Israel News
print
September 16, 2008
Olmert: ‘No Pogroms’ Against Palestinians
Jerusalem
JTA Wire Service
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert criticized settler violence the day after a Jewish boy’s stabbing touched off anti-Palestinian riots. On Saturday morning a Palestinian entered the West Bank community of Yitzhar and entered two homes, setting fire to one, before stabbing a 9-year-old boy five times and fleeing back to nearby village of Asira al-Kabaliya. Two hours later, Yitzhar residents entered the village and began a rampage that included shooting live ammunition, smashing windows of homes and overturning a car, according to reports. At least six Palestinians were injured. “In Israel there will not be pogroms against non-Jewish residents,” Olmert said Sunday at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting. “We have law enforcement authorities. We have police. We have security services. First and foremost, we have a military that knows how to deal with incidents in which Jews are attacked and to fight terrorists, and it will not lend a hand to those who take the law into their hands and attack innocents as was done over the weekend in the gravest manner.” Yitzhar residents told Ynet that Palestinians had set fire to their wheat fields seven times in recent months. Israeli media focused Sunday on the rise in settler violence. On Sept. 10, West Bank residents attacked civil administration officials who went to the Yad Yair outpost to confiscate construction equipment, and soldiers clashed with Yitzhar residents who were throwing stones at Palestinian cars. That same day, apparent West Bank residents entered an Israeli army position near Ramallah and attacked reserve soldiers. “This phenomenon of taking the law into one’s hands, of violent disturbances, of brutality by Jewish elements living in communities in Judea and Samaria, whether in recognized communities or in illegal outposts, is intolerable and will be dealt with sharply and harshly by the law enforcement authorities of the State of Israel,” Olmert told the Cabinet Sunday.
Iran Squad May Have Quit Over Israel
The Iranian men’s wheelchair basketball team withdrew from the Paralympics over “dissatisfaction” with the schedule. Some speculated that the Iranians, facing a possible semifinal match-up with Israel, pulled out of the tournament to avoid that confrontation on Sunday. After Iran withdrew Saturday, the Israelis lost to Canada, 55-47, in the quarterfinals of the 2008 Games in Beijing. The International Wheelchair Basketball Federation and the International Paralympic Committee announced the withdrawal due to Iran’s “dissatisfaction with the draw proposed for the cross-over round and subsequent schedule.” Iran’s quarterfinal against the United States originally was scheduled to be played at 11:15 a.m. local time after the Canada-Israel match at 9 a.m., but the starting times were switched. “Each match should be done one after another,” Iran deputy chief of mission Iran Doust said. “But unfortunately, concerning our match they didn’t observe the order and that’s the reason (for pulling out).” “This sudden change has made a lot of problem for us,” an anonymous member of the Iranian Paralympic delegation was quoted as saying on Al-Jazeera’s English Web site. ”(Because of) the problems this causes for the delegation, this team decided not to participate in the game.” The United States was awarded a win by forfeit in its game vs. Iran by a score of 20-0. U.S. head coach Steve Wilson said, “I was just disappointed because we were excited to play with such a good team. I knew nothing about it and we just did everything we should do to be ready for the game. What can you do?” In the Olympics last month, also in Beijing, Iranian swimmer Mohammad Alirezaei said he was ill and withdrew from his 100-meter breaststroke heat that included Israeli Tom Beeri.
Iraq Punishes Lawmaker Who Visited Israel
Iraq’s parliament has punished a Sunni lawmaker who visited Israel. The parliamentary immunity of Mithal al-Alousi was lifted, making him subject to prosecution. He also has been banned from traveling outside of Iraq and from attending parliamentary sessions. Speaking Sept. 10 at a conference on terror in Herzliya, Alousi called for stronger cooperation between Iraq and Israel in fighting terror. The Iraqi legislator visited Israel in 2004 to participate in a counterterrorism conference, after which his two grown sons were murdered by extremists in an apparent payback.
This story reprinted courtesy of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.