TZIPI LIVNI
Middle East briefs
By JTA
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Livni to head Israel’s Annapolis delegation
JERUSALEM (JTA)—Tzipi Livni will lead Israel’s negotiators at next month’s U.S.-sponsored peace conference. On Oct. 14 Prime Minister Ehud Olmert named Livni, his foreign minister, as chief negotiator at the parley on Palestinian statehood, a move seen as a snub to Vice Premier Haim Ramon.
Ramon drew flak recently by broaching the division of Jerusalem under a peace accord with the Palestinians, a proposal on which Olmert had no comment at the time. Addressing his Cabinet, Olmert said he had decided that the top Israeli negotiator should be a senior government official since the Palestinian team is led by Ahmed Qurei, who was prime minister under the late Yasser Arafat.
Germany’s Merkel assails Iran over Israel
JERUSALEM (JTA)—Germany should never accept Iran’s threats against Israel, Angela Merkel said. The German chancellor said in an interview published Oct. 15 that a third round of U.N. Security Council sanctions against Tehran may
be necessary if it continues to pursue nuclear technology.
“I’m emphatically in favor of solving the problem through negotiations, but we also need to be ready to impose further sanctions if Iran does not give ground,” she told the Die Welt newspaper. “It is threatening the security of Israel, which for me as German chancellor will never be negotiable. It threatens the region, Europe and the world. We must prevent that.” Despite Merkel’s pro-Israel views, many policy experts believe Germany will be unlikely to stay aligned with the United States on Iran if the idea of pre-emptive military strikes against Iranian nuclear sites is seriously mooted.
Peres seeks Streisand
JERUSALEM (JTA)—Israel wants Barbra Streisand to perform for its 60th Independence Day. Israeli President Shimon Peres, a friend of the internationally renowned Jewish diva, is trying to persuade her to appear at Independence Day celebrations slated for next May, The Jerusalem Post reported. The newspaper quoted Peres as saying that he had heard many cantors, “but none who could sing ‘Avinu Malkeinu’ like Streisand.” Israel further plans to dedicate part of an upcoming Independence Day conference to its ally the United States. “After 60 years, it’s time to say thanks for being on our side,” Peres was quoted as saying.
Top Palestinian negotiator may resign
JERUSALEM (JTA)—The chief Palestinian negotiator may quit because he does not believe Israel is serious about peace. An associate of Ahmed Queri, also known as Abu Ala, said Queri will resign if a specific statement of principles is not drawn up for a U.S.-sponsored November peace conference, Israel Radio quoted the London daily Al-Quds al-Arabi. Israel has indicated that it prefers to come to the table with a general statement. The London paper also quoted Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad as saying he did not rule out the possibility of negotiation with Israel, but only if he believed there would be a diplomatic agreement.
Amir can’t attend brit
JERUSALEM (JTA)— Yigal Amir will not be permitted to attend his soon-to-be-born son’s brit. The Israel Prisons Authority turned down a request by Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin’s assassin to be allowed a furlough to attend the circumcision ceremony. The Authority also declined to allow the brit to be held at the prison. Amir, who is spending life in solitary confinement in prison for the 1995 murder of Rabin, married Larissa Trimbobler in a proxy ceremony and was permitted conjugal visits.
Mount dig suspended
JERUSALEM (JTA)—Israel’s decision to resume digging near the Temple Mount could spark riots, the Israeli Cabinet’s only Arab member said. The archaeological excavations, which are required in order to construct a new pedestrian walkway to the holy site, have been put on hold for two weeks after a letter appealing the decision was filed with the Cabinet secretary by Science, Culture and Sport Minister Ghaleb Majadle, the Cabinet’s lone Arab. Majadle’s letter noted the possibility of rioting. Palestinians charged that Israel is using the work near the Mughrabi Gate, halted since June, to foil the peace conference in Annapolis, Md. The new walkway will replace one damaged last winter. When the work began in February the Muslim world was up in arms, charging that Israel was trying to damage the foundation of the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aksa mosques.
IDF kills Nablus chief
JERUSALEM (JTA)—The Israeli army clashed with Palestinians in Nablus, killing one terrorist and one civilian. Israel Defense Forces killed the Nablus commander of the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade and a 72-year-old Palestinian civilian during operations in the West Bank city early on Oct. 16. Three other Palestinians were detained for questioning. Al-Aqsa is the military wing of the Fatah movement.
Report: Iran holds Israeli hostages