HHMI Newsgroup Archives

To:            arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com
From:          Arutz-7 Editor <feedback@israelnationalnews.com>
Subject:       Arutz-7 News: Wednesday, August 29, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Wednesday, August 29, 2001 / Elul 10, 5761
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
   1. MORTARS IN GILO; ISRAEL AWAITS RESULTS OF ARAFAT'S CEASEFIRE CALL
   2. SECURITY SHORTS
   3. WHAT THE U.S. SHOULD DO
1. MORTARS IN GILO; ISRAEL AWAITS RESULTS OF ARAFAT'S CEASEFIRE CALL
The situation in Beit Jala/Gilo has reached a crescendo, with the firing of 
three mortar rockets into central Gilo last night and today.  They caused 
no injuries, but one landed between the community center and a school, 
narrowly missing the dozens of people in the vicinity, while a second 
landed this afternoon atop a residential building.  Shooting at Gilo also 
continued throughout the night and morning today, mostly from the direction 
of Bethlehem.  High-powered bullets fired into the neighborhood last night 
struck a television van during an interview with Jerusalem Mayor Olmert, 
who has demonstratively taken up residence in Gilo; no one was hurt.  The 
morning was quiet, except for the early morning, when shots caused damage 
to a stairwell in one building.  The IDF spokesman emphasizes that the 
shooting of the past day has come not from Beit Jala, where IDF tanks and 
forces have been since late Monday night, but from Bethlehem and the nearby 
El Aide refugee camp.
There was great uncertainty today over the IDF presence in Beit Jala, 
source of previous attacks, from the standpoints of both effectiveness and 
future plans.  Some, such as IDF Coordinator of Activities in Judea, 
Samaria & Gaza Maj.-Gen. Amos Gilad, viewed the mission as having 
accomplished it goals.  Others, such as former Foreign Minister Shlomo 
Ben-Ami, said that it merely diverted the source of the shooting from Beit 
Jala to nearby areas.  Still others, such as Col. (res.) Moshe Givati, said 
that the mission was not sufficiently comprehensive, and that the entire 
Bethlehem-Beit Jala area should be taken and cleansed of its weapons in one 
fell swoop.  Herut MK Michael Kleiner went even further, saying that the 
entire area of the Palestinian Authority must be conquered.
Amidst the uncertainty, Israeli security sources confirmed PA reports that 
Yasser Arafat had issued a "stop-shooting" order regarding all fire towards 
Gilo.  The order is said to have gone into effect at 2:30 PM this 
afternoon, although it was not clear if it included shooting at other 
Jerusalem areas such as Har Homa, and which terrorist organizations would 
abide by it.  Palestinian sources reported that Israeli forces would 
accordingly leave Beit Jala at midnight tonight, but this was not confirmed 
by the Israelis.  However, it should be noted that Foreign Minister Shimon 
Peres said that the Israeli presence in Beit Jala, designed to "defend 
Jerusalem," would come to an end "only if the shooting and mortar attacks 
against Gilo cease completely."  The last recorded incident of shooting 
occurred shortly before 2 PM.
Bursts of fire have been heard from the direction of Beit Jala all 
afternoon, but correspondents on the scene say that these are apparently 
clashes between Arabs and Israeli soldiers within Beit Jala itself.
A young mother told Arutz-7's Benny Toker today about the mortar shell that 
had fallen on her building on Te'enah St. in Gilo just a few minutes 
before:  "I was at home with my two-year-old when I heard a very loud 
noise.  My other son was not home, so I began quickly looking around for 
him.  He was already quite unnerved from the shooting of last night, and 
was constantly throwing up in reaction...  It appears to be a miracle that 
no one was hurt...  Everyone here is upset and up in arms, and though we're 
trying to keep to our routine, it's very hard for the children."  Local 
residents are very apprehensive about the beginning of the school year, 
which is set for this Sunday.  As one seven-year-old girl said, "Our 
classroom was supposed to be on the top floor, but because of the shooting, 
they moved us downstairs.  What, we should go to school in a place two 
meters away from where a mortar shell fell [last night]?"
2. SECURITY SHORTS
Palestinians favor violence.  A poll by the Palestinian Center for Public 
Opinion released yesterday found that 81% of the PA population supports 
suicide attacks "if Israel continues with measures like blockades, 
assassinations, and random shellings (sic)."  Almost 55% said they would 
favor suicide bombings even if such Israeli measures cease.  61.7% oppose a 
return to negotiations with Israel, and 61.4% believe that Arab countries 
are not sincere in pledging their support for Palestinians..
3. WHAT THE U.S. SHOULD DO
Jewish American groups such as the ZOA and VIPAC are calling upon US 
President Bush to back up his recent words of support for Israel with 
actions.  Specifically, VIPAC calls on Bush to restore the PLO to the State 
Department's list of terrorist entities, end the $125 million yearly 
subsidy to Palestinian organizations, and issue arrest warrants for PLO 
terrorists who have murdered Americans.  Similarly, the Zionist 
Organization of America (ZOA) praised the President's criticism of the PA 
leadership for not halting the violence, but urges him to instruct the 
State Department to stop denouncing Israel's self-defense actions against 
the violence as "excessive" and "provocative."
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said yesterday that the 
Palestinians "need to stop the shootings and attacks against Israelis in 
Gilo and elsewhere," but added, "we believe the Israelis should withdraw 
their forces from [Beit Jala.]"  ZOA President Morton Klein noted that the 
U.S. has used very great force in situations where American citizens were 
not in direct danger, including Panama, Grenada, and the Persian 
Gulf.  Klein noted that U.S. Secretary of State Powell was right when he 
said in 1999, "Go in full force from the beginning rather than escalate 
yourself into a quagmire. Or don't go in at all."
In a related item, the ZOA expressed "shock and dismay" at US Ambassador in 
Israel Daniel Kurtzer and State Department spokesman Richard Boucher for 
their criticism of Israel for accidentally and slightly wounding two 
Arab-Americans.  A ZOA statement notes that Kurtzer never criticized the PA 
for its involvement in the deliberate murders of American Jews.  The ZOA 
explains that the two Arab-Americans in question were slightly wounded 
during the attack on terrorist leader Abu Ali Mustafa, head of the PFLP 
organization that has murdered at least 14 American citizens.  Kurtzer said 
nothing, however, about the fact that several hours later, U.S. citizen Ben 
Dansker was wounded in a drive-by shooting attack by Palestinian terrorists 
in pre-1967 Israel.
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To:            arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com 
From:          Arutz-7 Editor <feedback@israelnationalnews.com> 
Subject:       Arutz-7 News: Thursday, August 30, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Thursday, August 30, 2001 / Elul 11, 5761
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
   1. MORNING SHOTS IN GILO FOLLOWED BY QUIET
   2. ARAB MKs AGAINST ISRAEL
   3. JEWS FACE DISCRIMINATION AT ANTI-RACISM CONFERENCE
1. MORNING SHOTS IN GILO FOLLOWED BY QUIET
Israel withdrew its forces from Beit Jala early this morning, in
accordance with the decision made at a late-night security
mini-cabinet meeting of several hours.  Security sources reported this
morning that although Yasser Arafat's ceasefire order basically took
hold after it was issued yesterday afternoon, Israel does not expect
it to last for more than a short while, as Arafat's basic strategy has
not changed.  In fact, Gilo residents and on-site correspondents
reported Arab shooting upon the neighborhood this morning, including
an exploded rooftop solar heater; the IDF said that it was merely
"shots of joy" fired by Beit Jala residents.  Defense Minister
Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said this morning that if the shooting continues,
the government will "consider its next moves."
Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said today that he hopes the withdrawal
will lead to a series of regional mini-ceasefires throughout Yesha. 
He named Rafiach, Hevron, and Gilo as the main flashpoints.
Minister of Public Security Uzi Landau expressed disappointment with
the decision to leave Beit Jala, saying that Arafat's track record
gives no reason whatsoever to believe his promises regarding another
cease-fire.  Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze'evi, too, said that Arafat
will yet make "Eastern delicacies" from this withdrawal, and predicts
that in the end there will be no choice but to return to Beit Jala,
"and this time for good."  Regarding the active diplomatic role of
Minister Peres in the pullback, Ze'evi said that his goal was to "save
the honor of the disintegrated Oslo agreement."
Housing Minister Natan Sharansky, a member of the mini-security
cabinet that took the decision to withdraw, took a different approach.
 He told Arutz-7 today,
"There's no doubt that there is logic to the steps we took this week,
and also achievements...  We have the wherewithal to protect our
citizens, but just like other world powers, we cannot always use it -
and Arafat is building on this.  Yet this week we actually did enter
Beit Jala, in plain sight of the whole world, and the sky did not cave
in.  The world did not turn against us, and instead exerted its
pressure on Arafat.  In this way, our might is turning more and more
into a conventional form of strength that can actually be used...  Of
course, there is a difference of opinion as to how long we should have
stayed there, and what else we should do...
"We can't use all of our strength, but we are definitely succeeding in
doing more and more, while at the same time preserving the national
unity government...  If, Heaven forbid, the shooting is resumed into
Gilo, the Cabinet does not have to convene; the Chief of Staff may
decide on his own to send the army back in."
Cabinet Secretary Gideon Sa'ar was also present at the meeting, and
Arutz-7's Haggai Segal asked him today, "Did the government actually
make the decision to withdraw based merely on a promise by Yasser
Arafat?"  Sa'ar:
"First of all, it was based on the fact that there would be quiet all
night last night, and secondly, it was made perfectly clear that if
the shooting resumes, the IDF will use its military force even
differently than it did this time.  All those doomsayers who feared
that there would be international pressure on us to leave should know
that the pressure was exerted in precisely the opposite direction,
telling Arafat that if he wanted to see us leave, he had better stop
the violence - and this was our goal.  There is no one in the world
who doubts that if there is shooting, we will act.  It won't be with
ultimatums, but if we have to act, we will - and if we do, it will
have a stronger authority, since Arafat gave his ceasefire commitment
to international leaders."
2. ARAB MKs AGAINST ISRAEL
Arab MK Azmi Bshara feels that Israel, the country in whose
legislature he is a member, is an "enemy."  He said this in Durban,
South Africa, in a phone interview with a Palestinian newspaper, a
transcript of which was prepared by Palestinian Media Watch
<www.pmw.org.il>.  Asked about Israel's missile strike that killed
PFLP terrorist leader Abu Ali Mustafa, Bshara said,
"I lost a personal friend, this was a great loss.  I immediately
called brothers in the Galilee, and we arranged rallies in Nazareth
and Um el-Fahm...  We have no choice but to wage an existential war...
 Israel is forcing this existential war upon us, but in the end there
is no escape from the fact that the Palestinian nation will win over
this oppressive enemy that does not recognize values or anything
else..."
MK Michael Kleiner (Herut) said that Bshara's words expressing hope
for a "Palestinian victory over the Israeli enemy" is further proof
that he is an enemy of Israel, towards whom "we must act as if he were
a terrorist who infiltrated under the fence of Israeli democracy into
the Knesset."  Kleiner called on the registrar of political parties to
exhibit "public valor and disqualify Bshara's party, which serves as a
front for illegal activity."
Arab MK Muhammad Barakeh will participate in the Palestinian
festivities tonight celebrating the Israeli withdrawal.  He said that
he plans to speak at the event.
Yediot Acharonot editorialized today that the Israeli Arab MKs are
"stretching the cords of democracy so much that they are in danger of
rupturing," which will "endanger the Arab citizens of Israel before it
endangers the Jews."
3. JEWS FACE DISCRIMINATION AT ANTI-RACISM CONFERENCE
A delegation of Jewish students arrived in Durban, South Africa, to
present its views on racism around the world - and found itself the
victim of similar prejudice.  The group came to participate in the
United Nations Student Conference, a student version of the World
Conference Against Racism (WCAR), which is scheduled to open tomorrow.
 The Jewish students were received so negatively by the UN group that
they walked out in protest, and sent a letter of protest to the
conference organizers.
Peleg Reshef, Chairman of the Union of Jewish Students, told Arutz-7
that he expected to encounter more openness and a willingness to hear
opposing views at the Student Conference, but was greatly
disappointed.  "We arrived to discuss racism, including
anti-Semitism," he said, "but we were soon convinced that the
Conference's objective was only to single out the state of Israel as
an example of racism."  He said that the problems began when the
delegations first arrived:  "At the registration area we encountered a
group of Arab students, with the help of two Jewish students, selling
shirts emblazoned with anti-Israel slogans.  We felt that something
was amiss when we saw that the shirts included the official symbol of
the Durban Conference, and so we asked the officials to intervene. 
They initially did nothing, but even after they requested that the
sale of the shirts stop, it continued unabated."
More of the same occurred today.  Pro-Palestinian demonstrators
disrupted a press conference this afternoon called by 20 Jewish
organizations in Durban to mark tomorrow's opening of the World
Conference Against Racism.  They chanted, "Zionism is Racism, Israel
is Apartheid."  On the other hand, twenty Africans demonstrated in
Eilat in favor of Israel this morning, saying that Israel is the only
country that accepts them and does not discriminate against them
because of their color.
Reshef summarized his feelings as follows: "You could say that we feel
threatened by the extent of the hatred we encountered from the Arab
and African delegations."  When asked what was the purpose, then, of
participation in such a forum, Reshef said, "There are positive public
relations aspects to our presence, particularly when we are able to
present Israel's case in the local and international media."
A group called the Coalition for the Defense of Human Rights has
called upon the Conference to "address and condemn the ideology of
Radical Islamism - a deviation from Islam - as intolerant, xenophobic,
racist, supremacist, discriminatory, anti-democratic, and genocidal. 
We also call upon the Conference to alert the international community
to the widespread dangers of Radical Islamism's culture of animosity
and destruction, and to. recognize that Radical Islamism is a
totalitarian movement aimed at establishing a worldwide Radical
Islamist state" that would, among other things, support religious wars
against non-Islamist Muslims and non-Muslim infidels worldwide and
establish an Apartheid-like regime to subjugate and control infidels.
*******************************************************
To:            arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com 
From:          Arutz-7 Editor <feedback@israelnationalnews.com> 
Subject:       Arutz-7 News Brief:  Friday, August 31, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Friday, August 31, 2001 / Elul 12, 5761
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
   1. DISCRIMINATION AT ANTI-RACISM CONFERENCE
   2. BEN-ELIEZER CATCHING UP TO BURG
1. DISCRIMINATION AT ANTI-RACISM CONFERENCE
The World Conference Against Racism (WCAR) opened today in Durban,
South Africa, where Israeli representatives are saying that racism is
definitely in the atmosphere - against them.  Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon decided last night to send a low-level delegation to the
conference, comprised of Foreign Ministry clerks and students, while
Deputy Minister Rabbi Michael Melchior, who had made extensive
preparations to head the delegation, was ordered to stay home.  The
United States, too, sent a low-level representation.  Melchior
attempted, in vain, to convince Sharon that his participation is
crucial in light of the anti-Israel campaign expected to be waged
there.
Israel's Ambassador in South Africa, Tova Herzl, said that the Arab
nations and Iran are leading a comprehensive campaign against Israel,
and "are trying to sneak in through the back door all sorts of
resolutions that are reminiscent of the old UN 'Zionism is racism'
vote [which was later rescinded]."
UN Secretary-General Kofi Anan opened the conference today by saying
that the Palestinians suffer from "conquest, expulsion, and
assassinations without trial."  He told the members, "The Jews fell
victim to anti-Semitism in Europe and during the Holocaust, and this
must be taken into account when accusing them of racism.  At the same
time, we can't expect the Palestinians to take this as a reason to
ignore their plight...  An exchange of accusations is not the purpose
of this forum."  Israeli student leader Peleg Reshef, heading a Jewish
students delegation in Durban, told Ynet, "The Palestinians here have
a very strong propaganda network, and the Jews are facing racism and
anti-Semitism."
2. BEN-ELIEZER CATCHING UP TO BURG
The race for head of the Labor Party is tightening up.  A poll
published in Yediot Acharonot today shows that Defense Minister
Binyamin Ben-Eliezer has managed to close to within three percentage
points of his opponent, Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg.  The margin is
now 44%-41%, within the statistical margin of error.  Regarding
whether the contenders are worthy of serving as Prime Minister, each
of the two received a positive answer from only 36% of the
respondents.
*******************************************************
To:            arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com 
From:          Arutz-7 Editor <feedback@israelnationalnews.com> 
Subject:       Arutz-7 News: Sunday, Sept. 2, 2001
Arutz Sheva News Service
  <http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
Sunday, Sept. 2, 2001 / Elul 14, 5761
------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
   1. DURBAN CONFERENCE
   2. ANTI-SEMITISM IN PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY TEXTBOOKS
1. DURBAN CONFERENCE
Israeli leaders have reacted strongly to the anti-Israel resolutions
passed at the World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa.
 President Moshe Katzav said, "We can serve as a model of democracy
and civil rights to many of the countries that voted for these
resolutions.  The attacks upon Israel are nothing more than a blatant
expression of racism and anti-Semitism."  Foreign Minister Shimon
Peres said that Israel may well quit the conference, as the
resolutions passed there are "more of an embarrassment to those who
passed them rather than to Israel."  Peres said, however, that despite
Arafat's inflammatory words against Israel, it is still important for
him to meet the PLO leader.  [Diplomatic efforts by Egyptian, Italian,
Saudi and other elements to facilitate such a meeting continue to take
place.]
Will the anti-Israeli resolutions passed in Durban have practical
significance for Israel?  Ha'aretz correspondent Ya'ir Sheleg
explained to Arutz-7 today that while only the UN Security Council can
pass resolutions with practical applications, "the fear is that the
[anti-Israel] expressions [used by the Conference] will become part of
the official lexicon about Israel - such as the reference to Israeli
control of [Judea, Samaria and Gaza] as 'ethnic cleansing', or the
demand for Israel to repeal ethnically discriminatory laws, including
the Law of Return, etc.   The fear is that these issues will continue
to be discussed in various committees...  and that they may lead to
investigations of Israelis along the lines of those being pursued in
Belgium and Denmark, etc."  Furthermore, "there could be an effect on
economic investments in Israel... if Israel is officially recognized
as a pariah state as a result of the decisions taken at the
Conference."
On the other hand, while the Conference is most definitely a
"celebration of anti-Israeli sentiments," as one Israeli newspaper
headline put it, the main issue confronting the participants of the
Conference is a demand by African states and expatriates for
reparations from Western states that were involved in colonialism and
the slave trade.  However, from a media point of view, Sheleg noted
that the anti-Israeli aspects of the conference definitely garner more
attention.
A representative of the South African Board of Jewish Deputies at the
conference related to Arutz-7 that although about 30 Jewish
organizations were present, "they officially decided to refuse to
discuss the Middle East...  In the midst of [the very anti-Semitic
atmosphere of Palestinian flags, kefiyas, posters, etc.] we were 20-25
students [who] stayed up all night making posters and the like and
[feeling as if we were] representatives for world Jewry.  The feeling
of unity was amazing...  25 Jewish students vs. The World. That is how
it was."
2. ANTI-SEMITISM IN PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY TEXTBOOKS
Careful monitoring of Palestinian incitement and hatred - works!  A
German representative in the European Union Parliament who was
recently shown an English translation of Palestinian Authority
textbooks said that he intends to act to halt all EU funding of PA
educational institutions and authorities "until all the Palestinian
textbook passages antagonistic to Israel are removed."  The
translation was prepared by Palestinian Media Watch <www.pmw.org.il>.
As an example of the texts that raised his ire, representative Armin
Laschet of the Christian Democratic Party cited a passage from a PA
textbook on Islam that calls upon high-school students to beware of
the Jews, because they are "deceitful and disloyal," and another text
that blames European anti-Semitism on Jewish greed and fanaticism.
The official PA newspaper Al-Hayat al-Jadida was quick to respond,
quoting Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Peter Hansen, as saying last week, "We
cannot expect a people under occupation to have textbooks which
idealize, praise and express love for their occupiers."  Observers
noted that Israeli textbooks do not "idealize, praise and express
love" for the Palestinians, but neither do they malign them or
disseminate hatred towards them.
While PA Deputy Education Minister Na'im Abu-Humus denied the
existence of the offensive texts, PLO leader Yasser Arafat confirmed
that they are indeed in use in PA educational institutions - but he
explained to Laschet that the textbooks are from the Jordanian school
system and that the PA does not have the funds to replace them. 
Laschet countered by saying that the Palestinians receive 300 million
Euros from the European Union, "and they certainly can bear the cost
of publishing new textbooks."
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