1. HAMAS CALLS ISRAELI DECISION ‘ACT OF WAR’… A spokesman for Hamas has said Israel’s decision to suspend contacts with the Palestinian Authority and brand it a “hostile entity” amounts to a “declaration of war.” P.A. Chairman Mahmoud ‘Abbas accused Israel of violating agreements signed with the P.A. and international law. Spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in a written statement that the Israeli move is “a declaration of war and a failed attempt to cause internal divisions among Palestinians.”
2. ISRAEL WILL CONTINUE SHELLING NEAR CIVILIAN AREAS TO COMBAT ROCKET LAUNCHINGS… As international pressure increases, Israel’s military remains adamant that its shelling of civilian areas will continue as long as rockets are fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip. The death of a 12-year-old girl on Monday brings to twelve the number of Palestinian civilians killed by Israeli shelling. Also among the dead is a young boy. But the Israeli military points out that the Qassam rockets are purposely being launched from residential neighborhoods in order to deter Israeli response. While expressing regret at the loss of civilian life, the army says it has reduced the safety zone around Palestinian communities from 300 to 100 meters – the same distance as the “shell fragmentation range.” On Sunday, it was rumored that the Hamas-led Palestinian government is considering reining in those who launch rockets.
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3. ECONOMIST MAGAZINE OFFERS KUDOS TO ISRAEL… The Economist magazine sees a much-improved business environment in Israel. The magazine ranks Israel 23rd out of eighty countries in its yearly ranking of business-friendly environments. Most significant, according to The Economist, is the reduction in bureaucracy and regulatory procedures [although there remains a way to go on the latter front], its openness to foreign investment and accessibility. Globes financial newspaper compares The Economist‘s ratings of Israel and China. It points out that while China is an attractive target for foreign investment, it is “not an easy place to do business.” Israel, however, is set to become even more open to foreign investment over the next five years.
4. PALESTINAN POLL: ONE-THIRD BELIEVE PEACE CAN BE REACHED WITH ISRAEL… A poll released this week by the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion shows only about one-third of the Palestinian population (33.70%) believes that “a permanent peace agreement with Israel can be achieved within four years or less.” One unusual aspect of the poll was to ask Palestinians whether the struggle is between extremists on both sides or between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples collectively. The result: 69.2% feel it’s “between Israelis and Palestinians” while only 27.6% see the conflict as being “between moderates vs. violent extremists on both sides.” The survey’s results also indicate the reason for the overwhelming Hamas electoral victory is because “it’s an Islamic political party” (34.9%) and because of the “corruption of Fatah” (30.6%).
5. ISRAELI SECURITY SOURCES REPORT UPSURGE IN SUICIDE BOMBER WANNABES… Israeli security sources say 90 would-be suicide bombers were arrested in the first third of 2006. The figure represents more than half the number arrested in the entire previous year. Nevertheless, only one terrorist was actually able to carry out his plans: the suicide bomber who blew himself up in a car while hitchhiking at the entrance to the post-1967 community of Qedumim two weeks ago. He killed four people. Sources say all of the terrorist organizations are represented among the detainees, with the notable exception of Hamas, which adhered to its agreement in Cairo to forego attacks. Fatah, however, the faction of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud ‘Abbas, was represented by itself and by a number of offshoot groups belonging to it.