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Newsletter : 8fax1111.txt
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>PD
>Israel Faxx
>PD Nov. 11, 1998, Vol. 6, No. 203
Neo-Nazis Stopped From Visiting Israel
Israel Faxx Staff Report
Israel said some 40 neo-Nazis were prevented from coming into the
country for Monday's 60th anniversary of "Kristallnacht," when
thousands of synagogues and Jewish shops were destroyed during a
Nazi rampage through Germany. "We knew that upwards of 40 neo-Nazis
planned to travel to Israel and the Interior Ministry informed
them, via Lufthansa Airlines, that we would not permit them to
enter the country," said Tova Ellinson, the ministry's spokeswoman.
It was unclear why the group, which Ellinson said called itself
"The German Conservatives" and included right-wing extremists,
wanted to visit.
Russian Communists Openly Anti-Semitic
By Peter Heinlein (VOA-Moscow)
Russia's Communist Party is under fire for failing to condemn
anti-Semitic remarks by one of its lawmakers. There are increasing
demands that the party be outlawed.
It all started last month, when Communist lawmaker and former Army
Gen. Albert Makashov stood up at a rally and threatened to "round
up the Yids" -- a derogatory term for Jews -- "and send them to
jail." The comment was shown on television, prompting demands for
a parliamentary motion of censure.
After two days of debate, lawmakers drew up a mildly-worded
resolution deploring racism, and expressing concern about what were
called "Mr. Makashov's sharp, almost rude" statements.
But in the communist-dominated Duma, or lower house, the debate
focused less on Makashov's anti-Semitic remarks than on the
contention by communist lawmakers that Jews in government and the
media are collaborating with foreigners to destroy Russia. When the
debate was over, the censure motion was soundly defeated. It
received 107 votes in the 450-seat house.
Moscow's media reacted with outrage. The liberal daily newspaper
"Izvestia" compared leaders of parliament to the "Bolsheviks of
old." News announcers on Russia's three main television channels
ridiculed the Duma vote, replaying video clips of Makashov's
statements. Commentators wondered aloud whether the Communist
Party might, as one said, "force us back to the Soviet past, with
all the delights of the gulag."
Moscow party chief Alexander Kuvayev called it a declaration of
war. "These people cripple public opinion. They invade our homes,
and they keep invading every day. All is fair in war, and there is
an information war going on."
Kuvayev accused what he called the Jewish-controlled media --
including two of the three nationwide television channels -- of
collaborating with the government in crimes against society.
Palestinians Back Down on Harassment of Journalists
By Ross Dunn (VOA-Jerusalem)
The Palestinian Authority has backed down on its plans to impose
new restrictions on foreign journalists working in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip. The policy reversal follows an outcry from the
international media. The Palestinian Authority had caused an uproar
when it imposed new rules restricting the movement of foreign
journalists.
A letter from Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat's office said
journalists had to notify the authorities before entering
Palestinian areas and had to declare who they intended to
interview. But the Palestinian Authority's Information Ministry
says foreign correspondents should ignore that directive.
The chairman of the Foreign Press Association in Israel, Nicolas
Tatro, says he is relieved the matter appears to have been resolved
in favor of the journalists. But he says the association will be
monitoring the situation closely to see if the Palestinian
Authority is true to its word. He offered some advice to fellow
reporters:
"The proof is in the pudding, if they press you, you should report to us and we will take it up with the authorities. My understanding of what they will do is that they will merely register you. If you start to be hassled at Gaza, at the Erez (entrance to Gaza) then you surely should let me know and we will deal with it. But as far as I know there is not going to be any problem."
It is thought the proposed rules were aimed at preventing
journalists from interviewing Islamic militants, who are critical
of the Palestinian Authority. Some observers believe Palestinian
officials may have changed their position after pressure behind the
scenes from the US government.
In response, the Palestinian Authority also appears to have given
up on its ambitions to provide foreign journalists with official
guides or escorts who would accompany them during their visits,
provide transport, and could arrange interviews. Some members of
the foreign press corps in the Middle East say this would have
made reporting in Palestinian areas similar to that of Iraq, where
journalists are tightly controlled.
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