News: April 10, 2008

Iran helps Syria ‘listen’ to Israel

Syrian officials confirmed reports that Tehran has been building listening stations in Syria to intercept Israeli military communications. A Syrian member of parliament, Mohammed Habash, told the pan-Arab daily al-Sharq al-Awsat last Thursday that the listening stations in Syria were no secret. “Syria is doing all it could to defend its territory and is turning to military experts for help,” said Habash, who heads parliament’s Syrian-Iranian relations committee. “We are still at war with Israel. We have the right to defend our borders with all means within international law,” Habash added.

Israelis favour ‘Palestine’ for Arabs

Three in four Israeli Jews favour the idea of including  their Arab compatriots in a future Palestinian state, a poll found. According to a survey commissioned this week by the Knesset Channel, 76 per cent of Jews in Israel believe all or selected Israeli Arab communities should be included within the borders of “Palestine” when it arises. Some of those favouring the idea proposed that Arab citizens deemed loyal to Israel be given the option of staying.
Twenty-four per cent of respondents were opposed to the proposed “transfer.” Arabs comprise 20 per cent of the Jewish state’s population, and long-simmering tensions have been pushed to the boiling point by the past eight years of Palestinian violence. Many in the Israeli Arab sector openly identify with the Palestinians, including their radical anti-Zionist elements like Hamas. Israeli demographers also note that the relatively higher birthrate in Arab communities poses a long-term threat to the Jewish majority. The poll had 668 respondents and a 3.7 per cent margin of error.

Firm recognized for ethics

An Israeli firm was named as the most ethical foreign company that works with the U.S. government. Elbit Systems was the choice of Ethisphere when the American journal, which tracks international business practices, issued its annual assessment of government contractors this week. Elbit, which specializes in defence technologies, topped the list of the five best foreign companies with a grade of 74.59 per cent satisfaction. The other four companies are British.

Hamas chief: Holocaust ‘exaggerated’

Hamas believes the Holocaust was “exaggerated,” its supreme leader said. Khaled Meshaal said in a Sky TV interview that the numbers were embellished to justify the existence and actions of Israel. “We don’t deny the Holocaust, but we believe the Holocaust was exaggerated by the Zionist movement to use as a whip,” the Palestinian faction’s leader said. “We don’t deny the fact but we don’t accept two issues. We don’t accept the exaggeration of numbers and we don’t accept that Israel uses this to do what it wants.”

Heroes honoured

Two Israelis who cut short the Palestinian shooting spree at Mercaz HaRav Yeshiva received commendations. The Jerusalem Municipality held a ceremony to honour David Shapira and Yitzhak Dadon, who shot dead a Palestinian gunman after he killed eight students at the yeshiva last month. Mayor Uri Lupolianski said the men’s courage “doubtless spared many more innocent lives.” Shapira is a career infantry officer who lives down the road from Mercaz HaRav and responded to the sound of gunfire. Dadon is a yeshiva student.

Security minister airs doubts on PA talks

Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter, a top member of Israel’s ruling Kadima party, voiced public doubt that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas can deliver security as part of a future peace accord. Dichter said that Abbas, who lost the Gaza Strip to Hamas last year, has no guarantee of remaining in charge in the West Bank. “We must not permit the establishment of a Hamas terrorist entity in Judea and Samaria,” Dichter said.
– JTA