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The Media Line Daily News Focus

1. U.S., ISRAEL FAIL TO AGREE ON NEW ARMS TRADING PACT… Talks in Washington between Israeli and American officials aimed at ending what has been termed a “crisis” in the relationship between the two nations ended on Tuesday with no results. American angst over Israeli arms sales to China are at the core of the conflict. The negotiations were intended to result in a new formal agreement that would address the needs of both sides, but would give the United States virtual veto power over sales of Israeli military goods to third parties. Last week Israel announced that it was capitulating to American demands and for the second time in five years reneging on a signed contract with China. The current case is that of Israeli-made Harpy unmanned drones that were sold to China and are presently in Israel for upgrading. The Bush administration has demanded that Israel confiscate the UAVs rather than fulfilling its contract and returning them to China. Five years ago, Israel breached a contract to provide Phalcon early warning systems to China and was forced to pay restitution and damages estimated at $1 billion. While Israel contends its sales to China include no American technology and therefore do not require approval from Washington, the administration’s position is that good allies look beyond the letter of the law and take policy into consideration. Both sides put a positive spin on the talks and said negotiations will continue.

2. HEAD OF FATAH ‘DEATH SQUAD’ RETURNS AS P.A. SECURITY OFFICIAL… Nabil Tamus, who once headed the Fatah faction’s so-called “death-squads”, is returning to the Gaza Strip in a new capacity: as head of a special Palestinian Authority security arm. The move is being viewed as an attempt by the Palestinian Authority to assert its authority in the Gaza Strip and wrest control from the increasingly powerful Hamas terrorist organization. The unit that Tamus will head was created to act quickly to seize control of land as it is evacuated by the Israelis in the course of the planned unilateral pullout slated to begin in August. It will be responsible for preventing looting, maintaining order and keeping Hamas out. Hamas recently said it has created what it calls a “popular army” in Gaza and is carrying out armed patrols. The case of Tamus illustrates the comment P.A. security adviser Jibril Rajoub made to The Mideast Press Club on Monday. He said that most attacks on Israeli targets are carried out by members of the Palestinian security mechanisms, which is why the P.A. wants to control them.

3. POLICE INVESTIGATING BEATING OF TWO PALESTINIANS BY ISRAELI MOSHAV RESIDENTS… Police are investigating the beating of two Palestinian teens by possibly two hundred Israelis at Moshav Ahiezer in the central part of the country on Tuesday. Early reports indicated the two victims are residents of Nablus who were inside pre-1967 Israel illegally and had attempted to break into a home on the moshav. They were caught by residents who began to beat them. One of the pair was listed in critical condition at a nearby hospital where he was taken by Israeli Border Police. The other one suffered light injuries. Police want to know who in the crowd instigated the violence.

4. FIRST ISRAELI SOLDIER TO REFUSE PULLOUT-RELATED ORDERS SENTENCED TO JAIL… Corporal Avi Bieber, 19, became the first Israeli soldier to receive a jail sentence for refusing orders relating to the Gaza pullout. On Monday, Bieber refused to participate in the demolition of deserted homes in the Gush Katif enclave of Israeli communities in the Gaza Strip. His commanding officer testified that in addition to refusing to carry out his orders, Bieber shouted profanities at officers and incited other soldiers to disobey orders as well. The American immigrant will serve 56 days in jail for refusing orders, threatening and insulting an officer and for giving a media interview without permission.