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Newsletter : 0fax0523.txt
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>JN May 23, 2000, Vol. 8, No. 93
Firebomb Victim Continues Fighting For Her Life
By IsraelWire
Two-year-old Shalev Shabbat continues to fight for her life in an intensive care unit of Hadash Hospital in Ein Kerem, Jerusalem. The toddler was seriously burned on her upper torso and head on Sunday, when her mother's vehicle was attacked by a firebomb presumably thrown by a PLO Authority paramilitary policeman, in Jericho.
Hizbullah Takes Over Some Villages on Israeli Border
By Meredith Buel (VOA-Jerusalem)
In southern Lebanon, at least two people are dead after Israeli forces reportedly fired at Hizbullah gunmen and civilians who have taken over villages near the Israeli border.
The guerrillas and civilians marched into villages in southern Lebanon abandoned by militiamen in the Israeli-supported South Lebanon Army. As they moved in, militiamen deserted their posts. Some fled to the Israeli border asking for asylum while others surrendered at Lebanese army checkpoints. Hundreds of people entered the village of Houla, which is just one mile from the Israeli border.
Lebanese officials say Israeli forces, apparently trying to prevent the crowds from advancing further, opened fire killing the civilians. The advance puts the terrorists on Israel's doorstep, and may threaten the government's plan to carry out an orderly military withdrawal from southern Lebanon by July of this year. Israel has maintained a 9-mile-wide buffer zone to guard against cross-border attacks, but in recent weeks has gradually handed over military outposts to the South Lebanon Army.
Prime Minister Ehud Barak toured communities in northern Israel, and warned that retaliation for any new guerrilla attacks would be "very painful."
"I do not recommend anyone, directly or indirectly, try and check our reaction should anyone dare fire on Israeli soldiers, and I don't need to say on the northern communities, once we redeploy to the international border in a few weeks. The reaction will be very painful."
Israel's deputy defense minister, Ephraim Sneh, is warning villagers to keep guerrillas out of their districts in south Lebanon if they want to avoid the return of Israeli soldiers.
Sneh insists the South Lebanon Army is not collapsing even though militiamen continue to abandon villages and outposts to the Iranian-backed Hizbullah. Israeli residents living in northern communities have been told to spend the night in bomb shelters in case rockets are fired across the border.
High Court Ruling Favors Women Praying at Western Wall
By IsraelWire
In a landmark decision Monday, the High Court of Justice ruled that women wearing prayer shawls (tallit) and accompanied by a Torah scroll may hold religious services at the Western Wall, praying and chanting aloud.
In the past, women in prayer shawls and with a Torah scroll were limited to secluded areas in the rear of the Western Wall Plaza, or forced to conduct services during non-peak hours, since the service is contrary to Orthodox Jewish Law and were deemed a provocative act by the Orthodox establishment which maintains control of the holy site.
Members of the Conservative and Reform Movement hailed the High Court decision as a breakthrough expressing the hope that Israel Police would not fall short of enforcing their right of Freedom of Worship.
Israeli Missile to be Tested in U.S.
By IsraelWire
Israel and the United States are considering a possible face-off between an Israeli Arrow anti-ballistic missile and a Scud ballistic missile in the United States, Haaretz reported. The test, part of a new $260 million development program, will test the Arrow's capabilities against real missiles.
The decision to carry out part of the Arrow's testing in the United States stems from Israel's geographic limitations. Pentagon officials agreed with their Israeli counterparts that there was a need for such testing.
Officials in the Ministry of Defense hope that the American willingness to test the missile in the United States will lead to acceptance of the Arrow as an American weapons system. They added that the next step may be signing a contract between Israeli Air Industry and a major American arms manufacturer, possibly Lockheed Martin.
Israel Celebrates Lag B'Omer
By IsraelWire
Hundreds of thousands of Israelis made their way northward Monday, to be in Meron, at the gravesite of the Tannaitic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar-Yochai.
Tradition Lag B'Omer bonfires were lit around the country, with fire department officials calling for caution, asking adults to pay special attention to little children. Firefighters around the country remained on alert Monday night due to the holiday celebrations. The holiday festivities continue today, with events taking place around the country.
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