JERUSALEM (JTA) — A Jerusalem man has been charged with deliberately throwing a cup of hot tea in the face of Labor Knesset member Yael Dayan last week in Hebron.
The incident occurred when Dayan, who suffered burns on her face and chest, arrived at the Tomb of the Patriarchs with other members of the Knesset committee on the status of women.
The man, Yisrael Lederman, maintains that he was pushed from behind and did not deliberately throw the hot tea. He also accused the police of suppressing evidence that supports his claim.
Police requested that Lederman be detained. He was previously convicted of murdering an Arab person from eastern Jerusalem, and was granted early release from prison after serving four years of a 20-year sentence.
Egypt envoy named after reported threats
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel announced this week the appointment of a new ambassador to Egypt.
Zvi Mazel, a 30-year veteran of the Foreign Ministry, will replace David Sultan, who returned to Israel in August amid reports that there were threats against his life in Egypt.
Mazel previously served as deputy director-general for African affairs and as ambassador to Romania.
In a separate development, Israel and Egypt renewed contacts to locate Israeli servicemen missing since the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
Israel this week gave the Egyptians a list of 18 soldiers missing or captured during the war.
The decision to renew the search comes after Israeli President Ezer Weizman’s recent visit to Egypt.
Netanyahu budget passes initial test
JERUSALEM (JTA) — After tortuous debate and intensive behind-the-scenes negotiations, the Knesset this week passed a preliminary reading of the 1997 state budget.
The approximately $64 billion budget includes some $1.6 billion in cuts that were approved by the government in July.
Many of the budget’s parliamentary critics, including members of the governing coalition, had threatened to vote against the budget, saying that the cuts would hurt the poorer segments of Israeli society.
The initial resistance to the budget voiced by coalition members had been an embarrassment for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
But he ultimately succeeded in securing the necessary majority in Wednesday’s vote by writing a letter to coalition faction heads in which he promised to make future changes in the budget, sparing some of the programs targeted for cuts.
Israeli official urges more private guns
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel’s interior minister has decided to seek a loosening of the country’s gun control laws.
Under a proposal issued Wednesday by Minister Eli Suissa, the minimum age for requesting a gun license would be lowered to 20 from 21.
Israeli civilians who had served in combat units would automatically be granted licenses.
Suissa’s proposals would ease restrictions that had been imposed after the assassination last year of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
“There is already enough violence in Israeli society,” said former army chief Dan Shomron.
According to official figures last released in 1993, some 300,000 Israeli Jews are licensed to bear weapons.
New Israeli missile unveiled recently
JERUSALEM (JPS) — The Israeli defense industry Rafael has officially unveiled the Python-4, considered by many to be the best short-range, air-to-air missile in the world, and hopes to market it abroad.
The missile, developed with no foreign components, has been used by the Israel Air Force for several years.
The Python-4 has a unique aerodynamic design which incorporates large fins, giving it superior agility. Most older missiles have small fins, so they don’t turn well.
The Python-4 is a heat-seeking missile, incorporating a high-penetration warhead with an active proximity fuse, which makes it deadly even if it doesn’t score a direct hit.
Israeli film wins big: On to Hollywood
JERUSALEM (JPS) — The Israeli film “Clara Hakdosha” (“Clara the Holy”) swept the Israeli Academy Awards ceremony last week.
The film won Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Director and awards for editing and its score.
“Clara” will be Israel’s entry in the foreign film competition for an Oscar at the 1997 Academy Awards in Hollywood.