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Newsletter : 0fax0413.txt
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>JN April 13, 2000, Vol. 8, No. 69
PA Postmaster General: Hebrew Mail Unacceptable
By IsraelWire
The PLO Authority postmaster general has informed Israel Postal Authority officials that the PA would no longer handle mail addressed in Hebrew. The PA official has stated that only mail addressed in Arabic or English would be processed. It was not reported if Hebrew mail would be discarded or returned to the sender.
Barak's DC Trip Brings "New Momentum"
By the VOA's Kyle King (State Dept.) & Meredith Buel (Jerusalem)
U.S. officials say this week's visit to Washington by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has brought new momentum to the talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
State Department officials say there are still serious gaps between the Israelis and Palestinians blocking a comprehensive peace agreement. Mid-level negotiators from the two sides have been meeting at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, in an effort to reach the framework of an agreement.
State Department spokesman James Rubin: "We expect, as a result of President Clinton's and Secretary of State Albright's discussions with Prime Minister Barak, that there will be an intensification of this process, there will be a new momentum as a result of these discussions and the discussions we expect to have next week with Chairman Arafat, so both sides can come up with new ideas and fresh formulations that can contribute to a solution to these big, big problems."
Rubin says the negotiations in Washington are not yet at the stage where US proposals are being discussed. That stage will probably not come until after the current round of talks at Bolling Air Force Base ends later this week.
The talks between the two sides are believed to be deadlocked on key issues like the borders of a future Palestinian state, water rights and refugees. The two sides are hoping to work out the framework of a comprehensive peace agreement by May, and reach a final accord by Sept. 13.
Rubin says it is an open question if the two sides will be able to meet the May deadline for a framework agreement. But he says, even if they do not, it will still be possible to meet the September deadline for a comprehensive peace treaty.
Following his summit with Clinton, Barak has given his approval to a larger US role in peace talks with the Palestinians. A senior Israeli official, who asked not to be identified, told reporters Barak has agreed to US mediation in peace talks with the Palestinians.
As Barak returned from his summit with Clinton, Jewish settlers began construction work on new homes in the West Bank, saying they will fight any territorial concessions to the Palestinians. The settlers say they are defying a government ban on such construction and will build more than 200-homes on the site.
Supreme Court Orders Release of Lebanese
By Ross Dunn (VOA-Jerusalem)
Israel is to release 13 of the 15 Lebanese prisoners it has been holding without trial as bargaining chips for Israeli soldiers missing in action. The decision follows an Israeli Supreme Court ruling that the government can no longer detain people who are not a threat to the nation's security.
In response to the Supreme Court's decision, Israeli prison officials announced they will release 13 of the 15 Lebanese prisoners within five-days. But the Israeli military will not free the two others -- Sheikh Abdel Karim Obeid, a Shiite Muslim spiritual leader, and Mustapha Dirani of the Amal guerrilla movement. Obeid was abducted by Israeli commandos in 1989 and Mustapha Diriani in 1994.
The Lebanese detainees have been held, in some cases, for more than 14-years, as bargaining chips for the release of missing Israeli soldiers, including airman Ron Arad, whose plane was shot down over Lebanon in 1986.
The Israeli military establishment says it will respect the decision, but adds it will weaken the ability of the defense forces to bring Arad home.
Arad's mother, Batia, says she feels the court has betrayed her son, who had gone into enemy territory to defend the Jewish homeland from attack.
Chinese Prez in Israel
By Meredith Buel (VOA-Jerusalem)
Chinese President Jiang Zemin has begun a visit to Israel that is expected to focus on the sale of advanced military equipment - a transaction strongly opposed by the United States.
Jiang is the first Chinese head-of-state to visit Israel as part of a bilateral relationship that relies heavily on the sale of Israeli military equipment to Beijing. Israel is currently building a sophisticated early-warning radar aircraft for China. The $250 million deal is strongly opposed by the United States because of concerns it could upset the military balance in the Pacific.
US officials are worried the plane could be used against Taiwanese or American aircraft during a military conflict in Asia. China reportedly wants to buy more of the planes, but the United States has urged Israel to cancel the sale. Foreign Minister David Levy says Israel will do nothing to harm the United States, but indicated arms sales to China will continue.
State-owned Israel Aircraft Industries, which won the contract to build the radar aircraft, employs thousands of people and China is one of its best customers.
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