[imra] Daily digest - Volume: 2 Issue: 1368 (11 messages)

imra Mon Apr 10 00:22:05 2006 Volume 2 : Issue 1368

In this issue of the imra daily Digest:

IDF acts against terror organizations in the Gaza Strip
Excerpts: Saudi Arabia turning to East.
Retriabalization emerging in the Arab world.9 April 2006
Washington Post interview with VPM Olmert
CABINET COMMUNIQUE
Two Palestinians Shot in Nablus for Alleged
Collaboration with Israeli Security Services
Acting PM Olmert Holds Discussion on Policy
Regarding Hamas Following Swearing-in
of Palestinian Government
Text: Remarks of Acting PM Olmert's That Are
Expected To Be Policy Statement For Coalition
Government [already watering it down]
Easing of Restrictions on the Palestinian
Population Ahead of the Upcoming Christian Holidays
After "Globes" query, Olmert backtracks
on Dankner land deal
Syria Denies Sending Maps on the Occupied Golan to UN
: ZOA Comends the US Civil Rights Commission
For Its Historic Recognition That Jewish Students
Must Be Protected...

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: IDF acts against terror organizations in the Gaza Strip

IDF acts against terror organizations in the Gaza Strip
(Communicated by the IDF Spokesman)
9 Apr 2006

Following the continuous firing of projectile rockets towards Israel from
the Gaza Strip, aimed against Israeli citizens and civilian infrastructure,
the IDF carried out an aerial attack on launching grounds in the northern
Gaza Strip early Friday morning, 7 April 2006. These are areas from which
terror cells have been launching projectile rockets at Israel, including the
launching of the Katuyasha rocket on March 28. A helicopter pad in Gaza
city, formerly used by the Palestinian Authority, was also targeted. The
objective of targeting these areas is to disrupt Palestinian terror cells'
repeated attempts to fire rockets at Israel.

In addition, the IDF carried out an aerial attack on two Al-Aqsa Martyrs'
Brigades offices in the Gaza Strip. The offices, located in Beit Lahiya and
Gaza city, both in the northern Gaza Strip, are used by the terror
organization to plan their attacks on Israel.

Over the course of the past week Palestinian terrorists have launched over
40 rockets towards Israel, one such rocket landing on a mattress factory,
south of Ashkelon yesterday. An Israeli citizen was wounded from the attack,
which also caused a fire in the factory, severely damaging the structure and
goods.

In a security forces activity Friday night (7 April) in the southern Gaza
Strip, the IDF carried out an aerial attack against a vehicle carrying
terrorists as it was leaving a training camp of the Popular Resistance
Committees organization. Terrorists were using the camp for terror training
and weapons training.

In a security forces activity Saturday afternoon (8 April) in the northern
Gaza Strip, the IDF carried out an aerial attack against a vehicle carrying
Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades terrorists. The terrorists had been identified
launching a rocket into Israel.
In a security forces activity Saturday night (9 April) in the southern Gaza
Strip, the IDF carried out an aerial attack on a Fatah training compound,
used to train terrorists for attacks against Israel.

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Excerpts: Saudi Arabia turning to East.
Retriabalization emerging in the Arab world.9 April 2006

Excerpts: Saudi Arabia turning to East.Retriabalization emerging in the Arab
world.9 April 2006

+++THE DAILY STAR (Lebanon) 8 April '06:" EDITORIAL:Eastward shift of Saudi
perspective only makes sense"
QUOTE FROM TEXT:
"King Abdullah bin Abdel-Aziz has been directing the country's focus away
from the West and towards the countires of the East."

"oil windfalls that were once almost exclusively invested in the West
are now being directed towards countries in the East"
Editorial EXCERPTS:
In recent years, Saudi Arabia, which has long enjoyed a "special
relationship" with the United States, has been expanding its strategic and
economic alliances with other states. Since assuming the throne, King
Abdullah bin Abdel-Aziz has been directing the kingdom's focus away from the
West and toward the countries of the East. This shift was highlighted by
...King Abdullah's first foreign destination after assuming the throne in
August 2005 was China. ...which also took him to India, Malaysia and
Pakistan ... . This week Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdel-Aziz carried
the kingdom's eastward thrust further in Tokyo, where he agreed to start
talks on a free-trade agreement between Japan and the Gulf Cooperation
Council.
... Since the 1990s, the energy-rich Gulf states have looked increasingly
toward the East for investment opportunities, and oil windfalls that were
once almost exclusively invested in the West are now being directed toward
countries in the East. . . .
With their high-performing economies, these states can offer valuable
lessons in modernization. Both China and India have implemented economic
reforms, achieving the kind of rapid economic growth that Saudi Arabia hopes
to emulate.
... The Saudi Education Ministry announced in March that the kingdom would
send more students to countries like China, India, Singapore, Malaysia and
South Korea, as well as Australia, for higher studies. ...the kingdom will
pay for students to study in Japan. ... .

+++THE DAILY Star (Lebanon) 8 April '06:"If someone asks, my identity is the
Bourj"
By Rami G. Khouri, Staff

QUOTES FROM TEXT:
"Retriabalization, ethnic compartmentalization and localized
militarization are occuring on a large
scale"
"the fraility and brutality of the centralized Arab security state these
days"

"the Bourji, the place where different people forged common strenght"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXCERPTS:

If you want to appreciate a common malaise that afflicts the entire Arab
world, look at its cities, which project an external veneer of urbanism even
as inhabitants live lives mainly according to village and tribal values.
Retribalization, ethnic compartmentalization and localized militarization
are occurring on a large scale, as formerly mixed neighborhoods slowly
disentangle into more homogeneous districts defined by religion, ethnicity,
tribe or some other collective identity.
One of the great ironies in the Arab world during the past generation, since
the 1970s, has been the contradictory trend toward bigger and bigger cities,
without the parallel benefits of that phenomenon of richness that has always
defined the really great cities of the world - a sense of cosmopolitanism,
of transcending one's local space to interact with and be part of the larger
world, often literally the whole world when speaking of commercial and
cultural interaction.
In the period before the 1970s, before most Arab regimes were taken over by
soldiers and thugs, the majority of leading Arab cities ... were open to
foreign and regional traders, absorbed immigrants from other lands, welcomed
and benefited from foreign institutions that were often established by
religious missionaries, such as hospitals and schools, easily absorbed new
ideas and norms from abroad, and were naturally comfortable with a very wide
variety of local and foreign lifestyles manifested alongside each other.
... The armed guards of the narrow sectarian state did not need to determine
if you were legitimate or otherwise on the basis of your territorial or
tribal origin. Now they do. At airports, government departments and other
landscapes of crude power projection, many ordinary Arabs are routinely
asked about their family origins.
. . .
... As central state authority fractures or becomes belligerent against
some of its own people, citizens no longer see the government and central
armed forces as their protectors. Ordinary people seek protection and
identity in many other forms that are available and pertinent: tribe, clan,
neighborhood, religion, ethnic sect, ideological group, criminal gangs
dealing in drugs or guns, and other such groups that provide collective
defining identities.
... a timely and incisive new book, "Heart of Beirut: Reclaiming the Bourj,"
by Lebanese sociologist Samir Khalaf, ... recounts how Beirut's traditional
central square, the Bourj, developed its pivotal public role over the
centuries, ... .
The Bourj has always had the capacity to both affirm and transcend narrow
identities, allowing the natives to assert themselves while wandering into
adjacent and shared landscapes defined by Lebanese, Arab and Western
"others." ... to satisfy their "need for wonder, exhilaration, exposure to
new sensations, worldviews and the elevation of our appreciative
sympathies - which are all enhanced through connectedness with strangers
..."
... in Arab cities these days ...communities retreat into their own
cloistered spaces, often guarded by kids with Kalashnikovs. Beirut's Bourj
epitomized Arab urban civility and cosmopolitanism ...: "First, the
predisposition of the Bourj to incorporate and reconcile pluralistic and
multicultural features; second, its inventiveness in reconstituting and
refashioning its collective identity and public image; third, its role in
hosting and disseminating popular culture, consumerism, mass entertainment
and often nefarious tourist attractions."
The next time an Arab official or soldier asks me where I come from, I am
going to tell him I come from the Bourj, from a place where different people
forged common strength. And if he asks me where I am going, I will also say
I am going to the Bourj - to reclaim an Arab legacy of urban sensibility,
coexistence, civility and multicultural fun. . . .

Sue Lerner, Associate - IMRA

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Washington Post interview with VPM Olmert

A CONVERSATION WITH EHUD OLMERT Interim Israeli Prime Minister
The Washington Post
Sunday, April 9, 2006; B04
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/07/AR2006040702170_pf.html

In the recent Israeli elections, Interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
took a calculated risk and told voters that, if elected, he and his new
Kadima party would lead Israel out of most of the West Bank.

The move paid off -- Kadima won more votes than any other party, and
Olmert is now putting together a government. In his first foreign
interview, Olmert sketched out his plans last week for
Newsweek-Washington Post's Lally Weymouth.

Interview by LALLY WEYMOUTH

TEL AVIV

How much time will you give the new Palestinian government?

I'm not expressing any ultimatum. If we reach the conclusion that the
Palestinians are not prepared to meet the requirements that lead to
negotiations, we will then move forward without a negotiating process.
We are ready to change. We are not prepared to wait forever.

You are forming your governing coalition .

I have about 42 days to form a new government. The Labor Party is going
to be a senior partner in this coalition, but we will have a few more
parties. I think it would be good to try and form a national consensus
reflected by the composition of the government. [But] I declared before
the elections what my plans are [for withdrawing from the territories]
in a most explicit manner.

I heard that your advisers warned you not to do this .

I was aware of the possibility that it would cost me some votes, but I
also knew that once I made this statement and managed to win, I would
have a greater mandate to act. And I certainly intend now to go ahead
and not waste time.

What do you mean by "convergence"?

The idea is that most of the settlements that would have to be removed
from where they are now will be converged into the blocs of settlements
that will remain under Israeli control. . . . The rest of the
territories will not have any Israeli presence and will allow
territorial contiguity for a future Palestinian state.

When you say that in much of the West Bank there won't be any Israeli
presence, will the army stay behind?

I will keep all military options to be able to combat terrorism
effectively everywhere.

Is there is a difference between "convergence" and withdrawal?

I think it more accurately represents the strategy for the West Bank as
distinct from the one that was carried out in Gaza. In Gaza, we pulled
out of all the territories and dismantled all the settlements. Here,
I'm talking about relocating many of the settlements into blocs that
will be maintained by Israel.

Is the fence the basis of the future border that you're thinking about?

The fence will have to be adjusted to the makeup of these blocs of
settlements. No Israeli will live outside the fence, first for the sake
of security and secondly to provide territorial congruity for the
Palestinians to form their independent state.

The time has come for a change, and I am absolutely determined to
accomplish it. I think the time is right, and I think the Israeli
electorate is ready. The fact that, after having said in the most
explicit way what my ideas are, we came out of these elections as the
largest party is, I think, a testament to the determination of the
Israeli electorate to move forward.

I think there is an opportunity now that never existed before. This is
due to a combination of public opinion in Israel, my commitment and the
understanding and hopefully future support of President George W. Bush.

What would you like the Americans to do to help Israel with these moves
?

If we [come to] share the conviction that the Palestinians are not
ready for genuine and meaningful negotiations, then I will try to reach
an understanding with the administration as to what steps Israel should
take -- what should be the border of Israel in order to reduce the
level of confrontation between us and the Palestinians to a minimum.

Would you want some kind of U.S. recognition of the borders you set?

I will seek such recognition, yes. But it's important to understand
that if we reach the conclusion that the Palestinians -- led by a Hamas
government, which is a terrorist organization -- are not prepared to
meet the preliminary requirements of the roadmap, then we don't have to
wait forever. We don't need to waste our energies and our resources. We
can move forward to create a new reality on the ground congruent with
the understanding that there should be two states existing alongside
each other and that the Palestinians must have a contiguous territory
where they can hopefully establish a credible state.

But if you move all the settlers you're talking about and evacuate
large parts of the West Bank in a unilateral move, wouldn't you expect
some kind of new alliance or new defensive pact from the United States
?

If this move is accepted as a contribution to a Middle East with less
violence and terror, we will be able to reach an understanding with the
American government about some measures of support that can be
essential to its success.

Financial, military or both ?

Everything that could be of assistance to the completion of such a huge
challenge will be on the agenda. It's not just a financial issue.

Down the road, are you thinking strategically of a framework for a new
Israel-U.S. alliance?

There is an alliance between Israel and the United States, and it has
never been stronger than at the time of George W. Bush. So within that
framework, we will probably discuss many issues.

You said you will give bilateral talks with the Palestinians a chance.
Does that mean bilateral talks with Palestinian President Abu Mazen?

Bilateral talks with the official representatives of the Palestinian
Authority. Abu Mazen has deprived himself of all the practical
authorities of government. It will have to be those in government, on
the condition that they meet the requirements of the roadmap and the
Quartet: no violence; recognition of the state of Israel; acceptance of
all the former agreements that were signed by the Palestinian
Authority.

How much time will you give the new Palestinian government?

I'm not expressing any ultimatum. If we reach the conclusion that the
Palestinians are not prepared to meet the requirements that lead to
negotiations, we will then move forward without a negotiating process.
We are ready to change. We are not prepared to wait forever.

I understand that you're trying to draw a distinction between the
Palestinian government and the Palestinian people regarding
international aid .

We will not tolerate any attempt to torture the Palestinian population
for their government's lack of responsibility and decency. We will
certainly not punish the population and create a humanitarian disaster
in any of the territories.

Will Israel turn over money to the Hamas government, as it did to the
PA?

When we dealt with a responsible Palestinian government, we transferred
all the monies. [Now] we will keep them and look for ways to allocate
them directly to the population for humanitarian needs. We will not
give a check to a Palestinian minister of finance, because how can we
be certain that it will not be used for terror?

Could Iran give Hamas enough money to support its government?

I hope they will not do it and I hope that if they try, we, together
with our friends in America and Europe, will find ways to prevent this.
Iran is an anti-Semitic, terrorist government.

Regarding the Iranian nuclear program, is there a military option?

There is only one thing I can say: Israel will not tolerate a situation
in which Iran has effective control of non-conventional weapons that
can be used directly against the state of Israel.

That would mean that Israel would have to attack Iran .

I hope we will not have to face this choice and they will be stopped by
diplomatic measures.

Do you believe the international community will continue to boycott
Hamas?

I believe that if there is a united international front, there may be a
chance to change the basic attitudes of the Hamas government. Why
should they take steps to change their policies if they can get away
with not doing it?

What did you learn from Ariel Sharon?

I learned many things. Perhaps the most important is the importance of
remaining cool at a time of crisis. I also learned the merits of
changing your opinion and your mind. Sharon had the courage, at a
certain junction in his very rich and extraordinary political career,
to adopt new positions because, as he said, "What you see from here [as
prime minister] is not what you see from there [not being prime
minister]."

I think what he meant is that when the ultimate responsibility was on
his shoulders, he had to be somewhat less idealistic about his grand
schemes for the Land of Israel and more realistic.

Do you think you had some influence on Sharon ?

I'm sure I did. I was the first to talk about disengagement in the year
2000. I had many discussions with Sharon, and he told me the first time
I talked to him about disengagement, "I'm 100 percent with you and I
will deliver." That was in November 2003.

I said that if the Palestinians are not ready for a meaningful
political dialogue, then we will have to act unilaterally. And after
that I tried to convince him to start laying the foundations for the
creation of a new party that would be better able to deal with the
political ramifications of a disengagement strategy.

He was absolutely determined to carry on with the implementation of a
plan to the very end, as he did.

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: CABINET COMMUNIQUE

CABINET COMMUNIQUE
(Communicated by the Cabinet Secretariat)
Sunday, 09 April, 2006

At the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Sunday), 9.4.06:

1. Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert made the following remarks at the start
of the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Sunday), 9.4.06:

"Good morning. Today, we will submit for the Cabinet's approval the
proposal to significantly increase the health basket. The issue of
medicines in the health basket is not a coalition matter. This is human
life and I had previously instructed the Health Ministry and the Finance
Ministry Budget Division to find a way to increase the health basket so that
we will be able to meet the special needs of a large population in the State
of Israel that needs medicines, essential medicines for saving human lives.
I hope that the proposal will be approved by the Cabinet today, even with
the restriction that the 2006 state budget has yet to be approved, and that
there will be a very significant NIS 310 million increase in the health
basket. I hope that this proposal, which enjoys the support of the Finance
Ministry Budget Division, the Health Ministry and the Chairman of the Health
Basket Committee, is indeed a proposal that will allow us to meet these
needs appropriately. It is never possible to give accede absolutely to all
applicants, to whatever is likely or liable to arise, but it seems to us
that this is a worthy proposal. Herceptin will be included in the framework
of this proposal and I hope that we are taking a significant and important
step for the benefit of a large group of those who are ill in the State of
Israel whom we want to help with all our hearts and to whom we are committed
to providing the means with which they can recover.

I would like to thank all those who worked on the health basket issue
including Health Minister Yaacov Edery and Health Ministry Director-General
Prof. Avi Israeli, who unceasingly fought for this issue; Health Basket
Committee Chairman Prof. Mordechai Shani, the former longtime director of
the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer who devoted a great effort to this
issue along with a large and multi-faceted group of experts; and of course
to Finance Ministry Budget Director Kobi Haber and his people, who
cooperated fully in this great effort to find the correct answers so that we
could provide a just and fair response to the large population in the State
of Israel of those who are ill."

See ( http://tinyurl.com/fkr77 ) for details of the approved decision,
including a table of medications.

2. The Cabinet discussed the deduction of Palestinian Authority (PA) debts
due to various expenses and decided:
in continuation of its 19.2.06 decision, that the deduction of funds - as
per the order of the Finance Minister - from the amounts being transferred,
as defined by Article 12 of the 1994 Law Implementing the Agreement on the
Gaza Strip and Jericho Area - Economic Arrangements and Various Directives,
will not be viewed as the transfer of funds from Israel to the PA.

In its 19.2.06 decision, it was determined - inter alia - that towards the
conclusion of the caretaker government in the PA a series of measures would
be taken vis-a-vis the PA, including the non-transfer of funds from the
Government of Israel to the PA.

In recent years, the Finance Minister has ordered that PA debts for the
supply of electricity and water, the provision of hospital care for ill or
injured Palestinians, etc., be deducted from the amounts transferred
according to the 1994 Law Implementing the Agreement on the Gaza Strip and
Jericho Area - Economic Arrangements and Various Directives.
In order to allow Israeli bodies to continue to provide services, it was
decided to amend the decision so that the deduction of funds from the
amounts being transferred, as ordered by the Finance Minister, would not be
viewed as the transfer of funds to the PA vis-a-vis the decision.

3. The Cabinet, pursuant to its authority under the 1954 Bank of Israel Law,
decided to reappoint the following persons to the Bank of Israel Advisory
Committee, from 27.10.05 to 30.6.06: Chairman - Aharon Fogel, Vice
Chairman - Yaacov Sheinan, Members - Mirena Jehshan, Yael Moritz, Galia
Maor, Shlomo Nechama, Oded Tira, Aryeh Mintkevich, Yaacov Ne'eman and Uriel
Lynn.

The Cabinet also decided, pursuant to its authority under the 1954 Bank of
Israel Law, to appoint the following persons to the Bank of Israel Advisory
Council until 30.6.06: Chairman - Aharon Fogel, Vice Chairman - Yaacov
Sheinan, Members - Danny Rothschild, Esther Koren, Jackie Vakim, Michael
Bleich, Yaacov Enod, Amnon Shaked, Tzipa Carmon, Margalit Yaniv, Hagit
Hermesh and Ilan Segev.

See http://tinyurl.com/fkr77 and http://www.boi.gov.il/abeng/1-3eng.htm
for details.

4. The Cabinet decided to postpone until 30.6.06 the date for rescinding the
bonus grade given to retiring civil servants; see http://tinyurl.com/fkr77
for details.

5. The Cabinet decided to amend its previous decisions regarding assisting
to communities in the vicinity of the Gaza Strip from 2004-2006 so that the
following will be said in the relevant sections regarding Ministry of
Industry, Trade and Employment activity: "In tenders that will be issued on
the subject, preference will be given to the establishment of new
communications centers in the Greater Sderot area in accordance with the
criteria in the relevant Cabinet decisions."

6. The Cabinet discussed the completion of development at temporary
residential sites for residents of the Gaza Strip and northern Samaria and
decided to allocate the necessary budgets as follows:

Shomriya - Completion of site fence, improvement of residential structures
via the Bnei Shimon Regional Council;

Nitzan - Addition of residential room to five temporary structures
designated for large families and/or families with a handicapped member in
accordance with SELA Disengagement Authority approval;

Ein Tzurim - Projects including (inter alia) completion of development,
upgrading of water system, improvement and refurbishment of kibbutz
structure for use as a kindergarten and daycare center for residents of
temporary residential site (budget to come from surplus in Ein Tzurim site
public structure budget);

Amatzia - Establishment of community offices and kindergartens, widening of
access road and central square, transfer of fuel pump from present site
(next to kindergarten), establishment of playground;

Avnei Eitan - Development of lots and preparation of infrastructure for
temporary residences for 16 eligible families from Netzer Hazani in
accordance with SELA Disengagement Authority approval; purchase,
transportation and infrastructure hook-up of 16 mobile structures;
establishment of mobile daycare center and synagogue.

Ashkelon - Advance detailed planning of infrastructure planning in Golef
neighborhood.

7. The Cabinet, pursuant to its authority under the 1989 Antiquities
Authority Law, decided to approve Education, Culture and Sports Minister
Meir Shetrit's decision to accept the Antiquities Authority Board's
recommendation to re-appoint Yehoshua Dorfman as IAA Director for another
term.

8. The Cabinet adopted the recommendations of the team chaired by Prime
Minister's Office Director-General Ilan Cohen regarding transportation
safety projects; see http://tinyurl.com/fkr77 and http://tinyurl.com/jmqzn
for details.

9. The Cabinet, pursuant to its authority under the 1965 Planning and
Construction Law, approved a Kiryat Ata construction project; see
http://tinyurl.com/fkr77 for details.

10. Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Ze'ev Boim briefed ministers
on damages suffered in the north due to the recent harshly inclement weather
and said that a compensation proposal would be submitted to the Cabinet upon
the final assessment of the damages.

11. Foreign Minister and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni noted that Justice
Ministry attorney Rachel Gershoni recently received a citation from US
Ambassador to Israel Richard Jones for the State of Israel's efforts against
human trafficking. The Minister added that Israel has been very active in
both legislation and law enforcement on this issue.

12. Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz briefed ministers on current security
matters and noted that there has been an increase in the firing of Kassam
rockets, as well as an attempt to fire a GRAD rocket, from the Gaza Strip.
He said that he has instructed the security establishment to increase
operational activity against terrorists in the Gaza Strip and in Judea and
Samaria. He noted that in the last two days, rocket launching cells,
training areas, terrorists' Gaza Strip offices, open urban areas used by
terrorists, and launching areas and access routes in the northern Gaza Strip
have been attacked (see http://tinyurl.com/gvjhp ).
Defense Minister Mofaz made it clear that the security establishment
activity in the Gaza Strip was necessary to prevent an upsurge in Kassam
rocket fire and the perpetrating of terrorist attacks.

Defense Minister Mofaz also discussed the situation in Judea and Samaria,
preparations for Passover, the continued closure and efforts against those
persons who are in Israel illegally.

Acting Prime Minister Olmert said: "I would like to express appreciation for
the security forces' very successful activity over the weekend. I hear and
read all kinds of assessments regarding what can and cannot prevent Kassam
rocket fire. One thing must be clear - whoever fires Kassam rockets,
whoever is engaged in terrorist activity, is a legitimate target and will be
dealt with without hesitation by the security forces. There is no
restriction on the security services regarding the carrying out of these
actions wherever they identify the danger of terrorist activity."

Acting Prime Minister Olmert expressed deep regret that in one of these
actions a girl - who was in a vehicle along with terrorists who were ready
for terrorist activity - was killed. He emphasized that the security
establishment has very strict instructions to refrain from any action if
there is concern that someone who is not the target might be hit.

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Two Palestinians Shot in Nablus for Alleged
Collaboration with Israeli Security Services

PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

Security Chaos and Proliferation of Small Arms
Attacks against Citizens Suspected of Collaboration with Israeli Security
Services

Field Update
9 April 2006

Two Palestinians Shot in Nablus for Alleged Collaboration with Israeli
Security Services

A Palestinian armed group fired at two Palestinians from 'Askar refugee camp
and Beit Fourik village near Nablus, who are suspected of collaboration with
Israeli security services.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 02:30 on
Sunday, 9 April 2006, Jalal Khalil 'Abdullah, 20, from 'Askar refugee camp,
and Samer Wahdan Abu Samra, 28, from Beit Fourik village, were found wounded
by several live bullets to the legs. Unknown gunmen lured the two persons
to the edge of Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus, where they then fired at
them. The gunmen later claimed that they had shot the two men, because they
were believed to be collaborating with Israeli security services.

According to PCHR's documentation, at least 3 Palestinians have been
extra-judicially killed and a number of others have been wounded by
Palestinian armed groups in the West Bank, since the beginning of 2006, for
alleged collaboration with Israeli security services.

PCHR strongly condemns this latest crime, which further aggravates the state
of security chaos in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. PCHR is concerned
over increasing attacks by Palestinian armed groups against persons
suspected of collaboration with Israeli security services. PCHR asserts
that prosecuting those suspected of collaboration with Israeli security
services is a right and a duty of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA).
This process must be conducted within the framework of the law, ensuring the
legal rights of suspects, including their right to a fair trial. PCHR also
calls upon the PNA, represented by the Attorney General, to investigate such
crimes and bring their perpetrators to justice.

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 Holds Discussion on Policy
Regarding Hamas Following Swearing-in
of Palestinian Government

Acting PM Olmert Holds Discussion on Policy Regarding Hamas Following
Swearing-in of Palestinian Government(Communicated by the Prime Minister's
Media Adviser)
Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert today (Sunday), 9.4.06, held a discussion
on policy regarding Hamas following the swearing-in of the Palestinian
government. Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni,
Public Security Minister Gideon Ezra, Minister Tzahi Hanegbi, IDF
Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz, ISA Director Yuval Diskin, GOC
Intelligence Maj.-Gen. Amos Yedlin, Coordinator of Government Activities in
the Territories Maj.-Gen. Yosef Mishlav, National Security Council Chairman
Giora Eiland were among those attending.

Defense Minister Mofaz presented the security establishment's
recommendations on steps Israel should take in the wake of the rise of the
Hamas regime. Foreign Minister Livni presented the international
community's position.

Acting Prime Minister Olmert summarized the discussion as follows:

* Israel will not hold ties with the Palestinian Authority, which is a
hostile authority, and will act to prevent the administrative establishment
of the Hamas government.

* The Palestinian Authority is one authority and does not have two heads;
links with it will be reduced and no ties will be held with it. There will
be no personal disavowal of the Palestinian Authority Chairman.

* Foreign visitors who meet with Hamas officials will not be received for
meetings with Israeli officials.

* Israel will coordinate with the international community regarding
humanitarian assistance for the needs of the Palestinian population, not via
the Palestinian Authority establishment.

* Subject to security considerations, the Gaza Strip crossings will be open
in order to allow the entry of humanitarian assistance into the Gaza Strip.

Acting Prime Minister Olmert announced that these recommendations will be
submitted for Cabinet approval soon.

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Text: Remarks of Acting PM Olmert's That Are
Expected To Be Policy Statement For Coalition
Government [already watering it down]

Text: Remarks of Acting PM Olmert's That Are Expected To Be Policy Statement
For Coalition Government

Aaron Lerner Date: 9 April 2006

Israel Radio reported this afternoon that it is expected that the policy
statement for the coalition government being formed will not explicitly
refer to retreat but instead refer to Acting PM Ehud Olmert's remarks in his
victory address.

Israel Radio also reported this afternoon that when representatives of the
Likud Party met to discuss the possibility of joining the coalition today
with representatives of Kadima, that they were told that the retreat would
take place within the next two years so that it could be completed while
President Bush was still serving and that the retreat was not conditioned on
anyone in the world recognizing the lines that Israel retreats to as
"permanent borders". Instead, the Likud representatives were told, all is
needed is for the Unites States and others to support Israel retreating.

The victory address uses the phrase "Israel will take its fate in its hands,
and on the basis of broad national consensus within us, and deep
understanding with our friends in the world, and at the head the United
States of America and President George Bush".

It appears that Mr. Olmert's team is trying to strip this phrase of its
meaning even before it has been endorsed as the "policy statement".

The following is IMRA's translation of the relevant section:

"In the coming period we will seek to bring about the setting of the
permanent borders of the State of Israel as a Jewish State with a permanent
Jewish majority, and as a democratic state..If the Palestinians are wise
enough act in the upcoming period, we will sit at the negotiating table in
order to design a new reality in our region.

If they do not do so, Israel will take its fate in its hands, and on the
basis of broad national consensus within us, and deep understanding with our
friends in the world, and at the head the United States of America and
President George Bush, we will act also in the absence of understanding with
them [AL: the Palestinians]. We will not wait forever. The time to act has
arrived."
Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's victory remarks - 28 March 2006
www.kadimasharon.co.il/17-4592-he/kadimanews.aspx

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: Easing of Restrictions on the Palestinian
Population Ahead of the Upcoming Christian Holidays

Easing of restrictions on the Palestinian population
(Communicated by the IDF Spokesman)
6 Apr 2006

As part of the IDF policy and effort to ease restrictions on the
Palestinians population and to facilitate the observance of the upcoming
Christian holidays, the IDF will take the following measures in Judea,
Samaria, the Jordan Valley and the Gaza Strip.

The measures to be taken in Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley are:

Authorization for Israeli citizens of the Christian faith to enter Bethlehem
and Jericho with their private vehicles to participate in religious
ceremonies.

Authorization for 34,000 Palestinians from Judea and Samaria to enter Israel
during the month of April to participate in religious ceremonies.

The measures to be taken in the Gaza Strip:

Authorization for 500 Palestinians from Judea and Samaria with families in
the Gaza Strip to spend the holidays with them.

Authorization for 500 Palestinians from the Gaza Strip with families in
Judea and Samaria to spend the holidays with them.

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: After "Globes" query, Olmert backtracks
on Dankner land deal

After "Globes" query, Olmert backtracks on Dankner land deal
The Attorney General wants the High Court hearing on the Israel Salt
Industries' land deal postponed until a new finance minister is appointed.
Dalia Tal - Globes 3 Apr 06 16:15
www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000079666

Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert today signed an Israel Land Administration
(ILA) decision approving the Atlit and Eilat salt pools deal of the Dankner
family controlled Israel Salt Industries Ltd. (TASE:SALT). Olmert's approval
ran contrary to the position of Attorney General Menachem (Meni) Mazuz, as
presented to the High Court of Justice in February 2005.
However, three hours after "Globes" submitted a query on the matter,
Olmert's office responded by stating that, upon clarification, there was a
misunderstanding about Mazuz's position. Therefore, Olmert was withdrawing
his approval and transferring the case to the next Minister of Finance.

The deal rezones two tracts of land, one in Atlit and one in Eilat,
currently used as salt drying pools, for residential construction. Proceeds
from apartment sales in the two projects will reportedly reach $133 million,
almost half of which will go to the Dankner family. The salt pools land is
currently being used as a guarantee for loans given to Salt Industries for
its purchase of 11% of Bank Hapoalim (LSE: BKHD; TASE: POLI).

The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, the Democratic Mizrahi
Rainbow Coalition and the Movement for Quality Government in Israel
petitioned the High Court of Justice against the deal. During the hearing,
State Attorney representative Adv. Orit Koren said on Mazuz's behalf that
any hearing on the case should be postponed until the appointment of a new
minister of finance. The High Court of Justice accepted Mazuz's argument,
and postponed the hearing accordingly.

The High Court of Justice argued that in his capacity as both Acting Prime
Minister and Minister of Finance, Olmert was chairman of the ILA when the
ILA made its decision, and could therefore not sign the decision while
serving as minister of finance. By signing the deal today, Olmert is
apparently in breach of Mazuz's agreement with the High Court of Justice.
The Society for the Protection of Nature announced today that it would ask
the court to void Olmert's current decision, which contravenes Mazuz's
instructions.

In October 2003, the ILA awarded Salt Industries 50% of the building rights
on land occupied by salt pools in Atlit, and 30% of the building rights on
land occupied by salt pools north of Eilat. The ILA also awarded land for an
alternative site for a salt production factory.

A discussion on the petitions filed against the deal is still ongoing.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on
April 3, 2006

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Syria Denies Sending Maps on the Occupied Golan to UN

Syria Denies Sending Maps on the Occupied Golan to UN
Sunday, April 09, 2006 - 06:55 PM
DAMASCUS, (SANA-Syrian News Agency)
www.sana.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&newlang=eng&sid=28162&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

Syria denied on Sunday what the Lebanese 'an Nahar' newspaper published
today and yesterday on handing over the UN a map on the occupied Syrian
Golan and Shebaa Farms just prior to issuance of the UN Security Council
resolution No. 1648 in December 2005.

" Syria didn't hand over any map to the UN," an official source at Foreign
Ministry told SANA, adding that " maps in such occasions are issued by the
UNDOF only."

The resolution had extended the United Nations Disengagement Observer Forces
UNDOF mission in the Syrian Golan.

Ghossoun

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: : ZOA Comends the US Civil Rights Commission
For Its Historic Recognition That Jewish Students
Must Be Protected...

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

April 5, 2006
Contact Morton A. Klein at: www.zoa.org
Attn: NEWS EDITOR

ZOA'S Testimony And Legal Complaint
Help Spur Historic Move

ZOA COMMENDS THE U.S. CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION FOR ITS
HISTORIC RECOGNITION THAT JEWISH STUDENTS MUST BE
PROTECTED UNDER FEDERAL LAW FROM ANTI-SEMITISM,
INCLUDING ANTI-ZIONISM AND ANTI-ISRAEL ACTIONS

The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) applauds the historic
findings and recommendations issued on Monday, April 3, 2006, by the U.S.
Commission on Civil Rights, to address anti-Semitic harassment, intimidation
and discrimination on U.S. college campuses. The findings and
recommendations were based in part on the ZOA's testimony at the Commission's
hearing on campus anti-Semitism on November 18, 2005. At the hearing, Susan
Tuchman, the Director of the ZOA's Center for Law and Justice, urged the
Commission to support an interpretation of Title VI of the federal Civil
Rights Act of 1964 that would protect Jewish college students from
anti-Semitic harassment, intimidation and discrimination. She described the
ZOA's ongoing complaint against the University of California at Irvine under
Title VI, the first case of anti-Semitism that the Office for Civil Rights
in the U.S. Department of Education has agreed to investigate.

Based on the information provided at the hearing, the Commission
made the following important findings:

1) Anti-Semitism on college campuses throughout the U.S. is a serious
problem, and derogatory remarks and using swastikas and other symbols of
hatred or bigotry are among the conduct that could create a hostile
environment for Jewish students in violation of Title VI.

2) Anti-Israel conduct and anti-Zionism can be an expression of
anti-Semitism. According to the Commission, "[a]nti-Semitic bigotry is no
less morally deplorable when camouflaged as anti-Israelism or anti-Zionism."

3) Many Middle East studies departments provide one-sided debate about
Israel, and may also repress legitimate debate.

4) Many students do not know what rights and protections they have
against anti-Semitic behavior.

5) The data on campus anti-Semitism that is currently collected by the
U.S. government is insufficient and more data is required to determine the
full scope of the problem.

The Commission made the following significant recommendations:

I. The Office for Civil Rights
should protect Jewish students from anti-Semitism by vigorously enforcing
Title VI against colleges and universities. University leadership must
ensure that students are not subjected to a hostile environment engendered
by anti-Semitism.

II. If there is any question that
Jewish students are protected under Title VI,
then Congress should amend Title VI to make clear that they are
protected.

III. Colleges and universities
should ensure that students are protected from actions that could create a
hostile anti-Semitic environment. "University leadership should set a moral
example" and denounce anti-Semitic and other hate speech.

IV. Colleges and universities should
ensure that all academic departments maintain academic standards and respect
intellectual diversity. Federal funds should not be used in a way that
supports discriminatory conduct.

V. The Office for Civil Rights should
conduct a public education campaign to inform college students of their
rights under the federal civil rights laws, including that they have the
right to be free from anti-Semitic harassment. The Commission will support
this campaign by producing and distributing materials to inform students of
their rights.

VI. Congress should direct the U.S.
Department of Education to collect and report additional data on
anti-Semitic and other hate crimes at colleges and universities.

The ZOA specifically urged the Commission to make some of these findings and
recommendations at the hearing last November. Among other issues, the ZOA
advocated that the Commission acknowledge the seriousness of the anti-Jewish
problem on campus, that the Commission recognize that anti-Zionism and
anti-Israel conduct may be a camouflage for what is in reality
anti-Semitism, and that colleges and universities have a duty to speak out
and condemn hateful speech and conduct against Jews and Israel.

Susan Tuchman, the Director of the ZOA's Center for Law and
Justice, applauded the Commission's findings and recommendations. "We are
deeply gratified that the Commission took our concerns seriously and
recognized that Jewish students are facing real problems of anti-Semitism on
their college campuses. It is so important that the Commission understood
that anti-Zionist propaganda and inaccurate and unbalanced attacks on Israel
are a form of anti-Semitism, and also that the Commission condemned such
conduct. The Commission's findings and recommendations support our
contention that the anti-Israel divestment campaigns and conferences on
college campuses, which disseminate hateful lies about Israel and Zionism,
contribute to creating a hostile anti-Semitic environment for Jewish
students that may violate Title VI. The Commission has sent a powerful
message to the public, to the Office for Civil Rights - the agency that
enforces Title VI - and to college and university administrations across the
country: Jewish students are entitled under the law to an educational
environment that is free from anti-Semitic harassment, intimidation and
discrimination, which includes conduct that demonizes and delegitimizes the
State of Israel. The officials and administrators of colleges and
universities have an obligation to ensure a hostility-free environment, and
to take a leadership role and speak out against speech and conduct that is
hateful to Jews and to Israel. The Commission's findings and
recommendations have also sent a strong message to Jewish students on our
campuses that anti-Semitism and anti-Israel conduct need not be tolerated
and that they have legal recourse to fight it. We anticipate that the
Commission will be issuing a report based on these findings and
recommendations, and expect that it will be submitted to the President and
to Congress.

"I also want to thank all the students from UC Irvine who have
fully supported the ZOA's legal effort, enabling us to reach this important
milestone. It's been gratifying to have developed such warm and personal
relationships with these fabulous students who have shown such courage,
commitment and determination."

Morton A. Klein, the ZOA's National President, praised the
Commission's actions. "We praise and appreciate not only the Commission's
findings and recommendations, but also its commitment to support a public
relations campaign to inform Jewish college students of their rights under
the federal civil rights laws. The ZOA intends to be a partner in that
campaign by undertaking its own effort to inform Jewish students and college
and university administrators on campuses across the country that
anti-Semitism is illegal and that students have tools under the law to
combat it. We will be urging Hillel directors on campuses across the
country to help us get this important message out to the heads of their
respective college and universities and to their Jewish constituents."

"I also wish to express my sincere thanks to the many outstanding
students at UC/Irvine who I met and worked with after my Israel lecture
there. Their intelligence, diligence, relentless spirit and love of Israel
always inspired me and gave me great confidence in our Jewish future. These
students and all the other Irvine students who have been so supportive in
helping us fight against the scourge of anti-Semitism deserve our respect
and admiration."

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

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

--------------------------------------------
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis
Website: www.imra.org.il

For free regular subscription:
Subscribe at no charge: imra-subscribe@imra.org.il
Unsubscribe: imra-unsubscribe@imra.org.il

For free daily digest subscription:
Subscribe at no charge: imra-subscribe-digest@imra.org.il
Unsubscribe: imra-unsubscribe@imra.org.il

For a copy of all reports distributed for a given day please send a
message to:

monday@imra.org.il tuesday@imra.org.il wednesday@imra.org.il
thursday@imra.org.il friday@imra.org.il
saturday@imra.org.il sunday@imra.org.il
--------------------------------------------

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

End of [imra] Daily digest - Volume: 2 Issue: 1368 (11 messages)
**********