1. HAMAS LEADER HALTS ANTI-ISRAEL OPERATIONS FROM GAZA; ISRAEL KILLS ISLAMIC JIHAD LEADER… In the early hours before dawn on Monday, the Israeli Air Force struck at four targets inside the Gaza Strip. Earlier, a Hamas leader had declared a halt in armed operations against Israel from Gaza, but his declaration was followed by the launching of rockets and mortars at Israeli territory. The Israeli targets included a road that had been used to launch rockets and four buildings the Israeli military claimed were used for manufacturing and storing weapons. Earlier on Sunday, Hamas leader Mahmoud A-Zahhar announced his organization was suspending attacks against Israel in order to “protect the Palestinian people from the oppression of the Zionists and to preserve the atmosphere of celebrations at the defeat of the occupation.” A-Zahhar denied the move was in response to either pressure by the Palestinian Authority or the Israeli military campaign. Nevertheless, within hours of A-Zahhar’s statement, a mortar round landed in a field belonging to a kibbutz near the Gaza border and a Qassam rocket was fired into Israel’s western Negev region. Islamic Jihad tried to convince Hamas to end its cease-fire after Israel killed its top military commander in an air strike in Gaza.
2. SHARON-‘ABBAS SUMMIT DELAYED; NO-CONFIDENCE MEASURE POSTPONED… Israeli officials have announced that a meeting between Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud ‘Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that was set for October 2nd has been postponed. Although no reason was given, ‘Abbas had said earlier that more time was needed in order to prepare for the meeting in order for it to be successful. A planning meeting between aides to both men was also called off. Also postponed was a vote on a motion of no-confidence against the Palestinian government that had been slated for Monday. The delay came because of the latest spate of violence between Israel and the Palestinians. The subject of the no-confidence measure was the continued lawlessness in the P.A. and the government’s seeming inability to take control.
3. NEW U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL REFUSES TO CRITICIZE ISRAELI MILITARY ACTION… In his first interview with the media after presenting his credentials to Israeli President Moshe Katsav, U.S. Ambassador Richard Jones expressed American understanding and implicit support for Israel’s military action in the Gaza Strip. Jones blamed terrorists for trying to provoke Israel and said the U.S., for its part, “understands what the [Israeli] government’s position is.”
4. BRITISH POLITICIAN TAKES ON THE PALESTINIAN ECONOMY… A British cabinet minister considered by many to be Prime Minister Tony Blair’s probable successor appears set to make improving the Palestinian economy a personal project. Gordon Brown, the UK’s Treasurer, has already held talks with Israel’s Finance Ministry, the European Investment Bank and the World Bank in an effort to identify areas of productive investment in Palestinian infrastructure, and next month Brown will travel to the region to continue his efforts. In an interview with the Guardian newspaper, Brown said that he wants the European Commission and European Investment Bank to guarantee loans to investors in start-up enterprises in the P.A. Brown sees a strong economy as the antidote to violence in the region, and wants to see a goal of 10 percent growth per year “for many years.” The Palestinian Authority has previously announced that beginning in 2006 it is seeking to privatize key industries including oil and cement, and the sea and airports.