 |
 |
|
|
||
Newsletter : 8fax1207.txt
Directory | Previous file | Next file
>PD
>Israel Faxx
>JN Dec. 7, 1998, Vol. 6, No. 220
Marines Training in Negev
By IsraelWire
The United States 2,000 member Marine Sixth Corps, along with air
and other specialized forces, have started to train in the Negev,
in southern Israel. The troops will participate in 10 days of
training in the area. According to Defense Ministry officials, the
training event is a regular occurrence and the Marines come to the
area every year to train.
Arab Prisoners on Hunger Strike
By David Gollust (VOA-Jerusalem) & IsraelWire
With less five days to go before President Clinton's visit to
Israel and the Palestinian areas, the two sides are trading angry
accusations over Israeli settlements and prisoner releases.
There was more Palestinian unrest Sunday linked to protests over
Israel's decision to free mostly common criminals -- rather than
political prisoners -- under the Wye River agreement. A senior
Palestinian official, Ahmed Qureia, warned of bloodshed if Israel
continues to expand settlements in the West Bank and Gaza.
Meanwhile, the Israeli government brushed aside a conciliatory
speech by Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat in Stockholm. Israeli
spokesman Moshe Fogel says Arafat is sending entirely different
signals to his audience at home: "The message which the Palestinian
community is getting is go out in the streets and incite to
violence."
Israeli officials conceded Sunday that a hunger strike among the
25-hundred Palestinian still in Israeli jails is widening. Another
400 Arab prisoners in the Ashkelon Prison joined in a hunger strike
in an attempt to increase the pressure being exerted on the
government to release Arab terrorists in the upcoming Wye River
prisoner release.
The new hunger strikers join 200 others in a prison in the Negev as
well as a growing number of family members of the prisoners who are
also joining in. It is estimated over 800 prisoners nationwide are
participating in the hunger strike.
To date, Israel has refused to release any prisoner who has "blood on his hands" or took part in terrorist activities. The prime minister stated last week that the place for those persons was in jail and they would not be released. The ministers of the cabinet have voted unanimously in support of the prime minister's position.
According to the Kol M'Hashetach News Agency report Sunday, a
count is underway by Prison Authority officials to ascertain how
many persons were involved in assaults against Israeli targets or
in the killing of Arab information's who worked with Israeli
authorities.
The report indicates the list being prepared is a preparatory stage
for the government's releasing the prisoners and changing its
policy under the increasing pressure of the hunger strikes and
widespread violent Arab demonstrations demanding the release of
terrorists.
IDF Bracing for Increased Arab Violence
By IsraelWire
Senior IDF commanders are bracing for what they expect will be a
week of increased Arab unrest throughout Judea, Samaria, Gaza and
eastern Jerusalem.
With President Clinton's scheduled Saturday night arrival, senior
military commanders predict the violent demonstrations to obtain
the release of Arab terrorists in Israeli prisons will pick up as
well as other "Intifada" violence as was the case over the weekend.
On Saturday, about 150 Arabs broke through the security fence of
Ariel in Samaria, and begin throwing stones at residents and
security forces. Soldiers used rubber-coated bullets and teargas to
push back the advancing mob.
In the Benjamin Regional Council area of Samaria, near the Arab
village of Turmus A'iya, there were also violent Arab
demonstrations and stone-throwing attacks against Israeli vehicles.
There were also violent unrest and attacks in Bethlehem,
Ramallah and other areas.
Some senior officials in the military and security establishment
stated there was no doubt that the weekend events were orchestrated by
direct orders from Yasir Arafat. Most of the rioters were
reported to be affiliated with Arafat's Fatah faction.
Knesset Gives D'Amato Award
By IsraelWire
The Knesset presented Sen. Alfonse D'Amato, R-N.Y. with the
Conscience and Courage Award for his fight to gain justice for
Holocaust survivors. "I did what I thought was right," D'Amato
said. "This was never really a question of money; it was a case of
justice."
Speaking at the World Jewish Congress Friday, MK Avraham Herschson
called D'Amato a "Don Quixote" for scaling the high walls of
silence. "You changed history," Herschson said. "The people of
Israel love you, and we in the Knesset admire you."
| Home My Account Search Contact Us |
by Electronic World Communications, Inc.)
