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Newsletter : 8fax0908.txt
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>PD
>Israel Faxx
>JN Sept. 8, 1998, Vol. 6. No. 160
Netanyahu's New Air Force Aleph
By IsraelWire
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travels to Georgia, in the CIS Wednesday, for a one-day visit. The flight marks the maiden voyage of the prime minister's new plane, an air force Boeing 707, that had been used by the IAF. Among the features on the plane are improved technology to reduce noise levels, improved communications technology and a closed bedroom for the prime minister and his wife.
Netanyahu Calls Turkey-Israel Relationship an "Axis"
By Mark Lavie (VOA-Jerusalem)
Turkey's prime minister is in Israel for talks about expanding cooperation. Officials say their partnership is not aimed at harming anyone else in the region.
Israel and Turkey have built a relationship including military
cooperation, expanded trade, and humanitarian and technology
projects. After meeting Israeli officials, Prime Minister Mesut
Yilmaz dismissed criticism from Syria about the development of
cooperation between Turkey and Israel.
"Frankly, I don't care how Syria comments my visit. Everyone is
aware of the hostile intentions of Syria on Turkey. Our
cooperation with Israel is aimed at stability and security of our
region, and we have discussed to deepen and widen this cooperation
in the future."
Israel has its own problems with Syria. Peace negotiations between
Syria and Israel broke down two years ago. Syria is the main power
in Lebanon, where terrorists confront Israeli soldiers patrolling
inside Lebanon to guard the border. Israel charges that Syria
encourages the terrorists and allows weapons and supplies to reach
them.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted that the Turkey-Israel
alliance is not meant to harm anyone else in the region. He even
referred to the growing relationship as an "axis," then corrected
himself when asked about the effect of the axis on Syria.
"It is not directed against anyone. And specifically, Israel means no harm to Syria. On the contrary. We want to resume formal negotiations both with Syria and Lebanon, in order to reachpeace with security with both of them."
Netanyahu's hard-line government, under fire from the Arab World
for its uncompromising stance toward the Palestinians, is eager to
develop its ties with Turkey, a powerful Muslim country, as a
contrast to Arab coolness.
Tuesday, Yilmaz visits the West Bank and meets with Palestinian
leader Yasir Arafat. Some Palestinians are concerned about
Turkey's rapidly warming relations with Israel. Yilmaz expressed
concern about the stalemate in talks between Israel and the
Palestinians, and said the way to break it is to implement the U.S.
peace plan.
The Harlem Million Youth March
By IsraelWire
New York City police officers in riot gear broke up a controversial minority youth march in Harlem Saturday just as the event's militant organizer wrapped up his speech.
Order was restored, but not before pepper spray was used on the organizers after demonstrators threw bottles toward the stage. Khallid Abdul Muhammad, whose racially charged rhetoric has enraged community and religious leaders, was finishing his speech before about 10,000 youths and adults at the "Million Youth March."
The NYPD shut down the sound system, and a police helicopter buzzed Muhammad during his speech, in which he exhorted the crowd to take the guns of any police officers who got out of hand and shoot them in self-defense. When police moved in, Muhammad asked them to move back and said the marchers would leave peacefully. One of his aides then asked the crowd to disperse peacefully. Forty-three people were injured, none seriously.
Before the police action, the event's controversial organizer told
the crowd, "We have a right, and a God-given right, according to
white law which isn't worth the paper it's written on, a
constitutional right to defend ourselves against anyone who attacks
us. I say to you as we prepare to close out this rally, we want you
to be steadfast. If anyone attacks you (from the police), beat the
hell out of them." Such rhetoric led Mayor Rudolph Giuliani to
brand the event a "hate march."
Muhammad is a former chief aide to Nation of Islam leader Louis
Farrakhan and was banished by Farrakhan because of his racist
rhetoric against Jews, Roman Catholics, gays and whites, and has
been criticized by civil rights groups and religious leaders
ranging from Catholics to Muslims.
Rabbi Avi Weiss, president of the Coalition for Jewish Concerns --
Amcha -- led a group of Jewish activists to protest the march.
Wearing tallitot (prayer shawls) as a symbol of the religious nature of the protest, Weiss and his followers held signs reading "Evil words lead to evil deeds," and "Khalid Muhammad is an anti-Semite," and recited Psalms calling for strength and peace in the face of hatred.
Weiss issued a call for people of good conscience to boycott
Muhammad's march and come out in the neighborhood to raise a voice
of moral conscience against Muhammad's racism and anti-Semitism.
Street reaction was mixed. Some in the crowd yelled, "Jews, go back
to Crown Heights," and "This is our neighborhood -- get out."
Others approached Weiss to voice agreement with his statement
against Muhammad's incitement and hatred.
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