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Newsletter : 1fax0116.txt
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>Israel Faxx
>JN Jan. 16, 2001, Vol. 9, No. 6
Israeli Help to El Salvador
Israel Faxx Staff Report
An Israeli medical team has arrived in El Salvador to assist the victims of the earthquake. A shipment of $30,000 worth of medicine and medical supplies is enroute to the Central American nation. The Israeli delegation has conveyed a message of solidarity to President Francisco Flores of El Salvador from Prime Minister Barak.
Israel Delays Talks After Settler is Killed
By Laurie Kassman (VOA-Jerusalem)
Israel reimposed a tight closure on the Gaza Strip and called off peace talks expected Monday with the Palestinians following the abduction and killing of a Jewish settler in Gaza.
Prime Minister Ehud Barak described the killing as a serious blow to the peace process. He called on Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat to put an end to acts of violence, saying they do not serve any party.
Angry Jewish settlers went on a rampage and set fire to Palestinian fields, greenhouses and other buildings after the discovery of the slain settler in a field in southern Gaza.
Israeli officials say the man was abducted by at least two Palestinians while working in a greenhouse at the Kfar Yam settlement Sunday.
As retaliation, the Israeli army has blocked Gaza's main roads, sealed the Gaza crossings to Israel and Egypt, and shut the airport again -- just days after easing the closure.
In the West Bank, hospital sources say Israeli soldiers shot dead a Palestinian man during a confrontation with stone-throwers in the town of Salim, near Nablus. Troops entered the town after shots were fired at Jewish settlers.
At least 365 people have been killed in more than 15 weeks of violence between Israelis and Palestinians. More than 65 of the victims have been Israelis.
Barak condemned the killing of the settler, calling it an unforgivable and abominable crime. Barak told Arabic-language Al Jazeera television that Israel will punish those who carried out the attack.
Israel's military commander for the Gaza region, Col. Yair Naveh, told reporters the Jewish settler, Roni Tsalach was shot in the head, apparently with his own gun. He said the attackers then fled in the settler's car to the nearby Palestinian town of Khan Yunis where they burned it. Tsalach's body was found near his greenhouse at the Kfar Yam settlement in Gaza.
Naveh said Palestinian security forces have returned Mr. Tsalach's car to the Israeli army. Israel has repeatedly called for the Palestinian Authority to curb the violence and take action against those who attack Israelis.
Arab TV Network Interviews Barak
By VOA News
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has spoken directly to the Arab public about his views on achieving peace with Israel's Arab neighbors. He was interviewed by the popular Al-Jazeera satellite television, which is based in Qatar and watched throughout the Arab world.
Barak told Al-Jazeera that Israel has what he called very good ideas to reach a compromise. He said the Palestinians should seize what he called the best opportunity in the past 52 years to make peace with Israel.
However, Barak said he would not make peace at any price. He said Israel would never permit Palestinian refugees to return to former homes in what is now Israel. He also said Israel would not give control to the Palestinians of the contested Jerusalem holy site known by Jews as the Temple Mount and by Muslims as Haram al-Sharif. He said a formula should be found that will answer or respond to the sensitivities or needs of both sides.
Responding to the Barak interview, Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Quray told Al-Jazeera that Barak talks like anything he offers the Palestinians is a favor and not part of their rights.
Iraq Offers Donation to Poor Americans
By VOA News
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein wants to donate about $95 million to poor Americans, on condition that Baghdad supervises the allocation of funds in much the same way the United Nations oversees Iraq's oil earnings.
The Iraqi news agency said the fund would target Americans who need to be helped. It said Iraq would form a commission to supervise distribution of the money. An Iraqi statement said U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan would be informed of the plan.
A U.N. sanctions committee supervises how Iraq spends money from oil sales under international trade sanctions imposed for the invasion of Kuwait. Under the sanctions, Iraq must use the proceeds to buy food, medicine and other essential goods.
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