News and Media - Israeli Consulate, SF - Week in Review - April 4

April 4 - 8, 2005

DEATH OF POPE JOHN PAUL II
- PM Sharon: John Paul II Was a Friend of the Jewish People
- Katsav Meets Syrian and Iranian Leaders at Pope's Funeral
SECURITY
- Latrun Museum Attack Foiled
- Man Seriously Wounded in Morag Shooting Attack
- Hezbollah Planned Attacks on Senior Israeli Officials
- Palestinian Gunmen Wounds IDF Soldier near Jenin
- Palestinians Fire Qassam Rocket into Israel
DISENGAGEMENT PLAN PREPARATIONS
- Settlers Offer Deal of Relocation to Nitzanim
- Defense Minister Favorable to Hand Over Settlers' Homes to PA
- PM Sharon to Decide After U.S. Trip on Relocation Area for Gaza Settlers
HOME
- Israel's Jewish Majority Could Drop 10 Percent by 2025
- Knesset Holds Special Session on Conversions
DIPLOMACY
- FM Shalom: Israel and Jordan Near Deal on Prisoner Release
- Peres Meets with Cheney Ahead of Prime Minister's Visit to U.S.
PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS
- Abbas Continues Wave of Dismissals
- Terror Groups to PA: We Won't Hand Over Weapons

DEATH OF POPE JOHN PAUL II

PM Sharon: John Paul II Was a Friend of the Jewish People
Monday, April 4, 2005

Pope John Paul II was "a man of peace, a friend of the Jewish people," Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said at the opening of the weekly cabinet meeting Sunday, as he offered the country's condolences on the pope's death to the Catholic community both in Israel and abroad, HA'ARETZ reported. "The world lost yesterday one the most important leaders of our times, whose contribution to bringing people together, uniting nations, and to understanding and tolerance will accompany us for many years," Sharon said.
President Moshe Katsav offered a similar tribute, saying: "The pope bravely put an end to historic injustice by officially rejecting prejudices and accusations against Jews."
Over the course of his papacy, John Paul II revolutionized the Vatican's relationship with both Israel and the Jewish people. Full story

Katsav Meets Syrian and Iranian Leaders at Pope's Funeral
Friday, April 8, 2005

President Moshe Katsav twice shook hands with Syrian President Bashar Assad today when the two met at the Vatican for the funeral of Pope John Paul II, HA'ARETZ reported. Katsav and Assad were close to each other throughout the procession since both the Israeli and Syrian delegations to the funeral were positioned next to one another.
At the conclusion of funeral services, the Iranian-born Katsav also shook hands with Iranian President Mohammad Khatami. The two proceeded to speak for almost an hour in Farsi.
Katsav also reportedly embraced Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
Also at the Vatican, Minister of Foreign Affairs Silvan Shalom met with his Moroccan counterpart Mohammed Ben-Issa.
Full story

SECURITY

Latrun Museum Attack Foiled
Monday, April 4, 2005

The Israel Security Agency foiled a plan to stage a terror attack at the Armored Corps Museum at the Latrun Junction, near the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem Highway, last February, YNET reported. According to security reports released today, cell from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine planned to dispatch two suicide bombers and a car bomb to the busy tourist site.
The mastermind of the plot, Yousef George Daoud, 27, was arrested in February. Two additional cell members - Nadel Mahmed Yousef Abu Alma and Fahmi Basil Avodi - were detained in January.
The trio admitted to planning the attack, and revealed that they had picked the site because one of the terrorists was familiar with the area.
Meanwhile, a Hamas member from Jerusalem's Old City was arrested in March, in another case released for publication Monday. Ashraf Daya admitted he had been recruited by Hamas in Gaza and that he intended to stage a terror attack in Israel.
In other news, Israel Defense F soldiers arrested two 15-year-old Palestinian boys in possession of pipe bombs at a checkpoint south of the West Bank town of Nablus today. Full story

Man Seriously Wounded in Morag Shooting Attack
Tuesday, April 5, 2005

An Israeli man was seriously wounded this afternoon when a Palestinian gunman opened fire at construction workers near Morag in southern Gaza, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. He was evacuated by helicopter to the Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva. The Palestinian Popular Resistance Committees have claimed responsibility for the attack - the first shooting incident in the area in a number of weeks. Soldiers are now deployed in the area and searching for the perpetrator.
Earlier today, Minister of Defense Shaul Mofaz had reiterated his stance that the Palestinian Authority was not doing enough to crackdown on terror groups. "The smuggling of weapons continues," he said. "The Palestinians have still not managed to address the issue of fugitives. In addition, terror groups are trying to resume their attacks," he added.
In other news, Golani soldiers uncovered an arms smuggling tunnel near the southern Gaza city of Rafah this afternoon. Full story

Hezbollah Planned Attacks on Senior Israeli Officials
Wednesday, April 6, 2005

A Palestinian man was arrested late February on suspicion of assisting Hezbollah in planning terror attacks against senior Israeli officials, HA'ARETZ reported. The Israel Security Agency revealed today that Wasem Nasser, a Nablus resident, had met with Hezbollah operatives during a family visit he made to Lebanon. Nasser, a 21-year-old student at Al-Najaf University, underwent military training in Lebanon during the course of which he learned how to use various firearms and studied methods of collecting intelligence and operating eavesdropping devices. His Hezbollah operators ordered him to photograph checkpoints, settlements and Israel Defense Forces bases, and send them the images via the Internet.
Nasser was not able to tell ISA interrogators which Israeli officials Hezbollah was planning on targeting. Full story

Palestinian Gunmen Wounds IDF Soldier near Jenin
Wednesday, April 6, 2005

An Israel Defense Forces soldier sustained light to moderate wounds today when Palestinian gunmen opened fire at troops operating in the Jenin area, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. The soldier was treated at the scene and later evacuated to the Hillel Yaffe hospital in Hadera. The shooting occurred in the afternoon as IDF units were following up on an intelligence report warning that a local Islamic Jihad cell was planning to launch terrorist attacks.
Meanwhile, an IDF unit spotted three Palestinians preparing to hurl Molotov cocktails at passing cars on the way to the West Bank town of Elon Moreh today. The soldiers arrested the suspects, who are now being interrogated by security authorities.
Earlier today, three Palestinians were wounded by Israeli security guards along the Green Line near the Rantiss Junction, north of Ramallah. The guards said that they opened fire after close to 500 Palestinians began throwing stones at them. Full story

Palestinians Fire Qassam Rocket into Israel
Friday, April 8, 2005

A Qassam rocket fired by Palestinian terrorists from the Beit Hanun area of the northern Gaza Strip hit a cemetery in the Negev town of Sderot Thursday evening, causing no damage or injuries, HA'ARETZ reported. Minister of Defense Shaul Mofaz qualified the attack as "severe," and added that "Israel will not accept it."
"There is an intolerable gap between what the Palestinian Authority is saying and the actual steps it is taking on the ground to prevent terror," Mofaz said. He demanded that PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas do all he could to prevent further rocket attacks.
Thursday night's Qassam is the first rocket to be fired inside the Green Line since late January. Full story

DISENGAGEMENT PLAN PREPARATIONS

Settlers Offer Deal of Relocation to Nitzanim
Tuesday, April 5, 2005

Making an unexpected about turn, Gaza settler leaders have announced they will evacuate their homes voluntarily if the Government agrees to relocate them to the Nitzanim area located between the southern towns of Ashdod and Ashkelon, YNET reported. The settlers' plan calls for 7-10 new communities to be established in the Nitzanim dunes to replace of the 21 existing Gaza settlements.
Nitzanim officials were cool to the idea of absorbing 1,000 new families, saying the town had a "delicate mix" of religious and secular residents, and that the addition of 1,000 mostly secular Gaza settlers could alter that balance.
Minister of Environment Shalom Simhon said today he objected to the move because it would damage the last untouched dunes along Israel's southern coast.
Settler leaders were to meet with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon today to talk about their relocation proposal. Full story

Defense Minister Favorable to Hand Over Settlers' Homes to PA
Thursday, April 7, 2005

Minister of Defense Shaul Mofaz decided to recommend to the Government that settlers' homes in the Gaza Strip be handed over to the Palestinians, and not be dismantled, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. The cabinet will make a decision on the matter next month. In addition, Mofaz ordered the defense establishment to prepare the dismantling of synagogues and mikves [ritual bath], and their transfer to the areas where settlers will relocate. Full story

PM Sharon to Decide After U.S. Trip on Relocation Area for Gaza Settlers
Thursday, April 7, 2005

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will decide on whether to adopt the relocation plan laid out by Gaza's Jewish residents when he returns from his visit to the United States, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. Earlier this week, the leadership of Gaza's settlers offered to voluntarily implement the disengagement plan, if residents were relocated to the Nitzanim area in southern Israel. Today, Sharon - together with IDF and disengagement officials - toured the southern part of the country to examine relocations possibilities. The prime minister told regional leaders that he supported the establishment of new communities and neighborhoods in the western Negev in order to help absorb evacuated Gush Katif residents. Full story

HOME

Israel's Jewish Majority Could Drop 10 Percent by 2025
Tuesday, April 5, 2005

The Jewish proportion of Israel's population is expected to drop by some 10 percent by 2025 to about 70 percent of the total population according to data released today by the Central Bureau of Statistics, HA'ARETZ reported. In 2000, 78 percent of Israel's total population was Jewish. In 2025, there will be an estimated 2.3 million Arab citizens in the country, or 25 percent of the total population. In 2000, Arabs made up 19 percent of the population, or 1.2 million people.
The country's total population is expected to increase by some 45 percent over the next 20 years to some 9.3 million people, compared to the current population of 6.4 million.
According to estimates, 543,000 new immigrants are expected to arrive in Israel during the period. Some 340,000 people are expected to emigrate from Israel. Full story

Knesset Holds Special Session on Conversions
Wednesday, April 6, 2005

The Knesset was convened for a special session today to discuss the High Court of Justice's decision last week to recognize non-Orthodox conversions abroad of local residents, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. The Degel Hatorah political faction was set to demand that the government block the implementation of the court's decision. MK Moshe Gafni said that Degel Hatorah's coalition agreement ensures "no change in the status quo," and he would insist that the government "rectify the situation."
However, Minister of Interior Ophir Paz-Pines warned MKs against initiating legislation to circumvent the court decision, saying it would trigger political controversy and "undermine democracy." Opposition leader Yosef Lapid said the Knesset should never have convened to debate a court decision, and should respect its decisions.
Degel Hatorah's actions fall in line with the staunch opposition to the court's decision heard from many parts of the Orthodox world. Full story

DIPLOMACY

FM Shalom: Israel and Jordan Near Deal on Prisoner Release
Thursday, April 7, 2005

Minister of Foreign Affairs Silvan Shalom said Wednesday that Israel and Jordan were close to an agreement on the release of Jordanian prisoners held in Israeli jails, HA'ARETZ reported. "I hope we will soon announce a breakthrough. Talks are being held between two neighboring, amicable countries, and much progress has been made," Shalom said before a meeting with Jordan's ambassador to Israel, Maarouf al-Bakhit.
The imminent deal will likely include the release of 17 Jordanian prisoners. Four inmates who were handed life sentences prior to the signing of the peace treaty between the two countries, and are defined as having 'blood on their hands,' will continue serving their jail terms.
Meanwhile, Jordanian King Abdullah II swore in today a 26-member Cabinet headed by a new prime minister, U.S. educated Adnan Badran. Full story

Peres Meets with Cheney Ahead of Prime Minister's Visit to U.S.
Friday, April 8, 2005

Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres met with U.S. Vice President Cheney on Thursday to discuss issues in the Mideast ahead of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's visit to the United States next week, YNET reported. On the issue of construction in the Maaleh Adunim area, Peres explained, that the plan had been formulated 14 years ago, and there was a difference between plans to build in Ma'aleh Adumim and the actualization of those plans.
Construction in Maaleh Adumim will likely be addressed during the upcoming Bush-Sharon meeting. However, officials in Washington said the main topic of discussion would be the disengagement plan from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. In that respect, Peres and Cheney discussed American aid in anticipation of the pullout. "The burden on the Israeli government is very high, we want to turn the exit from Gaza into a success story," Peres said, adding that the development of the Negev and Galilee was a priority. Full story

PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS

Abbas Continues Wave of Dismissals
Tuesday, April 5, 2005

In the wake of the deterioration of the security situation within the Palestinian Authority, Chairman Mahmoud Abbas continued Monday his series of dismissals and appointments within the Palestinian security forces, YNET reported. Following the appointment Sunday of Nidal Asuli to the post of interim West Bank security chief in place of General Haj Ismail, Abbas sacked West Bank Security Intelligence chief Hany Iad. He also fired West Bank Military Coordination Commander Muhammad Heibi, and appointed Halil Jamal as his replacement.
The Ramallah Police chief was also dismissed from his duties, and Abbas announced he planned to terminate the posts of officers who had reached the age of 60. Full story

Terror Groups to PA: We Won't Hand Over Weapons
Wednesday, April 6, 2005

Palestinian terror groups warned the Palestinian Authority today against any attempt to disarm them, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. The announcement comes as the PA has initiated - under growing pressure from the United States and Israel - a timid effort towards reining in the activities of armed Palestinian factions. Abbas has said he will do so by persuasion, not force, and has bought himself some time by getting terror groups to agree to a temporary truce with Israel.
Over the weekend, Abbas announced the formation of two committees - one for the West Bank, and one for the Gaza Strip - in charge of getting 523 terrorists on Israel's wanted list off the streets, finding them jobs and persuading some to give up their guns. The fugitives form the hard core of Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a group linked to Abbas' Fatah movement.
"We agreed to hide our weapons, to keep them out of public view, but we are not going to hand them over to the Palestinian Authority," said Kamal Ghanem, an Al Aqsa fugitive. "They asked us to give them the serial numbers of our guns, but we did not." Full story