Tsunami Toll Hits 120,000; 10 Israelis Still Missing
The number of fatalities from the tsunami that hit the Southeast Asia region kept on rising today to an estimated 120,000, HA'ARETZ reported. The Israeli Foreign Ministry announced today that Thai authorities had identified the body of a missing Israeli tourist. The announcement came as 10 Israelis are still missing in the area, five of whom have most likely been killed in the disaster. Of the 10, five are missing in Thailand, four in Sri Lanka, and one in India's Andaman Islands. Many parts of the northern Sumatra island have yet to be reached by rescue crews and the toll is expected to rise.
Five Israelis who had been missing after Sunday's tsunami have been found. Seven other Israelis were evacuated Wednesday by military helicopter from the tsunami-stricken area in southern Sri Lanka. One of the group received medical treatment aboard the helicopter after sustaining injuries in the disaster.
The number of Israelis who have yet to make contact with their families or Israeli officials fell early Thursday to 17, with embassy officials estimating that the number will continue to fall throughout today.
In Thailand, two Israeli women who were moderately to seriously hurt in the tsunami were admitted Wednesday to a Bangkok hospital. Both are suffering from multiple contusions and fractures, and one of them underwent surgery Wednesday night. Hospital sources said they expected doctors to allow them to fly back to Israel within a few days.
Israeli Teenager Injured in Qassam Attack
A 16-year-old girl was lightly injured after Palestinians fired a Qassam rocket today into the Tel Katifa area of the Gush Katif bloc in the Gaza Strip, Israel Radio, KOL YISRAEL, reported. In Khan Yunis, the Israel Defense Forces is continuing today an operation against Palestinians firing mortars and Qassam rockets. IDF tanks, bulldozers and troops moved into the Khan Yunis refugee camp shortly after midnight, Wednesday. An Israeli soldier, who was lightly hurt by shrapnel from an anti-tank missile, was evacuated to a hospital.
It is the third army raid into Khan Yunis in the past week, and military sources said Givati soldiers had now taken control of the area from which mortar shells and Qassam rockets have been launched at Israeli targets. The IDF also demolished a building in the camp.
On Wednesday night, an Israeli drone fired a missile into Khan Yunis, killing three Hamas members.
In Bitunia, near Ramallah, troops detained a wanted Hamas member, Mohammad Al-Hindi. He is accused of involvement in planning a terrorist attack in Ein Yabroud, in which three Israeli soldiers were killed. Al-Hindi also allegedly operated cells involved in shooting attacks, and trading in arms and ammunition.
Agreement on New Title for Peres Opens Door to Creation of Unity Government
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Labor Chairman Shimon Peres resolved this morning the dispute over Peres' title in the forthcoming national unity government, allowing the government to be formed, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. According to an agreement reached between Labor MK Haim Ramon and Likud chief negotiator Yoram Raved, Peres will be second in command to Sharon in the new government. His official title in Hebrew will be "Mishne (associate) prime minister, while Ehud Olmert's title will continue to be in Hebrew Memaleh Makom (substitute) prime minister. Both men will share the title of vice premier in English.
The Likud will now turn its attention to reaching a coalition agreement with United Torah Judaism and quelling an uprising by the so-called Likud "rebels" in an effort to get the new government sworn in next week. Sharon's troubles forming a national unity government intensified on Wednesday when 13 so-called Likud rebel MKs vowed not to support the appointment of Labor ministers and the disengagement implementation bill.
Technion Researchers Make Historic Headway in Battle Against Anthrax
Researchers at The Technion - Israel Institute of Technology have succeeded in developing an innovative antibiotic agent that simultaneously attacks anthrax bacteria and the toxins that they release in the bloodstream of an infected person, GLOBES reported. A description of the development was published in the prestigious journal Angewandte Chemie's international edition.
Prof. Timor Baasov of the Technion Department of Chemistry, together with Prof Chi-Huey Wong of the Scripps Research Institute Department of Chemistry, developed the inhibiting material, which could serve as a basis for a future drug against anthrax bacteria. The drug attacks not only the bacteria themselves, but also the poisonous protein that they release into the victim's bloodstream. The editor of Angewandte Chemie called the new development a one-two punch and a knockout blow.
Prof. Ehud Keinan, Dean of the Chemistry Department at Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, said that the revolutionary development would have far-reaching consequences for the war against terrorism. The researchers will now continue their research on animals, in order to develop their invention for use on human beings.
Revised Fence Route to Encompass 18,000 Palestinians
The revised route of the West Bank security fence in the Gush Etzion region will go deep into the West Bank in order to encompass 10 Israeli towns with some 50,000 residents, and four Palestinian villages with some 18,000 residents, HA'ARETZ reported. A sizable amount of Palestinian land in the Bethlehem area will also end up on the Israeli side of the fence.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will bring the revised route of the counter-terrorism fence around Gush Etzion and the South Hebron Hills to the cabinet for approval next month, following the January 9th election for a new Palestinian Authority chairman. The route's approval could spark conflict between Israel and the new Palestinian leadership.
The route was revised following Israel's High Court of Justice ruling on June 30th that invalidated a different section of the fence, on the grounds that it caused too much harm to local Palestinians. In the South Hebron Hills region, the new route will run along the Green Line, whereas the old route had curved into the West Bank to encompass five Israeli towns while swallowing a sizable amount of Palestinian land.
Economic & Hi-Tech Briefs
* Shagrir Pointer, the new company formed by the merger of Shagrir Towing Services and vehicle location firm Pointer intends to list on Nasdaq in 2005, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. The company is a "one-stop-shop" that offers breakdown, security and vehicle-location services. In addition, the company plans to offer new products, such as fleet management and location-based services.
[Today's Israel Line was prepared by Victor Chemtob at the Consulate General of Israel in New York.]