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Newsletter : 8fax1015.txt
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>PD
>Israel Faxx
>JN Oct. 15, 1998, Vol. 6, No. 184
Check is in the Mail for Stolen Hotel Towel
By IsraelWire
The story began 15 years ago, when a Netanya couple spent their
honeymoon in an Eilat hotel. At the time, they stole a towel
form the Laguna Hotel, an act which has bothered them to this day.
This week, the management of the Laguna Hotel received a letter
explaining the theft of the towel and a check in the sum of NIS 30,
to cover the loss. The couple explained they have become observant
Jews and now felt the need to make good on the deed of years ago.
Netanyahu, Arafat will First be Welcomed at White House
By Ross Dunn (VOA-Jerusalem) & IsraelWire
As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu headed for a summit in
Washington, Israeli officials expressed concern that the United
states would exert pressure for an agreement with Palestinians.
Netanyahu and a delegation of Cabinet ministers and officials
departed for the summit on the Middle East in the United States,
where they will hold talks with Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat and
President Clinton.
The US government wants the two sides to reach agreement on the
transfer of an additional 13-percent of the West Bank to
Palestinian self-rule. In return, Palestinian leaders will be asked
for guarantees that they will help prevent militants in their areas
from launching attacks against Israeli citizens.
But Israel's new foreign minister, Ariel Sharon, cautioned against
expectations of any quick results from the meeting. "I believe that
Israel wants to reach peace. I believe that it's important, it's
possible. It's reachable. It's not a short procedure. It will take
time. I think that peace and settlements should be based upon
understandings which are good for us and good for the other side."
Sharon is one of three ministers of Netanyahu's inner Cabinet who
will participate in the talks. The other two are Defense Minister
Yitzhak Mordechai and Industry and Trade Minister Natan Sharansky.
On the eve of the summit, Sharansky described as "unhealthy the expectations all over the world," which he says amounts to pressure on the Israeli side. He says there is no certainty that an agreement will be reached at the meeting.
"That everything has to be done to succeed but it is not our
obligation to come back with agreements on all the terms. If we
will not be able to get the real cooperation of Palestinians on
security issues, on fulfillment on the clear obligations which they
took before, there will be no agreement. I do hope it will
succeed."
A spokesman for the US Embassy in Tel Aviv says Clinton is
sympathetic to the concerns of Sharon and Sharansky over having to
make quick decisions at the Summit. But the spokesman adds the US
administration does want results.
Speaking to the media hours before his scheduled departure for the
Wye Plantation summit, Sharon hinted to his continued opposition to
any Israeli withdrawal from more than 9 percent of areas throughout
Judea and Samaria, a position he maintains is necessary to
safeguard Israel's security and water interests.
Sharon added that, "Peace and settlement should be based upon
understandings that are good for us and good for the other side and
that is going to be our major effort."
The foreign minister stressed the importance of PA reciprocity and
explained the government is willing to fulfill its responsibilities
under Oslo, but the PA must do its part in complying with the
signed agreements.
Al Pacino Starts Film in Israel
By IsraelWire
Al Pacino began shooting a film earlier this week in the Israeli
Arab village of Um el-Fahm. In the movie, Pacino, who attended
Herman Ridder Junior High School in the Bronx, along with Robert
Swerdlow, plays an international journalist who meets with a leader
of the Hizbullah terror organization. The film is set to be taking
place in Balabek, located in eastern Lebanon.
The Israeli Arab village of Um el-Fahm is being used as the film's
location because it resembles sections of eastern Lebanon. Last
month, Um el-Fahm was the scene of violent Arab rioting aimed
against Israeli security forces. The riots surrounded a government
decision to expropriate lands for a military firing range.
Chief Rabbi Calls for Dialogue with Reform Jews
By IsraelWire
Sephardic Chief Rabbi Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron, has called for
increased efforts towards dialogue and understanding between
orthodox Jews and their reform and conservative counterparts.
The rabbi stated that many persons affiliated with the alternative
streams of Judaism are looking for the road back to traditional
observance, and the dialogue would only serve to assist them in
their search for the truth. The rabbi was addressing the Lavi
Conference, which was dealing with religious Zionism.
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