1. EGYPTIANS LOOK FOR TIE TO TABA BOMBINGS; AL-QA’IDA LINK SEEMS DOUBTFUL… With a third claim of responsibility for Saturday’s triple bombing in Sharm A-Sheikh having been received, Egyptian officials are trying to determine whether those behind the attack are connected to last October’s Taba bombing and whether the perpetrators are local or have ties to Al-Qa’ida. The death toll in the weekend killings is reported to be at least 88, with many injured still in serious to critical condition. Security officials told news agencies that three men believed to be those who set two of the charges were seen leaving the scene. Ties to Al-Qa’ida seem less probable with only one of the three groups claiming responsibility having any connection at all. Egyptian officials fear the latest violence will cause severe impact on the nation’s tourism industry.
2. SHARON LASHES BACK AT LONDON’S MAYOR… Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has lashed back angrily at London Mayor Ken Livingstone’s comparison of his political party to the Hamas terrorist organization. In an interview with Sky News last week, Livingstone said he sees no difference between Israel’s Likud party and Hamas, calling them “two sides of the same coin.” He said Israeli actions against the Palestinians “border on crimes against humanity.” Speaking to a party gathering on Sunday night, Sharon said, “The comparison drawn by the mayor of London was grave and inappropriate. It indicates ignorance and a basic misunderstanding of reality.” His remarks were broadcast nationwide by Israel Radio.
3. ISRAELI CHIEF-OF-STAFF WARNS RIGHT WING REFUSALS TO SERVE WILL SPAWN LEFT WING REFUSALS… Israeli Army Chief-of-Staff Dan Halutz has warned right wing leaders that the refusal of right-leaning soldiers to participate in the Gaza withdrawal could spawn left wing refusals to serve in the post-1967 territories. Halutz told heads of the umbrella organization representing Israeli residents of those areas that “Refusal is unacceptable, whether from the right or from the left.” Halutz told the Yesha Council that he does not object to anti-pullout demonstrations, only verbal and physical abuse including graffiti that denigrates the army. Military service is part of every Israeli and a driving force in most aspects of Israeli life. All men and women are required to serve for three years upon reaching 18 years of age.
4. INTEL DENIES DECISION TO BUILD NEW PLANT ANNOUNCED BY SHARON… Intel Corporation’s spokesman in Israel says the Israeli prime minister was premature in announcing plans to build a $4 billion plant in Israel. Ariel Sharon told his cabinet on Sunday that the giant chip-maker had decided to build a second plant alongside its existing site in the city of Qiryat Gat. Sharon told his ministers that he had spoken directly with Intel CEO Craig Barrett on Saturday night, but spokesman Koby Bahar said on Sunday that no decision has been reached. At stake are jobs for between 2,000 and 4,000 Israelis.
5. AMERICAN EPA AND ISRAEL SIGN WATER SECURITY AGREEMENT… America’s Environmental Protection Agency and Israel’s Ministry of Infrastructure have signed an agreement to work jointly for improved water system security in both countries. According to Medical News Today, areas of cooperation will include contamination warning systems, field testing of sensor technologies, water supply risk assessment and management, and emergency response. The EPA has working agreements with 12 other Middle Eastern nations.