FROM OUR ARCHIVES
50 YEARS AGO
On May 3, 1967, The Jerusalem Post reported that no decision had yet been taken as to whether foreign diplomats would be invited to attend the May 15 Independence Day military parade in Jerusalem. The British Embassy had already announced that their ambassador would not attend, in keeping with what was said to be Britain’s established position regarding military parades in Jerusalem. The Foreign Ministry spokesman, replying to questions, said that no intimation had so far been received from the US and France as to their envoys’ participation.
Little hope for the reconvening of the deadlocked UN Syrian-Israeli Armistice Commission meeting on the border land cultivation problems emerged at a meeting between Gen. Odd Bull, UNTSO chief of staff in Jerusalem, and Moshe Sasson, director of armistice affairs in the Foreign Ministry. Bull, back from Damascus where he met the Syrian chief of staff, was understood to be pessimistic about the possibility of convening such a meeting. The Syrians still refused to come up with practical proposals on the borderland cultivation and insisted on extending the MAC’s agenda to include the overall status of the Demilitarized Zone.
According to Common Market officials, Britain’s application to become a member of the Common Market might have delayed negotiations on Israel’s request for associate membership. A number of senior experts who had been busy for the previous three months with a detailed study of Israel’s problems were now to be switched to handling of the British request which received priority.
25 YEARS AGO
On May 3, 1992, The Jerusalem Post reported that in Washington, a senior US official agreed with Israel’s optimistic view and had praised its “serious” posture during the previous week’s bilateral round of peace talks, but stressed that the multilateral working group would take place whether or not Israel participated. The Arabs were dismissive.
The president of the combat aircraft division of the McDonnell Douglas Corporation was expected to arrive in Israel to mark the delivery of two advanced F-15D fighters to the Israel Air Force.
In Lagos, Nigeria expressed hope that links with Israel, after the visit of foreign minister David Levy, would help its drive to win a larger role on the international scene.
Universities and some high schools began a two-day strike due to the lack of progress in wage negotiations with the Finance Ministry.
Prime minister Yitzhak Shamir expressed hope that the state comptroller’s sharp criticism of the government wouldn’t hurt the Likud at the forthcoming polls.
10 YEARS AGO
On May 3, 2007, The Jerusalem Post reported extensively on one of the most serious cases of espionage in Israel’s history, after the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) had revealed that the former Balad chairman, Azmi Bishara, was under investigation for allegedly spying on behalf of Hezbollah during the Second Lebanon War. The former MK was also suspected of contacts with Arab countries’ intelligence agents and could face the death penalty if convicted.
Foreign minister Tzipi Livni called upon prime minister Ehud Olmert to resign, but the move appeared to backfire as the rebellion in Kadima appeared to peter out.