| t | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thursday, Nov 27 '08, Cheshvan 29, 5769 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
1. Commandos Surround Chabad House by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu and Hana Levi Julian  Sky News is reporting that two powerful explosions were heard an hour ago from the Nariman House building which houses Mumbai's Chabad House, in India, where at least five Islamist terrorists are still holed up. It is believed that five Israelis are being held hostage. Hundreds of commandos have surrounded the building and have already killed one terrorist, but five others are still believed to be hiding in the building. Unconfirmed reports said that another terrorist at the nearby Taj Mahal Hotel may have been caught alive. Chabad-Lubavitch emissary Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife Rivka were both reported unconscious, as were several of the Israelis, according to a babysitter who managed to escape and called the family shortly after the siege began. The Foreign Ministry reported that between 10 and 15 Israelis believed to be in Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, have not been reached and their whereabouts and condition are still unknown. Local police previously secured the release of the couple's one and a half-year-old son Moshe, but both parents were still being held captive. Rivka Holtzberg's father, Rabbi Shimon Rozenberg, is reportedly flying out to the scene. Rabbi Rozenberg is the principal of Migdal Ohr Girls' High School in Migdal Emek, which was founded by his brother-in-law, Rabbi Yitzchak David Grossman, winner of the Israel Prize and numerous other public awards. A previously unknown Muslim terrorist group linked to the international Al Qaeda terrorist organization calling itself the Deccan Mujahedin claimed responsibility for the massive multi-site terror attack carried out late Wednesday night in the city formerly known as Bombay. Mumbai is home to some 15 million people and is India's largest city. The terrorists struck two luxury hotels frequented by Americans and British nationals, the Taj Mahal Hotel and the Oberoi Hotel as well as the city's largest train station, a movie theater and the Cama Hospital with automatic weapons and grenades. Intelligence sources said the level of sophisticated training and weapons employed by the terrorists made it clear that they were not local criminals. The terrorists were armed with AK-47 assault rifles and grenades. Also among the nine sites struck by the group throughout "the city that never sleeps" was the Chabad House, a popular stop for Israeli tourists passing through the area who are provided with kosher food and Jewish programs there. Three top police officials were among at least 101 dead in the attacks, including Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) Chief Hemant Karkare, Additional Commissioner Ashok Kamte and encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar, reported IBN News, which said Karkare had received death threats in phone calls at his home within the past several days. The terrorists have demanded that India release "all mujahedins," and that "only after that will we release the people," as they told a local television station. Several other Israelis have maintained telephone contact from their eighth-floor hotel rooms. The Chabad website reported that "the situation is grim." American and British nationals were reportedly being separated out from among other foreigners and held as hostages, according to one British citizen who told Sky News television that he had watched as a gunman asked a group of some 40 hostages for their country of origin. Those who were from Italy, he said, were released, but British and American citizens were held. British European Parliament Member Sajjad Karim told the television network before his cell phone went dead that he was barricaded in a darkened restaurant in the basement of the Oberoi Hotel. "We are now in the dark in this room and we have barricaded all the doors. It's really bad," he said. Some 200 people were reported being held hostage at the Oberoi Hotel. It is also estimated that there are still between 45 to 50 hostages being held by the terrorists at the Taj Mahal Hotel. Five terrorists were reported dead and 14 police officers were killed as well in the exchange of gunfire at the hotel, where thick black smoke billowed from the windows on the upper floors. NDTV reported that Indian security officials believe the terrorists may have infiltrated into the city by sea. There is little regulation in the Bombay Harbor, noted the journalist in his report. Nariman House is located in the southern part of the city, along the water. The sophisticated terrorist attacks, the worst ever in Mumbai and India, hit as Mumbai is involved in elections. Comment on this story 2. A-G May Indict Olmert on Fraud by Gil Ronen  Attorney General Menachem Mazuz informed Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's lawyer Wednesday that he is considering the initiation of a criminal trial against Olmert regarding suspicions of impropriety known as the Rishon Tours affair. Mazuz notified Olmert that before reaching a final decision on the matter he would give the opportunity of a hearing in which his attorneys could present his positions on legal and factual matters. The timing of the hearing is to be coordinated with Olmert's lawyers. A similar notice was given Wednesday to Olmert's long-time bureau chief, Shula Zaken. She, too, is a suspect in the case. The notifications are another step in the legal process against Olmert and signal that a trial date may be approaching soon. The criminal investigation in the Rishon Tours affair was launched last June, after police investigators found evidence that Olmert had illegally double-billed various charities for his speaking tours abroad when he was Mayor of Jerusalem and later as a cabinet minister. According to leaks from the investigating authorities, Olmert is suspected of creating a special fund where the extra money from the double billing was kept and then using it for financing travels abroad by his family members. The suspicions against Olmert include fraudulent receipt of goods in aggravated circumstances, fraud and breach of trust, falsification of corporate documents and tax evasion. Comment on this story by Maayana Miskin  Members of Knesset from across the political spectrum Wednesday called upon former Kadima head Ehud Olmert to step down from his temporary role as Acting Prime Minister due to his impending criminal trial. Demands for Olmert's suspension were heard from MKs in HaTikva, Meretz, Likud, Labor and Olmert's own Kadima party. The calls were heard after Attorney General Menachem Mazuz said he plans to put Olmert on trial for alleged double-billing in what is known as the Rishon Tours affair. 'A criminal' "The public knows that a criminal is leading Kadima's government,” said HaTikva head MK Aryeh Eldad, who expressed support for Mazuz's decision to take Olmert to trial. Olmert continues to give away land and make promises to the Palestinian Authority despite his powerlessness and lack of public support, Eldad said, adding, “His only mandate is over the attorneys who will represent him during the trial.” Eldad criticized police as well, saying, “[The publi is disappointed by the law enforcement agencies, which drag their feet slowly.” External factors Like Eldad, MK Michael Eitan of Likud expressed concerns over Olmert's concessions, saying a leader facing trial should not be allowed to conduct negotiations with far-reaching consequences. His call was echoed by MK Zevulun Orlev of HaBayit HaYehudi (The Jewish Home), who said, “In the two months remaining until elections, Olmert is likely to make crucial decisions based on external factors, and therefore he must step down at once.” Olmert also faced criticism from the political Left. "This is a tragic day for the state of Israel, a low point the likes of which we've never seen,” said MK Ophir Pines-Paz of Labor. Pines-Paz called on Olmert to suspend himself immediately. Meretz, too MK Zahava Gal-On of Meretz called on Olmert to suspend himself as well. “Every day that he stays in power is superfluous, since he has no moral authority or public support to promote initiatives,” she said. Olmert's detractors included MK Marina Solodkin of Kadima, who said, “He should have resigned as prime minister a while back, but now Mazuz's announcement that he plans to file an indictment has created an insufferable situation where the entire system of government is paralyzed.” Olmert must step down and allow Kadima head Tzipi Livni to make whatever decisions are necessary prior to the national elections, she said. Comment on this story 4. Olmert: We Can Make a Peace Deal by Hana Levi Julian  Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who is returning to Israel on Wednesday, has announced that there is no reason peace cannot be achieved between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Speaking to reporters Tuesday after visiting the night before for the last time with U.S. President George W. Bush and other administration officials, Olmert said although all parties in the final status talks seemed pessimistic, it didn't have to be that way. "In principle there is nothing to prevent us from reaching an agreement on the core issues in the near future," he said. "I believe it is possible. I believe it is timely. A declaration is needed. I am ready to make it. I hope the other side is." The PA has repeatedly rejected offers by Israel to hand over more than 90 percent of Judea and Samaria and make sweeping security concessions in other areas. PA Chairman and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas nixed the proposals because they did not include a commitment to deliver to the PA half of Jerusalem for use as the capital of a new Arab state. Abbas has also demanded that Israel accept an influx of some five million foreign Arab immigrants who either lived in the area before the establishment of the state and fled during the 1948 war, or are the descendants of those who fled at the time. Time is running out on all sides: Abbas's term in office is slated to end with new PA elections in January, although he has said he will not leave office, claiming the term was meant to last until 2010. Olmert is already heading a transitional government, with general elections scheduled in Israel for February 10. He personally faces a string of corruption charges and may be indicted on at least one of them after a new government is settled. "You don't need months to make a decision," insisted Olmert on Tuesday, pointing out that two years of ongoing talks between teams of negotiators for the PA and Israel had yielded progress but no deal. The Prime Minister added that there would be no written document of understanding or declaration of principles when the new Obama Administration enters the White House. Comment on this story 5. 292 Kids Killed as Terrorists by Maayana Miskin  Almost 300 children have been killed while taking part in terrorist attacks over the past eight years, a new study conducted by Palestinian Authority researcher Mahdi Jaradat has revealed. A total of 3,973 PA Arabs died in the past eight years while committing acts of terrorism, he found. Fatah had the most fatalities, with a total of 1,437 terrorists, 128 of them children, killed since September 28, 2000. Hamas was in second place with 1,410 killed in the same time period, 96 of them minors. Fifty-three children were killed while taking part in Islamic Jihad operations, five were killed as members of the PFLP, four died with the DFLP, and three with PRC. Women, too Women were increasingly numbered among terrorists as well. A total of 95 women were killed while carrying out attacks, Jaradat found. Thirty-four women were killed working with Hamas, and 30 with Fatah. Islamic Jihad, which had a much lower casualty rate than Hamas and Fatah overall, counted 24 women among its casualties. Hamas carried out more suicide bombings than any other group over the past eight years, with a total of 72. Islamic Jihad was next with 48 suicide bombings, and Fatah was third with 42. Each of the three groups used women as suicide bombers, a move that was initially controversial due to traditional Muslim views that saw warfare as out of bounds for women. According to the IDF, 29 suicide bombers were PA youths under the age of 18. Several youths as young as 14 and 15 have been caught attempting to approach checkpoints with bombs. One such would-be bomber told soldiers that terrorists offered him NIS 100 to transport explosives; another said terrorists had threatened him and told him they would accuse him of providing information to Israeli security forces—a capital offense in PA-controlled areas—if he did not do as they said. A third youth arrested while wearing a bomb belt was mentally disabled. He was safely disarmed. Incitement Israeli and American researchers have warned that many PA youths are encouraged to die as terrorists. While more blatant incitement to murder and death as a terrorist can be found in media outlets such as Hamas' TV station for children, another common source of incitement and hate is PA textbooks, which often leave Israel off of Middle East maps and hail slain terrorists as “martyrs.” Respect for child suicide attackers can be found within the PA parliament as well: Legislator Maryam Farhat, more commonly known as Umm Nidal, sent three of her sons to commit suicide attacks. One was only 17 when he took part in a suicide attack in the town of Atzmona in which five Israeli teens were murdered. Comment on this story 6. Jerusalem Job Fair Salves Wounds by Avraham Zuroff  Over 50 companies presented jobs to almost 1,100 people who attended the Orthodox Union’s (OU) Job Fair, held at the Jerusalem Ramada Hotel on Tuesday. OU staffer Sruli Rosner directs a job hunter towards a prospective employer Photo: Avraham Zuroff “I was working until 2 weeks ago,” Oren, a new technical writer said, “Until the market crashed. Ten percent of the company was laid off. I was given two weeks’ notice.” Oren is one of the 193,000 Israelis who are currently unemployed. “What we’re seeing is unprecedented. In fact, no one is immune. I think that it’s a real issue,” Stephen Savitsky, the Orthodox Union’s president remarked. OU President Stephen Savitsky discusses with colleagues the impact of the current recession on the Jewish communities in Israel and the US Photo: Avraham Zuroff Although the OU planned the job fair a few months ago, the recession’s strike at Israel has intensified the organizers’ efforts. Just a few weeks ago, many economists wrongly thought that the U.S. recession would not affect the global market. “We plan for the worst and hope for the best. We’re going to have to regroup and retool. It’s unfortunate what’s happening in Israel, a country so dependent on hi-tech,” Savitsky told Israel National News. Yehoshua and Shulamit Ne'eman, volunteers at the Job Fair, stressed its importance at keeping new immigrants in Israel, and attracting more to come Photo: Avraham Zuroff To this end, the OU has launched Project CHESED, which provides community support services, including providing legal advice for their constituents who are facing foreclosure and lectures on how to explain to kids that Dad or Mom is out of a job. “We’re helping both emotionally and financially, but there’s not enough money to help,” Savitsky lamented. 2008 OU Jerusalem Job Fair Assaf Shilo, Israel Sun Photo Savitsky warned that now is not the time to look for one’s dream job or have high salary expectations. “People can’t do exactly what they wanted to do before,” he cautioned, adding that he hoped many people will win jobs from participating in the job fair, and that other organizations will take the OU’s initiative in providing career opportunities. However, he added, the very fact that someone has hope in finding a job made the project worth the OU’s efforts. “As long as there’s hope, that’s what gives people a fighting chance,” Savitsky said. Comment on this story 7. Olmert, Livni Face Showdown by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu  Outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, head of Kadima, are headed for a showdown over his intention to remain in office and her demand that he quit in light of an impending indictment. Olmert's aides are furious at Attorney General Menachem Mazuz for staging what they said was an "ambush" in a Wednesday night announcement that he is "considering" indicting the Prime Minister for fraud and breach of trust. Mazuz's announcement gives Olmert and his lawyers the opportunity for a pre-trial hearing, similar to the procedure used in the investigation of former President Moshe Katzav. Olmert's aides said that he has no intention of suspending himself. "Olmert has already stepped down as prime minister. Under these circumstances it is clear that there is no significance, legal or otherwise, to him suspending himself," said his spokesman Amir Dan. Foreign Minister Livni, whose Kadima party is lagging behind the Likud party in pre-election polls, plans to talk with the party caucus in Petach Tikva on Thursday and is expected to call on him to step down. Mazuz said that the outgoing prime minister is likely to be charged with offenses in the RishonTours double billing scandal, which allegedly enabled him to pocket $85,000 in cash. If convicted, he faces seven years in jail for tax evasion, another five years for receiving benefits illegally and an additional several years for falsifying documents. The charges involve more than a dozen personal trips. Comment on this story | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday, 27 November 2008
Posts
