1. ISRAEL FREEZES OFFENSIVE MILITARY OPERATIONS IN THE GAZA STRIP… Israeli army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Moshe Ya’alon ordered a virtual freeze of offensive operations in the Gaza Strip on Friday. The announcement said, in part, that “In light of the ongoing cooperation between Israel and representatives of the Palestinian Authority, the Chief of Staff has ordered changes in the [army’s] operational activity framework…[including] a minimization in proactive operations in order to allow the Palestinian Authority forces to spread out in the area and take responsibility for the cessation of terror attacks.” The directive said that “Proactive operations in the Gaza Strip will cease in the areas in which Palestinian security forces have redeployed and in which terror activities against Israeli civilians and IDF [army] forces must be stopped.” If the Palestinians commit to specific security measures in and around the three Gaza Strip crossing points, the Israelis will reopen the Karni, Erez and Rafah border crossings. In spite of Ya’alon’s directives, there were a number of shooting incidents over the weekend, including the launching of a Qassam rocket from Beit Hanoun that landed in an Israeli Negev kibbutz causing no damage or injuries.
2. NA’SRALLAH THREATENS TO KIDNAP ISRAELI SOLDIERS… While optimism on the Israeli-Palestinian front grew cautiously, stark reminders of the conflict on the northern border took center stage on Saturday. Speaking at a rally that marked the first anniversary of last year’s prisoner exchange between Israel and the Hizbullah terror organization, Hizbullah head Sheikh Hasan Na’srallah told the assemblage in Beirut that he confirms that the strategic option of kidnapping Israeli soldiers remains open. Lebanese newspapers had raised speculation that Na’srallah was going to provide information about a further prisoner swap during his remarks at the rally, but this did not happen. Na’srallah is committed to gaining the release of a terrorist serving a 542-year sentence for murdering an Israeli family in the northern city of Nahariya in 1979, and Israel is still waiting for definitive word on the fate of airman Ron Arad, who has been missing for 19 years.
3. SHARON TO PRESENT NEW FENCE ROUTE TO CABINET… Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will present the revised route of the controversial security fence to his cabinet for approval this week. The new course will undoubtedly make Sharon’s upcoming summit with Palestinian leader Mahmoud ‘Abbas more difficult, since it calls for a deep incursion into post-1967 territory in order to include 10 communities in the Gush Etzion area within its circumference. Farther south, in the area of Mount Hebron, the new path will hug the “Green Line” – the pre-1967 demarcation line – as the Palestinians and the international community have demanded. Particularly problematic is the fact that the new path will also encompass four Palestinian villages that are home to at least 18,000 residents, in addition to a significant amount of property owned by Palestinians who live in Bethlehem. These towns, residents and land parcels will effectively be cut off from the Palestinian Authority. Sharon is expected to hold his first face-to-face meeting with ‘Abbas, the newly elected Palestinian president, within a week or so.
4. U.S. TRYING POSITIVE SPIN ON HAMAS ELECTION WIN… The results of the first-ever municipal elections in the Gaza Strip were anything but a good sign for the United States. In the first head-to-head contest between the newly-elected Palestinian president and the Hamas terrorist organization, Hamas was the overwhelming victor. American reaction came from State Department spokesman Richard Boucher in Washington, who tried to put a positive spin on the outcome by praising the fact that peaceful elections were held at all and the cooperation that was shown by Israeli and Palestinian leadership in making it happen. Boucher left no doubt about the Bush administration’s position vis-à-vis Hamas, saying the U.S. has “not changed our view of Hamas as an organization. We think it needs to be put out of the terrorism business. And that remains very clear for us.” Hamas swept seven out of ten municipalities, winning 77 of the 118 council seats, with 20 seats going for women. Voter turnout
surpassed 85 percent.
5. PUTIN WILL GO AHEAD WITH MISSILE SALE TO SYRIA… Russian President Vladimir Putin is apparently going ahead with the sale of SA18 surface-to-air missiles to Syria despite objections from both Israel and the United States. Putin told Israel’s Channel Ten television that he does not believe the weapon will alter the balance of power between Israel and Syria and will not fall into the hands of terrorists. Israel is concerned that the Hizbullah terrorist organization will be the ultimate end-user of the missiles.
6. INDIA DISAPPOINTED BY ISRAEL’S DECISION TO BUY AMERICAN TARGET AIRCRAFT… India is disappointed by Israel’s decision to purchase American pilotless target aircraft (PTA), having believed that the Indian Lakshya had been selected. Indian media have termed the Israeli decision “backtracking on its agreement for ‘reciprocal procurement’ of defense-related items.” A spokesman for Israel’s Defense Ministry said the final decision was an economic one. The United States provides Israel with more than $2 billion in military aid, most of which has to be spent in the U.S. Presumably, American PTAs fall under this category. Another Israel-India deal remains alive: Israel is planning to purchase the Indian ‘Dhruv’ light helicopter.
7. U.N.: ISRAEL WILL REMAIN ‘OCCUPYING POWER’ AFTER GAZA WITHDRAWAL… A United Nations official has warned that Israel will remain the occupying power even after its planned unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip is complete. U.N. Special Human Rights Envoy to the Occupied Territory, South African Law Professor John Dugard said last week that the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s Gaza withdrawal plan will not relieve Israel of its obligations as an occupying power under the Geneva Convention on the treatment of civilians under military occupation. Dugard also said that, “The demolitions of houses in Rafah , Jabaliyya, and other parts of Gaza probably qualify as war crimes under the Geneva Convention.” Officials in several Israeli ministries have recently been researching whether the unilateral pullout from Gaza would release Israel from the status of occupying power. The general consensus is that it will remain problematic as long as it retains control over ports, crossing points and air space.
8. EPHRAIM KISHON DIES IN SWITZERLAND AT 80… Ephraim Kishon, one of the leading literary figures in Israel’s history, died on Saturday in Switzerland. He was 80 years old. He will be buried in Tel Aviv on Sunday. Hungarian-born Kishon emigrated to Israel in 1949 after having survived a Nazi concentration camp. He became one of Israel’s greatest satirists, writing for newspapers and later entering world theater and film. Kishon’s works have been translated into 37 languages. His most recent play was released only one month ago. In 2003, Kishon was awarded the Israel Prize for lifetime achievement.
9. AL-JAZEERA ON THE BLOCK DUE TO AMERICAN ANGST… The government of Qatar is accelerating plans to sell its Al-Jazeera satellite television station in an attempt to assuage American angst at what it calls “inflammatory” reporting. The New York Times is reporting that Vice President Dick Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell are among Bush administration officials that have “complained heatedly” to Qatari leaders that Al-Jazeera’s broadcasts have been “inflammatory, misleading and occasionally false, especially on Iraq.” In response, a Qatari official speaking under the condition of anonymity told the Times that, “We have recently added new members to the Al-Jazeera editorial board, and one of their tasks is to explore the best way to sell it.” But while the sale would end the Qatari government’s dilemma in terms of irritating its American allies, it would presumably do little to change Al-Jazeera’s editorial content. The station reaches an estimated 30 to 50 million people each day.