| 05/19 17:25 |
| Conflicting claims of credit for Netanya bombing |
| A spokesman for the Popular Front for
the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) called Abu Dhabi television and
claimed credit for this afternoon's suicide bombing in Netanya. The
Al Manar television station in Lebanon reported that the Hamas has
claimed credit for the attack. |
| |
| 05/19 17:00 |
| At least 1 dead, 25 injured in Netanya suicide
bombing |
| At least one Israeli was killed, and more
than 25 others were injured, seven of them seriously, when a suicide
bomber detonated himself in a covered marketplace at the entrance
to Netanya this afternoon. About an hour before the explosion, security
forces went on high alert in the city due to specific warnings of
an impending terrorist attack. |
| |
| 05/19 15:30 |
| Housing Ministry issues tenders for 957 West
Bank homes |
| The Construction and Housing Ministry
issued tenders for the construction of 957 news housing units in the
West Bank, Ha'aretz reported. Last year tenders were issued for 810
news housing units. |
| |
| 05/19 15:00 |
| DFLP claims Gaza shooting attack |
| The Democratic Front for the Liberation
of Palestine (DFLP) claimed responsibility for this morning's combined
shooting/bombing attack in the Gaza Strip, in which four Israeli soldiers
were lightly injured. |
| |
|
05/19 13:55
|
| Polls open in Moledet leadership vote |
| Voting stations in ten cities around Israel
opened this afternoon as members of Moledet vote for their party's
chairman. Results of the election will be announced after midnight,
determining whether MK Benny Elon or Palmach Ze'evi will be party
leader. |
| |
| 05/19 13:00 |
| CIA Director Tenet due in Mideast this week |
| CIA Director George Tenet announced his
plans to arrive in the Middle East within the week. Prior to his trip,
he plans to convene senior Israeli, Egyptian, Jordanian, Saudi and
Palestinian intelligence officials in Washington for talks on a new
security plan. |
| |
| 05/19 12:45 |
| Abu Ala: Saudi initiative is only peace plan
acceptable |
| Palestinian Legislative Council Speaker
Abu Ala said today that the only peace plan acceptable to the Arabs
is the Saudi Arabian initiative. Abu Ala's comments came as FM Shimon
Peres stepped up efforts to find support for the plan he formulated
after talks with Abu Ala in recent months. |
| |
| 05/19 12:30 |
| Ben-Eliezer: "Reforms" are Arafat
"trick" |
| Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer
said that the reforms being introduced into the Palestinian Authority
by Chairman Yasser Arafat were a "trick," and the Palestinians
would be judged "by their actions." Regarding two Israeli
Arabs killed over the weekend at roadblocks by the IDF, he said that
the events warranted investigation, adding that both were cases of
illegal entries of Israeli citizens into the territories. |
| |
| 05/19 12:15 |
| Arafat rejects ministers' resignations |
| Palestinian Authority cabinet minister
Saeb Erekat told Israel Radio that he offered to resign as part of
internal Palestinian reform efforts, but Palestinian Authority Chairman
Yasser Arafat rejected his offer. Erekat criticized Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon's demand for Palestinian reforms as a condition for renewed
diplomatic talks with Israel, saying Sharon didn't care "if the
Palestinians are ruled by boy scouts or Atilla the Hun." |
| |
|
05/19 12:13
|
| Galilee community hit by Hizbullah fire |
| A Galilee community was hit by Hizbullah
anti-aircraft gunfire this morning, media sources reported. There
were no reports of injuries, but there were reports of serious damage
to property. |
| |
| 05/19 09:47 |
| Israeli convoy attacked in Gaza, 4 soldiers
lightly hurt |
| Palestinians detonated explosives and
opened fire on a convoy of Israeli civilian and military vehicles
on the Karni-Netzarim road in the Gaza Strip. No civilians were injured,
but 4 soldiers were lightly injured when their jeep overturned. IDF
troops are active in the area. |
| |
| 05/19 09:45 |
| Europeans agree on relocation of Nativity
Church gunmen |
| Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique reportedly
orchestrated a deal for the fate of the Palestinian militants released
from the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. According to the plan,
Spain and Italy will each take three Palestinians, Greece and Ireland
two each, Portugal and Finland one each, and one would remain in Cyprus. |
| |
| 05/19 09:15 |
| Moledet votes today for Ze'evi's successor |
| Members of the far-right party Moledet
vote today to select a successor to assassinated Minister Rechavam
Ze'evi. The candidates for party leadership are MK Benny Elon, and
Palmach Ze'evi, son of the slain minister. A dispute regarding the
eligibility of 700 new members, affiliated mostly with Elon, was resolved
when a judicial court ruled yesterday that they would be allowed to
vote. |
| |
| 05/19 09:00 |
| Three wanted terrorists arrested overnight |
| IDF forces arrested three Palestinians
wanted for their involvement in terrorist activity last night in Arabeh,
south of Jenin, and in the village of Jamain, north of Ariel. The
three are currently being interrogated by the Shin Bet. |
| |
|
05/19 08:45
|
| Gunfire at IDF post in Gaza, no injuries |
| A grenade was thrown and gunshots fired
at an IDF post near the Ganei Tal settlement in Gush Katif, in the
Gaza Strip. No injuries were reported. |
| |
