Dispatch from Jerusalem

Thieves Try to Sell Ancient Bones

First, the antiquities thieves sold stolen ancient burial boxes. Now, they are trying to sell the human bones inside them as well.

Israeli Authorities Prevent Smuggling

An antiquities expert attempting to sneak an ancient measuring weight out of Israel was thwarted by a joint Postal Authority, Antiquities Authority, and Customs Bureau effort.

Egypt, Libya, and Yemen Supply Weapons

Israeli military intelligence has determined that three Arab countries— Egypt, Libya, and Yemen—serve as the chief suppliers of weapons to the Palestinian insurgency in the Gaza Strip.

Get Ready for the Hamas State

The Gaza Strip is becoming the Hamas state, no doubt about it.  Former Shin Bet (Israeli internal security organization) director Avi Dichter publicly warned that Hamas is setting up in Gaza an “army of thousands of armed men  based on the model of Hizbullah in Lebanon.”

Palestinians Use Truce to Regroup

Palestinian militant groups, weakened by more than four years of fighting against Israel, are utilizing the relative calm of an informal truce with Israel to strengthen their positions politically and militarily

Exports from Israel Up, Up, Up!

Israeli exports to the European Union (EU) rose 21.9% in the three-month period comprising November 2004 to January 2005, in comparison with the same period a year earlier, Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics reported in February. The EU remains Israel’s most significant trade partner, with 37% of the country’s imports and exports involving the European continent.

Rice: US $100 a Month to Terrorists “On Pension”

United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has proposed a US $100 monthly allowance to terrorists who agree to lay down their arms and retire or find another profession, in a proposal of a pension fund for at least 1,000 terrorists.

Hamas Turns Street Signs Into Kassams

Hamas is using the lull in Israel’s offensive actions to stock up on Kassam rockets, mines, and mortar shells in the Gaza Strip, according to defense sources.

Kassam rocket makers have begun stealing and using street-sign pipes because of a lack of raw materials. Apparently, street signs are becoming rare in Gaza. Hamas is working at a heightened pace to produce more weaponry, in order to be better prepared for future hostilities if and when the de facto cease-fire breaks down and they are again targeted by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Hamas, Hizbullah Agree on War Against Israel

Hamas and Hizbullah agreed to continue the war against Israel. Leaders from the two groups met in Beirut and discussed strategy amid efforts to arrange a Palestinian Authority cease-fire with Israel. The Islamic terrorist organizations rejected the cease-fire and said they would maintain the war against the Jewish state.

El Al to Provide In-Flight Internet

In February, El Al said that it was investing US $3 million to provide in-flight, high-speed Internet service to passengers using laptop computers. The airline signed an agreement with Boeing subsidiary CBB (Connexion By Boeing) to install the Internet service in all El Al Boeing 747-400 and 777 planes.