Dear readers
Here is the digest for November 26th, 2004

1-Zionist Council: Over Half of new comers to Israel not Jews
2-Disengagement Might Threaten Israel's Exploitation of WB Water
3- "Five Minutes from Palestine" news cast is now online.


1-Zionist Council: Over Half of new comers to Israel not Jews
George Rishmawi-IMEMC & Agencies, November 26, 2004, 10:30

The Zionist Council will publish its annual report soon. Early
findings reveals that more Jews left Israel than moved in during the
year 2004.

According to information from the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics
and Ministry of Immigrant Absorption, the number of Jews who left
Israel is much more than those who made Aliyah in the year 2004.

Since the beginning of 2004, 17,871 new immigrants arrived into
Israel. It was expected that by the end of 2004, the number of new
comers will be around 22 to 23 thousands, according to the Jewish
Agency reports.

Contrary to that, the Zionist Council said that more than half of the
new comers are not actually Jews. %60 - %70 of the 11 thousand who
came from the former Soviet Union are not Jews, despite the fact that
they have been granted Israeli citizenship.

Director General of the Zionist Council Moshe Bin Attar, said these
statistics include around 3600 Ethiopian Jews, who according to the
Jewish Legislation are not Jews, however, they are allowed to make
Aliyah.

During the years 2001 and 2002, 19,000 Israelis left Israel each year
and stayed over 12 months out of the country.

Since 1948, around 3 Million Jews came to Israel, at least 1,102,748
of them came during the massive immigration from the former Soviet
Union started in 1989.

Almost half of the new comers to Israel in the year 2004 are from the
USA.

Bin Attar said, "If we calculate the number of the new comers to
Israel and subtract the number of those who left Israel, we will find
out that number of Israelis who left is higher."

The Jewish Agency dismissed the reports by the Zionist Council and
described claims that many of the new comers are not Jews as a
"demagogy."

Yarden Ptikay, Spokesperson of the Jewish Agency said, "it is true
that the new comers from Ethiopia are not Jews according to
legislations, however, they have become Jews in the first half of the
year, and they lead a Jewish life in Israel, the number of Christians
among them is very minimal.


2-Disengagement Might Threaten Israel's Exploitation of WB Water
IMEMC & Agencies, November 26, 2004

Israeli Sources warned that the intended withdrawal from areas in the
northern West Bank could threaten Israel's ability to control the
northwestern WB aquifer.

According to the same source, Palestinians have conducted hundreds of
drillings for water in the northern West Bank, and drillings are
expected to increase following the intended withdrawal from the area.

If the drilling is not stopped, the source warned, the northeastern
aquifer, which have been used to provide water to the Jezreel Valley,
the Gilboa, and the Beit She'an Valley since Israel occupied the WB in
1967 will be harmed.

Israel claims that drillings are a violation of the Oslo agreement
between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, saying that according to
the agreement, drilling new wells requires an Israeli approval.

The Israeli Water Commission estimates that the number of drillings
ranges between 150-260, but officials at the General Staff believe
that the numbers are much greater and may be as high as 300.

The source said that this issue has been taken up with Sharon, and
that the Defense Ministry is considering the option of imposing
sanctions on the Palestinians.

If the disengagement goes ahead on a unilateral basis, Israel might be
forced to exercise force in order to prevent the drillings.

Yet, if disengagement is coordinated with the PA, the water issue
could be a central point of discussion between the two sides.


3-Dear Everyone,

"Five Minutes from Palestine" news cast is now online.

This weeks topic is on Israeli government and mainly on pressure
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is facing inside his own
coalition.

The report is available for download on our website at:
http://www.imemc.org/audio/index.htm and available also to stream.

Please do not hesitate to forward this report to all your contacts
and especially media contacts.

All the best
George Rishmawi - IMEMC NEWS