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Show Ok ee ee ee ee a ea Thursday, September 1, 2005 DAILY NATION&WORLD HERALD | DailuSHerald Israeli parliament approves Egyptian = proposal for Giaza border: MarkLavie THE ASSOCIATEDPRESS JERUSALEM — Israel's parliament on Wednesday ap- proved plan to post Egyptian troops on the Gaza border, setting the stage for an Israeli military pullout from thesensi- tive coastal frontier it has held for 38 years. But the stormy debate over giving up controlto a former enemyand the possibility of Palestinian arms smuggling added fuel to the rivalry between PrimeMinister Ariel Sharon and Benjamin Netanyahu. The parliamentary vote was not close — 53 to 28. It came . HUSSEIN MALLA/Associated Press Divers from the U.N.investigators’ team and Lebanesecivil defense prepare to jumpinto the waterin searchfor possible evidence from the Feb. 14 explosion thatkilled former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Haririin Beirut, Lebanon. Hariri probe suspects Syrian involvement Donna Abu-Nasr THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BEIRUT, Lebanon — The U.N. probe into the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri — in which four pro-Syrian generals and a lawmaker were named as suspects — has increased pressure on Syria by stoking suspicions that socamen members played role in the ‘generals were questioned Wednesday, a day after they weredetained or surrendered to authorities at the request of United Nations investigators trying to determine who was behind the Feb. 14 bomb- formationto increase pressure on Syria, which the United States claims is supporting Islamic militants battling U.S.forces in Iraq andPalestine. “The Lebanesearena will be used by those hostile to Syria to keep pressuring Syria,” said Ibrahim Bayram,an analyst for the respected Beirut daily, An-Nahar. Lebanese government detained Maj. Gen. Jamil Sayyed, formerchief of the General Security department; Maj. Gen. Ali Hajj, formerpolice chief, and Brig. Gen. Raymond Azar, former head of military intelligence. Presidential Guards be identified because of the sensitivity of the case. Theinvestigators searched theflats andlifted fingerprints. Lebanesepolice later detained at least four more people, including a manbelieved to own oneofthe apartments,theofficial said. Hariri’s death provokedprotests that led to the April withdrawalof thousands of Syrian forces from Lebanon,ending a three-decade occupation, and the ouster of Lebanon'spro-Syrian government. ManyLebanese blamed Syriaandits Lebaneseallies, particularly membersof ing that killed Hariri and 20 other people. Brigade commanderBrig. Gen. Mustafa Hamdan,surrenderedas did ex-legislator the country’s security apparatus, for the assassination. Both sides have denied the Nasser Qandil. allegations. was as a suspect and returned from Syria for questioning. The recent developmentsled some to predict Washington would use the in- UN.investigators and Lebanese forensic experts visited two apartmentssouth of Beirut that may havebeenused to plan the Hariri assassination, according toa Lebanese security official who declined to Damascus tothe latest developments, but Syrian media,all state-run, reported the A staunchly pro-Syrian formerlegislator was released Wednesdayafter he also As questioning continued Wednesday, Therehas beennoofficial reaction from news,andeditorials dismissed insinuations of a possible Syrian role as an attempt to discredit the country. as Netanyahu, who quit the Cabinetjust three weeks ago, openeda campaign to unseat Sharonas the leader io the ruling Likud Party. The allenge was tase on opposition to the pullout among registered Likud members. While the evacuationofall 21 settlements in Gaza and fourin the West Bank had widespread public support, manyideologues in the traditionally pro-settle- ment party were opposed. They controlparty institutions, giv- ing Netanyahua solid chance to oust Sharon from the helm. The split in Israel's largest party has called into question whether Sharon's government canlive outits term until November2006 and move ahead on peacemakingwith the Palestinians after the Gazapullout Israel is expected to turn over control of Gazato the Palestin- ians in mid-September. Openinghis campaign, Netanyahu visited oneof the most contentious areas in trilateral dispute involving Israel, the Palestinians and the United States — the three-mile corridor between Jerusalem and Maaleh Adumim,Israel's largest West Bank settlement. Netanyahucriticized Sharon for freezing a government plan to construct 3,650 homesin the areato block a Palestinian hold there and on east Jerusalem. “Hehas created a precedent that will lead to the division of . Jerusalem,” Netanyahutold reporters during the tour. “My starting (my campaign)here is not coincidental because Jerusalem is in danger.” Sharonsaid this week that more West Banksettlements would be dismantled under a final peace agreementwith the Palestinians. But he hopes to keepIsraeli control over Maaleh Adumim andatleast twoothersettlementblocs, where most of the West Bank’s 246,000settlerslive. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbassaid Wednesday that all settlements “should be removed, from the first stone to ones around Jerusalem Palestiniansclaim east Jeru- salemas the capitalofthe state they want to create in the West Bank and Gaza. They charge that the Israeli plan to build in the Maaleh Adumimcorridoris a way of cutting off the West Bankfrom east Jerusalem. The United States often criti- cized expansion of Maaleh Adu0 worrying aboutuni- eps that could pre-empt negotiations or even prevent a peacedeal During the parliamentary debate on the agreementwith Egypt, Netanyahudisplayed his basic distrust of both the Palestinians and the Egyptians, insisting on Israeli controlof the Egypt-Gaza border, as well as ~ the Gaza seacoast and air space. Improving the Outd va Carports Solar Drop Screens Petgola Patio Cover Buy Direct From Wholesale Distributo: Best Prices * Best Products * On TimeInstallation xv Your Choice Of Colors xv Stucco Accents To Match Home Free Estimates 224-8500 1-888-680-9598 w 130 Years Installation Experience »” Family Owned And Operated dy Stuart Stuart www.stuartawning.com asa740019 xv Maintenance Free Products |