Reported from Jerusalem…
1. SEARCH FOR MISSING SOLDIER CONTINUES… The search for Oleg Shaihat, an Israeli soldier who is believed to have been kidnapped by Palestinian terrorists last Monday, is continuing today after Saturday’s efforts proved fruitless. Shaihat was on the way from his army base in Safed (Tzfat) to his home in Upper Nazareth when he disappeared. On Saturday, more than 500 volunteers joined police in a search of the area in which he was last seen. The police commander for the northern district said on Friday that, “The worst-case scenario – that Oleg has been kidnapped or murdered by terrorists – has become a more likely scenario today.” Local Arab leaders, including the Mayor of Nazareth and heads of local councils, have asked their community to help in finding Shaihat.
2. SIX ELDERLY JEWS AIRLIFTED TO ISRAEL FROM IRAQ … Six Jews ranging in age from 70 to 99, touched down in Israel on Friday after being airlifted in a secret joint-operation carried out by the Jewish Agency and HIAS, a Jewish-American relief organization. The six were among the last survivors of the once-vibrant Iraqi Jewish community. A Jewish Agency spokesman told Israel’s Channel Two television that they have identified only 28 other Iraqi Jews, none of whom wants to come to Israel.
3. U.S. — ISRAEL’S SECURITY FENCE GAP WIDENS… The rift between the United States and Israel over the security fence being built between Israel and Palestinian areas widened over the weekend with President Bush himself weighing in on the issue. Following a meeting with Mahmoud ‘Abbas, the Palestinian Authority’s prime minister, Bush called the fence “a problem” and said that, “It is very difficult to develop confidence between the Palestinians and Israel with a wall snaking through the West Bank.” Mr. Bush also said that Israeli settlement activity must cease.
4. PRESIDENT BUSH AGREES: NO KILLERS RELEASED… Speaking to reporters after meeting with Mahmoud ‘Abbas, President George W. Bush differed from his guest on the issue of releasing Palestinian prisoners being held by Israel. He refused to endorse the idea of allowing murderers to go free. The President said that, “Surely, nobody wants to let a cold-blooded killer out of prison that would help derail the process.” On the issue of American financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority, Bush stopped short of promising specific direct aid. Aid is presently routed through international organizations because of concerns of corruption in the PA. The majority leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, Tom DeLay of Texas, a staunch supporter of Israel, has vowed to oppose any resumption of direct aid. Nevertheless, the U.S. Secretaries of Treasury and Commerce will visit the region this fall to assess the economic situation as the Bush Administration formulates its plans for assistance.
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5. SHARON, BENDING TO U.S., FACES CABINET FIGHT OVER PRISONER RELEASE… Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon wants to bring along good news when he visits U.S. President George W. Bush this week. Although an announcement that 100 prisoners belonging to the Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist organizations will be among the hundreds that he will release this week tops his wish-list, Sharon faces a tough battle in his own cabinet in order to make it happen. Opposition to his proposal comes from two right wing parties and from a number of ministers in his own Likud Party. According to media nose-counters, the outcome might very well be determined by former Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Sylvan Shalom. Regardless of the outcome in the cabinet, the Prime Minister will nevertheless be able to deliver other gifts to Mr. Bush. Again bowing to pressure, Sharon has agreed to withdraw Israeli forces from two more Palestinian towns. The hot-bed of Qalqilya is reported to be one of those chosen. The withdrawals are opposed by both the Shin Bet security service and the Israeli army. Other easings of restrictions in the Palestinian areas will be announced on Sunday.
6. “BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS” IS A SUBJECTIVE TERM… Although Prime Minister Ariel Sharon continues to vow that no “prisoners with blood on their hands” will be released from Israeli prisons, a number of the 630 Palestinians listed for release this week are security prisoners who have been convicted of “terror-related offenses.”
7. U.S. PEACE CAMP POLL SHOWS STRONG AMERICAN SUPPORT FOR THE “ROAD MAP”… A poll jointly commissioned by Americans for Peace Now and the Arab American Institute shows a strong majority of American Jews and Arab-Americans supporting the “Road Map for Peace.” According to the poll, 71% of American Jews support the plan, as do 73.8% of Arab-Americans. It also showed a dip in support of President Bush’s Middle East policies, although a solid majority of both communities continues to support him.
8. SHARON POSTPONED VOTE ON SECURITY FENCE FUNDING… Prime Minister Ariel Sharon “postponed indefinitely” a vote on the funding of the controversial security fence dividing Israel and Palestinian areas after members of his own Likud Party demanded further discussion of the barrier’s route. The fence has been controversial in Israel since it was first announced because of its high cost ($170.4 million) and concerns by right wing groups that it would create de-facto borders of a Palestinian state. The latter concern is shared by the Palestinians who also oppose construction of the fence. Recently, the United States has adopted the same stance in opposition to the barrier, claiming it has political ramifications that hinder the peace process. The issue has since emerged as the most heated point of disagreement between the U.S. and Israel.
9. JEWISH COMMUNITIES IN POST-1967 TERRITORIES TO LOSE INCENTIVES… Israel’s Interior Ministry has cancelled economic incentives for Jewish communities in post-1967 territories. In announcing the move, Avraham Poraz said that all communities will be treated equally, regardless of where they are located. A yearly stipend of $16 million for security needs for the communities located in the territories, considered to be more dangerous than those in pre-1967 Israel, has also been discontinued. Poraz is a member of the Shinui Party which adheres to a vehemently “anti-settlement” policy. The Council of Settlements called the move “anti-settler racism.”
10. ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS AGREE ON GREATER EUROPEAN ROLE… Israeli Foreign Minister Sylvan Shalom and Nabil Sha’ath of the Palestinian Authority, agree that the European nations should play a greater role in the Middle East peace process. Shalom said that, “the time has come for the Europeans to change their approach even in the United Nations…Israel and Europe have to live together…sharing the same values of democracy, rule of law and respect of human rights.” Shaath views the Europeans as a “guarantee” for the Palestinian side in the peace process.
11. SYRIA DENIES REPORTS OF ITS DESIRE TO TALK TO ISRAEL… After United Nations Middle East coordinator Terje Larsen told Israel Radio of his certainty that Syrian dictator Bashar Al-Asad wants to resume talks with Israel, the Syrian Foreign Ministry issued a statement denying that it is so. Larsen’s assessment was the latest in a series of reports saying that messages had been sent from Al-Asad to Ariel Sharon through intermediaries indicating his willingness to reopen talks. Each time the Israelis dismissed the reports as fanciful.
12. ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN COOPERATION ON POWER STATION… In a joint effort, Israel and the Palestinian Authority, with aid from the European Union, will build a power station on the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip. The station would be operated with natural gas pumped from fields discovered by British Gas off Gaza’s shore. Connecting the PA to a proposed natural gaspipeline to be built in Israel is also being discussed, according to Globes financial newspaper.