[imra] Daily digest - Volume: 2 Issue: 1330 (10 messages)

imra Thu Feb 16 00:21:42 2006 Volume 2 : Issue 1330

In this issue of the imra daily Digest:

Aliza Olmert not a member of Women in Black
IMRA asks FM: Will Israel demand change
in Rafah Passage Arrangements?
Acting PM Olmert Issues Special Statement On Passing Of Shoshana
University Lecturer Injured by Gunmen in Gaza City
'3rd intifada on its way'
Terror leaders detail for WND
'massive new war' against Israel
[Close but no cigar] Qassam lands near strategic facility
Text:Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006 (Introduced in House)
Excerpts : Provocative Danish Muslims.
Israel creates Muslim - West tensions.14 February 2006
The Middle East and Russia's New Game [it isn't about Israel]
Child Killed in a Family Dispute in Khan Yunis

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From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Aliza Olmert not a member of Women in Black

Aliza Olmert not a member of Women in Black

Aaron Lerner Date: 14 February 2006

Haya Shalom, a spokesperson for the radical left Israeli group "Women in
Black" told IMRA today that Aliza Olmert, wife of Acting PM Ehud Olmert "was
never a member of Women in Black, never attended nor was ever invited to
attend any activity of Women in Black."

Some internet websites relating to the current election campaign have
asserted that Mrs. Olmert is a founding member of Women in Black.

While Mrs. Olmert is certainly known to hold Left wing views, it is hardly
clear if her political views today can be terms to the Left of Ehud Olmert.

Mr. Olmert proposes to retreat from most of the West Bank - taking the
position that it does not matter who or what fills the void.

In sharp contrast, most of the "radical" Israeli Left take the position that
Israel should only transfer territory in an orderly fashion with - at least
on paper - provisions made to insure peace between Israel and the
Palestinians.

Thus it is not clear if Mr. Olmert can be termed "Left of the radical Left"
or simply an "anarchist".

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: IMRA asks FM: Will Israel demand change
in Rafah Passage Arrangements?

IMRA asks FM: Will Israel demand change in Rafah Passage Arrangements?
Aaron Lerner Date: 14 February 2006

IMRA submitted the following question to FM Livni through her office today:

"Will Israel insist on a change in the arrangements at the Rafah Passage
when Hamas takes power in the PA (under the current arrangements the
Palestinians perform the inspections and decide who and what can pass
through Rafah)?"

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: Acting PM Olmert Issues Special Statement On Passing Of Shoshana

Acting PM Olmert Issues Special Statement On Passing Of Shoshana Damari
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)

Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert today (Tuesday), 14.2.06, issued the
following special statement following the passing of Shoshana Damari
www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/damari.html , the Queen of
Hebrew Song:
"This morning, one of our cultural giants, Israel Prize laureate Shoshana
Damari, passed away. Her voice and her noble image accompanied us for more
than 60 years: During the underground struggle and the establishment of the
state, in peace and in war, in joy and in sorrow. As a daughter of the
glorious aliyah from Yemen, Shoshana Damari was an example for love of
humanity, love of the Land of Israel and, especially, love for the Hebrew
song. Whoever saw her in concert will always remember the ability of this
small woman with the great voice to inspire feeling and joy. Her cultural
achievements will not be forgotten, neither will the legacy that she has
bequeathed to entire generations who grew up on - and will yet grow up on -
her songs. We will always remember her as the voice of the nation."

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: University Lecturer Injured by Gunmen in Gaza City

PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
Press Release

Ref: 23/2006
Date: 14 February 2006
Time: 12:00 GMT

University Lecturer Injured by Gunmen in Gaza City

- Yesterday evening, unidentified gunmen targeted Dr. Ayoub Othman,
Professor of English Literature at Al-Azhar University and head of its
employees' union, injuring him in the left leg.
- PCHR strongly condemns this crime and calls upon the Palestinian
National Authority (PNA), represented by the Attorney-General, to conduct an
investigation in order to bring the perpetrators to justice.

PCHR's initial investigation and the statement of Dr. Ayoub Othman indicate
that at approximately 21:55, on the evening of Monday, 13 February 2006,
unidentified gunmen traveling in a white "Subaru" with reflecting windows,
fired at Dr. Othman. The license plate of the car indicate that it may have
been stolen. At the time, Dr. Othman was leaving the "El-Redwan Supermaket"
in the Sheikh Redwan neighborhood of Gaza City. Dr. Othman was hit with a
bullet to the left leg and was transferred to the orthopedic ward of
El-Shifa Hospital in the city, where his condition was classified as
moderate.

A week earlier, Dr. Othman had received a threat by telephone from an
unidentified person. The caller demanded the Dr. Othman halt his critical
statements at Al-Azhar University and end his request to hold elections for
the University Council. Dr. Othman informed PCHR's fieldworker that there
are certain parties that do not want these elections, which will be
detrimental to their personal interests.

This assault comes within the context of a continuous and dangerous
escalation of internal security chaos, especially in the Gaza Strip. This
recent spate of lawlessness has included the kidnapping of internationals,
including journalists and staff of international organizations, as well as
attacks on public institutions.

It is noted that Al-Azhar University in Gaza has witnessed a number of
regrettable incidents over the past few years. These incidents have stemmed
from the interference of security forces in internal university affairs. As
a result, militancy has spread on campus, damaging the University's
reputation and creating a state of administrative and security instability.

The most notable incident was the killing of lecturer Yaser Al-Madhoun, when
a bomb was planted under his chair on 27 November 2004. And on 11 October
2005, a group of 50 people comprised of students and security personnel,
attacked the weekly meeting of the University Council and beat its members.
The assailants broke furniture and forcibly marched the University President
and Council members off campus, in front of the student body.

PCHR strongly condemns resorting to violence and threats, and calls upon the
PNA to put an end to these crimes. The Centre calls upon the
Attorney-General to conduct a serious investigation into this crime and to
bring the perpetrators to justice.

-End-

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: '3rd intifada on its way'
Terror leaders detail for WND
'massive new war' against Israel

'3rd intifada on its way' Terror leaders detail for WND 'massive new war'
against Israel

By Aaron Klein WND'S JERUSALEM BUREAU
February 14, 2006
www.worldnetdaily.com/news/printer-friendly.asp?ARTICLE_ID=48811

With Hamas now in power, the long-ruling Fatah party and its "military wing"
Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades forced into the opposition, and Israel announcing
it will soon withdraw from the West Bank, Palestinian terror leaders tell
WorldNetDaily recent events here are leading them to launch what they call a
third intifada - or violent confrontation - against Israel consisting of
suicide bombings, rocket attacks against Jewish communities and "a few new
surprises in our arsenal."

Some terror leaders, particularly from the Al Aqsa Brigades, whose
associated Fatah party scored poorly in last month's parliamentary
elections, say they are planning massive violence against Israeli civilians
mostly to revolt against the new Hamas-controlled Palestinian government.

"The new intifada is only a question of time and this will be the hardest
and the most dangerous one. It's just about timing until the order to blow
up a new wave of attacks will be given," Abu Nasser, a senior Al Aqsa
Brigades leader from the Balata refugee camp in northern Samaria told
WorldNetDaily in an interview.
Israel expecting new wave of terror

In the last 10 days Israeli forces intercepted 12 potential suicide bombers
and have stopped several dozen bombings the past few months, prompting fears
of "a new and worrisome wave of terror," said Yuval Diskin, head of Israel's
Shin Bet security services.

Hamas last month catapulted to power, winning Palestinian parliamentary
elections by a large margin and wresting control from Fatah. Israel has
warned the losing terror groups, particularly Fatah's Al Aqsa Brigades, will
try to stymie efforts by Hamas to form a new government and sign a long-term
cease fire with the Jewish state. Also, members of the Islamic Jihad terror
group expressed disappointment their organization decided not to run in
elections, and have warned they will stop Hamas from imposing a truce.

Last week, acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced his Kadima party,
leading overwhelmingly in the polls for next month's Israeli elections, will
seek to "change Israel's borders" by withdrawing from most of the West Bank.
Some security officials told WND they fear terror groups will increase
attacks to claim credit for an Israeli West Bank pull-out.

After Israel announced its withdrawal from Gaza, which it carried out this
past summer, terror organizations, mostly led by Hamas and the Popular
Resistance Committees umbrella group, increased attacks in the area, at one
point firing an average of seven rockets per week at Gaza's Jewish
communities.

Diskin warned that Iran and Syria, currently under mounting international
pressure, are streaming large sums of money to Palestinian terror groups to
spur on local cells to carry out attacks in hopes of starting regional
violence.

The Palestinians launched their first intifada in 1987, which developed into
a well-organized violent rebellion orchestrated by Yasser Arafat's Palestine
Liberation Organization from its headquarters in Tunis. The so-called second
intifada was initiated in 2000 after Arafat rejected at Camp David an
Israeli offer of a Palestinian state on most of the West Bank, Gaza Strip
and sections of eastern Jerusalem. Some 993 Israelis and 3,781 Palestinians
have been killed so far. Many say the second intifada is still being waged.

The terror groups themselves say they are planning a new wave of violence
against Israelis, which some terror leaders are calling a "third intifada."
They detailed for WorldNetDaily how they will carry it out.

Al Aqsa Brigades: 'We'll kill Israelis to revolt against Hamas'

The Al Aqsa Brigades was formed in 2000 by then-PLO leader Yasser Arafat as
a military offshoot of the Fatah party. PA President Mahmoud Abbas signed a
cease fire with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon last February, to which the
Brigades was party - but the terror group continued carrying out attacks.

Al Aqsa's Abu Nasser claims Israel put Hamas in power, and says his group is
preparing a new terror onslaught as a result.

"For the last 10 months we respected a cease fire expecting to see changes
in the lives of the Palestinian people, but we received from the Israeli
side more assassinations ... and above all we received the Hamas victory,
which seems to be the result of an Israeli and international conspiracy.
They believe that Hamas will give up easier our lands and rights. I think
that they are right, but we will not allow this to happen. We will fight and
we will blow up the new intifada," Abu Nasser told WND.

Sources close to Al Aqsa say Abu Nasser was involved in preparing the last
three suicide bombings in Israel, including the attack last month at a Tel
Aviv shwarma restaurant that injured more than 30 Israelis.

Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal over the weekend said his group might sign a
long-term cease fire with Israel, but told reporters he will not ask other
Palestinian group to stop attacks.

Abu Nasser told WND the Brigades will not respect any cease fire agreed to
by Hamas and will not halt attacks at Hamas' request.

"I am sure Hamas will start arresting us, but it will not be that easy [for
them]," said Abu Nasser. "We are preparing ourselves for the worst
scenario."

Asked if Al Aqsa's new terror war will be launched less out of aggression
toward Israel and more to revolt against Hamas, Abu Nasser replied, "This is
partially true. When we were in power, we were obliged to be more sensitive
and more obedient to the instructions and policies of our leadership. Now
that we lost the elections, why should we obey the leaders and just who do
we obey? The Hamas?

Continued Abu Nasser: "I am sure once [Hamas is] in power it is only that
power that is really important for them. They will be ready to give up
things that President Arafat refused to do. The proof for what I am saying
is that in the last days when the Israeli army killed more than 15
Palestinian activists, most of them from our Brigades, we did not hear the
voice of Hamas. Where are their resistance principles? Did they disappear
after the elections?"

Abu Nasser warned the so-called third intifada will be a combination of
suicide bombings and rocket attacks against Jewish towns.

"The Al Aqsa Brigades recently unified most of our cells and groups and we
will wait for the most suitable moment to launch our resistance acts. As for
the acts, there will be suicide attacks but there will be a massive use of
rockets. These rockets will be launched against Israeli settlements in the
West Bank, but also if needed against Israeli cities inside the green line."

Rocket war against Israel

Since Israel's evacuation of the Gaza Strip this past August, security
officials have been warning that the Palestinian terror groups transferred
their rocket capabilities to the West Bank, which is within firing range of
Israel's international airport and many major Israeli cities, including
Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Israel has confirmed that at least two rockets have been fired in the West
Bank so far from the northern Samaria town of Jenin. There is information
terror groups in the West Bank, particularly the Al Aqsa Brigades and
Islamic Jihad, will step up attacks against the area's Jewish communities
ahead of any Israeli withdrawal from the area.

WorldNetDaily caught up with Abu Oudai, the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades leader
responsible for coordinating the organization's rocket network in the West
Bank. He warned that his organization is preparing a rocket war against
Israel:

"We have launched [several] times and with the help of Allah we will launch
these rockets regularly. There will be no calm, no cease fire until the
occupation leaves our land. 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 you what are all our plans concerning other parts of the
West Bank."

Oudai said his organization and other terror groups have stockpiled
Palestinian rockets, including Qassams, which can travel about 2 miles, more
primitive Jenin-1 and Jenin-2s, and Arafat-1 and Arafat-2 rockets, some of
which can reportedly travel up to 3 miles. He claimed his group is
developing a new rocket that will put all of Israel's major cities within
firing range.

"The very near future will prove their capacity to kill and destroy and to
beat the Israelis in the West Bank exactly like we did with these rockets in
the Gaza Strip," Oudai said.

Oudai pocked fun at Israel's West Bank security barrier, which has been
credited with making it more difficult for Palestinian groups to carry out
suicide bombings.
"[The Israelis] have built a huge wall on which [it] spent billions of
dollars but still we are hitting Israel with our rockets and reaching every
target we want. This wall will not defend [Israel] from our rockets which
have defeated the wall and all the security measures taken to prevent our
attacks," Oudai boasted.

Israeli military leaders previously warned that the Jewish state will launch
an "unprecedented" military campaign against any rocket firing from the West
Bank.
The Israeli Defense Forces did not initiate any large-scale anti-rocket
operation in response to the rockets launched from Jenin. It has been
largely unable to stop the rockets regularly fired from Gaza into nearby
Israeli Negev towns.

The Israeli army regularly responds to Qassam firings from Gaza with
surgical missile strikes and artillery fire at areas it says are used to
launch rockets. In
December, Israel set up a buffer zone in sections of Gaza occasionally used
to fire rockets into nearby Israeli Negev communities, but the Palestinian
terrorists shifted their launching sites to other areas and have continued
the attacks.

Said Oudai: "Israel already has used all its tools. Tanks, aircrafts,
assassinations and everything it could use. But we are still here and still
fighting. We do not get excited from the Israeli threats. What can be this
unprecedented reaction? They have already tried everything."

In Gaza, the Popular Resistance Committees, an umbrella organization of
several Palestinian terror groups, has taken credit for many of the rockets
launched from the area since 2000.

Abu Abir, spokesman for the Committees, boasted his group transported
missiles to the West Bank.

"If there is need, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and everywhere in Israel can become
our target. Israelis must also know that we have already transferred the
knowledge and the technology of producing rockets to the West Bank," Abu
Abir told WorldNetDaily.

Abu Abir said his group has "improved [our] capacities in shooting these
rockets. Even the Israeli officers agreed that the improvement is at all
levels, [including] the distance that these rockets can reach, the capacity
of explosives and their accuracy. In the last five years, there is no doubt
that our abilities have improved."
Islamic Jihad: 'The Israelis should wait for our surprises'

Islamic Jihad has claimed responsibility for every suicide bombing against
Israel since last February's cease fire, including bombings in a Tel Aviv
disco and restaurant and a Netanya shopping mall, among others. Al Aqsa
leaders told WorldNetDaily they aided the recent bombings. Islamic Jihad
also says it fired most of the rockets launched from the Gaza Strip since
Israel's August withdrawal.

Israel says Islamic Jihad is directly backed by Iran and Syria. Jihad chief
Ramadan Shallah operates openly from Damascus and regularly visits Tehran.
Security sources say Hezbollah headquarters in Damascus and Beirut have
ordered Islamic Jihad to carry out attacks in hopes of drawing Israel into a
protracted
military conflict.

Israel's Diskin warned that Iran and Syria are looking to use Islamic Jihad
in part to distract mounting international pressure against their respective
countries.
Iran is under fire for its alleged nuclear ambitions, and the international
community led by the United States has threatened to bring Syria to the
United Nations Security Council for allegedly interfering in the
investigation into the assassination last year of former Lebanese Prime
Minister Raqif Hariri, for which Syria has been widely blamed.

WorldNetDaily spoke with Islamic Jihad's northern West Bank leader Abu
Khalil, who warned his terror group is planning a terror onslaught to chase
Israel from the West Bank and eventually from Jerusalem.

"We will launch very soon very painful attacks that will shake the enemy. In
fact, this is more the continuation of the (second) intifada because we
never said that the intifada has ended. We will never give calm and security
to the enemy. This will happen only when Israel will run away from Jerusalem
and the West Bank like it did in Gaza," Abu Khalil said.

Abu Khalil, like leaders from the Al Aqsa Brigades, said his group will not
respect a Hamas request to halt attacks against Israel.

"I don't believe the brothers in Hamas will ask us to stop. In any case, our
only commitment is towards Allah, and the blood of our people and brothers
and towards our political leadership," Abu Khalil told WND.

"Therefore we will not give up the right to defend ourselves and to launch
all kinds of attacks against Israel everywhere there is an Israeli soldier
or any Israeli goal in the West Bank and 1948 occupied Palestine [the entire
state of Israel]."

Asked which weapons will be emphasized during Islamic Jihad's next wave of
terror attacks, Abu Khalil replied, "I should not answer this question for
operational reasons. But we proved that we use everything Allah enables us
to achieve and to use - suicide attacks, rockets and more surprises. The
Israelis should wait for interesting surprises."

Hamas: 'Our goal is to rebuild Palestinian society'

Hamas, a terror group responsible for more than 60 suicide bombings, last
month won a majority of seats in the Palestinian parliament and is currently
attempting to form a governing coalition.

Hamas leaders claim they will focus on rebuilding Palestinian society, and
have stated they may sign a long term cease fire agreement with Israel.

Mahmoud al-Zahar, Hamas chief in Gaza, told WorldNetDaily his group will
"rebuild the Palestinian life shattered by corruption in the Gaza Strip and
the West Bank. This is our goal now. To make a better life for the
Palestinians."

In a widely circulated interview, al-Zahar even recently claimed to
WorldNetDaily that Hamas might negotiate with Israel using a third party.

He said his group will likely agree to a long-term cease fire with the
Jewish state, but said it will not recognize Israel or renounce its charter,
which calls for the destruction of Israel by "assaulting and killing."

Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal this weekend said his group will not stop other
Palestinian organizations from carrying out attacks against Israel.

Still, some analysts contend Hamas might use its power to halt some
anti-Israel violence in hopes of receiving financial aide from international
donors.

But the Al-Mustaqbal Research Center in Gaza warned that after Israel's Gaza
withdrawal Hamas attacks will be focused on West Bank Jewish communities.
The Center is reportedly closely aligned with Hamas and, according to
Israeli security officials, it espouses Hamas ideology:

"[Hamas will be] transporting warfare technologies such as mortars and
rockets from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank. These will provide an easy way
to bombard Israeli populated areas adjacent to the security fence, and the
fence, which is currently under construction, will therefore become
useless," stated a recent publication by the Research Center, according to a
translation by the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center at Israel's
Center for Special Studies.

Al-Mustaqbal stated Israel's Gaza withdrawal provided Hamas and other terror
groups with a staging ground from which to launch attacks and to transport
rockets to West Bank communities. It said the Gaza withdrawal proves Israel
will vacate other areas in response to repeated attacks.
PFLP: Terror forced Israel out of Gaza, will get us rest of Jewish state

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine has carried out recent
West Bank shooting attacks and rocket firings from the Gaza Strip. The
group's leader, Ahmad Saadat, is in a Palestinian jail in Jericho for
allegedly planning the assassination of Israeli Tourism Minister Rehavaam
Zeevi in October 2001.

Israeli security officials say the PFLP has scaled back its participation in
attacks the past few months, but Abu Hani, a leader of the PLFP's "armed
wing," the Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, told WorldNetDaily his group used the
time earned from last year's cease fire to build its arsenal in preparation
for a third intifada.

"The last months were used for a rest in order to rehabilitate forces. The
Palestinian people preserves its right to fight against Israel," Abu Hani
said.

He told WorldNetDaily the PFLP is "forced" to launch a new terror war.

"It is not that we prepare an intifada. It is the reality on the ground that
dictates a new intifada. There is the fence, there is the building in the
Jewish settlements, the daily Israeli penetration into Palestinian cities,
villages and camps and of course the killing of our comrades and brothers,"
Abu Hani says.

Israel routinely conducts anti-terror military raids in the West Bank when
it receives intelligence warning of new attacks. The Israeli Air Force fires
at targets in Gaza in attempts to halt Palestinian groups from launching
rockets at nearby Jewish communities.

Abu Hani warned, "The current situation does not leave to the Palestinians
many choices but to fight with all the tools we have or can have. The Gaza
withdrawal
proves unfortunately that force, attacks and rockets is the only language
and attitude that the Israelis understand. They do not withdraw unless they
are hit by the Palestinian resistance. So if there is a way that has already
obliged the Israelis to withdraw, why not to use it again?"

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: [Close but no cigar] Qassam lands near strategic facility

[IMRA:

Thursday May 23, 2002 is a day that could have easily lived in infamy.

That morning tens of thousands of Israelis could have been incinerated when
a bomb attached to a tanker truck blew up. The tanker truck had just pulled
into Israel's largest gas (and other fuel) depot, the Pi Glilot fuel depot,
located in the densely-populated Tel-Aviv metropolitan area, close to three
major highways and surrounded by residential areas.

"A huge disaster has been prevented," said Yossi Sedbon, the Tel Aviv police
chief, noting that at the depot, dozens of tanker trucks stand close to each
other. "An explosion in such a sensitive place with such a huge store of
fuel would cause much more significant damage than the explosion of a single
tanker," Sedbon said.

And what did Israel do in response to this failed "mega attack" carried out
by Yasser Arafat's Fatah?

Nothing.

Nothing but warn that if the mega attack had succeeded in incinerating tens
of thousands of Israelis that Israel would have acted.

And so, following the time honored Israeli principle that terrorists are
provided the opportunity to continue trying top murder Israelis until they
succeed it can be expected that, announcemetns notwithstanding, the ongoing
Palestinians attempts to hit something in the Ashkelon industrial area that
causes hundreds of deaths will not be taken seriously until, in fact, they
do hit something and a poisonous cloud kills hundreds.

If the wind blows a poisonous cloud, that results from a rocket attack that
hits a storage tank, into the sea and only a few workers end up in the
hospital it won't count.]

Qassam lands near strategic facility

Rocket launched from Gaza lands in Ashkelon's industrial zone; slight damage
reported
Shmulik Hadad YNET 14 February 2006
www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3216128,00.html

A Qassam rocket landed near a strategic facility in the Ashkelon industrial
area Tuesday afternoon.

The rocket landed near a water facility within a plant at the industrial
zone and damaged it slightly. Workers at the plan and at nearby factors were
instructed to enter security rooms. The employees reported hearing a loud
explosion.

Another rocket landed in an open field nearby. Two vehicles were also
slightly damaged in the attacks.

Earlier Tuesday, two other Qassams were launched at Israel but landed inside
the Gaza Strip. Recently, Qassam attacks have emerged as
a significant threat to Ashkelon, with rockets landing near kibbutz Zikim,
just south of town as well as in Ashkelon's industrial area.

Notably, the al-Quds Brigades, Islamic Jihad's military wing, have recently
announced they succeeded in developing a longer range rocket with a range of
13-16 kilometers (about 8-10 miles.) According to the organization, the
rocket also contains industrial explosives that make it more lethal.

A spokesman for the al-Quds Brigades said the new rocket was successfully
tested by the group, and that it plans to put it into use in the near
future.

Meanwhile, several other terror groups also stated recently they are
improving the range and capacity of their rockets.

Hanan Greenberg contributed the report

(02.14.06, 16:36)

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Text:Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006 (Introduced in House)

H.R.4681
Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006 (Introduced in House)
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c109:1:./temp/~c109uZniRI:e348:

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

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

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Excerpts : Provocative Danish Muslims.
Israel creates Muslim - West tensions.14 February 2006

Excerpts : Provocative Danish Muslims.Israel creates Muslim - West
tensions.14 February 2006

+++HAARETZ 14 Feb.'06:"Danish Muslim unrepentant for sparking cartoon riots"
by Assaf Uni
QUOTES FROM TEXT:
"The young Muslim Dane, whom most Danish citizens blame for the
anti-Danish riots ... is not contrite."

"were ... provocative caricatures that had never been published in
Denmark - Mohammed with a pig's snout, a dog having intercourse with a
praying Muslim and the prophet as a pedophile"

"several imams had gone to Saudi Arabia last month and distributed a
booklet displaying the caricatures and pictures to pilgrims in Mecca."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXCERPTS:
... Copenhagen - The young Muslim Dane, whom most Danish citizens blame for
the anti-Danish riots ... is not contrite.

Ahmed Akari said he would have done the exact same thing again.

..., the spokesman for the Islamic organizations in Denmark vindicated his
campaign in the Middle East to persuade leaders and imams that the Muslims
in his home country are under attack.

Some 180,000 Muslim immigrants live in the Scandinavian nation, whose
population is 5.4 million. Most of them arrived in the 1980s, when the
social-democratic government loosened immigration laws due to a labor
shortage. They arrived from the West Bank and Gaza, Iraq, Iran and Somalia
to a homogenous, liberal, secular Danish society. The boundaries between the
two societies are preserved ... . Most of the Muslims in Copenhagen live in
this neighborhood, and only immigrants work in its vegetable stores, kiosks
and restaurants.

Akari's mosque is ...here. It is run by Imam Abu Laban, who was born in
Jaffa and emigrated to Denmark 20 years ago. Abu Laban and Akari are at the
center of a public uproar. The Danes - both Muslims and Christians - accuse
them of sending delegations to the entire Arab world with caricatures of the
Prophet Mohammed. Among them were ... provocative caricatures that had never
been published in Denmark - Mohammed with a pig's snout, a dog having
intercourse with a praying Muslim and the prophet as a pedophile. One
delegation, headed by Akari, presented these pictures to the leaders of the
Muslim Conference in Cairo in December. In response the conference denounced
Denmark for their publication.

The Danish media also discovered that several imams had gone to Saudi Arabia
last month
[IMRA: During Ramadan.]
and distributed a booklet displaying the caricatures and pictures to
pilgrims in Mecca. Gulf television networks Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya dealt
with the issue constantly. The prominent Muslim scholar Sheikh Yusuf
al-Qaradawi called for a "Muslim day of rage" against Denmark and for the
boycotting of its exports. Text messages spread throughout Saudi Arabia
urging people to avoid purchasing Danish products. The monarchy also
recalled its ambassador ... ..

Then European newspapers published the caricatures, triggering off the riots
in the Muslim world.

"I see no connection between our activity and the riots," Akari told Haaretz
yesterday, "Therefore I see no need to apologize. We only tried to
demonstrate that a Danish newspaper offended Muslims by deciding to publish
caricatures of Mohammed."

Akari was born in Lebanon and emigrated to Denmark in the 1990s. He says
Muslims are still waiting for the newspaper's apology.

"They spat on us, and now it's only polite that they apologize," he said.

However, the Muslim community is at odds over the efforts of the two to make
the newspaper apologize.

"They planned the outburst of Muslim rage on Denmark," Nasser Khader, a
Muslim parliament member for the social-democrat opposition told Haaretz
yesterday. "But in fact they don't represent a single Muslim here."

Khader said the two are "ignoramuses" and "alien to all that Denmark
represents. Most Danish Muslims are peace lovers and don't want to see the
Danish flag burned ... ."

The feeling on the street is that the two have gone too far. "They don't
represent me," said Gawad, a vendor at a vegetable shop ... .. "They have
only damaged the relations between the Danes and the Muslims."

He said he does not need anyone to represent him as a Muslim. "I'm a Dane, "
he said, "and I'll vote for the party that helps me as a Dane, not as a
Muslim."

Another vendor objected to the two for different reasons: "They're Sunni,
I'm Shi'ite. Like all Sunnis they're too radical and do not represent me."

In an effort to prevent a rift, Khader has set up a new umbrella
organization called "the Democratic Muslims," which denounces the violent
protests and calls for open discourse. Yesterday Khader met Danish Prime
Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen ... to advance the dialogue ... .

"Within one week we've become one of the largest Muslim organizations in
Denmark," said Khader, "and I believe it represents the public's stand
against the extremists and for dialogue."

Akari said he and Abu Laban are not extremists. "People expect us to act
like Al-Qaida, but we're not. I condemn any kind of violence and always
have."

Abu Laban also tried to downplay his role in the riots' outbreak. "People
attribute far greater importance to me than I really have ... condemn every
kind of violence."

Last week he told Danish television that he denounced the boycott of Danish
products and called for its cancelation. One hour later, however, in an
interview with Al-Arabiya, he said he was "pleased" with the boycott.

... Danish media has not ceased to delve into Akari and Abu Laban's past.
Apparently, the Imam was deported from Egypt due to his membership in the
Muslim Brotherhood. Other reports said Abu Laban sheltered Al-Qaida members
in his house, including the organization's No. 2, when they were driven out
of Egypt in the 1980s.

What appears to frighten Danes the most is the "enemy within." A recent poll
shows that 80 percent of Danes believe a terror attack will take place in
Denmark following the caricature storm.

+++HAARETZ 14 Feb, '06:"PLO: Israel behind Muslim-West tensions"by Shmeul
Rosner
[IMRA: Latest update of "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion in which Jews
conrol everything.]

QUOTE FROM TEXT:
" ' the pro-Israel Likud wing around the world wants to put [us] on a
collision course [with] the Western, mainly Christian world.' "
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXCERPTS:
WASHINGTON - Afif Safieh, PLO representative in Washington said on Sunday
that the "pro-Israeli Likud wing around the world" is working to inflame the
relationship between Western and Arab-Muslim societies.

Safieh said this on CNN's Late Edition ...as part of his response to the
subject of Muslim riots and the Danish caricatures. ... .

. . ..

... "I personally believe, knowing both societies, the Eastern one and the
Western one, that the pro-Israeli Likud wing around the world wants to put
[us] on a collision course [with] the Western, mainly Christian world."

Dr. Joseph Lerner, Co-Director IMRA

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: The Middle East and Russia's New Game [it isn't about Israel]

[IMRA: The Israeli 48 hour planning horizon that played a key role in the
decision to retreat from the Gaza Strip and now drives Acting PM Olmert's
plans to carry out massive retreats from th West Bank after the elections
(regardless of who or what fills the void) relies critically on the
assumption that the Israelis are the only ones moving on the chessboard.
George Friedman's article serves as an important reminder that not only are
other actors moving pieces on the board - their motives can have absolutely
nothing to do with Israel.]

The Middle East and Russia's New Game
By George Friedman Stratfor 14 February 2006 www.stratfor.com

Last Thursday, Feb. 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin invited the
leadership of Hamas, the Islamist political party that won the recent
Palestinian elections, to visit Moscow. Hamas quickly accepted, and the
meeting is expected to take place later this month. As with many things
diplomatic, the fact that the invitation was extended and that the meeting
will take place is infinitely more important than what is said during the
meeting.

The invitation has little to do with Hamas and less to do with Israel. On
the whole, anything that strengthens the radical Islamist movement -- which
would certainly include Hamas -- ought to be anathema to Moscow, given the
trouble that the Russians are having in Chechnya. But Russia has bigger
problems: namely, its own role in the world, and the United States. The
invitation is not about Israelis and Palestinians. It is entirely about
U.S.-Russian relations -- and as such, it represents a significant moment.

Backdrop: Russia's Strategy Reversal

On Sunday, Feb. 12, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice repeated what
has now become a constant American theme on Russia, saying, "We are very
concerned, particularly about some of the elements of democratization that
seem to be going in the wrong direction." She went on to note, "I think the
question is open as to where Russia's future development is going." To say
that this theme irritates the Russians vastly understates the situation.

The Russians are, in fact, redefining their geopolitical position. Since the
mid-1980s, the Russians have been of the opinion that abandoning a
geopolitical confrontation with the United States would result in economic
benefits. Put another way, the Russians were prepared to learn from the West
and took their bearings from the West. Western advice and lectures were
expected and, in some ways, even welcomed.

Today, the Russians' view of this strategy is divided. There are those who
think that this arrangement has been a catastrophe for Russia. Then there
are those who would argue that the process has been bad but can be redeemed.
Finally, there is a very small minority who believe that the reforms would
work if they would only go farther and faster. This faction has become
irrelevant in Moscow. The debate is between those who want a complete
reversal in policy -- a large minority -- and those who acknowledge that
massive readjustments must be made on all levels but say the basic idea of
private property and markets should not be completely abandoned.

What is going on, therefore, is a struggle over how far democracy should be
curtailed and to what extent market reforms should be reined in. Overlaying
this is a deep suspicion about the intentions of the United States. The
dominant view is that Rice's demands for increased democratization are an
attempt to weaken Russia further. Those who hold this opinion point to what
they see as the behavior of U.S. intelligence in the areas of the former
Soviet Union that they regard as being properly part of Russia's sphere of
influence. In particular, they view events in Ukraine as evidence that the
United States is committed to causing Russia's implosion, by forcing harmful
reforms within it and then by surrounding Russia with hostile clients of the
United States.

At the V-E Day celebrations in May 2005, U.S. President George W. Bush went
out of his way to push both themes -- first by visiting Latvia and Georgia,
two countries regarded as hostile to Russian interests, and then by publicly
criticizing the failure of the Russians to democratize. Washington made it
clear that it did not intend to relieve the pressure, and the Russians
believed that. As a result, the Russians have been on an offensive, on
multiple levels, to challenge U.S. influence in what they call "the near
abroad." Since Jan. 1, shutting off natural gas flows to Ukraine and Georgia
has been part of this process.

And this brings us to Moscow's invitation to Hamas. There are a number of
reasons to make the invitation -- the single most important of which was
that the United States did not want it to be done. The Russians also reached
out to the Israelis, albeit belatedly: On Saturday, Feb. 12, Russian Defense
Minister Sergei Ivanov invited his Israeli counterpart, Shaul Mofaz, to
Russia in a gesture designed to show that the Russians were not tilting
toward Hamas. But between the lines, the Russians wanted to deliver two
messages to Washington.

The first was that Moscow no longer regards itself as a junior partner to
the United States in foreign policy -- and, in fact, doesn't regard itself
as a partner at all. Second, they wanted to make it clear that, just as
Washington is making trouble for Russia in its own periphery, the Russians
are equally capable of making trouble in areas that are of fundamental
interest to the United States. Moscow's message is this: Do not assume that
the failure of Russia to exercise its foreign policy options means that the
Russians have no foreign policy options. Nothing Russia is getting from the
United States in economic relations compensates for the geopolitical harm
the United States is doing to Russia. In other words, this is about 2005,
not 1995. A lot happened in the last decade, most of it not good for the
Russians. The rules are changing.

There is another, more directly strategic reason for the move. Russia has,
and has always had, strategic interests in the Middle East. Given the decay
of Russia's strategic position in the formerly Soviet region, these
interests -- which today include ties to Syria and a potential partnership
with Iran on nuclear enrichment -- have become more important rather than
less. The U.S. penetration of Central Asia, the Baltics and Ukraine cannot
simply be countered in these areas; it is only by challenging the United
States in the Middle East that Moscow can divert American attention from
areas of great interest to the Russians. It is not just a matter of
bandwidth -- meaning that the more trouble the United States has in the
Middle East, the less time it has for the former Soviet Union. It is also
the case that if Russia is to contain the American presence along its
southern frontier, having influence and a presence to the rear of this
region -- in the Middle East -- gives it leverage over some of the former
Soviet republics.

Russia also sees a major diplomatic opening. The United States backed a
political process in the Middle East that has resulted in the election of a
government unacceptable to Washington. The United States does not have the
means for negotiating with Hamas, given the rules of the game that
Washington has defined. In some ways, Israel has expressed a less rigid view
of Hamas than the United States has. The Russians, however, have no problem
talking to Hamas, nor do they have a problem talking to the Israelis. The
Israelis do not want the United States to change its position on Hamas; they
welcome the rigid U.S. position. But they do recognize the need to deal with
Hamas on some level. The Russians represent a useful intermediary. Thus,
Russia could emerge as a critical mediator, at least for a time.

A New Dynamic

Russia's willingness to speak to Hamas creates a new dynamic in the Muslim
world. Syria and Iran are seeking "great power" support against the United
States. Indeed, we could expect an evolution in which the Iraqi government
also would be looking for counterweights to American power. By inviting
Hamas and possibly opening a channel between Hamas and the Israelis, Russia
is positioning itself to become a mediator in other disputes, and to walk
away with relationships that the United States has been unable to manage.

Given the robustness of Russia's arms industry, which is much more vital and
advanced than is generally understood, the Russians could return to their
role as arms provider to the region and patron of governments that are
hostile to the United States. The situation from 1955 to 1990 was a much
more natural geopolitical dynamic than the current situation, in which
Russia is really not present in the region. Russia is a natural player in
the Middle East.

Remember also that Hamas is very close to Saudi Arabia, with which Russia
has an intensely competitive relationship in the energy markets. And then
there is Chechnya. The Russians have long charged that "Wahhabi" influence
was behind the Chechen insurgency as well as insurgencies in Central Asia.
In the Russian mind, "Wahhabi" is practically a code word for "Islamist
militants," including al Qaeda. The Russians also feel that, while the
Americans have forced the Saudis to provide intelligence on al Qaeda, they
have not elicited similar aid on the issue of the Chechens. In other words,
Moscow perceives the United States not only as having neglected to help
Russia on Chechnya, but as actually hindering it.

The Russians badly want to bring the Chechen rebellion under control without
allowing Chechnya to secede. They believe that the Chechen insurgents, and
particularly the internationalized jihadist faction among them, would not
survive if outside support dried up. They believe that the United States is
not displeased to see the Chechen war bleeding Russia, and that Washington
has discouraged Saudi collaboration with Moscow. All things considered, this
is probably true. In reaching out to Hamas, Russia is also reaching out to
the Saudis. The Saudis cannot control the Chechens, but they may have some
means of determining the level of operations the Chechens are able to
maintain.

Conclusion

Of course, many of these things are amorphous, and some are certainly
dubious. Nevertheless, the Hamas affair is of substantial significance, for
several reasons. First, the Russians are clearly signaling that they intend
to get back into the Middle East game. Second, they are aware that this will
make the United States extremely uncomfortable. Third, that is exactly what
they intend to achieve. Creating problems for the United States in strategic
areas is what the Russians think is in their national interest right now.

Washington has been trying to get its arms around the evolution in Moscow
for months now. Given everything on the Bush administration's plate, it is
not clear that there has been time to look deeply at the emerging situation.
At least publicly, the administration continues to maintain the same
attitude toward Moscow that has been evident since Mikhail Gorbachev: The
Russians are the students, and Washington the teacher. Washington is
concerned about the Russian evolution, but at this point has no policy
response.

Washington will have to choose one of two courses. First, it can try to
close the noose on Moscow -- consolidating the U.S. position on Russia's
periphery, blocking Russian counters and encouraging secessionist tendencies
within the Russian Federation itself. In other words, the United States can
go in for the kill and be prepared to live with the consequences of failure.
Alternatively, it can accept that it has reached the high-water mark of U.S.
influence in the Russian sphere, and then manage the return of most of that
region to Moscow's orbit. In turn, it can then deal with Russia's
re-emergence as a potential superpower in a generation or two.

What is not a strong option is what the United States is now doing. Wounding
a bear without killing it is the most dangerous game of them all. Nothing
the United States is doing now will kill the bear. It is, however,
guaranteed to irritate him enormously and convince him that in due course,
he will be killed. There are no good outcomes from this strategy.

In the end, Moscow's invitation to Hamas is intended to be a warning that
Russia can make life increasingly difficult for the United States -- and
that Russia plans to do just that.

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Child Killed in a Family Dispute in Khan Yunis

PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
Press Release

Ref: 24/2006
Date: 15 February 2006
Time: 12:00 GMT

Child Killed in a Family Dispute in Khan Yunis

- Palestinian child killed this morning in clashes between two
families, which have been ongoing in Khan Yunis for several weeks.
- PCHR views this incident as a dangerous escalation of the
security chaos, which is undermining the rule of law in the OPT.

PCHR's preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 08:00 on
the morning of Wednesday, 15 February 2006, Ibrahim Salim Safi (13) was
killed by a bullet to the left side of his body. The bullet was fired
during an exchange of fire between members of the Abu Taha and El-Masri
families in Khan Yunis. At the time of his death, the child had been
cleaning a warehouse belonging to his family in the area where the clashes
were taking place.

Armed clashes between the Abu Taha and El-Masri families resumed on the
evening of Monday, 13 February 2006. Scores of gunmen, armed with guns and
homemade rockets, from both families roamed the streets. Gunmen from the
Abu Taha family burned a house belonging to a member of the El-Masri family.
And on the morning of the following day, armed clashes resumed, with
explosions heard throughout the city. Seven people, including 3 children
were injured. Among the injured was Taysir Jum'a Abu Taha, 25, who is now
in a coma after suffering a bullet injury to the head.

The clashes also extended to Rafah. At approximately 15:40, members of the
Abu Taha family fired at shops belonging to members of the rival family in
Abu Bakr El-Siddiq Street, in the centre of the city. These attacks
coincided with the time school students go home and 7 pupils suffered
injuries.

The clashes between the two families over the past few weeks have led to the
death of 6 people, 3 from the rival families. The other 3 were from other
families and were caught in the crossfire. In addition, 28 people were
injured. The continuation of the clashes is endangering the lives of
civilians and the conflict has involved the erection of roadblocks in the
area, the spread of armed gunmen and planting explosive devices on roads.
Some civilians were forced to flee their homes in the areas where clashes
were taking place. In addition, study was suspended in Ahmad Abdel Aziz
School and Osama El-Najjar School, which are located in the conflict area.
The nearby market was partially closed.

PCHR is concerned over the escalation of armed clashes between feuding
families and the increasing number of victims, resulting from such violence.
The escalation of violent clashes is directly related to the uncontrolled
spread of weapons among civilians and the failure of the

Palestinian National Authority (PNA) to take effective action to confront
this phenomenon. One of the most notable confrontations between families
led to the death of 7 and injury of more than 40, including 5 children,
during armed clashes between the El-Kafarna and El-Masri families in Beit
Hanoun last December. Armed clashes between Palestinian families have led
to the death of 23 people and the injury of dozens more during 2005.

These clashes come in the context of the continuing internal security chaos
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, especially in the Gaza Strip. In
addition to armed clashes between rival families, the security chaos has
also involved the kidnapping of internationals, including journalists and
staff of international organizations, as well as attacks on public
institutions. All of these incidents undermine the rule of law in the OPT.

PCHR condemns the use of arms to resolve family problems and calls for the
use of dialogue and the law instead. PCHR:

1- Calls upon the PNA to fulfill its responsibility to preserve law
and order and to ensure the security of citizens;
2- Calls upon the office of the Attorney-General to investigate
these incidents and to bring perpetrators to justice;
3- Strongly condemns any and all attempts to frighten innocent
civilians and calls upon the PNA to enforce the rule of law, and to ensure
that these incidents are not repeated.

-End-

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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Subject: IMRA Subscription Info

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End of [imra] Daily digest - Volume: 2 Issue: 1330 (10 messages)
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