Subject: Israel News: Feb 2 - 8, 1998
Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 21:58:31 +0000
To: "Arutz-7 List"<heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>
From: Eddie Chumney
To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
Subject: Israel News (Feb 2 - 8, 1998)
Israel News
February 2 - 8, 1998
PEACE PROCESS
ARAB RIGHT OF RETURN RAISED
Arutz Sheva 2/4/98
Yasser Arafat's deputy, Mahmoud Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen,
said that the Palestinian Authority is planning to demand the
right of return for all Arab refugees from 1948. In an interview
with an Abu Dhabi television station, a transcript of which
appears in today's edition of the Jerusalem paper Al Kuds, Abu
Mazen mentions specifically the Arabs of Haifa and Jaffa in this
connection. He said that the total Palestinian population here
and abroad numbers seven million.
HAMAS: ISRAEL AIMS TO 'SWALLOW UP JORDAN' [MRE: Visions of
"Greater Eretz Yisrael"] London Al-Sharq al-Awsat in Arabic 1
Feb 98 p 3 "Ghawshah Tells Al-Sharq al-Awsat: The Failure of the
Washington Meetings Opens Up the Possibility of a Zionist Plot To
Swallow Up Jordan After Palestine" -- Amman
The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas has warned about the
danger "posed by the Zionist ambitions to swallow up Jordan after
devouring Palestine." Hamas spokesman Ibrahim Ghawshah told
Al-Sharq al-Awsat that "the Zionist danger, which has swallowed
up most of the Palestinian territories, is now threatening
Jordanian land." At the same time he stressed that the Herut
Party, which forms the backbone of the ruling Likud Party, is
"the originator of the anthem which sings of the east and west
banks of the Jordan. Moreover, during the programs broadcast on
the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the
Zionist entity, Hebrew television always displayed the map
joining Palestine and Jordan with a gun on top which is the
emblem of the terrorist Jabotinsky, the teacher of the late
Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and the Zionist terrorist
fanatics."
Ghawshah stressed that his movement is warning of the dangers
that are posed to Jordan "either because of the emigration of our
Palestinian people after the links with the West Bank have been
cut, or because of the 'alternative homeland' plot put forward by
Hayim Damon, one of the Labor Party 'doves' -- to say nothing of
the 'hawks.'"
STANDOFF IN THE GULF PUTS MIDEAST PEACE PROCESS ON HOLD
February 7, 1998 By Karin Laub, Associated Press Jerusalem (AP)
The standoff in the Persian Gulf comes at a bad time for the
stalled Mideast peace process. U.S. leaders are distracted by
the crisis and reluctant to pressure Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu over a West Bank troop pullback at a time
when they want him to stay out of any conflict with Iraqi leader
Saddam Hussein.
The Palestinians, in turn, don't want to be seen as making
concessions to Israel or the United States such as cracking
down on Islamic militants at a time when Iraq is engaged in a
confrontation with Washington.
All this spells deadlock in the negotiations. Palestinian leader
Yasser Arafat said this week that his people's patience is
limited and warned of a blowup.
ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: IRAN AS MUCH OF A DANGER TO THE
WORLD AS IRAQ
February 6, 1998 By Danna Harman, Associated Press Jerusalem (AP)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Friday that Iran could
pose as much of a danger to the world as Iraq does now if its
nonconventional weapons program is not wiped out.
Netanyahu also repeated earlier assertions that Israel would not
rule out retaliation if Iraq, which is embroiled in a dispute
with the United Nations over weapons inspections, attacks the
Jewish state.
"One has to remember that we reserve the right of self-defense,
which is a natural right of any state, any nation under potential
or real attack,'' Netanyahu told foreign diplomats. He added,
however, that he believes the probability of an Iraqi attack is
very low.
In his speech Friday, Netanyahu said Iran was as much of a danger
to world stability as Iraq because its weapons program is not
under international supervision.
"It does not take a great deal of imagination to understand what
would happen if Iran, which proceeds unimpeded in developing
these capabilities, what this would do to all of us,'' Netanyahu
said. Netanyahu called on the international community to stop
Iran's weapons program. Israel believes that Iran will develop
nuclear capability in a few years, and is developing long-range
missiles that could deliver nonconventional weapons to Israel.
PALESTINIANS WANT SANCTIONS ON ISRAEL
By Saud Abu Ramadan Gaza City, Feb. 7 (UPI)
Palestinian Authority Cabinet General Secretary Ahmed Abdul
Rahman is calling on the Security Council to impose economic,
political and diplomatic sanctions on Israel. According to Abdul
Rahman, Israel ``had aimed over the last 50 years to uproot the
Palestinian people from their lands by confiscating lands and
expanding Jewish settlements on the Palestinian territories.'' A
statement published Friday night by Palestinian news agency
``Wafa'' called for an urgent meeting of the Arab Summit to
finalize a decision related to peace with Israel.
IRAQ AND PREPARATIONS FOR WAR
DEADLY ARSENAL IS EASILY HIDDEN FROM ATTACKERS
London Telegraph 2/5/98 By Tim Butcher, Defence Correspondent
The West's assessment of the Iraqi threat was included in a
Foreign Office paper released yesterday. Repeating evidence made
public by the United Nations Special Commission (Unscom), it said
that Iraq was known to have ingredients to make 200,000 litres
(44,000 gallons) of the nerve agent VX, a quantity sufficient to
kill the world's population.
Biological weapons such as anthrax, which need to be grown in the
laboratory, are also known to be in the Iraqi arsenal. Iraq is
assessed to have the capacity to produce more than 20,000kg (20
tons) of anthrax. An aerosol spraying 100kg of anthrax from a
height in a densely populated area could kill three million
people, military experts warned.
In addition to anthrax, plague and botulinum toxin, which Iraq
was suspected of having before the Gulf war, UN inspectors have
also found other weapons, such as 2,000 litres of aflatoxin,
which produces liver or lung cancer, and clostridium, also known
as gas gangrene.
DOUBTS ARISE ON VACCINE AGAINST ANTHRAX
London Times 2/4/98 from James Bone in New York
The discovery of a blended form of anthrax, recovered from the
infamous Sverdlovsk incident in the Soviet Union, has cast doubt
on the efficacy of vaccines against the deadly biological agent.
American government scientists at the Los Alamos National
Laboratory made the discovery when they performed new tests on
infected tissue samples retrieved by two pathologists after the
leak of anthrax from a military base in the Russian city, now
named Yekaterinburg, 900 miles east of Moscow, in 1979.
The tests found that the anthrax contained at least four
different strains in an apparent attempt to overwhelm vaccines
used against the disease. It was the first indication that the
Soviet Union, which continued its biological weapons research in
the 1970s despite an international ban, might have been
developing a vaccine-resistant blend of anthrax.
The results were reported by Dr Paul Jackson yesterday in The
Proceedings of the National Academy of Scientists. The news
provoked an immediate controversy within the American Government,
which recently ordered all 2.4 million military personnel to be
inoculated against anthrax exposure, including thousands serving
in the Gulf.
YELTSIN SAYS CLINTON RISKS PROVOKING WORLD WAR
OVER IRAQ
February 4, 1998 By Sergei Shargorodsky, Associated Press Moscow
(AP)
In a blunt warning to President Clinton, Boris Yeltsin declared
today that America might provoke global warfare if it follows
through on threatened attacks on Iraq.
"By his actions, Clinton might run into a world war. They're
acting too loudly,'' Yeltsin said. "One must be accurate in a
world that is saturated with all kinds of weapons.'' "One should
not (say) immediately that we shower (Iraq) with airplanes and
bombs.'' Yeltsin said the latest American moves were "quite
unlike Clinton'' and stressed that Russia has done its utmost to
avert a military clash.
AMERICA PLANS THREE-DAY BLITZ OF KEY TARGETS
London Telegraph 2/5/98 By Hugo Gurdon in Washington
America is planning to unleash more firepower against Iraq than
at any time since Operation Desert Storm in 1991, the US Defence
Secretary told Congress yesterday. As hope faded that diplomacy
would lead Saddam Hussein to back down, William Cohen said: "If
it should come to military action, the kind of campaign that
would be undertaken would be significant, far more than what has
been experienced in the past, certainly since the Gulf war."
But a row is brewing between the White House and the US Joint
Chiefs of Staff over what the military says is
politically-dictated plans for a strategically incoherent bombing
campaign. President Clinton's National Security Council wants to
concentrate on sites suspected of concealing chemical, biological
and nuclear weapons but to leave Saddam's security forces and
cabal of aides largely untouched, say insiders.
"The White House is only interested in putting on a show," a
military official told the Washington Times. "It is a list of
targets trying to be forced into something they claim is a
strategy." The plan is for an intense air war lasting about
three days, to begin once the Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan,
are over on Feb 22. The Joint Chiefs have argued, apparently in
vain, for concentrated attacks on Saddam's inner circle, the
security forces' housing in Baghdad and Republican Guard
barracks.
OFFENSIVE AGAINST IRAQ COULD START FEBRUARY 17TH
By Globes' correspondent - Globes 2/5/98
Air strikes against Iraqi targets are likely to begin on February
17th, should current diplomatic action fail. This was reported
today by the London "Independent" newspaper.
"Those in charge of planning believe that date to be the most
favorable for starting an attack, although the final decision
rests with President Bill Clinton"' said the British newspaper
quoting Washington sources.
The paper added, that this time frame will allow Washington and
London to claim they allowed plenty of time for diplomatic
efforts, especially on the part of France and Russia, to prove
themselves.
The newspaper notes US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright,
said a few days ago that military action could be expected, not
in the next few days or months, but the next few weeks.
U.N. TO EXCAVATE DUMPS OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS
AND WARHEADS
February 7, 1998 By Leon Barkho, Associated Press Baghdad, Iraq
(AP)
The United Nations, checking Iraqi claims about arms stockpiles,
will dig up sites where Iraq says it buried chemical weapons and
missile warheads once loaded with chemical and biological agents.
The excavations, agreed to Saturday after a week of intense talks
between Iraq and U.N. officials, may help clarify the number of
warheads that U.N. experts cannot account for.
But it is still unclear how they will help prove Iraq's claims it
has destroyed all its chemical weapons, given the volume and
diversity of chemical agents with Iraq experimented.
Iraqis say there are many weapons-burial sites scattered across
the country. Oil Minister Amer Mohammed Rashid, a mastermind of
Iraq's weapons programs, said he feared some Iraqis may have
tinkered with certain sites left unguarded by authorities.
FORMER SENIOR IRAQI INTELLIGENCE OFFICIAL WARNS OF IRAQI
CAPABILITY IINS News Service -Israel-2/8
Wafiq al-Samerai, a former Iraqi intelligence chief, warned that
Saddam Hussein possesses enough non-conventional weaponry to
wipe out the entire population of the whole Middle East.
According to al-Samerai's estimates, even if 50% of the
stockpiles for biological warfare are no longer effective, there
remains enough to do serious damage to the entire area. He also
pointed out that UN weapons inspectors will never locate all of
the storage facilities and the international force will never
succeed in its mission to totally eradicate the non-conventional
stockpiles of the Iraqi dictator. Al-Samerai defected from Iraq
about 3-years ago.
SADDAM HAS ENOUGH BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS TO DESTROY THE
WHOLE MIDDLE EAST - Summary of Israeli newspapers 2/8/98
German newspaper Der Spiegel quotes a former head of Iraqi
intelligence who fled to the West in 1994, who says that Saddam
has "enough biological weapons to annihilate all of the
inhabitants of the Middle East," at least 45 missiles with a 600
km range, reports Ma'ariv, and he continued to say that Saddam
would prefer an American strike, rather than deferring to
international pressure, which for him would be a humiliation.
SUPPORT FOR IRAQ INCREASING IN PA AUTONOMOUS AREAS
IINS News Service -Israel-2/8
Although Yassir Arafat is exhibiting more caution than during the
1991 Gulf War in his public statements of support for Iraqi
dictator Saddam Hussein, support for the Iraqi dictator continues
to increase throughout PLO Authority (PA) autonomous areas.
In what is being called a most ironical situation, demonstrations
of support for Saddam Hussein are becoming more commonplace, as
are preparations for a possible missile attack in the area.
Residents of PA areas are purchasing nylon tape, plastic sheeting
and making other preparations for setting up sealed rooms, as
they purchase pictures of Saddam Hussein and Iraqi flags.
On Saturday, one pro-Iraqi demonstration in Bet Lechem
(Bethlehem) turned violent and Israeli security troops were
compelled to use rubber bullets to control the violent Arab mob.
Israeli officials have already issued stern warnings, that
violence from residents of PA areas coinciding with Iraqi attacks
would not be tolerated and would be countered with a swift
military response.
PREPARATION FOR WAR IN ISRAEL
PA PREPARATIONS FOR WAR
Arutz Sheva 2/2/98
While Israeli were enjoying a day off during the recent
snowstorm, the Palestinian Authority was taking advantage of the
opportunity to hold a special war exercise, using bulldozers
posing as snow removal equipment. The PA has a plan to use the
bulldozers to dig tunnels and erect obstacles in order to hold up
the advancement of IDF forces during time of war. This is but
one of the many preparations being made by the PA for a war with
Israel, Time magazine reports in its current issue. Time reports
that the Palestinians are equipped with katyusha rockets whose
range is 20 kilometers, the distance between Ramallah and
downtown Jerusalem, and between Gaza and Ashkelon.
Yesha Council Deputy Chief Shlomo Filber confirmed the
information in a talk with Arutz-7 today, and said that these
preparations have been going on for the past four years, parallel
with their negotiations with Israel. He adds that they have been
engaged in smuggling and storing all sorts of explosives and
weapons, using Mediterranean and Dead Sea routes, tunnels in
Gaza, and even Arafat's helicopter. The storehouses include
mines, Kalachnikov rifles, artillery, and much more. "The Prime
Minister's Office is worried about these developments," Filber
said, "and it is for this reason that it is insisting so strongly
on the confiscation of illegal weapons and the reduction of the
Palestinian police force to the levels designated by the Oslo
agreement." When asked about the dangers to the Jewish
communities in Yesha of an armed clash, Filber said that
protecting the communities is one of the main objectives of the
IDF defense plans for such an eventuality, and that he doesn't
think the towns will be directly threatened. He reminded the
listeners that one of the first objections of the Yesha Council
to the Oslo process was, "Don't give them guns," and that the
Council foresaw the explosively dangerous situation that has been
developing since then.
IDF DEPLOYS PATRIOTS IN THE NEGEV
Ha'aretz 2/3/98 By Amos Harel, Ha'aretz Military Correspondent
and Agencies
The Israel Defense Forces has deployed four batteries of U.S.
Patriot anti-ballistic missiles on a hill overlooking the town of
Arad in the northern Negev, eye-witnesses told the Reuters news
agency Monday. The army, which initially declined comment on the
deployment, later issued a statement calling it a routine
training drill and said it had nothing to do with the current
tensions in the Gulf.
HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATORS STATE: WE ARE NOT PREPARED FOR
AN ATTACK IINS News Service -Israel-2/3
Senior hospital officials nationwide have informed the ministers
of finance and health, that there is a nationwide shortage of
medical supplies to deal with orthopedic and respiratory
emergencies that might follow an Iraqi missile attack.
SENIOR HOME FRONT OFFICERS; "NO PROTOCOL FOR
BIOLOGICAL ATTACK" IINS News Service -Israel-2/2
According to senior unnamed officials in the IDF Home Front
Command, there are no established protocols to deal with a
possible biological warfare attack on Israel. In addition, the
unnamed officers added, that the eventuality of a biological
attack has not been properly practiced in exercise drills geared
at preparing troops for such an eventuality.
US AIR FORCE EMERGENCY HOSPITAL TO BE SET UP IN TA
IINS News Service -Israel-2/4
The United States Air Force is planning to establish an emergency
hospital in the Tel-Aviv area. The Air Force European Command
published its tender to set up and operate the medical facility
for one year. According to the Haaretz report, it remains
unclear if the medical facility would be used to treat pilots of
US servicemen injured in the Persian Gulf.
PM REBUFFED ALBRIGHT'S PLEA FOR RESTRAINT
Ha'aretz 2/4/98 By David Makovsky, Ha'aretz Diplomatic
Correspondent
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu balked Saturday night when U.S.
Secretary of State Madeline Albright urged him to act "with
restraint" in the unlikely event of an Iraqi conventional strike
against Israel, not only refusing to provide her with such an
assurance, but suggesting in general terms that Israel would
likely hit back if attacked, informed sources said.
IDF HAZMAT OFFICERS; "WE ARE NOT READY FOR
NON-CONVENTIONAL ATTACK" IINS News Service -Israel-2/4
Officers serving in specialized HazMat (Hazardous Material) Unit
of the IDF (the first-response unit following a missile attack)
stated that contrary to official reports, "We are not ready for a
non-conventional missile attack."
The officers stated that despite the statements being issued by
political and military leaders over the past days, aimed at
calming the residents of Israel, the IDF unit is not prepared.
The officers, who are under the Home Front Command and
responsible for Israel's safety during an attack, stated, "The
solution only exists on paper. If there is a non-conventional
attack, the system will collapse".
AIRLIFT FROM US - SOON
Summary of Israeli newspapers 2/5/98
Military freight planes from the US laden with weapons and
biological and chemical warfare identification equipment as well
as medicine and vaccines are expected to arrive in Israel
shortly, reports Ma'ariv.
FOREIGN JOURNALISTS PREPARE
Summary of Israeli newspapers 2/5/98
Foreign and local press have been turning to companies who
specialize in protective gear to ensure that their journalists
and cameramen are well equipped in case they have to report from
areas of chemical weapon attack, reports Ma'ariv.
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