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To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com From: Arutz-7 Editor <feedback@israelnationalnews.com> Subject: Arutz-7 News: Sunday, Jan. 6, 2002
Arutz Sheva News Service <http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com> Sunday, Jan. 6, 2002/ Tevet 22, 5762 ------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES: 1. CONTENTS OF "NOAH'S ARK" SHIP REVEALED 2. REACTIONS TO THE OPERATION 3. ZINNI GOES HOME 4. PLO ATTACKS CONTINUE
1. CONTENTS OF "NOAH'S ARK" SHIP REVEALED In less than eight minutes, the operation was over. Israeli naval commandos slid down ropes from air force helicopters and simultaneously climbed up the sides onto a PLO freighter carrying 50 tons of arms and overtook the vessel by complete surprise, without firing a shot. Today at 5:00 PM, the Prime Minister, along with other government and military officials, will display the contents of the ship to foreign diplomats and the press.
The operation, code-named "Noah's Ark," was carried out early Thursday morning about 500 kilometers (300 miles) south of Israel in the Red Sea. The planning of the operation was overseen by IDF Chief of Staff Shaul Mofaz, who also personally commanded it from an aircraft above. The ship, named Karin A, was headed for Gaza via the Suez canal. Navy forces escorted the freighter into the Israeli, Red Sea port of Eilat, arriving Friday night.
Military sources said that most of the weapons on board came from Iran and were packaged in 83 cases coated for sea-smuggling purposes. The special waterproof containers are manufactured exclusively in Iraq and can be configured to float at various distances below the ocean surface. Included in the shipment were the following: 107mm and 122mm katyusha rockets (capable of reaching major Israeli cities), 120mm mortars, Sager and LAW anti-tank missiles, explosives, anti-tank mines, scuba gear, AK-47 assault rifles, and more. The vessel was manned by 13 PLO personnel and at least one person identified with the Lebanese Hizbullah. The captain of the vessel was a senior officer in the PLO navy.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. General Shaul Mofaz revealed the details of the mission at a Friday afternoon press conference. In his speech, Mofaz thanked the "naval commando warriors" who carried out the mission and said, "If military equipment of this kind had reached the hands of terrorists acting against us, it would have dramatically altered the security of the citizens of the State of Israel and the soldiers of the IDF, and drastically increased the terror activity against us." Other notable quotes from Mofaz's speech:
"The smuggling attempt emphasizes, and points directly at the PA's intentions to continue a strategy of terror and violence, increasing and escalating over time."
"The PA is drenched from head to toe with terror and doesn't understand that in a world after the horrible events of Sept. 11, they cannot achieve their goals through the use of violence and terror."
"This mission is another milestone in our effort to dry the swamp of terror, which exists in the heart of Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip. It undoubtedly saved many lives."
He also said that the smuggling attempt was in direct violation of all existing agreements between Israel and the PLO. Arab leaders in Yesha adamantly denied that the weapons were intended for them and instead claimed that they were headed for Hizbullah. But Mofaz said, "The link between the staff aboard the ship and the PLO and its leaders is, without a doubt, clear and undeniable." Israel Television military correspondent Ron Ben Yishai reported on Saturday night that Omar Akawi, the ship's captain, admitted during his interrogation that the PLO was the intended recipient of the arms.
During the interrogation of the captured crew members, it was learned that the PLO purchased the arms for $15 million. The ship cost $400,000. At the opening of today's cabinet session, Prime Minister Sharon said that Arafat is behind the ongoing terrorism, and that it is clear beyond all doubt that the Karin A arms-smuggling ship was dispatched at Arafat's initiative and with his budget approval.
In a similar incident, on May 6, 2001, the Israeli Navy intercepted a vessel laden with heavy weapons headed for the Gaza coast from Lebanon. The shipment contained anti-aircraft missiles, anti-tank missile launchers, rocket-propelled grenades, and mortar shells in addition to other arms. Terrorist leader Ahmed Jibril's Popular Front had tried to send the shipment to Arafat in order to assist the PLO in carrying out further attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers. Although the PLO denied any connection to the shipment, as they did in this week's incident, Israeli sources dismissed those claims and said that without doubt the PLO helped organize the illegal operation.
The PLO mission to smuggle illegal arms into Israel began in October 2000. According to an IDF report, the head of the PLO weapons purchasing unit, Addal Mugrabi, made contacts with Iranian and Hizbullah factions in October 2000 regarding a vast weapons-smuggling operation. Mugrabi carried out the project with the assistance of PLO Naval Police Commander Juma'a Rali and his executive Fatchi Razam.
Mugrabi purchased the Karin A in Lebanon and in December 2001 the ship sailed to the beaches of Iran near the Keish Islands. There, a ferry approached the ship carrying the 83 waterproof, floatable crates containing the weapons. The crates were then transferred and loaded on the Karin A. The ship was supposed to cross the Suez Canal this week and unload the weapons onto three smaller ships. Those ships were to transport the arms to Al Arish in Gaza and then were to be delivered to Commanders Rali and Razam.
A video news clip of the ship and the arms captured can be seen at: http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com/tv.php
2. REACTIONS TO THE OPERATION Prime Minister Sharon said today at today's cabinet meeting that, "If the weaponry had made its way to the Palestinian Authority, then Israel would have found itself facing a difficult and complicated threat." The Prime Minister also said, "The weapon-smuggling ship is a grave development and reveals the true face of the Palestinian Authority and its being contaminated with terrorism." Sharon said the ordeal "casts doubt on any agreement that might be signed with the PLO."
Former Israeli liaison to the U.S. Congress Yoram Ettinger said that rather than channeling aid from the US and others to improve the quality of life of the Arabs living under Arafat's control, this smuggling attempt proves that, "the PLO has abused donors money" and has violated commitments fueling more terror and violence at the expense of both Arab and Jewish blood. Ettinger also recommends that the US Congress should suspend all transfers of funds to the PLO and all affiliated organizations until they uproot their terrorist infrastructure.
Former Labor MK Yossi Beilin dismissed the significance of the Palestinian weapons acquisition program by pointing out that despite the Karin A incident, the Sharon Administration is continuing security talks with the PLO as if nothing happened.
Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer (Labor) addressing a Saturday night Labor Party forum said that the quiet in Israel over the past week was a tactical move by Arafat and nothing more. He added that there is nothing to indicate a change in policy by the PLO regarding its obligation to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure.
Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said that the seizing of the ship is an important turning point for the PLO in choosing, "whether they support terrorism or they are against it." Peres told Army Radio, "Israel will not be able to tolerate such incidents in the future." However, Peres added, "Israel will continue to aim towards negotiations with the Palestinians based on the Tenet and Mitchell plans." Since the ship was carrying Iranian weapons, Foreign Minister Peres will next week call upon the leaders of the international community to declare Iran a terror-supporting state.
Minister Natan Sharansky said that the capture of the weapons freighter was proof the PA does not honor any agreement, adding that there are many places in the world where there is terror, but only one place where terror has an "Authority." Sharansky announced that Israel must now formally cancel the Oslo Agreements.
Dr. Aaron Lerner of the Independent Media Review and Analysis (IMRA) notes that just last week the Sharon administration decided in a "gesture" to the Arabs to extend the range for Arab fishermen so that they could reach off-shore areas that have more fish, despite an IDF warning that it would make it more difficult to monitor the boats. Lerner also points out that many Israelis commenting on the raid believe that this sole successful operation stopped the PA from equipping itself with illegal weapons. The IDF on the other hand has made no such claim. Lerner questions whether this attempt by the PLO to acquire advanced weaponry is just the, "tip of the iceberg."
The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations released a statement saying, "There is added significance that the ship was caught just as Marine Corps General Zinni was visiting the region to assess the prospects for a ceasefire. Once again, Arafat's public pronouncements in English are negated by the facts on the ground. It is clear that he had to have had personal knowledge of such an integrated operation and is working in total coordination and cooperation with Hamas and Hizbullah. There is no plausible deniability. His promises once again ring hollow as one contemplates the potential destruction that would have ensued had the weapons reached their destination."
"This is also a message to those who provide aid to the P.A. which continues to be diverted for the purchase of weapons, in violation of all their signed agreements," said the statement signed by Presidents' Chairman Mortimer Zuckerman and Executive Vice Chairman Malcolm Hoenlein.
The New York Times quoted senior officials in the Bush administration saying that the weapons freighter seized by Israel was most likely intended for Hizbullah and not the PA. These statements are in direct contradiction to Israeli intelligence information and disregard the fact that the Karin A freighter is a PLO vessel and was being operated by PLO naval personnel.
The Women In Green organization asks, "If this kind of action by the PA is done BEFORE the creation of another Arab State, within the Promised Land of Israel, what can be expected AFTER such a state is created?" Women in Green is intensifying its campaign to obtain signatures to their petition, "NO to a Palestinian State." The petition can be signed at www.womeningreen.org .
3. ZINNI GOES HOME US Mideast Envoy Gen. Anthony Zinni is completing his four-day visit to Israel today after meetings with senior Israeli and PA leaders. Zinni attended a joint Israeli-Arab security meeting and will meet with Prime Minister Sharon before departing back to the United States.
Earlier today, Zinni briefed Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Israel's president Moshe Katzav regarding the meetings with PA leaders over the weekend. US officials have indicated that despite Israel's capture of 50 tons of PLO war materials, if there is no escalation of violence between Israel and the PA, Zinni will return for another short visit in a week-and-a-half.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Ministers Peres and Ben-Eliezer met with Zinni and US Ambassador to Israel Daniel Kurtzer on Friday at Sharon's Shikmim farm in the Negev. They discussed various ways to press PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat to make a strategic decision to combat terrorism. The Israeli team's position is that the only way to get Arafat to act is for the US and Europe to increase pressure on him.
4. PLO ATTACKS CONTINUE A public bus, the No. 2 line, traveling to the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Saturday night was attacked with rocks. Arabs opened fire at the Samarian community of Elon Moreh last night. Soldiers in Gush Katif in Gaza were attacked by Arab gunfire last night. Soldiers on Friday night in southern Gaza were attacked with grenades and gunfire near the Egyptian border. There were no reports of injuries in any of these incidents.
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To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com From: Arutz-7 Editor <feedback@israelnationalnews.com> Subject: Arutz-7 News: Monday, January 7, 2002
Arutz Sheva News Service <http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com> Monday, Jan. 7, 2002 / Tevet 23, 5762 ------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
1. THE CAPTAIN SINGS 2. JEWISH CONFERENCE ATTENDEES PROD PERES
1. THE CAPTAIN SINGS Captain of the ship "Karin A" Omar Akawi told all he knows today to Israel Television about the arms smuggling mission he commanded. Only the public Israel Television channel was permitted by the IDF to interview the Arab captain in his Ashkelon jail cell.
Akawi said that Adal Awadallah, a PLO agent in Greece, first approached him to prepare the ship for transfer of goods to the PLO in Gaza. He said that he was instructed to reach a certain point on Iran's Perisan Gulf coast by early December. There he met with another agent and began loading the ship with arms. Only then was he made aware of what "goods" he would be transporting. Akawi said that on the night of the IDF raid, he heard noises on deck but thought that it was due to a technical problem. A minute later, he said that he stood corrected. According to Akawi, there was no resistance because most of the crew were asleep when the IDF boarded the vessel. He confessed that they were taken by complete surprise and hadn't anticipated that there would be any danger until they reached the Suez Canal, where they knew that ships were scrutinized. Akawi said that the arms shipment was a PLO mission and had nothing to do with the Lebanese terrorist organization Hizbullah. Akawi's account renders irrelevant the claim by an unnamed American government source that the shipment was destined for Hizbullah in Lebanon.
Akawi told his interviewers that he joined the PLO in 1976 in Lebanon and served as an officer in the PLO naval police. He was promoted to advisor for maritime affairs in the PLO transportation office.
Lloyds of London announced today that the "Karin A" is registered as an Iraqi ship. Last summer, the vessel was sold to an Iraqi citizen, Ali Mahmoud Abbas, for $400,000. The IDF spokesman said yesterday that the head of arms acquisitions for the Palestinian Authority was involved in the purchase of the ship.
"Karin A" was intercepted in a raid by IDF commandos early Thursday morning and was found to have on board over 80 tons of weaponry, 30 tons more than initially reported. The ship was headed towards a PLO-controlled area in Gaza where its contents were to be delivered to high-ranking PLO naval commanders and then used in future attacks on Israeli civilians and soldiers.
In Israel's Red Sea port of Eilat, the arms were placed on display yesterday before foreign diplomats and the press. Speaking at the press conference, Prime Minister Sharon said that the raid on the ship was "another milestone in [Israel's] ongoing and just battle against the forces of terrorism of the Palestinian Authority and its leader."
Standing next to the "Karin A," Sharon said: "This ammunitions ship behind us is part of a campaign of terror being conducted against us by the Palestinian Authority. This terror ship, which was on its way to the Gaza shore, was a threat to each and every one of you - in Tel Aviv as in Emanuel, in Haifa as in Ariel, in Herziliya and Ashkelon as in Elei-Sinai and Netzarim."
"The type and character of the weapons and ammunition discovered on the ship prove once again that the Palestinian Authority has been focusing all its efforts on terrorism and preparing the operational infrastructure for the next waves of terror. Let there be no mistake - this is the choice made by the Chairman of the Palestinian Authority [Arafat]."
"The Palestinian Authority is a major player in the network of international terrorism, spearheaded by Iran and aimed at sowing death and destruction throughout the entire world."
Sharon accepted the recommendation of the IDF Chief of Staff that the entire relationship with the Palestinian Authority must be reassessed. He said that the PLO drive to amass weapons casts doubts on any future agreement between the sides. Sharon also thanked all the members of Israel's security forces, intelligence community, and every soldier who took part in the mission.
The PLO continues to deny any connection to the arms shipment. In a press release from Wafa, the Palestine News Agency, the PLO calls for an "investigating Committee with the participation of the USA, Russia, the E.U., Arab representatives, Israeli and Palestinian officials, to reveal the truth." Earlier yesterday, Sharon said that Arafat was a liar, and even when caught red-handed continues to lie.
2. JEWISH CONFERENCE ATTENDEES PROD PERES The 6th International Conference of Jewish Ministers and Members of Parliament got underway in Jerusalem last night with keynote speaker Foreign Minister Shimon Peres addressing the group. Parliament members criticized Peres for his decision to refrain from declaring PLO leader Yasser Arafat a terrorist. Peres responded saying that Israel will not decide for the Palestinians who their leader is.
Peres clarified his position saying that it is not in Israel's best interest to declare Arafat a terrorist because such a move would bring about a massive rallying of support for the PLO leader among Arab nations and many European countries, including the Scandanavian bloc. Arafat would play such a declaration to his advantage. By merely pointing out that Arafat is engaged in terrorism, we can unite the entire world against terrorism.
Itim news agency reports that one US congressman from New York asked Peres why Israel should talk to Arafat when he continues to lie, as proven in the "Karin A" incident. Peres responded, "We sat with Sadat who engaged in three wars against us, and with King Hussein of Jordan who also fought us, and therefore Arafat is no different."
Conference members also rebuked Peres because of what they feel is the inadequate public relations job being done by him and his foreign ministry. They claim that there still doesn't exist a sole, unified voice standing up for Israel in the world. Peres disagreed with his critics and said that since the September 11 attacks on America, the Israeli public relations department has done an excellent job in winning over world public opinion.
Among the participants in the conference were the deputy prime minister of Canada, the Bulgarian foreign minister, two members of the House of Lords from England, and six U.S. congressman.
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To: arutz-7@israelnationalnews.com, arutz-7b@israelnationalnews.com From: Arutz-7 Editor <feedback@israelnationalnews.com> Subject: Arutz-7 News: Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2002
Arutz Sheva News Service <http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com> Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2002 / Tevet 24, 5762 ------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES: 1. IDF SLAMS U.S. POSITION ON ARMS SHIPMENT 2. LANDAU: WE NEED UNIFIED GOV'T POLICY 3. IN BRIEF
1. IDF SLAMS U.S. POSITION ON ARMS SHIPMENT IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Ron Kitri expressed sharp criticism today at the position U.S. government spokesmen are taking regarding the destination of the arms aboard the freighter Karin A. Israel has provided abundant evidence proving that the 80 tons of weapons, captured by Israeli naval commandos on Thursday morning, was headed for the PLO in Gaza. The most recent confirmation of the vessel's mission was the captain of the ship himself, Omar Akawi, who told interviewers yesterday that the Lebanese Hizbullah had nothing to do with the operation.
But, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said in Monday's press briefing, " We don't know who hired it, who was the recipient." The IDF spokesman expressed his hopes that the US spokesmen who doubt where the ship was headed "are wearing small hats, because they will have to eat them." He also confirmed that the Israeli Security Agency (ISA - formerly called the GSS) opposed allowing TV journalists interview the ship captain, but it was decided to permit the interviews in order to provide irrefutable evidence that the arms were headed for Gaza.
At Monday's US State Dep't press briefing, Associated Press correspondent Barry Schweid pursued the question of where the weapons were going with State Dep't spokesman Boucher:
Mr. Schweid: Is that [the destination of the arms shipment] still a question in your mind?
MR. BOUCHER: Barry, I answered your question originally to say we don't have the facts in this matter. I didn't focus on Chairman Arafat except to the extent that he said he didn't have any knowledge. We don't know. We don't know who hired it, who was the recipient. Those are the kinds of pieces of information we are looking for.
QUESTION: .I just wondered if there was any compliment or any pat on the back due Israel for intercepting, considering your war on terrorism.?
MR. BOUCHER: It's definitely good that Israel stopped the weapons. Obviously, this was an Israeli operation. Any law enforcement operations or other operations that are able to prevent terrorists or violent groups from acquiring the means of carrying out their violence is good. We think it's commendable of the Israelis for having been able to intercept the shipment and prevent the potential escalation of violence in the region.
QUESTION: .the wires are carrying interviews with the ship's captain where he says that he was indeed working for the Palestinian Authority under contract to the Palestinian Authority. And I understand that you are still in the process of gathering facts and verifying information and so on, but if it is shown that this indeed was a Palestinian Authority operation, how serious a blow would that be to --
MR. BOUCHER: That's what we call the hypothetical, the grand speculative hypothetical that we don't try to answer. Let's see what the facts are first. Let's deal with the facts as we find them, as we know them.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon stated today that the Bush administration knows without a doubt that the Karin A weapons freighter was ordered by and intended for the PLO, as was reported by Israeli officials following the successful mission.
2. LANDAU: WE NEED UNIFIED GOV'T POLICY Minister of Public Security Uzi Landau said this morning that it is no surprise that the world does not take statements made by Israel government leaders seriously. Landau explained that while Prime Minister Ariel Sharon declares Yasser Arafat a terrorist and the one responsible for the attempted smuggling of the "Karin A" weapons, the government continued dialogue with PA officials on Sunday, together with US envoy Anthony Zinni.
Landau explained that Israel must send a clear message, one of unity in the government, backed by actions. He added that Likud Party ministers led by Sharon call Arafat a terrorist while Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Labor Party ministers call for continued dialogue with "Arafat, our peace partner." Landau further said that when then-Defense Minister Ariel Sharon was blamed by the government-appointed Kahan Commission for "indirect responsibility" of the Sabra and Shatila massacre in 1982, for not anticipating that a massacre was going to occur, he was forced to resign. Landau explained that the architects of the Oslo process should also have anticipated that weapons smuggling and terrorism would result from giving land and weapons to the PLO, and they too must take responsibility.
He pointed out that the threat against Israel will only grow if there is an independent Palestinian state aside Israel. Landau added that permitting the PLO to operate a seaport was a major error. He pointed out that Israel does not really know at present how many boats and weapons were successfully smuggled into the PA since what is known is only the attempts that were thwarted.
Regarding the Temple Mount, Landau said that there is no security problem allowing Jews to visit Judaism's holiest site. He said that only diplomatic considerations stand in the way which he feels are not justified. The Temple Mount has been closed to Jews for a year and four months. The last Jew to ascend the mount was then opposition leader Ariel Sharon.
3. IN BRIEF Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announced that Yasser Arafat will remain in Ramallah for as long as he is prime minister, unless he turns over the murderers of Tourism Minister Rechavam Ze'evi. Sharon made his remarks during an address to an assembly of American Jewish leaders in Jerusalem. Police raiding a home in the Israeli Arab municipality of Um el-Fahm on Monday found stolen army weapons, ammunition and other unspecified armaments. The police were acting on intelligence reports. One person was placed under arrest, and he was arraigned today. The investigation continues.
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