Mideast Report

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- The mayor of a Jewish settlement on the West Bank has threatened to "break the heads, the arms and the legs" of Peace Now activists if they return to the West Bank to tour settlements.

Ariel Mayor Ron Nachman made his comments following a verbal confrontation last Friday between Peace Now activists and residents of an enclave near the Jewish settlement of Itamar.

A Peace Now official said he would file a complaint against Nachman.

Israel in hot water over software piracy

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Israel's Justice Minister met with U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno last week to discuss possible U.S. sanctions against Israel for piracy.

Israel faces more than $100 million in sanctions if it does not pass new laws protecting copyrighted computer software and music from piracy, Yossi Beilin told reporters before the meeting on Thursday of last week.

"Israel is allegedly a hub of piracy in our part of the world," he said.

13 Iranian Jews set to appear in court

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- The 13 Iranian Jews accused of spying for Israel were expected to make their first court appearance yesterday.

Iranian officials said there would be no trial but did not elaborate on whether official charges would be brought.

Jewish officials who have followed the issue closely said the most likely scenario is that the charges would be dropped against some prisoners, some could be sentenced to time served and others would face capital espionage charges.

Jewish activists have vehemently denied the charges against the 13, who were arrested in March.

Israel lags behind in Y2K preparation

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Israeli government offices and state-owned utilities are behind schedule in preparing for the Y2K computer bug, according to the state comptroller.

In a report issued this month, the comptroller urged authorities to take the so-called millennium bug more seriously.

Israel may release up to 250 Palestinians

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Israel is considering releasing up to 250 Palestinian security prisoners as part of ongoing talks regarding a timetable for the Wye agreement.

But Israeli Justice Minister Yossi Beilin said this week he opposes the idea of also pardoning Jews convicted of killing Arabs at the same time the Palestinian prisoners are released.

Settler acquitted n child's slaying

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- An Israeli court this week acquitted a Jewish settler of charges he killed a Palestinian boy in 1996.

Nahum Korman, the accused, is the security coordinator for the Jewish settlement of Mevo Beitar. In making the decision in the case, the judge cited contradictory evidence given by two children. The human rights group B'Tselem condemned the acquittal.

Albright expected to visit Mideast soon

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will travel to the Middle East on Sept. 1 for a four-day visit that includes stops in Morocco, Egypt, Israel, the Palestinian self-rule areas, Syria and Jordan, the State Department announced Monday.

Albright had postponed the trip, which was originally scheduled for earlier this month, after Israel requested more time for negotiations with the Palestinians.

Israel may accelerate West Bank withdrawal

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Israel may withdraw from parts of the West Bank before Oct. 1 if progress is made in ongoing negotiations with the Palestinians, a senior adviser to Prime Minister Ehud Barak said last week.

Palestinians and Israelis have disagreed recently over a timetable for the Israeli withdrawals called for under the Wye agreement.

Barak is concerned that further withdrawals before final-status talks are conducted could leave some Jewish settlements isolated.

Terrorists suspected in Netanya bombs

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Two bombs that exploded in the Israeli city of Netanya may have been dropped by terrorists fleeing after being approached by police, according to police officials.

There were no injuries in the explosions, which occurred around 6:30 a.m. Sunday.

Ha'aretz asks court to nix Sharon appeal

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- The Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz asked the country's Supreme Court to reject an appeal by former cabinet minister Ariel Sharon to overturn a verdict in a libel case against the newspaper.

In 1997, an Israeli court ruled that the paper had sufficient evidence to conclude that Sharon misled then-Prime Minister Menachem Begin about his objectives during the 1982 Lebanon War.