Rage days
AP 6/3/99: "Palestinians protesting Jewish settlement expansion clashed today with
Israeli soldiers throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In a separate attack, an Israeli
soldier fatally shot a Palestinian motorist at an army roadblock after he allegedly tried
to hit the soldier with his car.
The marches, organized by the Palestinian Authority on what it designated a "day
of rage,'' were intended to exert pressure on Israel's moderate prime minister-elect, Ehud
Barak. ``It's a message from our people to Mr. Barak that peace with settlements is not
possible,'' said Palestinian spokesman Khaled Khatib.
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat fears Barak will try to reach a peace agreement with
Syria before focusing on the conflict with the Palestinians. Arafat also worries Barak
will harden his position on settlements in an effort to lure pro-settlement parties into
his government coalition. Thousands of demonstrators marched to settlements and Israeli
army posts, some hurling stones. Israeli soldiers fired tear gas, rubber bullets and live
rounds, injuring at least seven Palestinians.
Palestinian police, some wielding batons, tried to keep back the crowds. Near the
Jewish settlement of Netzarim, protesters lobbed a fire bomb at an Israeli army outpost
and a tent caught fire. Earlier, an Israeli soldier shot a Palestinian motorist at a
military checkpoint near the Jewish settlement of Yattir in the southern West Bank.
The motorist died at an Israeli hospital. Later today, another Palestinian tried to run
over a soldier manning a roadblock near the Jewish settlement of Beitar, Israel army radio
said. The largest demonstration took place at the Gush Katif junction in the southern Gaza
Strip, where 1,000 Palestinians blocked the main thoroughfare in the strip. Marchers
chanted ``No to peace with settlements'' and "Settlers get out.'' Some marchers tried
to throw stones at Israeli soldiers but were pushed back by Palestinian police..."
Lebanon withdrawal
ARUTZ7 6/2/99: "The retreat of Gen. Antoine Lahad's forces from the Jezzine region
continues, but Hizbullah has meanwhile halted its attack upon the retreating army. The IDF
is attempting to hasten the withdrawal, so as to lessen the dangers to the SLA. The IDF is
on the alert for an escalation in the situation. Shelters in northern Israel were opened
overnight, but very few residents used them.
The Lebanese Army is offering tight protection to the withdrawing equipment-filled
trucks with on their way south to the security zone. The IDF has made it clear that it
holds the Lebanese Army responsible for the safety of the withdrawing forces.
It appears that a conversation between U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and
Lebanese Prime Minister Salim al-Hus and Syrian elements is what ended the Hizbullah
attacks on the retreating forces. Brig.-Gen. (res.) Rafi Noy, former top advisor to
Yitzchak Mordechai during the latter's term as Defense Minister, clarified for Arutz-7
today that Israel considers the withdrawal from Jezzine a "test case."
The goal is to see whether the Lebanese Army is able to maintain peace and order in
areas evacuated by Israeli-allied forces. "If Hizbullah wants Israel to withdraw
totally from Lebanon, it will make sure not to harm the civilians in the Jezzine
area," said Noy. He made sure to correct the common misconception that it is the SLA
that is withdrawing from Jezzine:
"In fact, Jezzine has been controlled by a separate Christian unit, unrelated to
the SLA or to the IDF, but rather controlled personally by SLA Commander Gen. Antoine
Lahad. After many IDF entreaties, he finally agreed to withdraw these forces, and now we
will wait and see what the results will be."
Blaming Israel in Days of Rage
THE JERUSALEM POST 6/3/99: "Palestinian leaders yesterday readied Arab and
international opinion for possible bloodshed during today's "Day of Anger"
protests against settlement activity, stressing that Israel will be to blame for any
violence. The police and IDF are prepared to quell any violence.
Security forces will be deployed in areas of Jerusalem considered "sensitive"
and throughout Judea and Samaria. "We are concerned that this campaign be peaceful
and if it turns out otherwise, than we won't be responsible," Palestinian Authority
Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo told a press conference in Ramallah.
"Rather, it will be the Israeli government, the Israeli security forces, and the
settlers." Abed Rabbo was joined by PLO executive committee member Faisal Husseini,
Palestinian Legislative Council Speaker Ahmed Qurei, and Marwan Barghouti, a Palestinian
legislator and secretary-general of Fatah in the West Bank.
Barghouti, a key figure in organizing the protests, warned there will be further
demonstrations unless the Israeli government reins in settlement activity.
"Settlement is an organized, criminal act of terrorism," he said. "The time
has come to resist it by all means. It is a massacre against human beings and land.
We are required to stop the negotiations unless settlement is stopped. Fatah will
participate tomorrow, the week after, and for weeks." A Fatah leaflet issued in
Jerusalem, quoted by the Associated Press, said: "The protests will ignite the land
under the settlers' feet and they will leave forever."
Taking turns, the speakers indicated that the purpose of today's demonstrations is to
impress upon Prime Minister-elect Ehud Barak that Palestinians will not tolerate
settlement expansion or a continuation of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's
policies."...
The direct impetus for the Day of Anger includes the government's last-minute decision
to expand Ma'aleh Adumim to the borders of Jerusalem, the start of earthworks for Jewish
housing in east Jerusalem's Ras el-Amud section, and the beginning of work at Har Homa.
Asked what practical steps have been taken by the PA to insure that the protests proceed
peacefully, Qurei only reiterated that Israel will be responsible for any clashes..."
Extradite Deif
THE JERUSALEM POST 6/3/99: "The government has submitted an extradition request to
the Palestinian Authority for Mohammed Deif, head of Izzadin Kassam, Hamas's military
wing, who is allegedly responsible for the deaths of 47 and the wounding of 96, the
Justice Ministry said yesterday. Deif is considered to be Israel's most wanted terrorist.
He was the assistant of Yihye Ayyash, the "Engineer," and took over command of
Izzadin Kassam after his assassination.
Among his other terrorist activities, Deif was involved in the abduction and subsequent
killing of soldier Nachshon Wachsman in October 1994. Deif is the 45th Palestinian
terrorist whose extradition has been sought by Israel since the signing of the Oslo
Accords. The PA has not handed over any of them. In a communique issued by his spokesman,
Justice Minister Tzahi Hanegbi said the next government must see to it that the PA abides
by its promise to extradite terrorist suspects to Israel.
The last-known attack attributed to Deif occurred on October 30, 1998, in which a
terrorist driving a car packed with explosives tried to ram a school bus in Gush Katif,
carrying 34 children, but was blocked by an IDF jeep. The car exploded next to the jeep,
killing reservist Sgt. Alexei Nikov. Other attacks involving Deif include:
* December 25, 1994 - a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device near a bus full of
soldiers in Jerusalem, injuring 12;
*February 26, 1996 - a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device on bus No. 18 in
Jerusalem, killing 25 and wounding 46;
*March 3, 1996 - a suicide bomber detonated a bomb on another bus No. 18 in Jerusalem,
killing 19 and wounding six."
Barak may by-pass Wye for final status
ISRAEL LINE 6/1/99: "Prime Minister-elect Ehud Barak is considering suggesting to
the United States and the Palestinian Authority to bypass the Wye accords in favor of
entering into final status negotiations, HA'ARETZ reported. According to aides, Barak
intends to omit the implementation of the Wye agreement from the coalition guidelines,
although they will mention the Oslo accords.
Until now, the Palestinians and the U.S. have assumed that Barak would immediately
implement the last two stages of the Wye accord upon becoming Prime Minister. According to
a Labor Party source, "[Barak] would not unilaterally jump to final status against
the wishes of the U.S. and the Palestinians, since Wye is an international agreement
signed by the government of Israel."
The Netanyahu government withdrew from two percent of the estimated 13 percent of the
territories due to be handed over under to the Palestinian Authority pursuant to the Wye
agreement. In 1995, after he joined the Rabin government, Barak was the only member of the
inner circle dealing with peace negotiations who opposed the interim pullbacks put forward
in the Oslo II agreement, preferring that everything be left for the final accord."
US Embassy should already be in Jerusalem
PRESS RELEASE from Senator Kyl's office 6/1/99: "Key members of the United States
Senate, including Jon Kyl (R-Arizona), today released a copy of their letter to President
Clinton expressing disappointment that, despite the mandate of the Jerusalem Embassy
Relocation Act of 1995, the President has failed to establish an American embassy in
Jerusalem by May 31, 1999.
The Senators said that it would be improper for the President to invoke the national
security interest waiver provided for in the Act. As the letter recognizes, the
administration still has time to take steps, such as formally and publicly recognizing
Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, that could prevent a confrontation with the Senators.
Should the President issue the waiver, the Senators declare "they will see no
option but to amend the Jerusalem Embassy Act to remedy this unacceptable delay in moving
the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, and recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel."
"It's deplorable that the administration has not fulfilled the law and has not
acted in good faith on moving the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Since the
day the legislation passed the Senate 93 to 5, the administration has shown contempt for
the law's purpose. But the law is the law and we shall strive to ensure that it is
fulfilled.
This law, furthermore, is a sensible and constructive measure. It does not serve U.S.
interests in the Middle East -- neither our interest in a strong and secure Israel, nor
our interest in forthright relations with the Palestinian Authority, nor our interest in
peace -- for the administration to continue to refuse to acknowledge that Jerusalem is in
fact and by right the capital of the State of Israel.
The president is leaving supporters of Israel with no alternative to tightening the
legislation governing this matter," Kyl said.
"I will propose legislation to amend the Jerusalem Embassy Relocation Act. I want
to head off the administration's threatened improper invocation of the waiver. Such a
waiver would be a harmful anti-Israel gesture on the important issue of Jerusalem.
Furthermore, it would make a mockery of the good faith that Congress normally presupposes
when it grants waiver authority to the Executive Branch.
I shall propose to give the administration an extension of time within which to
establish the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem, but the price for that extension will be the
termination of the president's waiver authority in the Act.
Further, the new legislation will restate explicitly that it is U.S. policy that
Jerusalem is recognized as the capital of the State of Israel. I will recommend to the
Majority Leader that the Senate move to take up this legislation quickly," Kyl
added."
Spy stuff still happens
THE JERUSALEM POST 6/3/99: "Two executives from Orlil Ltd. are under house arrest
for substituting Russian-made military equipment for US-made equipment the company was
supposed to supply to the IDF. Orlil sold the US-manufactured equipment to countries in
the Far East. Since 1996, Orlil has been putting a Russian-manufactured component into the
night-vision equipment it assembles for the IDF, instead of a more expensive and
sophisticated US-manufactured component.
By selling the US component to states in the Far East, it has made at least $2 million,
estimated Lt.-Cmdr. Isaac Bashan, who headed the investigation which the police conducted
in cooperation with the Defense Ministry. Bashan would not specify to which countries
Orlil sold the equipment. He said that he doubts the sales could harm Israel, unless the
states resell the equipment to other countries.
He added that he does not believe the incident would harm US-Israel defense relations,
explaining that this is a case of theft by a few corrupt individuals and he believes the
US will understand this. A Defense Ministry spokeswoman also said she doubts this will
effect US-Israel relations. US Embassy spokesman Larry Schwartz declined to comment on the
case, because the Ministry of Defense is still investigating it...
The Defense Ministry has revoked Orlil's license to deal in defense equipment and has
ordered the IDF to locate the night-vision equipment it received from Orlil. While there
is no doubt that the US equipment is more sophisticated, Bashan said, it is unclear what
effect using the Russian equipment had on the IDF. The problem was not discovered as a
result of an IDF complaint regarding the equipment, he said, but by a Defense Ministry
investigative unit."
Lockheed or Boeing?
HA'ARETZ 6/3/99: "Prime Minister-elect Ehud Barak was briefed by senior defense
officials yesterday on the Air Force's plans to acquire a new generation of fighter planes
and promptly asked that the plans be postponed. Defense Minister Moshe Arens told Ha'aretz
yesterday that Barak asked that the final decision on the deal be postponed, because he
was not sure that the decision about to be made by the defense establishment was the
correct one.
Defense Ministry Director General Ilan Biran and Air Force Commander Eitan Ben Eliahu
presented Barak with alternative scenarios yesterday. The Air Force has recommended that
Arens sign an order to buy 50 F-16s from Lockheed Martin for $2.5 billion, rather than
buying Boeing-made F-15i's.
Arens has not yet voiced his position publicly, but it appears that earlier talk of
buying some planes from Boeing and others from Lockheed-Martin has been shelved. Barak
asked Arens to defer the decision just before Arens was about to convene a press
conference on the matter this past Monday.
Arens spoke yesterday with Barak aide Danny Yatom. "Yatom told me that he had a
feeling that Barak was not completely reconciled to the direction we were taking,"
Arens said. Arens then spoke with Barak directly.
"I felt he was not 100 percent sure" that our decision was right, said Arens.
"I did not receive an order from him to stop the deal, and I don't think he could
give such an order, but from the moment I understood Barak wasn't sure, I suggested
sending him Biran and Ben Eliahu for a briefing. I told Barak, 'If you decide you can rely
on our decision, then we will make it final, and if you decide the decision should be
deferred, we will defer it.'"
Defense sources said the decision has to be made in the next few weeks, as any
additional delays will result in added payments to the American manufacturers and also
could delay the delivery of the chosen planes."
Apt. deals in Har Homa, Jerusalem
HA'ARETZ 6/3/99: "Some 700 of 840 apartments okayed for construction at the
controversial Har Homa site in southeast Jerusalem were sold, mostly to groups, including
some organized by the Arutz Sheva pirate radio station and a group of National Religious
Party activists. The government today is conducting tours of the district for contractors
as it seeks to release another plot of land where 800 more apartments can be built. But
the contractors are likely to wait until the new government is installed and makes clear
its plans for the last remaining open space on the capital's edge available for a massive
housing project. A total of 6,500 housing units were approved by the government for the
Har Homa project. Large to medium sized contractors bid for the first round of property
and the apartments sold in that first round ranged in price from $130,000 for three-room
flats to between $160,000-$170,000 for larger apartments. As interior minister in the late
Yitzhak Rabin's government, Ehud Barak, the premier-elect, signed the authorizations for
construction at the site."
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