▪ Migdal Insurance - Sale Approved \ Jerusalem (JPFS) — The Israel Anti-Trust Authority has ap- proved the planned sale of the Bank Leumi-owned Migdal In- surance to Assicurazioni Gener- ali, despite the ongoing inquiries into the Italian company's deci- sion not to pay out on life insur- ance policies purchased by Holocaust victims across Eastern Europe. The Knesset insurance sub- committee is scheduled to con- tinue its investigation into the issue with sub-committee chair- man Michael Kleiner calling on the company to pay out to valid policyholders. Generali, which is refusing to speak to the media, has consis- tently argued it has no legal oblig- ation to pay out on policies where no death certificate was provided and where the claim was not made before the company's East- ern European assets and liabili- ties were nationalized following World War II. There is a growing concern in the insurance world that Gener- ali could pull out of the $300 mil- lion deal with Leumi as a result of the Holocaust policies, but Mr. Kleiner remains adamant that morality must be the overriding factor. . Palestinians Hit Park Plan Jerusalem (JPFS) — The per- mission granted for an industrial park on the Israeli side of the Gaza border was described as "alarming' by a senior Palestin- ian Authority economic official. The National Planning and Construction Council has given its approval for a single industri- al park to be built alongside the line in the area of Nahal Oz but has reaffirmed its earlier decision to refuse permission for similar schemes elsewhere along the bor- der. The unilateral nature of the de- cision was condemned by Pales- tinian Economic Council for Development and Reconstruction (PECDAR) director-general Mo- hammed Shtayyeh. PECDAR is concerned by the general lack of consultation and cooperation between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in the planning of the parks in the Gaza area. "This should be coordinat- ed with us so we can avoid dupli- cation of industries," he said. One of the problems with the plan is that it does not solve the issue of border crossings, which are sometimes prohibited and also time-consuming, Mr. Shtayyeh added. The planning council's decision came after a request from Shai Hermesh, head of the Sha'ar Ha- negev local council. The original decision, passed last year and to apply for the next 10 years, was to prevent the cre- ation of employment areas along the border but to encourage job creation schemes nearer the larg- er cities. Work on the Karni industrial park on the Gaza side of the line is at an "advanced stage," Mr. Shtayyeh said. There are ongoing discussions over the provision of electricity and water with the Na- tional Infrastructure Ministry, with the full support of Minister Ariel Sharon. The International Finance Cor- poration, the private sector branch of the World Bank, is in the process of granting loans to PADI- CO, the company charged with constructing the factories at Karni. Funding for off-site infrastruc- ture provisions is being provided by the World Bank and donor countries led by the United States. "Things are going very well at Karni," said Mr. Shtayyeh. In the West Bank, work is pro- gressing, but at a slower rate, on two industrial parks at Mukeibi- la, north of Jenin and in Tulka- rm. The Mukeibila project has the backing of German investors, who have supplied technical know-how and equipment to launch the park, which is owned by the chairman of the commer- cial Bank of Jordan Tawfik Fakhoury, originally from Jenin. Negotiations are beginning with Israel for the provision of in- frastructure services for the park. The Tulkarm project is the least developed, with the land having so far only been purchased in part by a consortium of busi- nessmen. In the cases of all three parks, it still undecided which in- dustries will operate. Meanwhile, Mr. Shtayyeh signed a contract for a $35 million loan from the Arab Fund in Kuwait for improving health, ed- ucation and roads infrastructure in Gaza and the West Bank. Carrier Bids For Tadiran Stake Jerusalem (JPFS) — United States air conditioner company Carrier is in advanced negotia- tions to purchase 26 percent of Tadiran Appliances from Tadi- ran. The companies entered talks about four months ago. According to the proposed agreement, Carrier will receive an option to increase its holdings in the electric appliances compa- ny in three years, turning it into a. controlling shareholder. The transaction is estimated at $18 Carrier owns 49 manufactur- ing plans worldwide. Ameritech will give you 1,000 FREE minutes... Just for signing a 1 year contract and using your own phone or 400 FREE minutes and a FREE phone too! (ends April 12, 1997) A. *Other restrictions may apply. SERVICING ALL OF OAKLAND COUNTY • Residential and Commercial • Personal and Customized Service #800 NATIONWIDE SERVICE FOR 25/MONTH! • 100% Customer Retention and Satisfaction • Non-Profits Call For Your Free Account (810) 334-5492 or (810) 335-1309 SpeedLink A Division of SpeedNet, Inc. http://www.speedlink.net • e-mail: speed@speedlink.net • 53-1/2 West Huron Street, Suite 211 • Pontiac Next time you feed your face, think about your heart. Go easy on your heart and start cutting back on foods that are high in saturated fat and cholesterol. The change'II do you good. U American Heart Association WERE FIGHTING FOR YOUR LIFE