1. IRAN: SHIHAB MISSILE HAS LONGER RANGE…The Iranian Shihab-3 missile can now reach well beyond the borders of Israel, Egypt and Turkey. Until Monday, it was widely believed by military experts that the rocket had a range of some 800 miles. However Tehran announced yesterday the missile can travel more than 1,000 miles. A government spokesman said it can now “reach the heart of the enemy.”
2. REPORT: LEADING PALESTINIANS WILL BE RELEASED IN PRISONER SWAP…Hizbullah has seemingly ensured that several top members of Palestinian terror organizations will be released as part of a prisoner exchange. Israel’s Haaretz newspaper has today listed the names of several political leaders of the Aq’sa Martyrs Brigades, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, who will be freed alongside members of Hizbullah in exchange for one Israeli and what are believed to be the remains of a further three. Reports in the Palestinian media are suggesting the deal could be completed as early as Thursday.
3. PERES ROUNDS OFF BIRTHDAY WITH WARNINGS…Octogenarian Shimon Peres has issued warnings to Israeli premier Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Yassir Arafat. In Sharon’s case, Peres, who now heads the opposition Labor Party, says if he speeds up the peace process he will have the full backing of Labor, but if he dawdles Labor will fight hard against the government. On the Arafat front, Peres warned that if the Palestinians do not move quickly to fight terrorism, then the Palestinian Authority itself will become the target of an international anti-terrorism campaign.
4. NO CUT TO LOAN GUARANTEES, FOR NOW…The U.S. loan guarantees covering Israel’s international borrowing will not be reduced if Israel continues constructing its security buffer inside the West Bank, that is the official reported view of National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. She made the concession during a meeting on Monday with two senior Israeli civil servants. However, Rice told the men the buffer is not in line with the American vision for the future of the Middle East. The buffer aims to separate major Israeli and Palestinian conurbations.
5. SHARON FACING COALITION CRISIS?…The first hints of a coalition crisis in the offing are beginning to surface in Israel. The dissatisfaction with a proposed cut in welfare benefits in 2004 and opposition to construction of the security buffer are leading unhappy politicians to suggest their stay in the government may be short-lived. At the same time the country’s Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is seemingly urging the Labor Party to consider joining his coalition.