Israel Helps Rebuilding Turkey

Ankara's ANATOLIA 8/31/99: "High ranking Israeli officials hold contacts in Ankara for the prefabricated city which Israel thinks to built for earthquake victims in Adapazar, it is reported on Tuesday.

The Israeli Embassy in Ankara released a statement saying that ``as a result of the meetings between Turkish and Israeli officials last week vis-a-vis the urgent needs in the disaster area, the Israeli government, in line with the priorities set up by the Turkish officials, has decided to initiate a Housing Program for 2000 people in Adapazar.``

The statement pointed out that for this purpose an Israeli delegation comprising high ranking officials from the Israeli Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense came to Ankara and they would have meetings with Turkish officials on Tuesday. The statement noted that the infrastructure of the modern prefabricated city with school, kindergarden, medical center, administration offices and shops, will be prepared by the Turkish side.

Israel aims to complete the construction of houses by the end of October, noted the statement adding the houses will have heating, bathroom, sanitation and kitchen. Israel will also send experts to the region to work together with their Turkish counterparts in the fields of psychological support, public health and sanitation, the statement added."

     

More boycott against Israel

Cairo's MIDDLE EAST NEWS AGENCY 8/31/99: "The newspaper al-Ahram has called on the Arab countries to keep in force their decision to boycott Israel and the companies that deal with it. In this connection the paper refers to the success of this Arab policy in dissuading the Burger King company from opening a branch in an illegal Israeli colony in the West Bank.

In an editorial today, al-Ahram says that the Arab countries must declare their total opposition to the conference that the US Walt Disney firm plans to organize for the good of Israel under the motto "Jerusalem, the Capital of Israel." The paper says it is necessary to expose the role of these major international companies in serving illegal Israeli objectives.

Al-Ahram remarks that the return of stagnation to the peace process in 1996 drove the Arab countries to reactivate their boycott. It says that the Arabs based their decision on the legality of their boycott, noting that other countries and powers conduct various forms of boycott for diverse reasons that do not, however, rise to the level of the Arab motives."

     

Palestinians break Oslo accords

YEDIOT AHARONOT 8/31/99: "The Palestinians have set up a naval commando force in contravention of the Oslo accords and under Israel's nose. Two frogmen of "the Palestinian flotilla" died in a drill to attach mines to ships off the Gaza coast.

As far as is known, the equipment of the Palestinian naval commando was purchased in Europe, Russia, and China and was smuggled into the Gaza Strip via Egypt through the tunnels dug in Rafah.

The diving accident was not publicized in the Palestinian press, and as far as the Palestinian Authority [PA] is concerned, it is a military secret. As far as is known, the drill encompassed seven Palestinian divers who were practicing how to attach "limpet mines" to ships.

The PA's naval base lies on the shore, north of the al-Shati' refugee camp. The Oslo accords, which regulate the scope of the Palestinian forces, allow them to keep a small naval force of 10 patrol boats, similar to the Israel Police's coastal guard. Its jurisdiction includes the prevention of smuggling and infiltrations and the regulation of fishing off the Gaza coast.

The accords do not permit the operation of an assault force. Therefore, the establishment of the naval commando force constitutes a violation of the accords."

     

Iran cuts Hezbollah aid

MA'ARIV 8/30/99: "Iran has reduced its aid to Hizballah, according to a report presented by American elements to their Israeli counterparts. According to the report, although there has not been a drop in Hizballah activity in recent months, Iran has reduced both its financial assistance and arms supplies to the organization.

Hizballah sources met with Iranian government representatives and asked for the full resumption of aid. The reduction in financial aid harms mainly Hizballah's ability to support Lebanese residents helping it to rehabilitate villages damaged in the fighting. It also transpires from the report that there has been a significant decline in the frequency and quality of the "airlift" of weapons from Iran to Hizballah via Syria.

Iran is the main supplier of arms and financial aid to Hizballah. In the past three years, over 100 aircraft have landed in Damascus airport carrying arms, which are transported to Hizballah in trucks under Syrian supervision. Israeli sources confirmed last night that there has been a drop in the scope of Iranian assistance to Hizballah. The sources believe that the Syrians are linked to the move."

     

Close to prisoner agreement?

AP 9/2/99: "A disagreement over the fate of a few dozen Palestinians jailed for killing Israelis is all that stands in the way of an accord that would set a one-year deadline for ending decades of conflict.

The outcome of negotiations was still uncertain today, hours before Secretary of State Madeleine Albright arrives in Egypt to participate in a ceremony intended to re-launch the U.S.-brokered Wye Memorandum. Each side said it was up to the other to convene final, crucial negotiations to resolve the issue of the jailed Palestinians.

The Palestinians want 400 prisoners released, while Israel publicly insisted it would release only 350. Palestinian officials said privately that Israel was ready to release 370 prisoners. The 30 in the middle are apparently Palestinians involved in the killing of Israelis, which Israel will not release. The uncertainty cast doubt on whether the ceremony would take place...

Saeb Erekat, the senior Palestinian negotiator, said there was agreement on every other issue, including an especially vexing one: a timetable for an Israeli withdrawal from at least 13 percent of the West Bank and a deadline for a final peace agreement. The new deadline for a permanent Palestinian-Israeli peace accord would be a year after the re-launch of Wye -- meaning September 2000 if all goes well this week. Palestinians have agreed to the Israeli deadline on the final Wye-mandated withdrawal from West Bank territory: Jan. 20. Previously, the Palestinians had insisted on Dec. 31..."

     

Hezbollah attacks north of Israel

AP 9/2/99: "Israeli warplanes attacked suspected guerrilla hideouts in southern Lebanon today after militants fired volleys of rockets toward northern Israel. The Hezbollah guerrilla group said it fired Katyusha rockets at the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona earlier today to retaliate for an Israeli artillery bombardment that killed two Lebanese civilians. But the rockets failed to reach the town, exploding on the Israeli-Lebanese border, causing no damage or injuries, Israeli radio said, quoting military sources...

Residents of northern Israel were instructed today to stay in air raid shelters. The exchange occurred hours before Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was scheduled to arrive in Egypt on a Middle East tour to promote peace. While Albright is expected to prod Israel and the Palestinians toward a withdrawal from the West Bank, she may also focus on the reopening of peace talks between Israel and Syria. Syria is the main power broker in Lebanon and maintains 30,000 troops in the country...

Israeli and allied militia gunners pounded villages in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, killing two civilians after two pro-Israeli militiamen were killed by a Hezbollah roadside bomb, Lebanese security officials said. The bombardment was followed by Israeli airstrikes that left black smoke over the targeted area. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

In the air raids before dawn today, Israeli warplanes fired missiles at ``terrorist targets'' in the area of Khirbet Silim, near Tibnine, the Israeli army said in Jerusalem. The statement said all fighters returned to their bases safely."

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