MideastReport

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Israeli security officials said they recently arrested 20 terrorists after uncovering an extensive Hamas organization in the West Bank.

The cell's members were trained and instructed directly by Hamas headquarters in Syria and other countries, the officials said. They added that several members of the terrorist group were involved in suicide attacks carried out in Netanya in April and May in which eight Israelis were killed and more than 100 wounded.

18 trees planted for U.S. victims

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Eighteen trees were planted in a memorial forest outside Jerusalem for victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Some 300 school children, Israel's Ashkenazic chief rabbi and Jewish National Fund officials took part in the ceremony -- the first planting since the end of the shmita, or sabbatical year, when trees are not planted in Israel.

Sharon, and son facing a fund-raising probe

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Israel's attorney general, Elyakim Rubinstein, was asked to probe Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's 2001 campaign fund-raising tactics.

The prime minister's son and adviser, Omri, may have violated the law by allegedly receiving more than $1 million funneled to the Likud Party by a company established by Sharon's lawyer.

Stone falls away from Western Wall

JERUSALEM (JPS) -- Engineers, archaeologists and rabbis plan to survey the sturdiness of the Western Wall.

The move comes after a stone the size of a fist tumbled down on a Jewish worshipper Friday of last week. Jewish worshippers at first thought Palestinians were pelting visitors to the Wall. Since June, senior archaeologists have warned that part of the southern wall was in danger of future collapse, likely due to past Islamic Wakf work on Solomon's Stables located just above.