ZINC-9/2/99-Rebuilding Turkey ========================================= Z . I . N . C . THE ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA'S ISRAEL NEWS CONNECTION ========================================= Thursday, September 2, 1999 5:00 AM EDT (900 UTC) Editor: Michael C. Hoffman O&F: 301-681-0858 Email: michaelh@clark.net Subscribe: zincisrael@usa.net ========================================= To go direct to ZINC's website, Click here: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Academy/3132 OR use our easy-to-remember but redirected address and Click here: http://over.to/zinc ========================================= TODAY'S NEWS: 1. Rebuilding Turkey 2. More boycott 3. Oslo violation 4. Iran cuts Hezbollah aid 5. Agreement? 6. Hezbollah attacks 7. Labor losses 8. Hamas responsible 9. Likud battles 10. India & Israel 11. DST ends in Israel 12. Ezer better 1. 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." 2. More boycott 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." 3. Oslo violation 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." 4. 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." 5. 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..." 6. Hezbollah attacks 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." 7. Labor losses HA'ARETZ 9/1/99: "The Labor Party has lost some 60,000 members this year - almost 40 percent of its total membership. According to party data, some 62,000 of the 162,000 people who were Labor Party members last year have not renewed their membership or paid dues - thereby further contributing to Labor's financial crisis. The party is currently some NIS 110 million in debt. MK Ra'anan Cohen, the party's secretary general, said that Labor would conduct a membership drive in the coming months in an effort to reverse this trend. By conducting the drive now, he hopes to hitch a ride on Ehud Barak's sweeping win in the prime ministerial elections in May. Cohen noted that in pre-election surveys, some 95,000 non-members expressed "support" for the Labor Party. He said he hopes that most of these can be persuaded to join, and that those who have left the party can be persuaded to return. Other measures in Labor's recovery plan include firing most of the party's workers and selling off half of its assets, whose total value is estimated at some $40 million. Even if all of these plans are successful, however, Cohen estimated that a full recovery will take a few years. Meanwhile, several party members have expressed unease over Cohen's decision to invite Education Minister Yossi Sarid (Meretz) to address the party's bureau at its weekly meeting tomorrow. Cohen is slated to lecture on "the government's education policy," but many party activists fear that he will use the forum to attack the 2000 budget - and thereby, indirectly, Barak, who supports it. Barak is supposed to be present at this event. Two weeks ago, however, he boycotted the weekly bureau meeting after learning that Cohen had invited a number of speakers to attack the budget." 8. Hamas responsible ARUTZ7 9/1/99: "Hamas has assumed responsibility for the double-murder of Yechiel Finfiter and Sharon Shteinmetz in Megiddo Forest earlier this week. A fax sent to Reuters today stated that the murders are a proof of Hamas' war against the "flock of settlers and the conquest," and threatened further attacks. The investigators of the crime are becoming increasingly convinced that it was a terrorist crime. HaKol MeHashetach News Agency reports that a "very significant" development has occurred in the investigation, on which a news blackout has been ordered by the police. Israel's security forces thwarted another terrorist attack yesterday morning. Four Arabs from Gaza, dressed as hareidi Jews and armed with knives, attempted to pass the Kisufim checkpoint on their way to a stabbing attack. They admitted under interrogation that they were sent by a terrorist organization in Gaza." 9. Likud battles ARUTZ7 9/1/99: "The battle for the leadership of the Likud party is finally heating up. Some 145,000 registered Likud members are eligible to vote Thursday at hundreds of polling stations around the country, but less than half of them are expected to exercise their right to do so. Acting Likud chairman Ariel Sharon is favored to win against his competition - former Finance Minister Meir Shetreet and Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert. Israel television broadcast a lengthy expose on Ehud Olmert this week, accusing him of illegally canvassing yeshiva students to register in the party. The report was replete with photographs and secretly-taped telephone conversations. Olmert called a press conference yesterday to rebuff the charges, and held Sharon responsible for "besmirching his good name." Ma'ariv political commentator Menachem Rahat told Arutz-7 today that these last days' events have paradoxically given life to the Likud and its otherwise lackluster campaign. "The media has woken up to the fact that the Likud still exists, but not due to ideological debates among the candidates," Rahat said. Rahat added that whoever wins the Likud contest will have to face two central challenges: "How to rebuild the party financially and organizationally, and how to revamp the Likud's political philosophy. The first of those tasks is pretty straightforward... But the second goal - that of ideological rehabilitation - will be tough. After the Likud's signing of Wye, I just don't know what can still serve as the rallying point for the party. It goes without saying that the party has strayed far from the original Herut vision of a Jewish state on both sides of the Jordan." 10. India & Israel HA'ARETZ 9/2/99: "A top-ranking delegation from India is scheduled to arrive in Israel within the next few days and will meet with Prime Minister Ehud Barak. The visit reflects the decision of both countries to strengthen diplomatic and security ties. Heading the Indian delegation will be a national security adviser, Barajes Mishara. He will be accompanied by the most senior diplomatic-security officials of the New Delhi administration. India, which recently underwent political turmoil and is now in the midst of the a general election campaign, is currently ruled by a transitional government. The professional civil service enjoys considerable leeway in conducting the country's foreign affairs and defense policy. Barak attaches great importance to the development of ties with India; he may visit India next year, after a new government takes office in New Delhi. Israeli sales of weapons systems and military equipment to India represents the major channel of relations between the two countries. Defense sources estimate that the Indian market offers the potential of additional deals worth $2 billion. A few weeks ago, at the height of the fighting in Kashmir, Israel acceded to India's request to speed up delivery of military equipment. The delegation's visit indicates that the two governments have decided to extend the strategic dialogue into additional spheres. Officials from both sides yesterday declined to comment either on the visit itself or on the substance of the talks that will take place..." 11. DST ends in Israel HA'ARETZ 9/1/99: "Daylight-saving time ends Friday morning at 2 A.M. Clocks should be set back one hour at that time, to 1 A.M. Interior Minister Natan Sharansky, who kept the summer clock schedule set by his predecessor Eliyahu Suissa, said yesterday that next year changes would be made to daylight-saving time. Sharansky said that having daylight-saving time for only 154 days of the year, as was the case this year, leaves 211 days for the "winter clock" - "and that's too much." He also said, however, that he wants to avoid acting rashly. Sharansky pointed out that he began his term in July and that, by law, the interior minister must give six months' notice before changing the calendar." 12. Ezer better HA'ARETZ 9/2/99: "President Ezer Weizman was in good and stable condition yesterday, one day after being hospitalized Tuesday for a severe gall bladder infection. The president, who is at Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital in Jerusalem, is continuing to receive antibiotics. Assistant Director Dr. Shmuel Shapira said that the president slept well Tuesday night, but the disease is still active and Weizman continues to receive "active" and "conservative" treatment. The implication of Dr. Shapira's statements is that the president is still not responding positively to medication. Shapira expressed hope that the president "would respond to treatment quickly." Shapira explained that infection of the gall bladder is a common condition, usually caused by gallstones. He pointed out that the president is "not a young man," which also contributed to his condition. A decision regarding surgery or other treatment options is expected within a couple of days..."