[imra] Daily digest - Volume: 2 Issue: 1389 (10 messages)

imra Fri May 12 04:20:32 2006 Volume 2 : Issue 1389

In this issue of the imra daily Digest:

Despite Pledge to Bush, Bahrain
to Continue Israel Boycott
ZOA Strongly Opposes US Decision
to Fund Palestinians/Hamas Workers
Israel deliberately understating
Palestinian WB rocket threat?
SELA Disengagement Authority Report
[no employment data included]
2 Reports - Palestinian Security Chaos
and Proliferation of Small Arms
Hamas Terrorists Arrested As
They Attempted to Infiltrate Israel
Official Jordanian statement criticizing
Hamas for targetting Jordan
Jordan TV Broadcasts Confessions of Hamas Members
Weekly Commentary: Regional instability: its not about Israel
Excerpts: Widespread simultaneous prison release of
Islamic militants.Syrian training for Hamas
terror in Jordan.12 May 2006

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Despite Pledge to Bush, Bahrain
to Continue Israel Boycott

Bahrain's Boycott of Israel to Continue
By Michael Freund The Jerusalem Post, May 11, 2006
www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1145961322869&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Just a month before its Free Trade Agreement with the US is slated to go
into effect, Bahrain has yet to close its official Israel Boycott Office,
despite a pledge made to Washington last year to do so, the Jerusalem Post
has learned.

In addition, senior Bahraini officials have publicly indicated that
regardless of their promise to the Bush Administration, the ban on Israeli
products will continue.

The United States and Bahrain signed a free trade agreement in September
2004. It was ratified by Congress in December 2005, but will only go into
effect in the next few weeks, after the Bahraini government finalizes
various changes to its trade legislation.

After the US conditioned the deal on Bahrain's removal of restrictions on
trade with the Jewish state, Bahraini officials assured Washington that they
would cancel the anti-Israel embargo and close down their Israel Boycott
Office.

Nonetheless, in remarks before Bahrain's Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday,
Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa denied that his
country would end the boycott.

According to the Bahrain Tribune, Khalifa told the deputies present "that
the relations would be normal with Israel when the Arab League orders the
Arab countries to end the boycott, and until then the Kingdom was sticking
to the boycott."

These echoed remarks that Khalifa had previously made to the chamber last
October, in a discussion of the free trade agreement with the US, when he
said that the boycott of Israel would end only once the Arab League and the
Gulf Cooperation Council agreed to such a move.

At the time, Bahrain's Finance Minister concurred, telling the deputies that
even if the US Congress insisted that Bahrain close its Israel Boycott
Office, "The closure does not mean the Kingdom intends to lift the ban on
Israel."

Yousif Zainal, a member of Bahrain's Chamber of Deputies who was present at
this week's session with the Foreign Minister, told the Post that, "I don't
believe there is any intention for the government of Bahrain to establish
economic relations with Zionists". Zainal has been a vocal opponent of ties
with Israel.

Contacted by telephone, an official at Bahrain's Ministry of Finance, when
asked whether the country had complied with its commitment to Washington to
shut the Israel Boycott Office, said, "We are in the process of dismantling
it," though he acknowledged that, "the office is still physically there."

The official insisted, however, that Bahrain was no longer enforcing the
boycott, though he would not say when, or if, the closure of the boycott
office would be completed.

In addition, the Post found, the boycott office continues to appear on at
least two official Bahraini government websites, those of the Ministries of
Finance and Commerce, with the former containing a detailed list of the
office's responsibilities.

These include, "research and investigations about companies, agencies and
establishments dealing with Israel," as well as "inspection for local shops
and stores to ensure that they are not dealing in goods included in the
boycott list."

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: ZOA Strongly Opposes US Decision
to Fund Palestinians/Hamas Workers

May 10, 2006

Contact Morton A. Klein at: www.zoa.org
Attn: NEWS EDITOR

Sharon called PA Police - Terrorists

ZOA STRONGLY OPPOSES US DECISION TO
FUND PALESTINIANS/HAMAS WORKERS

New York - The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has criticized
the decision made by the Bush Administration yesterday to agree to the
creation of a system to transfer funds for salaries and humanitarian
assistance to the Palestinians, which represents a deviation from its policy
of isolating Hamas and not funding the Hamas Palestinian Authority (PA)
government. The US has agreed to give $10 million in emergency medical
assistance to Palestinians in Gaza, some of which will be channeled through
the United States Agency for International Development and the United
Nations Children's Fund.

ZOA sent a letter to President Bush signed by ZOA President Morton A.
Klein; Chairman of the Board, Dr. Michael Goldblatt; Chairman of Executive
Committee, Dr. Alan Mazurek, saying,

"Providing US taxpayers dollars to the Hamas/Palestinian government
employees; the Hamas/Palestinian teachers who spew hatred of the US and
Israel in their classroom; to the Hamas/Palestinian police of whom Prime
Minister Sharon said, 'the PA security organizations are really security
terror organizations' (and that was under Mazen); or to any other
Hamas/Palestinian institution whether direct or indirect is a serious and
dangerous mistake.

"Firstly, it sends a message that there are no serious consequences
to the ongoing terror and promotion of terror by the Hamas/Palestinian
authority. Secondly, all monies are fungible and this US money frees up
other PA funds to buy arms and fund further terrorism against Israel Jews.
Thirdly, this only strengthens and helps prop us the Hamas terror regime,
when there should be weakened and destroyed.

"The Palestinians have also not fulfilled a single aspect of their
obligations under Oslo or the Road Map. Congress passed legislation after
Oslo stating that financial aid is contingent on Palestinian compliance.
Tragically every President has invoked a waiver to bypass the will of
Congress.

"The reason we have this tragic Hamas/Palestinian terrorism situation
today is that we have ignored the anti-peace/pro-terrorism actions of the
Palestinians for over 12 years now. The US has continued financing and even
negotiating with this terror regime.

"It's time to be Churchillian and make it clear the Palestinians
agenda will go backwards and not forwards if they don't change their policy
of murder and destruction of Israel and finally join the world of civilized
nations that prepare their children for a productive life and not for death
and hatred.

"Mr. President, do what's right and moral. Stop funding these Hamas
terrorist institutions, which calls for the murder of Jews and the
destruction of Israel in its charter, while establishing close relations
with Iran - an arch enemy of the US."

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Israel deliberately understating
Palestinian WB rocket threat?

Israel deliberately minimizing rocket threat?

Analysts say publicity about missiles could damage PM Olmert's withdrawal
plan. National Religious Party MK Effie Eitam: 'Any West Bank withdrawal
will be followed by rockets fired at major Israeli cities'

Aaron Klein, WND 11 May 2006
www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3249653,00.html

According to some intelligence officials, Israel has been deliberately
minimizing the threat of rocket attacks by Palestinian terror groups in the
West Bank, parts of which are within rocket firing range of Jerusalem and
other major Israeli cities.

Security analysts maintain publicity about terror groups' current missile
capabilities in the territories could generate criticism of

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's plan to withdraw from most of the West Bank.

On Monday, the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades terror group in the northern West
Bank town of Jenin told WND they fired two rockets aimed at an Israeli
military installation about a mile away. The leaders said the projectiles
were called Bahaa rockets, named after Saed Bahaa, an Al Aqsa Brigades
member killed last week in an Israeli anti-terror operation. A source close
to the Brigades said the rockets actually were Jenin 1's, a less advanced
Qassam rocket that can travel about one mile.

A security official confirmed on condition of anonymity there is information
the rockets may have been fired this week. But an official spokesperson for
the IDF told WND the army was not aware of any rockets fired Monday from
Jenin.

The IDF has several times denied rockets were launched from the northern
West Bank only to later release select information stating some rockets had
indeed been fired from the area.

Al Aqsa leaders previously told WND they fired seven rockets from the Jenin
area in December and January aimed at nearby Jewish communities. The IDF at
first denied any rockets were fired, but later confirmed in January it found
one rocket that had been launched from northern Samaria, likely from Jenin.

At the time, Abu Oudai, Al Aqsa's West Bank rocket coordinator, told WND,
"(The one rocket the IDF said they found) was not the first time we shot
rockets from Jenin to the settlements of the enemy inside the green line. It
is the enemy who for the first time has admitted that these rockets exist in
(the West Bank) and that they were shot against Israeli targets. We have
launched six times and with the help of Allah we will launch these rockets
regularly."

Abu Oudai's information of six rockets previously being launched is
consistent with information obtained by security officials, who spoke on
condition of anonymity.

Official Israeli defense spokesmen claim the threat of rockets being fired
from the West Bank is minimal. They say the army there has largely prevented
rockets from being transferred to the territory from the Gaza Strip, where
rockets are fired almost daily at nearby Jewish towns. The officials
maintain anti-rocket operations in West Bank towns such as Jenin have been
successful.

Yaacov Amidror, former head of Israeli military intelligence research, told
WND yesterday, "Can Israel be sure in the future there won't be a rocket
threat? Of course not. But the army has been extremely successful in
stopping the flow and production of rockets in the West Bank."

On a few occasions the past year the IDF has several times announced it has
found evidence of rocket construction during routine West Bank raids,
particularly in Jenin and Nablus. In October, three members of the Popular
Resistance Committees, a Gaza-based terror group, were arrested attempting
to infiltrate the West Bank to set up a Qassam missile manufacturing
facility. The Committees has fired over 300 rockets from the Gaza Strip
during the past four years.

The threat of projectiles has also been highlighted in Bethlehem, which
borders Jerusalem. In February, Israel's Shin Bet Security Services told
reporters it captured a rocket launcher and mortars that were slated to be
fired by the Committees terror group at Gilo, a peripheral Jerusalem
neighborhood.

'Hamas seeking to manufacture Grad rockets'

The day the attack was thwarted, Abu Abir, spokesman for the Committees,
told WND his group is coordinating extensive rocket capabilities in the West
Bank:

"We call on (Shin Bet chief Yuval) Diskin and tell him not to be so happy
and proud about stopping our attack because there is much more to come. I am
not going to give details (about which cities we will attack), but we are
planning to be present all around the West Bank. Every Israeli target is a
legitimate target. Jerusalem, Ben-Gurion International Airport, Tel Aviv and
every Israeli point can be part of our goals."

While Abu Abir's statements can be chalked up to rhetoric, intelligence
officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, say there is much information
Palestinian terror groups have been producing and stockpiling rockets in the
northern West Bank that are currently capable of being fired.

But some security officials say the information is not getting out.

"All I can say is the information is known by the decision makers," said a
senior security official.

The official noted Israel has been "reluctant" to order large-scale
anti-rocket operations in the West Bank in spite of intelligence about
rocket infrastructures there.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon previously warned any rockets
fired by Palestinian groups from within the West Bank would provoke an
"unprecedented" military response.

Yesterday Israeli Military Intelligence chief Major General Amos Yadlin
warned Hamas is seeking to manufacture Grad rockets, a kind of Katyusha
rocket that can travel about 13 miles.

As WND reported, Al Mustaqbal, a research center in the Gaza Strip
reportedly affiliated with Hamas, recently published a study labeling
Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip last summer a victory for
"Palestinian resistance," and stating Palestinian groups will now continue
the next phase of their "war to destroy the Jewish state" by focusing on
rocket and mortar attacks launched from the West Bank.

'We can reach any point inside Israel'

The West Bank rocket infrastructure is largely thought to belong to Islamic
Jihad and the Al Aqsa Brigades. Most rockets are likely stockpiled in the
northern West Bank and are premature versions of the Qassam, officials said.
Qassams are improvised steel rockets, about four feet in length, filled with
explosives and fuel. They can travel between one and four miles depending on
the sophistication of the particular rocket.

Sources close to the Brigades claimed the group has several advanced
versions of the Qassam in and near Jenin.

The group's rocket chief, Abu Oudai, told WND his organization in the
northern West Bank has developed a new kind of rocket named after late
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat that can reach major Israeli cities.

"The Arafat (rocket) can reach every goal we want all over the enemy state,"
Abu Oudai said. "I don't need to tell you that the aerial distance from
Jenin to Netanya, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and other cities is not big without
telling what are all our plans concerning hitting Israeli settlements (in
the West Bank). We can reach any point inside Israel, but I will not mention
what are the regions we are ready to shoot from."

Abu Oudai warned the Brigades will use positions gained after any Israeli
withdrawal from the West Bank to launch rockets into Israeli cities.

Since Israel evacuated the Gaza Strip nine months ago, terror organizations
have been regularly firing rockets from the area aimed at adjacent Jewish
communities. Three Qassam rockets were fired from Gaza yesterday. Fourteen
were launched last week.

'Hizbullah has over 10,000 missiles pointed at us'

The IDF has retaliated with artillery fire against Gaza launch sites and
targeted aerial strikes against suspected rocket factories, but the current
retaliation policy has failed to stop or even slow the number of missiles
being launched from Gaza, prompting calls from some in the defense
establishment, including a former Israeli defense minister, to reoccupy
parts of the territory.

Gaza borders desert and farming regions. There are some vital targets
nearby, including the Ashkelon power station, which supplies much of Israel
with electricity. The West Bank, however, runs alongside Israel's major
population centers. A withdrawal from the area could place Jerusalem, Tel
Aviv and Israel's international airport within rocket firing range.

George Birnbaum, managing director of Kidron Strategies, a Jerusalem-based
political consulting firm, commented, "If it became known there were rocket
threats in the West Bank it would make it very difficult politically for
Olmert to implement his withdrawal plan. There would be a lot more
resistance from the general public and the Knesset."

Knesset Member Effie Eitam, chairman of the National Religious Party, told
WND any West Bank withdrawal will be followed by rockets fired at major
Israeli cities.

"Aside from the short-range rockets the Palestinians have now, it is just a
question of time before they obtain longer range missiles from Iran.
Regardless, Olmert's withdrawal will give the terrorists land bordering our
major cities," said Eitam, who serves on the Knesset Foreign Affairs and
Defense Committee.

Eitam noted other withdrawals that resulted in rocket threats:

"Israel withdrew from Lebanon in 2000. Now Hizbullah has over 10,000
missiles on the border pointed at us. Israel evacuated Gaza last summer. The
missiles are flying out from there every day. There is no doubt a withdrawal
from the West Bank will bring a rocket war to Israel."

Republished by permission of WorldNet Daily

(05.11.06, 10:26)

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: SELA Disengagement Authority Report
[no employment data included]

SELA Disengagement Authority Report

(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)

Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Director-General Ilan Cohen and SELA
Disengagement Authority Director Yonatan Basi yesterday (Wednesday),
10.5.06, convened all those professional elements who participated in
implementing the Disengagement Plan for a staff discussion on summarizing
the process.

The following issues were discussed: Preparations by Government ministries
and the security establishment on civilian issues, the advance legislative
process, the stages of the evacuation, permanent and temporary housing,
coordination among the various relevant bodies, the need for oversight of
the process and the need for checks and balances vs. the Government's need
for flexibility of action, how the Government can deal with a lack of
cooperation by residents and with uncertainty, and coordination between the
SELA Disengagement Authority and the other Government and security
establishment bodies.

It was reported that over 80% of the families have maintained their communal
frameworks. It was emphasized that the challenge now facing the Government
is to lead these communities to permanent housing, while maintaining their
community frameworks. In the past seven months, approximately 1,200 new
housing units have been built for evacuees at 24 sites throughout the
country. Over 3,500 claims for compensation have been dealt with; most
families have received full compensation. The Ministerial Committee on
Assisting the Residents of the Gaza Strip and Northern Samaria made over 130
decisions that were carried out in full.

PMO Dir.-Gen. Cohen and SELA Disengagement Authority Director Basi
instructed the professional elements to continue investigating matters in
depth in order to submit the necessary lessons to the decision-makers.

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

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

PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

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

Field Update
11 May 2006

Explosive Charge Detonated near a Security Officer's House in Jabalia

Unidentified assailants detonated an explosive charge placed on the door of
a Preventive Security Officer in the Tal E'Za'tar Neighborhood of Jabalia.
No injuries were reported.

PCHR's initial investigation indicates that at 02:45 on Thursday, 11 May
2006, unidentified assailants detonated an explosive charge on the door of
the house belonging to Abdel Hai Mohammad Qarmout, a 28-year-old resident of
the Tal E'Za'tar neighborhood in Jabalia, who works as a First Lieutenant in
the Preventive Security Apparatus. The explosion did not cause any injuries
but damaged the house door, walls, and windows. In addition, a neighboring
house was damaged and a car was destroyed.

It is noted that this is the fifth explosion of its kind in the Jabalia
area, targeting mostly security officers in the Preventive Security
Apparatus. The circumstances of the five explosions were very similar. All
took place in the pre-dawn hours; all explosive charges were put at the
entrances to the houses; and no injuries were reported. In all incidents,
the motives remain unclear.

PCHR strongly condemns this attack, which is part of the security chaos
currently plaguing 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.

#2 Security Chaos and Proliferation of Small Arms
Clashes between Armed Groups and Security Forces

Field Update
11 May 2006

4 Citizens Injured by Gunmen in the Northern Gaza Strip

Two brothers of a senior member of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades were injured
by shots fired by unknown gunmen in the Saftawi area, west of Jabalia. They
were injured while on their way to their brother's house in the Towam area.
In response to the incident, the victims' brother shot two Hamas members in
the northern Gaza Strip.

PCHR's initial investigation indicates that at approximately 02:45 on
Thursday, 11 May 2006, unknown gunmen fired at Basem Ibrahim El-Madhoun (33)
and his brother Rafat (22), who are from Beit Lahya. At the time, they were
traveling in a car in the Saftawi area and were heading to their brother's
house located in the Towam area, west of Jabalia. As a result of the
shooting, Basem was injured by two bullets to the back and Rafat was injured
by three bullets to the right hand. The vehicle in which Basem and Rafat
(both members of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades) were traveling belongs to
their brother Samieh (31), a senior member of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades
in the northern Gaza Strip.

In a related development, at approximately 08:30 on the same day, Samieh
El-Madhoun fired at a Hamas member, Ali Hasan Salim Rajab (a 28-year-old
resident of Beit Lahya), while Rajab was working in the Sirdah Fuel Station
in Jabalia refugee camp. Rajab was injured by bullets to both legs. He was
taken to Kamal Odwan Hospital for treatment and from there to Shifa Hospital
in Gaza City.

And at approximately 14:00 on the same day, Samieh El-Madhoun fired at Ghazi
Mohammad Eleyan, a 35-year-old resident of Beit Lahya. Eleyan is a Hamas
activist and he was injured by bullets to both legs. He was taken to Kamal
Odwan Hospital for treatment.

PCHR is gravely concerned over the escalating internal violence and use of
weapons by armed groups and individuals, which are further aggravating the
security chaos currently plaguing the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The
Centre calls upon the Palestinian National Authority, represented by the
Attorney-General, to investigate these incidents and 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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------------------------------

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Hamas Terrorists Arrested As
They Attempted to Infiltrate Israel

May 11th 2006
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Attributed to "security sources" [distribued by the IDF Spokesperson's
Office]

Now released for publication: Two Hamas terrorists from the Gaza Strip
arrested as they attempted to infiltrate Israel through the Egyptian border
in an attempt to found a Hamas terror cell in Judea and Samaria

In a joint IDF, ISA and Israeli Police operation on April 14th 2006,
security forces arrested two Hamas terrorists as they attempted to
infiltrate Israel through the Israeli-Egyptian border.

Razek Ahmed Muhammed Shabaan and Jama'a Ibrahim Issa Azam were identified in
the area of Mt. Harif near the border, carrying two handguns, fragmentation
grenades and $2,300 in cash.

The two men stated in their questioning that they intended to found a terror
cell inside Israel and in Judea and Samaria that will be composed of
additional Hamas terrorists originating from the Gaza Strip, the objective
of this cell, under the guidance of senior Hamas members in the Gaza Strip,
would be to kidnap Israeli soldiers.

Suliman Mussa Suliman Natzatzra, 35, a resident of Tiebe who was recruited
by an illegal Palestinian worker to transport the two terrorists to their
destination was also arrested. The illegal Palestinian worker was arrested
on April 17th in the Negev area.

Shabaan and Azam were arrested only two weeks after another Hamas terrorist
from the Gaza Strip, Sami Mathuli Jabar Hafi, was arrested in Tulkarm on
March 29th 2006, after being dispatched to the West Bank by senior Hamas
terrorists from the Gaza Strip, also in an attempt to found a Hamas terror
cell there.

Razek Shabaan, 33, a resident of Jabaliya refugee camp in Gaza, was released
from an Israeli jail in 2004, after being imprisoned in 1999 for his
involvement with the Hamas terror organization and the planning of Israeli
kidnappings. During the time of his imprisonment Shabaan met many terror
operatives from Judea and Samaria. In his questioning Shabaan stated that
Jama'a Azam, 38, also a resident of Jabaliya, offered him to assist the
Hamas organization by using his connections in Judea and Samaria.

Shabaan agreed and met with Iman Mantzur, head of the Hamas terror
organization in Jabaliya, who instructed him to leave to Ramallah and along
with other Hamas members from the Gaza Strip, establish a terror cell that
will kidnap a soldier. Shabaan was instructed to rent an apartment that
would be used to hide the kidnapped soldier.

In order to carry out the plan and reinforce his connections in Judea and
Samaria, Shabaan contacted Hassan Haloa, a Hamas terrorist from Ramallah who
is currently serving his sentence in the Kziot facility. Shabaan contacted
Haloa by concealing a letter in the lining of a pair of pants that were
transferred to Haloa during a visit to the prison by his family. In the
letter Shabaan requested Haloa's assistance in his plans.

Shabaan also stated in his inquiry that Mantzur explained that to get to
Ramallah Shabaan would need to infiltrate Israel through the Sinai desert
with Jama'a Azam and arrive at the Israeli city of Be'er Sheva, where they
were to meet an illegal Palestinian worker who was recruited to aid them
inside Israel. The worker, Shabaan and Azam, were to locate places inside
Israel, collect intelligence about them and later carry out terror attacks
there.

Jama'a Azam stated that Mantzur told him that the instructions to found a
Hamas infrastructure in Judea & Samaria and inside Israel originate from the
Hamas organization leadership. In a meeting with Ahmad Andur, head of the
Hamas organization in the northern Gaza Strip, Azam was told that he was to
take in Hamas terrorists from the Gaza Strip who would be sent to him in
order to carry out terror attacks. Their particular objective would be to
kidnap soldiers and use them as hostages to negotiate the release of
prisoners.

Jama'a also stated in his questioning that he had been involved in numerous
terror attacks as part of the Hamas organization. These include the
detonation of explosive devices, launching projectile rockets towards the
city of Sderot as well as other communities and recruiting new terrorists as
he operated as the head of a Hamas cell.

As was mentioned earlier, Shabaan and Azam were arrested two weeks after the
arrest of Sami Hafi, 25, also of the Gaza Strip on March 29th in Tulkarm.
Hafi left the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing and infiltrated Israel
through the Israeli-Egyptian Sinai border. Hafi stated in his questioning
that he was recruited to the Hamas organization several months prior to his
arrest. He stated that under the guidance of Rafat Salmaan, a senior Hamas
terrorist in Jabaliya who had previously dispatched other terrorists into
Israel, he arrived in Tulkarm to found a base for Hamas terrorists from the
Gaza Strip from which they would carry out attacks. He was also to provide
logistic aid to them.

Hafi added that Salmaan instructed him to secure a regular job in Tulkarm.
He explained that due to the current political situation Hafi would not
receive missions immediately but instead would have to wait in Tulkarm,
recruit more members from Gaza and prepare for future attacks.

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Official Jordanian statement criticizing
Hamas for targetting Jordan

Government Spokesperson/ Statement
www.petra.gov.jo/nepras/2006/May/11/65.htm

Amman, May 11(Petra - Jordan News Agency)-- Government Spokesperson Nasser
Judeh said that the Palestinian security team headed by intelligence chief
Major General Tareq Abu Rajab has concluded on Thursday its meetings at the
General Intelligence Department (GID).

''The visit of the Palestinian team came as a result of the meeting of His
Majesty King Abdullah II and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Amman
during which the two leaders agreed to send a Palestinian political and
security team to inspect the issue of weapons and explosives smuggled by
Hamas to Jordan,'' Judeh told Jordan News Agency.

He expressed regret over the refusal of the Hamas- led government to take
part in the Palestinian delegation.

''Intensive meetings were held over the past two days between GID Director
General Muhammad Dahabi and Abu Rajab and the accompanying delegation to
examine the issue of weapons and explosives smuggled by Hamas to Jordan to
attack officials and targets in the Kingdom,'' said Judeh.

He noted that Jordan asked the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) to send
a political and security delegation including members from the Hamas- led
government to discuss the issue calmly and reasonably away from media so
that to preserve the Jordanian- Palestinian brotherly relations.

Judeh added that the Jordanian govt. wonders why members from Hamas would
target security of Jordan and safety of its officials despite the
government's good well initiatives toward the Palestinian government to
rearrange relations with Hamas movement as representative of the
Palestinians.

//Petra//

11/05/2006 18:19:56

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Jordan TV Broadcasts Confessions of Hamas Members

Jordan TV Broadcasts Confessions of Hamas Members
www.petra.gov.jo/nepras/2006/May/11/84.htm

Amman, May 11 (Petra - Jordan News Agency) -- The Jordanian TV on Thursday
broadcasted clips of weapons which members of Hamas Movement smuggled and
stored in Jordan, including dozens of hand grenades, some Iranian-made
katyusha rockets, land mines, bombs and explosives.

The General Intelligence Department (GIP) revealed the plot and seized some
weapons on April, 18 and arrested a number of Hamas members involved in
plotting against Jordanian civil apparatus and cars.

First suspect, Ayman Naji Daraghmeh, 43 said he was linked to Hamas by a
friend, who proposed on Ayman to work with Hamas and he agreed. Then Ayman
traveled to Syria and met with Hamas official Abu Al Abed. Ayman stayed in
Syria and attended training course in telecommunications and investigating.

''Abu Al Abed asked me to meet him in Syria... I met him in Syria and he
told me that a new official named Abu Anas will be responsible for me... the
next day I met Abu Anas... I recognized the picture of Abu Anas by
detectives and his name was Wael Abu Hantash, who asked me to work with him
in Jordan and gave me a map for Deir Al Kahf area in which they stored
weapons... He then gave me some money and asked me to find a new point and
put a map of it and transfer the weapons to it...'' said Ayman Naji.

Ayman Naji added that he went back to Jordan and went to Deir Al Kahf area
and took the weapons to the area he chose in Al Kahwaji village near Prince
Mohammad suburb, drew the map and stored the weapons in an olive trees farm.
''I told Abu Anas about this and he asked me to meet him in Saudi Arabia, I
went to Saudi to perform Umra, met Abu Anas and explained to him what I did
at the second point.'' Said Ayman Naji.

''While I was in Saudi Arabia I met a person called Abu Hassan, who has
information about a Jordanian Intelligence officer. 'This officer harmed the
movement' Abu Hassan was asked to bring a picture of this officer, Abu Anas
asked me to help him. Abu Hassan took my telephone number and Abu Anas
arranged us a place to meet in Jordan'' said Ayman Naji.

''I met him at Raghadan Bus Station in Amman, then we went to Salt where the
officer lives, and explored the area and went back without taking
pictures.... then we entered an area in which there was a graveyard, we
entered the graveyard and my mission was to watch and he took pictures for 3
to 5 minutes not more and said 'that's enough we shall go now' then he took
the slice from the camera and asked me to give it to Abu Anas.'' added Ayman
Naji.

Ayman Naji added that Abu Anas told him about a new point and sent a map for
Bushra area between Irbid and Ramtha and he went to the area to explore it
for few times and found it not safe.

"He -Abu Anas- told me about a bus coming from outside Jordan in which there
were two pieces of weapons...there was arrangement for a meeting between me
and the driver of the bus whose name was Omar at Al Sa'adeh Street in Al
Zarqa'' said Ayman Naji. ''After a while Omar called me and we met and went
to the Refinery area and told me about the weapons in the bus...after that I
was arrested by the General Intelligence Department.''

Second suspect Ahmad Mohammad Khalil Abu Rabee 27 said that his relation
with Hamas started in 2003 when he met with Ayman Naji who asked him to buy
weapons and ammunition and to monitor a bus of GID in Al Hashmeyeh area in
Al Zarqa. ''I watched the bus for three or four times and told Ayman that
the bus transports personnel at 7am and bring them back at 4pm'' said Abu
Rabee.

The third suspect Ahmad Nimr Mustafa Abu Dyab said his relation with Hamas
started in April 2004 by his friend Ahmad Abu Rabee. He was asked by Ayman
Naji to buy weapons and ammunition. Ayman told him that he will bring him a
bus so that he drives it to Al Qa'em city in Iraq to bring weapons and
explosive to Jordan.

''Then he asked me to go to Aqaba and collect information about foreign
tourists'' said Abu Dyab adding that Ayman Naji told him that he -Abu Dyab-
will travel to Syria to attend 20-day training on weapons.

Abu Dyab said that Ayman Naji asked him about Sami Khouri. ''I told him that
I know that he is a Christian, we have a good relation with him and he has a
farm... then he said this man is not Jordanian but Jewish.'' said Abu Dyab.

End.......................
//Petra// Shniqat

11/05/2006 22:05:11

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Weekly Commentary: Regional instability: its not about Israel

Weekly Commentary: Regional instability: its not about Israel

Aaron Lerner Date: 11 May 2006

Iranian President Ahmadinejad's recent letter to US President George Bush
provides an important reminder
that it's not about Israel.

Not the rise of radical Islam.

Not the growing instability threatening the region - and beyond.

The truth is that if Israel didn't exist these problems would be just as
great and just as challenging (if not possibly more challenging).

So when Ahmadinejad concludes his message to Bush with a rambling laundry
list of the problems that will lead to the downfall of West and the triumph
of Islam Israel doesn't even merit special mention.

And our region is certainly chock-a-block with problems: Rampant
corruption, a huge growing underclass with no hope in sight and a growing
educated class frustrated with their inability to take their rightful
place - both economically and politically.

And to add insult to injury the knowledge that many centuries ago Islamic
civilization enjoyed a glorious era as Europe groped its way through the
Dark Ages.

Yes, the poverty is terrible. But poverty is nothing new. It's corruption
that most fuels the flames of discontent.

That's what makes things just that more complicated. You can throw money
into projects to address poverty but if the people administering the
projects are themselves corrupt the whole exercize may turn out to be
counterproductive.

This all is both good and bad news for Israel.

Its good news for Israel because educating the West to this truth could help
to dispel the notion that somehow forcing Israel to make dangerous
concessions would lead to regional stability.

Its bad news for Israel because it means that regardless of what withdrawals
or concessions it makes, the very real possibility remains that the leaders
of neighboring countries may one day seek to divert the wrath of their
masses by focusing it against the "alien" Jews.

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

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Excerpts: Widespread simultaneous prison release of
Islamic militants.Syrian training for Hamas
terror in Jordan.12 May 2006

Excerpts: Widespread simultaneous prison release of Islamic militants.Syrian
training for Hamas terror in Jordan.12 May 2006

+++AL-AHRAM WEEKLY 11-17 May 'O6 :lsamist amnesty seson"

HEADING:"The fine print of recent pardons granted to Islamists illustrates
that the state in the Arab world remains omnipotent and set against true
democratisation, writes Khalil El-Anani* , political analyst

QUOTES FROM TEXT:
"the assimilation of Islamists into the political system or just a
cosmetic measure?"

"the omnipotent state is still there ... it has the power to grant and
withhold amnesty"

"nothing to indicate ... partnership or power-sharing with Islamists"

"the relationship between state and society in the Arab world will remaib
skewed ... lttle hope for serious democatisation in the region"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXCERPTS:
Within the space of less than a week activists belonging to radical Islamist
movements in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Algeria were granted amnesty and
released. In spite of the different justifications and circumstances
applying to each individual case ... . Is it pure coincidence that these
rulings were issued at about the same time in these neighbouring countries?
Do these rulings reflect some collective revision of the eradication
approach in dealing with Islamist groups, especially those with a
fundamentalist agenda? Is this the beginning of the assimilation of
Islamists into the political system or just a cosmetic measure?
In Egypt, ... it has been estimated that they (remaining imprisoned) will
be no more than 20 out of the more than 5,000 arrested over the past two
decades.
The release of Muslim Brotherhood detainees in Libya brings to the fore,
again, the relationship between this Islamist organisation and the Libyan
regime. Among these were the organisation's leader...and his right-hand
man.... both of whom had received death sentences but who were released....
From Tunisia 70 members of the Nahda (Revival) Movement (released) ..., in
Algeria, dozens of members of militant Islamists were released among
those... were ... second in command of the Islamic Salvation Front, and ...
founder of the Algerian Armed Islamic Group.
One is immediately struck by the ideological diversity of those granted
amnesty, ranging as they do from the ultra radical right (the Egyptian Jihad
and the Algerian Armed Islamic Group) to moderates on the Islamist spectrum
(the Libyan Muslim Brotherhood, the Nahda in Tunisia and Algeria's Islamic
Salvation Front). This may not be accidental.
Clearly the amnesties were an expression of the executive will of the ruling
regimes in these countries ... they tell us that the omnipotent state is
still there .... It has the power to grant and to withhold amnesty, and the
ability to withstand all challenges to its prestige. To the Islamists, the
amnesties are saying, "Don't even think about defying this power again
because this state can be just as tough as it is magnanimous." At the same
time, the amnesties are intended to demonstrate to society how weak and
frail this Islamist foe is, that government authorities have it down for the
count and can afford to show a little mercy before it passes out.
In all four cases, the amnesties, thus, fall within the matrix of the
confrontational relationship between the Arab state and the Islamist
movement, ... there is nothing to indicate that any of these four states is
prepared to accept the principle of partnership or power-sharing with
Islamists.
... this amnesty season arrived on the heels of another season: the two-year
season of US pressures aimed at persuading governments in the region to come
to an accommodation with Islamist "moderates" and which quickly began to
peter out in the wake of the "surprise" electoral victories the Islamists
won in Iraq, Egypt and Palestine.
... the amnesty decrees f... are virtually Xerox copies of one another and
that none of the four governments has departed from its typical attitude
towards Islamists. ... the amnesties were a kind of pre- emptive strike
against Islamists and their drive towards official legitimisation.
, the fact that the decrees were issued against a backdrop of high security
measures suggests ...the situation is heading towards greater polarisation
between the state and Islamists, inclusive of the moderates. ... not to
provide for the inclusion of Islamists, moderate or otherwise, into the
political process, but rather to pave the way for their re-absorption into
society as peaceful apolitical individuals.
.... More than ever, ruling authorities must feel the need to make some
conciliatory gesture, especially in view of widespread popular sympathy for
the Islamist phenomenon and growing support for their movement, as evinced
by recent parliamentary elections in Egypt and Palestine.
It is equally important to consider the reaction of Islamists themselves to
the amnesty decisions. . . .
If anything, the recent spate of amnesties across North Africa underscores
the fact that the relationship between state and society in the Arab world
remains skewed and that the historical conditions for rectifying it are
still out of reach. It is a situation that holds out little hope for serious
democratisation in the region.
* The writer is a political analyst for Al-Siyassa Al-Dawliya magazine
published by Al-Ahram.

+++JORDAN TIMES 12-13 May '06:"JTV airs confessions of 3 suspected Hamas
plotters"
HEADING:"Detainees say smuggled arms into Jordan, trained in Syria to kill
intelligence personnel"

QUOTES FROM TEXT:
"recruited by a Syria-based (Hamas) leader ... to kill intelligence
personnel and others in the Kingdom"
" 'our accusations centre on Hamas, on which we place fyll
responsibility. "
"(Hamas:) Jordanian government was trying to exaggerate the situation by
causing an uproar, but this will have only minimal consequences' "
============================================================
EXCERPTS:
AMMAN (JT) - Three suspected Hamas members on (11 May)Thursday confessed on
Jordan TV that they were recruited by a Syria-based leader of the movement
to kill intelligence personnel and others in the Kingdom.
The TV ...showed footage of seized weapons, including dozens of
handgrenades, Iranian-made Katyusha rockets, Light Anti-tank Weapon rocket
launchers and machineguns. Some of the weapons were wrapped in plastic and
hidden in an olive grove in northern Jordan.
The three men said they were involved in surveillance operations and
assassination plots.
In his confession,(Daraghmeh) leader of the group, ..., spoke about his
links to Hamas, trips to Syria and monitoring of a General Intelligence
Department (GID) officer, ... met during Umra (Lesser pilgrimage) in Saudi
Arabia another Hamas operative ...who told him that the officer "harmed the
Hamas."
Daraghmeh, who said he received military and intelligence training in Syria,
...took photos of the officer's house ... (and)delivered a camera disc to
... a Hamas member in Damascus.
Daraghmeh ... later met in Zarqa a bus driver and took from him arms he
smuggled from Syria.
A second suspect, ...said he was recruited by Daraghmeh to buy weapons for
Hamas and conduct surveillance of a bus that transported GID personnel. Both
suspects said they planned to attack the bus.
...Daraghmeh told him to carry out surveillance of tourists in Aqaba, with
the aim of carrying out attacks there.
A third suspect, ... a mosque imam ... received a 20-day military training
in Syria, said he got weapons and ammunitions for Hamas in Jordan, and that
some of the arms came from Iraq.
He was tasked ...to monitor foreign tourists in Aqaba and a Jordanian
businessman (and) said Daraghmeh thought the businessman was a Jew, but he
was actually a Christian." Daraghmeh offered him money to accept the
"assignments."
"He knew I was having family problems because of [lack of] money. He
encouraged me to leave my [Ministry of Islamic Affairs and] Awqaf job, which
paid me JD100 a month and promised to give me JD150," Abu Thiyab said.
...a Palestinian security team ... were acquanted with the details of the
case.
... investigations also revealed attempts to bring recruits from the
Palestinian territories to send them to Syria and Iran to receive "military,
security and intelligence" training.
But he did not accuse Syria or Iran of involvement in arms smuggling or
training of suspects.
... Hamas elements who were arrested came from Syria and that certain arms
were of Iranian-make, but our accusations centre on Hamas, on which we place
full responsibility for these attempts to destabilise Jordan."
Meanwhile, Hamas ... told AFP that the Jordanian government was "trying to
exaggerate the situation by causing an uproar but this will have only
minimal consequences," ...The Hamas-led government had refused to send
delegates with the Palestinian team. . . .

Sue Lerner - Associate - IMRA

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

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End of [imra] Daily digest - Volume: 2 Issue: 1389 (10 messages)
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