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Newsletter : 0fax0501.txt
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>Israel Faxx
>JN May 1, 2000, Vol. 8, No. 78
Noa to Perform for Pope
Israel Faxx Staff Report
Israeli Singer Achinoam Nini, known as Noa, will perform today for Pope John Paul II at the Vatican. Noa, who has performed for the pope in the past, will sing with the Santa Sicilia Symphony Orchestra preceding a sermon by the pope. Both the sermon and Noa's performance will be broadcast live around the world.
May 13 Peace Framework Deadline in Doubt
By Ross Dunn (VOA-Jerusalem)
Israeli and Palestinian negotiators Sunday were launching intensive talks aimed at reaching a framework peace treaty. The discussions are being held in the presence of an American mediator, who is attempting to help the two sides bridge their differences over a number of difficult issues.
Special Envoy to the Middle East Dennis Ross is sitting in on the negotiations at the Red Sea resort of Eilat. His involvement in the process underlines concerns in the Clinton administration about the lack of progress being made in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
The two sides are supposed to agree on a framework peace treaty by May 13. That date was set after the two sides failed to meet the original deadline in February, but it already appears that there will be further delays.
Israel's chief negotiator, Oded Eran, has cast doubts on whether the May 13 deadline will be met, but he says it is possible that an interim agreement can be worked out, in his words, "within a few weeks." Israeli newspapers report that Prime Minister Ehud Barak would then put the framework treaty up for approval in a referendum.
But Palestinian officials say they do not share the same kind of optimism that such an accord will be reached in the near future. Palestinian Cabinet minister Hassan Asfour says there are still big differences with Israel over a number of critical issues, including the future of Jerusalem, final borders and Jewish settlements. The two sides are meant to resolve all issues by September and to sign a peace treaty to formally end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat has warned that he will unilaterally declare an independent state for his people by that date if no substantive progress is reached in the negotiations with Israel.
Sunday Telegraph: Syrian President Suffers Stroke
By IsraelWire
According to the London Sunday Telegraph, Syrian leader President Hafez al-Assad has suffered a stroke, leaving him unable to run the nation's affairs.
According to the weekly paper, the 69-year-old al-Assad has suffered a stroke, quoting western diplomatic sources. The report stated the stroke left the Syrian dictator incapable of running affairs for several days, leaving him with limited visibility among other limitations. As a result, his public appearances have been very brief and limited.
The report goes on to state that according to U.S. intelligence reports, al-Assad has only a number of months to live as a result of his deteriorating medical condition. The Telegraph adds that prior to al-Assad's meeting with President Bill Clinton in Geneva last month, he received large dosages of steroids.
Unidentified western diplomats are also quoted as saying the chances of Israel reaching a peace agreement with Syria under al-Assad are almost nil and after a new leader is appointed, it will be even more difficult, explaining that due to internal politics, the government's position will become more hard-line that it is today.
PA Protests Olympic Village Memorial to Munich Athletes
By IsraelWire
Officials on the PLO Authority Olympic Committee have threatened to boycott the Summer Games in Sydney over the issue of the memorial erected in the Olympic village for the Israeli athletes killed during the Munich Olympic Games, Sept. 5, 1972.
In the attempt to rescue the athletes being held in the dormitory from Palestinian terrorists, 11 Israeli athletes were killed along with a German policeman and five terrorists.
In an interview with The Australain, a senior PA Olympic official stated that "Israel kills Palestinians daily and there is no memorial for them." PA officials have indicated they will attempt to enlist other Arab states in their boycott of the international sporting games.
Brian Sherman, a member of the Australian Olympic Committee told Yediot Ahronot, "I am disappointed and surprised by the Palestinian reaction. The response is contrary to the spirit of the games, stressing cooperation between nations."
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