IDF attacked Palestinian targets in Gaza

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Thursday, the IDF launched air, land and sea attacks on Palestinian military installations close to Arafat's HQ, including the PA's general headquarters. The attack came at the end of a week of brutal murders in which two teenage children from Tekoa paid with their lives after being stoned to death, a guard was shot near Itamar and two foreign workers were killed in an explosion on the border fence with the Gaza Strip. A Palestinian baby, four-month old Iman Higo was also killed after being hit by shrapnel from an IDF tank shell fired in response to mortar attacks from Khan Yunis.

The most horrific act occurred near Tekoa. Two 14-year old boys - Kobi Mandell and Yosef Ish-Ran, from the settlement of Tekoa in the eastern part of the Etzion bloc, who set out to look for a site for their Lag B'Omer bonfire, were attacked by Palestinians and stoned to death. Kobi, son of former Hillel Foundation Rabbi, Yosef Mandell and his wife Sherri who until recently served at University of Maryland, College Park, and Yosef Ish-Ran, from an Israeli family in Tekoa, were close friends. On Tuesday morning, they set out for a stroll near their community and were killed together.

Tekoa was established 23 years ago, turning a Nahal outpost near the Herodian fortress into a civilian settlement. The community's 230 families are mixed religious and secular, new olim as well as veteran Israelis. Their livelihood is based on agriculture, vineyards, goat cheese production, a mushroom-growing farm, design of software, woodwork and machining. Following an intensive investigation by security forces, two Palestinians from an Arab village near Tekoa, and an Israeli collaborator were arrested. Suspicion is that the two Palestinians "organized" a "cleansing" test for the collaborator prior to his induction into one of the terror organizations.

Aryeh Ornaldo Agranioni was one of the first settlers in Samaria. In 1977, after making aliyah from Brazil, he was a founding member of Ariel. He was killed by Palestinian fire at an isolated outpost near Itamar where he dreamt of establishing an agricultural farm. The other two victims were foreign workers from Romania who were killed today in an explosion south of the Kissufim checkpoint, beside the border fence with the Gaza Strip.

At the beginning of the week security forces uncovered an attempt to smuggle weapons to the PA, in complete contravention of its agreements with Israel. The exposure came after IDF reconnaissance flights located a suspicious fishing vessel en route from Lebanon to the Gaza Strip, outside Israel's territorial waters. The boat was stopped and brought to the Haifa naval base where it was found to be carrying 50 107 mm. katyusha rockets, 4 Strella anti-aircraft rockets, 2 60 mm. mortars, 86 mortar shells, 20 RPG launchers, 150 RPG shells, viewfinders for guns, 120 anti-tank grenades, 70 mines, 24 hand grenades, 30 Kalachnikov rifles, 116 rifle magazines and 13,000 Kalachnikov bullets.

The investigation revealed that this is not the first time that the boat has made this run to the Gaza Strip and that this is just the tip of the iceberg of Palestinian gun-running efforts in recent months. Military sources warned that such ammunition is intended to serve Arafat's policy of negotiating under fire, by causing heavy losses on the Israeli side.

Despite the escalation, Israelis on the left of the political spectrum, led by Yossi Beilin, MK's from Meretz and Arab MK's continue to dialogue with Arafat in an effort to bring about calm in return for a cessation of construction in the settlements and an easing of the Israeli restrictions on Palestinians.

The Prime Minister's office emphasizes that there will be no negotiations until a total cease fire is achieved.

Kobi Mandell

Yosef Ishran

This is a tale of two boys, good friends, from totally different backgrounds. Now you have probably figured out the end of this story but that is not what makes it so unique. No it isn't the way they died together but rather how they lived. What could be so special about that? In most countries - their differences wouldn't have mattered much but here…. You see Kobi was born in the U.S. His parents are religious; his mother covers her hair and his father spends some of his free time studying Torah. Yossi was born in Israel. His parents would not be considered "religious" and yes, they are even from North African origin. Here in Israel these two kids normally would have probably never met much less become fast friends. For two such boys to form a fast friendship is all too rare.

In Israel every group usually lives within its own community in its own neighborhood, preserving its own unique school adapted for the needs of its children.

Not in Tekoa, here it is not rare at all. Here in this small community in the Judean desert, people believe - Yes, that all Jews are equal. What an amazing thought. All Jews should be able to live together despite what may appear on the outside to be differences.

How do they perform this modern miracle? Simple, they respect one another. Respect the fact, that each of us has the right to choose the way he/she wishes to live. This is something many Israelis have trouble comprehending but these two boys didn't even know that it was a problem.

Both boys met their brutal deaths as they took a small walk just below their homes the same way that many of Tekoa's kids do almost every day. Someone asked one of my sons today "why in the world do the kids go in to the canyon." He replied that "Tekoah kids and Tel Aviv kids are the same, both like to hang around "canyon"s, the questions is which kind of canyon (canyon in Hebrew means 'shopping mall')". Kids grow up looking out over the Judean desert to the Dead Sea. The peace of the hills, the gullies beckoning them, imploring them to come and visit just as shops attract other kids in the city.

Kobi and Yossie may have come from totally different backgrounds but they shared, as many young boys, the love for adventure and for the outdoors. They shared this until their death. While sitting with their friends I asked who was closest to Kobi, with whom did he share his secrets and the answer was Yossie.

At Kobi's funeral his younger brother sobbing pleaded for him to come back to talk to him. " I have so much to tell you but now all I can say is Kaddish"

This is a tale of two boys both "alike in dignity" - friends

Eli Birnbaum, Tekoa Resident

Palestinian Gunman

Alshrak Al-Awest (30^th January 2001) - PLO activist from Tulkarm, Masalma T'abath, who with a group of friends from the PLO, murdered in cold blood two Israelis who came to town for lunch, brags about his actions. He expresses no regret and even states that he is ready to keep murdering Israelis. "We waited until they had finished eating before arresting them .... we forced them into our Golf and evaded all police and security force efforts to block the road .... we reached a dirt track .... they tried to reach an understanding with us but we refused, we allowed them say some prayers, sat them down and then shot them .... two to three bullets in the head and chest so that they would not suffer ..... If we are released [the four were supposedly arrested by the Palestinian security forces) we will be ready to kill a Jew every day".

The murder ultimatum is still in effect. Alhayat Al-Jadida (7^th October 2000): Shabiba activists in Nablus declared an ultimatum ordering Jewish settlers to abandon their settlements by the end of November or "they will become targets of Palestinian bullets". In order to illustrate the seriousness of their threats, the activists conducted a "traditional" ceremony during which they burned the Israeli flag and then smashed, burned and shot at a model of an Israeli settlement.

• $12,000 - Jewish Agency allocation for the year 2000 to the "Harei Ephraim" for project "Practicing Democracy at Harei Ephraim" - within the framework of projects that foster "Unity, Tolerance and Mutual Respect".

• $11,000 - Jewish Agency allocation for the year 2000 to "Midreshed Bet Shean" for education towards excellence program - within the framework of support for "Special Needs Populations".

• $14,000 - Jewish Agency allocation for the year 2000 to the "Etz" Zionist activity for project on leaning about Diaspora Jewry - within the framework of allocations "Enhancing Jewish Identity for Israelis".

• 14,869 olim arrived in Israel since the beginning of 2001. 11,298 from the Former Soviet Union.

As a result of the decline in the number of Jewish youth from abroad registering for educational visits to Israel through the "Israel Experience" program, the Jewish Agency's Education Department is initiating delegations of Jewish teachers from all over the world, in an effort to equip them with tools for providing information about the situation in Israel, and enhancing the connection between the younger generation in the Diaspora and the State of Israel.

Within the framework of the project, 800 Jewish educators from the formal and informal system will arrive in Israel over the next three months. Each training session will last five days.

The tour program for the delegation will be prepared in conjunction with community leaders and will be based on the following: an in-depth understanding of Israeli society in light of the situation in Israel; creating meetings with colleagues in Israel; acquiring educational material for Jewish educational frameworks in the Diaspora; creating forums for teachers from the same community for joint activities, and other activities.

English Volunteers living in the Galilee within the UJIA Partnership 2000 recently used the skills earned in training with the English soccer team Arsenal, to coach the children in the Galilee, soccer. The event took place in the Circadian village of Rihania and the excitement was so great that the girls who had never previously showed interest in "boys' games" joined in.

On the same day, the volunteers from England collected traditional donations for Pesah. Together with members of the Bnei Akiva youth movement of Moshav Meron they brought holiday commodities to the sixty-six recently arrived Ethiopian families living in the Sfat Absorption Center.

On their arrival at the Centre they were greeted by two hundred excited olim, and were immediately swept up in a traditional Ethiopian dance. The gifts of wine, cake, and chocolates, made possible through the help of the UJIA, were very special, not only because they were a treat to a group of people living under very difficult conditions, but also because they reminded the Ethiopian immigrants that they were not alone, and that people were thinking of them.

"This UJIA project which we were part of gave us an amazing feeling of Jewish unity" said Ben Natan, a volunteer from Moshav Meron. "We, the Volunteers, asked to participate in activity benefiting new olim. We were given the privilege to prepare the packages with the Israeli children of Moshav Meron and also to hand them out ourselves. For me, this was the most tangible mitzvah that I have done this Pesach."

The management of the American Israel College has donated two preparatory courses for the psychometric (SAT) exam, through the Jewish Agency and "Spirit of Israel" campaign. The contribution is aimed at providing equal opportunity for academic studies for highly motivated youngsters of limited financial ability.

The first course will open today in Ramle and will prepare the youngsters for the psychometric exam scheduled for July. Those participating in the course, including veteran Israelis and olim, were located through the community centers in the disadvantaged neighborhoods of Lod, Ramle, Rishon LeZion and Rehovot. An additional course will open shortly for communities along Israel's northern border.

The courses will be taught by teachers from the American Israel College, who have considerable experience in preparing students for entry exams for academic studies. Each course will last two months and will take place in the format of two weekly meetings in the evenings (5 hours of study at each session).

As we know, a course of this kind can cost several thousand shekels, however those participating in this special project will pay just NIS 200 each, including books and study materials.

The "Spirit of Israel" - founded by the Jewish Agency and UIA/Keren Hayesod, raises money from the Israeli public and businesses on behalf of children at risk and from disadvantaged families.

Jewish Agency shlichim in the city of Odessa recently discovered a small Jewish community, numbering just 50 people in a remote village in south-west Ukraine. The community comprises an extended family of 24 and three other medium-sized families. The village of Konetspol lies 250 km. north of Odessa and 100 km. south-east of Uman. It is situated not far from the town of Pervomaysk, where there is a local aliyah emissary who provides advice on aliyah-related issues and a Hebrew-language ulpan.

Israel Rashel, head of the Odessa Jewish Agency office (JAFI), said that a few weeks ago the aliyah coordinator in Pervomaysk was approached by a number of Jews from Konetspol who were interested in aliyah. They showed great interest in learning Hebrew and because of difficulties in attending the Pervomaysk ulpan they asked the coordinator to open an ulpan class in their village. Rashel, together with Judith Bein - JAFI educational emissary in Odessa, decided to check the story and set out for Pervomaysk in order to meet the families from Konetspol.

Judith Bein returned from the meeting very excited: "Two complete families attended the meeting, one numbering 24 persons and the other 15, all dressed in their "Sunday best". Each family was headed by a woman in her 80's. With great emotion and tears in their eyes, the old grandmothers recited the few words of Yiddish that they could remember. All the sons, daughters, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren who came with them were extremely excited about meeting a real Israeli - representative of the Jewish Agency", said Bein.

A class was immediately opened in one of the classrooms at the local school for 33 people interested in learning Hebrew. "This is a family ulpan in every sense of the word", said Rashel. "In the same class the grandmother and her great-grandchild study together.

Konetspol has 4,000 inhabitants, most of them farmers the kolkhoz (communal farm). The entire "Jewish community" has begun preparations for aliyah, already packing their belongings. Rashel believes that they will make aliyah in the next 6-8 months.

60 children suffering from cancer and juvenile diabetes, who are hospitalized at Beersheva's Soroka Hospital, participated this week in a holiday camp at the Nitzana Youth Village, one of five Jewish Agency Youth Aliyah institutions.

The camp that is held for the second consecutive year, is run by youth leaders doing their voluntary service at Nitzana, together with a team of teachers and doctors from the oncology unit and with the support of the Rashi Foundation.

The program is designed to bring together children suffering from similar difficulties and provide them with respite from the difficult daily routine, their treatments and coping with the illness. The program also wishes to strengthen the ties between the sick children and members of their family or close friends who are also taking part in the camp.

During the course of the week, the children are enjoying an enrichment program in science and technology, and participated in art workshops and social, entertainment and sports activities and toured the area.

Attorney Keith Landy was elected new president of the CJC at the triennial plenary assembly of the Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC) which took place in Toronto last weekend. Landy, who was born in England but grew up in South Africa, emigrated to Canada after completing his high-school education.

Landy replaces attorney Moshe Ronen, who has served as CJC president for the last three years. Canada's National Minister of Defense, Art Eggleton, who addressed the convention, announced that he supports the CJC plan to establish a holocaust memorial museum in Ottawa, Canada's capital. Eggleton wore a blue ribbon on his lapel as a sign of solidarity with the missing Israeli soldiers in Lebanon. Eggleton is known to be a loyal supporter of Israel in the Canadian government.

In his speech at the convention Edgar Bronfman, president of the World Jewish Congress announced his intention to serve another term. Among the other personalities who addressed the convention were leader of the opposition, Mr. Stockwell Day of the National Alliance, Mike Harris, Premier of Ontario, Prof. Irwin Cotler MP from Montreal, Dr. Israel Singer - Secretary General of the World Jewish Congress, Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister, Rabbi Michael Melchior and Israel's ambassador to Canada, Haim Divon.

There is increasing concern in the IDF for the growing number of casualties from training accidents. Again this week a soldier was killed during a night exercise - 20-year old corporal Ariel Raviv from Jerusalem. Ten soldiers have been killed in accidents since the beginning of the year, and three were killed in one week. Chief of Staff Shaul Mofaz issued an order halting all exercises in all IDF units for one day, and on that day a letter from Mofaz was read to the soldiers emphasizing the importance of upholding the safety regulations.

Jewish Agency Chairman Sallai Meridor estimates that it is possible to double and even triple the number of olim from Argentina, South Africa and France by taking appropriate action. In an interview with the "Ha'aretz" newspaper Meridor said that these are three communities in varying distress situations: Argentina - due to the difficult economic and political situation; South Africa - due to the financial crisis and rising crime rates effecting the country; and France - due to anti-Semitic incidents during the year 2000. Meridor called on the government to utilize the surplus Ministry of Absorption budget from the year 2000 in preparation for absorption of olim from the west and South America. According to Meridor, the issue of absorbing olim from the west has been neglected and the absorption agencies are unaware of the need to employ French and Spanish speaking staff, since the basic services are all geared to olim from the FSU.

52,000 families who made aliyah in the great immigration wave following the opening of the gates of the USSR in 1989, have still not found permanent housing and live in rented accommodation. This accounts for about 10% of the 535,000 families who made aliyah from the FSU during this period. The figures were provided in the Knesset by deputy Minister of Absorption Yuli Edelstein, and in response MK Michael Nudelman (Yisrael Beteinu) attacked the Ministry of Housing for not settling the large-scale construction of housing for rental for olim fast enough. Over all 1,042,720 olim from the FSU made aliyah up to the end of 2000.

The panel for the selection of new justices, led by former Supreme Court Justice Yitzhak Zamir has stated in its recommendations that "new immigrants and the Arab sector are not reasonably reflected in the courts". Nevertheless, the panel stated that it does not accept the claim that the list of justices does not fairly represent the make-up of the population. The panel determined that the court does not have to be a "representative" body, although it should be "reflective", and where possible reflect the face of society. Justice Minister Meir Shetreet who accepted the report said that he is against artificial preference (affirmative action) of a particular sector, and does not want judges to be appointed "on behalf of" a particular group.

The families of the Israelis held captive in Lebanon returned home disappointed and angry from their advocacy campaign in the US. They accused the Israeli Consulate in New York of failure because it, "disregarded and ignored"them. They did not know who they were to meet and where they would stay before they left; the Consulate tried to cancel a press conference with the mayor of New York for "lack of time"; the Consulate cancelled meetings with the Israeli and American media; the Israeli Consul General, Alon Pinkas did not meet them at all; at a dinner with AIPAC leaders the organizers made no mention of the fact that the families were present; an information booklet which was given to the organizers was not distributed, and the blue ribbons which were placed on a table in the lobby remained unused. In Britain in comparison, Foreign Minister Robin Cook met with the families and informed them that he would do "everything he could" in order to facilitate the release of the captives. MP's who met the families called on their colleagues to sign a petition for a parliamentary debate on the subject, and accused the Red Cross of refusing to help the families.

This week Israel revealed the "Derby", a new advanced medium-range air-to-air missile, developed and manufactured by RAFAEL (Israel's weapons research facility). This is the most advanced missile of its kind: it is guided by powerful radar for up to 63 km., flies at a speed of 4 Mach. The pilot can activate it beyond his field of vision, and after the launch can continue to operate it without exposing the aircraft to counter offensives.

And finally: two rare births. At Jerusalem's Hadassah hospital twins were born as a result of the fertilization of frozen ovules from the mother. This is the first pregnancy of this kind in Israel and apparently the first in the world using this technique. The mother, who is 32 years old and an east Jerusalem resident, was treated at the ICF unit due to the husband's infertility. And another rare birth: Quads (all girls) were born at Jerusalem's Shaarei Zedek hospital to a mother who had not undergone any fertility treatment. Head of the maternity department explained that: "the creation of four ovules fertilized on the same day is extremely rare, and one egg splitting into four is even rarer". In this case too the mother is an east Jerusalem resident, 36 years old with six (now ten) children.

A new community center for the preservation of the heritage of Ethiopian olim is soon to be established in Afula, with the assistance of the Jerusalem Friendship Foundation and the Jewish Agency's Education Fund. In preparation for the special events celebrating Ethiopian aliyah due to begin in two weeks time, a ceremony was recently held at which the foundation stone was laid for the community's new spiritual center. The ceremony was attended by Jeff Kaye - Director of the Jewish Agency's Israel Education Fund, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein - President of the Jerusalem Friendship Foundation, and Afula mayor Yitzhak Meron.

The center will be established in response to requests by leaders of the Ethiopian community in Afula and will serve as a center for gatherings and activities organized by Ethiopian olim for the preservation of their heritage. Over the last decade, Afula has absorbed 15,000 olim, 4,500 of those from Ethiopia. At present activities take pace at different locations in the town resulting in conflict between the community and the town's veteran residents who are unfamiliar with the Ethiopian customs. With the establishment of the center, the olim hope that this friction will come to an end.

The center will house art and sculpture workshops, family celebrations, Amhari language workshops, and other activities. Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein - President of the Jerusalem Friendship Foundation has responded to the unique spiritual needs of the Ethiopian community and contributed $50,000 towards the center.

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, who is also a member of the Jewish Agency's Board of Governors, himself made aliyah two months ago and has settled in Jerusalem. In preparation for the establishment of the new center, Rabbi Eckstein said: "The preservation of the heritage of the Ethiopian community is very important, not only for the community, but as a way of life through which community members are able to remain faithful to their culture and traditions and as a way of facilitating their absorption in Israel".

Delegations of the ECJC ( European Council of Jewish Communities ), B'nai B'rith Europe, Red de Juderias de Espania and the Agence de Development Touristique du Bas-Rhin met with Mr. Michel Thomas-Penett and Mrs. Anne-Marie Simon, the representatives of the European Institute of Cultural Routes, an institute of the Council of Europe, located in Luxembourg.

The purpose of the meeting was to present the European Day of Jewish Culture, which will take place on September 2, 2001 in about 20 countries in Europe. On this day, Jewish sites like synagogues, cemeteries, ritual baths, museums, ancient Jewish quarters etc. will be open to the public.

The meeting presented an opportunity to hear about the history, philosophy and activities of the European Institute of Cultural Routes.

Representatives of the 4 partner organizations responded by deciding to apply to the Council of Europe to build a European Route of Jewish Heritage, which would encompass all the sites of Jewish importance scattered throughout Europe.

Lamb shishlik in fresh bay leaves

Ingredients:

1 kg. lamb cubed
String of fresh bay leaves

Marinade:

1/2 cup olive oil
3-4 cloves of crushed garlic
1 tsp. rosemary needles
2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
salt & black pepper

Preparation:

• Mix the ingredients for the marinade in a bowl and soak the meat cubes (preferably overnight). Stir occasionally.

• Place the meat on skewers, separated by the bay leaves.

• Place on an oiled wire tray on the coals, and roast until the outer layer of the meat is well browned.

• The bay leaves burn and add a pleasant scent to the meat. Pieces of onion and cherry tomatoes can also be used to separate the pieces of meat.

Bethlehem-style kebabs in tomato sauce

Ingredients:

1 kg. beef (shoulder) chopped finely with a large, sharp knife
2 medium-sized onions chopped finely
Finely chopped parsley sprigs
Black pepper
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground peppercorns

For the sauce:

4-5 tomatoes
1/4 cup olive oil
2-3 cloves of garlic, crushed
Salt

Preparation:

• Chop all the ingredients again on a large board and mix with the spices.

• Form elongated burgers (kebabs) and place on a skewer on a roasting mesh.

• Meanwhile burn the tomatoes on all sides on the coals, peel off the burnt skins, chop finely, add garlic, olive oil and salt.

• Place the kebabs on the grill, turning them until they are brown. Serve immediately on the tomato sauce.

Potatoes wrapped in silver foil and placed on the coals for three-quarters of an hour may be served as an extra. Rosemary skewers with mushrooms and cherry tomatoes may also be added.

B'Te'avon!     Bon Appetit!     Happy Lag B'Omer!!!