Middle East briefs
By JTA
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Credentials at risk for al-Dura reporter
JERUSALEM (JTA)—Israel’s top court is being asked to revoke the media credentials of a French television station and reporter in the Mohammed al-Dura affair.
The Israel Law Center, a human rights organization, alleges that France 2 TV and reporter Charles Enderlin presented a fraudulent report claiming that Israeli forces shot and killed al-Dura on Sept. 30, 2000. The report said al-Dura, 12, and his father were caught in the crossfire between Israeli troops and Palestinian gunmen in the Gaza Strip. Israel’s Government Press Office told the Supreme Court it could revoke press credentials only if national security were threatened. Israel initially apologized for the incident, but later said an investigation showed its troops could not have struck the boy from their positions.
During a defamation suit brought by a media watchdog group in France, footage showed that seconds after al-Dura was seen lying motionless and apparently dead in the arms of his father after supposedly being shot, the boy lifted his arm and peered through his fingers at the camera. Enderlin denied allegations that his report was a fraud. He was not present during the shooting but made his report from the West Bank after viewing the tape.
Ahmadinejad assails Israel as ‘corpse’
WASHINGTON (JTA)—Israel is a “stinking corpse” on its way to “annihilation,” Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Israel’s 60th birthday. “Those who think they can revive the stinking corpse of the usurping and fake Israeli regime by throwing a birthday party are seriously mistaken,” a French news agency quoted the Iranian president as saying May 8, Israel’s Independence Day. “Today the reason for the Zionist regime’s existence is questioned, and this regime is on its way to annihilation.”
Hamas sheller killed
JERUSALEM (JTA)—Israel’s air force attacked a Palestinian mortar crew in the southern Gaza Strip, killing one. A military aircraft fired a missile at a group of Hamas gunmen May 13 as they prepared to fire mortar bombs from Khan Younis in Israel. One Hamas member was killed and two others were wounded.
Gaza rocket kills Israeli
JERUSALEM (JTA)—An Israeli woman was killed by a rocket fired from Gaza, and military-grade rockets also struck Ashkelon. Initial reports described the woman as a resident of Yesha, an Israeli town just east of central Gaza. She died May 12 of wounds sustained from a rocket strike on a building. She was the second Israeli to be killed by shelling from Gaza in the last few days. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. Also on May 12, Palestinian terrorists fired two military-grade rockets at the Israeli city of Ashkelon, causing light damage but no casualties. It was the first time in almost two months that a Palestinian rocket salvo had reached so deep into Israel.
Hamas shell kills Israeli
JERUSALEM (JTA)—An Israeli was killed in a Palestinian mortar barrage on a kibbutz outside the Gaza Strip. The 48-year-old man died May 9 from mortar shells fired at Kibbutz Kfar Azza. Another civilian was wounded. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack. Israel retaliated with a series of airstrikes against armed Palestinian targets in Gaza. At least five Hamas gunmen were killed.
JAFI launches virtual birthday card for Israel
JERUSALEM (JTA)—A Jewish Agency virtual birthday card aims to unite 60,000 young Jews from around the world to support Israel. The Jewish Agency for Israel’s Next Generation Leadership project will continue throughout Israel’s 60th year, until April 2009. Proceeds from donations from card-signers will support Jewish Agency programming including helping new immigrants, supporting Israeli youth at risk and assisting Sderot residents. The virtual birthday card is located at www.happybirthdayisrael.org.
Barak: Gaza truce hinges on Shalit release
JERUSALEM (JTA)—Israel signaled that any truce with Hamas in Gaza would be conditioned on the release of captive soldier Gilad Shalit. Egyptian mediator Omar Suleiman held high-level talks in Israel on May 12 about a Hamas proposal for a six-month cease-fire in Gaza accompanied by a lifting of the economic embargo on the territory. Israel, which had previously rebuffed to the idea, appeared to be conditioning acquiescence on Hamas first freeing Shalit, a soldier it has held since June 2006.
Olmert slams trafficking of women in Israel
JERUSALEM (JTA)—Ehud Olmert acknowledged that Israel is a major player in the illegal international trafficking of women for prostitution. At a Knesset session May 11 on the status of women in the Jewish state, the Israeli prime minister said the trafficking of prostitutes is “an industry that involves not only Israeli women, but also women from abroad who are put up for sale. We have become, to my regret, an ‘importer’ in the field because there is demand, and this is difficult to deal with.” International agencies regularly cite Israel for its relatively high involvement in the trafficking of women, many of whom are brought in by foot from the Egyptian Sinai.
Hamas shuts Gaza City power plant
JERUSALEM (JTA)—Hamas shut down Gaza City’s only power plant, claiming Israel did not provide enough fuel to run it. But the Israeli government accused Hamas of creating the crisis, The Associated Press reported. The power plant supplies electricity to the 400,000 residents of Gaza City and surrounding communities, who will continue to receive six hours of electricity a day from land lines connected to Israel. The AP reported that Hamas is believed to be hoarding fuel supplies transferred each week from Israel in order to provide their loyalists with fuel.
Israel, Egypt to discuss Gaza truce
JERUSALEM (JTA)—Israel will hear Egypt’s proposal for a truce with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman is due to visit Israel on May 19 to present a deal, accepted by Hamas, for a six-month Gaza cease-fire conditioned on the lifting of an Israeli embargo on the coastal territory. Israel rejected the initiative when it was first floated last month but has since signaled some flexibility.
Israel in talks to join U.S. warning system
WASHINGTON (JTA)—The Bush administration may link Israel to a U.S. missile-defense system. Ahead of President Bush’s three-day visit to Israel this week, Jerusalem sources said intensive talks are under way about a proposal to station a U.S.-made ground radar in Israel that would significantly expand its early-warning capabilities in any future missile war with Iran or Syria.
Israel gets greeting from space
WASHINGTON (JTA)—American astronaut Garrett Reisman sent a greeting from space to Israel for its 60th birthday. Reisman, 40, a mechanical engineer from Parsippany, N.J., is the first Jewish crew member on the international space station. He has been in space since March 11. “Every time the station flies over the state of Israel, I try to find a window, and it never fails to move me when I see the familiar outline of Israel coming toward us from over the horizon,” Reisman said.
Poll: Kook most influential Israel builder
JERUSALEM (JTA)—Rabbi Avraham Issac Kook was most influential in building the state of Israel, a poll found. The religious Zionist leader, who served as the first Ashkenazi chief rabbi before the Jewish state was even established, topped a survey that asked Israelis to rank Jewish leaders according to their contribution to the state. David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first prime minister, was second in the Ynet-Gesher Society poll conducted for Israel’s 60th birthday. The Lubavitcher rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, and Zionism founder Theodor Herzl came in third and fourth.