[imra] Daily digest - Volume: 2 Issue: 1342 (10 messages)

imra Fri Mar 3 00:22:13 2006 Volume 2 : Issue 1342

In this issue of the imra daily Digest:

Text: HR 4681 To promote the development of democratic
institutions in areas under the administrative control of
the Palestinian Authority, and for other purposes.
ZOA Criticizes European Union for Giving 143 Million
To Hamas/Palestinian Authority Terrorist Regime
State rejects High Court proposal to pay evacuee's rent
- already paid for caravans in Qassam range
Ex-Barak aide still not charged for illegal party funding
Haniyya: New Government Based
on Not Folding to Threats or Recognizing Israel
4 Palestinian Civilians Injured in Accidents
Resulting from the Misuse of Weapons
Acting PM Olmert's Remarks, Q&A
after meeting with President Katsav
Polls: Kadima 36-39 Labor 19-21
Likud 15-18 NRP/Nat'l Union 9-11
Excerpts: Arab-Israeli conflict Palestionian's problem,
Dialogue with Denmark? 2 March 2006
Weekly Commentary: Israeli policy driven by wishful thinking

----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Text: HR 4681 To promote the development of democratic
institutions in areas under the administrative control of
the Palestinian Authority, and for other purposes.

109th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4681
To promote the development of democratic institutions in areas under the
administrative control of the Palestinian Authority, and for other purposes.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/C?c109:./temp/~c109RzzMht

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 1, 2006
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN (for herself, Mr. LANTOS, Mr. CANTOR, Mr. CHABOT, Mr.
ACKERMAN, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. PENCE, Mr. WELLER, Ms. HARRIS, Mr. BURTON of
Indiana, Mrs. MCCARTHY, Mr. CARDOZA, Mr. MACK, Ms. BEAN, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr.
LYNCH, Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia, Mr. CHANDLER, Mr. BROWN of South
Carolina, Mr. MCCAUL of Texas, Mr. KING of New York, Mr. ISRAEL, Ms.
BERKLEY, Mr. POE, Mr. ROYCE, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mr. TANCREDO, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr.
SHERMAN, and Mr. NADLER) introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the
Committees on the Judiciary and Financial Services, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of
such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL
To promote the development of democratic institutions in areas under the
administrative control of the Palestinian Authority, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006'.
SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON ASSISTANCE TO THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY.
(a) Declaration of Policy- It shall be the policy of the United States to
promote the emergence of a democratic Palestinian governing authority that--
(1) denounces and combats terrorism;
(2) has agreed to and is taking action to disarm and dismantle any terrorist
agency, network, or facility;
(3) has agreed to work to eliminate anti-Israel and anti-Semitic incitement
and the commemoration of terrorists in Palestinian society;
(4) has agreed to respect the boundaries and sovereignty of its neighbors;
(5) acknowledges, respects, and upholds the human rights of all people;
(6) conducts free, fair, and transparent elections in compliance with
international standards;
(7) ensures institutional and financial transparency and accountability; and
(8) has agreed to recognize the State of Israel as an independent,
sovereign, Jewish, democratic state.
(b) Amendments- Chapter 1 of part III of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961
(22 U.S.C. 2351 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by redesignating the second section 620G (as added by section 149 of
Public Law 104-164 (110 Stat. 1436)) as section 620J; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new section:
`SEC. 620K. LIMITATION ON ASSISTANCE TO THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY.
`(a) Limitation- Assistance may be provided under this Act or any other
provision of law to the Palestinian Authority only during a period for which
a certification described in subsection (b) is in effect.
`(b) Certification- A certification described in this subsection is a
certification transmitted by the President to Congress that contains a
determination of the President that--
`(1) no ministry, agency, or instrumentality of the Palestinian Authority is
controlled by a foreign terrorist organization and no member of a foreign
terrorist organization serves in a ministry, agency, or instrumentality of
the Palestinian Authority;
`(2) the Palestinian Authority has--
`(A) publicly acknowledged Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state; and
`(B) recommitted itself and is adhering to all previous agreements and
understandings with the Government of the United States, the Government of
Israel, and the international community, including agreements and
understandings pursuant to the Performance-Based Roadmap to a Permanent
Two-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (commonly referred to
as the `Roadmap'); and
`(3) the Palestinian Authority has taken effective steps and made
demonstrable progress toward--
`(A) completing the process of purging from its security services
individuals with ties to terrorism;
`(B) dismantling all terrorist infrastructure, confiscating unauthorized
weapons, arresting and bringing terrorists to justice, destroying
unauthorized arms factories, thwarting and preempting terrorist attacks, and
fully cooperating with Israel's security services;
`(C) halting all anti-Israel incitement in Palestinian Authority-controlled
electronic and print media and in schools, mosques, and other institutions
it controls, and replacing these materials, including textbooks, with
materials that promote tolerance, peace, and coexistence with Israel;
`(D) ensuring democracy, the rule of law, and an independent judiciary, and
adopting other reforms such as ensuring transparent and accountable
governance; and
`(E) ensuring the financial transparency and accountability of all
government ministries and operations.
`(c) Recertifications- Not later than 90 days after the date on which the
President transmits to Congress an initial certification under subsection
(b), and every six months thereafter--
`(1) the President shall transmit to Congress a recertification that the
requirements contained in subsection (b) are continuing to be met; or
`(2) if the President is unable to make such a recertification, the
President shall transmit to Congress a report that contains the reasons
therefor.
`(d) Congressional Notification- Assistance made available under this Act or
any other provision of law to the Palestinian Authority may not be provided
until 15 days after the date on which the President has provided notice
thereof to the Committee on International Relations and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on
Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate in
accordance with the procedures applicable to reprogramming notifications
under section 634A(a) of this Act.
`(e) Definitions- In this section:
`(1) FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION- The term `foreign terrorist
organization' means an organization designated as a foreign terrorist
organization by the Secretary of State in accordance with section 219(a) of
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189(a)).
`(2) PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY- The term `Palestinian Authority' means the
interim Palestinian administrative organization that governs part of the
West Bank and all of the Gaza Strip (or any successor Palestinian governing
entity), including the Palestinian Legislative Council.'.
(c) Report by Comptroller General- Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that
contains a review of the extent to which United States assistance to the
Palestinian Authority under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or any other
provision of law is properly audited by the Department of State, the United
States Agency for International Development, and all other relevant
departments and agencies of the Government of the United States.
SEC. 3. LIMITATION ON ASSISTANCE FOR THE WEST BANK AND GAZA.
(a) Amendment- Chapter 1 of part III of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961
(22 U.S.C. 2351 et seq.), as amended by section 2(b)(2) of this Act, is
further amended by adding at the end the following new section:
`SEC. 620L. LIMITATION ON ASSISTANCE FOR THE WEST BANK AND GAZA.
`(a) Limitation- Assistance may be provided under this Act or any other
provision of law to nongovernmental organizations for the West Bank and Gaza
only during a period for which a certification described in section 620K(b)
of this Act is in effect with respect to the Palestinian Authority.
`(b) Exceptions- Subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to the
following:
`(1) ASSISTANCE TO MEET BASIC HUMAN HEALTH NEEDS- The provision of food,
water, medicine, sanitation services, or other assistance to meet basic
human health needs.
`(2) OTHER TYPES OF ASSISTANCE- The provision of any other type of
assistance if the President--
`(A) determines that the provision of such assistance will further the
national security interests of the United States; and
`(B) not less than 45 days prior to the obligation of amounts for the
provision of such assistance--
`(i) consults with the appropriate congressional committees regarding the
specific programs, projects, and activities to be carried out using such
assistance; and
`(ii) submits to the appropriate congressional committees a written
memorandum that contains the determination of the President under
subparagraph (A).
`(3) DEFINITION- In this subsection, the term `appropriate congressional
committees' means--
`(A) the Committee on International Relations and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and
`(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations
of the Senate.
`(c) Marking Requirement- Assistance provided under this Act or any other
provision of law to nongovernmental organizations for the West Bank and Gaza
shall be marked as assistance from the Government of the United States
unless the Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development determines that such marking will endanger the lives or safety
of persons delivering such assistance.
`(d) Congressional Notification- Assistance made available under this Act or
any other provision of law to nongovernmental organizations for the West
Bank and Gaza may not be provided until 15 days after the date on which the
President has provided notice thereof to the Committee on International
Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives and to the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee
on Appropriations of the Senate in accordance with the procedures applicable
to reprogramming notifications under section 634A(a) of this Act.'.
(b) Oversight and Related Requirements-
(1) OVERSIGHT- For each of the fiscal years 2007 and 2008, the Secretary of
State shall certify to the appropriate congressional committees not later
than 30 days prior to the initial obligation of amounts for assistance to
nongovernmental organizations for the West Bank or Gaza under the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961 or any other provision of law that procedures have
been established to ensure that the Comptroller General of the United States
will have access to appropriate United States financial information in order
to review the use of such assistance.
(2) VETTING- Prior to any obligation of amounts for each of the fiscal years
2007 and 2008 for assistance to nongovernmental organizations for the West
Bank or Gaza under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or any other provision
of law, the Secretary of State shall take all appropriate steps to ensure
that such assistance is not provided to or through any individual or entity
that the Secretary knows, or has reason to believe, advocates, plans,
sponsors, engages in, or has engaged in, terrorist activity. The Secretary
shall, as appropriate, establish procedures specifying the steps to be taken
in carrying out this paragraph and shall terminate assistance to any
individual or entity that the Secretary has determined advocates, plans,
sponsors, or engages in terrorist activity.
(3) PROHIBITION- No amounts made available for fiscal year 2007 or 2008 for
assistance to nongovernmental organizations for the West Bank or Gaza under
the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or any other provision of law may be made
available for the purpose of recognizing or otherwise honoring individuals
who commit, or have committed, acts of terrorism.
(4) AUDITS-
(A) IN GENERAL- The Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development shall ensure that independent audits of all
contractors and grantees, and significant subcontractors and subgrantees,
that receive amounts for assistance to nongovernmental organizations for the
West Bank or Gaza under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or any other
provision of law, are conducted for each of the fiscal years 2007 and 2008
to ensure, among other things, compliance with this subsection.
(B) AUDITS BY INSPECTOR GENERAL OF USAID- Of the amounts available for each
of the fiscal years 2007 and 2008 for assistance to nongovernmental
organizations for the West Bank or Gaza under the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961 or any other provision of law, up to $1,000,000 for each such fiscal
year may be used by the Office of the Inspector General of the United States
Agency for International Development for audits, inspections, and other
activities in furtherance of the requirements of subparagraph (A). Such
amounts are in addition to amounts otherwise available for such purposes.
SEC. 4. UNITED NATIONS AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS.
(a) Department of State Review and Report-
(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of State shall--
(A) conduct an audit of the functions of the entities specified in paragraph
(2); and
(B) submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report containing
recommendations for the elimination of such duplicative entities and
efforts.
(2) ENTITIES SPECIFIED- The entities referred to in paragraph (1) are the
following:
(A) The United Nations Division for Palestinian Rights.
(B) The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People.
(C) The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process
and Personal Representative to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the
Palestinian Authority.
(D) The NGO Network on the Question of Palestine.
(E) The Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the
Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied
Territories.
(F) Any other entity the Secretary determines results in duplicative efforts
or funding or fails to ensure balance in the approach to Israeli-Palestinian
issues.
(b) Implementation of Recommendations by Permanent Representative-
(1) IN GENERAL- The President shall direct the United States Permanent
Representative to the United Nations to use the voice, vote, and influence
of the United States at the United Nations to seek the implementation of the
recommendations contained in the report required under subsection (a)(1)(B).
(2) WITHHOLDING OF FUNDS- Until such recommendations have been implemented,
the United States shall withhold from United States contributions to the
regular assessed budget of the United Nations for a biennial period amounts
that are proportional to the percentage of such budget that are expended for
such entities.
(c) GAO Audit- The Comptroller General shall conduct an audit of the status
of the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report
required under subsection (a)(1)(B).
(d) Withholding of Funds With Respect to the Palestinian Authority- The
United States shall withhold from United States contributions to the regular
assessed budget of the United Nations for a biennial period amounts that are
proportional to the percentage of such budget that are expended for any
United Nations affiliated or specialized agency that provides assistance
directly to the Palestinian Authority during any period for which a
certification described in section 620K(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961 (as added by section 2(b)(2) of this Act) is not in effect with respect
to the Palestinian Authority.
SEC. 5. DESIGNATION OF TERRITORY CONTROLLED BY THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY AS
TERRORIST SANCTUARY.
It is the sense of Congress that, during any period for which a
certification described in section 620K(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961 (as added by section 2(b)(2) of this Act) is not in effect with respect
to the Palestinian Authority, the territory controlled by the Palestinian
Authority should be deemed to be in use as a sanctuary for terrorists or
terrorist organizations for purposes of section 6(j)(5) of the Export
Administration Act of 1979 (50 U.S.C. App. 2405(j)(5)) and section 140 of
the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989 (22
U.S.C. 2656f).
SEC. 6. DENIAL OF VISAS FOR OFFICIALS OF THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY.
(a) In General- A visa shall not be issued to any alien who is an official
of, affiliated with, or serving as a representative of the Palestinian
Authority during any period for which a certification described in section
620K(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (as added by section 2(b)(2)
of this Act) is not in effect with respect to the Palestinian Authority.
(b) Waiver- Subsection (a) shall not apply if the President determines and
certifies to the appropriate congressional committees, on a case-by-case
basis, that the issuance of a visa to an alien described in such subsection
is vital to the national security interests of the United States.
SEC. 7. TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ON OFFICIALS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY AND THE PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION STATIONED AT
THE UNITED NATIONS IN NEW YORK CITY.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the President shall restrict the
travel of officials and representatives of the Palestinian Authority and of
the Palestine Liberation Organization who are stationed at the United
Nations in New York City to a 25-mile radius of the United Nations
headquarters building during any period for which a certification described
in section 620K(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (as added by
section 2(b)(2) of this Act) is not in effect with respect to the
Palestinian Authority.
SEC. 8. PROHIBITION ON PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY REPRESENTATION IN THE UNITED
STATES.
(a) Prohibition- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, it shall be
unlawful to establish or maintain an office, headquarters, premises, or
other facilities or establishments within the jurisdiction of the United
States at the behest or direction of, or with funds provided by, the
Palestinian Authority or the Palestine Liberation Organization during any
period for which a certification described in section 620K(b) of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961 (as added by section 2(b)(2) of this Act) is not in
effect with respect to the Palestinian Authority.
(b) Enforcement-
(1) ATTORNEY GENERAL- The Attorney General shall take the necessary steps
and institute the necessary legal action to effectuate the policies and
provisions of subsection (a).
(2) RELIEF- Any district court of the United States for a district in which
a violation of subsection (a) occurs shall have authority, upon petition of
relief by the Attorney General, to grant injunctive and such other equitable
relief as it shall deem necessary to enforce the provisions of subsection
(a).
SEC. 9. INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.
(a) Requirement- The President shall direct the United States Executive
Director at each international financial institution to use the voice, vote,
and influence of the United States to prohibit assistance to the Palestinian
Authority during any period for which a certification described in section
620K(b) of the Foreign Assistance of 1961 (as added by section 2(b)(2) of
this Act) is not in effect with respect to the Palestinian Authority.
(b) Definition- In this section, the term `international financial
institution' has the meaning given the term in section 1701(c)(2) of the
International Financial Institutions Act.
SEC. 10. DIPLOMATIC CONTACTS WITH PALESTINIAN TERROR ORGANIZATIONS.
No funds authorized or available to the Department of State or any other
United States Government agency may be used for or by any officer or
employee of the United States Government to negotiate, attend official
meetings, or have official contacts with members or official representatives
of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of
Palestine, al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, or any other Palestinian terrorist
organization, unless and until such organization--
(1) recognizes Israel's right to exist;
(2) renounces the use of terrorism;
(3) dismantles the infrastructure necessary to carry out terrorist acts,
including the disarming of militias and the elimination of all instruments
of terror; and
(4) recognizes and accepts all previous agreements and understandings
between the State of Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
SEC. 11. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES- The term `appropriate
congressional committees' means--
(A) the Committee on International Relations and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations
of the Senate.
(2) PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY- The term `Palestinian Authority' has the meaning
given the term in section 620K(e)(2) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961
(as added by section 2(b)(2) of this Act).
END

------------------------------

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: ZOA Criticizes European Union for Giving 143 Million
To Hamas/Palestinian Authority Terrorist Regime

NEWS RELEASE
Zionist Organization of America
Jacob & Libby Goodman ZOA House, 4 East 34th Street, New York, N.Y. 10016
(212) 481-1500 Fax: (212) 481-1515
March 1, 2006
Contact Morton A. Klein at: www.zoa.org

Attn: NEWS EDITOR

ZOA CRITICIZES EUROPEAN UNION FOR GIVING $143 MILLION
TO HAMAS/ PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY TERRORIST REGIME

The ZOA has criticized the European Union (EU) for deciding this week
to authorize $143 million in aid to the Hamas/Palestinian Authority (PA)
terrorist regime. Hamas' Charter calls for Israel's destruction (Article 15)
and the murder of Jews (Article 7). Hamas has killed not only Israelis but
Americans and is connected to other Islamist terrorist groups. It has
received funds from Iran and Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal has already
traveled to Iran to meet President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whose regime is
building nuclear weapons. A senior Hamas official, Hassam El-Masalmeh, has
said that Hamas plans to re-institute the humiliating jizya, a blood ransom
Koranic poll-tax levied traditionally on non-Muslims in Muslim states. Hamas
identifies with the goals of worldwide jihad promoted by its parent
movement, the Muslim Brotherhood, and sees its conflict as part of a larger
jihadist struggle in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places. A major Hamas
poster featured during the Palestinian elections last month in Jenin and
Hebron displayed images of Hamas figures including its founder, Sheikh Ahmed
Yassin, with other jihadists like Al Qaeda's Osama Bin Laden and leaders of
the Chechen mujahideen (terrorists from Chechnya involved in global jihad).

The EU claims that these funds for the PA will only be used on direct
humanitarian support for Palestinians and to avoid the economic collapse of
the interim government prior to Hamas taking control, but Hamas will come to
control the PA coffers in a matter of weeks. Moreover, funds received by the
PA are fungible and free up other sources of funds available to Hamas for
terrorism. The EU payment contradicts an understanding between the EU and
Israel that unless Hamas recognizes Israel, disavows violence and accepts
previous agreements signed with Israel by the PA, Hamas will not be
considered a peace partner or eligible for international aid. The EU says it
will make a halt to funding only after Hamas assumes office and if it fails
to alter its major policies.

ZOA National President Morton A. Klein said, "Ever since Hamas won
Palestinian elections last month, there has been a drift towards
legitimizing and dealing with this essentially neo-Nazi, genocidal movement.
Russia has stated that it does not regard Hamas as a terrorist movement and
now the EU, which has not gone that far, still subverts its own stated
opposition to dealing with Hamas until it reforms itself by continuing
funding of the Hamas/PA. It should be obvious that this will only encourage
others to continue funding the PA and weaken the resolve of donors to
withhold funds.

"Instead of rushing to find a Hamas-led PA, it should be understood
by the Palestinians that there are consequences to their electing terrorists
and extremists as their leaders. If Palestinians were truly interested in
peace with Israel, they could not possibly have handed a huge election
victory to Hamas. Palestinians knew what Hamas is and stands for when they
chose to overwhelmingly to vote it into office. The world is not obligated
to fund the further radicalization of Palestinian society and an increase in
terrorism.

"The ZOA strongly urges the Bush Administration to oppose loudly and
clearly this unwarranted and damaging development which will undermine the
war on terrorism and harm any chances for peace."

------------------------------

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: State rejects High Court proposal to pay evacuee's rent
- already paid for caravans in Qassam range

State rejects HCJ proposal to pay evacuee's rent
Dan Izenberg, THE JERUSALEM POST Mar. 2, 2006
www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1139395516605&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

The state on Wednesday rejected a High Court proposal to pay the rent for 41
former residents of the Gaza Strip settlement of Elei Sinai, who left their
temporary homes in Kibbutz Karmiyeh because they were unprotected against
Kassam rocket attacks. The residents left Karmiyeh after four members of a
family were injured when a rocket fell outside their home.

Attorney Orit Koren said the state had already paid all of the rent for the
mobile homes in Karmiyeh and could not pay a second rent. But Barak said,
"The sympathy of all of us is with the petitioners. They suffered a previous
trauma because of the disengagement and we must not forget that."

Barak said the court would hand down its ruling in the next few days.

------------------------------

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Ex-Barak aide still not charged for illegal party funding

Ex-Barak aide still not charged for illegal party funding
By Yuval Yoaz, Haaretz Correspondent 2 March 2006
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/689393.html

[IMRA: If there was any doubt that reality can be molded to fit an agenda
the commonly held view that Issac Herzog is one of the "clean" politicians
in Israel is proof positive. Acting as an attorney for a Canadian charity
Herzog jeopardized its tax free status by diverting funds to the Barak
campaign.]

Almost two years have gone by since former attorney general Elyakim
Rubinstein decided to indict Tal Zilberstein for his alleged role in illegal
funding activities for Ehud Barak's 1999 election campaign, but charges have
yet to be filed.

Haaretz has learned that although Zilberstein's attorneys attended a hearing
about a year ago, Justice Ministry officials have yet to make a final
decision regarding the pressing of criminal charges.

Zilberstein, who owns a strategic consultancy firm and served as Barak's
campaign manager in the 1999 general election, is one of Acting PM Ehud
Olmert's closest advisers.

The Barak campaign-financing scandal broke following a harsh report by
then-state comptroller Eliezer Goldberg on violations of campaign finance
laws by 19 of the 34 parties that competed in the 1999 ballot. The bulk of
Goldberg's findings dealt with the Barak campaign's blatant and extensively
illegal use of a network of non-profit organizations, concluding that Barak
and his One Israel list had employed a "worrisome method [of funding] that
arrogantly tramples the rule of law."

Goldberg deemed then-cabinet secretary Issac Herzog (a Labor MK today) and
Zilberstein "responsible for the illicit activities."

When questioned initially by Goldberg, Zilberstein refused to cooperate, and
subsequently defended his patron by claiming that Barak had not been
involved in the NPOs' activities.

The investigation was complex - compounded by the fact that Zilberstein,
Herzog and other suspects chose to exercise their right to silence. But it
culminated in May 2002 with a recommendation by police to close the case
against Barak, but to file charges against Herzog, Doron Cohen, then-MK
Weizman Shiri, and Zilberstein.

The file was passed on to Rubinstein, who published his decision 18 months
later, in October 2003. Rubinstein wrote that the evidence gathered by
police appeared to indicate that not only was Zilberstein aware of the NPOs'
activities, but also had actively directed them. "Under such circumstances,
it has been decided to indict him," Rubinstein wrote.

The decision was subject to a hearing, which, for reasons the Justice
Ministry refuses to reveal, was delayed for a long time, and eventually took
place in early 2005.

"I have nothing to say on the matter," Zilberstein laconically said
Wednesday in response to an approach from Haaretz.

According to the Justice Ministry spokesman, "the file is with the State
Prosecutor's Office for a final decision following the conducting of a
hearing and discussions that were held in its wake, and in light of legal
issues that have subsequently arisen. The state prosecution is aware of the
fact that handling the case has taken a significant amount of time, and a
decision, therefore, will be made in the near future."

------------------------------

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Haniyya: New Government Based
on Not Folding to Threats or Recognizing Israel

Haniyya: New Government Based on Not Folding to Threats or Recognizing
Israel
www.ipc.gov.ps/ipc_new/english/details.asp?name=14098

GAZA, Palestine, March 2, 2006 (IPC + Agencies) -[Official PA website] -
Prime Minister-designate from Hamas movement Ismail Haniyya said that the
constants of the new government include not succumbing to international
threats and refusing the recognition of Israel.

According to Hamas' media information center, Haniyya said the movement
will consider a great difference between political negotiations and daily
life with the occupation, pointing out that this reality will be dealt with
without harming the interests of the Palestinian people.

Meanwhile, Haniyya stressed, in an interview with the Tunisian newspaper Al
Shurooq, that this government will exercise its role based on its election
by the Palestinian people, which will give it the ability to face any
attempts to abort Hamas' political agenda of resistance.

Regarding the variation in political stances between the coming government
and the Palestinian presidential establishment, Haniyya explained that
"agreement exists in the fact that we are not against the interests of the
Palestinian people, but political difference relate to the means in which
the lost Palestinian rights are regained."

"This doesn't mean that we are in argument with the presidential
establishment, and the movement will not seek to create a crisis with it.
Everyone should respect our electoral platform which gained the consensus of
the Palestinian people," Haniyya added.

The Hamas leader warned of any practices against the movement assuming the
role it was chosen for, which might engulf everyone in a vicious circle,
expressing amazement of the increased pressure on Hamas to recognize Israel,
while no one asks Israel in return to respect the international legitimacy
resolutions.

"If the government yet to be formed recognizes Israel in light of its siege,
Apartheid Wall and settlement activities, this will mean recognizing all
these practices."

Responding to a question about the Israeli and American pressure and cutting
off financial aid off the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), Ismail
Haniyya described it as an extortion Hamas takes into consideration,
asserting that thwarting these plots will have them resort to other plans.
He further stated that Hamas' recent tour in Arab countries displayed all
the facts on the ground and Hamas' agenda toward them.

He mentioned, "We hope these countries would increase its support of the
Palestinian cause, which is central to both the Arab and Islamic worlds."

In the meantime, the spokesman for Fateh movement, Ahmad Abdul Rahman, said
the participation of his movement in the government to be formed by Hamas is
conditional upon Hamas movement's commitment to President Mahmoud Abbas'
letter of appointment and his address to the new legislative council.

Abdul Rahman told the Media and Information Center that the political
language from Hamas statements doesn't encourage Fateh to think about
joining the national coalition government, as these statements are wrapped
with ambiguity.

He demanded Hamas movement clarify its position towards the PNA's
commitments in the past ten years, in reference to the agreements signed
between the PNA and Israel, and the consequent regional and international
commitments.

With regards to what was reported about external pressure being exercised on
Fateh movement to join the government, Abdul Rahman said the movement
"responds only to the interest of the Palestinian people."

------------------------------

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: 4 Palestinian Civilians Injured in Accidents
Resulting from the Misuse of Weapons

PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

Security Chaos and Proliferation of Small Arms
Misuse of Weapons by Armed Groups and Security Personnel

Field Update
2 March 2006

4 Civilians Injured in Accidents Resulting from the Misuse of Weapons

On the afternoon of Thursday, 2 March 2006, two Palestinian men from Beit
Lahya (northern Gaza Strip) were injured in an explosion of an unidentified
weapon. In addition, two children in Beit Lahya were injured by gunshots
fired from a gun that a youth has been playing with in the area

PCHR's initial investigation indicates that at approximately 12:00 on
Thursday, Hassan Khader Khudeir (21) and Mohammad Khader El-Louh (20) were
injured in the legs by shrapnel. The injuries may have resulted from the
explosion of a home-made grenade. Both men were transported to Kamal Odwan
Hospital in their hometown of Beit Lahya, where their injuries were
classified as moderate.

On the evening of Wednesday, 1 March 2006, Mohammad Fathi Wahdan (7) was
injured by shrapnel to the neck and Rami Isam El-Wehedi (11) was injured by
shrapnel to the legs. The injuries resulted from gunshots which were fired,
while a youth was playing with a gun in the area of the Sheikh Zayed Housing
Project. Wahdan's injuries were classified as serious. El-Wehedi's
injuries were moderate and he was discharged from the hospital soon after.

PCHR points to the increasing number of injuries and deaths occurring in
accidents such as these. The Centre calls upon the Palestinian National
Authority to take preventive action against such accidents and to safeguard
citizens' safety and security.

Public Document
**************************************
For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8
2824776 - 2825893
PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip.
E-mail: pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
-----------------------------------
If you got this forwarded and you want to subscribe, send mail to
request@pchrgaza.org
and write "subscribe" in the subject line.

------------------------------

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Acting PM Olmert's Remarks, Q&A
after meeting with President Katsav

Acting PM Olmert: "I Have No Intention Of meeting With Ismail Haniye."
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)

Following are Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's remarks from his joint
press conference this morning (Thursday), 2.3.06, with President Moshe
Katsav:

"I would like to make just one comment. Last night, I ordered all security
elements in the State of Israel to use special measures in order to deal
with the first signs of terrorist activity, which we are seeing in various
areas. We will use an iron fist against any attempt to resume terrorist
activity wherever the first signs of such activity may be seen, in the Gaza
Strip, as well as in Judea and Samaria. We will use far-reaching measures
on all roads and highways in sensitive areas. We will not hesitate to take
any step that may be necessary in order to deny terrorist organizations'
attempts to resume terrorist activities that could harm the citizens of the
State of Israel. There are no restrictions on the security establishment in
any action that may be necessary to strike at terrorism."

In response to a question on Al-Qaeda: "There certainly are attempts by
terrorist elements, including those from abroad, to spread their wings in
areas close to us. I have not heard Abu Mazen's remarks and I do not know
upon what basis these statements were made. I can promise that Israeli
intelligence is monitoring all attempts by terrorist elements to infiltrate
our region."

In response to a question on the firing of Kassam rockets: "Our region is
one tainted by terrorism and therefore we are fighting terrorism. As I have
said, according to explicit instructions that I recently gave the security
establishment, we are systematically stepping up our war: There are no
longer any restrictions on the security establishment regarding
counter-terrorist actions, anywhere, in the Gaza Strip and in Judea and
Samaria. Since it is certainly possible to monitor things since this
activity began, it is being implemented successfully, without hesitation and
thus it will continue. There is no day on which security elements do not
successfully carry out preventive actions and foil attempts by various
elements to perpetrate acts of terrorism, including the firing of Kassam
rockets. True, the firing of Kassam rockets has not stopped completely but
the scope is far smaller than it might have been if it weren't for the
constant, ongoing preventive actions, which have results on the ground and
as a result of which there have been many casualties, including among
leading terrorists. This activity will continue. I gave clear, unequivocal
instructions to all security elements: There are no restrictions, whatever
needs to be done in order to reach anywhere, to anyone, in order to prevent
terrorist actions, will be done, and has already been done, without
hesitation. I am certain that in the end, that this will be reflected in
the scope of violent actions perpetrated against us."

In response to a question on Al-Qaeda: "I don't know upon what basis
Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Abu Mazen made his remarks. We know of,
and are monitoring, attempts by international terrorist elements to
infiltrate areas close to us. One must not forget that Islamic Jihad and
Hamas are also part of the global terrorist movement, and have always
received support and assistance from international terrorist elements, thus
the ability to discern a link between terrorist elements in the territories
and international terrorism is neither surprising nor new. We are
monitoring such matters and this constitutes a main part of our war against
the terrorist organizations."

In response to a question on the issue of terrorism before the elections: "I
assume that among terrorist elements that there are many that would like to
act precisely ahead of the elections with the intention of influencing their
results. Extremist elements among the Palestinians are very uncomfortable
that the State of Israel is led by a movement or a person who can enlist
widespread international support for Israel that creates a very solid
international front in support of our position, as we need to see in recent
weeks. The international front supports the principles that I formulated
following the rise of Hamas. It weighs very heavily on the extremist
Palestinian groups and there are certainly those among them that would like
to step up terrorist activities in order to affect the outcome of the
elections. I trust Israelis' responsibility and good sense to know that we
are fighting against terrorism with full force and, along with this, that we
will know how to maintain the broad international front of support for
Israel as has indeed been the case. Israelis won't be led astray after
extremist Palestinian elements that are interested, perhaps, in an Israeli
government that isolates the State of Israel in the world."

In response to a question regarding democracy in the Arab world: "We know
that most violent terrorist activity these days is perpetrated by Islamic
Jihad. Democracy built on terrorism is doubtful from the start. The
question is not if the voting process was technically according to the rules
that are recognized in democratic countries, with ballot boxes, with
secrecy, but what forces formed this process? As soon as the force
representing such a process is a terrorist force, then the pretensions of
speaking on behalf of democracy are, in my view, meaningless. Is this
region, or are the Arab countries, incapable of holding democratic
processes? I think that this is too sweeping and far-reaching a conclusion.
But the burden of the proof is certainly on them and the burden of caution
is on us. We are aware but wary and know what to do so as to bar any of
these elements from gaining a foothold that could threaten our existence.
We are not afraid for the existence of the State of Israel from any sort of
Palestinian element. We know how to fight each one of them and all of them
at once and we have done so with great success in the past five years and if
it is necessary, we will do so for as long as it takes."

In response to a question on Abu Mazen: "We always say and believe that it
is necessary to maintain any arrangement that creates the possibility of
future dialogue. Dialogue is for those who want to make peace and war is
for those who use terrorism. Abu Mazen is the elected Chairman of the PA,
he was elected by a decisive majority of the Palestinian public and as such,
he is the Chairman of the PA and the State of Israel has no personal war
against him and we have no intention of acting against Abu Mazen. However,
in the parliamentary elections, Hamas movement representatives received a
decisive majority. They do not want to recognize the State of Israel and
have announced that they have no intention of making peace with us. Hamas
leader Ismail Haniye was appointed by the PA Chairman as the candidate for
Prime Minister. As soon as the PA government is a Hamas government, it
becomes the body in accordance with the behavior and principles of which we
must act. Since the PA government is expected to be a Hamas government, it
becomes the relevant factor regarding the determination of our position and
attitude towards future negotiations. But we are neither ruling out nor
fighting Abu Mazen, the elected Chairman of the PA. While we have the
respect due him, we are nevertheless disappointed by the fact that instead
of fighting terrorism, he has appointed the leader of terrorism as the
candidate for Prime Minister."

In response to a question on the war on terrorism: "My instructions to the
security establishment are according to developments. When there is calm,
our activity is different than when there is increased terrorist activity.
In recent weeks, we have carried out a long series of unprecedentedly
successful counter-terrorist actions. More than once, cells that sought to
fire Kassam rockets were eliminated beforehand and this was on the basis of
my personal instructions to prevent terrorist actions. In recent days we
have seen the signs of a desire to increase terrorist activities, therefore
and being completely involved in events, I have instructed the security
forces to act."

In response to a question on Ismail Haniye: "Regarding Ismail Haniye, we
have set three basic conditions before the Palestinian government: 1) The
cessation of terrorism and the disarming of terrorist groups; 2) Changing
the Hamas Covenant, which does not recognize the right of the State of
Israel to exist, and recognition of the right of the State of Israel to
exist, and 3) Acceptance and recognition of all agreements that have been
signed between the PA and the State of Israel. If these three conditions
are met, it will be possible to relate to the Palestinian government. In
the absence of complete and comprehensive agreement to all three conditions,
there is no chance that we will hold contacts with the Palestinian
government, whatever its composition. In any case, I want to reassure: I
have no intention of meeting with Ismail Haniye; I do have the intention of
fighting terrorism if he is involved in it."
In response to a question regarding the international position: "Just to
sharpen the point: The international community has a unified front and there
is no erosion. Russian President Vladimir Putin made it very clear to me
that he unequivocally supports these three principles and that this is what
will be said to the Hamas delegation. Of course, I rely on our
determination and the stability of the international community and I want to
believe that Russian President Putin will stick to his position. In any
case, I think and I hope that it would be preferable if Russian President
Putin would say that he is committed to these positions than if he would say
the opposite. I am pleased that this is what he has announced."

------------------------------

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Polls: Kadima 36-39 Labor 19-21
Likud 15-18 NRP/Nat'l Union 9-11

Polls: Kadima 36-39 Labor 19-21 Likud 15-18 NRP/Nat'l Union 9-11
Aaron Lerner Date: 2 March 2006

#1 Telephone poll of a representative sample of 503 adult Israelis
(including Arab Israelis) carried out by Maagar Mohot ("Brain Trust") for
Israel Radio's "Its all Talk" on 1 March 2006 [Before the Likud Central
Committee voted that in the future the party Knesset list will be set via
primaries held with the participation of all Likud members].

#2 Telephone poll of a representative sample of 502 adult Israelis
(including Arab Israelis) carried out by Teleseker for Maariv on 1 March
2006 [Before the Likud Central Committee voted that in the future the party
Knesset list will be set via primaries held with the participation of all
Likud members]. Published in Maariv on 2 March. [Adds to 121 because
Teleseker shows 7-9 seats for the Arab parties].

#3 Telephone poll of a representative sample of adult Israelis (including
Arab Israelis) carried out by Dialogue for Haaretz 1 March 2006 [Before the
Likud Central Committee voted that in the future the party Knesset list will
be set via primaries held with the participation of all Likud members].
Published in Haaretz on 2 March.

[Knesset election vote expressed in mandates[current in brackets]
#1 #2 #3
36 39 37 [00] Kadima
16 18 15 [40] Likud
19 21 19 [22] Labor
00 00 00 [15] Shinui (both the party and the break-away party)
09 09 10 [11] Shas
08 08 09 [08] Arab parties
06 05 06 [06] Yachad [Meretz]
11 09 11 [07* & 6] National Union & NRP
08 07 07 [07*] Yisrael Beiteinu [Lieberman]
06 05 06 [05] Yahadut Hatorah
01 -- 00 [00] Green Leaf (legalize hashish)
* National Union & Yisrael Beiteinu together have 7 seats

Maagar Mochot also asked: Who would you prefer as prime minister: Olmert,
Netanyahu or Peretz?
Olmert 39% Netanyahu 20% Peretz 12% Other replies 20%

Dialogue also asked:

Who is most appropriate to be prime minister: Olmert, Netanyahu or Peretz?
Olmert 30% Netanyahu 25% Peretz 15%

On a scale of 1 to 10 how do you rate the personal honesty of Olmert,
Netanyahu or Peretz?
Olmert 5.30 Netanyahu 4.73 Peretz 5.60

Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-3-7255730
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
Website: http://www.imra.org.il

------------------------------

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Excerpts: Arab-Israeli conflict Palestionian's problem,
Dialogue with Denmark? 2 March 2006

Excerpts: Arab-Israeli conflict Palestionian's problem, Dialogue with
Denmark? 2 March 2006

+++THE DAILY STAR (Lebanon) 2 Mar.'06:"Hostages to Palestine, until when?"
By Michael Young , opinion editor.

QUOTES FROM TEXT:
"Do the Palestinians really merit our undivided attention?"

"Edward Said turned skewering Oslo into a parlor game"

"Palestinians who once argued for a more favorable exchange in the context
of land for peace, have in one way or another started embracing the very
diffeerent strategem of Hamas"

" 'Resistance' is again in vogue, but also the timeless Palestinian habit
of manipulating Arab guilt."

"Hamas, whatever it says, has no long-strategy other than armed struggle."
"Palestinians grew fat on the language of struggle ...they must be warned
that dusting off of discredited war plans will lead nowhere."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXCERPTS:
... the European Union will release $143 million to the Palestinians,
momentarily averting the instability that might ensue from a total cutoff of
funds because of the Hamas victory ... it also means the international
community remains a hostage to Palestinian instability. So here is an
insolent question: Do the Palestinians really merit our undivided attention?
The question will no doubt provoke reprobation from those who have turned
the Palestinian struggle into a profession. ... fate of the Palestinians has
become ... , a suppurating wound that must be healed before international,
but also regional, wellbeing can be merited. But isn't that also a form of
blackmail? Israel has no solution to the Palestinian problem, and will face
the existential consequences of its injustices in a generation or less. The
Palestinians are doggedly incapable of defining a clear endgame for peace
because deep down their hearts cannot distinguish between two contradictory
ambitions: one, the creation of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and
Gaza, with East Jerusalem as its capital; the other, the reconquest of the
whole of biblical Palestine, and the establishment of an Arab-dominated
state (or an Islamic polity if you believe the followers of Hamas and the
Islamic Jihad).
Hovering over the two aims is a splendid ambiguity as to what happens to ...
refugees from the 1948 war ... . Aficionados of both ambitions - a West Bank
and Gaza state or one in the whole of biblical Palestine - publicly insist
the right of return must be applied, effectively collapsing the two notions
into one: for what would the return of hundreds of thousands of refugees to
... present-day Israel be other than a Trojan horse recreating an Arab
majority between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River?
[IMRA: Millions, not hundreds or thousands.]
. . .
It has become fashionable to spit on Oslo's grave. This denunciation has
united Palestinian rejectionists and the Israeli right in a way negotiations
never could. The late Edward Said turned skewering Oslo into a parlor game,
one in which he was ably partnered with Ariel Sharon. Now the "land for
peace" option is truly dead, and even those Palestinians who once argued for
a more favorable exchange in the context of land for peace, have in one way
or another started embracing the very different stratagem of Hamas.
"Resistance" is again in vogue, but also the timeless Palestinian habit of
manipulating Arab guilt. One hears the echoes of rhetoric from the bygone
era of "revolution until victory."
Take this recent commentary by Khaled Meshaal in London's The Guardian, a
far tamer exposition than what the head of Hamas' Political Bureau tells his
Arab audiences. ... Meshaal had this to say to the Arab states: "You have
a responsibility to stand by your Palestinian brothers and sisters whose
sacrifices are made on behalf of all of you ... We expect you to step in and
compensate the Palestinian people for any loss of aid, and we demand you
lift all restrictions on civil society institutions that wish to fundraise
for our cause."
[IMRA: Restreictions are on funding terrorists.]
Compare that to what the late Palestinian official Khalil al-Wazir declared
decades ago ... Every Arab regime around our occupied territories is
responsible for our tragedy, and they have a duty to let us have our chance
to liberate our country because they are responsible. They must pay the
price of their crime against our people and their share in creating our
tragedy."
So, we've come full circle, back to the late 1960s. The Arab world, and now
the international community, must again bear the burden of Palestinian
choices. Hamas, whatever it says, has no long-term strategy other than armed
struggle. Even an erstwhile liberal like Said's nephew Saree Makdisi, a
literature professor in Los Angeles, applauds from his faculty armchair. ...
.
Indeed, the Palestinians grew fat on the language of struggle, but nowadays
they must be warned that dusting off discredited war plans will lead
nowhere. Only Oslo - and "American planners" - gave the Palestinians land,
not the fetish of national liberation. But if a return to the armed struggle
is truly what the Palestinians pine for, then let them pursue that aim
alone. They will fail, as will the Israelis in trying to crush Palestinian
nationalism by blending force and the wanton absorption of Arab territory.
But it's not up to the Arab states and the West to pay a price, in treasure
or culpability, for that irresponsibility.
... For many reasons, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict will continue to
enjoy international attention in the decades to come. Novelist Jose Saramago
once wrote of the Jews that, in referring back to the Holocaust, they
"endlessly scratch their own wound to keep it bleeding, to make it incurable
..." He could have said as much about the Palestinians, or more specifically
about their leaders. They have turned anguish into a vocation, torment into
a career. The Palestinians and Israelis sank Oslo;
[IMRA: Israelis sank Oslo ny permitting Palestinian gross fundamental
violations of Oslo.]
they're the ones who now have to swim ashore. Others would be mistaken in
thinking it's their duty to plunge into the sea with them.

+++THE DAILY STAR (Lebanon) 2 Mar.'06: "Key Egyptian clerics at odds over
cartoon dialogue"

By Agence France Presse (AFP)

QUOTES FROM TEXT:
"he would go to Denmark with 50 young men and women under ... 25
represeting all Muslim nations."

"Qaradawi, who heads the International Association of Muslim Scholars and
is considered by many to be the
spiritual leader of the largely banned but popular Muslim Brotherhood
movement, said Muslim clerics must first
convene an urgent meeting to forge a united position before talking to
the Danes."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXCERPTS:
DOHA: Two key Egyptian-born Muslim religious figures differed Wednesday on
whether the time was right to start dialogue with Denmark over the
...cartoons. ...preacher Amr Khaled, who hosts a popular Arab television
program on reconciling Islam with the demands of modern life, has
spearheaded attempts to talk over the issue.
Khaled's initiative, which he said he had launched with the support of
Muslim youth and Islamic leaders in several Arab nations, has led the Danish
government to agree to sponsor a March 10 conference in Copenhagen.
This has pitted Khaled, 39, against Sheikh Youssef al-Qaradawi, 79, an
influential cleric based in Qatar, who insists Khaled is out of step with
the majority sentiment in the Muslim world that there should be no dialogue
unless Denmark issues a formal apology ... ..
The Copenhagen meeting will be the first high-profile forum bringing Muslims
and Christian Danes together since the cartoon controversy blew up ...
triggering riots ... that left at least 40 people dead.
. . .
The London-based Khaled said he held a poll on his Web site asking young
people whether Muslims should "move from protesting to starting a dialogue."
Khaled said nearly 97 percent of the some 100,000 respondents favored
dialogue, adding that his Web site also received 10,000 letters from Arab
youth addressed to their Danish counterparts explaining ... Islam.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb
The Egyptian preacher said he would go to Denmark with 50 young men and
women under the age of 25 representing all Muslim nations.
Their purpose would be to tell the Danes about the "true meaning of Islam
and Prophet Mohammad" while hearing their views on "press freedom and the
protection of religious sanctities." Another aim would be to launch programs
fostering the ideas of coexistence and mutual respect between Muslim and
Christian youth.
Khaled said his initiative was endorsed by 170 Muslim religious figures
including the muftis, or religious establishment heads, in Egypt, Jordan and
Syria as well as some Saudi clerics.
But Qaradawi said he cautioned Khaled three weeks ago when he sought his
advice about the initiative not to go ahead with it because there was no
common ground yet for dialogue and that the Danes have offered no
substantive concessions to Muslims ... .
. . .
Qaradawi, who heads the International Association of Muslim Scholars and is
considered by many to be the spiritual leader of the largely banned but
popular Muslim Brotherhood movement, said Muslim clerics must first convene
an urgent meeting to forge a united position before talking to the Danes.
He also repeated calls for Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen to
issue a formal apology for the cartoons.
"Before inviting us to talk, we invite him to apologize," said Qaradawi.
"They must see the anger of the Islamic world so that they do not take this
matter lightly again." - AFP

Dr. Joseph Lerner, Co-Director IMRA

------------------------------

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Weekly Commentary: Israeli policy driven by wishful thinking

Weekly Commentary: Israeli policy driven by wishful thinking

Aaron Lerner Date: 2 March 2006

"Do you agree or disagree with the following argument: even if a threatening
sovereign Palestinian state enjoying the support of the Arab world will be
established in the evacuated areas, the IDF could always act to get quiet at
a relatively low cost:
Certainly don't agree 9% Don't agree 30% - Total don't agree 39%
Middle 5%
Agree 30% Certainly agree 11% - Total agree: 41%
Other replies 15% "

[Maagar Mohot Survey Institute telephone poll of a representative sample of
624 adult Israelis (including Israeli Arabs) poll commissioned by the
Zionist Organization of America - ZOA. And carried out 5-6 February 2006.]

Kadima candidate Ehud Olmert is part of the 41%. And he is hardly alone in
the political world.

The opportunists who joined Kadima for a Knesset seat even though they
themselves oppose retreat are also part of the 41%

The Likud politicians gliding through the election campaign as they
gleefully plan for what they hope to be a post-Netanyahu Likud are certainly
part of the 41%.

If anything, the 41% is a serious underestimate.

One would have thought that the 1973 Yom Kippur War would have permanently
tempered the Israeli hubris from the 1967 Six Day War but it didn't.

It's true that the Yom Kippur War ended with Israel 101 kilometers from
Cairo and also with the upper hand in Syria, but in the early days of that
bloody war that caught Israel by surprise the outcome was far from clear.
So much so that for many of my generation the image of then Defense Minister
Moshe Dayan slumped in his chair in the command center clearly in shock will
remain seared into our collective memories.

Curiously enough, the war in which the Arabs had a decent chance to defeat
Israel if they had had their act together more has since then been
reinterpreted by withdrawal proponents as proof the Arab leaders must
certainly have absorbed that it is impossible to defeat Israel on the
battlefield.

Did Egypt conclude that war against Israel is hopeless or that it made sense
to be patient and first arm with the best and most advanced western weapons
American aid can buy and then wait for the appropriate opportunity?

Yes, Israel is strong. We have a great army with well trained forces and
sophisticated equipment. But that hardly makes us invincible.

A terrorist army within spitting distance of Israel's major population and
industrial centers is not a minor nuisance. It can, indeed, be parlayed
into an existential threat in coordination with the radical states.

It is inbumbent on Israel's leaders to address this challenge now, while the
costs of action are low.

The nation can ill afford the rule of leaders driven more by wishful
thinking than serious analysis.

Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(Mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-3-7255730
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
Website: http://www.imra.org.il

------------------------------

From: imra-owner@imra.org.il
Subject: IMRA Subscription Info

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End of [imra] Daily digest - Volume: 2 Issue: 1342 (10 messages)
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