Reported from Jerusalem
1. ISRAELI DRIVER SHOT IN GAZA… Palestinian gunmen shot and seriously wounded an Israeli truck driver near the Gaza community of Rafah Yam on Sunday morning. Security forces are looking for the shooter. On Friday, a 25-year old Israeli man was shot and killed by Palestinians as he drove near the Alon junction, north of Ramallah. His wife, who was seven months pregnant, was also wounded in the attack. Doctors performed a caesarian section because of her condition and delivered a healthy baby girl. Yassir Arafat’s own Fatah faction claimed credit for the attack.
2. ISRAEL RADIO: 32 NEW TERROR WARNINGS AS OF SUNDAY MORNING… At least 32 new warnings of imminent terror attacks have been received by police as of Sunday morning according to Israel Radio. According to security forces, three suicide attacks were thwarted by Israeli forces over the weekend. The high number of would-be attacks raises fear that one will be successful in the near future.
3. ISRAEL CONTINUES TO MOVE AGAINST TERRORISTS… Israel launched its fifth helicopter missile attack in ten days on Saturday, killing two Hamas members, one reported to be a “field commander.” The dead were identified as AbdullahAkel, 37, and Farid Mayet, 40, both of whom belonged to Hamas’s Izzedine al-Qassam. the military wing. In a separate incident, Palestinian sources claim that an 8-year old girl who died of a bullet wound in the Khan Yunis refugee camp in Gaza was killed by Israeli forces. The Israeli army is investigating the incident.
4. POLL: ISRAELIS BELIEVE TERROR FIGHT FAILED; LOW MARKS FOR SHARON… A newly published poll by Globes, Israel’s financial newspaper, and carried out by the respected Smith organization, indicates that three out of four Israelis believe in some degree that the fight against terror has been “unsuccessful.” The paper notes that the results cut across the usual delineations of “right” or “left” political affiliation. 44% of the population believes that Palestinian terror will strengthen during coming months. The news was not good for Prime Minister Sharon on an individual basis: although the nation is split on what grade to give him on his performance in the fight against terror, his overall rating is the lowest since the start of the violent period that began in September 2000. His positive response dipped to 43% from 60% in June, while his negative grade grew from 38% to 53%.
5. EU’S SOLANA DUE IN ISRAEL; NO PALESTINIANS ON AGENDA… Javier Solana’s trip to Israel today and tomorrow will be distinctively different from past visits. The European Union’s foreign policy coordinator will meet with Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Sharon and Finance Minister Shalom, but will not meet with any Palestinian leaders: most notably Yassir Arafat. On a previous visit in May, Solana angered Sharon by opting to meet with Arafat when the Israelis said they will not meet with diplomats who meet with the Palestinian leader. This time around, apparently under pressure from the United States and seeking a larger role in the peace process, Solana will forego his customary call in Ramallah. Israel has demanded that the European Union cut off funding for the Hamas terrorist organization.
6. ARAFAT USES ARMED MEN TO ENFORCE HIS DECISION OVER ‘ABBAS… Yassir Arafat resorted to using armed followers to enforce his position in the latest open conflict with Mahmoud ‘Abbas, the beleaguered prime minister. At issue was a decision by the Palestinian Authority’s cabinet to replace the head of the PA’s civil servants – an Arafat loyalist — with an ‘Abbas appointee. Opting for discretion over valor, Sakher Basseso chose to stay away from his new office while Mohammed Abu Sharia, his predecessor-to-be, refused to vacate his position. Sharia was protected by more than a score of Arafat’s armed followers. The stand-off was the latest in a series of measures by Arafat designed to weaken ‘Abbas and reassert himself as the sole power in the Palestinian Authority. ‘Abbas, who is rumored to have had enough, had called for a vote of confidence to be held by the Palestinian Legislative Council on Monday, but it has now been posponed until Thursday because of severe pressure by the Bush Administration.
7. EUROPEAN SOCCER BAN IN ISRAEL EXTENDED… Israel’s soccer fields will remain off-limits for European teams, according to the sport’s governing body. In making the announcement, the UFEA cited the “collapse of the agreed cease-fire and expressed its hope that peace could be restored in the near future.” Israel is hoping that it can have the decision reversed by Fall.
8. EL AL’S FIRST REPORT DISAPPOINTING… El Al Israel Airline’s first report since trading on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange showed a quarterly loss greater than had been expected. The second-quarter loss rose from $7.5 million to $28.1 million. However, a great deal of the loss was attributed to currency exchange rates. Revenue increased in the second quarter compared to the same period last year.
9. CASINO INTEREST GROWING IN ISRAEL… Interest in bringing gambling casinos to Israel is continuing to grow. Last week, the kibbutz-owners of Hamat Gader, the ancient Roman spa at the foot of the Golan Heights joined those already seeking to build casinos throughout the country. Also last week, a new study was released, discrediting an opinion of the Attorney General that said legalized gambling will cause an increase crime. The study, conducted by Dr. Nitzan Yaniv of the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, claims that Attorney General Rubinstein’s position is unfounded. Yaniv said that “his reasoning is due to conservatism on the part of the governing establishment.” Once past the legal obstacles, legislation allowing gambling is expected to face fierce opposition from the religious community.
10. IT’S BACK TO SCHOOL IN ISRAEL, PA… 1.75 million Israeli schoolchildren are returning to class this morning, with the exception of the Acre (Akko) area where a strike is underway. The weeks leading up to the school opening was marked by considerably less union posturing and strike threats than in previous years. Schools in the Palestinian Authority resume tomorrow, where families in the PA have complained that ongoing fighting and economic situation is making it difficult for students to pay the fees for books and uniforms.