Chief rabbis: Gaza demolition endangers synagogues abroad
The Chief Rabbinical Council, headed by Israeli chief rabbis Shlomo Amar and Yonah Metzger, issued today a ruling forbidding the demolition of any synagogue, warning that demolishing the houses of worship in evacuated settlements will set a precedent jeopardized synagogues all around the world, HA'ARETZ reported.
The rabbinical decision comes in the wake of a High Court of Justice ruling to dismantle and relocate just two of the synagogues in the former Gaza Strip settlements, meaning that the rest will be demolished.
The rabbinical council demanded that the government call off a plan to demolish synagogues and Torah academies in the evacuated settlements in Gaza and the northern West Bank. The council also called on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to ensure the international community guarantees that the synagogues will be protected by the Palestinian Authority from demolition.
Two ultra-Orthodox youngsters were stabbed by a Palestinian
Two ultra-Orthodox youngsters were stabbed last night on east Jerusalem's David Street, YNET reported. One of them, 21-year-old Shmuel Matt from Britain, died from his wounds. The other victim, who arrived in Israel from New York, sustained moderate injuries. A police investigation found that a Jewish youngster who was walking along David Street in east Jerusalem was stabbed by a Palestinian wielding a large kitchen knife. The victim was able to reach the local police station and reported the incident. When police officers arrived on the scene, they found an additional stab victim in critical condition.
Aharon Pam, a Magen David Adom ambulance service spokesman, told Ynet: "I arrived here after a report that there were stabbings. The police told me that an Arab who came from the Muslim quarter stabbed two ultra-religious Jews. The condition of the first stab victim is serious, he is in intensive care."
According to Pam, "the cameras in the Jewish and Muslims quarters identified the incident and therefore there was an immediate response. There is currently a manhunt on for the attacker."
Qassam rocket hits Sderot for first time since pullout
For the first time since Israel concluded its evacuation of Gaza Strip settlements on Monday, Palestinians fired a Qassam rocket at the Negev town of Sderot, HA'ARETZ reported.
The rocket hit an open area adjacent to the town, causing no casualties.
Earlier today, a rocket fired from Lebanon slammed into the northern community of Margaliot. An Israel Defense Forces source said there had been an explosion in the community, smoke was seen rising, and the army was investigating. Witnesses in Margaliot, located between Kiryat Shmona and the Lebanese border, said a rocket had struck a chicken coop. There were no reports of casualties or damage. A Lebanese security source said two rockets were fired but only hit Israel. The second rocket misfired and landed in Lebanese territory. No Lebanese organization immediately claimed responsibility for the shelling attack.
Economic & High-Tech Briefs
* Intel Corporation unveiled its next generation multi-core processor, which was developed at its facilities in Israel, and which will be used in all Intel-based computers next year, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. Speaking at the Intel Development Forum (IDF) in California, Intel President and CEO Paul Otellini introduced the new 65 nano-meter (nm) microprocessor, saying that it was designed to bring increased power per watt and that it was expected to deliver an improvement of three to five times the strength of previous products. The new technology will go into production towards the end of this year, the first products of which will enter the market in the second half 2006.
* Israel Military Industries Ltd. (IMI) has signed a major contract to supply the U.S. Army with $300 million worth of light arms ammunition over five years, GLOBES reported. IMI executives said this was the largest munitions contract between Israel's defense industry and the U.S. Army. IMI chairman Ovadia Eli said winning the tender was a significant achievement and an important measure of the company's capabilities, compared with the world's leading defense contractors.
IMI participated in the U.S. Army tender as part of a consortium led by General Dynamics. The contract could reach $1.2 billion.
[Today's Israel Line was prepared by Hili Sharon at the Consulate General of Israel in New York.]