Rice: U.S. to Appoint "Security Coordinator"
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice vowed active U.S. involvement in Middle East peace-making, saying Washington would dispatch a high-level "security coordinator" to the region and send more than $40 million in immediate aid to the Palestinians, HA'ARETZ reported. Speaking ahead of her departure from Ben-Gurion International Airport in Israel today, Rice said General William E. Ward had been chosen for the job of security coordinator. She said Ward would visit the region in the coming weeks, and would supervise, among other things, reform of the Palestinian security forces.
Rice, who met today with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia, said the most important need was to establish security. "Ward's mandate is on security, which really has to be established," she said.
Rice revealed that Abbas and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had accepted invitations for separate meetings with U.S. President George W. Bush at the White House in the spring.
On Sunday, the U.S. Secretary of State met with Sharon, President Moshe Katsav and Minister of Foreign Affairs Silvan Shalom. "We did talk about the need to make sure that both obligations are carried out concerning settlements and outposts," she said of her talks with Israeli leaders. "[If] it looks as if there is somehow continued effort to create facts on the ground, then we do not support that," she added.
Rice said Israel's planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and four northern West Bank settlements this summer should be seen as a major breakthrough. "I just can't emphasize enough how historic a decision that is, how fundamental a decision that is, that with all of the going back and forth that we've done over the last 30 plus years, the return of territory is a major step forward," she said of the planned pullback.
Last Details Finalized One Day Before Sharm al-Sheikh Summit
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's bureau chief Dov Weisglass was meeting today with Palestinian Authority Chairman's security advisor Muhammad Dahlan and PA Negotiations Minister Saeb Erekat to finalize details concerning Tuesday's summit in Sharm al-Sheikh, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. On Sunday, Weisglass held talks with the Egyptian hosts of the summit to discuss its procedure. The summit will open with a personal meeting between Sharon and PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas - the first meeting between the two leaders in a year and a half - following which the two leaders, along with Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah II, are expected to deliver celebratory orations. Despite the optimistic atmosphere, Minister of Foreign Affairs Silvan Shalom warned that, "what is important are the steps taken in the field, not the declarations."
Meanwhile, at the start of Sunday's weekly cabinet meeting, Sharon denied reports that among the Palestinian security prisoners scheduled to be released by Israel are the men who planned the assassination of Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi in Jerusalem.
Female Suicide Bomber Arrested as Fear of Attacks Ahead of Summit Grows
Israel Defense Forces troops arrested today in the West Bank city of Jenin a female Islamic Jihad member suspected of intending to carry out a suicide bombing, HA'ARETZ reported. In a separate incident, IDF troops near Maccabim arrested Yousuf Kadakh, a Hamas member suspected of involvement in planning a terror attack.
Also today, Israeli and Palestinian security officials expressed concern that terrorists groups would attempt to assassinate Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in order to undermine Tuesday's Sharm al-Sheikh summit. Palestinians have also warned that Lebanon's Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement has been offering more money to Palestinians who would carry out attacks in the territories, especially in the Gaza Strip. Hezbollah is prepared to pay up to $20,000 per month to Palestinians who recruit terrorists, compared to $1,000 in previous years.
In other news, the Israel Defense Forces reopened the Karni cargo crossing into the Gaza Strip this morning. The crossing, Gaza's lifeline, was closed down on January 13 after Palestinian terrorists staged a large-scale attack there, killing six Israelis.
Technion Raises $88m for New Nanotechnology Research Institute
The Technion - Israel Institute of Technology has announced that it will found a nanotechnology research institute with donations totaling $88 million, GLOBES reported. Among the biggest donors are the New Jersey-based Russell Berrie Foundation which donated $26 million, and the Israeli government, which contributed $26 million. The Technion will raise an additional $26 million over the next five years from donors who are members of Technion friendship societies around the world.
Prof. Uri Sivan, one of the world's best-known nanotechnology researchers, will head the new center, which will be one of the largest in the world. "The Technion's status as a major world leader in this field significantly influenced our decision," said Russel Berrie Foundation president Angelica Berrie, who visited Israel for the announcement of the center. "Existing developments in nanotechnology can offer hope to people around the world, and suit our missions support in activities that can significantly and positively influence the lives of others."
Nanotechnology is already responsible for the development of many products, including medical diagnostic equipment and new light sources, which have extensive commercial and military applications. Possible future nanotechnology applications include smaller and faster computers; lightweight materials many times stronger than steel; nanotechnology robots that can travel in the human bloodstream and treat diseases; and materials that can filter microbes, viruses, and toxins from water.
Other News in Brief
* Canadian Foreign Minister Pierre Pettigrew began a six-day visit to the Middle East Sunday, Israel Radio, KOL YISRAEL, reported. Pettigrew will make stops in Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. The foreign minister said he was visiting the Middle East during a period of new hope, and stressed Ottawa's support for Tuesday's Sharm al-Sheikh summit. He said he would be discussing ways in which Canada could support positive developments in the search for peace in the Middle East.
Economic & Hi-Tech Briefs
* Israeli exports to Arab countries rose by 48 percent in 2004 to $180 million, GLOBES reported. Exports to the Palestinian Authority rose 9 percent to $1.6 billion. The Manufacturers Association attributed the rise in exports to increased trade with Egypt and Jordan. Exports to Jordan were boosted by textiles and clothing collaboration under the qualified industrial zones program. Exports to the PA included food, plastics and rubber products, metal products, machinery and equipment, chemicals and chemical products, raw materials for the construction industry, and electronic communications equipment.
* Jerusalem Venture Partners founder and managing partner Erel Margalit is ranked 48th on 'Forbes' Midas List, which ranks the world's top venture capitalists, GLOBES reported. Margalit was ranked 59th in last year's list. He is the first Israeli to make the prestigious list of top 100 venture capitalists. JVP focuses on early-stage software, network, semiconductor, communications, and wireless infrastructure companies.
[Today's Israel Line was prepared by Victor Chemtob at the Consulate General of Israel in New York.]