FROM OUR ARCHIVES
15 YEARS AGO
May 2, 2003
Jerusalem mayor Uri Lupolianski cancelled the city’s annual Independence Day gathering for dignitaries that had been customary since the 1967 Six Day War. In a statement, Lupolianski’s office said that “due to the economic situation and in an effort to save tens of thousands of shekels,” the Independence Day event had been “postponed” until Jerusalem Day, when a “more modest” ceremony would take place. In past years, the city-sponsored gathering had actually been one of the more modest municipality events of the year, with juice and soda served alongside peanuts and pretzels.
Israel was elected to serve on the UN’s Commission on Narcotic Drugs.
The election marked its second committee posting that year after more than four decades of isolation at the world body. In February, Israel was elected to serve on the General Assembly’s Working Group on Disarmament – its first posting since 1961.
The United States took Israel off its list of worst copyright pirates, while demanding more action to stop thievery. A US Embassy statement said Israel was moved from the “Priority Watch List” to the “Watch List.” Israel drew fire for a poor record on combating illegal copying of copyrighted and trademarked items ranging from computer programs to cigarettes.
10 YEARS AGO
May 2, 2008
Gaza’s water authority had dumped 60 million liters of partially treated and untreated sewage into the Mediterranean Sea since January, the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a report. “The sewage discharge is contaminating Gaza seawater and posing health risks for bathers and consumers of seafood. The sewage flows northward to Israeli coasts, including near the Ashkelon desalination plant.” The report’s authors blamed Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip for the Gazans inability to treat the sewage. “This sewage cannot be treated due to a lack of a steady electricity supply within the Gaza Strip, Israel’s restrictions on fuel imports and prohibitions on the import of materials and necessary spare parts,” according to the report. But a security source familiar with the situation told
The Jerusalem Post that the vast majority of Gaza’s electrical needs were being met by Israel and Egypt. Israel Water Authority spokesman Uri Schor said the problem was not new and that Israel was doing all it could to help process its sewage. The sewage wasn’t just flowing into the sea, but into empty lagoons meant to handle runoff from storms. Lagoons in Gaza City and the Jabalya refugee camp had been turned into open cesspools.
Defense Ministry official Amos Gilad headed to Egypt for talks to convey Israeli reservations concerning the cease-fire deal Cairo brokered with Hamas on the Gaza Strip. Senior Israeli defense officials did not support the immediate reopening of the Rafah crossing, fearing it would be used by terrorists to enter and leave the Gaza Strip. In conjunction with the cease-fire talks, Israel was negotiating with Egypt and European Union officials over the possibility of enhancing the mandate of the European monitors at the crossing to enable them to inspect Palestinians crossing through the border terminal.