Monday,
June 9
5
Soldiers Killed in Gaza, Hebron Attacks
Sgt.
Maj. Boaz Emete, 24, of Beit She'an; Sgt.
Maj. (Res.) Udi Ayelet, 38, of Eilat; Sgt.
Maj. (Res.) Assaf Abergil, 23, of Eilat; and Sgt.
Maj. (Res.) Chen Engel, 32, of Ramat Gan were killed and four
reserve soldiers were wounded shortly after 5:30 Sunday morning
when Palestinian terrorists wearing IDF uniforms opened fire on
an IDF outpost near the Erez checkpoint and industrial zone in the
Gaza Strip. Three terrorists were killed by IDF soldiers.
The Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Hamas and the Islamic Jihad
issued a joint statement claiming responsibility for the attack.
IDF soldier St.-Sgt.
Matan Gadri, 21, of Moledet was killed Sunday afternoon in Hebron
while pursuing two Palestinian gunmen who earlier had wounded a
Border Policeman on guard at the Tomb of the Patriarchs. The two
terrorists were killed. (From Ha'aretz) more
Palestinian
Groups Pledge to Continue Intifada
Radical and militant groups met
in Gaza on Saturday to devise a strategy for dealing with Palestinian
Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and pledged to continue their armed
uprising against Israel. The groups included Hamas, Islamic Jihad,
the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Popular
Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and Fatah. They pledged
to continue the intifada but ended the meeting with no decision
on whether to halt cease-fire talks with Abbas. They agreed that
Abbas' position this week at the U.S.-Israeli-Palestinian peace
summit in Jordan was "not acceptable" to Palestinians,
a Hamas official told CNN. The Palestinian prime minister had predicted
that he would reach a cease-fire agreement with all militant Palestinian
groups within three weeks. (From
CNN) more
IDF
Troops Begin Dismantling Outposts
IDF troops began removing several
empty trailers from the South Neveh Erez outpost near the Palestinian
town of Ramallah on Monday afternoon, a military source said. A
Reuters television cameramen said army tractors dismantled the uninhabited
outpost, destroying two caravans. Soldiers then took down the outpost
of Amona, near the settlement of Ofra, according to an Ofra resident.
The outpost consisted solely of a water tower.
As they tried to drive it away on the back of a truck, more than
100 settlers - mainly children - rolled stones in the road and formed
a human blockade to prevent the truck from passing. (From Ha'aretz)
more
Tuesday,
June 10
Extremist
Hamas Leader Wounded In Israeli Operation
Israeli helicopters in Gaza targeted
Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi late this morning - but only lightly
wounded him. Five missiles were fired at his car, and shrapnel hit
him in his hand and leg.
Abdel Aziz Rantisi has long been a deadly enemy of Israel. In August
2001, he announced that Hamas would target a host of Israeli officials,
including Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, then-Foreign Minister Peres
and then-Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer. He was a great admirer of
suicide terrorists, bragging in March 2002 that there were "thousands."
In July 2002, Rantisi made quite clear what the Palestinians' ultimate
goal was, saying that terrorist attacks would continue until all
Jews leave Israel. He said this while claiming responsibility on
behalf of Hamas for the Hebrew University cafeteria massacre, in
which nine people were killed. Less than two months ago, Rantisi
called upon PA Arabs to abduct IDF soldiers. Just last week, he
condemned the Aqaba summit. (From Arutz-Sheva) more
Abbas
Snubs Berlusconi for Not Meeting Arafat
Palestinian Authority Prime Minister
Mahmoud Abbas refused to meet Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi
on Monday because Berlusconi refused to meet PA Chairman Yasser
Arafat. It is the second time in two weeks that Abbas refused to
meet a senior European official who snubbed Arafat. One senior Israeli
diplomatic official said Berlusconi's snub of Arafat is important
because it is the first time a key European figure adopted the Israeli
and American position that Abbas needs to be strengthened, but not
through visits to Arafat.
Berlusconi arrived in Israel for the first leg of a Middle East
trip, and met Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. They then held a joint
press conference. Sharon said he hopes Israel's relations with Italy
which next month will assume the rotating presidency of the EU will
be the model for Israel's relations with the rest of the EU. Italy,
as president of the EU, should work to bring about a more balanced
EU policy toward Israel, said Sharon, similar to the approach taken
by the Italian government. "Once there will be a balanced approach,
the influence of the EU will grow," he said. (From Jerusalem
Post) more
Israel
Floats 49.9 Percent of El-Al Stock
Israel floated 49.9 percent of shares of
the national airline, El Al, on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Tuesday,
in partial implementation of a decision to privatize the company.
Israel (Izzy) Borovich, president and CEO of Arkia Airlines, said
Tuesday morning that he believes in El-Al and that it will become
a profitable company in the future. (From Jerusalem Post) more
EU-Israel
Renew Scientific Cooperation Deal
The European Union and Israel on Tuesday
renewed their commitment to cooperate on scientific research and
development in such areas as biotechnology and aeronautics. EU Research
Commissioner Philippe Busquin welcomed Israel's continued cooperation
and said it would promote dialogue between Arabs and Israelis. "Research
is an area where contacts and cooperation can transcend political
and cultural barriers, with Arab and Israeli scientists working
in partnership thanks to EU projects," Busquin said in a statement.
Since 1998, Israel has participated in 612 EU-sponsored research
projects, including agricultural and water management projects in
the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Of those, 147 were headed by the Israelis
involved. It was also involved in EU-funded projects in Syria, Lebanon,
Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. (From Jerusalem Post) more
Wednesday,
June 11
TERROR
IN JERUSALEM LEAVES 16 DEAD, 93 INJURED
Police
said that at least 16 people were killed and some 93 were wounded,
some seriously, when a suicide bomber blew himself up on a bus in
central Jerusalem on Wednesday afternoon. The bomber, who was dressed
as an ultra-Orthodox Jew, boarded the box at the Mahane Yehuda market.
Hamas claimed responsibility for the Jerusalem bus bombing. (From
Ha'aretz) more
President
Bush Condemns Jerusalem Attack, Tells Arabs to Stop Funding Hamas
US President George W. Bush strongly condemned
the Jerusalem bus bombing Wednesday and called on Arab leaders again
to cut funding to terrorist groups. "Cut off the funding to
Hamas," Bush told reporters in Chicago, his remarks broadcast
over CNN television. "I strongly condemn the killing."
(From Jerusalem
Post)
10
Suicide Attacks Foiled Since Aqaba Summit
Security forces have arrested 10
Palestinians suspected of plotting suicide bombings since the three-way
Aqaba Summit a week ago, media reports said Wednesday. One of the
suspects is a 16-year-old from the West Bank town of Tulkarm, who
was destined to carry out an attack in Netanya for Islamic Jihad
and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. (From Jerusalem
Post)
PM
Sharon: Attempt on Rantisi Does Not Signal Policy Shift
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told
his cabinet Wednesday that Israel's failed assassination attempt
on Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi does not indicate a shift in
Israel's diplomatic policy. "Our policy remains the same. The
IDF will continue to work against terrorism in every place,"
said Sharon. "We will make no concessions to terror."
"We made this clear to all the White House officials and to
the Palestinians before the Aqaba summit."
The prime minister ordered aides to turn over intelligence to U.S.
officials to back accusations that Rantisi, the public face of Hamas,
had been coordinating attacks on Israelis. "This information
is intended to show that Rantisi was not just a ticking bomb but
a factory of ticking bombs," a senior Israeli security source
said. Rantisi told the Arab TV satellite station Al Jazeera from
his hospital bed, "We will continue with our holy war
and resistance until every last criminal Zionist is evicted from
this land."
Speaking in Netanya on Tuesday after the attempted assassination,
Sharon said, "We will continue to fight terror as long as there
is no one on the other side doing it. We will continue to fight
leaders of extremist terror groups as long as they continue to send
terrorists to kill Jews." (From Ha'aretz) more
Thursday,
June 12
Terrorists
Killed in New Reprisal on Hamas for Bus Attack
Israeli helicopter gunships fired
missiles at a car in Gaza City Thursday afternoon, killing seven
people including two Hamas terrorists and aides to master bombmaker
Mohammed Deif, Israeli reports said. It was Israel's third air strike
on Hamas targets in Gaza in 24 hours, since a deadly bus bombing
in Jerusalem that killed 17 people and wounded dozens on Wednesday.
Israel said it can not and will not stand by until new Palestinian
Prime Minister Mahmud Abbas is able to persuade the armed groups
to halt attacks. (From Jerusalem Post) more
Hamas
Threatens More Attacks
Hamas is warning that Wednesday's
attack was only "the first of a series," that all foreigners
should leave Israel - and that even Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
is "wanted." Four more Kassam rockets were fired Thursday
afternoon at western Negev communities - areas that until now had
been immune to such attacks; no one hurt. Hizbullah, as well, is
trying to join the attack. The Lebanese terrorists fired, for the
second day in a row, anti-aircraft fire across Israel's northern
border. Today's shooting caused a fire in a forest near Tel Chai.
Despite all, Israel opened the Rafiach checkpoint that had been
closed since the murderous attack in Erez four days ago (four Israeli
soldiers killed). Arutz-7's Kobi Finkler reports that the Israelis
who arrived there this morning discovered that an Arab-fired mortar
shell had hit the roof of the main building during their absence,
causing damage. (From Arutz Sheva) more
The
Morning After: Preparations for Funerals as Bombing Toll Rises to
17
Pathologists at the Abu Kabir Center
for Forensic Medicine worked to identify the victims of Wednesday's
suicide bombing attack in Jerusalem. A seventy year old woman died
Thursday evening from wounds sustained in the bombing. 27 people
are still hospitalized, five of them in serious condition. Lightly
injured in the attack were the daughter of a New Jersey senator
and the Israeli Arab driver of the bus. (From Israel Insider) more
The
names of 15 of the victims of the suicide bombing were released
for publication on Thursday:
Sgt.
Tamar Ben Eliyahu, 20, from Moshav Paran;
Alexander Kazrir, 77, from Jerusalem;
Ro'i Eliraz, 22 from Mevasseret Zion;
Tzipora Pasakovich, 54, from Tzur Hadassah;
Sultan Rene Malka, 67, from Jerusalem.
Alan Beer, 46, from Jerusalem;
Elza Cohen, 70, from Jerusalem;
Tzvika Cohen, 39, from Jerusalem;
Yaffa Mualem, 65, from Jerusalem;
Tita Martin, 75, from Jerusalem;
Ogenia Berman, 50, from Jerusalem;
Bet-El Ohana, 21, from Kiryat Ata;
Yaniv Abied, 22, from Herzliya;
Anna Orgal, 55, from Jerusalem;
Zipora Levy, 70, from Jerusalem
President
Bush Under Fire in Congress for Criticizing Israel
Supporters of Israel in and out
of Congress assailed President Bush Wednesday for criticizing Israeli
attacks on Palestinian militant groups. Reflecting dismay that a
new round of violence might undermine the spirit achieved in Aqaba
and Sharm el Sheik, Mr. Bush said the attack on the Hamas leader
would not help Israel's security. His statement drew fire from those
saying that Israel had carried out the attacks to defend itself,
just as the United States has done. Representative Robert Wexler,
a Florida Democrat, said Israel's use of military force to protect
itself against "a ticking time bomb factory" was "100
percent justified." Representative Tom Lantos of California,
the ranking Democrat on the International Relations Committee, defended
Israel's right to protect itself, saying that the Palestinian Authority
under Mr. Abbas was unable to do the job. If the Palestinians will
not disarm terrorists, "then Israel clearly will do so,"
he said. "We would do so," he continued. "Any self-respecting
society will do so. People in government have to defend their citizens."
(From New York Times) more
Powell
to Meet World Leaders in Aqaba
Secretary of State Colin Powell is preparing
to meet in Jordan with UN, Russian and European Union leaders in
an effort to repair the tattered road map for peacemaking between
Israel and the Palestinians, US and diplomatic sources said Thursday.
The meeting will be held in Aqaba, where President George W. Bush
reached agreement last week with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas to proceed with the
blueprint that had been prepared jointly by the United States, the
United Nations, the European Union and Russia. Approval of the road
map raised hopes that Israel and the Palestinians would at least
begin taking steps to resolve their differences. But beginning on
Sunday, with Palestinian militants killing four Israeli soldiers
in Gaza, violence recurred, with damage both to any reconciliation
that may have been achieved at Aqaba. (From Jerusalem Post) more
Friday,
June 13
White
House Backs Latest Israeli Attacks
The Bush administration signaled
strong support for Israel's crackdown on militant groups yesterday,
effectively abandoning its earlier criticism of the government of
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that had sparked an outcry from
lawmakers on Capitol Hill and pro-Israel lobbying groups. "The
issue is not Israel. The issue is not the Palestinian Authority,"
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said. The issue is "terrorists
who are killing in an attempt to stop a hopeful process from moving
forward."(From Washington Post) more
Israeli
Man Murdered in West Bank
Al-Aqsa
Brigades, a militia associated with Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party,
claimed responsibility for the murder of Avner Maymoun, 49, of Netanya
on Thursday in the West Bank town of Yabbed. He had gone to the
town to purchase charcoal. Maymoun
was ambushed and shot to death on a road in Area B. (From Jerusalem
Post) more
Two
Israeli Women Seriously Wounded in Ambush
Palestinian terrorists waiting in ambush
for an Israeli car to pass within their gun sights opened fire around
noon today at a car carrying three women - and seriously wounded
two of them. The car was traveling from Dolev to N'vei Tzuf, and
the attack occurred just west of Nachaliel, northwest of Ramallah.
The Al-Aksa Brigades took responsibility for this attack. The driver,
who was wounded, managed to drive a kilometer or two from the site
before having to stop. Security sources are of the opinion that
the cell leaders behind this and other shootings in the area are
hiding in the Mukata under the auspices of Yasser Arafat. (From
Arutz Sheva) more
El
Al Shares Soar 77 Percent on First Day of Public Trading
The government sold off shares
and options of El Al ealier this week. Yesterday, as the securities
were floated on the exchange, was the first occasion for the general
public to express their opinion on the sale price. Their excitement
over the issue was clear - the volume of trading in El Al shares
was the third largest on the exchange floor after banks Hapoalim
and Leumi - and the price just hit the skies. Much of the trade
was attributed to a positioning of the major players believing that
a battle could hot up for control in El Al. The state yesterday
published the official results of this week's issue of stocks and
options in the state-owned national airline. Some 1,700 people bid
for NIS 180 million worth of units. (From Ha'aretz) more
Gay
Pride Parade Postponed in Deference to Bombing Victims
Due to Wednesday’s terrorist
attack in the capital, the Jerusalem Open House has decided to postpone
today’s second annual “Love Without Borders,” Jerusalem’s
gay pride parade to next Friday afternoon. “It is the only
decent decision we could reach. It would be insensitive to have
such an occasion at the same time that funerals are taking place,”
Executive Director of Jerusalem Open House Hagai El-Ad said. He
added, “What happened only highlights the importance of our
message. Jerusalem pride is an expression of optimism and represents
the possibility of people from different communities living together
in peace. This message was important a week ago and it is even more
important today.” Last year’s inaugural parade came on
the heels of a period heavy with homicide bombings in June 2001.
Until next Friday, the rainbow flags that were placed above Jerusalem’s
central King George and Jaffa Road intersection will continue to
fly. El-Ad said, "...having pride in Jerusalem is part of the
way in which we support the ideal of living together in harmony.”
(From Jerusalem Post) more
Young
Israeli Scientists Make Their Mark
Ron Neuman, age 16, a senior at
the Ohel Shem high school in Ramat Gan, Israel, was a second-place
(honorable mention) winner in a competition sponsored by NASA at
the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). Ron's
research involved building phosphorous genetically-engineered microbic
sensors to monitor acute poisons in water. As was written in the
introduction to Ron's project: "Since the events of September
11, world consciousness has been raised about the need for national
preparedness in the event that sources of water are poisoned, and
to develop modern technologies to monitor water sources. (From Arutz
Sheva) more
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