Week in Review
November 29 - December 5, 2003

Terrorism and Prevention in Israel

Israeli security forces disrupted two imminent suicide bombings, HA'ARETZ reported. One of the attacks was to take place at a middle school in Yokne'am, near Haifa, while the target of the other was the city of Beit She'an. After interrogation, the pair of Palestinian suicide bombers told investigators that they had chose to infiltrate Israel via the northern Jordan Valley in the West Bank because Israel had not yet extended the security fence to cover that area.

Following the arrest on Tuesday of the Palestinian attempting to bomb Beit She'an, security forces declared a state of high alert in the north and police set up roadblocks and stop-checked vehicles passing through. The effort paid off as on Wednesday afternoon, an elite counter-terror police unit arrested would-be bomber Munir Rabeia, 23, of the Gaza Strip as well as his dispatcher, Murad Abu Zeitoun, of Zabuba, a village in the West Bank near Jenin.

Israeli officials noted that "what may appear to some people to be a lull Palestinian terror activity is actually a smokescreen for the continued efforts by these same terrorists to strike at innocent Israelis wherever and whenever they can."

In other news, a Palestinian woman arrived today at the Tarkomiya checkpoint and complained to soldiers that she had been beaten by 4 Hamas terrorists for refusing to serve as a suicide bomber, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. The terrorists, who escaped in the direction of Kiryat Gat, are being chased after.

Israeli Security Service arrested two Hamas terrorists who recruited the suicide bomber who blew up the Cafe Hillel in Jerusalem September last year, killing 7 people. The two - Fuaz Nazer, 24 from Dir Kadis and Salah Mussa, 39 from Lakiya confessed to having recruited suicide bomber Ramez Abu Salim and other potential suicide bombers.

-from Israel Line on Thursday, December 4, 2003

 

Defense Minister Discusses Israel's Security

Jerusalem, November 30, 2003
CABINET COMMUNIQUE
(Communicated by the Cabinet Secretariat)

At the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Sunday), November 30, 2003:

1. Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz briefed ministers on joint security matters including operations to thwart terror, the security fence, Abu Ala's government and the ceasefire initiative, international Islamic terror, the Iranian nuclear program and his visit to the US two weeks ago.

Defense Minister Mofaz emphasized that the recent relative quiet represents an erroneous picture, and that the terrorist organizations continue with their efforts to perpetrate terror attacks at similar levels to those experienced previously. However, since the terror attack in the Maxim restaurant, Israel has been successful in foiling them. Defense Minister Mofaz pointed out that today, there is intelligence information existing on 44 concrete terror attacks. In addition, the security establishment is constantly operating to ensure that the smuggling of weapons to Rafiah is prevented.

Defense Minister Mofaz said that despite these difficult conditions, Israel is doing everything possible to ease conditions for the Palestinian population. The Defense Minister added that construction of the separation fence is continuing as planned and without interruption, and that this project is contributing significantly to security in Israel. At the same time, Israel is making every effort to ensure that the fence will have the minimum effect on the daily life of the Palestinian population.

Defense Minister Mofaz observed that Abu Ala's government does not have an answer to the security issue, that Arafat has returned to center stage and is again pulling the strings in all areas including security. Despite this, the Defense Minister believes that Abu Ala's government should be given the opportunity to make a difference to the situation, on the basis of Israel's security demands and that it should be judged according to its behavior and actions in fighting terror.

Defense Minister Mofaz noted that there has been an increase in global Islamic terror, which was most obvious in the chain of terror attacks in Istanbul and in this context it is important to note that there has been an increase in attempts by such groups to perpetrate attacks from Jordan. Israel is taking into consideration the possibility that there will be further terror attacks against Israeli/Jewish targets abroad and is preparing for such an eventuality.

The Defense Minister reported on his visit to the US, and said that the topics of discussion focused on general issues of the region.

Prime Minister Sharon stated that Prime Minister Abu Ala will be assessed based on his actions and not his words. Israel has heard his announcement and conditions for a meeting, and while the Prime Minister does not see the location of a meeting as important, the conditions set by Abu Ala are unacceptable. The Prime Minister said, "I would like to announce that no conditions will be accepted, whether they concern ceasing construction of the separation fence or dismantling it or any other demands."

2. Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed ministers on negotiations with the Histadrut and noted that the agreement reached was torpedoed by the Histadrut.

3. Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom and the Deputy General Director for Information in the Foreign Ministry briefed ministers on Israeli efforts to present the Israeli position abroad, and said that there is a need to increase activity in this area. Foreign Minister Shalom said that it is a strategic element of national security and Israeli foreign policy. Issues to be addressed include the cycle of violence in the region, Israel's international image, media criticism of Israel on the matter of the separation fence and questions of Israel's very existence as a Jewish state. Foreign Minister Shalom indicated that Israeli embassies in Europe would be recruited to work on this matter and said that he intends to set up a National Council of Information.

4. Minister Natan Sharansky, Chairman of the Committee for Diaspora matters commented on the wave on global anti-Semitism and said that there has been a significant rise in anti-Semitism among "liberal" left wing European and Palestinian elements and that the State of Israel and Jews are being demonized and dehumanized. This is preparing the ground for a tragedy.

Minister Sharansky played parts of the Al-Manar anti-Semitic and racist series which was produced by the Syrians and broadcasted by Hizbullah to millions of Muslims in Europe through satellite, and gives strong motivation to perpetrate terror attacks against Jews. Minister Sharansky said that the Israeli government must demand that European governments ban the broadcast of this series, and that they charge those responsible for the program with incitement and racism. Minister Sharansky asked that every minister who meets with his European counterpart raise this issue with them.

In addition, Minister Sharansky highlighted the need to monitor anti-Semitic advertisements in the Arab media, which currently is produced by private institutions. Minister Sharansky announced that January 27, 2004 will be declared a day for fighting anti-Semitism. This day has two purposes: first, to raise awareness on the matter of the new wave of anti-Semitism with the viewpoint that it represents not only a danger to Jews abroad but also to the very existence of the State of Israel, by bringing into question the its very legitimacy. Second, to express Israel's commitment to the safety and security of the Jewish nation wherever they are, and not just to Israeli citizens. This day will be marked not just in Israel, but also in Jewish schools abroad and on university campuses.

5. The government decided according to Basic Law: The President, that President Katsav will leave for a state visit to China between December 14-20, 2003.

-from the website of Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 

Israel 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 ASSOCIATED PRESS reported.
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, said Ohad Bashan, director of global marketing at the Israeli company. When installed in January, the system will be the first of its kind in the world, he said.
Currently, about 10,000 Palestinian laborers parade every morning through the narrow passageways of the Erez checkpoint, showing soldiers laminated identification cards. If a card is believed to be fake, its owner can be held up for hours while he is interrogated and his document is checked. 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, Bashan said.

- from Associated Press on Tuesday, December 2, 2003

Israeli Foreign Minister Responds to Syrian President

In his response on Tuesday to a proposal by Syrian President Bashar Assad to resume negotiations, Minister of Foreign Affairs Silvan Shalom said that for Israel to restart peace talks, Damascus had to stop supporting terror, cease to facilitate arms shipments to Iran and Hizbullah, and begin talks without any preconditions, HA'ARETZ reported. "Positive remarks about peace are always encouraging, but words are not enough," Shalom said. "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."

-from Israel Line on Wednesday, December 3, 2003

 

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 according to the Greek minister in charge of the event’s security, HA’ARETZ reported. "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.
Floridis said that Greek security was preparing for both "conflict-specific" terrorism, such as
Chechnyans against the Russian delegation or Palestinians against the Israeli one, as well
as for general, Al-Qaida-type, attacks on the Olympics itself.

-from Israel Line on Wednesday, December 5, 2003

 

Palestinians Participate in Israel Business Conference

A delegation of representatives from the Palestinian public and private sectors will attend the 2003 Israel Business Conference this week, GLOBES reported. The delegation's participation is viewed as a signal that the Palestinian business community wants to renew economic ties with Israel. Palestinian Authority ministers and deputy ministers will represent the public sector. Senior representatives from the Palestinian Ministries of Finance; Economy and Trade; Planning; Labor; and Agriculture will attend the conference. Representatives of Palestinian government companies that influence the private sector will also participate. These include representatives of the Palestine export institute, Palestinian water authority and the border crossings administration.

-from Israel Line on Tuesday, December 2, 2003

 

Israeli Reality Show Gives Lesson in Tolerance

Israeli youth culture has a new hero in the person of Firas Houri, a 21-year-old Christian Arab from a village in the north of the country, who triumphed over his 14 competitors in the Israeli reality show Project Y, ISRAEL21C.COM reported. The television series resembled international reality programs like Big Brother, but with a unique twist. As in Big Brother, a group of young people was housed in a villa for three months, with no communication with the outside world, and cameras documenting every moment of their lives. Each week, viewers decided which of the residents to send home - the rest continued on - mixing soap opera with competition. During the course of the reality program, Firas chose not to talk politics. But in one soul-bearing moment, he told his housemates about his background, about his village and their history in the conflict with Israel. But, he stressed repeatedly that to him, what matters is the person and not his race or religion, and that he viewed his housemates as true friends and brothers. The other participants in the show expressed their affection and appreciation for him, several admitting that he was their first real Arab friend.

-from Israel Line on Tuesday, December 2, 2003