terrorist organization," THE JERUSALEM POST reported. Dichter also
said that Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat is not interested in
issuing an unequivocal order to put an end to the violence, fearing that
such a move would weaken him.
A senior Official in the Prime Minister's Office said on Monday night that
the Government has not yet seen any attempt by the PA to prevent terrorist
activity, or to reduce the level of violence against Israeli soldiers and
civilians. According to Dichter's assessment, Arafat has two main short-term
goals: to meet with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and to meet with U.S.
President George W. Bush at the White House.
Meanwhile, in Sharon's address to the Cabinet, he reiterated Israel's
intentions to continue easing conditions for the civilian population in the
West Bank and Gaza Strip as long as it does not interfere with security
efforts. Sharon added that "there will be no protection payment for an end
to the violence," and that there is no difference between Palestinian
shooting attacks on settlements that are inside or outside of the Green
Line.
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Plans to Build Tourism Industry in Jaffa Unveiled
Speaking at a press conference in Jaffa on Monday Mayor of Tel Aviv Ron
Huldai unveiled a plan to develop Jaffa's tourism potential, THE JERUSALEM
POST reported. According to Tomer Sharett, director of the project, the
enterprise will cost NIS 100 million, approximately ($25 million) over a
five-year period, with funds coming from the municipality and the Ministry
of Tourism. He stressed that the project was being carried out with the full
participation and cooperation of local residents, including Jaffa's Israeli
Arab population.
Director-General Itai Eiges, who explained that the project was much like
other projects which have been carried out in Acre, Tiberias, Jerusalem,
Haifa and Eilat, said that the organizers expect the public investment to be
bolstered by private investments. Eiges added that the areas to be developed
included the port, Old Jaffa, the Ajami quarter, the Clock Tower Square and
the flea market. These sites are to be linked to produce a continuum through
which the visitors, can move from one area to another.
As part of the project, the Ministry, in cooperation with the municipality,
last month began offering a series of free tours in Jaffa last month. The
organizers said that in view of the popularity of the tours, they are
considering offering them again this Summer.
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News 24 wins 24-hour News Channel Tender
The winners of the tender for an all-news channel are News 24, a group
headed by journalists Nissim Mish'al and Ya'akov Eilon won the tender for
the new 24-hour Israeli news channel, YEDIOT AHARONOT ON-LINE reported. The
new news channel is slated to go on the air later this year.
Minister of Communications Reuven Rivlin said today, "This is an important
day for Israeli democracy. More news means more people producing news, more
content, more pluralism. I am looking forward to the new channel and think
it will be an economic success story as well a benefit to the Israeli
public."

Irena Norzich, the widow of Vadim Norzich who was lynched by a Palestinian
mob in Ramallah last October, gave birth to a baby boy on Monday, MA'ARIV
reported. "I feel happy," she said after giving birth, "but also sad that my
baby will never meet his father." Norzich added that she plans to name the
newborn Vadim, after his late father.
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