ZINC-9/9/99-Islamic terrorists expanding ========================================= Z . I . N . C . THE ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA'S ISRAEL NEWS CONNECTION ========================================= Thursday, September 9, 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 ========================================= ZINC wishes everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year! And, a special "THANK YOU!" to Beni, ZINC's webmaster for all his efforts on behalf of ZINC. TODAY'S NEWS: 1. Islamic terrorists expand 2. Hamas vs. Jordan 3. Shas radio raided 4. USAID-not! 5. Pay your pledges! 6. Uzbekistan & Israel 7. Tukey-water-Israel 8. Up against the Wall 9. Arafat vs Erakat 10. US: 'settlements destructive' 11. Agreement approved 12. 199 released 13. 'Terrible mistake' 14. Israeli Arab car bombs 15. Wye II details 16. Wye II ramifications 17. Talking trash 18. Initial budget approval 19. Shin Bet methods 20. Shas' ultimatum 21. Levy to lead talks 22. US-UN-Israel 23. Mein Kampf a hit! 24. Taxes 1. Islamic terrorists expand Milan's CORIERE DELLA SERA 9/6/99: "The enemies of peace are claiming to have been betrayed. Hamas' founder, Shaykh Ahmad Yasin, vented his full fury: "They are selling off the Palestinian cause." But he refused to reveal what kind of response the fundamentalists' movement will make to the first understanding signed by Yasir 'Arafat with the Israeli Prime Minister, Labor's Ehud Baraq. Pragmatic and prudent, Yasin, the spiritual leader, has in the past not ruled out cooperation with 'Arafat's Authority, but he now prefers to leave the response on the ground to the hardliners. The radicals have been at work for some time. Their representative in Syria, al-'Alami, and the two leaders based in Jordan until a few weeks ago (Khalid Mish'al and Musa Abu-Marzuq), have launched discreet contacts with two friendly countries -- Libya and Iran. On the one hand they have tried to secure further aid, while on the other they have presented themselves as possible candidates to a more militant leadership. There has been a succession of meetings at secret Lebanese locations. The change of course in the peace process -- which has been in the air since Ehud Baraq's election to the post of Israeli Prime Minister -- has prompted 'Ali Khamene'i, the radical leader of the Khomeyni-ite regime, to press for a change within the Hizballah, too. According to Arab sources, a faction is taking shape within "God's party" that is by no means resigned to detente. The Shiites have apparently been flanked by a number of Palestinian fringe groups, which are strong in the refugee camps around Sidon. From the al-Biqa' Valley, where Shaykh Subhi al-Tufayli reigns, orders have already gone out to reorganize cells abroad. This mission has apparently been entrusted in 'Imad Mughniyah, the elusive red primrose, and to 'Aqil 'Amiyah, two senior officials of the Hizballah's secret unit. Using Beirut airport, the extremists sent their men to Europe. Their arrival was noted in Milan, Copenhagen, Cyprus, and Spain. According to French sources, the Hizballah have established a number of secret structures in the Andalusian region. The hawks' initiatives have irritated a Tehran torn apart by political feuds and in a state of ferment over the youth opposition movement. So much so that someone has now, perhaps on Khatami's orders, informed the Western police forces about the Hizballah hotheads. This is an unprecedented move, and yet another symptom of the area's extreme instability." 2. Hamas vs. Jordan Amman's AL SABIL 9/7/99: "Exclusive" interview with Shaykh Ahmad Yasin, founder of the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas:[Al-Sabil] How do you view the Jordanian security authorities measures against Hamas [Islamic resistance Movement] in Jordan? [Yasin] What happened was unjustified and unrealistic and we reject it. Such measures will only strengthen Hamas and enhance its determination to adhere to its stands. We also object to the Jordanian authorities succumbing to pressure by Israel and the United States, which are doing their utmost to serve the Israeli presence and security at the expense of the Palestinian people's interest, future, cause, and homeland. [Al-Sabil] Agencies cited Usamah Abu-Hamdan, Hamas representative in Lebanon, as calling for dialogue between Hamas and the Jordanian Government. Did you contact the Jordanian Government on this crisis? [Yasin] Since our brothers [in Hamas] are doing their duties in this regard and have channels of communication with the government and the king, there will be no need for us to make contacts. Our brothers abroad have made arrangements and it seems possible that a meeting will be held with the king. We leave matters to them to act in a way serving the two people's interests. [Al-Sabil] The Israeli press says that what happened had been coordinated with the Palestinian Authority [PA]. What do you think? [Yasin] This is obvious from the Jordanian public prosecutor's statement. There relations with the PA and all the PA's options move in this direction. Nevertheless, there are some who reject these options. This is obvious. We say that it is within our rights, as Palestinian people, to reject anything that does not conform to the future of our people and homeland..." 3. Shas radio raided MA'ARIV 9/6/99: "Jerusalem Police officers and Communications Ministry staffers yesterday raided five pirate radio stations affiliated with SHAS [Torah Observing Sephardim] that operated in the city. The police confiscated equipment worth about 1 million shekels. At the Shuva Yisra'el station, a broadcaster was taken in for questioning. Qol Ha'emet, Channel 2000, Qol Hasimha, and Qol Berama were closed. [YEDIOT AHARONOT 9/6/99:] "SHAS members are furious with the police raid at the pirate ultra-Orthodox radio stations yesterday, which included Kol Ha'emet. SHAS officials were astounded by the raid at what they refer to as 'the holy channels.' It has been further learned that Rabbi 'Ovadya Yosef said he was furious with the confiscation of Kol Ha'emet's equipment, which broadcast his sermons throughout Israel."] 4. USAID-not! Ramallah's AL AYYAM 9/5/99: "Media sources have reported that the US Agency for International Development [USAID], which supports development projects in the Palestinian territories, has suddenly decided to cancel its program of assistance to private television and radio stations in Palestine worth $6 million to be disbursed over a two-year period. The funds were to be disbursed in the fields of training of journalists, statistical studies of the number of viewers and listeners to television and radio stations and the importance of these stations to citizens, encouraging programs exchange, and studies of the legal status of these stations. The decision to cancel the project took the owners and employees of these Palestinian television and radio stations by surprise, especially since USAID did not officially explain the reasons for such a cancellation and after owners of the 32 stations had committed themselves to provide the staff for this project and abide by its provisions. Several station owners said they were able to get an unofficial reason for the cancellation which is a financial crisis and the transfer of the allocated US funds to support projects in Kosovo and in Turkey following the earthquake that hit it about two weeks ago..." 5. Pay your pledges! AL QUDS in Jerusalem 9/6/99: "Finance Minister Muhammad Zuhdi al-Nashashibi has called on the donor states to double their contribution to economic development in Palestine during their upcoming conference on 15 October in Tokyo. He said that the assistance given to the Palestinian National Authority [PNA] by the donor countries has receded enormously in the past two years. Al-Nashashibi put the amount of the aid that has been transferred since the beginning of 1999 to date at about $175 million only out of $750 million that the donor countries pledged at the Frankfurt conference. The total aid for 1998 amounted to $335 million, he said. In an exclusive interview given to Al-Quds, the Finance Minister said that due to the difficult circumstances and with the continued implementation of some development projects, we are noticing a regression on the cycle of Palestinian economic growth. He cautioned against the negative ramifications this regression will have on the rate of unemployment, inflation, and gross national product. Despite the increase in the national product in the past three years, the disproportionate increase in population reduced per capita income. Al-Nashashibi explained that the reduction in aid in 1998 and 1999 is due to several reasons. The main reason, he said, is that our inability to reach a peace agreement with Israel makes the donor countries feel that investment in Palestine is not safe. Like any other investor, the donor countries want an encouraging investment environment. The constant Israeli obstacles, however, prevent this from happening...The minister also referred to the economic crisis in southeast Asia, Russia, and other places that has resulted in pressure on financing sources to reconstruct these countries. Moreover, crises due to war, such as in Kosovo, constitute a pressure on financing sources and a reduction on the funds available... Regarding administrative reform in the PNA institutions, Muhammad Zuhdi al-Nashashibi, member of the Higher Committee for Reform and Administrative Development, said we should proceed from the original concept of administrative reform, which is the separation between the executive, legislative, and judicial powers. We should secure the independence of action of these institutions, achieve pluralism and accountability, and instill the spirit of democracy and strong responsibility in them. Afterward, we proceed to the ministries. This requires the clear definition of responsibilities and duties, the formation of structures for every ministry, the drafting of job descriptions, the allocation of responsibilities, and the definition of work ethics from top to bottom and vice versa. It also requires a performance scale and the implementation of the administrative part of the civil service law. The minister stressed that we must entrench accountability, transparency, and internal and external auditing and monitoring. We should have a master plan of objectives and a work plan for each ministry so it would be responsible for applying its work plan in light of the master plan..." 6. Uzbekistan & Israel VESTI 9/1/99: "Interest toward Uzbekistan on the part of Israeli businessmen, journalists, scientists and ordinary citizens has notably grown in recent times. The inflow of tourists is also gradually increasing: My country, Uzbekistan, rightfully bears the name of the pearl of Central Asia...As for the development of economic relations between Uzbekistan and Israel, it is my opinion that the state visit to Israel by President I. Karimov last year laid the necessary foundations for fruitful and stable cooperation. The search of ways and mechanisms of cooperation is continued at present at a pace which corresponds to the development level of legislative bases of the two countries, and we are trying to use the existing potential possibilities whose list is far from complete...Visits to Israel of ministers of health and agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan have been planned for the nearest future. This is also one of the positive factors characterizing the development of bilateral relations. It is well-known that Uzbekistan is the northernmost cotton-producing country. It is precisely in this connection that we should mention successful introduction of drop-irrigation technology by the Netafim firm, which is carrying out a pilot test project in our country envisaging cotton growing on the area of 300 hectares using selection material produced by the Zera'im Gedera firm. Positive results have already been achieved in the course of activities in Uzbekistan of the Israeli MAD poultry-breeding company; efforts are being made to use Israeli experience for increasing the dairy productivity of local cows, and for the introduction of numerous other activities in the field of agriculture. In the sphere of gas and chemical industry, an affiliate of the Israeli Batman company has put forward interesting proposals backed by Israeli state bodies. There is every reason to believe that expert evaluation of the proposed projects, tentatively estimated at $300 million, will make it possible for the Israeli company to carry out its activities on a par with a number of other well-known international firms. Also noteworthy is the example of the Israeli Nisko company, which won the international tender for supplying modern energy-consumption counters to Uzbekistan... I would like to note, in the light of the recent events involving manifestations of anti-Semitism, that this phenomenon dates back to thousands of years and involves unforgettable tragedies; unfortunately, this phenomenon has survived until the present day. In this connection, the recent act of clemency by President Islam Karimov, when amnesty was granted to Israeli citizen Matatov, belongs to the list of goodwill gestures whose roots can be traced back to the depths of the centuries-old history of dignified co-existence of Uzbeks and Jews on our ancient and hospitable land..." 7. Turkey-water-Israel Ankara's ANATOLIA 9/7/99: "Following the evaluation after the talks between the Turkish officials and an Israeli delegation in Ankara to discuss Turkey`s sale of water to Israel, the cooperation project for the sale of water to Israel from the Manavgat stream is expected to be taken up in detail, it was reported on Tuesday. The Foreign Ministry issued a statement and said that the Turkish and Israeli delegations led by Mithat Balkan, the Deputy Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry, and his Israeli counterpart Yuav Biran held a meeting the day before, adding that the Israeli delegation had also met with the officials at the State Water Works (DSI). The statement said the capacity of the Manavgat water-supply facilities, quality of the water, cost of the water exportation and transportation were the issued discussed at the meeting between the DSI officials and the Israeli delegation..." 8. Up against the Wall AL QUDS in Jerusalem 9/6/99: "Wafa: The Higher Islamic Council has called on the Arab and Muslim leaders and the honorable leaders of the world to quickly intervene to stop the digging and construction work the Israeli authorities are carrying out along the southern wall of the blessed al-Aqsa Mosque. A statement issued by the council said, "This kind of work signals a new and dangerous stage consisting of pouring reinforced concrete for the foundations in the area. Israeli authorities have also caused some damage to the sites of the Islamic Omayyad palaces and changed the civilization and historic sites in the area." The statement added that "the work is targeting the blessed al-Aqsa Mosque in a continuation of the plans the Israeli authorities started to implement since June 1967." The council confirmed that al-Aqsa Mosque's walls and areas around the outside wall are Islamic waqf property and that the continued disregard to these facts is of grave consequences. It is the duty of Muslims to hold on to their rights, a duty dictated by their Islamic doctrine. It is their divine duty to abide by this doctrine and defend their religion, holy places, and legitimate rights. The council noted that the Israeli authorities, represented in the historic sites' department, had during the first years of the occupation used the pretext that it was carrying out scientific excavations of the ruins. The Islamic Council and all other institutions in holy Jerusalem have rejected all these pretexts at the time, and still reject them, but the authorities continue to escalate their measures, which are focused on the one objective of Judaizing Jerusalem and the al-Aqsa Mosque, as well as the area surrounding it. The council said in its statement that the Israeli authorities recently closed off the old southern exit point of al-Aqsa Mosque, which overlooks the southern courtyards where the digging and new building works are taking place currently. The objective is to change the status quo. The Israeli authorities have thus violated the international laws and agreements, as well as the UNESCO agreements, in addition to violating the divine doctrines. The Islamic Council denied the nature of scientific and historic research that the Israeli historic sites department is carrying out. It asked Israel to stop the construction work and digging behind the southern wall of the blessed al-Aqsa Mosque. It called on the world once again, including the concerned committees of the United Nations, to condemn these actions. It called on the Arab and Muslim leaders, as well as the Islamic and humanitarian organizations to apply pressure on Israel to stop its acts..." 9. Arafat vs Erakat London's AL SHARQ AL AWSAT 9/6/99: "Palestinian and Egyptian sources have confirmed to Al-Sharq al-Awsat the end of the crisis between Palestinian President Yasir 'Arafat and Dr. Sa'ib 'Urayqat, Local Government Minister and Chief Palestinian Negotiator, over the extent of the Palestinian concessions made to the Israeli side before the signing of the timetable memorandum for implementing the Wye River agreement. Palestinian sources in Gaza said that President 'Arafat rebuked 'Urayqat severely because of Clause 10 in the agreement which stipulated that "the two sides will not make any change during the agreement that is bound to change the current situation in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip." 'Arafat regarded this an obstacle to the declaration of the Palestinian state. This action prompted 'Urayqat to resign. Moreover, he announced that he would not agree to reduce the number of prisoners that Israel would release from 400 to 356. Sources close to 'Urayqat said that the crisis had been contained and that it did not have any negative effect on the present relationship between the Palestinian President and his senior aide in the Higher Negotiations Committee. But Arab sources close to the Palestinian Authority told Al-Sharq al-Awsat that the crisis was a tactical one that aimed to address a message to the concerned parties to save the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations that were on the verge of collapsing. They added that the purport of the message was that the Palestinian negotiator did not have any more concessions to make during the extensive and difficult marathon talks that preceded the bilateral memorandum of understanding...Though the Palestinian President's decision last Friday to sack his senior negotiator lasted only few hours, yet they brought back to mind the climate that accompanied the sudden exclusion of Hanan 'Ashrawi from the Palestinian negotiating team in Washington where she acted as the delegation's official spokeswoman. A Palestinian official revealed that 'Arafat spoke sharply with 'Urayqat because of what he regarded as a misplaced hard-line position on the number of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisoners that Israel was refusing to release among the 400 prisoners whose release was demanded by the Palestinians. The official, who asked to remain anonymous, added: 'Arafat had just returned from Alexandria after a hard day and did not give 'Urayqat enough time to explain the nature of the issues that were the subject of dispute between the Palestinian and Israeli delegations. He went on to say: As soon as 'Arafat heard an explanation of the situation from a number of his senior aides who intervened to convince him to back down on his decision for the sake of continuing the negotiations with Israel that had reached a decisive stage, he immediately summoned 'Urayqat and renewed his confidence in his negotiating abilities." 10. US: 'settlements destructive' Cairo's MIDDLE EAST NEWS AGENCY 9/6/99: "Nabil Sha'th said that the United States reiterated its stand, which considers [Israeli] settlement activity as destructive to the peace process. He added that the United States reemphasized the Palestinian people's right to determine their future on their free land, and that no one can deny the Palestinians their future aspirations and ambitions. He remarked: This stand generally helps and protects us from uncertainty about our rights, because we only witnessed mistrust from the previous Israeli government. He added: We want the United States to remain committed to removing this mistrust in Israel's behavior. We hope trust will replace misgiving. Dr. Sha'th announced that the Palestinian side received a new letter of guarantee from the European Union [EU]. He remarked that it was a very good letter reiterating Europe's stand toward the Palestinian people's right to declare their independent state without a veto from anyone. The letter, he added, emphasizes Europe's stand denouncing all forms of [Israeli] settlement activity and stating that Israel should implement the accords without merging various issues. Sha'th noted: The European letter, which EU Envoy Miguel Moratinos delivered to the Palestinian side and was signed by the foreign ministers of 15 EU member states, and the US stand as stated in the US letter of guarantee, made us more reassured." 11. Agreement approved HA'ARETZ 9/9/99: "The Knesset yesterday overwhelmingly approved the Sharm el Sheikh agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). Several coalition MKs joined the opposition in the 54-23 vote. The Israeli government is planning to release 200 Palestinian prisoners today. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is also hoping to complete the first stage of troop withdrawals from parts of the West Bank today as well. In addition, a decisive majority of the West Bank installations now under the control of the Prison Services, and 16 civilian authorities will be handed over to the PA this evening. The first stage of the withdrawal is in essence a "virtual withdrawal," in which no redeployment of forces will take place. Seven percent of the West Bank will pass from the status of territory "C" to territory "B." Even though these area are spread throughout the West Bank, much of the land is near Nablus and Hebron. In those places, the PA will receive full civilian authority. Israel will continue to hold full responsibility for security arrangements. The headquarters for IDF forces in the West Bank will be transfered to Beit El this evening in a ceremony that will be attended by IDF Generals Moshe Ya'alon and Yaakov Or, Palestinian Civilian Committee Chair Jamil Tarifi and the Palestinian Police Commander in the West Bank, Haj Ismail. The original plan had been to transfer the authority tomorrow or on Monday, but, because the Fast of Gedalia will take place on Monday, Israel worried that the religious parties might have reservations about implementing the plan. In addition, the IDF wants to withdrawal today to avoid problems that would delay completing the move before the Jewish New Year." 12. 199 released AP 9/9/99: "A day ahead of deadline, Israel released 199 Palestinian security prisoners today, providing the first real evidence that the peace process is back on track after nearly a year of deadlock. The inmates, raising handcuffed hands in triumph and flashing victory signs, chanted ``God is great'' as buses carrying them to freedom were greeted by cheering relatives at army checkpoints in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The releases marked the launch of a new interim land-for-security deal that also requires the transfer of 7 percent of the West Bank to Palestinian civilian rule by the weekend and the opening of talks on a permanent peace agreement Monday. Just after dawn today, eight buses with 199 prisoners rolled out of two Israeli jails. Originally, 200 were to be freed, but one refused to leave jail, saying he only had a few days left of his sentence. t the Nahal Oz crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip, prisoners chanted ``Allahu Akbar,'' or God is great, and sang the Palestinian anthem ``My homeland,'' when the buses arrived at the meeting point where dozens of relatives waited... Most of the prisoners freed today had killed suspected Palestinian collaborators or injured Israelis. The prisoner release is only one in a series of events to unfold over the next few days. By the weekend, Israel was to hand over 7 percent of the West Bank -- about 160 square miles -- to Palestinian control. In total, Israel will transfer 11 percent of the West Bank in three stages by Jan. 20. On Monday, Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy and Arafat's deputy, Mahmoud Abbas, will launch negotiations on a permanent peace deal to be concluded by September 2000. Negotiators will have to tackle sensitive issues, such as the borders and nature of the Palestinian entity and the future of Jewish settlements. In a parliament debate Wednesday, opposition leader Ariel Sharon warned that the latest accord endangered Israel's security.

``It's an opening for endless bloodshed,'' he warned. Despite the criticism, parliament approved the deal 54-23." 13. 'Terrible mistake' VOICE OF AMERICA 9/9/99: "As their families cheered, the Palestinian prisoners raised handcuffed fists in triumph as they were released from jails near Israel's Mediterranean coast. The prisoners were taken in buses to be reunited with their families in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The release is in accordance with the revised Wye River peace agreement signed last Sunday in Egypt... A spokesman for Jewish settlers on the West Bank -- David Wilder -- is calling the release a "terrible mistake," saying the prisoners are now free to commit acts of terrorism. Meanwhile, the Israeli Army is closing roadblocks and is barring Palestinians from entering Israel on the eve of the Jewish New Year because of concern about terrorist attacks." 14. Israeli Arab car bombs ARUTZ7 9/8/99: "Two more Israeli-Arabs have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the failed car-bombs this past Sunday. This brings the number of Israeli-Arabs arrested in the case to seven, in addition to the three who were killed while preparing the bombs. Northern Police Chief Alik Ron said, "It's not that terrorism has jumped up a step [with the formation of this terrorist cell within Israel] - this is a jump of an entire stairwell." Daburiyah Regional Council head Dr. Faisal Aziza condemned the actions of the terrorist cell that originated in his village. He said that he and his colleagues will now engage in serious "introspection," and will work to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. Police Chief Yehuda Wilk said today that neither the Police Department nor the General Security Services had any information on the cell, and that this demands some introspection on the part of the police. General Security Services head Ami Ayalon said that the GSS must ask itself why it did not know of the terrorist cell within Israeli-Arab villages." 15. Wye II details HA'ARETZ 9/7/99: "Prime Minister Ehud Barak's revised Wye agreement map increases the size of Area B compared to the original agreement, and this will even further limit the ability of the nearby Jewish settlements to develop, say settlement leaders in Judea and Samaria. They were presented with the maps outlining the first stage of the IDF redeployment in the West Bank by IDF and defense personnel yesterday, following the Sharm-A-Sheikh agreement. Area B refers to areas under Palestinian civilian control and Israeli security control. The map is similar to the one drawn up by the IDF planning department for the second stage of the second withdrawal under the Wye agreement. The main differences involve the transfer of the Mukabila industrial zone north of Jenin to the Palestinian Authority, a reduction in the size of the area to be handed over to the PA in the vicinity of Mount Ba'al Hazor, northeast of Ramallah, and a reduction in the size of the nature reserve in the Judean Desert. During the first stage, to be carried out next week, the PA will receive 7 percent of the West Bank, the status of which will change from Area C (complete Israeli control) to Area B. The principle features of the map are as follows: - In the Jenin area, a Palestinian industrial zone will be built in the village of Mukabila, near the Green Line. - In the Nablus area, land will be handed over east and south of the settlements of Elon Moreh and Itamar, as well as between Emanuel and Yitzhar. - In the Kalkilyah area, land between Salit and Kedumim will be handed over. - In the Ramallah area, land between Ofra and Rimonim and between Beit El and the Jilazoun refugee camp will be handed over. - In the Bethlehem area, a sizable area will be turned into a nature reserve in the Judean Desert, east of the settlement of Nokdim. - In the Hebron area, the area between the villages of Yatta and Samoa will become Area B, as will land south of Dahariya. Area B will be broadened around the army Nahal settlement of Nehogot, turning it into a virtual enclave within Palestinian territory..." 16. Wye II ramifications ARUTZ7 9/8/99: "For the first time since Israel's withdrawal from the cities of Kalkilye and Tulkarm in late 1995, Palestinian Authority control will be extended to areas bordering pre-1967 Israel. This was one of the main concerns raised by Yesha leaders after they viewed maps of the upcoming withdrawal. "Yesha leaders raised eleven points at the map committee meeting yesterday," reported Arutz-7's Haggai Huberman today. "Of these, eight were accepted by the committee - chaired by Tourism Minister and former IDF Chief of Staff Amnon Lipkin-Shachak - and three were passed on to the government for a final decision." The government today rejected them. The changes that were accepted related to specific problems of water, electricity, and local roads. The three unaccepted issues have implications not only for the settlement enterprise, but for the entire country, Huberman explained. "Next week's withdrawal in the area of the northern Shomron will see Area B, northwest of Jenin, extend up to the Green Line," he said. "The area will border the Arab village of Mukabila, an Israeli-Arab village. Until now, Israel was always careful to leave a buffer between Palestinian areas and the Green Line." Ecological concerns were also raised: "Without Israeli supervision, the PA is liable to bring about real ecological damage to the communities of the northern Shomron and of the Jezre'el Valley, the Yesha Council fears. Waste products could be dumped into the Kishon brook and soon threaten towns as far north as Haifa." As mentioned, however, the government approved the transfer of this area...[Yesha] Council Deputy Director-General Shlomo Filber told Arutz-7 today that though the upcoming withdrawal will not imminently isolate any Yesha communities, the next stage of IDF pull-outs will be very difficult for them." 17. Talking trash ARUTZ7 9/8/99: "Over 90,000 tons of garbage are piled up along Israeli streets, as a result of the municipal workers' strike. Talks between the sides last night were unsuccessful in resolving the issues, but there is renewed optimism that a solution can be found by tonight. Leading rabbis have ruled that the garbage filling the streets represents a "desecration of the [upcoming Rosh HaShanah] holiday." 18. Initial budget approval ARUTZ7 9/8/99: "The first stage of the approval of Israel's year 2000 budget was passed last night by the Cabinet. The originally-proposed cuts to education and child allowance were canceled, and the cut to the army will be smaller than planned. Instead, across-the-board cuts will be instituted in the all government offices. The budget of the Settlement Wing of the Jewish Agency is scheduled to be cut a whopping 47%, from 188 million shekels to 100 million shekels. Avraham Duvdevani, head of the Settlement Wing, said that the cuts will "cripple the settlement enterprise in Yesha, the Jordan Valley, and the Golan Heights." He told Arutz-7 that ever since Oslo, "when we were prevented from establishing new communities, we have focused on community infrastructure and expansion, employment for local residents, funding and organizing extra-curricular education - in short, everything that contributes to smooth day-to-day functioning of communities in Yesha, the Jordan Valley and Golan... It's clear that when you cut a large organization's budget by 50%, it means that you want to suffocate it. This is purely a political decision."... 19. Shin Bet methods HA'ARETZ 9/9/99: "Prime Minister Ehud Barak yesterday outlined to his cabinet new proposals governing interrogations by the Shin Bet internal security service. But he stopped short of calling for new legislation on the Shin Bet's use physical pressure during interrogations. Barak said he wants to study the landmark High Court of Justice ruling forbidding so-called torture measures. He wants to find a legal arrangement creating a balance that would enable Shin Bet to continue using "special interrogation methods" in cases of immediate security risks. Barak's proposal calls for an authority independent of the Shin Bet that will be charged with authorizing "special interrogation methods" in cases of immediate danger. Under his plan, authorization to use physical pressure would be given on an individual basis and in advance, and not as blanket authorizations. In recent years a special ministerial committee on Shin Bet interrogations, headed by the prime minister, has acted to give the security services general authorization to employ "special methods" in interrogating terror suspects, usually for three month periods, and the head of Shin Bet has needed to make a new request to the committee each time the authorization period is due to expire." 20. Shas' ultimatum HA'ARETZ 9/9/99: "Shas presented the government with an ultimatum yesterday, insisting it would quit the coalition if the government did not authorize the immediate transfer of NIS 12 million to the movement's Ma'ayan Ha'hinuch Ha'torani educational network, which is in dire financial straits. Teachers in the Shas system have not been paid for the last three months. Shas Chair Eli Yishai's spokesperson said last night that the ultimatum was "until the beginning of the holiday" - in other words, until tomorrow evening. Last night Shas's leaders agreed in principle to the basics of a recovery plan for the educational network, formulated by the treasury and Education Ministry. Shas is demanding, however, that the plan be spread out over two years, instead of two months as proposed. A meeting scheduled for today at the Finance Ministry is set to decide whether to transfer the money that Shas is demanding and which Education Minister Yossi Sarid has so far refused to hand over, basing his decision on Attorney General Elyakim Rubinstein's expert opinion. Prime Minister Ehud Barak plans to continue his efforts to solve the crisis today. The Prime Minister's Office estimates that if the money is not transferred to the school system during the day, Shas's four ministers will resign from the government and the whole faction will quit the coalition. Barak was reported to be furious at Shas yesterday for staying away from the Knesset assembly during the vote on the Sharm el Sheikh agreement and for keeping its ministers away from Tuesday night's cabinet vote on the budget. Barak told his associates that he failed to understand why Shas insisted on linking the government and Knesset votes with the transfer of funds to its school network. Barak refused to meet with Shas's ministers before the Knesset vote yesterday, saying there was no connection between the two issues. The education and finance ministries are conditioning the transfer of the NIS 12 million - the regular monthly budget the Shas schools are entitled to - upon Shas's leaders signing two written commitments: one undertaking to close down all of the party's unlicensed schools and appoint an accountant to oversee the network's activities, and the other undertaking to accept a recovery plan recommended by the Ne'eman Commission. Meanwhile, Channel One commentator Amnon Abramovitch last night revealed a report on Shas's school system's financial condition, suggesting possible criminal offenses. The draft of the report, compiled by a noted Tel Aviv accounting firm, points to waste on a large scale and alleged corruption in the managing of the network's budget. The report lists a host of extravagant events..." 21. Levy to lead talks HA'ARETZ 9/9/99: "The involvement of IDF officers in the peace talks will be limited to the security elements of the negotiations, Prime Minister Ehud Barak has decided, according to senior diplomatic sources. In the meantime, Israel's top negotiator, attorney Gilad Sher, yesterday asked to be relieved of his appointment, and Foreign Minister David Levy was named to head the final-status talks with the Palestinians...In asking to be relieved of his appointment as head of the delegation to the talks on the permanent settlement, Sher informed the prime minister that he will be returning to work full-time at the law firm where he is a partner. Attorney General Elyakim Rubinstein had ruled that Sher would not be able to continue in his service as Israel's chief negotiator due to a possible conflict of interest with his private lawyer's practice. He will continue to serve as an external adviser to Barak, however, and he will continue to carry out other tasks for the prime minister in the future negotiations with the Palestinians and the Syrians..." 22. US-UN-Israel ISRAEL LINE 9/8/99: "The United States will work to integrate Israel in the Western bloc of countries at the United Nations, U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright promised Foreign Minister David Levy during their discussions in Jerusalem on Friday, HA'ARETZ reported. Israel has long sought to become a member of the Western bloc at the UN, but has encountered opposition from some European countries. Albright said she has already instructed the American ambassador to the UN, Richard Holbrooke, to attempt to strengthen Israel's position at the organization. Levy and Albright are scheduled to meet at the UN General Assembly in three weeks." 23. Mein Kampf a hit! HA'ARETZ 9/9/99: "Adolph Hitler's infamous MEIN KAMPF has become a best seller in the territories of the Palestinian Authority. The Arabic translation of the book is currently sixth on the list of best sellers that put together by book store owners in Ramallah and published in the daily Al-Hayat al-Jedida. One book store owner, Nicholas Amal, said that he personally sells a dozen copys per week, despite the fact that "Ramallah is a small town and the Palestinians aren't well-known book lovers." 24. Taxes HA'ARETZ 9/9/99-Analysis by Guy Rolnick: "Having a hard time figuring out what happened at the cabinet meeting on the budget? Confused by the ceilings, floors, allowances and by the vertical and horizontal cuts? Can't understand how they canceled the cuts to allowances, decided not to cut the Education Ministry budget and still were able to announce that there was no deviation from the deficit target? The puzzle isn't all that complicated. It has only one solution: taxes. Direct taxes, indirect taxes and hidden taxes. What kind of taxes are these? The same taxes that Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Finance Minister Avraham Shochat, treasury clerks and Bank of Israel officials have, for two months, been saying must not be levied. Of course every tax has an explanation - a disguise. Every tax comes with its own story. Some taxes are "temporary," so we aren't supposed to be concerned; others suddenly become "obvious in retrospect" and were therefore included in other Finance Ministry-initiated reforms. It begins with the tax on diesel fuel for transportation. This tax was supposed to be included in an ostensibly "neutral" reform of the energy industry. "Neutral" in this case means that the NIS 350 million in additional taxes was supposed to go hand in hand with a reduction in taxes on other fuels. In the meantime, half of the work has been done: the taxes were raised. It goes on to the lifting of the tax ceilings for the National Insurance Institute and health insurance. It was supposed to be a "rich people's tax," a tax on "bank managers," a tax on all those corrupt stock exchange players who earn such outrageous salaries. In practice, however, it is a tax that traps within it not only bank managers and the robber barons of publicly traded companies, but also many workers in high-tech industries - the kind of people who the treasury and the prime minister claim they want to promote. And it actually bothers the millionaires' rest not at all, since for them health insurance and NII payments make up a negligible proportion of their salaries. The treasury claims that these taxes are "temporary" - just for one year. But we are know full well that there are few things more permanent than something that is "temporary," especially when it comes to taxes... The good news is that the treasury believes that the tax increases approved last night are temporary; that there will be a tax reform and that next year there will also be a rise in spending on infrastructure. The bad news is that the first budget submitted by the finance minister was plucked, trimmed and distorted, and in the meantime, the primary assumption of the Finance Ministry officials is that things could have been even worse."