 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||
|
THIS WEEK IN ISRAEL
"Land Day" in the Arab sector, which took place this Sunday (March 30) was marked by demonstrations of support for Saddam Hussein. Tens of thousands of people took part in protests in a number of Arab towns and villages. In some places, demonstrators burned US and Israeli flags, and blasted Arab leaders, such as Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordanian King Abdullah for "their cowardice and submission to the Americans." A general strike was called in the Arab sector on Land Day, which included all the local authorities, educational institutions, banks, markets, and businesses. At the same time, workers employed by Jews went to work as usual, and a minority of Arab-owned businesses were open. Land Day passed without incident this time, in contrast to previous years when the demonstrations turned into clashes with government authorities.
Israel has developed an airborne system designed to divert missiles fired at civilian passenger airplanes. The system created by Israel Aircraft Industries and which has already been presented to the Civil Aviation Authority and is awaiting certification by the Israel Airports Authority, is slated for use by the national carrier, El Al, and Arkia. The development of the system was accelerated in the wake of the attempt in November last year to bring down an Israeli passenger jet taking off from Mombasa, Kenya, with two shoulder-launched missiles. An airborne system to protect passengers on Israeli airlines, was developed by Israel Aircraft Industries and Israel Military Industries. This system is designed to divert missiles fired at civilian passenger airplanes, whose development was speeded up following the attempt to bring down an Arkia plane taking off from the Mombassa airport in Kenya with shoulder-launched missiles several months ago. The system knows how to identify shoulder-launched missile engines, and it diverts the missile into the opposite direction of the plane's flight path. Haaretz has learned that the new system is already in use in two executive 707 Boeings owned by two heads of state in in Asia and Africa.
Only six weeks have passed since the 16th Knesset was sworn in, and more than 900 private members' bills have already been filed. The MKs continue to file the bills although they know full well that only a handful of them (5% at most, based on past experience) will pass the three stages - the first to third readings. Central figures in the Knesset, including the Speaker, the chairman of the coalition, and members of the legal section who have examined the bills, recommend limiting the number of private member's bills each MK is permitted to file. The legal section even conceded that often the MKs themselves are not aware of the bills filed in their names, since it is done by their parliamentary assistants. One of the bills filed proposes a Basic Law that introduces a presidential form of government into Israel, in which the president would head the executive branch. .
Israel is exploring the possibility of reactivating the old oil pipeline from Mosul, in Iraq, to Haifa after the war with Iraq and the anticipated change of rule in Baghdad. The pipeline ceased to operate after the War of Independence and since then oil has been piped to the Mediterranean through Syria. National Infrastructures Minister Joseph Paritzky has asked the Gas Authority and the Oil Services Company to collect data on the state of the pipeline to Haifa and to examine the possibility of renewing activities. He told Ha'aretz that this could save Israel the high cost of shipping oil from Russia, and that he is certain that the Americans would respond favorably to the idea, since the pipeline would bring Iraqi oil directly to the Mediterranean. The pipeline could save Israel the high cost of shipping oil from Russia. He is certain that the Americans would respond favorably to the idea, since the resurrected pipeline would bring Iraqi oil directly to the Mediterranean. Several attempts have been made to renew the flow of oil through the pipeline to Haifa - the last one during the Iran-Iraq war - but all have failed.
Despite the tension in the region, many artists from abroad have arrived in Israel to participate in the international spring festival taking place these days in the Rishon Lezion Cultural Center. The festival will conclude on April 5. Artists are coming from Senegal (African harp), Austria (cabaret), Zimbabwe (liturgical music and prayers in Zulu), Spain (flamenco) and Latin America.
|
