NewsShortsNewsShortsNewsShortsNewsShortsNewsShortsNewsShortsNews
Ban the Sheikh
Israeli public security minister Avigdor Kahalani announced that he is considering issuing a ban on Sheikh Mohammed Beitawi, prohibiting him from entering Jerusalem. An Israeli Knesset member from the right-wing Molodet party apparently has demanded that Kahalani ban the sheikh from entering the holy city after last week's Friday sermon in al-Aqsa mosque in which Beitawi is said to have made "inciting statements" against Israel. In his sermon, Beitawi warned the Israeli government and people against any attempts to divide up or destroy the al-Aqsa mosque compound and build the "alleged" temple, warning that such an event would lead to the eventual destruction of Israel.
Heart Surgery in Ramallah
PA health minister Riyad Za'noun announced earlier this week the launching of regular heart surgery facilities in the Ramallah government hospital. Hospital administrators made the decision to offer regular cardiac surgery after 11 successful heart operations were performed in the hospital in December. The new move will not only help to save lives but will also save the Palestinian Authority a considerable amount of money (approximately US$4.5 million annually) since cases requiring open heart surgery will no longer need to be transferred to Jordan, Egypt or Israel (where hospital costs are far higher).
Houses Sealed
Several houses belonging to the Hasuneh and Shahin families in Hebron's Old City were sealed shut this week after the Israeli authorities claimed that stones and molotov cocktails had been thrown at settlers from the premises.
Kach Takes the Blame
After a spate of car vandalism in Jerusalem's a-Tor neighborhood, the outlawed Jewish extremists movement, Kach, claimed responsibility for deflating the tires of over 100 Palestinian-owned vehicles. Israeli police have said they are investigating the incidents.
Sentenced
An Israeli court last week sentenced 26-year old Tatyana Susskind to two years in prison after finding her guilty of a racist act and supporting a terrorist group. In June 1997, Susskind was caught plastering posters depicting the prophet Mohammed as a pig on walls throughout the town of Hebron. The Russian immigrant to Israel and ardent supporter of Kach was also accused of stoning an Arab car the following day. Susskind appeared totally unrepentent in the Israeli court, insisting she had acted out of "love for Israel". The court could have ordered a maximum 20-year sentence, but the judge declared that Susskind was not "completely mentally well."
Settlement Condemned
The British foreign minister Derek Fatchett, speaking on behalf of the European Union on January 9, as Britain took over the EU presidency, condemned Israeli settlement in the Palestinian territories. "We are disturbed by today's reports of further Israeli settlement building in the West Bank," his statement read. "This development is particularly damaging at a time when the US, the EU and the international community are intensifying their efforts to achieve a breakthrough in the peace process. The EU position is clear: settlements are both illegal under international law and damaging to the peace process. at the European Council in December, European leaders reiterated their view that, if we are to see progress in the negotiations, both sides much avoid counterproductive unilateral actions of this kind." Fatchett, who arrives in Israel January 14, intends to make the EU's point "strongly" to the Israeli government.
Refugee Affairs
Palestinian president Yasser Arafat headed the year's first meeting of the PLO's Higher Council for Refugee and Camp Affairs on January 10, during which he stressed the importance of the refugees issue. The meeting resulted in the allocation of US$3.6 million toward the improvement of conditions in the refugee camps, of which there are 21 in the Palestinian territories. UNRWA, the UN agency whose mandate since 1950 has been to provide housing, health, education and social services to Palestinian refugee camps throughout the Middle East, has been having to cut back on services due to a severe recurring budget deficit.
Clashes in Hebron
At least eight Palestinians were injured during clashes which broke out between Palestinian protesters and Israeli soldiers in Hebron as a result of last week's Israeli actions, including the closure of al-Shuhada Street and several neighborhoods inside the Old City. Al-Shuhada Street, the major commercial thoroughfare in Hebron, was closed for well over two years as a preventive "security" measure, following the Hebron mosque massacre. The street was only recently reopened after renovation works funded by USAID; its reopening was a condition of the Hebron Protocol signed in January 1997.
German Suicide Bomber?
The Israeli police are currently holding a German national, Stefan Smerk, 26, in jail in Tel Aviv, apparently on suspicion of involvement in a planned suicide bomb attack. No additional details were made available; however, Smerk has sent reports through his father that he is being subjected to severe psychological and physical pressure by his Israeli interrogators. Meanwhile, Israeli police this week ordered a tightening of security measures and additional troop reinforcements at the borders with the Palestinian territories The security alert followed specific reports of a possible suicide operation, according to Israeli police officials; Israeli troops arrested a number of Islamic activists this week in a sweep they say was sparked by the reports. However, the Israeli daily Ha'aretz, alleged that the crackdown was due to fears of armed attacks during Ramadan rather than specific information.
Settlement Protests
Sit-in protests continued throughout the week opposite the Neveh Dekalim settlement in the Gaza Strip. Local residents are up in arms about plans for confiscating land in the al-Mawasi area near Khan Younis, and have warned of trouble should Israeli bulldozers be sent to start clearing land for any settlement purpose. Meetings between the National and Islamic Committee Against Settlement and the Khan Younis governor were held in an effort to push the Palestinian Authority to actively implement a Cabinet decision designating al-Mawasi a Class A Development Zone.
Efrat Expands
Five hundred new housing units are to be built at the settlement of Efrat, near Bethlehem, according to an Israel Radio report last week, and 94 new units are to be added to the al-Qana settlement. The Palestinian Authority's higher education minister, Hanan Ashrawi, criticized the plans, calling settlement expansion Israeli prime minister Netanyahu's "response" to the recent visit of US peace envoy Dennis Ross and a "real message" to US president Clinton.
"Thousands of Jobs"
Palestinian Development Corporation (PADECO) head Amin Haddad announced this week that the Gaza Industrial Zone is at an "advanced stage" of coand some of the premises will be to begin operating as of May. According to Haddad, the 125-acre industrial zone will provide 22,000 direct job opportunities, with 35,000 workers benefiting from indirect employment as a result of the project. Haddad noted that Israel's refusal to allow implementation of the Gaza air and sea ports will force imports and exports through Israeli-controlled crossings.
Shooting "Political"?
Gunshots which hit an Israeli army vehicle south of Gaza City on the evening of January 12 did not come from any gun registered to the PA, it was announced the next day, with one security chief speculating that the incident had been fabricated for political reasons.