The Jerusalem Post
IDF kills 2 senior fugitives near Jenin
By MARGOT DUDKEVITCH AND JPOST STAFF
Palestinian mourners carry pictures of two Islamic Jihad and Al Aqsa brigades members Ibrahim Abahrah and Warrad Abahrah during their funeral procession.Photo: Associated Press The heads of the Islamic Jihad and Fatah Tanzim in Yamoun, west of Jenin, were killed Tuesday morning during a raid by security forces in the village to arrest the two.
The two brothers were responsible for the planning of numerous attacks in which dozens of Israelis were killed and wounded.
The Islamic Jihad threatened to retaliate harshly for the killing of the two men, Israel Radio reported.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1121739501513
Hizbullah joins Lebanese government
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lebanese Prime minister-designate Fuad Saniora announced Tuesday a Cabinet of 24 ministers, Lebanon's first government since Syria withdrew its troops, and for the first time the lineup includes a member of Hizbullah.
The formation of the new cabinet brings to an end almost three weeks of political squabbling by politicians over key posts and what shape the Cabinet should take.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1121739503099
Sunni helping to draft constitution is slain in Iraq
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gunmen on Tuesday assassinated a Sunni Arab member of a commission drafting Iraq's constitution, another blow to US and Iraqi efforts to draw members of the disaffected community away from the insurgency and into the political process.
Commission member Mijbil Issa, adviser Dhamin Hussein and their bodyguard died in a hail of gunfire from two vehicles as they left a restaurant in central Baghdad's Karradah district at mid-afternoon, police said.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1121796127282
Scroll find propels Dead Sea saga
By DANIELLE HAAS A secretive encounter with a Beduin robber in a Judean Desert valley has led to what one archeologist hailed as one of the most important biblical finds from the region in half a century.
Prof. Chanan Eshel, an archeologist from Bar-Ilan University, said Friday that the discovery of two fragments of nearly 2,000 year-old parchment scroll from the Dead Sea area gave hope to biblical and archeological scholars, frustrated by a dearth of material unearthed in the region in recent years, that the Judean Desert could yet yield further treasure.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1121568334559
Kit to check fetus's sex could 'lead to abortions'
By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH
A US home test for determining the sex of a fetus from the fifth week of gestation should not be allowed into Israel, a senior expert in Jewish medical ethics says.
Prof. Avraham Steinberg, an Israel Prize laureate, pediatric neurologist at Shaare Zedek Hospital and medical ethicist at the Hebrew University's Faculty of Medicine said the use of such a kit here could result in numerous "abortions for unacceptable reasons."
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1121653128619
Reassurance for shock victims 'most important'
By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH School children "run for cover" as part of a special Kassam lesson-drill at their school in the southern town of SderotPhoto: AP People who witnessed terror attacks or other highly traumatic events but were not physically harmed need calming and reassurance from a loved one, a nurse, psychologist or physician, according to Prof. Arieh Shalev, chief of psychiatry at Hadassah University Medical Center in Jerusalem's Ein Kerem and a world expert on post-traumatic stress disorder.
Many people, such as residents of Sderot or Gush Katif settlements targeted by Kassam and mortar barrages, rush to hospitals even though they do not suffer any physical wounds.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1121653128616
Haaretz
Settler leaders vow to push on to Gush Katif
By Nir Hasson and Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondents Yesha Council settler leaders said Tuesday night they would resume the pullout protest march toward the Gaza Strip settlement bloc of Gush Katif, which police have prohibited.
The comments came as pullout protesters who had attempted to march on Gaza Tuesday clashed with police officers at Kfar Maimon in the Negev.
Thousands of police officers, soldiers and Border Police officers encircled Kfar Maimon on Tuesday, where police estimated some 7,000 protesters had spent the night, with police permission. Police were acting to prevent the demonstrators from continuing their march to Gush Katif. Two police officers and a demonstrator were wounded in the ensuing clashes and 19 protesters were arrested.
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/602133.html
Knesset expected to oppose bills on postponing pullout
By Gideon Alon, Haaretz Correspondent Around 40 MKs are expected to support three bills on postponing the disengagement plan to be brought on Wednesday to the Knesset plenum.
It is likely there will be a full house for the vote on these bills, which are to be brought for Knesset approval in their first readings. Knesset sources predict a majority will vote against approving them.
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/602108.html
More than a dozen wounded as Hamas, PA officers clash in Gaza
By Reuters Palestinian security forces and Hamas militants fought gunbattles in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, as Egyptian mediators sought to end the worst internal violence in years.
The clashes came as Palestinians overnight fired anti-tank missiles at an IDF base near a Gaza settlement, causing no injuries.
Thirteen people were injured, including nine members of the security forces and two Hamas militants were wounded in the clashes, which broke out after two Hamas offices and a vehicle were torched in pre-dawn attacks that Hamas blamed on security forces from the ruling Fatah party.
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/601981.html
Hamas agrees to resume truce By Haaretz Staff Hamas agreed yesterday to stop the rocket and mortar fire and resume the truce agreed upon four months ago, according to Palestinian sources.
During meetings with the Egyptian delegation to the Gaza Strip, Hamas also agreed to end the "battle of declarations" with the Palestinian Authority and cease calling for the dismissal of Interior Minister Nasser Yousef, the sources said. Hamas officials emphasized that the organization's commitment to maintain the truce was dependent on Israel's actions and that Hamas considered itself free "to respond" to perceived truce violations by Israel.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/601642.html
Arab states can launch 1,000 missiles at any place in Israel
By Gideon Alon, Haaretz Correspondent Uzi Rubin, a former Defense Ministry official, said Tuesday that the Arab states surrounding Israel have about 1,000 missiles of every type, and can launch a total payload of 500 tons at any place in Israel. This is the equivalent of an attack by around 120 fighter planes.
Rubin previously headed the Arrow administration, a program Israel is developing to intercept incoming missiles. He spoke at a session of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/602127.html
Knesset to mull allowing Israelis abroad to vote in elections
By Gideon Alon, Haaretz Correspondent A proposal to allow Israelis living abroad to participate in government elections will be brought to Knesset for approval Wednesday in a preliminary reading.
The initiator of the proposal, MK Eliezer Cohen (National Union), claimed that there are approximately 460,000 Israelis living in North America, 270,000 of who possess the right to vote in Knesset elections.
Cohen argued that there is no justification to prevent those with a valid passport and an "affinity to the land" from participating in elections, as in other democratic states.
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/602114.html
2 female soldiers refuse pullout orders
By Amos Harel and Nadav Shragai Two religious female soldiers from the West Bank yesterday refused orders to evacuate settlements under the disengagement plan.
It is the first incident of female soldiers refusing pullout orders. The soldiers, noncommissioned officers in the instruction branch of the Israel Defense Forces Education Corps, were ordered Sunday to participate in enforcing the closure of the Gaza Strip to nonresident Israelis, and to join the Education Corps unit that will be evacuating settlements under the pullout.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/601640.html
continued ...
