Aipac update

www.aipac.org December 3, 2008
Hamas Rockets Strike Gaza Energy Source
Report: Palestinian Economy Improving
Israel Mourns Victims of Mumbai Massacre, Offers Aid
Lawmaker Supports Obama's Call for Ban on Sale of Gas to Iran
Palestinian Authority Considers West Bank State
Israelis Pioneer Laser Treatment for Sealing Wounds

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Hamas Rockets Strike Gaza Energy Source
Hamas rockets slammed into southern Israel on Wednesday, damaging a power cable transferring electricity to the Gaza Strip, the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz reported. Wednesday's barrage was the latest in a string of more than 200 rocket and mortar attacks fired from Gaza. Israeli military sources also noted an upsurge in Hamas activity along the Gaza-Israel border, where terrorist cells have planted explosive devices. Though a fragile calm had taken hold along the Gaza border in recent months, Hamas terrorists in the coastal strip have overseen a massive arms buildup and are again using the territory as a base for launching attacks at the Jewish state. Click here to learn about Hamas' terrorist activity in Gaza.
Report: Palestinian Economy Improving
According to a new report by Israel's Ministry of Defense, the Palestinian economy in the West Bank has improved dramatically over the past year, The Jerusalem Post reported. Ministry statistics show a three percent drop in Palestinian unemployment, a 24 percent increase in daily wages, olive harvest revenue jumping more than 150 percent, a 10 percent increase in Palestinians working in Israeli settlements and a 10 percent increase in work permits for Palestinians in Israel. The report, which incorporated data from the Palestinian Authority and the United Nations, attributes much of the improvements to recent concerted efforts by Israel to improve conditions in the West Bank. The report also credits increased cooperation between the Israel and Palestinian Authority to fight terrorist elements such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
Israel Mourns Victims of Mumbai Massacre, Offers Aid
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert thanked his Indian counterparts on Sunday for their cooperation and care for Jewish and Israeli hostages during last week's deadly Mumbai terrorist attacks, the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz reported. Olmert said Israel had provided intelligence assistance and offered aid to Indian authorities in the aftermath of the attacks. "Last week marked one of the worse acts of terror ever to take place in India," Olmert said. "The images of the Jewish victims and the horrific sight of the Chabad house managers wrapped in prayer shawls are shocking and take us back to images from history that we hoped wouldn't repeat themselves. But it seems that the hatred of Jews and Israelis is what spurs these horrible deeds." Some 180 people were massacred in the Mumbai rampage. Seven people, Americans and Israelis among them, were killed at the city's Chabad House, a Jewish center targeted by the assailants.
Lawmaker Supports Obama's Call for Ban on Sale of Gas to Iran
Echoing President-elect Barack Obama, a leading Republican senator has called on the United States to press for an international ban on the sale of gasoline to Iran, a move that would affect Iran's economy immediately. "Iran has vulnerabilities susceptible to pressure from the United States and its allies and we must exploit them before it is too late," Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) wrote in an op-ed. "As an example, despite Iran's tremendous crude oil reserves, it relies on huge volumes of imported gasoline to meet its domestic demand. The Iranian government then subsidizes this gasoline for the Iranian people." Kyl noted that sanctioning Iran in this manner has received the endorsement of President-elect Obama, and would constitute "a possibly game changing dislocation to Iran's economy. Learn more about Iran's dangerous behavior.
Palestinian Authority Considers West Bank State
Top Palestinian negotiator Maen Areikat has indicated that the Palestinian Authority would be willing to establish a Palestinian state in the West Bank alone until the terrorist group Hamas gives up control of the Gaza Strip, The Washington Times reported. "We would prefer to see a situation where there is national unity," Areikat said. "But if we don't agree, the PLO is mandated to continue negotiations." Hamas, which seized control of Gaza in a violent coup in June 2007, faces international isolation until it recognizes Israel, renounces terrorism and accepts previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements.
Israelis Pioneer Laser Treatment for Sealing Wounds
A team of Israeli researchers has developed a new technique to allow surgeons to seal incisions by laser, with less scarring and less exposure to infection, the Web site Israel 21c reported. The new technique, developed by Prof. Abraham Katzir and a team from Tel Aviv University's Applied Physics Group, is called laser-welding. When the laser begins to overheat and risks burning the tissue, the device reduces laser power, and if the temperature is too low to complete a closure, laser power is increased appropriately. "Sutures or stitches are not water tight, and blood or urine can pass through cuts, causing severe infection," Katzir said. Israel has long been at the forefront of developing new and innovative medical techniques.