In Short

June 14, 2007

Palestinians Slam Oprah for Empathy
JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Oprah Winfrey was criticized for supporting Israel.
The Joint Advocacy Initiative, a partnership between the eastern Jerusalem YMCA and the YWCA of Palestine, said in a June 8 letter that Winfrey's willingness to visit Israel was "very shocking."
The letter was apparently a response to the famous talk-show host's declaration last month that she sympathized with the suffering of Israelis, and would accept an invitation from friend and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel to visit the Jewish state.

Israel Launches New Spy Satellite
JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Israel just launched a new spy satellite.
Ofek-7 was sent from an Israeli air base on Monday, and was due to begin relaying ground images from orbit by the weekend.
According to defense officials, Ofek-7, which is manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries, will offer high-resolution photographs of the Middle East in almost all weather conditions.
The satellite will thus boost Israel's efforts to track the nuclear program of its arch-enemy -- Iran.

Hamas Intensifies Fight With Fatah
JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Hamas fighters took over a number of Fatah bases in the northern Gaza Strip, bringing recent intra-Palestinian violence to new heights.
Hamas declared northern and central Gaza to be a "closed military zone" on Tuesday after a weekend of urban warfare that killed at least 20 Palestinians.
In response to the Hamas assault, Fatah gunmen abducted a deputy Cabinet minister from Hamas.
Earlier on Tuesday, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismael Haniyeh of Hamas was reported to have been attacked, along with his family, when rocket-propelled grenades were fired at their house.