1. ISRAEL LAUNCHES NEW STRIKE ON GAZA; SAYS HAMAS STILL PLANNING TERROR OPERATIONS… Israel launched new air strikes on four locations in the Gaza Strip early Wednesday morning. Power was reportedly knocked out in Gaza City, causing a citywide blackout. There, buildings belonging to Fatah and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine were among the targets, as was the Al-Boureij refugee camp south of the city. An access road to an area used for launching rockets near Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip was also hit. Israeli sources allege that although the Hamas leadership announced this week that it is halting rocket launchings against Israel, Hamas cells in at least two West Bank areas are actively planning terror attacks against Israeli targets. Two rockets were launched at Israel on Tuesday. Hamas also admitted responsibility for the kidnapping and murder of an Israeli man. Jerusalem resident Sasson Nuriel was abducted a week ago, but his body was found only on Monday. He had been forced to appear in a video calling for the release of Palestinian prisoners. Authorities believe the plan had been to use Nuriel to secure the release of Palestinians held by Israel, but when the massive operations by the Israeli military interfered with those plans, he was killed.
2. SHARON AIDE: NEXT, WE’LL SET BORDERS UNILATERALLY… Following the pattern set by Israel’s pullout from the Gaza Strip, Ariel Sharon’s top political strategist has said that the prime minister is considering further unilateral moves including setting final borders between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Eyal Arad said in a broadcast interview on Israel Radio that such a move would include the annexation of post-1967 territory. International policy including that of the United States is firmly opposed to unilateral actions by either side. Although the Prime Minister’s Office responded to an inquiry by saying there is no such plan, analysts for The Media Line point out that virtually all of Prime Minister Sharon’s policies are foreshadowed by such trial balloons.
3. ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE DATING TO FIRST TEMPLE OPENED IN JERUSALEM… A ritual bath and a wall dating to the First Temple period were unveiled in Jerusalem on Tuesday. The temple was destroyed in the year 586 B.C. (B.C.E.). The discovery comes amid controversy over Muslim destruction of Jewish artifacts on the Temple Mount and Islamic claims that there was no historical Jewish presence in Jerusalem. The new tourist site, which will be opened in a few weeks, is underground, running parallel to the Western Wall. A sound and light show will review Jewish claims to the site. The head of the Islamic Trust, the Waqf, accused Israel of using the site as means of “confiscating Muslim property.”
4. DELTA AIRLINES WILL RESUME ISRAEL FLIGHTS… Five years after it stopped flying to Israel, Delta Airlines is returning. The Atlanta-based carrier will inaugurate a daily Atlanta-Tel Aviv flight beginning in April, utilizing Boeing 777 aircraft. Although Delta is under bankruptcy protection, its officials believe that the Israel route will be a revenue-generator. Official word of the move will be made at a press conference in Atlanta on October 6.
5. ISRAEL SHELVES REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL AID… Fearing the negative image it would portray to Americans, Israel has for the time being shelved its request for $2.2 billion in additional aid from the United States. The money was to offset the cost of the recently-completed withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and was to be in addition to the $2.5 billion Israel receives annually. Officials said the request might be resubmitted – perhaps six months from now. Israeli officials are relieved that Israel has apparently been left off the “offset” list being prepared by Senate Republicans. Those are specific reductions in previously set aid levels to be used to pay for the massive cost of hurricane relief. Egypt is on that list.