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Israel's  total blockade of Palestinian territory is beginning to undermine the very existence of both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Israeli military deployments have split the occupied areas into convenient 'bite-sized' portions bringing the very fabric of every day life to a virtual standstill.  An increasingly bleak prospect faces Arab businesses and the local utilities and while the standard of life and health continue to plummet, dissension amongst the Palestinian leadership grows daily.
 
Even long term supporters of Yasser Arafat are now questioning his chances of survival, joining the ever growing array of dissenting elements. Antagonized by Arafats ban on the use of mortars, Hamas, Islamic Jihads and even members of Arafats own forces are intent on raising the stakes with a return to a sustained bombing and mortar campaign.
 
Arafat is fearful that further bomb attacks will give Israel the excuse to launch a massive military invasion, but is aware that the alternatives are abject surrender or to accept the slow painful destruction of what remains of an independent Palestinian homeland, either are likely to bring his final downfall.
 
Both the CIA and Israeli Intelligence have played a major part in keeping Arafat in power, but are now reassessing his continuing value to the prospects of maintaining the stability of the region. This has largely led to General Sharon's decision to dissect Palestine, which is being carried out with a combination of extreme political intransigence, massive military preparedness, the widespread use of the intelligence services, the insidious use of propaganda and the successful misleading of a largely compliant Western press.
 
Covert operations are conducted from within the occupied territories by special units such as the Sayeret Duvedevan which conducts deep-cover penetration of Arab areas from its headquarters at Rama Army Base in Ramallah on the West Bank, while a considerable effort has been made to ensure that bases and arms dumps have been identified and that leading Palestinian militants are targeted for 'Kidon' style assassination by the Sayeret Mat'kal or by Israel's unique use of missile armed helicopters to ambush Palestinian vehicles.
 
Communications within the occupied territories and links to other Arab nations are closely monitored by a nation-wide telephone 'bugging' system under the overall control of the internal security service, Shin Beth and by Unit-8200 from its headquarters in Herzliya with a network of listening stations at Mitzpah Ramon, Mount Hermon and Mount Meiron on the Golan Heights and from outstations including the joint NSA & Unit-8200 intelligence base on the Eritrean island of Dahlak from which they monitor much of the Arab world.
 
Palestine is on the rack and Israel is ratcheting up the pressure. General Sharon is listening to the hard-line Zionist views being expressed within his cabinet and particularly in the USA, and appears to be set on a course to restore Israels once fearsome reputation for military toughness. This will almost certainly involve major military operations against neighbouring Arab countries, and Sharon may also consider this a necessary pre-emptive strike in view of the contentious view expressed recently that Israel may not be able to survive an all out Arab attack without resorting to nuclear weapons!
 
For the most comprehensive and expert information on the Middle East, contact AFI.

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AFI are pleased to announce a new book of importance, 'FIGHTING FORCES', to be published on the 28th September by Barrons Educational Publishers of New York and written by Richard M. Bennett.

'A timely and authoritative review of twenty six of the worlds most important Armies, highly informative and well illustrated sections on Weapons and Units, Operations and Special Forces and with incisive and expert commentary on the true combat capabilities and the role played, both nationally and internationally, by todays leading FIGHTING FORCES'

ISBN 0-7641-5343-9, priced at $29.95 with a 10% discount for orders placed on the website.

For pre-Publication orders please contact Barrons directly on US Toll-free 1-800-645-3476, International  Tel: 631-434-3311 and Fax: 631-434-3217 or visit their website at www.barronseduc.com

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