News Digest

U.S. Soldiers In Israel
To Get Tax Breaks

Washington/JTA — American soldiers
stationed in Israel are expected to
receive the same tax breaks as others
serving in the Middle East.
The Pentagon is expected to rule soon
that the close to 800 soldiers manning
Patriot missile batteries in Israel are par-
ticipating in U.S. military action against
Iraq, and therefore eligible for wartime
tax breaks for servicemen.
Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-N.Y., lob-
bied for the change in status after visit-
ing with soldiers in Israel. They said
they were the only troops deployed for
the war who still are having their mili-
tary salaries taxed.

Seinfeld, Bennett
To Honor Israel

WashingtonlJTA — Jerry Seinfeld and
Tony Bennett will highlight next
month's celebration in Washington for
Israel's 55th anniversary.
The "Israel@55" gala, scheduled for
May 19, also will feature singer Norah
Jones and Israeli singer Achinoam "Noa"
Nini. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
and President Bush are expected to attend.

Israel: We've
Crippled Hamas

Jerusalem/JTA — Israel says it has
crippled Hamas' terrorist infrastruc-
ture in the northern West Bank over
the past year.
Since the Passover suicide bombing in
Netanya last year that killed 29 Israelis,
Israel has cracked down on Hamas in
the cities of Tulkarm, Nablus, Kalkilya
and Jenin. Of the 63 Hamas operatives
that made up the group's leadership last
year, 37 were captured, 22 were killed
and four remain at large, according to
the Israeli daily Mdariv.

Ambassador Will
Return To Brussels

Brussels/JTA — Israel will return its
ambassador to Belgium after Belgian
legislators amended laws that would
have allowed Israel's prime minister to
be put on trial for alleged war crimes.
Yehudi Kenar will return to Belgium
four months after he was recalled in
protest of a controversial law seeking to
prosecute war criminals and perpetra-

tors of genocide from around the world.
The law had enabled Palestinians to sue
Ariel Sharon over his alleged involve-
ment in the slaughter of Palestinians by
Lebanese Christian militias at the Sabra
and Shatila refugee camps in 1982.
Last month, however, Belgium's
House of Representatives passed several
amendments that limit the law to cases
where the perpetrators are from unde-
mocratic countries where they will not
have a serious trial.

Iraqis Defend
Baghdad Jews

Baghdad/JTA — Iraqi Muslims helped
repel looters from the cultural center of
Baghdad's Jewish community on
Saturday, April 12.
Security guards and neighbors turned
away looters who tried several times to
break into the community center and a
synagogue, Agence France Presse report-
ed. Some 50 Jews live in Baghdad.

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Jerusalem/JTA — Excavations in Israel
have reinforced the historical evidence for
the existence of King David's kingdom.
The discovery of signs of an urban soci-
ety dating to the 10th century B.C.E. at
Tel Rehov, near Beit Shean, has affirmed
the existence of a united Israelite monar-
chy headed by kings David and
Solomon,..according to Hebrew
University.
The biblical account of the two kings
and their reigning period has been
debated over the last decade, with some
scholars saying the legends had a weak
historical base.

Italy Wants
Abu Abbas

Rome/JTA — Italy will ask for the
extradition of captured Palestinian ter-
rorist Abu Abbas. Italian Justice
Minister Roberto Castelli said the
request for Abbas, who was arrested
Tuesday by U.S. forces in Iraq, would
be made soon.
He said Italy recently also requested
the extradition of Abbas, whose real
name is Mohammed Abbas, from Egypt
and Jordan. An Italian court has con-
demned Abbas in absentia to life in
prison for masterminding the 1985
hijacking of the Italian cruise ship

NEWS DIGEST

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