Ham Pal

An EMAIL to ZINC & others from JUDITH BARKER 2/5/99: "Some news from the Ham radio world. As of Feb. 1st, Palestine is now recognized as by the ITU [International Telecommunications Union] and has it own radio prefix (like USA has K and W) for it exclusive use. Too bad, but it looks like Palestine is heading toward getting recognized."

Egypt invit.

ISRAEL LINE 2/5/99: "Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has invited a delegation of Israeli industrialists to visit next month, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. Israeli Manufacturers Association President Dan Propper said he intends to organize a group of 20 businesspeople, adding that the Egyptians are well aware of the achievements at the joint Israeli-Jordanian industrial zone in Irbid and understand the potential of such joint ventures."

Bibi on King Hussein

IMRA 2/7/99: "Prime Minister Netanyahu's Remarks on the Passing of King Hussein of Jordan Jerusalem, 7 February 1999 - From The Prime Minister's Office

The government and people of Israel bow their heads in grief over the passing of King Hussein, a courageous leader, a loyal friend, a maker of peace with Israel. King Hussein was one of the few leaders who was recognized even in his lifetime as a historic figure. He will be remembered as the creator of modern Jordan, as a major architect of peace in the Middle East.

He will always be remembered as one of the giants of the second half of the 20th century. Hussein was committed to a vision of peace, for Jordan and Israel, for the entire Middle East.

He sought to transform endemic strife to enduring reconciliation. It was clear to all that when he shook the hand of our prime minister, the late Yitzhak Rabin, he felt that he had reached a long-sought goal, to which he had dedicated his life.

He called me a few days before the peace treaty was signed, wanting to know whether I, then head of the opposition, would support the agreement. I told him that I would do it with unbounded enthusiasm.

The people of Israel, I said, are united in the wish for a true and lasting peace. On the personal level there was no one more gracious, considerate and kind; no one more hospitable and generous; no one more capable of understanding and empathy.

The people of Israel will never forget his visit to the bereaved families of Beit Shemesh. Coming to ask forgiveness for a heinous act of terror, he knelt before parents mourning their slain young daughters, tears in his eyes, words of comfort and condolence on his lips.

It was an act of greatness of a great man, a man who knew war and grew to hate it, a man who tasted violence and vowed to banish it.

He was an apostle of good will, a visionary with a healthy grasp of the real, a dreamer with a thorough understanding of the possible, a man of infinite courage who craved peace with all his soul.

In the difficult moments of the talks at Wye River, he came to inspire us while struggling for his life. He did not intervene in the talks, but his brave and touching presence served as a symbol of the longing for peace. Above all - he was a human being, a king who never let the aura of legends obscure his concern for his people.

He loved them and reached out for them, and they returned his love. Those who cherish peace will miss him. Those who want a better world will be guided by his memory.

We are certain that his son Abdullah will continue in his way and strengthen the peace between us. We all extend our condolences and deep sympathy to Queen Noor, to King Abdullah, the Royal family and the Jordanian people. With great sadness we bid farewell to you, king and friend.

The peace between our peoples will be a testament to your abiding belief in lasting peace among the sons of Abraham. Rest in peace, Your Majesty."

What next?

ARUTZ7 2/7/99: "...Arutz-7 spoke today with Middle East expert Prof. Dan Shivtan on what may be expected in our neighboring kingdom to the east.

"In the short run, things will be peaceful, but we have to see how long those close to [deposed Crown Prince] Hassan will stay quiet. Stability will probably be retained, but the question is how smooth the coming weeks and months will be."

Shivtan said that new King Abdullah has several problems facing him:

"Iraq is currently winning, in a sense, against the United States, and this is a signal to radicals all over the region that their methods can be successful. Syria and the Palestinian Authority will probably try to test Abdullah.

In addition, the status of the PA will be determined in the coming time period, and this has critical ramifications for Jordan from any way you look at it."

Regarding the old "Jordan is Palestine" idea, according to which the Palestinians were advised to suffice with Jordan as their homeland, Shivtan said, "It was never a practical idea, and even its main proponents, such as Yitzchak Shamir and Ariel Sharon, have abandoned it.

It would not be a positive development from Israel's point of view, because then we would be faced with contiguous hostile entities from Teheran [Iran] to Kalkilyeh [Judea and Samaria].

For the same reason, it is crucial that we ensure that the Palestinian Authority does not become a strong, threatening entity."

Nationalist losses?

ARUTZ7 2/7/99: "Israel's nationalist camp could lose five to eight Knesset seats if its small parties run separately, according to an updated survey conducted by Dr. Yakov Katz of Bar-Ilan University. The study found that each of Moledet, Tzomet, and Tekumah is not certain to receive the required minimum of votes to gain even one seat. Running together with Benny Begin's Herut party - which is worth 2-3 seats running alone - the same parties could gain eight seats. (It should be noted that the minimum number of seats that a Knesset party can receive is two seats.)"

Terrorist capture

ARUTZ7 2/7/99: "The IDF has captured Yasser Rajoub, the brother of Palestinian security chief Jibril Rajoub. So claims the Rajoub family today, according to the Yediot Achronot newspaper.

Yasser Rajoub is one of the Hamas terrorist organization's central activists in the Hevron area and acts as the head of the Hamas "charity committee."

This is not the first time he is being imprisoned in Israel. Israeli security sources have refused to confirm or deny the story. The IDF has announced that the city of Shechem is closed to Israelis today.