MIDDLE EAST

REPORT: FAHIMA ASSISTED KALANDIYA ATTACK Tali Fahima, an Israeli Jewish woman, is alleged to have assisted in the transfer of a bomb used in a terror attack at the Kalandiya roadblock two weeks ago, Army Radio reported yesterday evening. In that attack, three border policemen were seriously wounded. A 60-year-old Palestinian Arab was killed, and three Palestinian Arabs were wounded, including the dead man’s wife and their 6-year-old son. The Petah Tikva Magistrates’ Court yesterday extended by seven days the remand of the far-Left activist. This is the second time that police arrest Ms. Fahima, a 28-year-old from the center of the country, and the third time her remand had been extended. Ms. Fahima was arrested for allegedly aiding Palestinian Arab terror organizations and planning terror attacks in Israel. She is also accused of violating an IDF order not to enter Palestinian Arab-controlled Area A. In May, Ms. Fahima made headlines after she announced on TV that she had traveled to Jenin, a West Bank city off-limits for Israelis, to “serve as a human shield” for Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades leader in Jenin, Zakariya Zubeidi, and other Palestinian Arab fugitives.

– Jerusalem Post

CENTRAL ASIA

ACCUSED VIGILANTES PLAY VIDEO AT TRIAL KABUL, Afghanistan – Three Americans accused of torturing prisoners at a private jail played videos at their trial yesterday showing a top Afghan official pledging his full support to the alleged vigilantes, then sending his security force on a raid with them. The videos, and another showing NATO peacekeepers in a separate raid, were part of the defense’s effort to prove the counterterrorism operation had the backing of the Pentagon and Afghan officials and was not a rogue mission, as the prosecution alleges. Jonathan Idema, Brent Bennett, and Edward Caraballo face up to 20 years in jail if convicted on charges of kidnapping and torture. Four alleged Afghan accomplices are also on trial.

The crowded courtroom was chaotic and often farcical, with poorly trained translators struggling to keep up with a running stream of shouted commentary from Mr. Idema, the prosecutor, and witnesses sitting in the gallery.

At times, the translators got caught up in the moment, offering their own opinions on statements made by the two sides, drawing sharp objections from the defense.

Mr. Idema wore dark sunglasses throughout the proceedings in the dim courtroom. He is conducting his own defense, and frequently shouted objections based on his interpretation of the Afghan constitution and criminal code.

Judge Abdul Baset Bakhtyari had planned to issue a verdict yesterday, but instead adjourned the trial for a week to allow Mr. Bennett more time to get an attorney.

– Associated Press

SOUTH ASIA

KARZAI AND MUSHARRAF IN TALKS ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – President Karzai met with President General Musharraf yesterday for talks on economic cooperation and fighting terrorism, a foreign ministry official said. During an hour-long meeting, the two leaders discussed the war on terrorism, Pakistan’s support in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, and economic issues, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Mr. Karzai and General Musharraf later held formal talks in the presence of their Cabinet ministers during which the two sides discussed how to increase cooperation between the neighbors, said the official. The Afghan leader was scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Hussain and other senior Pakistani officials today. Earlier, Mr. Karzai was welcomed at Islamabad airport by the foreign minister, Khursheed Kasuri, a 20-gun salute, and flowers from two Pakistani children. Mr. Kasuri told reporters that economic ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan were increasing, and annual bilateral trade had reached $700 million, according to state-run Associated Press of Pakistan. But the fight against Islamic extremists was expected to figure prominently in the meeting between General Musharraf and Mr. Karzai, both of whom are key American allies in the war against terrorist groups, officials said.

– Associated Press

WESTERN EUROPE

‘SCREAM’ THIEFS LEFT FEW CLUES OSLO, Norway – The brazen daylight theft of Edvard Munch’s renowned masterpiece “The Scream” left Norway’s police scrambling for clues and stirred a debate across Europe over how to protect art if thieves are willing to use deadly force to take it.

Some expressed fears that works of art are in increasing danger from violent raids – unless, as Norway’s deputy culture minister put it, “we lock them in a mountain bunker.”

Armed, masked robbers stormed into Oslo’s Munch Museum in broad daylight on Sunday, threatening an employee with a gun and terrifying patrons before they made off with a version of Munch’s famous painting “The Scream” and another of his masterpieces, “Madonna.”

A day after the theft and despite many tips, police said they have no suspects, no trace of the paintings, and no theory on a motive.

The getaway car and the picture frames were found by police in Oslo hours after the robbery. The car’s interior had been sprayed with a fire extinguisher to cover up any clues, and Inspector Iver Stensrud of the Oslo police said it could take days to clean up enough to find forensic evidence.

– Associated Press