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ISRAEL'S WALL IS A SECURITY MEASURE AND NOT A REPARTITION! By Marc Levi.

Photo: A Palestinian woman chants slogans as she stands in front of Israeli soldiers during a women's demonstration against the construction of Israel's separation barrier at the Kalandia checkpoint between Jerusalem and the West Bank town of Ramallah, Monday.

Zeev Boim, Israel's deputy defence minister, denied the barrier route was dictated by demographic considerations. He said: "The fence was put up because of security needs, to stop terrorism,"

JERUSALEM- Israel's separation barrier in Jerusalem is meant to ensure a Jewish majority in the city and not just serve as a buffer against bombers, an Israeli cabinet minister acknowledged Monday. The statement by Haim Ramon, the minister in charge of Jerusalem, confirmed Palestinian claims that demographics - and not only security - determined the barrier route. The plan would separate 55,000 Palestinians from the city both sides want as a capital - bringing to the fore an explosive disagreement over who controls the holy city and where its boundaries should be. The government approved its final details Sunday. The 65-kilometre Jerusalem segment is part of a complex of walls, trenches, fences and electronic devices Israel is building along the entire West Bank, dipping into the territory in some places to enclose main settlement blocs. Palestinians see the project as a land grab, not a security measure. Palestinian Foreign Minister Nasser Al Kidwa called Monday for stepped-up street protests against the barrier. Marking a year since the world court in the Hague handed down a nonbinding decision that deemed the barrier illegal and ordered it torn down, he said Palestinians should organize for a "higher level of daily confrontations against the wall." Opponents and supporters demonstrate almost daily at West Bank sites where its construction uproots orchards or cuts Palestinians off from their farmland or services. Israel began building the barrier more than two years ago at the height of a wave of Palestinian suicide bombings. More than 100 bombing attacks took the lives of nearly 500 Israelis during four years of conflict. In Jerusalem, 170 people have been killed in 22 suicide bombings since 2000. But Ramon said demography was also a main factor for the barrier route in Jerusalem. It encloses Maaleh Adumim, a settlement with nearly 30,000 Jews, while excluding four Arab sections, including a refugee camp, with 55,000 Palestinians altogether. Of Jerusalem's 700,000 residents, about a third are Palestinian. Besides keeping suicide bombers out, the route of the barrier "also makes Jerusalem more Jewish," Ramon said. "The safer and more Jewish Jerusalem will be, it can serve as a true capital of the state of Israel." Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat objected. "The whole idea is to get as many Palestinians outside Jerusalem, and get as many Israelis (as possible) inside," he said. "This is determining the fate of Jerusalem before we begin negotiations." Erekat said he would raise the issue with international envoys visiting the region this week, including senior U.S. State Department official David Welch. Zeev Boim, Israel's deputy defence minister, denied the barrier route was dictated by demographic considerations. "The fence was put up because of security needs, to stop terrorism," he told Israel Army Radio. Ramon said it was a "mistake" to enclose more than a dozen Arab villages in the city limits drawn after the 1967 war, when Israel captured the Arab section of Jerusalem along with the West Bank and Gaza. No other country recognized Israel's annexation, including the Old City, with key sites holy to Christians, Muslims and Jews. In peace talks in 2000, Israel offered to hand the Arab neighbourhoods over to Palestinian control while keeping the Jewish neighbourhoods, but no agreement was reached. After violence erupted in September 2000, Israel took the offer off the table. Visiting European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana criticized the Jerusalem barrier. "We think that Israel has a right to defend itself, but we think that the fence, when it is done outside the territory of Israel, is not legally proper and it creates also humanitarian problems," he said after meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom. In another development, Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres said Monday that Israel will seek $2.2 billion in additional U.S. aid for the summer's withdrawal from Gaza and four West Bank settlements. The request was to be made later Monday in a meeting between Israel and U.S. officials in Washington. Israel is already the biggest recipient of U.S. aid, getting an annual $2.3 billion for economic and military purposes. But Peres said it needs more money to remove 9,000 settlers and develop the Galilee and Negev Desert regions for resettlement.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Silvan Shalom met this morning in Jerusalem with the EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana. FM Shalom: "The international community, first and foremost the European Union, must bring all its influence to bear on the Palestinian Authority to dismantle the terror infrastructure and prevent attacks during the course of the disengagement." (Communicated by the Foreign Minister's Bureau). At the outset of their meeting, Foreign Minister Shalom said: "I am pleased to host my friend, Javier Solana, here in Jerusalem. This is a sad week for the entire European Union, in the wake of the terror attacks in London. To my deep regret, global terror does not rest and strikes at peace-loving peoples and states. This morning, an Israeli civilian was wounded by anti-tank fire along the Phildelphi Route. This event underlines again the need to take a firm and uncompromising stand against the terrorist organizations. Any compromise, any concession or dialogue, even at the lowest levels, with the terrorist organizations grants legitimacy and support to terror. Javier Solana has arrived here at a critical time characterized by great opportunity alongside not insignificant risks. In order to derive the most from this opportunity, the international community, first and foremost the European Union, must bring all its influence to bear on the Palestinian Authority to dismantle the terror infrastructure and prevent attacks during the course of the disengagement." Via Dr. Aaron Lerner

Palestinian-Israeli Deal to Involve EU as a Third Party to Control the Crossings. GAZA, (IPC+Agencies)--[Official PA website]-The economic minister Mazen Sunkrut, disclosed a Palestinian-Israeli agreement to involve the European Union as a third party on controlling the crossings, the agreement clinched during the visit of the Peter Mandelson, the EU's trade commissioner to the region late June. Speaking to AL Ayam local newspaper, Sunkrut said " we officially applied a request to Mr. Mandelson to involve the European Union as a third party on issues of spurring the trade between the Palestinian territories and Israel and vice versa and trade exchange at the regional level." Sunkrut added: " Mr. Mandelson offered the request to the Israeli trade and industrial minister Eyhud Olmart , who approved it. A third part on control of the crossings, seaport and airport is a good arbitrator to restore to in case of disputes in addition to set certain working mechanisms and policies for the Israelis and the Palestinians," Economic minister said. He added Palestinian and Israeli technical committees will meet likely in Brussels next week " its task is to set forth papers of the three parties over the facilitation of trade and outlined an agreement over a trade exchange between the two parties and between the Palestinian territories and abroad," Sunkrut indicated.-Via Dr. Aaron Lerner.

The Jerusalem municipality will establish a community administration for residents left outside the security barrier. The Jerusalem municipality will establish a community administration for Jerusalem residents whose place of residence will remain outside the security barrier, but inside the municipal are of the city, the mayor of Jerusalem Uri Lupolianski announced Sunday during a government meeting. The community administration will represent the people of Jerusalem towards the government and various municipal bodies, and will also act as the executing branch of the municipality in providing services for the residents living outside the barrier. Lupolianski noted that the Jerusalem municipality has been making arrangements for over a year in order to provide the maximum services for the 55,000 residents that will remain outside the barrier once it's completed. According to the government decision, the municipality will receive a special budget of 8 million NIS during 2005, in order to provide those services. According to the plan, the municipality will act, once those funds are received to provide the services to the residents. Also during the government meeting, it was suggested that additional government services will be provided to the residents outside the barrier, in order to minimize the need for them to cross the checkpoints. Mayor Lupolianski added that "we must minimize the need for any day-to-day friction during the crossing of the people left outside the barrier and make this a humanitarian issue rather than a political one. We can't have a situation where thousands of children will have to go through security check-ups every morning on their way to school - it's a sure recipe to strengthen the anger and hatred". Via Dr. Aaron Lerner

London's Blasts Death toll rises to 52, By W. Cole

Photo: A British policeman stands near a poster of Miriam Hyman a passenger still missing in Thursday's terrorist attacks on London's underground and a bus, which was blown up behind the screens, background, Monday

LONDON - In a city reeling from its worst attack since the Second World War, the messages fluttering in a light breeze Monday atop a mound of flowers for the victims mirrored the sorrow and anger sweeping London. "God bless London," said a card nestled among the bouquets laid outside the King's Cross Underground station, near the site of the worst of last week's four terrorist strikes. "May the perpetrators rot in hell," read another. Police raised the death toll to 52 as workers continued the gruesome task of combing twisted wreckage for more bodies. Authorities identified the first of the victims, a 53-year-old married mother of two and a 51-year-old office cleaner who left for work last Thursday and never made it home. In a sombre address to the House of Commons, his first since the bombings, Prime Minister Tony Blair said it seemed probable that Islamic extremists were responsible and promised a "vigorous and intense" manhunt to bring the attackers to justice. No specific intelligence could have prevented the strikes, he said. "Our country will not be defeated by such terror," he told legislators, denouncing the attacks as a "murderous carnage of the innocent." "We will pursue those responsible wherever they are and will not rest until they are identified and ... brought to justice," he said. U.S. President George W. Bush expressed solidarity with Britain on Monday, saying, "America will not retreat in the face of terrorists and murderers." The search for bodies was playing out in mangled subway cars marooned in a hot, dusty, rat-infested tunnel. The body count, authorities warned, likely would climb higher. "That will rise," Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Ian Blair said outside the King's Cross station near the bloodiest of the four bombings, an explosion that killed at least 21 people on one of the Underground's deepest lines. "They still have to get underneath the carriages, and it is possible they will find more" bodies, he said. Two other subway trains and a double-decker bus also were destroyed in the attacks, which wounded 700 people. Fifty-six remained hospitalized Monday, many in critical condition, officials said. Police announced they had identified the first of the victims: Susan Levy, 53, of Hertfordshire outside London. Forensics experts have warned it could take days or weeks to put names to the bodies, many of which were blown apart and would have to be identified through dental records or DNA analysis. "We are all devastated by our loss," said her husband, Harry, a London taxi driver. London's University College initially said one of its cleaning service employees, whom it identified as Gladys Wundowa, 51, also was among the dead. But later, the college said Wundowa remained missing. Millions of commuters ventured back onto subways and buses, intent on resuming their routines. "We won't let a small group of terrorists change the way we live," said a defiant Mayor Ken Livingstone. Public transit officials said the number of passengers using London's bus and subway network, which handles three million people on a typical day, was back to normal Monday. But commuters were clearly jittery, understandably rattled by numerous security alerts and evacuations triggered by travellers temporarily abandoning their bags, and some played it safe by riding taxis to work. Among them was Ted Wright, who took a cab to "hopefully put my wife's mind at rest." London newspapers identified a possible suspect as Mustafa Setmarian Nasar, a Syrian suspected of being al-Qaida's operations chief in Europe and the alleged mastermind of last year's Madrid railway bombings. U.S. officials said both the United States and Britain were trying to locate Nasar. Security officials in Poland, meanwhile, said Monday they searched the home of a British citizen of Pakistani origin in the eastern Polish city of Lublin in connection with the bombings. Poland's Internal Security Agency did not release the man's name and said he was not taken into custody. A man with dual British-Moroccan nationality also mentioned as a possible suspect told The Guardian newspaper he had nothing to do with the blasts. "Over 30 years I have lived in Britain, I have never been involved in violence or crime," said Mohamed al-Guerbouzi, who was convicted in absentia in Morocco in 2003 and sentenced to 20 years in prison in connection with the Casablanca terrorist bombings. Britain's Islamic leaders, alarmed at reports of arson and other violence targeting mosques, called for calm Monday in a statement urging people not to use the aftermath of the bombings "as a morbid opportunity to attack and undermine British Muslims." The mayor and other officials laid flowers beneath a tree in Victoria Embankment Gardens, a small park wedged between the River Thames and London's busy theatre district, and said they planned to erect a permanent memorial there. As the families of people who haven't been heard from since the bombings lost hopes of finding them alive, passersby continued placing bouquets, cards of sympathy, teddy bears and balloons outside the targeted Underground stations. With the attackers at large, authorities warned anew of the danger of more strikes. Underscoring how tense London remained, police briefly closed several streets where most government offices are located, including Parliament, the Foreign Office, and 10 Downing St., where Blair lives and works, after a suspicious package was found, but it contained no explosives. Later, police evacuated the King's Cross subway station for a time and shut the Waterloo bridge over the Thames; both were false alarms. "We can't possibly assume that what happened on Thursday was the last of these events," said James Hart, the police official in charge of London's financial district. "There is absolutely no doubt that there are people out there who wish us harm, and we have to be vigilant."

Palestinians Welcome G8 Commitment to $3 Billion Aid Package. GAZA, (IPC + Agencies) -[Official PA website] - Chief Palestinian negotiator Dr. Saeb Erekat welcomed the recent pledge of $3 billion by G8 countries to the Palestinian National Authority during the recent summit in Gleneagles, Scotland. Erekat hoped that such financial aid would coincide with a meaningful support of the peace process that would lead to ending the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories since 1967. The British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is the current president of the G8, told reporters after the summit, "Yesterday evening the G8 agreed a substantial package of help for the Palestinian Authority amounting to up to $3 billion in the years to come, so that two states - Israel and Palestine - two peoples and two religions can live side by side in peace." "We offer today this contrast with the politics of terror," Blair added, referring to the deadly bombings that struck the British capital city London last Thursday. In the summit's chair summary, the G8 (composed of Germany, Canada, the United States, France, Italy, Japan, the UK and Russia) reiterated its support for the Quartet Committee's special envoy for the Israeli disengagement, and committed to raising global financial support of up to $3 billion. "We met James Wolfensohn, the Quartet's Special Envoy for Disengagement, who briefed on his work to help ensure a successful Israeli disengagement from Gaza and parts of the West Bank, and his proposals for long-term follow-up to that process, laying the foundations for the viability of a future Palestinian state. We welcomed and strongly endorsed his efforts, and will explore how best to support his proposals for the future," the chair's summary noted. G8 also urged Israel to let Palestinians move more freely around occupied Palestinian territories, as well we easing the restrictions that limit the growth of the Palestinian economy. Via Dr. Aaron Lerner

New Era in Israel-France Relations: French Ambassador, Air France/Club Med Directors in Israel, Minister of Tourism Announce Campaign to Strengthen Links. By Jonathan Pulik, Foreign Press Liaison, Israel Ministry of Tourism. At a press conference at Tel Aviv's David Intercontinental Hotel this Wednesday, July 13th, French Ambassador to Israel Gérard Araud, the Directors of Air France and Club Med in the country Patrick Amar and Ze'ev Dahan and Israeli Minister of Tourism Abraham Hirchson will announce the launching of a new campaign to promote tourism between the two countries. The announcement, ahead of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's planned visit to Paris this month and following consultations with French officials in Paris, heralds a new spirit in relations between Israel and France. Club Med's proposal to open a resort at Netanya and plans to speed up renovation work at its Achziv vacation spot, the possible addition of Air France flights to Tel Aviv and Israel's new, unprecedented campaign to attract French tourists will be on the agenda at the pre-Bastille Day event.

Regeneration of Yasser Arafat Airport Costs 30 Million Euros. GAZA, (WAFA-PLO News Agency)-Head of the Palestinian Civil Aviation Authority, Salman abu-Haleeb, said that regeneration of Yasser Arafat Airport south of Gaza Strip (GS), will cost at least 30 Million Euros, according to non-official experts estimations. In a statement issued Sunday, Abu-Haleeb revealed that Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) destroyed the essential runway of the Airport, cameras, electric cables and the radar building, saying that the Palestinian airport needs for reconstruction and rehabilitation. He said that Israeli destruction of the Airport contradicts all International laws.

FM Shalom meets with UN envoy Alvaro de Soto-warned against the renewed attempts by the Palestinian Authority to transform the United Nations and the UN bodies into tools against Israel.
(Communicated by the Foreign Minister's Bureau). Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Silvan Shalom met today with the United Nations Secretary-General's Middle East Envoy, Alvaro de Soto. At the beginning of the meeting Foreign Minister Shalom said: "I am pleased to note the positive change which has occurred in relations between Israel and the United Nations. This change is reflected, among others, in the convening of an emergency session of the Security Council and the statement by the President of the Security Council condemning the Hizbullah attack on our northern border, in the appointment of the Israeli ambassador as a Vice-President of the upcoming General Assembly, and in the special session of the UN General Assembly commemorating the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camps. "It is precisely because of this that I would like to warn against the renewed attempts by the Palestinian Authority to transform the United Nations and the UN bodies into tools against Israel. The Palestinian initiative to hold a special discussion in the UN General Assembly on the issue of the security fence is no more than an attempt to internationalize the conflict and to malign Israel. Such a step runs counter to the interests of the international community as well as the interests of both Israelis and Palestinians, because is harms the positive atmosphere which can and should develop around the Disengagement Plan. "Israel expects the UN member states not to lend support to this move by the Palestinians and to exert their influence on the Palestinian leadership to act responsibly as a partner to our efforts to ensure that the disengagement should serve as an instrument to promote hope and peace."-Via Dr. Aaron Lerner.

Saudi Arabia's Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz makes statement on Terrorism

Aaron Lerner: The Arab world wants to define terror as not including murdering Israelis and other "occupiers".

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia- Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, the Interior Minister said that he conveyed the congratulations of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, the Deputy Premier and Commander of the National Guard, Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the Second Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General and the Saudi people to the Sudanese leadership and people on the progress achieved on the track of stability and security. In an arrival statement here today after participating on behalf of the Crown Prince in Sudan's celebrations on the occasion of signing the transitional constitution and the inauguration of two vice presidents, Prince Naif described cooperation between the Kingdom and Yemen as excellent. The prince remarks came in reply to a question on the extradition of 12 wanted from Yemen to the Kingdom. On London bombings, Prince Naif said that it is a crime. We hope that British security bodies reach the truth with regard to these bombings and those who stand behind them. He stressed that unless there will be an international action to choke off the sources of terrorism everywhere, terrorism will continue. Prince Naif noted that there are Saudi-British security contacts on the information exchange field. We express our readiness to Britain for any cooperation, the prince said and added when information is available we will provide it for them. With regard to un-reaching a united definition of terrorism, the Prince said unfortunately this has led to the growing of terrorism everywhere and I believe that these sources can be reached and choked off. As for those who have gone to Iraq, Prince Naif expected all bad consequences from them. Undoubtedly, if they are not similar to those who have been trained in Afghanistan, they will be worse and we are prepared for them, he said and hoped they will come back to their senses. Asked if the government will issue a new pardon period for the wanted to surrender, Prince Naif noted that the pardon matter is up to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince. But every one has surrendered, he will be exceptionally treated and punishment will be reduced, the Prince said.

ONE QUARTER OF THE BRITISH MILITARY MEN POWER WORKS FOR SAUDI ARABIA. THE MILITARY BRITS AND SAUDIS ARE IN SYNC.

SECRET ARMS SALES AND DEALS BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND SAUDI ARABIA WORTH $12 BILLIONS

By Peggy North, World Jewish News Agency, Senior Correspondent in Great Britain.

Here in the UK, more than a quarter of her Majesty's government ammunitions, explosives, guns and arms sales machine is geared toward Saudi Arabia and categorically committed to the Saudi military and naval forces. Meaning bluntly, selling arms to the Saudis. Our sources as well as, official communiques and printed circulars distributed to defence factories and arms firms in Great Britain, revealed in a most alarming manner, the intensity and enormous magnitude of arms sale to the Saudi kingdom. Today, it has become clear, that extensive secret deals were made between the Saudi royal family and Great Britain's ministry of defence. And this has been going on for the past 18 months. It seems that the United States is not fully aware of all these arms transactions. Documents obtained by the World Jewish News Agency categorically showed the secretive nature of these frightening deals and the alarming number of British military experts and arms manufacturers working for the Saudi crown. Almost 165 British officials are on the payroll of the Saudis. In fact, that number constitutes one quarter of the total work force of the military "products" machine in the UK. The arm deal has been referred to as "The Saudi Project". Others call it the "SAFP", meaning the "Saudi Armed Forces Project". Of course, the Saudis have denied the existence of such a project. Top British and Saudi officials will meet today in London to choreograph a joint statement to be issued and given to the media. Meanwhile, senior officials and top brass of the British army, are addressing -as we talk- a closed conference of DESO, the DEFENCE EXPORT SERVICES ORGANISATION, the entity responsible for selling the weapons to the Saudis, as well as to many foreign countries around the globe. Tony Blair is not pleased with the recent development of the scandal and the secret deals which have created a huge embarrassment to Great Britain. He wants DESO to close down for good. All the fingers are pointing at Air Vice-Marshall John Thompson who allegedly orchestrated the whole bonanza. Thompson was the major key player in the UK-Saudi affair, since he was the head of the negotiations team. In addition, Thompson is a member of the board of DESO. The chairman of the board is Mr Alan Garwood , a tycoon in the arms industry and a former senior executive of BAE, one of Great Britain's largest armaments manufacturers, factories and companies.

To many observers, DESO is a secretive cell. For instance, The DESO Partners Site is "ONLY open to members of the UK defence industry, UK Government officials, members of UK financial institutions and defence Trade Association officials". And this is the official statement of DESO. Equally secretive and strange IS the listing of DESO Senior Officials. For such listing exclusively includes Mr Alan Garwood, head of DESO. No other officials are either listed or mentioned in the official list of senior officials of the entity. Mr Garwood took up his position as head of the DES, the Defence Export Services on 23rd September 2002. He is the man in charge of " taking the lead, both within Whitehall and in the UK's relations with other Governments, on the promotion of overseas sales of the products and services of the British defence industry, consistent with the Government's defence export policy. " stated the company on its website. Garwood is also, the sole responsible to the Secretary of State for Defence and for advising the Secretary of State and other Ministers as appropriate on defence export matters. His bio contained this: " He joined British Aerospace in 1977, commencing his career in Export Contracts in the Middle East. Mr Garwood subsequently became Sales and Customer Support Director of BAe Dynamics, joining the board in 1994. In 1996 he moved to BAe Headquarters and was appointed Managing Director, Europe and North America, in the newly created International Marketing and Sales Organisation and in 1998 returned to the Missiles sector, joining Matra BAe Dynamics as Deputy Chief Executive. Mr Garwood gained an MBA at Cranfield University and in 2003 was made an Honorary Doctor of Science - again at Cranfield. He is also a visiting Professor at the Royal Military College Shrivenham. Alan Garwood is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society."

DESO AND BRITAIN'S MEN IN SAUDI ARABIA

DESO stationed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia some of their best civilians, tacticians, business negotiators and military men. Grenville Johnson, a royal navy captain is currently commanding the Saudi fleet of Vosper mine-hunters in the area of Jubail. In fact, Johnson is the commanding officer of the whole Saudi Naval team in that region. He is assisted by 40 British military experts and naval pilots who are officially wearing Saudi military uniforms. Among DESO's most military prolific military men are Air Commodore John Chandler and Air Commodore Ray Hodgson who are in charge of logistics and "greasing the wheel". And they are not alone. A squad of 75 British military men and 55 officials who are permanently based in Saudi Arabia is under their direct control. To a certain degree. For the Saudi Ministry of Defence is de facto in charge of the whole military operations under the British umbrella. The Saudis have the final word.

The official statement of the British government leads to believe that the British military men and top officials are stationed in Riyadh. But World Jewish News Agency discovered that the British squad has mushroomed to Tabuk, Khamis, Dhahran and several naval and military bases throughout the Saudi kingdom. This could explain the concerns and suspicions of many observers who claim that the British squad had to be much bigger than what the British government "pretend" to be. In fact, to cover the territories of 7 military and naval bases in Saudi Arabia, any military squad should and must have more than 200 men in active duty to carry its operations. Political observers and military analysts estimate that Great Britain has stationed more than 2,000 men in Saudi Arabia. World Jewish News Agency has discovered that no less than 100 British pilots and 150 technicians of the British air crew were spread over 2 Saudi air bases. The British airmen belong to the RAF (Royal Air Force) and are actively serving in the Saudi Air Force, flying the Hawks and the Tornados which were sold in a large quantity to Saudi Arabia. It is estimated that no less than 75 British jet fighters were bough by the Saudis under the provisions of the "AL YAMANA" arms sales contract between the two countries. DESO head claims that his squad and British airmen are serving in the capacity of military advisors and trainers. While skeptic analysts believe that the British military task force is much more than a " team of military instructors". They claim that DESO and Great Britain's men are active Saudi jet fighters and head pilots. Our sources told us that a large number of Saudi and British pilots are stationed in a region called Tabuk neighboring Israel. This unit is under the direct command of Group Captain Nick Watson who is in charge of all the operations, including sorties, logistics, flight operations, special training unit and tactics. Watson's financial and managerial assistant is Mr John Radcliffe, a civilian. This year, Great Britain has sold nearly £7bn worth of weapons. Much of these weapons systems were supplied to Saudi Arabia, the world's largest arms buyer. Last year, Saudi Arabia purchased more than £5bn worth of weapons. The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) report revealed that Arab countries spent £42bn on defence last year.

IDF SPOKESPERSON ANNOUNCEMENT: General closure on the Judea and Samaria and Gaza Strip areas

In accordance with a decision made by the political echelon and in light of the security assessment, a general closure will be placed on the Judea and Samaria and Gaza Strip areas, effective tomorrow morning and throughout the Shavuot holiday. Throughout the duration of the closure humanitarian cases will be handled and approved by the District Coordination and Liaison offices. IMRA

Nasser al-Kidwa: No intentions to disarm factions

IMRA: An Israel Radio correspondent emphasized this evening on the 11:00 PM news magazine that al-Kidwa's statement that "holding arms is a strategic issue as long as the occupation exists," means that the PA and the PLO continue to embrace the terror option. While Prime Minister Sharon's office claimed that there would be no progression along the road map after disengagement if the PA doesn't dismantle the terrorist organizations, Mr. Sharon's team is equally adamant that there is absolutely nothing that the Palestinians can do - or not do - that will stop Israel from retreating from the Gaza Strip and northern Samaria. While Mr. Sharon threatens to "only" retreat from the Gaza Strip and northern Samaria if the PA doesn't dismantle the terrorist organizations, others in his cabinet, including Ben Eliezer "threaten" to continue retreating from almost all - if not all - the West Bank if the Palestinians do not honor their obligations.] Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Nasser al-Kidwa declared on Saturday that the PA has no intention to disarm armed Palestinian groups as demanded by the road map peace plan. Kidwa, a nephew of Yasser Arafat, said the Palestinian groups had the right to keep their weapons as long as the occupation continued. "Using arms under occupation is legal," he explained. Kidwa's statements stand in sharp contrast to promises made by PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to confiscate illegal weapons from Palestinian groups and individuals, in line with the road map. Dismantling armed groups does not come into consideration since "holding arms is a strategic issue as long as the occupation exists," Kidwa said. "Although the Palestinian leadership is committed to stopping attacks on Israeli citizens and ending all kinds of mutual violence between the two sides, yet it is our people's right to defend itself under occupation," he added. However, the foreign minister called for "organizing" the issue of weapons so as to prevent them for being used for local crime. "Holding and using arms must be organized, and it should not be used for personal purposes or to violate law and order," he said. A senior official in the Prime Minister's Office dismissed Kidwa's comments as "internal Palestinian politicking." He said PA officials were feeling the pressure from Hamas's gains in recent municipal elections, and were concerned about increasing support for the organization before the upcoming elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council." The question is not what they say, but what they do," the official said. The official reiterated Israel's standing position, that if the PA didn't dismantle the terrorist organizations as spelled out in the first phase of the road map, there would be no progression along the road map after disengagement. IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis

Likud allows Sharon to restore expired members so can support him in primaries

Correspondent Mazal Mualem reports in the Hebrew edition of Haaretz on 10 June that the Likud Secretariate ruled on Thursday that the 150,000 people who signed up for the Likud in 2002 but failed to continue paying membership dues after the 2003 elections can become members in good standing with the right to vote in the next primaries if they put a standing bank order to pay their membership dues within the next 30 days. Under regular Likud rules people who join the party have to wait 16 months before they can vote in party primaries. Mualem notes that most of the 150,000 (half of the members in 2003) were brought into the party to support Sharon. The move hurts Netanyahu's chances to defeat Sharon if they run against each other to head the Likud. It should be noted that since standing bank orders can be rescinded at the stroke of a pen that once the Sharon supporters vote they can once again leave the party - until needed again. By Dr. Aaron Lerner

Dahlan, Mofaz Meet on Coordinating Israeli Withdrawal
Palestinians Still Seeking Answers from Israelis on Four Main Points

Palestine Media Center;:Palestinian Civil Affairs Minister Mohammad Dahlan held a reportedly "important and positive" meeting in Tel Aviv Friday with the Israeli "Defense" Minister Shaul Mofaz and discussed coordinating civilian aspects of Israel's planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and a tiny part of the northern West Bank in August, two days after Mofaz met with the Palestinian Interior Minister Nassr Yousef on security coordination. The Dahlan-Mofaz three-hour meeting focused on coordinating Israel's so-called "disengagement plan" due to be launched in mid-August leading to the pullout of the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) and more than 8,500 illegal Jewish settlers living in 22 colonies in the Gaza Strip, which the Hebrew state occupied in 1967. The "safe passage" between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, the "border crossings" between the strip and Israel as well the international border crossing with Egypt, "Palestinian labor" in Israel, humanitarian issues and the "fate of the settlement infrastructure" were on the agenda. Dahlan said that in particular, the Palestinians were still seeking answers from the Israelis on four main points: The post-pullout operation of the crossing points into and out of the Strip, the fate of the Salahuddin (Philadelphi) corridor between the town of Rafah and the Egyptian border, a "safe passage" for Palestinians between Gaza and the West Bank, and the operation of the Strip airport. Dahlan said both sides had held 10 meetings on the subject so far, "but we have yet to receive any information from the Israeli side." The two men are expected to meet again soon to continue coordination efforts ahead of the disengagement. Dahlan said he asked for a detailed report on the homes, which would be left intact in the settlements, but Mofaz said a decision on their fate would only be taken in the next 10 days. He indicated also that a Palestinian "special force" would be tasked with protecting settlers' homes and other properties if Israel decided not to destroy them. Dahlan said the settlers' flourishing $200m-a- year, 1,000-acre, hothouse industry had been trumpeted as a means of reviving Gaza's economy but the project would fail unless the new owners were given the same access to export markets as the settlers had. Dahlan on Tuesday refused an Israeli proposal for a West Bank - Gaza Strip rail link and called instead for reactivating the protocol of the safe passage between the two occupied Palestinian territories. On Friday he said that the high-speed rail link between Gaza and the West Bank, which had been proposed by Israel, would take at least three years to build and that under present plans there would be no means until then of connecting the two Palestinian territories. Dahlan and Mofaz reportedly agreed that both sides would try to garner international aid for the Palestinians, to be used for technological advancements in the crossings. After the meeting, Mofaz spoke by phone with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and updated him on his talks with Dahlan Friday and with Interior Minister Nasser Yousef on Wednesday. Yousef and Mofaz agreed in Tel Aviv Wednesday on security coordination during Israel's planned withdrawal.

Ahead of his meeting with Mofaz Friday, Dahlan warned that Israel's refusal to give detailed answers on Gaza disengagement was threatening to make the planned withdrawal a "failure" and pave the way to a third Palestinian uprising, The Independent reported. On present showing, the Israeli unilateral plan would simply mean a "repackaging of the occupation" in the Gaza Strip and would not be a success as a means of advancing the peace process, Dahlan said. Dahlan said he was not "surprised by the behavior of Israel because I believe Israel wants to delay all the decisions till the final moment and then blame the Palestinians for the failure of disengagement." He added: "What the Israelis are really doing is to create the conditions for a third Intifada to take place." Noting that the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) had heeded the call from the international community to co-ordinate the withdrawal plan with Israel, Dahlan said he had "begun to question" whether the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon wanted the Gaza disengagement to be the beginning rather than the end of a peace process. "If what the Israelis are trying to do is make the Palestinians partners in making Gaza into a big prison cell, then we are not going to co-operate," he said. Dahlan indicated it was cheaper to transport goods between the southern Israeli port of Ashdod and China than between Ashdod and Gaza because of the lengthy security-related delays through the Karni cargo crossing between Gaza and Israel. The Israeli Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank are "occupied" territories and not part of Israel and gave the final go-ahead to the disengagement plan by rejecting settlers' petitions in a ruling that the plan was constitutional. IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis Website: www.imra.org.il

Syria Denounces Allegations by Some Lebanese Personnel

Information Ministry severely denounced Saturday allegations had been reported by Agance France Press claiming that Syria threatened opposing Lebanese personnel. It also condemned the fabricated accusations that Syria has prepared an "assassination hit list" targeting Lebanese figures. "These allegations and fabrications are just a cheap bid to affect the Lebanese elections and entreat voters as well as to instigate against Syria," Director of Foreign Media Department Nizar Maihoub said. Maihoub indicated that " some Lebanese has been crossing all limits by their electoral heterodoxies "including limits of morals, politeness, and tact". " Syria, which is far above threatening, assassination and bombing practices as well condemns all those acts, expresses disgust over some uncivilized and irresponsible manners used by some Lebanese which are going along with some foreign sides that declare publicly hostility towards Syria shoving Syria's great name just for exploiting voters". He pointed out that Syria meets majority of Lebanese in denouncing French and US interventions in the Lebanese internal affairs and renews calls for everyone to let the Lebanese people to organize their internal home within the framework of sovereignty and independence. IMRA

Prince Naif speaks on relations with Iran

Riyadh, June 11, SPA[Saudi News Agency]-- Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, the Minister of Interior stressed strong relations binding the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran. In a press statement upon the arrival of Dr. Hassan Rouhani, the Secretary General of Iran's National Security Supreme Council, Prince Naif emphasized the importance of Rouhani's visit within the framework of relations binding the two countries and their joint responsibilities in the region in the interest of the two friendly countries. He thanked Dr. Rouhani for accepting his invitation to visit the Kingdom. Prince Naif said that such meetings have been very useful for the two countries, affirming that the meetings are very necessary. Replying to a question on a claim by an Iranian newspaper on torturing Christian prisoners in the Kingdom, Prince Naif noted that these matters are internal and we do not allow anyone to talk about them, adding that not all sayings are true. On his part, Dr. Rouhani pointed out that the visit provides an opportunity for consultations on important joint issues between the two countries along with the issues in the region. --SPA 2038 Local Time 1738 GMT. IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis
Website: www.imra.org.il

Security Forces Arrest a Terrorist Extremist Group and Seize it Weapons Terrorist Groups -Arrested

Following a quiet and long security pursuit , security forces arrested a large extremist group that has a belief in killing and sabotaging as a means to achieve its targets and denying all religions and regimes. The security troops managed to foil the terrorist plot of this group which aimed at carrying out bombings and attacks against different businesses in order to create insecurity and instability in Damascus and in Damascus countryside. Through a meticulous security pursuit lasted for months, a security team managed to intercept and arrest Abu -Omar terrorist armed group that named itself as /Sham Organization For alJiahad and Tawhid / in the area of Daf alShok in Damascus suburbs. An armed clash took place between the security task force and the terrorist group which led to the martyrdom of one member and wounding another of the task force ,while two of the terrorists were killed and a third was arrested. Weapons and ammunitions were seized in a rented flat which was used as a refuge, comprised of three automatic machine guns , two grenades including anti-vehicles grenade, two pistols in addition to a large ammunition and two wireless contact radios , and four mobile phones. Documents and pamphlets pertaining to the alSham Soldiers Organization were also seized. Earlier this year some members of this terrorist organization which operated under the cover of Islam ,were detained but this detention was not announced at the time in order to nail the head of this group who was called Abu-Omar and was killed yesterday 9th of current June along with another one called Abu-Ahmad , a third was also arrested. One member of the terrorist group planted an explosive device on the Damasscus-Zabadani road which was destined to be exploded by remote control at the end of last January , But meticulous follow -up led to the discovery of the explosive device which was detonated to avoid damages. During this pursuit one terrorist was killed and his assistant was wounded. A terrorist act had also been planned to take place at the Palace of Justice in Damascus. The Syrian dailies will publish the details of this issue in the next coming days.

Saudi Relief Committee finances projects for Palestinians

IMRA: The Saudi contribution is around US$ 2,324,000.

Under the directives of Prince Naif Bin Abdulaziz, the Interior Minister and General Supervisor of the Saudi Committee for the Relief of the Palestinian People, an amount of SR 8,715,000 has been transferred to the United Nations Development Program. Dr. Saed Al-Harthi, the Interior Minister's Advisor and the Chairman of the Saudi Committee for the Relief of the Palestinian People said the finance represents the second tranche of agreements signed between the Committee and the program to implement projects in Palestine.

Russian Ambassador to Jordan Affirms Russia's Active Role in the Region

The Russian ambassador to Jordan Alexander Shein affirmed that the pivotal Russian role is still active in the Middle East and on the world level. The ambassador said, in a statement to Jordan News Agency on the occasion of his country's national day, that Russian will assume the presidency of the G-8 next year, noting that his country is an active member in the International Quartet along with the United States, the UN and Europe, a fact which reflects the active role of Russia on the various contemporary causes on the world level. "Russian is keen to develop its relations with Jordan in the various fields due to the historical ties between the two countries, their identical views on regional and international issues and the role played by Jordan under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II on the regional and international levels," Shein added. The ambassador said that the summit meetings between the Russian President Vladimir Putin and His Majesty King Abdullah II stressed keenness of both sides to develop ties of cooperation in the various fields. "We deal with Jordan in a special and fruitful way and their is a continuous consultation and dialogue on the various levels on various topics in addition to the official dialogue and the exchange of parliamentary delegations between the two countries," he added. On economic cooperation, Shein said that the volume of trade exchange between Jordan and Russia ranges between $30-40 million, noting that a cooperation agreement was signed between the chamber of industry and trade in both countries and that an agreement had been reached recently to form a Jordanian-Russian business council and to exchange trade delegations. The ambassador expressed appreciation for the role of the Amman Message in explaining the image of Islam, indicating that his country will work to promote this message. Russian, he said, will take part in an international conference in Amman on the Amman Message and religious co-existence. On cooperation in the educational field, he said that the number of Jordanian students who have graduated from Russian universities exceeded 15,000, noting that the Russian government provides Jordan annually with more than 20 scholarships in higher education. Regarding media cooperation between the two countries, he said that a delegation from the Russian Itar-Tass News Agency had visited Jordan News Agency recently and discussed fields of cooperation between the two sides. On the political situation in the region, he said that both sides have similar views on the Palestinian issues, noting that Russian supports the establishment of a Palestinian state in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions and the road map peace plan. On Iraq, he said that Russian supports the political processes in that country including the election, the formation of the new government and the process of conducting a referendum on the constitutions.

India to use Israeli pipeline for crude imports

Press Trust of India Baku: With its appetite for energy growing ever larger, India on Thursday proposed to diversify its sources of crude supplies by using an Israeli pipeline to access crude oil from the Central Asia and Caspian Sea region to feed its fuel needs. Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar, addressing the 12th International Caspian Oil and Gas Conference, said the 254-km long Eilot-Ashqelon pipeline could be used for transporting east Mediterranean crude to the Red Sea, from where it can be shipped to India. Oil, according to Aiyar, could be pumped from the Caspian region into the just commissioned 1,764-km Baku (Azerbaijan- Tblisi (Georgia)-Ceyhan (Turkey)) pipeline to reach the Mediterranean Sea, from where it could be pumped into the Israeli pipeline for Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) to pick up at Red Sea for transporting it to India. IMRA

ARAFAT'S SUCCESSOR ASSAILS ISRAELI ACTS; BUT SAYS 'RESPONDING' MUST COME IN JOINT ACTION, NOT INDIVIDUAL ATTACKS
By Dr. Michael Widlanski

In a nationally televised interview, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas assailed Israel last night for aggression and provocative behavior, and he strongly suggested attacking Israel in response might be justified, but it was strategically wrong for individuals to carry out such attacks and make the Palestinians look bad. Israel is continuing its provocations in the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem, and this must cease, declared Dr. Mahmoud Abbas, in a special interview with Palestinian Television (PBC) Thursday night (June 9). "It is to be expected that Israel will attempt provocations here and there," but, said Abbas, it was important for the Palestinian community to react as a unit and not through individual responses. "Every individual takes the response into his own hands, and this is impossible and unacceptable," continued Abbas, whose interview remarks were re-broadcast several times Friday on Palestinian television and Voice of Palestine radio. "We cannot make mistakes. We have to make sure that only the other side makes mistakes until we have the power to appear before the world." Meanwhile in a radio-broadcast mosque speech from the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem's Mufti, Sheikh Ikrema Al-Sabry, who is paid by the Abbas regime, attacked America and Israel for deliberately desecrating copies of the Quran in their respective prison systems.

Former Shin Bet chief supports Gaza disengagement

IMRA: Dichter was also interviewed in Maariv and Yediot Ahronot. He told Maariv that he will decide in the coming months if he will go into politics. According to Maariv Dichter has offers to join Sharon, Netanyahu and Barak. Dichter's analysis of Israel's post retreat options follow a common and critical working assumption adopted by retreat supporters: that Israel will enjoy a free hand in taking action within post-retreat Gaza - regardless of what is there (both in terms of if there are various international "human shields" deployed in Gaza or if Gaza enjoys international recognition as a form of state).] The former head of the Shin Bet security service supports the disengagement from Gaza and does not believe that it will worsen Israel's security situation, he told Haaretz this week. Avi Dichter disagrees with the prediction made by former Israel Defense Forces chief of staff Moshe Ya'alon in an interview published in Haaretz last Friday, namely, that the disengagement will lead to a renewal of the terrorist war in the West Bank. "I heard his assessment," he said. "I don't know of intelligence that supports this. I don't know of logic that supports this." Dichter objects to defining the disengagement as a "flight." He attributes the terrorist organizations' willingness to agree to a lull in violence in the territories to the heavy military pressure applied by Israel, and particularly the assassination of their leaders. He also believes that the threat of Qassam launches at Israel from the Gaza Strip will not be any greater after the IDF leaves Gaza, and that in fact, Israel will have greater freedom for military action if needed, because once the settlements and the IDF are out of Gaza, the number of Israeli targets in the Strip will be much smaller. However, he is worried about emerging security arrangements in the northern West Bank, where four settlements are slated for evacuation. Dichter believes that the IDF must continue to operate in the Jenin area following the pullout, because otherwise, a security vacuum will result, and the terrorist organizations will exploit it. Despite the difficulties - which, he said, include the likelihood that some right-wing extremists will not hesitate to fire on soldiers and policemen - Dichter believes the disengagement will be implemented. "Extreme scenarios are possible, but the critical mass of the evacuees will resist passively," he said. "It will be difficult and unpleasant and it isn't going to look good on television, but we'll get through it." Dichter expects the danger of an attack on the Temple Mount mosques or of an attempt to assassinate Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to increase as the disengagement approaches. He added that he had warned various rabbis from the northern West Bank that any attack on the Temple Mount would result in an unprecedented severe wave of terror against Jews around the world. Dichter insists that the Shin Bet's "Jewish department," which tracks Jewish extremists, has better information than is generally thought. "Our intelligence penetration of the extreme right isn't bad ... The problem is that we don't always manage to translate intelligence into legal evidence, and in some cases, revealing the evidence would be liable to burn our sources of information." Dichter rejected speculation that Sharon decided not to extend his term as Shin Bet chief for a sixth year because he wanted someone less dominant and independent in the post. He insisted that his retirement did not stem from any disagreements with the prime minister, whom he admires. "Far be it from me to give him grades, but to my mind he is a real leader," Dichter said. -By Amos Harel via IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis

Dahaf Poll: 53%:38% for disengagement, February was 69%:27%
By Dr. Aaron Lerner
Poll of a representative sample of 501 adult Israelis (including Israeli Arabs) carried out by Dahaf for Yediot Ahronot on 9 June 2005 after the Supreme Court ruled that the disengagement was legal (Survey error +/- 4.4 percentage points): Are you for or against disengagement? For 53% Against 38% Other 9%. Previous poll in February: For 69% Against 27% Other 4% Yediot Ahronot 10 June 2005.

Poll: Israelis oppose unilateral withdrawal under fire 51%:37%
Dr. Aaron Lerner
Telephone poll carried out by "Brain Base" ["Maagar Mochot"] of a representative sample of 501 adult Israelis (including Israeli Arabs) under the direction of Prof. Y.Katz for Makor Rishon on 9 June 2005 after the Supreme Court ruled that the disengagement was legal: Are you for or against unilateral withdrawal under fire within the framework of the disengagement plan? For 37% Against 51% Other 12% Makor Rishon 10 June 2005.

Saudis' request to halt to nuclear monitoring surprises IAEA
Geostrategy-Direct, www.geostrategy-direct.com, June 14, 2005

LONDON - The International Atomic Energy Agency has approved a request from Saudi Arabia that would, in effect, end the monitoring of nuclear activities in the Arab kingdom. Diplomatic sources said the agency was surprised by the Saudi request. They pointed out that in 2004 Saudi Arabia announced that it had no intention to acquire a nuclear reactor for energy production. Western diplomatic sources said the IAEA decided to accept a Saudi request to significantly reduce monitoring. The sources said the agency agreed to recommend the Saudi request to the 35-nations of the IAEA's board, scheduled to meet on June 13. If approved, Saudi Arabia would join more than 70 countries that enjoy IAEA's trust. These countries have not been required to report nuclear facilities to the agency until six months prior to operation. The agency has asked IAEA board members to implement an arrangement that would reduce monitoring of Saudi nuclear activities to a minimum. The request to participate in the so-called "Small Quantities Protocol" means that Saudi Arabia would no longer be required to report the procurement of up to 10 tons of natural uranium, 20 tons of depleted uranium and a kilogram of plutonium. Ten tons of natural uranium could be converted into fissile material required to produce two atomic bombs. The Saudi request was submitted in 2004 during the agency's examination of Iran's nuclear program, which the United States asserted was meant to produce nuclear weapons. Saudi Arabia has remained silent on Teheran's program, but sources said Riyad has also been linked to the Pakistani nuclear network led by Abdul Qadeer Khan. Khan exported components and nuclear equipment to Iran, Libya and perhaps Syria. In 2003, Saudi Arabia reportedly signed an agreement with Pakistan on nuclear cooperation. Neither country acknowledged the cooperation, said to have also included missile development. Diplomatic sources said the United States has urged Saudi Arabia to shelve its efforts to sign the Small Quantities Protocol. They said Riyad has not responded. IMRA -