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The Week in Review
January 19 - 23, 2004
- SECURITY
- Soldier Killed, Another Seriously Wounded in Hezbollah Attack
- Israel Strikes Hezbollah in Response to Killing of Soldier
- DIPLOMACY
- Fence is Moveable, Shalom Says
- Sharon's Unilateral Withdrawal Plan Would Not Involve Annexation of Territory
- ECONOMY & HI-TECH
- 372 High-Tech Companies Raised Venture Capital in 2003
- Technion Researchers Develop 'Glue' to Support Broken Bones
- Israeli Business World Confident Economy Will Grow in 2004
- SOCIETY
- IDF Sets Up New Internet Training for Reservists
- Stricter Procedures for Handling Children at Risk
- Sharon Dismisses Resignation, Says Focus Is on State Matters
SECURITY Soldier Killed, Another Seriously Wounded in Hezbollah Attack
Tuesday, January 20, 2004Sgt.-Maj. Jan Rotchneski, 21, from Herzliya was killed and another soldier was seriously wounded Monday afternoon in a Hezbollah anti-tank attack against an Israel Defense Forces D9 bulldozer being used to clear a minefield along the Lebanese border, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. The wounded soldier has undergone a number of operations and remains in hospital on a breathing machine.
One senior military officer from the Northern Command told Army Radio that the death could have been avoided. "It was naiveté on our part to think that we could neutralize the minefields in such a blatant and noisy way without the Hezbollah taking the opportunity to hit us," he said. "We could have saved the price of a human life in this incident."
Rotchneski immigrated from Russia in 1990 with his parents, one of whom works at Israel Aircraft Industries, the other as a computer programmer. He had never told his parents that he was serving on the northern border so as not to worry them.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Silvan Shalom warned Syrian President Bashar Assad against using Hezbollah in his struggle against Israel.
According to HA'ARETZ, Minister of Defense Shaul Mofaz said this afternoon that even though United Nations forces in south Lebanon had known that the terrorist organization had planted roadside bombs along the Israeli border several days ago, it had done nothing to disarm them.
Israel Strikes Hezbollah in Response to Killing of Soldier
Wednesday, January 21, 2004Israel Air Force fighter planes struck at targets in southern Lebanon early Tuesday evening in retaliation for the attack that killed 21-year-old Sergeant Major Jan Rotzanski from Herzliya, HA'ARETZ reported. Rotzanski was in an Israel Defense Forces bulldozer clearing a series of roadside bombs laid by Hezbollah, when the vehicle was hit by a missile. A second soldier in the bulldozer was seriously wounded. Rotzanski was laid to rest at noon today, in Herzliya's military cemetery.
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on Tuesday condemned Hezbollah for the deadly missile attack, saying that it had prompted Israel to respond with air strikes. "The deliberate action that they took, which resulted in the loss of life, once again demonstrates the nature of that organization," Powell said. Powell also warned Syria against its continued support for Hezbollah.
Meanwhile, officials indicated on Tuesday that Israel had been considering bombing Syrian targets in response to a deadly attack by Hezbollah, but decided against it after concluding the action could lead to further escalation. Israel holds Syria responsible for Hezbollah's actions.
DIPLOMACY Fence is Moveable, Shalom Says
Friday, January 23, 2004Minister of Foreign Affairs Silvan Shalom said today that the Palestinians should return to the negotiating table because Israel was ready to make changes in the fence built in the West Bank to prevent terror attacks, HA'ARETZ reported. "The fence is moveable," Shalom said. Shalom added that Israel had pulled back similar fences on the borders with Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon and could do it again. "If we reach agreement with the Palestinians and we agree with each other to move the fence, it's moveable," Shalom said. "The fence is reversible. Human lives are irreversible," Shalom added.
The terror prevention fence, which will ultimately run over 650 kilometers, is one-third complete.
Shalom said its construction had been instrumental in reducing terrorist attacks in Israel.
"I'm asking everyone to ask Prime Minister Abu Ala to resume the negotiations, because I believe that through negotiations it will be much easier for us to narrow the gaps," Shalom said.
Sharon's Unilateral Withdrawal Plan Would Not Involve Annexation of Territory
Friday, January 23, 2004Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan does not include the annexation of territory, Sharon's bureau chief Dov Weissglass guaranteed U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice in their meeting Thursday, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. Presenting Rice with the plan, Weisglass explained that Israel would initiate a unilateral withdrawal to a "security line" - including the evacuation of some settlements - as part of the Road Map implementation.
Weissglass also assured Rice the route of the security fence was being seriously reconsidered so as to comply with U.S. requests and allow for concessions for the Palestinian population. He spoke of Israel's intentions of easing Palestinians' lives by creating additional passageways in the fence, which would provide them with greater freedom of movement.
ECONOMY & HI-TECH 372 High-Tech Companies Raised Venture Capital in 2003
Tuesday, January 20, 2004Three hundred and seventy two Israeli High-Tech companies raised about 1.011 billion dollars from VC funds and other risk capital investors in 2003, MA'ARIV reported. The amount is similar to that raised in 1999, but lower by 11 percent to the sum raised by 352 companies in 2002. The figures arise from IVC's quarterly research on monies raised by venture capital funds. According to I VC, 2003 saw the average amount raised per company drop 16 percent. The sum stands at 2.7 million dollars, in comparison to the 3.2 million dollars raised in 2002.
Israeli reserves invested 421 million dollars in Israeli companies - a 12 percent drop compared to the 481 million dollars they invested in 2002.
The venture capital industry experienced a growth in funds raised for seed level companies; 37 seed companies raised 58 million dollars in 2003, accounting for 6 percent of the total.
"The increase in seed investments that began in 2003 indicates that the High-Tech sector is on the way out of the crisis," IVC research manager, Efrat Zakai said. IVC chairman, Zeev Holzman was also optimistic, predicting that the awakening of the High- Tech industry in Israel and throughout the world would bring about an increase of investments in 2004.
Technion Researchers Develop 'Glue' to Support Broken Bones
Wednesday, January 21, 2004Researchers at the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, have developed "a bone glue" - a material made of a combination of biological and synthetic components that supports broken bones and allows them to grow new tissue, HA'ARETZ reported. The material was developed in the Technion's Department of Biomedical Engineering by Dr. Dror Seliktar and Liora Almani-Levy, a master's degree student. According to Seliktar, it is common practice in orthopedic medicine today to use various types of screws and steel pins to fix broken bones in place and thereby help them to fuse; sometimes, he says, a material known as "bone cement" is also used. "These materials," Seliktar continues, "only give the bone the structural-mechanical support it needs, and do not facilitate the regeneration of bone tissue at the damaged site." Seliktar says that although biological materials used today to rehabilitate damaged tissues encourage tissue regeneration, they do not provide the regenerated tissue with the physical strength. "The material we have developed," he says, "does both."
The new material, known for now as Gelrin, is comprised of Fibrin and the polyethylene, Glycol. Fibrin is a protein produced in blood plasma and serves as a central element in the blood clotting process; the Glycol is a transparent plastic material.
Israeli Business World Confident Economy Will Grow in 2004
Thursday, January 22, 2004Both the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce (FICC) and the Manufacturers' Association published surveys Wednesday predicting moderate growth of the economy in 2004, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. The FICC said that a survey it recently carried out showed that 71 percent of Israeli companies foresaw a growth in sales in 2004 with 13 percent expecting a large increase. Some 18 percent foresaw no change and 11 percent expected sales to decline.
On average Israeli companies predicted a growth of 2.3 percent in 2004. Meanwhile some 48 percent believed their profits would increase in the coming year, 38 percent believed there would be no change and 14 percent expected profits to decrease.
With regard to manpower 56 percent of companies did not expect to make changes in the size of their personnel, 30 percent expected to increase their manpower and 14 percent expected to decrease it.
Those surveyed were especially optimistic about exports with 91 percent expecting exports to grow in the first quarter of the year.
On the negative side, only 10 percent of industrial leaders said the country had already escaped the recession.
SOCIETY IDF Sets Up New Internet Training for Reservists
Tuesday, January 20, 2004The Israel Defense Forces has instituted a new Internet link allowing reserve officers to gain instructions and refresher courses online and at home instead of being called up for duty, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. The program is called "Milnet," playing on the Hebrew "miluim," (reserves) and "military."
"We are constantly trying to improve our contact with reservists so they can get information and maintain the military knowledge and contact with their commanders," Col. Ofer Segal, head of training in the Ground Forces Command, said. "This project allows reserve commanders and staff officers to learn and update themselves with central military issues via the Internet at home."
According to Segal, the instructional courses offered on Milnet include combat doctrine, command and control, certain battle techniques, combat and logistical support, and battle analysis. Segal said that Field Security had carefully gone over the entire project and that no classified information was being revealed. He said that the IDF's advanced COMSEC data protection capabilities were fully imposed on the project. The location of the Web page was not revealed.
Stricter Procedures for Handling Children at Risk
Wednesday, January 21, 2004The Ministry of Welfare is implementing stricter standards for the removal of children from their home by social workers, MA'ARIV reported According to the new procedures, additional supervision will be introduced, with parents having more options to appeal the decision to have children taken out of their custody. Until now, a local authority social worker handling youth-at-risk could remove a child from home for up to a week. Now, this emergency injunction will be limited to four days only, with any extension requiring the approval of a district welfare officer.
In addition, the welfare office will be required to invite the child's parents to attend any discussion of the Committee for Planning, Handling and Assessment, charged with deciding on measures to be adopted. The parents would also be able to appeal any decision at a district board, an option unavailable before.
The new procedures, formulated by a committee headed by Ministry of Welfare Director-General Dov Goldberger, follow charges by parents about the "unbearable ease" of removing their children from home. Minister of Welfare Zevulun Orlev said: "I view the new procedures as a revolution with far-reaching implications, not only for children and youth, but also for all other population groups we are handling."
Sharon Dismisses Resignation, Says Focus Is on State Matters
Thursday, January 22, 2004Responding to the news of a possible indictment against him over the Greek Island affair, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon explained that, "there is no reason for me to resign, I do not have any intention to quit," MA'ARIV reported. Sharon said: "I can reassure everyone - I am working and focusing on state matters from dawn until the dead of night. Work is being conducted as usual, I do what I need to do and devote all my attention to work."
The Ministry of Justice denied reports on Wednesday that Acting Attorney-General and State Prosecutor Edna Arbel believes sufficient evidence exists to indict the Prime Minister.
The estimate among legal circles is that Manny Mazoz, who is slated to be approved as the next Legal Advisor to the Government early next week, will be the one to decide whether to charge Sharon, his son Gilad, and Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
