Mideast Report

Friday, June 28, 2002 | by

JERUSALEM (JPS)—CNN will no longer give air-time to the families of Palestinian suicide bombers "unless there is a compelling reason to do so," according to Eason Jordan, CNN's chief news executive.

Jordan said he issued the directive last week.

"We want to make sure there is no suggestion of moral equivalence between victims and perpetrators" of terrorism, he explained Monday.

The change in policy was prompted by an incident three weeks ago, when CNN broadcast less than a minute of an extensive interview with a wounded Israeli woman who'd lost her mother and daughter in an attack in Petah Tikva, and then devoted several minutes to the plight of the suicide bomber's mother.

Jewish Agency treasurer ousted

JERUSALEM (JTA)—The treasurer of the Jewish Agency for Israel has been ousted. The decision to remove Chaim Chesler, which was made by the executive committee of the Jewish Agency's board of governors, came after Chesler made controversial remarks at the recently concluded 34th World Zionist Congress.

Last week at the meeting, Chesler said he prefers an immigrant from the former Soviet Union who might not be Jewish according to Jewish law than "to someone who prays three times a day but stays in Brooklyn.'' Chesler is known for his outspokenness as well as his success in sticking to the budget for the five years of his term in office.

Ministry's PR fund runs out of money

JERUSALEM (JTA)—The public relations budget for Israel's Foreign Ministry has been depleted, said Deputy Foreign Minister Michael Melchior. According to Melchior, the ministry's total PR budget is some $8.3 million.

He said budget cuts have harmed efforts by Israeli representatives abroad to explain the government's policies and improve the country's image.

Law of return could get narrower

JERUSALEM (JPS)—A proposed amendment to the Law of Return, which would eliminate the grandfather clause, was passed Monday by the Knesset Law Committee.

Under current law, Jews by birth or conversion are entitled to automatic Israeli citizenship—and so are the children and grandchildren of a Jew. Interior Minister Eli Yishai says thousands of non-Jews are entering the country even though they have no connection to or interest in Judaism.

Under the proposed amendment by Knesset member Michael Kleiner, grandchildren of Jews would be included under the Law of Return only if the grandparent was living and also immigrated to Israel.

Israel to debut satellite network

JERUSALEM (JTA)—Israel's new Arabic-English international satellite TV network was set to premiere this week.

The network will feature a half-hour English news program and eight hours of daily Arabic broadcasts, the Jerusalem Post reported. The broadcasts will be available via satellite throughout the Middle East and Europe.

Belgian court rules against Sharon trial

JERUSALEM (JTA)—Israeli officials are applauding the decision by a Belgian appeals court this week not to try Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for alleged war crimes.

The case involved a "lawsuit that started with more politics than law, and it is lucky that the outcome is more law than politics," the director of European Affairs for Israel's Foreign Ministry, Daniel Shek, said after Wednesday's decision. "We trusted the system, and the system did not let us down."

His comments came after the appeals court threw out a lawsuit that sought to have Sharon tried for war crimes.

The three-member panel ruled that Belgian law requires that a defendant be in Belgium for a case to proceed.

Israel's historic parks get emergency aid

JERUSALEM (JTA)—Israel's national parks received emergency funds to remain open. The Finance Ministry provided the National Parks Authority with $2 million, which will be used to pay salaries and help cover debts, Israel Radio reported.

The country's national parks and nature reserves were expected to close this week due to a budget crisis caused by a drop in visitors and tourists as a result of the security situation.

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