[imra] Daily digest - Volume: 2 Issue: 1504 (14 messages)

imra Wed Aug 30 00:21:43 2006 Volume 2 : Issue 1504

In this issue of the imra daily Digest:

MEMRI: New Syrian Org. for Liberation of Golan Heights
Excerpts: Jordan tough terror law and reintroduction
of oil "gift" from Iraq. Arab "lack of effort to cure our own
ailment 28 August 2006
Text: PM Olmerts Haifa speech announcing investigation of war
Press Release: Update on the Condition of Mr. Ariel Sharon-
transferred out of intensive care
Statement From PM Olmert's Bureau
Regarding the State Comptroller's Press Release
Ehud Yaari on motives of Nasrallah's remarks
OIC reiterates legitimacy of Lebanese resistance
Palestinian Child Killed and His Brother Wounded
When They Foozled with a Rocket in Beit Hanoun
Poll of Americans 42% Israel was
given to the Jewish people by God
On The Palestinian School Curriculum: Erasing Israel
Diskin: Gaza smuggling skyrocketing
Excerpts: Nasrallah condemned.Saudi's Abdullah
speaks about "drastic solutions".29 August 2006
Gaza Citizens Exempted from Jordan School Fees
Syrian Defense Minister Calls on
Maritime Forces to Promote Performance

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: MEMRI: New Syrian Org. for Liberation of Golan Heights

Special Dispatch-Syria/Jihad & Terrorism Studies Project
August 29, 2006
No. 1270

New Syrian Org. for Liberation of Golan Heights: We May See Military Actions
in the Golan

On August 25, 2006, the Kuwaiti daily Al-Ra'i Al-'Aam reported on a new
organization established in Syria for "the liberation of the Golan," using
the strategy of Hizbullah. This report comes after several weeks during
which the Syrian government press published numerous articles praising the
"resistance," and even several articles threatening that Syria would adopt
the path of resistance in the Golan Heights.(1) Syrian President Bashar
Al-Assad said in an August 14, 2006 interview with the Egyptian opposition
weekly Al-'Usbu' that "the Golan will be liberated by Syrian hands." He
repeated this statement in a speech on August 15, 2006. In an August 23,
2006 interview with Dubai TV, he said that "it is the Syrian people who will
decide if there will be resistance in the Golan."(2)

The following are excerpts from the article:(3)

"The Popular Organization for the Liberation of the Golan announced, in its
first communiqu�, that 'from now on it will not stay silent in the face of
the ignoring of our rights and in the face of the Golan remaining under
occupation.' The organization claimed that 'the way to restore [the Arabs']
rights has become clear, and the way [to achieve] victory and honor is the
way of resistance.' The statement proclaimed that 'the Popular Organization
for the Liberation of the Golan follows the path of resistance, and Israel
and the [Western] powers will be made to bear their responsibility, after
they have closed off for us all [other] paths.'"

A senior member of the Popular Organization for the Liberation of the Golan
told Al-Ra'i Al-'Aam that "'resistance [includes] political and economic
paths, and various paths of resistance alongside military action.'" He added
that "'the organization will immediately begin its resistance actions in its
general framework, and we may see, in the near future, military actions in
the occupied Syrian Golan.'"

The paper reported that it was evident that there was an attempt to give an
Islamic flavor to the statement, which opened with the Koranic verse "If
Allah grants you victory, no one will be able to defeat you." The senior
member in the organization added that "'the U.N. stood helpless in the face
of the U.S.'s determination to implement international resolutions in a
selective and one-sided manner - something which has brought the Arab people
in Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria, and the Arab masses, to deny the
legitimacy of the U.N. and the international community, due to their
pro-Israel leanings. This situation has brought [us] to the point where we
have no other option left besides the option of resistance, which has proved
its effectiveness, despite what those who hold back [the resistance] and the
defeatist people say when they describe the option of resistance as an
option of adventurers.'"

He further said that "the sons of the occupied Golan, and the sons of proud
Arab Syria, are continuing on their path, since the international community
has abandoned them and turned its back on them. There is no other option
left for us other than to adopt the Lebanese resistance as our model, as our
patience has come to an end."

Endnotes:
(1) See MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 1264, "Syrian Government Press Threatens
War in the Golan: 'Those Who... Call for Peace Must Always Support the
Resistance,'" August 25, 2006,
http://www.memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=SD126406 .
(2) See MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 1250, "'We Have Reentered the Era of
Victory Through Resistance': Iranian and Syrian Reactions to the Crisis -
August 13-14," August 16, 2006,
http://www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP125006 ;
MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 1256, "Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad Praises
the Resistance, Harshly Criticizes Arab Leaders, and Threatens Israel,"
August 22, 2006,
http://www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP125606 ;
MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 1265, "Syrian President Al-Assad on Deploying
UNIFIL at Lebanese-Syrian Border: 'If [Lebanon] Wants to Destroy Relations
Between Syria and Lebanon, It is Free to Do So - and to Bear the
Responsibility,'" August 25, 2006,
http://www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP126506 .
(3) Al-Ra'i Al-'Aam (Kuwait), August 25, 2006.

*********************
The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) is an independent,
non-profit organization that translates and analyzes the media of the Middle
East. Copies of articles and documents cited, as well as background
information, are available on request.

MEMRI holds copyrights on all translations. Materials may only be used with
proper attribution.

The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI)
P.O. Box 27837, Washington, DC 20038-7837
Phone: (202) 955-9070
Fax: (202) 955-9077
E-Mail: memri@memri.org
Search previous MEMRI publications at www.memri.org

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Excerpts: Jordan tough terror law and reintroduction
of oil "gift" from Iraq. Arab "lack of effort to cure our own
ailment 28 August 2006

Excerpts: Jordan tough terror law and reintroduction of oil "gift" from
Iraq. Arab "lack of effort to cure our own ailment 28 August 2006

+++ARAB NEWS (Saudi) 28 Aug.'06:"Jordan's Lower House Approves New Terror
Prevention Law "Abdul Jalil Mustafa
QUOTE FROM TEXT:
"Jordan to get 30,000 bpd of Iraqi Crude ar reduced prices"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXCERPTS:

AMMAN, 28 August 2006 - Jordan's lower house of Parliament yesterday
approved with majority of votes a controversial "terrorism prevention" draft
law despite warnings by Arab and Jordanian human rights bodies that the bill
posed threats to personal and public freedoms.. . .The government
contended that the law would enable the country's security organs to uncover
acts of terrorism before they took place, while its opponents, mainly the 17
lawmakers of the Islamic Action Front (IAF), viewed it as an encroachment on
public freedoms that run counter to constitutional articles.
IAF deputy Nidal Abbadi alleged the draft echoed similar legislations that
were enacted by the United States and other Western countries as part of the
US-led war on terrorism.
The draft law entitles the State Security Court (SSC) public prosecutor to
detain suspects, impose surveillance on their residences, monitor their
contacts and prevent them from traveling, parliamentary sources said.
The bill now goes to the Senate for approval before receiving the king's
consent prior to becoming law...
Jordan to Get 30,000 bpd of Iraqi Crude at Reduced Prices:
[IMRA: Under Saddam, Jordan annually received 50% of its total oil needs
free and 50% at discount from world price payable in goods and servises.]
..., Bakhit revealed yesterday that the Iraqi government had agreed to
supply Jordan with 30,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude at "preferential
prices". He told the lower house of Parliament that the most important
results of his visit to Iraq earlier this month was "a memorandum of
understanding for supplying Jordan with 30,000 bpd of Iraqi crude oil at
preferential prices and an agreement to build an oil pipeline between Iraq
and the port of Aqaba" on the Red Sea.
"We have also agreed to increase Jordan's imports of Iraqi crude gradually
from 30,000 to 60,000 bpd," he said. Bakhit said that "Jordan cannot import
all of its energy requirements, amounting to 100,000 bpd, from Iraq at the
start because we have to mix Iraqi crude with other oils" during the
downstream operations conducted at Jordan's sole refinery at Zarqa, 30
kilometers east of Amman.
He did not give further details about the pipeline, but he referred to an
agreement concluded with the former regime of President Saddam Hussein to
construct such a facility between the two countries

+++THE DAILY STAR (LEBANON) 29 Aug.'06:"'EDITORIAL: Time and again, the Arab
world proves to be its own worst enemy"
QUOTE FROM TEXT:
"The entire Arab world needs to win teh battle against its own inaction"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXCERPTS:" Editorial

It has long been fashionable in the Arab world to blame external entities
for the region's woes. In some diplomatic corridors of the region, the
newest enemies of the Arabs are the rulers of Iran. On Saturday, Saudi
Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal indirectly blamed Tehran for the
region's problems ...Prince Saud's statements are an example of...: our lack
of effort to cure our own ailments. Our tendency to stop short of pursuing a
cure and to focus on laying blame on outsiders has prevented us from
resolving many of our own problems.. . ..
.... Four consecutive Arab Human Development Reports have detailed the
region's ills - including poverty, unemployment, an absence of freedom and
the oppression of women - but we have seen no urgent effort on the part of
Arab leaders to pursue cures. .... By limiting ourselves to vague diagnoses,
and failing to apply any remedies, we are in effect welcoming the
intervention of outsiders who will try to impose their own cures. . . .
The entire Arab world needs to win the battle against its own inaction.
==================================================================
Sue Lerner - Associate - IMRA

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Text: PM Olmerts Haifa speech announcing investigation of war

OLMERT'S 28.8.06 HAIFA SPEECH TO LOCAL AUTHORITY HEADS
[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA

"I want to make one thing clear: the responsibility for the decision to go
to war, to react with military force, not to keep quiet over the attack on
our soldiers, citizens and sovereignty, as well as the responsibility for
the results of the war, is wholly mine."

But the primary complaint was the flip-flop decision making by the Olmert
team during the course of the war that had frustrated soldiers getting their
orders changed many times - not mentioned here.

Mr. Olmert's narrative also declines to mention that Hizbullah was rapidly
rearmed from Syria after the war.

But perhaps most disturbing of all: instead of recognizing the threat in
the Gaza Strip as a practical opportunity to demonstrate that Israel is not
being taken a fool a second time, the Olmert team appears to have
operations in the Gaza Strip on auto-pilot. The weapons keep rolling
over/under the border from "peace partner" Egypt and the only initiative
around is the dubious proposal that Israel rely of international inspectors
to vouch for inspections at yet another crossing point.]

Link:
www.pmo.gov.il/PMOEng/Communication/PMSpeaks/speechhaifa280806.htm

Distinguished Minister,
Mayors,
Dear Friends,

I am pleased to have this opportunity to meet with you again - we have met
quite a few times in the recent period, and this meeting will not be our
last.

Later on, I will share with you the ways in which I intend to examine the
events of the war, learn all the lessons and prepare for the future as
quickly as possible.

I want to make one thing clear: the responsibility for the decision to go to
war, to react with military force, not to keep quiet over the attack on our
soldiers, citizens and sovereignty, as well as the responsibility for the
results of the war, is wholly mine.

During the last campaign, the Israeli, civilian home front was the enemy's
main target. And this is not by chance.

Hezbollah's goal was to prove its "spider web" theory. To damage the home
front, kill, terrorize with the intention of causing alarm, panic, a public
outcry which would paralyze IDF activities. They believed that pressure on
our home front was their life boat.

They hoped our civilian home front would not withstand it, and they were
surprised. The home front withstood it.

It withstood it, because of the conduct of the citizens in the shelters and
workplaces. It withstood it, because of the volunteer spirit and solidarity
displayed by Israeli society, which mobilized in its entirety, to help,
volunteer, contribute, host, and do whatever was needed. It withstood it,
because of your leadership, in your hometowns, among your residents, and
because of your wisdom and courage.

It is also because of the actions of the Government, which acted from the
first few days, at the height of a difficult military campaign, which was
forced on us.

Yes, the home front stood firm, and because of this, largely, the Hizbollah
failed in deterring us.

You remember Nassrallah's first speech on television, his smugness, his
scorn for us, his confidence in his victory.

I know there are disagreements regarding the level of success, which is
perhaps dependent on the level of early expectations. There were those who
were quick to summarize. Gentlemen - patience. One thing is clear: in Beirut
and other capitals in the Middle East, they understood that we are not going
to tolerate attacks on our sovereignty, our citizens and our soldiers. This
lesson, which is so important, is one we have learned for ourselves, and the
world has also learned it. We saw Nassrallah yesterday say simply in his
speech of regret: "If I had known that these would be the consequences, or
even one percent of them - I would not have ordered the kidnapping and begun
the war." Very simple.

If, two months ago, someone would have predicted results like these, we
would have said that he was exaggerating.

What is the situation today?

. Hizbollah has been pushed back from the fence, from the border. There are
no more Hizbollah posts over Manara, Dovev, Avivim or Margaliot. There are
no positions which control the border.

. Most of the forces on the front line of Hizbollah have been destroyed.
Hundreds of dead, hundreds of wounded. This force, which trained for years
to attack us, was hit hard from the air and on the ground.

. Most of the long-range missiles, which were the enemy's strategic threat
over Israel, were destroyed in the first hours of the campaign, in a grand
campaign by our Air Force, within 34 hours - a campaign which reminds one of
the destruction of the Arab air forces during the Six Day War and the
destruction of the Syrian missiles in the Peace of the Galilee War.

. Hizbollah strongholds in Beirut and all its command centers and facilities
were destroyed. The heads of the Hizbollah are homeless, rootless, hunted
and seeking shelter.

. The Lebanese Army has deployed in the south, on our northern border, in
order to prevent the Hizbollah from renewing its threat to us, for the first
time since the outbreak of the Lebanese civil war 35 years ago.

. A strong international force, comprised of armies from European countries
is organizing to enter Lebanon and assist in stopping the Hizbollah.

. Resolution 1701 is one of Israel's most important accomplishments in the
international arena. If it is fully implemented - our situation along the
northern border will be infinitely better than it was on July 12th.

This was not just a war against Hizbollah. Hizbollah was equipped with the
best weapons, missiles, night vision equipment, anti-tank missiles,
katyushas, and every destructive tool possible. Iran and Syria operated all
the mechanisms, provided total backup, and were, in fact, the infrastructure
and basis which the State of Israel faced during the last month.

It is clear to the world that Hizbollah has been beaten. The President of
the United States, which is Israel's great friend, George Bush said it best
a couple of days ago when he said that very soon it would become clear just
how much Israel won, and how much Hizbollah was defeated, as well as those
who stood behind them.

For the first time, there is a chance for an agreement in Lebanon which
would remove the immediate threat on Israel. There is a chance - not a
certainty. We must stand guard, continue in our diplomatic efforts, and be
prepared to use force in order to defend ourselves if need be, if the
political arrangement fails.

We achieved this because we did not hesitate to use force when necessary,
but we acted with restraint and responsibility whenever possible. We knew to
instruct the Army to act unhesitatingly when there was need, and we also
knew to finish when the first appropriate diplomatic opportunity was
created.

So, is everything good? No. Not everything is good.

We suffered heavy losses. It is true that they suffered heavier losses, but
this does not console us over the loss of one soldier, one person who was
killed, one citizen who died.

We were not successful in stopping the katyushas. It must be admitted - we
did not, nor did anyone, have a suitable solution to stopping the curved
trajectory weapons. Even complete control over the territory did not afford
us total immunity. However, it must be remembered that even the katyushas
from Lebanon - like the qassams from Gaza - cannot stop us.

Most importantly - we have not brought the boys home. The Government of
Israel, and I as its head, will spare no effort to find them and bring them
home. I, Ehud Olmert, Prime Minister of Israel, promise you that they will
come home, perhaps not as soon as we would like, but they will come home.

And it is true, not everything worked as we would have liked. We were not as
ready as we needed to be in every place. We did not always achieve the
results we hoped for. Not everything worked. There were incidents. There
were deficiencies. There were also failures.

Even if the overall balance is positive, we cannot ignore the failures, we
must not cover them up, we must not overlook anything. We do not have time.
We must act quickly. It is my duty, as Prime Minister, to examine
everything, draw conclusions, learn lessons and fix everything that must be
fixed. And I will fulfill this duty, as I promised immediately after the
war.

From the first day, we all knew that this war would cost us dearly, on the
frontlines and on the home front. We knew that we would be exposed to rocket
and missile fire directed at population centers. We seriously considered the
risks and decided - if not now - when?

If we had not reacted thus, if we had again restrained ourselves from
reacting to this serious provocation to our sovereignty and our citizens'
way of life - it is possible that in a short time, we would awaken to a new
reality, immeasurably more difficult, dangerous and threatening than that
with which we dealt.

The war in the north did not create new dangers of which we were not
previously aware. It obligated us to deal with these dangers without
compromise, and before it was too late.

It was clear ahead of time to everyone that this war would eventually end in
the diplomatic step of a cease fire, because we never intended to stay in
Lebanon, and did not want to wallow there for many years as we did in the
past.

On Wednesday, August 9, the U.S. government informed us that a process was
ripening which would bring about a cease fire under conditions which were
acceptable to Israel. The Government, and I as its Head, was convinced that
this opportunity should not be missed.

However, in the following days and especially on Friday, August 11, it
became clear that the proposed draft of the resolution which would be
presented to the Security Council was completely unacceptable to Israel.
Under these circumstances, I instructed the IDF to continue to expand its
activity on the ground in the south of Lebanon.

On Saturday morning, August 12, the resolution was accepted by the UN,
largely due to the continuation of Israel's warfare. The IDF was on the
move. Hizbollah declared it would continue to fight. The Lebanese government
had not yet convened to approve its support of the resolution. Under those
circumstances, in agreement with the top command of the IDF, it was
necessary for the troops to move forward to ensure that the best possible
conditions for us would be achieved.

We suffered painful, heartbreaking losses, also during the last hours of
warfare. Like the rest of the people of Israel and, first and foremost, the
bereaved families, I carry in my heart the pain of these losses as also the
indescribable sorrow for all the fallen and wounded soldiers.
In this case too, I am convinced that this difficult decision was
inevitable. Because of it we could end the warfare and remain in Lebanon for
two weeks without continuing to fight.

I hear the voices of criticism. There is, of course, professional protest
and political criticism. I ignore these. We all know these games, of those
who smell the political opportunity or let the surveys go to their heads.

But, there is also true, genuine, heart-felt criticism - that of reservists,
citizens - of those who are driven by love and not hatred. They stand and
protest - also against me, and I hear them and respect what they have to
say.

They are right about certain issues, and I disagree with them on other
issues. However, the question is what should be done with this criticism,
how we take the rage, disappointment, frustration and despair, as well as
the sense of responsibility and the love we all feel for the country, and
use them to rectify that which needs to be rectified. And rectification is
required.

During the past few days, I struggled with myself on this question. I
consulted many people, including the Attorney General, many experts in the
fields of security, government and justice, and with my fellow ministers. I
mainly debated about my duty as Prime Minister, who bears supreme
responsibility not only for what was, but mainly for what will be, and for
what may be.

The solution is simple on the surface: a judge will be appointed to chair a
State judicial commission of investigation, which will hear witnesses,
collect evidence and pass a verdict - an external, impartial, objective
body.

This may be a tempting solution, politically, and may appeal to certain
public opinion - one which would ensure tranquility for a long period of
time until the investigation is completed. However, this is not what the
country needs.

But, it is clear to everyone what will happen. For a long period of time the
top of the military and security leadership, including the IDF command will
be completely paralyzed in fear of the verdict. Many will quickly equip
themselves with top lawyers, create narratives, cleanse themselves of guilt
and, G-d forbid, place the blame on others. This is the nature of things.
This is how it goes. This is how it has been.

And it must be borne in mind: all this, while the warfare has not ended
completely, while IDF soldiers are still in Lebanon, while the firing may
still be renewed, while the threat has not yet been lifted. Still, beyond
the approaching horizon, we should be prepared for the threat from Iran and
its Israel-hating president. We do not have the luxury of sinking into years
of investigations into the past, which have nothing to do with learning
lessons or preparation for the future.

Anyone, in all honesty, knows that this will not repair the defects or
prevent incidents.

What we need is an effective, professional inquiry, to examine the issues in
depth, draw conclusions, and learn lessons.

Firstly, the army actions. I wish to tell you something personal. I sat with
the army commanders during the war and especially during its long nights. I
saw the Chief of Staff , chief commanders and many other commanders. I saw
them in doubt, in agony over each loss, and anxious about further losses. I
saw them shoulder responsibility and do their utmost to forbear.

I will not allow the army to stand a public lineup of collective flogging.
We do not have another IDF. We do not have another army. The IDF cannot be
replaced. I will not allow the IDF to be paralyzed for many months or more
only to please one person or another. I will not let this happen.

The army should be examined in the manner in which a civic democratic
society examines its army, and the same applies to us - the political
echelon.

My Government will appoint a committee of inquiry chaired by Nahum Admoni,
former Head of the Mossad. Among the committee members will be Maj. Gen.
(Res.) Yedidya Yeari, Prof. Ruth Gabison, Prof. Yehezkel Dror.

The committee will be charged with the task of examining the functioning of
the Government, its proceedings and decision making, and anything else it
sees fit to examine. The Government will not be exempt from professional
examination and criticism.

The defense system will act, in the framework of its authorities, to conduct
a thorough examination in order to implement the necessary changes in the
preparedness of the IDF, its combat doctrine and force structuring, in light
of the lessons of this war and threatening scenarios.

The Government will request the State Comptroller to conduct an extensive
and in depth examination of the defects which were discovered in the home
front's preparedness in the face of the threat of missiles and rockets.
Thus, the three structures - political, military and civilian - will be
examined.

I am confident that these extended examinations will teach us lessons in the
shortest time possible, while at the same time conducting a reliable and an
open procedure. Upon realization of these procedures our capabilities will
improve significantly. In the long term, Israel will emerge from this more
resistant, stronger, and, with G-d's help, better prepared for the
challenges of the future and its chances. And, the most important thing is
that it will happen in a short time.

All of this is not enough.

This war, the difficult trials of a significant part of our civilian
population, also revealed the terrible hardships which befell segments of
Israeli society in the last few years.

We will not be able to avoid serious and thorough attention to these
problems. The Government resolved to carry out an extended action to
strengthen the north and Haifa, while placing special emphasis on the
physical rehabilitation of the affected areas, but also allocating special
budgets to the education system, underprivileged population, single-parent
families, new immigrants, minorities, senior citizens of whom many were
affected in recent years, children at risk and underprivileged
neighborhoods.

This is true not only in regard to the north. This situation undermines the
stability of the entire Israeli society and also other areas, especially the
south and the Negev.

We will not be deterred from our commitments to prepare for the multi-annual
plan in which the Government decided to deal with this challenge. In the
coming weeks the Government will decide on a detailed plan for the
fulfillment of these commitments. These plans will be presented to the
public.

Dear Friends,

The campaign is not over - neither this campaign nor the others - on other
fronts, from without or within. We will continue to discuss these issues.

Right now, I only wish to remember and remind you of:

The families of the victims - bereaved families whose pain is unbearable. We
shall not forget.

The wounded who are still in hospital, struggling to recuperate, to be
rehabilitated and return to their lives. We shall not forget.

The citizens who face their ruined houses and deserve a helping,
constructive, generous hand. We shall not forget.

The employees, the self employed and business owners - small, medium or
large businesses - who were the first to suffer the economic burden, and may
collapse as a result. We shall not forget.

The reservists who returned to their homes, some of whom are angry or
disappointed, and have to make up for that which they missed. We shall not
forget.

We shall not forget.

Gilad Shalit who today celebrates his twentieth birthday. I take this
opportunity to send a warm embrace on my own behalf and on behalf of all of
you, to Gilad, to his family who so fear for his life and to all those who
love him.

Udi Goldwasser and Eldad Regev. We shall not forget.

We will examine with one hand and fix with the other. We have an opportunity
here.

From here, we will embark on a new path.

Thank you very much.

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Press Release: Update on the Condition of Mr. Ariel Sharon-
transferred out of intensive care

THE CHAIM SHEBA MEDICAL CENTER
at Tel Hashomer, Israel

International Public Affairs Department
Tel. +972-3-530-2473, Fax +972-3-535-6851

PRESS RELEASE
August 29, 2006

Update on the Condition of Mr. Ariel Sharon

Tel Hashomer, Israel. This morning, former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon was transferred out of intensive care and back to the respiratory
rehabilitation department at the Sheba Medical Center. This follows a
noticeable improvement in his kidney function and the pneumonia in his
lungs.

###

The Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer is the largest medical enterprise
in the Middle East, treating more than one million patients a year. It is
situated on a 150-acre campus on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, with 120
departments and clinics and 1,700 beds, employing 850 physicians, 2,000
nurses and 3,000 other healthcare workers, scientists and support staff. The
medical center uniquely combines a major Acute Care Hospital with a
Rehabilitation Hospital, Women's Hospital, Children's Hospital, Academic
Campus and Medical Research Complex.

Please note that this notice includes all relevant information.
Sheba doctors will NOT be giving interviews on this topic.

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Statement From PM Olmert's Bureau
Regarding the State Comptroller's Press Release

Statement From Prime Minister Olmert's Bureau Regarding the State
Comptroller's Press Release
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Bureau has today (Tuesday), 29.8.06, released
the following statement regarding the press release from State Comptroller
Micha Lindenstrauss:

"We were astounded to hear - from the media, of course - State Comptroller
Micha Lindenstrauss's remarks and grievances regarding Prime Minister Ehud
Olmert's decision to submit for Government approval a draft decision
according to the 1958 State Comptroller Law (
www.mevaker.gov.il/serve/site/english/emevaker.asp ). Article 21 of the
1958 State Comptroller Law states: 'The Comptroller shall, if requested to
do so by the Knesset, the Committee or the Government, prepare an opinion as
to any matter within the scope of his functions. The said opinion shall be
published at a time specified by the Comptroller.' All of the Prime
Minister's actions in this regard, including those related to the State
Comptroller, have been coordinated in advance, and will continue to be
coordinated, with Attorney General Meni Mazuz. Having heard from the media
that State Comptroller Lindenstrauss wrote the press release himself, we are
convinced that he made an innocent mistake since it is inconceivable that he
would not be familiar with the law according to which he works.

Prime Minister Olmert will - as soon as possible - submit the request to
State Comptroller Lindenstrauss, according to Article 21 of the 1958 State
Comptroller Law, to the Government for approval. We trust that the State
Comptroller will act according to the law."

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

To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Ehud Yaari on motives of Nasrallah's remarks

Ehud Yaari on motives of Nasrallah's remarks

Dr. Aaron Lerner Date: 29 August 2006

IMRA asked Israel Television Channel Two Senior Arab Affairs correspondent,
Ehud Yaari:

"To what extent are Nasrallah's remarks designed to loll the Israelis back
to sleep & keep the incompetent Israeli leaders in place?"

Yaari replied:

"He is simply trying to oblige LEBANESE public opinion. He has trouble
keeping the Shiites in line, so he promises no more war, admits
miscalculating and distributes money. He wants time to get rid of the
Siniora government or at least force on them to take [AL: Hizbollah's main
Christian ally, opposition leader Michel] Aoun in."

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: OIC reiterates legitimacy of Lebanese resistance

OIC reiterates legitimacy of Lebanese resistance
Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 01:10 PM
BEIRUT, (SANA - Syrian News Agency)-
www.sana.org/eng/22/2006/08/29/61446.htm

Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Prof.
Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, described the Lebanese Hizbullah Party as a legitimate
resistance, asserting that the Lebanese resistance is justified in the face
of the Israeli aggression on Lebanon.

In a statement to the press published Tuesday on the sidelines of his visit
to Beirut, Ihsanoglu condemned the Israeli aggression on Lebanon, asserting
that Israel has practiced state terrorism during this aggression.

H.Zein/ Zahra

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Palestinian Child Killed and His Brother Wounded
When They Foozled with a Rocket in Beit Hanoun

PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

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

Field Update
29 August 2006

A Child Killed and His Brother Wounded When They Foozled with a Rocket in
Beit Hanoun

On Monday noon, 28 August 2006, a child was killed and his brother was
wounded as they foozled with a locally made rocket near their house in the
northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. In another incident, unknown gunmen
fired at an officer of the Palestinian National Security Forces in Beit
Lahia, but no casualties were reported.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 13:15 on
Monday, 28 August 2006, a heavy explosion occurred in a room near a house
belonging to Khaled Mohammed al-Za'anin in al-Qaraman Street in Beit Hanoun.
As a result, the owner's son, 17-year-old Mohammed, was instantly killed,
and his other son, 14-year-old Bilal, was injured by shrapnel throughout the
body. The explosion occurred when the two brothers were foozling with a
locally made rocket apparently stored in the room by Palestinian resistance
activists.

On Saturday morning, 26 August 2006, a number of gunmen traveling in a
civilian car opened fire at another civilian car, in which Talal 'Abdul
Rahman Abu Safiya, 37, an officer of the Palestinian National Security
Forces, from Jabalya town in the northern Gaza Strip, was traveling. Abu
Safiya's car was severely damaged, but he was not hurt.

PCHR is gravely concerned over the continued number of deaths and injuries
resulting from the misuse of weapons, which has become a prominent feature
of the ongoing security chaos in the region. PCHR calls upon the
Palestinian National Authority, represented by the Attorney-General to
investigate such incidents and bring those found responsible for them 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: Poll of Americans 42% Israel was
given to the Jewish people by God

Poll of Americans 42% Israel was given to the Jewish people by God
August 24, 2006
http://pewforum.org/docs/index.php?DocID=153
....

Israel and Biblical Prophecy

A substantial minority of the public views the state of Israel through a
religious lens. Indeed, a plurality of the public (42%) believes that Israel
was given to the Jewish people by God. Similarly, more than one-in-three
Americans (35%) say that Israel is part of the fulfillment of biblical
prophecy about the second coming of Jesus. These numbers are largely
unchanged since 2003.

In the South, a solid majority (56%) believes that Israel was given to the
Jewish people by God, and nearly half (45%) say that Israel fulfills
biblical prophecy about the second coming of Jesus. In other regions of the
country, there is much less support for these points of view.

Among religious groups, white evangelical Protestants stand out for their
widespread belief that Israel was given by God to the Jews (69%), and that
Israel is the fulfillment of biblical prophecy (59%). Majorities of black
Protestants also share these points of view. White mainline Protestants and
Catholics, by contrast, are much less likely to see a religious dimension to
the establishment of the state of Israel.

Not surprisingly, beliefs about the Bible are closely related to views about
the state of Israel. Large majorities of those who view the Bible as the
literal word of God say that Israel was given by God to the Jews and that
Israel is the fulfillment of prophecy (70% and 62%, respectively). These
figures are much lower among those who do not believe the Bible is the
actual word of God.

Religious Views Shape Mideast Sympathies

The July survey also shows that many more Americans say they sympathize more
with Israel (44%) than the Palestinians (9%). A subsequent Pew survey,
conducted Aug. 9-13, found even broader support for Israel; 52% said they
sympathized more with Israel, compared with 11% who sympathized more with
the Palestinians. (See "American Attitudes Hold Steady in Face of Foreign
Crises," Aug. 17).

An analysis of the July survey finds that support for Israel is even
stronger among those who see religious implications in the
state of Israel. Indeed, a large majority (63%) of those who believe Israel
was given by God to the Jewish people say they sympathize more with Israel,
as do a majority (60%) of those who see Israel as the fulfillment of
biblical prophecy. By contrast, among those who do not share these beliefs
far fewer say they sympathize more with Israel than the Palestinians.

Results for this survey are based on telephone interviews conducted under
the direction of Schulman, Ronca, & Bucuvalas, Inc. among a nationwide
sample of 2,003 adults, 18 years of age or older, from July 6-19, 2006. For
results based on the total sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the
error attributable to sampling is plus or minus 2.5 percentage points. For
results based on Form 1 (N=996) or Form 2 (N=1,007) only, the error
attributable to sampling is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

In addition to sampling error, one should bear in mind that question
wording, sequencing and other practical difficulties in conducting surveys
can introduce error or bias into the findings of opinion polls.

About the Projects

This report is a joint effort of the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life and
the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. Both organizations are
sponsored by the Pew Charitable Trusts and are projects of the Pew Research
Center, a nonpartisan "fact tank" that provides information on the issues,
attitudes and trends shaping America and the world.

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: On The Palestinian School Curriculum: Erasing Israel

On The Palestinian School Curriculum: Erasing Israel
By: David Bedein , Special To The Evening Bulletin 8/28/2006
www.theeveningbulletin.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17118984&BRD=2737&PAG=461&dept_id=576361&rfi=6

As this is being written, in late August 2006, news wires around the world
are running a story that Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Palestinian Authority,
has launched a new peace initiative with Israel.

However, the new school books that the same Mahmoud Abbas has now introduced
in the Palestinian Authority school system - run independently of Hamas -
represent a curriculum that prepares a new generation of Palestinians to
destroy Israel.
Following fervent support given to Hezbollah's total war on Israel by Abbas
and the Palestinian Authority this summer, this raises the question as to
whether the new school year in the Palestinian Authority, opening next week,
will simply add fuel to the fire of the Palestinian Authority's war against
Israel, instead of a new peace initiative with the Jewish State.

Because these PA school books have also been incorporated in the Arab
schools in Jerusalem, which raises cause for further concern, a movement is
afoot in the Israeli Arab schools in the rest of Israel to adopt the PA
curriculum in their schools.

Indeed, the latest study of PA textbooks,
www.intelligence.org.il/eng/default.htm, commissioned by the Intelligence
and Terrorism Information Center in Herzelia (www.intelligence.org.il, an
agency that had been consistently supportive of the Oslo Peace Process),
speaks for itself.

Here are some pearls of wisdom that Palestinian children will learn from the
new school books of the Palestinian Authority this year:

1. Israel does not appear on any maps of the world in the new PA textbooks,
while maps of Israel replace the name Israel with Palestine in all of the
new Palestinian Authority school books.

2. The new Palestinian School Books "annex" sites in Israel to Palestine.

"Haifa is a Palestinian seaport," (p. 7) (Lughatuna al-Jamila (Our Beautiful
Language) Vol. 2, 5th grade textbook, p. 86).
"Galilee, Nazareth and Beit She'an are regions in Palestine," (p. 7)
(Al-Iqtisad al-Manzili (Home Economy), 10th grade textbook, pp. 36-37).

3. The new Palestinian school books mention Israel only as an enemy, in
reference to "occupation of lands" in 1948 and 1967:
"There is no doubt that the Israeli occupation has a negative impact on
[Palestinian] agriculture and its export," (p. 8) (Lughatuna al-Jamila (Our
Beautiful Language) Vol. 1, 10th grade textbook, p. 102).

4. The new Palestinian school books present Zionism only as an enemy
movement:
"The Palestinian people are under an oppressive siege, limiting their
movement and way of life," (p. 9) (Al-Tarbiyah al-Islamiyyah (Islamic
Education), Vol. 1, 5th grade textbook, p. 49).
Accusation against settlements [from 1948!] of damaging water sources "the
influence of settlement on sources of water in Palestine," (p. 9) (Ulum
al-Sihha wal-B'ia (Health and Environmental Sciences), 10th grade textbook,
p. 122).
"The Palestinian family has problems...stemming from the occupation...it
loses father, mother or son to death or imprisonment...endures the
difficulties of life...," (p. 11) (Al-Tarbiyah al-Wataniyya (National
Education), 5th grade textbook, p. 23).

5. The new Palestinian School Books make the false claim that an "extremist
Zionist" set fire to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in 1969, (p. 12) (Tarikh al'Alam
al-Hadith wal-Mu'asir (History of the new Modern World), 10th grade
textbook, p. 106) when it was really a mentally unstable fundamentalist
Christian Australian.

6. The new Palestinian school books teach that the First Zionist Congress at
Basel fostered the Zionist State based on a secret decision of what came
came to be known as the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion." (p. 13) (Tarikh
al-'Alam al-Hadith wal Mu-'asir (History of the News Modern World), 10th
grade textbook, pp. 60-64).

7. The new Palestinian School books teach that the only ancient inhabitants
of Israel were Arabs, ignoring any ancient Jewish presence.
"Concentrated...in the land of Al-Sham [Greater Syria]...was the culture of
the Canaanite and Aramaic peoples who migrated there from the Arab
peninsula," (p.14-15) (Tarikh al-Hadarat al-Qadima (History of Ancient
Civilizations), 5th grade textbook, Foreword).

8. The new Palestinian school books teach that Palestinians must use war and
violence - especially martyrdom - to accomplish their goals:
The heroic mother, "who incessantly presents one sacrifice [fida'] after
another." (Lughatuna al-Jamila (Our Beautiful Language), Vol 2, 5th grade
textbook, p. 31).
The warrior goes to war faced with one of the good options: victory or
martyrdom in battle for the sake of Allah. (Ibid. Vol. 1, 5th grade
textbook, p. 70).
"Allah gave the people of this land (Al-Sham and Palestine) an important
task: they must stand on the forefront of the Muslim campaign against their
enemies, and only if they fulfill their duty to their religion, nation, and
land will they be rewarded as stated in the scriptures." (Al-Tarbiya
al-Islamiyyah (Islamic Education), Vol 2, 10th grade textbook, p. 50).

9. The new Palestinian school books feature children with names such as
Jihad (holy war) and Nidal (struggle). (p.22) (Tarikh al-Hadarat al-Qadima
(History of Ancient Civilizations), 5th grade textbook, p.6).

10. The new Palestinian school books stress the importance of "return" of
refugees to all of Palestine - by violence:
"The wrong must be made right by returning them to their homes: we returned
to the homeland after a long absence." (Lughatuna al-Jamila (Our Beautiful
Language), Vol 2, 5th grade textbook, p. 43). "Returning to the homes, the
plains and the mountains, under the banners of glory, jihad [holy war] and
struggle" (Lughatuna al-Jamila (Our Beautiful Language), Vol 1, 5th grade
textbook, p.88).

Tragically, most Israeli leaders do not take the influence of such
"education" as seriously as they should.

In May, 2001, when this reporter asked then-Mayor of Jerusalem Ehud Olmert
about the incorporation of PA textbooks in the Arab schools in Jerusalem,
his answer was that "they can teach what they want, and we will teach what
we want."

Questions placed to now-Prime Minister Olmert on this issue have gone
unanswered. When the Evening Bulletin raised the issue of the curriculum to
Olmert's cabinet secretary, he said that the issue is not on the agenda.

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Diskin: Gaza smuggling skyrocketing

Diskin: Gaza smuggling skyrocketing
www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1154525966410&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

sheera claire frenkel and jpost.com staff, THE JERUSALEM POST Aug. 29, 2006

Shin Bet head Yuval Diskin reiterated on Tuesday at a meeting of the Foreign
Affairs and Defense Committee that Palestinian terrorist organizations were
studying the Lebanese-Israeli war to learn how to play on Israel's weaker
points.

Diskin said the West Bank has become increasingly violent, especially in the
area of Samaria. Following last summer's withdrawal from the four
communities in northern Samaria, the intelligence community has found it
difficult to control the area and gather information.

"Samaria has become the land of Islamic Jihad following the disengagement,"
he said.

Weapons smuggling through the Rafah crossing has gone up exponentially since
the pullout, Diskin warned, adding that "Rafah will soon be the garden of
Eden of weapons smuggling."

He estimated that approximately 15,000 guns, 4 million bullets, 2,300
pistols, 38 rockets, dozens of anti-tank missiles, 15 tons of TNT, 400 RPGs,
and 10-15 Katyushas like those used in Lebanon had been smuggled into Gaza
from Egypt so far - and, he said, those are just the ones we know about.

After three to five years of this kind of weapons transfer, he warned,
Israel will face a situation similar to south Lebanon.
"At this point, anybody who wants to smuggle something through the
Philadelphi route can apparently do so," Diskin said. "You can smuggle
anything through Philadelphi except maybe a tank or plane."

MK Natan Sharansky (Likud) responded to Diskin's report, saying, "For ten
years, we've been hearing these types of reports, but there has never been
such an immediate need for action. Every kind of weapon is getting into the
Gaza Strip, and Hamas is establishing a terrorist army. It is no longer
possible to say they didn't warn us."

Diskin also told the committee that during the course of the war, the Shin
Bet had offered its investigative services to the IDF in order to help
interrogate the captives taken during the war.

He said the Shin Bet has more professional, proven methods of interrogation,
which is why they offered to help the army. The IDF, however, declined the
offer.

During the meeting, tensions between committee MKs and Committee Chairman
Tzahi Hanegbi flared up once again when the chairman blocked a request by MK
Effi Eitam to discuss Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's formation of two inquiry
committees.
The majority of MKs on the committee supported an investigation by a
subcommittee of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, as well as a
state inquiry, which would be allowed to dismiss top officials.

MKs said that Hanegbi's actions over the past several weeks have turned the
committee into a useless entity.

"I spoke to Hanegbi this morning with a request to hold an urgent discussion
on the issue [of a state inquiry commission], and unfortunately, Hanegbi was
caught up in all sorts of procedural issues and announced that he would not
allow the discussion," MK Matan Vilna'i said.

Hanegbi responded by saying that the committee members were not acting
according to regulations and had not officially called to convene a
committee meeting. If they did, Hanegbi said, he would bring up the topic.

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Excerpts: Nasrallah condemned.Saudi's Abdullah
speaks about "drastic solutions".29 August 2006

Excerpts: Nasrallah condemned.Saudi's Abdullah speaks about "drastic
solutions".29 August 2006

+++ARAB NEWS (Saudi) 29 Aug.'06:"Nasrallah Accused of 'Adventurism' for
Plunging Lebanon Into Costly War "Samir Al-Saadi & Hasan Hatrash
QUOTE FROM TEXT:
"Hezbollah's kidnapping of the Israeli soldiers has taken Lebanon back to
'square one' "
" 'All the people that have suffered from this war should file lawsuits
against him (Nasrallah)' "
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FULL TEXT:

JEDDAH, 29 August 2006 - With the Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah
expressing regret Sunday on Lebanese TV for the month-long war in Lebanon in
which more than a thousand people died, many people in the Kingdom accused
the Hezbollah militia of "adventurism" and being "irresponsible."
According to Homoud Al-Bader, a Shoura Council member, Hezbollah's
kidnapping of the Israeli soldiers has taken Lebanon back to "square one."
Describing the actions as "miscalculated" and "provocative" Al Bader said
that Lebanon had lost hundreds of lives, its infrastructure had been
demolished, and now other governments were helping the country to rebuild.
Jeddah resident Abu Sami said Saudi Arabia was correct when they described
the Hezbollah war against Israel as an adventure. "If we look at the
situation now, the only thing that Nasrullah gained was scaring Israeli
citizens and forcing them to live in bunkers for a month. But let's be
realistic, what did the Lebanese people win? Nothing."
Abu Sami believes that the war was not worth the hassle of having roads
bombed, houses demolished and people made homeless. "The Lebanese government
should charge Nasrullah for having pursued an ill-conceived adventure
against the Lebanese people. All the people that have suffered from this war
should file lawsuits against him," he added.
At the outbreak of war between Hezbollah and Israel, many Saudis felt angry
when the Saudi government negatively described Nasrullah's movement.
Abu Muhammad, a Saudi private sector worker, said, "What I don't understand
is that if he knew that Israel was going to react like this then why did he
do it? In my opinion he is no different to (Osama) Bin Laden who brought
destruction to the Arab and Islamic world because of his adventurism."
Speaking about the refugees, Salah Salama, a Palestinian living in Saudi
Arabia, said, "What about the thousands of Lebanese that have died because
of the Israeli attack? What are they going to tell their families? That they
died for nothing."
Salama added that Nasrullah made a big mistake. "He gave the Israelis an
excuse to attack and destroy a county that was rebuilding what was destroyed
in 15 years of civil war," he said.
Hasan Minawi is a Lebanese national in his early 30s living in Jeddah. He
said, "Nasrallah's regret was expected - he wasn't even ready for this war.
He did not build any shelters or at least set up an siren system to warn
people about pending attacks. He was ready with arms but not with backup. He
should have apologized long ago."
Minawi added, "Nasrallah knows how the Israeli enemy behaves, he should have
known it was going to go this far and even beyond."
Mazin Mansoor, a 24-year-old Lebanese working in a media company, said, "It's
too late for regret, the cost has been too great. We have lost Lebanon and
many innocent civilians. This is not a true victory for Lebanon - the cost
was too much to bear."
Saudi political analyst, Turki Al-Hamad, said, "These actions make us feel
poignant. The only outcome of such aimless actions is feeding hatred against
Islam."
Commentating on the two journalists who were taken hostage by a previously
unheard of Islamic group in Palestine recently and forced to convert at
gunpoint in front of a video camera, Homoud Al-Bader said, "Our problems
come from the uneducated groups who hide in caves and speak about a religion
that they apparently do not know the basics of. In Islam no one can force a
non-Muslim to become a Muslim."
Al-Bader added, "Sadly our problems come from within the Islamic world
through the hands of terrorists who claim to speak in the name of Islam, we
the majority of Muslims have become the victims and our cause hurt by their
acts."

+++ARAB NEWS (Saudi) 29 Aug.'6:" 'Drastic Solutions Needed for Regional
Stability' "P.K. Abdul Ghafour
QUOTES FROM TEXT:
"Saudi Arabia ... seeking drastic solutions to problems threatening the
region's security and stability"
"Abdullah emphasized Saudi Arabia's significant role in the Arab and
Islamic world"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXCERPTS
JEDDAH, 29 August 2006 - Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah
announced yesterday that Saudi Arabia was seeking drastic solutions to
problems threatening the region's security and stability, including
Palestine, Iraq and Lebanon.
...Abdullah said the solutions to be proposed by the Kingdom would be based
on its values and take care of the higher interests of the Arab nation.
"Our efforts are aimed at achieving peace for everybody, beyond narrow
personal interests and without promoting a particular thought or imposing a
single course of action on anybody," the king said.
Abdullah emphasized Saudi Arabia's significant role in the Arab and Islamic
world. "The Kingdom is the house of the Ummah and the center of Arabism and
the window that can communicate with the world with confidence and in an
openhanded manner," he said.
In this respect, the Saudi leader referred to his talks with Jordan's King
Abdallah here last week. "Both of us were convinced that joint efforts are
required to protect the region from dangers and ambitious parties," the king
told the ministers.
Culture and Information Minister Iyad Madani said the Cabinet meeting
emphasized Riyadh's efforts to find peaceful solutions to regional and
international issues. The meeting also reiterated the Kingdom's moderate oil
policy [. . .
===============================================================================================
...

Sue Lerner - Associate - IMRA

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Gaza Citizens Exempted from Jordan School Fees

Gaza Citizens Exempted from School Fees
www.petra.gov.jo/nepras/2006/Aug/29/18000.htm

Amman, Aug. 29(Petra - Jordan News Agency)-- Gaza citizens holding a
Jordanian passport are exempted from school fees for two years at all
government schools, according to the cabinet's decision issued on Tuesday.

//Petra// Salem

29/08/2006 21:59:57

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Syrian Defense Minister Calls on
Maritime Forces to Promote Performance

Syrian Defense Minister Calls on Maritime Forces to Promote Performance
Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 09:10 PM
www.sana.org/eng/21/2006/08/29/61645.htm

Damascus, (SANA - Syrian News Agency)-Syrian Defense Minister Hasan Turkmani
on Tuesday called on naval forces to exert more efforts in the training
fields to promote performance that makes them a deterrent power in the face
of any aggression on Syrian coasts.

Lieu. Gene. Turkmani, during a celebration marking the 58th anniversary of
maritime forces foundation, reviewed the latest developments in the region,
particularly in Lebanon and "the Israeli bids to implement the new middle
eastern project which is considered the most dangerous project in the Arab
region."

" The Lebanese resistance victory is a victory for all honest people in the
world. the most important record of the resistance in facing the Israeli
aggression is destroying two Israeli battleships and one military boat in
the regional waters," Turkmani, also Deputy General Leader of Army and armed
forces, added.
Mazen

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

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

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