Monday, Dec 8 '08, Kislev 11, 5769
 Blair: Secret Olmert-PA Deal 1. Blair: Secret Olmert-PA Deal by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu  Quartet Middle East envoy Tony Blair told the Al Quds Arabic-language newspaper that outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority Chairman Abbas have reached a secret but unsigned agreement. Israeli law forbids Prime Minister Olmert from making any significant changes in policy while he heads the transitional government prior to new elections in February. However, verbal agreements likely will serve as a de facto starting point for the next government. In the Al Quds article, translated in the Huffington Post, Blair is quoted as saying, "The continuous meetings between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and [Israeli leade Olmert as well as the continuous negotiations between Palestinian and Israeli teams has [si produced an agreement." Blair added that he is abiding by the decision of Olmert and Abbas not to reveal details. Prime Minister Olmert remains prime minster until a new government is formed, which probably will take at least several days, if not weeks, after the elections. Abbas's term officially ends on January 8, but he has maintained that the law allows him to remain for another year until new legislative elections take place. Any secret agreement presumably includes the status of Jerusalem and the demand of the PA for the immigration to Israel of several million Arabs who claim they are descendants of Arabs who once lived in Israel. The office of the Prime Minister previously has denied several reports that he and Abbas have discussed the status of the city. Abbas's "red line" is that a new Arab state be proclaimed with Jerusalem as its capital. Olmert has maintained that population centers such as Ma'aleh Adumim and Gush Etzion will remain in Israel in return for Israel's giving up land to the PA, which also would be provided with a land link connecting the Gaza region with Judea and Samaria. Comment on this story
2. Ashdod, Kiryat Malachi on Alert by Hana Levi Julian  The Home Front Command has warned the residents of Ashdod and Kiryat Malachi to prepare for rocket attacks from Gaza. On Monday, IDF personnel distributed instructions to residents of the two coastal cities explaining what to do in case of a rocket attack. Recently, both communities were also connected to the Color Red incoming missile alert system as well. Rocket attacks emanating from Gaza have reached as far as Ashkelon this year. Some of the missiles that exploded in the southern port city were homemade Kassam rockets, but others were the more advanced medium-range Grad-type Katyusha rockets, similar to those used by Hizbullah terrorists in Lebanon. Kiryat Malachi, a small Negev development town located just 17 kilometers (11 miles) southeast of Ashdod, is home to approximately 20,000 people. Its name, which translates as "City of Angels" in English, was chosen as a way of honoring the U.S. city of Los Angeles, California, which contributed funding towards its establishment. Ashdod, home to some 207,000 residents, is the fifth largest city in Israel and its port controls approximately 60 percent of all of the country's imported goods. Originally built specifically as the site for a new power station to service the south of the country, it is located only 70 kilometers (43 miles) from Jerusalem and Be'er Sheva. Comment on this story |
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