World Scene

GAZA STRIP

Boycott threat delays re-elections

GAZA CITY — Palestinian officials yesterday postponed partial re-elections in the Gaza Strip to stave off a new crisis between Hamas and Fatah, sparked when the fundamentalist group threatened to boycott the vote.

Officials were forced to intervene when Hamas refused to contest the new vote in three Gaza Strip municipalities and one West Bank village, ordered after the main ruling Fatah party demanded a recount of May 5 local elections.

“We have decided to delay the elections until further notice in keeping with a request to avoid all problems on the Palestinian street,” said Jamal Shobaki, chairman of the local elections committee, from the West Bank city of Ramallah.

ISRAEL

News anchor upsets settlers

JERUSALEM — A well-regarded TV journalist has created an angry indictment of Israel’s settlement policy and occupation of the Palestinians.

Haim Yavin’s five-part documentary — the first part aired yesterday — prompted calls from settlers for his dismissal. Mr. Yavin, 72, has anchored the evening news on Israel’s public television channel since 1968, building an image as a dispassionate reporter. He commands considerable respect.

“Since 1967, we have been brutal conquerors, occupiers, suppressing another people,” Mr. Yavin says in the first segment after listening to settlers insist that God gave them the land. “We simply don’t view the Palestinians as human beings.”

VENEZUELA

Lawmakers to press for extradition

CARACAS — A group of Venezuelan legislators is to travel to Washington next week to press for the extradition of airplane bomber suspect Luis Posada Carriles, the head of the country’s National Assembly said yesterday.

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