[imra] Daily digest - Volume: 2 Issue: 1371 (15 messages)

imra Sat Apr 15 00:22:38 2006 Volume 2 : Issue 1371

In this issue of the imra daily Digest:

U.S. TO HELP SAUDIS ACHIEVE AIR INTEROPERABILITY
Excerpts: Iraq snubs Arab League.Increasing
attempted illegal immigration to Europe.13 April 2006
2 Reports - Security Chaos and Proliferation of Small Arms in PA
ISRAEL ORDERS SHIP FEASIBILITY STUDY
A Young Man a Victim of an Honor-Killing in Gaza City
FM Livni on terrorists and the IDF response to Kassams
Annan: Israel has to Take "Meaningful Steps"
to Alleviate Palestinian Suffering
Weekly Commentary: Olmert's Retreat
- Hardly "Pragmatism" Over "Ideology"
Foreign Ministry: Bilateral talks not held with Indonesia
[IMRA: Another assumption challenged] Jordanian Wing of Muslim
Brotherhood - will push to cancel treaty with Israel if take power
Excerpts:Saudi "unwavering" support for Hamas.
Poor future for Forum for the Future 14 April 2006
Public Invited to Participate Sunday in
Special Prayers for Pollard
Palestinian Territories : MSF refuses to
be a 'social palliative' of EU & US policies
FM Depicts Syrian Iranian Ties as Distinguished
Wall Street Journal: Olmert to Call for Global Support Of
Israel's $10 Billion West Bank Pullout Plan

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: U.S. TO HELP SAUDIS ACHIEVE AIR INTEROPERABILITY

U.S. TO HELP SAUDIS ACHIEVE AIR INTEROPERABILITY

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- The United States has decided to help Saudi Arabia
achieve air interoperability.

The Bush administration has approved a program to supply systems and
training to enable communications between Saudi combat and support air
assets. Officials said the program, unlikely to be blocked by Congress,
would improve combat capability as well as interoperability with the U.S.
Air Force.

The Defense Department has notified Congress of a possible sale to Saudi
Arabia of Link 16 systems that would enable communications between a range
of aircraft. The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Riyad
could receive up to 165 Link 16 Multi-functional Information Distribution
System for fighter-jets and 25 Joint Tactical Information Distribution
System terminals.

An agency statement in October 2005 said the proposed sale could reach $401
million. The statement said the multi-functional terminals would increase
situational awareness of Saudi and U.S. forces in both exercises and combat
missions.

-----

NOTE: The above is not the full item.
This service contains only a small portion of the information produced daily
by Middle East Newsline. For a subscription to the full service, please
contact Middle East Newsline at:
editor@menewsline.com for further details.

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Excerpts: Iraq snubs Arab League.Increasing
attempted illegal immigration to Europe.13 April 2006

Excerpts: Iraq snubs Arab League.Increasing attempted illegal immigration to
Europe.13 April 2006

+++JORDAN TIMES Thursday,13 April '06
"Empty seat at league talks"
QUOTES FROM TEXT:
"Iraq boycott the Arab League event in protest of remarks by Egyptian
President Hosni Mubarak."
"Mubarak's assertion that Shiite Arabs were more loyal to Iran than to
their
own countries"

"the committee 'strongly regretted ' the absence of Iraq"

"there is little Arab governments can do to end the violence in Iraq"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------
EXCERPTS:
CAIRO (Reuters) - Iraq left its seat empty at a meeting of Arab foreign
ministers on Iraq on Wednesday, carrying out its threat to boycott the Arab
League event in protest at remarks by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
.... "None of us went," Alousi told Reuters.
The Iraqi government said on Tuesday it would boycott the meeting because of
Mubarak's assertion that Shiite Arabs were more loyal to Iran than to their
own countries.
. . .
Officials at the session were from Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan,
Sudan, Kuwait, Algeria, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, as well as
league Secretary General Amr Musa.
A statement ...said the committee "strongly regretted" the absence of Iraq
and would consider the session open indefinitely in the hope that Iraq will
attend. . . .
Diplomats said ... there is little Arab governments could do to end the
violence in Iraq. . . .
Mubarak, whose country is overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim, upset the Iraqi
government and Shiite leaders in Gulf countries by casting doubt on the
patriotism of Arab Shiites. . . .
... the rise to power of Iraq's Shiite community and the prospect of talks
on Iraq between Iran and the United States have made some Sunni Arab leaders
anxious.

+++THE DAILY STAR (Lebanon) 12 April '06:

"Europe is no closer to solving its immigration dilemma" by James Badcock

QUOTES FROM TEXT:
"no limits to the risks the migrants are willing to face"

"there was no future in Europe for all but a tiny minority"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
EXCERPTS:
... There seem to be no limits to the risks the migrants are willing to
face. So what should Europe's answer be? Looking at Spain's reaction, it
seems a balanced approach is hard to take.
.... Most of the traffic in immigrants used to center around the Straits of
Gibraltar, where, for those unable to smuggle themselves aboard a
ferry-bound vehicle, the crossing in a rickety boat was at least a short
one. Local NGOs talked of around 100 deaths per year, while official figures
based on body counts talked in terms of dozens. However, this year alone
along the Nouadhibou-Canaries route, over 1,000 have drowned or starved
before reaching their destination.
The effective closing off of Morocco's coastline all the way down through
Western Sahara has led to a bottleneck in the transcontinental northward
flow. ... .
The Italian government recently called in the Moroccan ambassador, worried
about the passage from Libya.... . Madrid is currently building a camp on
Mauritanian soil ...meant to dissuade others from trying the route to
Spain.
.... that help on a grand scale was needed from Europe, and that Spain could
not deal with the problem on its own - neither in terms of policing the
European Union's southern border nor in providing an alternative policy.
Indeed,... .
... more active recruitment of immigrants in their own country to offset
desires (to illegally emmigrate) .... French President Jacques Chirac took a
completely different approach, advocating instead the need to explain to
African citizens that there was no future in Europe for all but a tiny
minority.
. . .
The pretence that Europe can pick and choose immigrant inflows to plug
skills gaps while keeping the hordes out is a sham....

Sue Lerner - Associate, IMRA

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: 2 Reports - Security Chaos and Proliferation of Small Arms in PA

PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

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

Field Update
13 April 2006

Citizen Injured by a Mysterious Explosion at his Home in Balata

On Thursday morning, 13 April 2006, Ibrahim Atallah sustained shrapnel
injuries throughout his body, as a result of an unexplained explosion at his
home in Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus.

PCHR's preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 06:50 on
the morning of Thursday, 13 April 2006, an explosion occurred in the house
belonging to Ibrahim Ali Atallah (54) in the Tehta area of Balata refugee
camp. The cause of the explosion is as yet unknown. As a result of the
explosion, Atallah sustained shrapnel injuries throughout his body. He was
taken to Rafedia Hospital in Nablus for treatment. He was then transferred
to the Specialized Arabi Hospital due to the seriousness of his injuries.
In addition, the explosion caused major damage to the house.

PCHR is very concerned over the continued number of deaths and injuries
resulting from the misuse of weapons and explosives, which has become a
prominent feature of the ongoing security chaos in the region. The Centre
stresses the importance of protecting civilians and ensuring their safety in
accordance with international humanitarian law. The Centre calls upon the
Palestinian National Authority to take preventive measures to prevent such
incidents and safeguard the safety of citizens.

#2 Security Chaos and Proliferation of Small Arms
Attacking Public Institutions and Officials

Field Update
13 April 2006

Gunmen Storm the UNRWA Office in Nablus

In a continuation of the trend of attacking international institutions,
which has become a feature of the ongoing security chaos in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory (OPT), gunmen stormed the UNRWA office in Nablus,
demanding that a Palestinian be employed at the office.

PCHR's initial investigation indicates that at approximately 09:00 on
Wednesday, 12 April 2006, unidentified armed assailants attacked the UNRWA
office located in Granada Street, in the center of Nablus. They demanded,
at gunpoint, that a Palestinian be employed at the office. As a result of
the attack, the UNRWA Chief in Jerusalem ordered the indefinite closure of
the targeted Nablus office.

PCHR strongly condemns this attack and expresses grave concern over the
escalating attacks against public institutions, which threaten the lives of
staff members. These attacks are a continuation of the prevailing security
chaos in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The Centre calls upon the
Palestinian National Authority, represented by the Attorney-General, to
investigate these attacks and to bring the 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
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and write "subscribe" in the subject line.

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: ISRAEL ORDERS SHIP FEASIBILITY STUDY

ISRAEL ORDERS SHIP FEASIBILITY STUDY
[IMRA: It is not clear from the report if Israel will add technology to give
these boats an advantage over ships that the US may sell to the Arabs]

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- Israel has ordered a study to determine the feasibility
of procuring an advanced combat ship from the United States.

The Israel Navy, in what could constitute the launching of a major program,
has approved a study to examine designs for its proposed warship project. In
an effort to save money, Israel would examine a design ordered by the U.S.
Navy.

Under the project, the United States would fund the development and
production of any surface vessel to the Israel Navy. The navy has been
considering purchasing two advanced vessels, meant to measure more than 100
meters and contain a helicopter pad and artillery.

So far, the U.S. Navy has awarded Lockheed Martin a $5.2 million contract to
conduct a Littoral Combat Ship, or LCS, feasibility study for the Israel
Navy. Under the award, Lockheed Martin, which is building the first LCS for
the U.S. Navy, would determine modifications to the ship design to meet
Israeli naval requirements.
....
NOTE: The above is not the full item.
This service contains only a small portion of the information produced daily
by Middle East Newsline. For a subscription to the full service, please
contact Middle East Newsline at:
editor@menewsline.com for further details.

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: A Young Man a Victim of an Honor-Killing in Gaza City

PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

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

Field Update
13 April 2006

A Young Man a Victim of an Honor-Killing in Gaza City

In the ongoing security chaos in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)
that includes vigilante justice, Khalil Sa'id Abdallah El-Aloul, a 21-year
old resident of Naser neighborhood in Gaza City, was killed by members of a
clan that claimed the victim had sexually assaulted their daughter.

PCHR's preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 16:30 on
Wednesday, 12 April 2006, Khalil El-Aloul was killed by multiple stabs in
crime defined as an honor-killing. The victim worked as a tailor in a
workshop, located near the Ophthalmic Hospital in Gaza City, owned by the
clan that killed him. The killers alleged that El-Aloul sexually assailed
their 10-year old daughter. They killed him and threw him from the window of
an apartment owned by the assaulting clan.

Forensic medicine sources in Shifa Hospital informed PCHR's fieldworker that
El-Aloul arrived dead to the hospital. Upon examination it was determined
that he suffered several fatal stabs by a sharp object to different parts of
the body, including the neck, chest, back, and abdomen. In addition, there
were marks indicating that his hands were bound.

These sources indicated that the child alleged to have been assaulted was
examined. The examination did not reveal any indicators that she was
sexually assaulted.

PCHR strongly condemns this crime, and stresses the following:
- This crime is an attack on the rule of law, falls under the
policy of vigilante justice, and is part of the escalating security chaos
plaguing the OPT;
- This crime is a form of extra-judicial execution, which is a
grave violation of human rights, especially the right to life and the right
of freedom from torture and harsh and inhumane treatment;
- The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) is responsible for
judicially pursuing the perpetrators of honor-killings. But this must be
done within the framework of the law in order to ensure that suspects enjoy
their full legal rights, including a fair trial;
- The Centre calls upon the PNA, represented by the
Attorney-General, to investigate this crime, and to bring the 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: FM Livni on terrorists and the IDF response to Kassams

FM Livni on terrorists and the IDF response to Kassams

Excerpts from an interview with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Israel
Radio, 11 April 2006:
[Provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

"A terrorist organization is a terrorist organization...and we'll fight any
terrorist who tries to harm soldiers, because he is an enemy. But for years
I've been going around the world and I've been asked by the international
community that we stop calling terrorists those who are freedom
fighters...[The international community's] understanding of a terrorist who
goes and murders children in their beds or in line at a discotheque or at a
restaurant is unacceptable. It contradicts [their] values...I can also make
the distinction that, to my regret, the international community does not
always make between an inclusive remark that says 'there are victims on both
sides, innocent casualties on both sides,' and I to the same extent insist
upon the distinction between an IDF soldier who will always seek out the
terrorist to kill him, even if by mistake he harms a boy or girl, and a
terrorist who will look that child in the eye and murder him...

"There is a war. Our job when there is a war is to prevent soldiers from
being killed -- they are the children of all of us, and we worry about them.
We send them out there and pray that all of them will return, but when we
have to struggle against the legitimacy that the international community
gives the terrorists, in my eyes this is a distinction in values, when we
can come and say that these terrorists are terrorists... Today when the
international community...tries to understand them and begin to explain why
they struggle to establish a state of their own, in this situation one of
the most problematic things or one of the most important things is to anchor
and strengthen [the terrorist's] lack of legitimacy, and no person in this
world can look me in the eyes and tell me that a terrorist who blows himself
up in a restaurant or disctheque or mall or a similar event has a justified
purpose or one that can be justified...

"When we have an enemy, I'll say it again...he is the enemy and we fight
back, and we'll hit him without mercy and make sure that our soldiers are
protected. But to define the process of war that we are in: it is a
different war, and also we live in a country whose soldiers actually go out
to defend its citizens; this is part of the values that I think also unite
the State of Israel."

Asked to comment on the situation created when IDF artillery responds to
Kassam rocket fire from the Gaza Strip and innocent Palestinians are hurt,
including small children, FM Livni responded:

"That is exactly the distinction I am making, also with regard to the
international community. The job of the IDF is to defend Israel's citizens;
the job of the IDF is to fight terrorism. And when they fire Kassam rockets
from inside these [refugee camps], it is the IDF's job to respond. If the
IDF could locate every terrorist, I have no doubt that it would. For a long
time that's what we have been trying to do, but when the terrorists use
residential neighborhoods to hide in, the terrible result from the point of
view of the Palestinian parent is sometimes to pay with the lives of the
innocent. But the job of the IDF soldier as we see it is always to hit the
terrorists, to prevent Kassams from being fired, and to my great regret this
distinction is very difficult for the Palestinian community to make."

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Annan: Israel has to Take "Meaningful Steps"
to Alleviate Palestinian Suffering

Annan: Israel has to Take "Meaningful Steps" to Alleviate Palestinian
Suffering
http://english.wafa.ps/body.asp?id=5989

ISTANBUL, April 13, 2006 (WAFA-PLO news agency) - United Nations
Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, said Wednesday Israel has an obligation to
take "meaningful steps" to alleviate Palestinian suffering.

In a message delivered by Mohamed Sahnoun, his Special Adviser on Africa, to
the meeting of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Istanbul,
Annan added Israel must end blockades, stop house demolitions, end
extra-judicial killings, curtail arbitrary arrests and halt all
colonisations activities.

Annan also urged the OIC to "guide the two sides toward negotiation and
compromise."

He revealed that the UN respects the democratic choice of the Palestinian
people in electing a Hamas-led Government, reiterating the hope that the
party will move toward acceptance of non-violence, recognition of Israel's
right to exist, and acceptance of previous agreements.

"The United Nations believes that acceptance of these principles will help
the Palestinian people achieve their legitimate goal of an end to occupation
and the creation of an independent and viable state, living in peace and
security with its neighbours," Annan said.

H.M. (16:46 P) (13:46 GMT)

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Weekly Commentary: Olmert's Retreat
- Hardly "Pragmatism" Over "Ideology"

Weekly Commentary: Olmert's Retreat - Hardly "Pragmatism" Over "Ideology"

Aaron Lerner Date: 13 April 2006

It has been an ongoing theme for retreat supporters to term their policy
preference putting "pragmatism" over "ideology".

One can readily argue that the opposite is the case.

Is the implementation of a retreat that can be expected to leave the area
under the control of a sovereign Hamas terror state out of a desire to
immediately end the "occupation" at all costs so that at some future point
in time Israel will not find itself forced to allow the Palestinians in the
West Bank to vote in the Knesset (the "demographic threat") "pragmatism" or
the expression of an extreme "ideology"?

Is the belief that if Israel unilaterally retreats to a line that this line
will enjoy international recognition as a final border "pragmatism" or the
wishful self-deception of an extreme "ideology"?

Is it "pragmatic" for Israel to essentially announce to the enemy that the
more costly they make it for Israel to defend a given location that greater
the odds Israel will retreat from it?

By the same token, is it "extremist" to oppose Mr. Olmert's retreat "idea"
(the shallowness of the thinking that has gone into it so far is such that
describing it as a "plan" might be deceptive) or instead "responsible"?

The use of this labeling is nothing new.

Looking back at the disastrous results, was Oslo "pragmatism" or "folly"?

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: Foreign Ministry: Bilateral talks not held with Indonesia

Foreign Ministry: Bilateral talks not held with Indonesia
(Communicated by the Foreign Ministry)

- For Immediate Release -

Jerusalem, 14/4/2006 -

Two senior Israeli diplomats participated last week in a UN conference,
UNESCAP, in Jakarta, Indonesia.

During their stay, the two met with participants of the conference as well
as with private sector Indonesian personalities.

Media reports in recent days claiming the two had allegedly held bilateral
meetings with their Indonesian counterparts are baseless.

Yariv Ovadia

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: [IMRA: Another assumption challenged] Jordanian Wing of Muslim
Brotherhood - will push to cancel treaty with Israel if take power

[IMRA: Many "solutions" proposed by Israelis - including the proposal by
Avigdor Lieberman - hinge on relying on a stable Jordanian entity that can
play a key role in the West Bank]

Political Islam's Opportunity in Jordan
With Elections Due This Year and Next, Wing of Muslim Brotherhood Aspires to
Power
By Daniel Williams Washington Post Foreign Service
Thursday, April 13, 2006; A16
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/12/AR2006041201897.htm
l

AMMAN, Jordan -- In line with the speedy evolution in three nearby
countries, Islam as a political force is moving to center stage in Jordan,
where the government is a cooperative U.S. ally but where Muslim activists
are cool both to Washington and Israel.

The path to greater influence and perhaps dominant political power may be
through municipal elections that are supposed to take place this year and
balloting for parliament in 2007, independent political observers say.
However, rules for each vote have yet to be set, and the conditions will go
a long way in revealing how quickly the country's ruler, King Abdullah, is
willing to democratize in the face of the Islamic surge.

On Sunday, police briefly detained dozens of activists from Jordan's only
legal Muslim party, the Islamic Action Front, who were handing out leaflets
to protest rising fuel prices. The leaflets called for shops to close, but
the response was negligible.

In any event, the blossoming of Islamic parties in Iraq, the success of
Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood in parliamentary elections last year and, most of
all, the recent victory by Hamas in Palestinian legislative elections have
convinced leaders of the Islamic Action Front that it can aspire to power
here. "We not only have the right to participate in elections, but to form a
government if we win," said Zaki Saad, the party leader. "Political Islam is
a big part of the Arab people, so we represent a wide spectrum of
Jordanians."

Saad predicted that if his party were to achieve a dominant place in
government, Jordan's relations with both the United States and Israel would
change. Jordan signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994. "We are clear,"
Saad said. "We reject this treaty because it is against Jordan's national
interest. But we will move cautiously. We will ask for a referendum on it."

As for Washington, he said, "We have no problem to open dialogue, but in
Jordan's interest."

Such attitudes are in harmony with the Middle East's other emergent Islamic
movements and reflect one of the risks in President Bush's drive to
democratize the region: the stronger the Islamic parties, the greater the
threat of upending pro-American alliances.

Jordan would appear to have a lot to lose by distancing itself from
Washington. It receives U.S. economic aid and signed a free-trade agreement
in 2000 that has bolstered the economy and investment. But many Jordanians
have suffered from other aspects of U.S. policy, analysts point out.

The war in Iraq has disrupted favorable trade relations between Iraq and
Jordan, particularly the oil that Jordan had received at heavily discounted
prices during the rule of Saddam Hussein. A perception that Iraq's Sunni
Muslims, with whom most Jordanians are co-religionists, lost out in the
U.S.-led invasion has also soured opinion here.

Moreover, Palestinians make up about half of Jordan's nearly 6 million
people and are heavily represented in the Islamic Action Front. By and
large, they consider U.S. policy toward Israel harmful to their kin in the
West Bank and Gaza Strip. The party sympathizes with Hamas, formally known
as the Islamic Resistance Movement, which the United States and European
Union have labeled a terrorist organization. "We have a special feeling for
Hamas in the face of the Zionist project," Saad said.

The party's precise strength is difficult to gauge, although it is already
the biggest force in parliament, with 17 seats out of 110. Analysts agree
that it is Jordan's best-organized party and potentially the biggest
electoral juggernaut, if only because the country's 32 other parties are in
disarray. "This is the usual pattern in the Middle East. The Islamists are
strong by default," said Nabib Kamhawi, a political analyst and human rights
activist.

Parliament is set to consider changes to the municipal election laws this
spring that would make all town hall positions elected. A change under
consideration for next year's parliamentary vote would end quotas for such
groups as Christians and tribes and let voters choose from lists of
candidates in a system Jordanians have labeled "one man, one vote."

In the run-up to municipal elections, the Islamic Action Front is steering
clear of divisive social themes, such as whether women must be veiled,
alcohol banned and school curriculums changed to more closely mirror Islamic
belief. Instead, it raises clean government as an electoral banner, to
exploit the perception that the Jordanian government and the monarch's inner
circle are corrupt. An anti-corruption platform was instrumental in Hamas's
appeal in Palestinian elections.
The party is a wing of Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood, an umbrella movement
that began in Egypt more than 80 years ago and has inspired Islamic
political groups throughout the Middle East. Because the front has long been
legal here, it is relatively easy to observe how it works to broaden its
appeal. It recruits young activists and trains them both in Islamic belief
and professional fulfillment.

Mustafa Mubarak, for instance, is a Muslim Brotherhood activist who has been
in training for five years. "It was nothing shocking for me. One thing that
the Front calls us to do is to implement the Koran's rules. Not by force,
but through substantial dialogue," he said in an interview.

In Mubarak's view, the main difference between an Islamic party and secular
groups is that in the Brotherhood and the Front, members live the program of
moral and political action under Islamic law, which regulates many forms of
behavior and interaction, including diet, marital relations and social
welfare. "We don't live a life of contradictions," said Mubarak, who proudly
announced he had persuaded his mother to cover her head for modesty.

Mubarak, 23, whose family is of Palestinian origin, began studying at "Koran
centers" and joined an Islamic Boy Scouts group. "They taught me social
equality and also that I could be something someday," he said. He teaches
high school chemistry. "God sent us to save people who want to be saved," he
said.
Mubarak recruits other members in universities and is preparing to campaign
for Islamic candidates in the municipal and parliamentary contests. His
activism has attracted police attention; he said police called him in
recently, asked about people he meets with and advised him to stop. "But we
are legal," he said. "The frontiers are opening to us."

The Front benefits by its association with the Muslim Brotherhood's
charitable and educational organizations, funded in part by donations.

At the Arkam School, a showcase institution with students from kindergarten
through 12th grade, Khalil Askar, the headmaster, was cautious about linking
the Brotherhood's social activity with political ambitions. "We stay out of
politics. That's for the Islamic Action Front," he said. "Of course, schools
like this do encourage people vote for Islamic politicians. In the Middle
East, other ideologies have tried and failed. Islam is the solution."

Tuition at the school, about $700 a year, is about a tenth of what parents
would pay to send their children to equivalent nonsectarian academies.
Beyond that, Askar said, the school provides "Islamic education and morals.
We don't have scandals here."

After the seventh grade, girls wear head scarves and long caftans, although
Askar said such dress was optional. They are segregated from boys. "We
consider it respect to women. They can act as they want and talk as they
want," Askar said.

Academic classes are brought into line with Islamic thought. The other day,
in a high school science class, girls were discussing biology in the context
of Islamic teaching. "We reject evolution. God created people, and people
began as human beings from the beginning," said one student, Batul Ahmed
Ali.

The Brotherhood's Islamic charities operate clinics in poor neighborhoods
that offer treatment and medicine and have expanded into providing food, job
training and school clothing.

Fawaz Mazrawi, a Brotherhood activist, operates one in the working-class
Jebel Nasr neighborhood. It is a clean, bright place plastered with Koranic
sayings and hygienic advice. Mazrawi said the goal is to supplement, not
compete with state services. "We have to be fair. The government can provide
more comprehensive care. But we fill in gaps," he said.

"We are not terrorists," he said, answering a question that had not been
asked. "We are here to provide services."

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Excerpts:Saudi "unwavering" support for Hamas.
Poor future for Forum for the Future 14 April 2006

Excerpts:Saudi "unwavering" support for Hamas.Poor future for Forum for the
Future 14 April 2006

+++ARAB NEWS (Saudi) 14 April '06:"Kingdom's Support for Hamas Unwavering",
P.K. Abdul Ghafour, Arab News -
QUOTES FROM TEXT:
"we'll not differentiate between Hamas and others"
"Kingdom's security forces ... courageous efforts in controlling Al Qaeda
militants"
" (Crown Prince) Sultan said Saudi Arabia did not favor high oil prices"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------
EXCERPTS:
JEDDAH, 14 April 2006 - Crown Prince Sultan yesterday reaffirmed Saudi
Arabia's unwavering support to Palestinians and said the victory of Hamas in
January parliamentary elections would not affect this historic stand.
" ...we'll not differentiate between Hamas and others. They are all our
brothers and friends," ... ..
... Kingdom's strong relations with the United States ... is a relationship
of equals. ... . . .
Sultan spoke highly about the Kingdom's security forces for their courageous
efforts in confronting Al-Qaeda militants . . .
"All powers are with God, we as human beings, will do whatever we can to
protect our country and people," the crown prince said when asked whether
Saudi Arabia has adequate capabilities to contain Al-Qaeda militants blamed
for a series of terrorist bombings and shootings across the country since
May 2003.
"Such incidents can take place anywhere in the world," he said about the
Abqaiq attack. . . .
Speaking about international oil market, Sultan said Saudi Arabia did not
favor high oil prices. ... He said Saudi Arabia had nothing to do with
soaring oil prices.
"It's not in our hand," he said putting the blame on other market forces.
....
He spoke about the Kingdom's historic stand on the Palestinian issue ....
He said Saudi Arabia has been extending direct assistance to the
Palestinians.
. . .He said the Kingdom did not want to give a detailed report of its
assistance to the Palestinians. . . .

+++THE DAILY STAR (Lebanon) 14 April '06"

"Only in stifling reform do Arab regimes display initiative",by Bahey Eldin
Hassan

(Reprint from Arab Reform Bulletin, Carnegie Endowment for International
Peace)

QUOTES FROM TEXT:
"Arab governments have demonstrated consistent incompetence in all fields
except for suppressing internal pressures for change"

"yes to economic reform, no to political reform"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
EXCERPTS

. . . the forum, which once held so much promise for carving out a
democratic future in the Middle East, might be doomed to being shelved next
to other stale regional bodies such as the Arab League and the
Euro-Mediterranean Partnership.
The Forum for the Future is unique in that it is the only regional framework
that provides an opportunity for NGOs in the Arab world to present their
views on reform directly to representatives of their governments at the
ministerial level. At the Manama conference Arab governments pushed back,
firmly opposing the creation of a foundation that would have been able to
fund local NGOs directly, whether or not they were licensed by their
governments. Arab governments have demonstrated consistent incompetence in
all fields except for suppressing internal pressures for change, and they
have demonstrated an impressive ability to maneuver and play on
contradictions within the international community in light of a new and
changing international environment.
Due to obstruction by Arab governments ... .... once again Arab governments
succeeded in sending out the message they have repeated to their peoples and
international community for the last two decades: yes to economic reform, no
to political reform.
... sensitive human rights issues were removed from the agenda ... a male
delegate from the public University of Bahrain headed the women's rights
delegation and spoke in the name of women.
.... The so-called major global powers have yet to realize that they are
dealing with Arab regimes well schooled in despotism and much older than
democratic systems.
. . .
The backlash from Arab governments will continue. Participants in
democracy-promotion initiatives must prepare themselves to deal with this.
Bahey Eldin Hassan is director of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights
Studies, a member of Egypt's National Commission on Human Rights

Sue Lerner, Associate - IMRA

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Public Invited to Participate Sunday in
Special Prayers for Pollard

Public Invited to Participate Sunday in Special Prayers for Pollard
Justice4JP Release - April 14, 2006

Special prayers for Jonathan Pollard, under the auspices of HaRav Mordecai
Eliyahu, shlita, (the Rishon L'Tzion and Former Chief Rabbi of Israel) will
be held this Sunday, April 16, 2006, (Yod Chet Nissan) in the main square of
the Jewish Quarter (The Rova) of the Old City of Jerusalem. The public is
invited to attend and participate.

The special prayers for Pollard are planned as part of the annual reception
that is held for HaRav Mordecai Eliyahu in the Rova HaYehudit. The event is
scheduled to begin at 10:30 am.

Again, here are the details at a glance:

What: Special prayers for Jonathan Pollard

Led by: HaRav Mordecai Eliyahu, shlita

Where: The main square of the Rova HaYehudit (the Jewish Quarter), Jerusalem

When: Sunday, April 16, 2006, [ Yod Chet Nissan]

Event: The Annual Reception for HaRav Eliyahu

Time: 10:30 am

See you there!

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Palestinian Territories : MSF refuses to
be a 'social palliative' of EU & US policies

[IMRA: Someone reading Medecins Sans Frontieres press release might think
that "The shelling by the Israeli army" and "the frequent closing of Karni"
are arbitrary Israeli actions rather than related to Palestinian terror
against Israeli civilians and security alerts forcing the closing of Karni
to avoid the loss of life.]

Information dated 13.04.2006
Palestinian Territories : MSF refuses to be a 'social palliative' of EU & US
policies
www.msf.org/msfinternational/invoke.cfm?objectid=92DA1FA2-03DF-C8F9-B62F1233
247FC4F1&component=toolkit.pressrelease&method=full_html

Humanitarian aid actors do not have the competence, the means or the
responsibility to act as a substitute for the Palestinian Authority, to
ensure provision of social services, to run ministries or public systems or
to pay civil servants.

Paris/Jerusalem - Following the success of Hamas in the January legislative
elections, Canada and the United States, followed by the European Union,
decided to suspend their financial aid to the Palestinian Authority.

Nevertheless, a promise was made to continue to help the population meet
their basic needs by proposing to reallocate part of these funds to the
United Nations and other international relief bodies so that they can offset
the human and social consequences of this sanction.

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) considers this proposal unacceptable.

MSF is concerned about the socio-economic future of this population already
sorely tested by years of conflict and occupation. There is a real danger
that the hardships will worsen, particularly in the Gaza Strip where nearly
half of the 1.4 million residents are already living below the poverty line.
The shelling by the Israeli army is intense (100 to 300 strikes a day since
last Friday), causing serious civilian casualties. Furthermore, the frequent
closing of Karni, the main transit point for supplies, has resulted in
shortages of some basic commodities.

Although it is up to governments to decide whether to suspend aid,
humanitarian actors cannot be "social palliative" of retaliatory measures
that impact on the entire population. Furthermore, humanitarian aid actors
do not have the competence, the means or the responsibility to act as a
substitute for the Palestinian Authority, to ensure provision of social
services, to run ministries or public systems or to pay civil servants.

It is not the role of humanitarian aid agencies to ensure that the basic
needs of the civilian populations living in the occupied Territories are
covered. This responsibility, in accordance with the fourth Geneva
Convention, is that of the occupying power, namely the State of Israel.

This "instrumentalization" and confusion of roles and responsibilities
jeopardizes the independence of NGOs and can, in fact, put them in danger in
an already very unstable context. The deterioration of the security
conditions, as well as recent kidnappings of international personnel, has
already forced us to evacuate our teams several times from our programs in
Nablus, Hebron, and Gaza.

Fearing a severe worsening of the living conditions of the population, MSF
has decided to review and adapt its operations in the Palestinian
Territories. MSF reaffirms, to all governments, its financial and
operational independence. The organization expects that the Palestinian
authorities and other actors, whether political or military, guarantee the
security of its staff members, both Palestinian and international, in the
field.

Since 1989, MSF has been working in the Palestinian Territories to respond
to the violent consequences of the conflict. Since 2000, our focus has been
on providing psychological care supplemented by medical care and social
support to families suffering from acute trauma and lack of access to
healthcare. Today, our teams are working in Nablus, Hebron and Gaza.

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: FM Depicts Syrian Iranian Ties as Distinguished

FM Depicts Syrian Iranian Ties as Distinguished
Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 06:10 PM
DAMASCUS, (SANA - Syrian News Agency) -
www.sana.org/indexc58f9c68b7c0ccc3cd75c54f552c0fe3.html

Foreign Minister Walid al-Mouallem said on Thursday the visit of Iran's Head
of Expediency Council Hashemi Rafsanjani to Syria reflects "the
distinguished ties" between the two courtiers in various domains.

In a statement to journalists, al-Mouallem said the two sides have reached
to joint conclusions namely that "what is happening of developments in the
regional and international arenas assert the correctness of Syria's course
and position."

Over the concordance between Syria and Iran to face current pressures, the
foreign minister noted these pressures are because of the independent
stances of both countries emphasizing that " Syria and Iran are following
policies and positions in both people's interests but are not the policy of
hegemony and occupation."

Regarding the double standard policy practiced against Syria and Iran,
al-Mouallem said "these criteria are the reason behind the disturbance
happening in the world arena" holding adopters of such principles
responsibility for what is taking place in the region and adding that "had
international laws and treaties implemented on all world countries, the
world would have become more just."

Al-Mouallem comments came after a meeting with Iran's Head of Expediency
Council Hashemi Rafsanjani in which they discussed ways of deepening
bilateral ties in addition to the situation in world and regional arenas.

Sawsan

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Wall Street Journal: Olmert to Call for Global Support Of
Israel's $10 Billion West Bank Pullout Plan

Olmert to Call for Global Support
Of Israel's West Bank Pullout Plan
By KARBY LEGGETT
The Wall Street Journal April 12, 2006; Page A6
http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB114478799929023245-z5h3vpz27D62V5Bixr5ElOyqfFQ_20060512.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top

JERUSALEM -- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says he intends to finalize
plans for a large pullout from parts of the occupied West Bank within the
next 18 months, and that he will travel to the U.S. next month to try to
secure Washington's support as he sketches the plan's contours.

In an interview yesterday at his Jerusalem office, Mr. Olmert said his
planned meeting with President Bush in Washington will mark the onset of
efforts to secure international support for the pullout, including financial
assistance. Under his plan, Mr. Olmert intends to evacuate as many as 70,000
Jewish settlers from their homes -- a move that some rough estimates say
could cost more than $10 billion -- while annexing large chunks of disputed
Palestinian territory.

The goal, Mr. Olmert said, is to establish permanent, internationally
recognized borders that will ensure Israel retains its Jewish majority for
decades to come. Though he expects to carry out the plan without Palestinian
input, he believes it will help create conditions that could lead to the
establishment of a Palestinian state and a negotiated peace settlement
someday. "The State of Israel will change the face of the region," Mr.
Olmert said of his plan. "I will not miss this opportunity."

Mr. Olmert, 60 years old, led the Kadima party to victory last month,
winning 29 of 120 seats in parliament and giving him authority to form the
next coalition government. He became acting prime minister in January after
former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered a stroke. He also took over as
head of Kadima, which Mr. Sharon formed just weeks before he was
incapacitated. Mr. Olmert was Mr. Sharon's senior deputy and most important
ally in pushing through last year's evacuation of Gaza Strip settlements.

Mr. Olmert said he plans to wrap up coalition negotiations within two weeks
or so and that detailed planning for the West Bank evacuation will begin
shortly after that. Among the first steps he plans is to appoint a team of
experts that will provide military, political and economic advice. Though
some 250,000 Jewish Israeli citizens live in more than 100 West Bank
settlements, only one-third or so will face evacuation. Many may be offered
relocation to the large settlement blocs Israel plans to retain.

Perhaps the most sensitive issue will be the question of Jerusalem. Israel
took full control of the city during the 1967 war with neighboring Arab
states. Palestinians, however, claim the city as their future capital and
say that must be reflected in any resolution to the Mideast's core conflict.
The U.S. has generally supported the Palestinian position during previous
peace negotiations.

In the interview, Mr. Olmert ruled out sharing political control of
Jerusalem and its main holy sites with a future Palestinian state, though he
left open the possibility that some surrounding Arab neighborhoods could
eventually fall under Palestinian sovereignty. "Dividing Jerusalem will not
bring peace, only more fighting," he said.

Mr. Olmert's position on Jerusalem underscores the deep controversy the
pullout plan will face in the months to come -- among Israelis,
Palestinians, Arab populations in the region and even U.S. officials. Many
settlers plan to fight to stay, and the specter of internal Israeli violence
will remain a concern.

Anger also could rise in the West Bank and Gaza, where many Palestinians see
the pullout as an attempt by Israel to avoid negotiations and impose its
will. Already, senior leaders of the militant Islamist organization Hamas --
recently voted into power by Palestinians -- have called Mr. Olmert's plan a
"declaration of war."

The Bush administration also might find itself in a bind. So far, Mr. Bush
has voiced support for a West Bank pullout, but his administration will face
tough decisions as the plan takes shape. Mr. Olmert, for instance, said
Israel will need U.S. financial assistance to implement the evacuation.

Yet if it finances the pullout, the U.S. will likely be seen throughout the
Middle East as assisting Israel's bid to take permanent control of large
settlement blocs and Jerusalem. The fear is that this would add to regional
anger toward the U.S., complicating efforts to stabilize Iraq and promote
democracy in other countries.

In the interview, Mr. Olmert called for broad international support, saying
his plan was the only alternative to continued fighting. Once it is
complete, he said, physical separation from the Palestinians will reduce
daily friction and violence and leave Palestinians with land that could
someday become a viable state.

Mr. Olmert said he doesn't plan to hold a national referendum or other vote
to seek additional legitimacy for the pullout. Last month's election, he
said, proved a majority of Israelis share his vision. He also said he is
watching closely to see if Hamas moderates its view toward Israel. If that
doesn't happen, he said, Israel will act unilaterally. "I can't wait
forever," he said.

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

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

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

End of [imra] Daily digest - Volume: 2 Issue: 1371 (15 messages)
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