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Weekly News
For November 29 - December 5, 2003Terrorism and Prevention in Israel
Suicide bombings averted. Israeli security forces foiled two imminent suicide bombings and one other potential attack this week. One suicide attack targeted a middle school near Haifa, and the other was to have taken place in Beit She'an. The apprehended terrorists told investigators that they had chosen the Haifa destination because it was not yet protected by the security fence. As a result of the high security roadblocks and checkpoints following the prevention of the Beit She'an attack, a counter-terrorist unit was able to arrest another would-be bomber along with his dispatcher. More
Defense Minister Discusses Israel's Security
At the Israeli cabinet meeting this past week, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz gave a briefing on security matters. He emphasized that the recent quiet was not due to a lack of planned terrorist attacks but rather to Israel's success in foiling them; on that particular day, there was intelligence information on 44 planned attacks. The Defense Minister discussed how the continued construction of the security fence has contributed significantly to security in Israel, and that efforts continued to ensure that the fence would have a minimum effect on the daily lives of the Palestinian population. In discussing the Palestinian leadership, he observed that Abu Ala's government does not have an answer to the security issue and that Arafat has returned to center stage. Despite this, the Defense Minister believes that Abu Ala's government should be given the opportunity to make a difference, but that it should be judged by its actions against terrorism. More
Installing Biometric ID System at Gaza Strip Border Crossing
Israel's military plans to install a sophisticated biometric identification system at a Gaza Strip checkpoint in an effort to speed the passage of entering Palestinian workers and limit what can be dangerous friction with Israeli soldiers. The system, developed by On Track Innovations Ltd. (OTI), will use two biometric sensors to read the facial dimensions and hand geometry of Palestinian workers crossing through the Erez checkpoint.
Currently, about 10,000 Palestinian laborers go through the narrow passageways of the Erez checkpoint. The new biometric system is designed to increase security and speed up the check at the same time. OTI's system should take between four and nine seconds to check each worker - significantly quicker than other systems that check handprints and retinas to identify users. More
Israeli Foreign Minister Responds to Syrian President
On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom responded to Syrian President Bashar Assad's proposal to resume negotiations. The Foreign Minister set conditions for the resumption of peace talks: "We want to see action. Syria must put an end to terror activities that begin on its territory, and curtail arms shipments from Iran to Hizbullah. Should Syria do this, and if it is prepared to engage in talks with Israel without preconditions, there's no doubt the government of Israel will seriously consider this option." Similarly, US State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher addressed the issue by stating: "We find it hard to understand how Syria can talk peace at a time when Syria continues to support groups that are violently opposed to the peace process, that are violently opposed to the Palestinian government and the building of a Palestinian state." More
Palestinians Participate in Israel Business Conference
A delegation of representatives from the Palestinian public and private sectors attended the 2003 Israel Business Conference this week. Their participation was considered a signal that the Palestinian business community wishes to renew economic ties with Israel. Senior representatives from the Palestinian Ministries of Finance, Economy and Trade, Planning, Labor, and Agriculture attended the conference, along with Palestinian government companies that influence the private sector. More
Israel Playing Key Role in Next Year’s Olympics in Greece
Israel is playing an important security role for next year’s Olympic Games in Athens. "Israel is a key country with respect to providing intelligence information to, and training and drilling the Greek security forces," Greek Minister for Public Order Georgios Floridis said.
Israel's involvement is three-fold: testing the reliability of the Greek security arrangements; providing expertise in dealing with suicide bombers; giving intelligence information about terror organizations and potential threats. More
Israeli Reality Show Gives Lesson in Tolerance
A 21-year-old Christian Arab Israeli from northern Israel became a hero for Israeli youth culture when he triumphed over 14 competitors in the Israeli reality show Project Y. Similar to international reality programs like Big Brother, a group of young people was housed in a villa for three months; the participants were not allowed any communication with the outside world and had cameras documenting their every move. Each week, they chose to send someone home. The last "survivor" of the show would win a television show for a year; each of the participants had to demonstrate business ambitions. The winner, Firas Houri, chose not to discuss politics during the reality show; he stressed repeatedly that he did not judge people by race or religion, and that he considered his housemates to be true friends. More
