[imra] Daily digest - Volume: 2 Issue: 1422 (15 messages)

imra Mon Jun 19 00:30:15 2006 Volume 2 : Issue 1422

In this issue of the imra daily Digest:

Qassam rocket disrupts electricity supply to Sderot
Excerpts: Mubarak government control.
Abuse of non-Saudi workers.Egyptian reforms slow.
18 June 2006
EU rejects realignment plan
2 more Kassams fired at W. Negev; none wounded[total 4]
Children's rights not covered in PCHR
Conference on "The New Palestinian Government
and the Human Rights Agenda"
VPM Peres Participation in the
CICA Summit in Kazakhstan
One Palestinain Killed and 3 of His Relatives
Kidnapped by Palestinians in Jabalya
Not clear if police will act against Sderot if blocks roads
President Abbas: Agreement on "Prisoners Document"
Serves Instead of Referendum
Police will act against Sderot if blocks roads
Background: Why Israel is not taking serious
measures to stop the Qassams
CABINET COMMUNIQUE
PM Olmert Meets With Education Minister Tamir
& Public Security Minister Dichter
PA to import power from Egypt to bypass Israeli electricity grid
[No cigar]Qassam hits central Sderot, 2 suffer from shock

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Qassam rocket disrupts electricity supply to Sderot

Qassam rocket disrupts electricity supply to Sderot
By Avi Issacharoff and Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondents and Itim 18
June 2006
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/727912.html

Palestinians fired two Qassam rockets at Israeli targets near the Gaza Strip
predawn Sunday.

One rocket hit several electricity poles in the southern town of Sderot and
disrupted electricity supply to the Rabin neighborhood in the town.

The second Qassam was launched at the western Negev and landed near the
border fence. No damage or casualties were recorded in this incident.

The latest attack came as it emerged Saturday that Shin Bet chief Yuval
Diskin told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee 10 days ago
that weapons smuggling from Egypt into the Gaza Strip has increased greatly
since the Israel Defense Forces withdrew on September 12, 2005.

Just on Predawn Sunday the Israel Defense Forces seized three unarmed
trespassers on the Israel-Egypt border. The three were taken in for
questioning.

Diskin did not explain that most of the weapons are smuggled into Gaza
through the tunnels at Rafah, just like before the IDF pullout. Palestinian
security sources say smuggling has reached an unprecedented scope because
there is no preventive activity on the Palestinian side.

Contraband materiel has included 11 tons of TNT, 3 million rifle bullets,
some 10,000 rifles, 1,600 guns, 65 rocket propelled grenade launchers,
430RPG shells and shoulder-launched missiles.

No Egyptian, Palestinian or Israeli official is currently willing to
estimate the number of tunnels operating in the Rafah region, but the
Egyptians report to Israel and the Palestinian Authority on tunnels exposed
nearly every week. Many other tunnels are thought to be operating.

The tunnels do not belong to a particular organization, but rather to
Rafah's major clans, which rent them out to the highest bidder. Young boys
for the most part are employed at very low wages to dig the tunnels. A month
ago a tunnel collapsed, trapping three diggers and killing one of them.

Besides weapons, the tunnels are used to smuggle electrical appliances,
drugs and cigarettes, as well as terrorists wanted in Egypt.

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Excerpts: Mubarak government control.
Abuse of non-Saudi workers.Egyptian reforms slow.
18 June 2006

Excerpts: Mubarak government control.Abuse of non-Saudi workers.Egyptian
reforms slow.18 June 2006

+++THE DAILY STAR (Lebanon) 17 June '06:"Mubarak fights on multiple fronts
against his own" By Saadeddin Ibrahim, professor of Political Sociology,
American University in Cairo

QUOTES FROM TEXT:
"in 1973 Egypt's armed forces had 1million troops. Now only 350,000 serve
in the military,
while the internal security police recently hit the 1 million mark"
"In Mubarak's Egypt citizen's equality, while stipulated in the
constitution, is not respected or
observed"

"rebelion against a regime that has long outlived its legitimate
mandate"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXCERPTS:

The decision recently by ...Mubarak's government to try two senior judges
for blowing the whistle on vote rigging in last autumn's parliamentary
elections rocked Egypt. Massive crowds gathered to support the judges - and
caught Mubarak's regime completely unawares. Mubarak's government quickly
backtracked.... Yet Cairo remains restless, and the government fears another
outpouring of support for democracy, as the judges have called for renewed
nationwide demonstrations. ... nearly all 9,000 judges are standing fast in
solidarity. .... insisting on their independence by themselves. The Mubarak
regime is adamantly opposed, and resorts to extra-judicial means, such as
emergency courts and national security and military courts, which do not
observe international standards. Contrary to his campaign promises during
his run for a fifth term as president, Mubarak has requested (and his
rubber-stamp Parliament has granted) a two-year extension of the Emergency
Law by which Egypt has been ruled throughout his presidency. It is to this
law, above all, that the judges and Egypt's civil society object. . . .
Consider ...that at the height of the Arab-Israeli conflict in 1973, Egypt's
armed forces had 1 million troops. Now only 350,000 serve in the military,
while the internal security police recently hit the 1 million mark. . . .
...war, with the Egyptian bedouin of Sinai, broke out two years ago.
...alienated young bedouin apparently decided to rebel against their
treatment as third-class citizens. All around them ... billions are spent on
roads, airports, and beaches; sizeable parcels of land are allocated
generously to rich Egyptians from the Nile Valley and to foreigners, but not
to Sinai natives.
... Sinai bedouin have the right to use but not own land, because ...
bureaucracy still deems the Sinai a military zone and its natives' loyalty
questionable. ... . recent war, ...over Christian Coptic citizenship
rights, has been brewing for years. Copts are the original Egyptians, and
they were the majority population until the 10th century. As Egypt was
Arabized and Islamized, the Copts became a minority in their original
homeland.
In Mubarak's Egypt, citizens' equality, while stipulated in the
Constitution, is not respected or observed, ... . Hosni Mubarak's domestic
wars are fuelled by Egypt's excluded, who are increasingly in rebellion
against a regime that has long outlived its legitimate mandate. The battle
with the judges may well prove to be Mubarak's Achilles' heel. Justice is a
central value for Egyptians, and its absence is at the core of all protests.
. .

+++ARAB NEWS (Saudi) 18 June '06:"Are We Treating Our Guest Workers Right?"
Dr. Khaled Batarfi
QUOTES FROM TEXT:
"thousands get their saleries late,sometimes after months.Others are
sent home without compensation."
"authorities cannot... interfere ...if parties don't ask for
interference "
" on behalf of the victims (NGOs) should sue the offenders and collect
compensations"
==============================================================================

.EXCERPT from letter to Batarfi:..."As a long-term expatriate, I can testify
to how tough it is for foreigners to work and live in your country.I can
talk from now to the wee hours of the morning about what many employers are
doing to their 'sponsored' employees and how the system is less than just to
us.Take me as an example. I signed a contract with a company for a certain
salary and benefits. After the company became my sponsor, the contract was
suddenly changed, duties were increased and rewards reduced.
I could have gone to the Labor ...in retaliation, my sponsor could accuse me
of any number of things, from laziness to theft. He has all the power,
connections and tools, and I don't. So I decided to accept the new terms and
stay on.
Like me, thousands get their salaries late, sometimes after months. Others
are sent home without compensation or left in the street to find jobs and
then pay part of their wages back to the sponsor for keeping them sponsored.
And don't tell me they should complain. You know what it is like when they
do it. Their employer could report them to the authorities as absconders.
Once captured, they get sent home after staying for a while in the infamous
'deportation facilities'.
In conclusion, I say: To please Allah, Saudis must re-evaluate the way they
treat their guest workers."
---------------------------------------------
BATARFI COMMENT: While, I hope, the majority of Saudi employers are decent
and just, too many are not. We have heard stories about the abuse and
harassment of nurses, maids and domestic servants. However, we didn't hear
of major changes to labor laws that would prevent such abuses. I understand
that the government cannot enter every house, know about every case and
protect every expatriate. The authorities cannot, by their nature, interfere
in a dispute if the parties didn't ask for interference. But nongovernmental
organizations concerned with human rights can actively seek and find these
cases. On behalf of the victims, they should sue the offenders and collect
compensations. Hot lines to concerned authorities and organizations should
be established, publicized and given to every expatriate on arrival. Random
checks on work places and interviews with employees should be conducted.
Recently allowed, labor committees in private companies should be activated
and given more powers and authority to look after members, like any decent
union would.
In addition, we have to be strict with abusers. Punishment must fit the
crime. Long prison terms and hefty financial penalties should apply to
serious cases of abuse, for males and females alike.
Our media should extensively cover these cases, and publish the proceedings
and penalties. Offenders should know what awaits them if they misbehave; we
should make it crystal clear to potential abusers that we have a
zero-tolerance policy for such crimes.
Major changes to the sponsorship laws are long overdue. So are better
facilities and higher capacities for the offices of the Labor Ministry that
deal with labor disputes. A worker cannot wait forever without a source of
income hoping for a verdict in his favor. Many are driven to despair because
it takes too long, sometimes years to get justice.
The human rights body should focus more on the problem. We should encourage
them and charity organizations to facilitate and provide services to guest
workers under stress, including safe havens, social, medical and
psychological consultations and legal representations.

+++AL-AHRAM WEEKLY 15-21 June '06:"Blaming the opposition"By Salama A Salama
QUOTES FROM TEXT:
"We're weak because we've waited too long before introducing economic and
politcal reforms"
"The government... is looking for pretext to slow down the pace of
reform"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXCERPTS:
What is it that makes outsiders criticise the course of democratisation in
Egypt? What is it that makes Egypt feel defensive about it? ...Egyptian-US
cooperation is extensive. This doesn't mean that Cairo and Washington see
eye to eye on everything. ...Let's admit it. We're weak because we've
waited too long before introducing economic and political
reforms....Recently, the US House of Representatives threatened to slash aid
to Egypt, saying it was displeased with our pace of democratisation and our
human rights record. And the Americans cannot understand why we slapped
Ayman Nour with a five- year imprisonment term.
It was in this context that Egypt decided to close down the Republican
Institute, which had been operating for a few months, saying that it failed
to obtain the right permits. The Democratic Institute -- another US body
that seeks to promote democracy -- was also closed down. The two institutes
had been active in monitoring the elections and had provided several civil
rights groups with assistance. The government did not object to any of this.
Suddenly it decided the closure of the two institutes would be a good idea.
And it made a big fuss about it, as if it were defending the nation in doing
so. At the same time, the government began suggesting that the Egyptian
opposition is vaguely implementing a US agenda.
This is disinformation in action. Calls for democracy in this country are
purely domestic and real. Foreign pressures have nothing to do with
democratisation in this country, although they don't harm. The government,
however, is looking for pretext to slow down the pace of reform. The judges'
crisis was not created by America. Nor were the lame constitutional
amendments the National Democratic Party wants to introduce. The government
is mishandling the judiciary law. It is refraining from abolishing
imprisonment in publishing cases. And it keeps extending the state of
emergency for any number of excuses. None of this can be blamed on
Washington. These are purely domestic issues. The Americans may bring such
things up, but this is beside the point. We have problems and we need to
face them, instead of blaming the opposition for being pro- American.

Sue Lerner - Associate - IMRA

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: EU rejects realignment plan

EU rejects realignment plan

In statement issued by leaders of 25 member states, EU says will not
recognize 'any change to pre-1967 border other than those agreed by both
sides.' Meanwhile, Quartet endorses EU's decision to transfer aid to
Palestinians
News Agencies YNET 18 June 2006
www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3264096,00.html

Leaders of the 25 member states of the European Union issued a statement
Friday rejecting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's plan for a unilateral
withdrawal from the West Bank.

The EU draft statement urged Israel to resume peace talks with Abbas, and
said it "will not recognize any change to the pre-1967 border other than
those agreed by both sides."

It also urged Abbas to disarm violent groups and halt attacks on Israel.

In a message to the Israelis, the EU condemned violence against Palestinian
civilians and urged a halt to "any action that threatens the viability of an
agreed two-state solution and from acts that are contrary to international
law."

The statement referred in particular to the construction of Israel's West
Bank security barrier and Jewish settlements in the area.

Quartet endorses EU aid to Palestinians

The diplomatic Quartet on Middle East peace endorsed a European Union
proposal for a temporary mechanism to funnel aid to the Palestinians,
bypassing the Hamas-led government.

Assistance

In a statement, envoys for the Quartet, which groups the United States, the
European Union, the United Nations and Russia, said it would revisit the
need for the funding tool in three months.

The EU has already committed to channeling an aid package worth 100 million
euros (USD 126 million) through the mechanism, which it backed in Brussels
Friday.

"Mindful of the needs of the Palestinian people, the Quartet endorsed a
European Union proposal for a temporary international mechanism, limited in
scope and duration, which operates with full transparency and
accountability," the statement said.

"The mechanism facilitates needs-based assistance directly to the
Palestinian people, including essential equipment, supplies, and support for
health services, support for the uninterrupted supply of fuel and utilities,
and basic needs allowances to poor Palestinians," it said.

The statement said it hoped other donors, international organizations and
Israel would consider channeling aid through the mechanism.

It urged the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority government to renounce
violence, recognize Israel's right to exist and accept international
obligations including the Quartet's "roadmap" blueprint for Middle East
peace.
Hamas-led government.

Abbas: This is not enough

"The mechanism is, I believe, not adequate because the funds must go through
the government," Abbas told reporters after meeting with Egyptian President
Hosni Mubarak in Cairo.

"Though we consider this a step forward, it is not enough at all because it
cancels the role of the government and cancels the role of the Palestinian
Authority," he said.

Hamas gave a cautious welcome to the package but expressed reservations
about how the money would be distributed.

"It's hard to judge matters until things become clear," said spokesman Sami
Abu Zuhri. "We welcome any support for our people as long as it does not
come with conditions and as long as it goes to through the proper government
channels."

The aid package agreed by European leaders in Brussels Friday is divided
into three parts.
One part extends a program operated through the World Bank which provides
essential supplies to the health sector, including money for those who work
in hospitals and clinics.

The second reinforces an emergency relief scheme launched by the EU's
executive European Commission earlier this year, and which ensures the
supply of essential utilities like fuel.

The third -- which is more contentious and likely to take effect later -
would see funds paid directly into the bank accounts of as-yet unidentified
people based on their needs.

(06.18.06, 08:16)

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: 2 more Kassams fired at W. Negev; none wounded[total 4]

Yaakov Katz, THE JERUSALEM POST Jun. 18, 2006
www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1150355515240&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[IMRA: This bring to a total of 4 for the day so far. While others in
the Kadima government have opted to threaten a harsh response to the
Palestinian rocket attacks (threats which, to date have been empty) PM
Olmert responded to the ongoing attacks by promising to try and
reinforce the school buildings so that while the rockets may continue
raining down on Sderot thanks to the retreat from the Gaza Strip,
school chindren will be safe while inside the classroom (the playground
is another story). It remains unclear if Mr. Olmert plans to reinforce
the many hundreds - if not thousands - of school buildings in Kfar
Sava, Raanana, and the rest of the locations that can be expected to
require reinforcement if he retreats from the West Bank or if he will
repeat the practice followed in the last retreat of retreating first
and worrying about security later.]

Two more Kassam rockets were fired Sunday morning at the western Negev.

One landed in open territory and the second fell into the ocean. No
wounded or damage were reported.

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Children's rights not covered in PCHR
Conference on "The New Palestinian Government
and the Human Rights Agenda"

[IMRA: The right of Palestinian children not to be brainwashed into wanting
to commit suicide by the educational system and the right of Palestinian
children not to be recruited by the various Palestinian groups to engage in
military activity is not included in the agenda.]

PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

Ref: 23/2006
Date: 18 June 2006

PCHR Organizes a Conference on "The New Palestinian Government and the Human
Rights Agenda"

PCHR will organize a conference on Wednesday and Thursday, 21 and 22 June
2006, titled "The New Palestinian Government and the Human Rights Agenda."
The Palestinian Prime Minister, Mr. Ismail Haniya, will officially open the
conference, delivering a speech on the Palestinian government's view of
human rights.

The conference seeks to establish a framework for dialogue and exchange of
viewpoints between representatives of the government and those of civil
society organizations, including human rights organizations, on human rights
issues. The conference will consist of three major sections, each of which
will focus on a number of issues related to Palestinian human rights to be
discussed between civil society organizations and the government, hoping for
adoption of specific and clear governmental policies with regard to
outstanding issues, taking into consideration the demands of civil society
organizations, including human rights organizations. The three sections will
focus on: civil and political rights; economic, social and cultural rights;
and the rights of women and groups.

These issues will be addressed in five sessions, in which a number of
prominent experts will submit relevant interventions and working papers.
Each session will be attended by a representative of the government. The
conference will be an opportunity to express the civil society's views and
explain the government's view concerning outstanding issues. The government
will be represented in the conference by: Mr. Said Siam, Minister of
Interior; Dr. Yousef Rizqa, Minister of Information; Eng. Aaa al-Aaraj,
Minister of National Economy; Dr. Basem Naim, Minister of Health; and Dr.
Ghazi Hamad, the spokesman of the government.

At least 500 invitations have been sent to official figures, representatives
of political factions, civil society activists, academics, jurists and media
officials. It is also expected that representatives of seven international
organizations will attend the conference, including: Amnesty International;
International Commission of Jurists; International Legal Assistance
Consortium; and Human Rights Watch.

Palestinian Centre For Human Rights
Gaza - Omar El Mukhtar St., - Qadada Building - Near Amal Hotel - P.O. Box
1328 - Tel/Fax: 08 - 2824776 / 2825893
E-mail: pchr@pchrgaza.org - Web page: www.pchrgaza.org

Conference

The New Palestinian Government and the Human Rights Agenda

Agenda

Day 1: Wednesday, 21 June 2006

09:00 Registration
09:30 Introduction: Mr. Raji Sourani, Director of the Palestinian
Centre for Human Rights

Official Opening: Mr. Ismail Haniya, Palestinian Prime Minister

10:30 1st Session: Civil and Political Rights (Part 1)
Chairperson: Dr. Mudar Qissis, Director of the Law Institute, Birzeit
University

1. The Right to Security and Personal Integrity: Towards Ending
Security Chaos and Attacks against the Rule of Law (Dr. Abdul Rahman Bsaisu,
a cultural critic)
2. The Right to Peaceful Assembly: The Executive Bill of the Public
Meetings Law (12) of 1998 (Mr. Mohammed Dahman, Director of Democracy and
Workers' Rights Center, Gaza)
3. The Right to Free Association: Attempts to constrain work of NGOs
(Dr. Abdul Rahman Abu al-Nasser, Professor of Law, al-Azhar University,
former Head of Palestine Bar Association)
4. The Palestinian Government's Vision (Mr. Said Siam, Minister of
Interior)
5. Discussion

12:00 Coffee Break

12:30 2nd Session: Civil and Political Rights (Part 2)
Chairperson: Mr. Abdul Karim Abu Salah, Head of the Legislation Council and
former Minister of Justice

1. The Right to Life: The Death Penalty under the Palestinian National
Authority (Mr. Raji Sourani, Director of the Palestinian Centre for Human
Rights)
2. The Right to Free Expression: Towards Reconsidering the Press Law of
1995 (Mr. Hassan al-Kashef, a journalist and author)
3. The Right to Political Participation: Further Steps towards
Democratic Reform (Mr. Hamdi Shaqqura, Director of Democratic Development
Unit, Palestinian Centre for Human Rights)
4. The Palestinian Government's Vision (Dr. Yousef Rizqa, Minister of
Information)
5. Discussion

14:00 Lunch Break

15:00 3rd Session: The Rights of Women and Groups
Facilitator: Ms. Naila Ayash, Director of Women's Affairs
Center

1. Women's Rights: What Does the Feminist Movement Want from the New
Government (Ms. Nadia Abu Nahla, Director of Women's Affairs Technical
Committee)
2. The Rights of the Retired: Towards Application of the General
Retirement Law (7) of 2005 (Dr. Saadi al-Krunz, former Minister of
Communications, former chairman of the Budget Committee in the Palestinian
Legislative Council)
3. Palestinian Prisoners in Israeli Jails: Legal Assistance for
Prisoners (Khalil Abu Shamala, Director of Al Dameer Human Rights
Organisation, Gaza)
4. The Rights of the Disabled: Towards the Application of the Law on
the Rights of Disabled Palestinians (4) of 1999 (Mr. Khalil Shaheen,
Director of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Unit, Palestinian Centre
for Human Rights)
5. The Palestinian Government's Vision (Dr. Gazi Hamad, Spokesperson
for the Palestinian Government)
6. Discussion

17:00 End of the First Day

Day 2: Thursday, 22 June 2006

09:00 Registration

10:00 1st Session: Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Part 1)
Chairperson: Dr. Ibrahim Abrash

1. The Right to Adequate Housing: Evaluation of Housing Project for
People Whose Houses Have Been Destroyed (Dr. Bassam Abu Hasheesh, al-Aqsa
University)
2. The Right to Work: Mechanisms to End Unemployment and Poverty (Ms.
Eitemad Muhanna, Development Specialist)
3. The New Government's Platform from the Perspective of the Right to
Development (Mr. Omar Shaban, Human Development Specialist)
4. The Palestinian Government's Vision (Eng. Alaa al-Aaraj, Minister of
National Economy)
5. Discussion

11:30 Coffee Break

12:00 2nd Session: Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Part 2)
Chairperson: Dr. Riad al-Zanoun, Head of the Administration Board of Gaza
Community Mental Health Programme and former Minister of Health

1. The Right to Health: Deterioration in Health Conditions in Light of
Blockade of International Aid and the Siege (Dr. Majdi Aashour, Researcher
in Health Policies and Administration)
2. Towards Activation of Cultural Life in Palestine (Mr. Ahmed Dahbour,
Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture)
3. The Right to Education: Impacts of the Siege and Boycott on the
Educational Sector (Professor Aamer al-Khatib, Professor of the Philosophy
of Education, al-Azhar University)
4. The Palestinian Government's Vision (Dr. Bassem Naim, Minister of
Health)

13:30 Lunch Break

14:30 General Discussion

15:30 General Conclusion and End of the Conference
Mr. Raji Sourani

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: VPM Peres Participation in the
CICA Summit in Kazakhstan

Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres Participation in the CICA Summit in
Kazakhstan

Jill Marie Reinach - Office of the Vice Prime Minister 18 June 2006

Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres attended this week-end a summit meeting of
heads of state - the CICA, the Conference on Interactions and Confidence
Building Measures in Asia

During the Summit, the Vice Prime Minister met with the President of Russia
Vladimir Putin. In his meeting with the Russian President, Vice Prime
Minister Shimon Peres noted that there are three options regarding Israel's
policy vis a vis the Palestinians: 1) bilateral negotiations; 2)
re-alignment with coordination; and 3) re-alignment without coordination. In
this context the Vice Prime Minister stated: "We want to end the occupation
which is bad for us morally, diplomatically, and demographically. We also
prefer to do so bilaterally."

During the Summit, the Vice Prime Minister also met the Presidents of
Kazakhstan and China. The Vice Prime Minister described to these Heads of
State his "Economic Valley of Peace" plan which would transform the
Israeli-Jordanian-Palestinian political border into an economic corridor of
cooperation and joint initiatives. All three Presidents expressed that they
would try to help further the plan.

CICA was founded by Kazakhstan's president Nursultan Nazarbaev in 1992, and
Israel is one of its members. Other members in the organization include:
Russia, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, Mongolia, Egypt, India, Iran,
Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, the Palestinian Authority, Tajikistan, Turkey,
Uzbekistan and Thailand. Countries and organizations that maintain observer
status include: Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Lebanon, Malaysia, Ukraine, the USA
and Vietnam, as well as the UN, the OSCE and the Arab League.

Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres is responsible for Israel's economic
relations with its neighbors, as well as the development of the Negev and
the Galilee.

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: One Palestinain Killed and 3 of His Relatives
Kidnapped by Palestinians in Jabalya

PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

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

Field Update
18 June 2006

One Person Killed and 3 of His Relatives Kidnapped in Jabalya

A number of unknown armed persons killed a member of the 'Asaliya damily,
while they were attempting to kidnap him on Friday, 16 June 2006. Three
other members of the same family were also kidnapped last week in the
northern Gaza Strip town of Jabalya.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 20:00 on
Friday, 16 June 2006, a number of masked armed persons, who were traveling
in two civilian cars, broke into a shop belonging to Yahia Yousef 'Asaliya
in the northern Gaza Strip town of Jabalya and kidnapped him. They took him
into one of their cars and opened fire into the air. The hostage's brother,
Sami, intervened and was able to take his brother out of the car.
Immediately, one of the armed persons shot the released hostage dead with a
live bullet to the head.

Soon after, the armed persons kidnapped Hassan 'Ali 'Asaliya, 21, who was in
the area, and took him to an unknown destination. Later, they released him
after having violently beaten him.

Earlier, at approximately 21:30 on Wednesday, 14 June 2006, a number of
armed persons kidnapped Yousef Yahia 'Asaliya, 50, when he was on his way
back home in the center of Jabalya town. At approximately 06:00 on Sunday,
18 June 2006, 'Asaliya, who was subject to torture during his abduction, was
released. It is worth noting that his son, Eyad, was also kidnapped on
Friday, 9 June 2006, by a number of members of the Palestinian Preventive
Security Service, when he was near a site of the Military Intelligence in
Tal al-Za'tar neighborhood in the east of Jabalya. He has not been released
yet.

PCHR is concerned over the continued misuse of weapons by armed groups and
security personnel, which has become a prominent feature of the ongoing
security chaos. PCHR stresses the importance of protecting civilians and
ensuring their safety in accordance with international humanitarian law.

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: Not clear if police will act against Sderot if blocks roads

Not clear if police will act against Sderot if blocks roads
Dr. Aaron Lerner 18 June 2006

IMRA asked Mickey Rosenfeld, spokesperson for the Israel Police, if the
police intend to arrest the mayor of Sderot and the rest of the members of
the city council if the Sderot municipality blocks the entrances and exits
to the town. IMRA also asked if the police are prepared to act to remove
the blockades. Rosenfeld said he would revert with an answer.

IMRA also left a question with Sderot municipality spokesperson Yossi Cohen
asking what legal authority the municipality has to block roads.

It should be noted that while the Israel Police acted with considerable
fervor against disengagement opponents who blocked roads in protest that,
traditionally, the Israel Police does not act against unions, farmers,
municipalities and others who block roads in protest against government
policy.]

Sderot decides to step up anti-Qassam protests
YNET Shmulike Hadad YNET 06/18/2006 17:56
www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/CdaNewsFlash/0,2297,L-3264392_3089,00.html

At the end of an emergency meeting in Sderot's municipality regarding
protest activities against the constant Qassam attacks, it was decided to
adopt a number of additional protest measures, including concluding the
school year in the city.

In addition, the entrance and exit to the town will be blocked starting
Monday, as well as the Knesset and governmental offices. Meanwhile protest
activities in the town will continue.

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: President Abbas: Agreement on "Prisoners Document"
Serves Instead of Referendum

President Abbas: Agreement on "Prisoners Document" Serves Instead of
Referendum
www.ipc.gov.ps/ipc_new/english/details.asp?name=16554

GAZA, June 18, 2006 (IPC + Agencies) - [Officila PA website]- President
Mahmoud Abbas said that the European mechanism that was proposed to deliver
assistance to the Palestinian people without passing through the Palestinian
government was not enough, and stressed his adherence to launching a
referendum in case the dialogue between Palestinian factions failed.

Prior to starting a trip to Jordan in order to meet with its King Abdullah
II, President Abbas told reporters that international funds should be
delivered through the government, considering the European proposal "a step
forward but not enough at all, because this will result in canceling the
role of the government and the [Palestinian National] Authority."

"We were not consulted about this mechanism, but we will demand that it
would be better," the President maintained.

Abbas also revealed that the Europeans have protested acts of bringing in
millions of dollars through Rafah border crossing by several officials in
the Palestinian government, in an effort to bypass the aid suspension.

"Our Palestinian law does not ban bringing money through the crossing, and
this is not smuggling," the President said, pointing out that he is dealing
with the matter in order to avoid having the European observers leave their
posts at the border crossing.

On his part, the spokesman for the Egyptian presidency Suleiman Awwad, told
reporters in Cairo that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has tackled with
President Abbas the contacts Egypt is holding with the Quartet Committee,
and its efforts to prepare for a summit between President Abbas and Israeli
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Sharm El Sheikh.

In response, President Abbas asserted that he has not yet met with Olmert,
but confirmed that meetings should not stop. "Some of them say that there is
no Palestinian partner, but in each occasion we say that we are partners,
and thus when there are preparations for a meeting we should prepare for it
well in order to have a successful and fruitful meeting."

As for the referendum over the "prisoners document", President Abbas said
that he is still committed to holding the referendum in July 26 in case the
national dialogue failed, but he added that this is not a threat to the
Palestinian factions.

"The referendum is still on, but it is not a goal. We don't want it to be a
goal. If we agreed then it would be better for us and for the Palestinian
people, and there would be no need for a referendum," the President said.

Furthermore, presidency spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina explained that the
national dialogue is nearing an agreement, and that it needed at least a
week to find out the results.

"Dialogue is the foundation, which is what has been agreed upon. There is an
encouraging atmosphere, but everyone must bear their responsibilities. The
way is difficult and many obstacles need to be overcome, because the
international community has terms, and these terms are difficult for
everyone," Abu Rudeina told reporters.

Upon his arrival to Jordan, President Abbas asserted that the PNA has not
received any weapons yet, and declined to speak about early presidential
elections.

"We have many security services, and these services need weapons from time
to time, but I say that we did not receive anything until now," the
President told reporters.

He further explained that he will meet with King Abdullah II in order to
discuss the developments in the Palestinian territories and hold more
deliberations.

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Police will act against Sderot if blocks roads

Police will act against Sderot if blocks roads
Dr. Aaron Lerner 18 June 2006

IMRA asked Mickey Rosenfeld, spokesperson for the Israel Police, if the
police intend to arrest the mayor of Sderot and the rest of the members of
the city council if the Sderot municipality blocks the entrances and exits
to the town. IMRA also asked if the police are prepared to act to remove
the blockades.

Rosenfeld advised that while protests, for example, marches, could be held
in Sderot that affect traffic if permits are issued, that the Israel Police
would act if the entrances and exits to the town are blocked outside of the
framework of protest activities that are issued permits for. Rosenfeld
emphasized that the primary role of the Israel Police in Sderot is to
provide security for the residents of the city.

With regard to if the police would arrest the mayor of Sderot if truckers
following his orders block the roads or only act against the truckers,
Rosenfeld replied that the Israel Police would act in accordance with the
circumstances.

Sderot decides to step up anti-Qassam protests
YNET Shmulike Hadad YNET 06/18/2006 17:56
www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/CdaNewsFlash/0,2297,L-3264392_3089,00.html

At the end of an emergency meeting in Sderot's municipality regarding
protest activities against the constant Qassam attacks, it was decided to
adopt a number of additional protest measures, including concluding the
school year in the city.

In addition, the entrance and exit to the town will be blocked starting
Monday, as well as the Knesset and governmental offices. Meanwhile protest
activities in the town will continue.

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Background: Why Israel is not taking serious
measures to stop the Qassams

Background: Why Israel is not taking serious measures to stop the Qassams

Aaron Lerner Date: 18 June 2006

1. The rockets attacks are not a big news item because no one has been
killed recently by a rocket. The Israeli attitude towards near misses is
that they are not relevant. Consider that when many tens of thousands of
Israelis were almost incinerated when a tanker truck blew up in Israel's
largest gas (and other fuel) depot, the Pi Glilot fuel depot on Thursday May
23, 2002 it had literally no impact.

2. Even if some Sderot residents are killed, the news cycle for the item
would probably end before the Olmert administration would feel compelled to
act unless those killed and their survivors were particularly photogenic
and/or had a particularly heart wrenching story (pregnant mother, photogenic
family wiped out with the exception of a surviving member who is not only
photogenic but has good verbal skills and is not handicapped by such
negative features as either being religious, an immigrant, etc.).

3. Action by Defense Minister Peretz to implement the bulldozing of outposts
in the near future appears to have effectively shielded Peretz from the
threat of any serious media criticism for his failure to "deliver the goods"
on his various threats to take action if the rocket attacks don't stop. An
additional twist to the outpost evacuation story is that a truly cynical
view of the operation would suggest that if some settlers happen to be
killed in the operation that this might serve to offset world criticism for
the Gaza beach incident.

4. There is a view that there is still a chance that the Hamas - Fatah
conflict may still develop into a full blown bloody civil war and thus
Israel should avoid taking action that would serve to unite them against a
common enemy.

Will the Sderot protests now planned to start tomorrow somehow put the
Sderot story on the top of the news heap long enough for the Olmert
administration to be forced to act?

Given that the media is supporting Peretz (all the major papers ran
favorable interviews with him in their weekend editions) the odds are
against the protest working (in the absence of a successful rocket attack).

The fate of the protest will be clear by the evening news broadcasts. Even
if the action get decent coverage, if the stories do not include follow-up
with DM Peretz and PM Olmert being pressed to respond the protest will
probably not be perceived by the Olmert team as requiring a serious
response.

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: CABINET COMMUNIQUE

CABINET COMMUNIQUE
(Communicated by the Cabinet Secretariat)

At the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Sunday), 18.6.06:

1. Defense Minister Amir Peretz briefed ministers on current security events
and said that Hamas immediately began an escalation following the tragic
events of 9.6.06 on the Gaza beach. He said that Hamas was acting openly
and had fired approximately 100 rockets from 9.6.06 until today (inclusive).

Defense Minister Peretz said that Israel had engaged in pinpoint action
against the movement of rocket launchers ( http://tinyurl.com/on2hv ) in
order to prevent the launchings. Israel had passed messages on to those
responsible that no allowances would be made for any elements engaged in
launching - or in directing the launch of - rockets against its communities.
While this message had been received, the Defense Minister said that Israel
would show neither patience nor forbearance towards those who continue to
fire rockets at its territory.

Regarding the inquiry into the events of 9.6.06 ( http://tinyurl.com/fu9zp )
in which seven members of one Palestinian family were killed, Defense
Minister Peretz said that he had personally checked the facts several times
and added that this was a very credible inquiry that may certainly be relied
upon and accepted.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that he completely believed in the IDF
inquiry and added that the Cabinet supported the IDF and Defense Minister
Peretz. The Prime Minister said that such wars do not come with insurance
certificates that guarantee that civilians will never be hit because the
reality is more complex. Those who complain must ask themselves how many
thousands of Kassam rockets have been fired and whom they are being fired
at. He emphasized that no Israeli commander had ever ordered that civilians
be shot at simply to kill civilians and that he has no reason to cast doubt
on the Israeli security establishment inquiry. The Prime Minister
reiterated that the Cabinet had full confidence in the way that this issue
was handled.

2. Prime Minister Olmert briefed ministers on his encouraging meetings in
Europe with - inter alia - British Prime Minister Tony Blair
( http://tinyurl.com/o2zh4 ) and French President Jacques Chirac
( http://tinyurl.com/pkkze ).

3. Vice Premier Shimon Peres briefed ministers on his visit to Kazakhstan
for the Conference on Interactions and Confidence Building Measures in Asia.

4. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni briefed ministers on her meetings in Europe
with - inter alia - her European Union counterparts
( http://tinyurl.com/f5ggd ) and with Russian envoy Sergey Yakovlev
( http://tinyurl.com/g8w36 ).

5. The Cabinet decided - in continuation of its previous decisions regarding
aid to Sderot and communities in the vicinity of the Gaza Strip - to approve
the recommendations of Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Ra'anan Dinur regarding
upgrading the special aid plan for Sderot and the communities near the Gaza
Strip as follows:

In light of continued terrorist activity directed against Sderot and the
communities near the Gaza Strip, the Government will act to strengthen the
residents of Sderot and of the communities near the Gaza Strip and their
ability to deal with the special security conditions that have been created
in the area. The communities included in this decision are those that were
determined by the Cabinet in August and November 2004.

The aid will be given in the fields of education, culture, sport and
building reinforcement. Financial assistance will also be provided from
Finance Ministry sources. The aid program will be spread over the years
2006-2008 and its goals are as follows - to strengthen the sense of personal
security; to strengthen residents' social resilience; to improve the
quality-of-life and attractiveness of the area and its potential to draw new
residents; and to help younger residents of the region to stay in the
region.

Residents of Sderot and its environs have suffered for years from eunending
terrorist activity, including the firing of rockets. There has been an
escalation in recent weeks; 166 Kassam rockets and mortar rounds have been
fired in May and June so far.

It was decided to immediately approve educational and cultural activities
for all age brackets during the summer and the autumn holidays, and to
establish a staff of directors-general to determine policy for reinforcing
educational institutions.

PMO Dir.-Gen. Dinur will formulate a supplementary aid package within 30
days.

6. The Cabinet decided to update the health services basket; see
http://tinyurl.com/fws6g for details.

7. The Cabinet decided to amend its 26.6.05 decision
( http://tinyurl.com/zxvqm ) regarding the children, parents and siblings of
those people present in Israel illegally as follows:

The Interior Minister shall be entitled to grant permanent residency permits
to children of people present in Israel illegally, who have struck roots in
Israeli society and culture, in accordance with their request, and who meet
all of the following conditions:

* The children is currently in Israel, was present here for at least six
continuous years and entered Israel prior to the age of 14.

* The parents of the child initially entered Israel with proper visas and
entry permits according to the 1952 Entry Into Israel Law, prior to the
child's date of birth or entry into Israel.

* The child speaks Hebrew.

* The child is currently in first grade or higher in an Israeli school or
has finished his studies.

* In order to meet this arrangement, applicants will have to produce clear
evidence to support their application including via a hearing and by
producing documentation regarding place of residence in Israel, the date of
entry into Israel or birth here, and place of study in Israel.

This decision is a one-time arrangement and does not alter Government
policy. To this end, applications for status by those who meet the
foregoing criteria must be submitted to Interior Ministry Population
Authority offices no later than 31.8.06.

The foregoing will not apply to those who have a criminal or security
impediment to receiving status in Israel.

See http://tinyurl.com/fws6g for additional details.

8. The Cabinet discussed the development of water technology in Israel; see
http://tinyurl.com/fws6g for details.

9. Pursuant to the 1954 Bank of Israel Law, the Cabinet appointed Prof. Zvi
Esckstein ( www.tau.ac.il/~eckstein/ ) as Deputy Governor of the
Bank of Israel.

10. Pursuant to the 1959 Civil Service Law (Appointments), the Cabinet
appointed Mordechai Mordechai as Director-General of the Communications
Ministry.

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: PM Olmert Meets With Education Minister Tamir
& Public Security Minister Dichter

PM Olmert Meets With Education Minister Tamir
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met today (Sunday), 18.6.06, with Education
Minister Yuli Tamir, who presented him with the main principles of her
ministry's annual work plan.

Prime Minister Olmert emphasized that there must be action towards changing
the school environment, increasing classroom hours and strengthening the
status of principals and teachers as well as child protection.

It was agreed that Prime Minister's Office Director-General Ra'anan Dinur
would chair a team that will formulate an operative plan by the end of next
month; the ministries of Finance and Education will participate in the team.

PM Olmert Meets With Public Security Minister Avi Dichter
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met today (Sunday), 18.6.06, with Public Security
Minister Avi Dichter, who presented him with the main principles of his
ministry's annual work plan.

Prime Minister Olmert emphasized that the police's goal must be - first and
foremost - to protect citizens and increase personal security, and added
that he views this as having utmost importance. He stressed that there must
be a struggle against public corruption and added that the police would
receive full backing for this.

Prime Minister Olmert instructed Public Security Minister Dichter to brief
the Cabinet on his ministry's current activities.

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: PA to import power from Egypt to bypass Israeli electricity grid

PA to import power from Egypt to bypass Israeli electricity grid

By Reuters Haaretz 18 June 2006
ww.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/728284.html

The Palestinian government plans to build an electrical facility in Egypt
that will allow it to take power from Egypt, weaning itself off more
expensive Israeli electricity, a Palestinian official said on Sunday.

Suleiman Abu Samhadana, Palestinian undersecretary for energy and
electricity, told reporters at the Rafah border crossing in northern Egypt
that authorities in Cairo had approved the project, which would cost e15
million and cut the Gaza Strip's electricity bill by 44 percent.

He said the Kuwait Development Fund would bear the costs of the plant, which
would be built five km (three miles) into Egypt from the Egypt-Gaza border.

Abu Samhadana was on his way to Cairo to attend meetings with Egyptian
officials on implementing the project.

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

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: [No cigar]Qassam hits central Sderot, 2 suffer from shock

Qassam hits central Sderot, 2 suffer from shock

Two people suffer from shock as rocket lands near home of hunger striker and
public library; teacher says: 'I left my little son under my daughter's
care; when the rocket fell she jumped on him to protect him with her body'

Shmulik Hadad YNET 18 June 2006 22:36
www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3264480,00.html

At least four Qassam rockets were fired by Palestinians in northern Gaza
toward Israel Sunday evening, but only one landed in Israeli territory.

"I ran to my house in panic, and my daughter said my little son was
sleeping. She simply jumped on him and lay over him to protect him," Sderot
resident Yael Tayari told Ynet after a Qassam hit the city.

The rocket landed only a few meters from Tayari's home. Two people suffered
from shock and were treated by Magen David Adom paramedics.

The rocket landed in the Neveh Eshkol neighborhood, not far from the city's
public library. Tayari, a teacher, has gone on hunger strike to protest the
ongoing rocket attacks, and the Education Ministry ordered her to stop
working.

She was eventually allowed to go on protesting outside of work hours.

Tayari said she spoke with her 17-year-old daughter who was taking care of
her younger brothers. "She told me, 'we all heard the Red Dawn alert system'
and I heard the rocket land with a boom over the phone. I was afraid,
because it was so close. We are now home and we can smell the explosives
from the Qassam rocket," Tayari said.

Earlier, Palestinians fired three rockets from northern Gaza at the western
Negev. According to security sources, the rockets landed in Palestinian
territory. One report said a Palestinian woman was lightly injured by the
rocket attack.

'No one will be able to get in or out'

Meanwhile, in the protest tent, a hunger striker passed out opposite the
home of Defense Minister Amir Peretz in Sderot, and Magen David Adom
paramedics arrived at the scene.

Chava Gad, who lost consciousness a short while ago, was taken to the
Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon.

Also on Sunday, the Sderot Municipality decided to step up its protest
campaign against Qassam attacks on the town, demanding that the army respond
sufficiently to put and end to the rocket barrages.

According to Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal, the campaign will start Monday morning.
"We're closing down the town. No one will be able to get in or get out," one
resident said. Likewise, public figures wishing to reach the town will be
turned away at the gates.

Sources in the City Administration said that even if Defense Minister Amir
Peretz wishes to go somewhere, his exit and entry will be blocked, despite
the fact that he is a resident of Sderot.

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

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

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

End of [imra] Daily digest - Volume: 2 Issue: 1422 (15 messages)
**********