DAILY ALERT

In-Depth Issues:

Israel Radio: Palestinians Say Weapons Not Collected (IMRA)
    After PA head Mahmoud Abbas claimed that the PA has collected terrorists' weapons in Jericho and Tulkarem, Israel Radio Arab affairs correspondent Avi Yissakharov checked with Palestinian sources who all denied that this was the case.
    The Palestinians told him that while the PA has made announcements regarding the collection of weapons, in fact the weapons have yet to be collected.

Saudis in Talks on Nuclear Agreement - George Jahn (AP/Washington Post)
    Saudi Arabia has quietly begun talks on a UN-sanctioned agreement that could curtail any outside probe of its atomic intentions.
    Diplomats report heightening worry stemming from past Saudi nuclear interest, coupled with the timing of Saudi efforts to sign on to the IAEA's small quantities protocol that would exempt the country from most of the agency's control authority.
    The protocol frees countries from reporting the possession of up to 10 tons of natural uranium - or up to 20 tons of depleted uranium - and 2.2 pounds of plutonium.
    Experts say 10 tons of natural uranium can be processed into two nuclear warheads.
    While the Saudi government insists it has no interest in going nuclear beyond a small research reactor built in the 1970s, in the past two decades it has been linked to prewar Iraq's nuclear program, to Pakistan, and to the Pakistani nuclear black marketeer A.Q. Khan.
    It has also expressed interest in Pakistani missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, and credible reports say Saudi officials have discussed a nuclear option as a deterrent.

Reports Reveal Zarqawi Nuclear Threat - Bill Gertz (Washington Times)
    Recurrent intelligence reports say al-Qaeda terrorist Abu Musab Zarqawi has obtained a nuclear device or is preparing a radiological explosive - or dirty bomb - for an attack, according to U.S. officials.
    The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) has reported the nuclear threat in several classified reports distributed since December.
    The reported threat of nuclear terrorism comes amid other intelligence indicating that Zarqawi is planning an attack on the U.S.
    Still other intelligence says Zarqawi was planning a chemical weapons attack in Europe.

Key Links

Media Contact Information

Back Issues

News Resources - Israel and the Mideast:

Global Commentary and Think-Tank Analysis (Best of U.S., UK, and Israel):

Observations:

Countdown to Disengagement - Dennis Ross
(Washington Institute for Near East Policy)

Several measures can be taken at this stage to advance Israeli-Palestinian reconciliation:

• The ceasefire must be secured. U.S. Army Gen. William Ward, who is spearheading security coordination in the area, should create a list of goals for Mahmoud Abbas to complete before his visit to Washington.
• The problem of the 495 Palestinians on Israel's wanted list must be seriously addressed. General Ward can be helpful on this front as well.
• The EU and the World Bank should create a team to help Abbas clean up the PA. If he cannot eradicate the PA's corruption-riddled reputation, he will never succeed domestically.
• The $1.2 billion that the international community has pledged to the Palestinians must have tangible effects on the ground. Pledged money must be quickly turned into concrete accomplishments that increase Palestinian employment.
• The greatest threat facing both sides is violence supported by Hizballah and Iran. The Europeans should make clear to Iran the consequences of Hizballah violence.
• Arab states must bolster Abbas. American pressure on this subject is long overdue. With Arab states publicly supporting him, Hamas would find an oppositionist stance increasingly costly.