Journal Gazette from Mattoon, Illinois • Page 2

NATIONWORLD KATTOON (ILL) JOURNAL GAZETTE a ram; Jim 7, 2004 Israeli Cabinet approves Gaza withdrawal 60 D-iay at Bush, Chirac coast to use ceremonies revive flagging government to begin preparations for the dismantling of settlements. However, Likud hardliners attached a disclaimer, insisting that the vote did not amount to approval for taking down settlements. Housing Minister Effie Eitam, who voted against the plan, said the bottom line of the vote was that Israel would dismantle the Gaza settlements. "No word laundry can bleach one of the blackest decisions ever taken by an Israeli government, which means expulsion of thousands of residents and the creation of a Hamas terror state," he said. A vote on the dismantling of settlements would only be held by March under the compromise, giving settler patrons in the government time to try to sabotage a Gaza withdrawal.

It's not an unrealistic goal, since Sharon's government has been weakened by the withdrawal debate and there's talk about early elections by the fall. Sharon, formerly an erstwhile champion of settlement expansion, has staked his credibility on the withdrawal plan, saying it will reduce friction with the Palestinians and allow Israel to keep large settlement blocs in the West Bank. JERUSALEM (AP) Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's government on Sunday approved an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in principle, but a last-minute compromise with Cabinet hard-liners diluted the historic decision, leaving uncertain the future of 21 Israeli settlements. The wording of the decision was sufficiently vague to allow both Sharon and rebellious ministers from his Likud Party to claim victory. It deferred a political crisis, but did not resolve the deep divisions within Sharon's center-right coalition over the dismantling of settlements.

Palestinian officials responded with skepticism. "If approving this fragmented plan took the Israeli government this long, I wonder how much time it will take to implement it," said Palestinian Cabinet minister Saeb Erekat. In Sunday's Cabinet meeting, ministers were asked to approve a revised version of Sharon's U.S.-backed "disengagement plan," which calls for the gradual dismantling of all Gaza settlements and four in the West Bank by the end of 2005. A majority of Israelis back a withdrawal. The plan endorsed Sunday authorizes the shifting to lower profile in Iraq on Normandy relations Beach, the bloodiest of the landing sites, to remember friends killed.

More than 500 people attended a ceremony in front of the Caen prison to honor the 87 French Resistance fighters shot to death there by the Gestapo on D-Day. "It's very moving to be here," said 76-year-old Robert Duval, whose father was executed. "I come every year, but I would prefer a memorial to honor the dead. That way we wouldn't have to come here to the site of the massacre." With more than 20 world leaders arriving in Normandy at a time of high terror threat, France deployed fighter jets, surface-to-air missiles and 15,000 gendarmes and soldiers for security. Access to the region was sharply restricted by police Buy One Associated Press French President Jacques Chirac (left) and U.S.

President Bush applaud during a D-Day ceremony in Arromanches, France, on the Normandy coast Sunday. delayed long enough to accomplish them without unnecessary loss of life And in Najaf, the U.S. Army's offensive is slowing because American troops devastated al-Sadr's rebel fighters in two months of gritty combat, said Army Brig. Gen. Mark Hertling.

Hertling bristled at the notion that the Army was curbing its operations. "Softer stance? We took a hard line with these guys and killed over a thousand," Hertling wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "Concessions? We agreed to stop hunting down what was left of the militia long enough for them to disband." But military analysts agree that the Americans' once broad freedom of action in Iraq will be restricted after HtiB U.S. military BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -The U.S. military appears to be softening its tough tactics keeping combat operations to a minimum in a shift designed to avoid alienating its Iraqi allies who take power at the end of the month.

The new stance has seen the U.S. military halt offens-esives in the rebel-held cities of Fallujah and Najaf without achieving its goals of capturing radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr or the killers of U.S. contractors. Those deaths led to the bloody three-week siege of Fallujah in which 10 Marines and hundreds of Iraqis died. The siege of Fallujah out raged many Iraqis, who felt that the Americans used dis proportionate firepower against the city.

"What happened in Fallujah and other places will not be repeated," said Iraq's incoming prime minister, Iyad Allawi, who heads the inter im government taking office June 30. Allawi said U.S. forces will not be allowed to launch future offensives in Iraq without his permission. One top U.S. military official in Iraq, speaking on condition of anonymity, said U.S.

goals in Fallujah and Najaf haven't been dropped, just 9 I mmmm free pra PORCELAIN mm I Dave's decorating center Get One ARROMANCHES, France (AP) Near the five beaches where waves of Allied soldiers stormed ashore 60 years ago, world leaders put aside their differences Sunday to commemorate the D-Day invasion that broke Nazi Germany's grip on continental Europe. President Bush and French President Jacques Chirac used the opportunity to re invigorate the flagging U.S.European bond cemented during World War II. Chirac, a leading critic of the U.S.-led war in Iraq, thanked America for its part in the June 6, 1944, invasion of Normandy, one of the boldest military operations ever and one that led to the defeat of Adolf Hitler. "France will never forget," Chirac said. "It will never forget those men who made the supreme sacrifice to liberate our soil, our native land, our continent, from the yoke of Nazi barbarity and its murderous folly.

"Nor will it ever forget its debt to America, its everlasting friend." Earlier, Chirac welcomed Bush at the American cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, where 9,387 fallen U.S. service members are buried. There, Bush tried to ease the strain in the trans-Atlantic alliance "The nations that battled across the continent would become trusted partners in the cause of peace. And our great alliance of freedom is strong, and it is still needed today," Bush said. "America would do it again for our friends." Under gloriously sunny skies, Chirac pinned Legion of Honor medals on veterans from 14 nations in a pomp-filled ceremony at Arro-manches, near the midpoint of the five code-named beaches where about 156,000 Allied soldiers stormed in from the English Channel.

As Allied flags fluttered in the wind, Chirac, Bush and leaders of more than a dozen countries and hundreds of dignitaries gave a standing ovation to the veterans, ranging in age from 79 to 94. "To you, on behalf of all French men and women, on behalf of all the heads of state and government gathered here today and of all freedom-loving people, I express our gratitude, our pride and our admiration," Chirac said in a passionate speech to the former combatants. The 14 recipients included Charles Hostler, 84, of Coron-ado, a team leader for the Office of Strategic Services, forerunner of the CIA. Hostler's mission was to force German spies along the French coast to send their spymasters false reports on Allied troops. All told, about 300 veterans from more than a dozen countries mostly the United States, Britain and Canada were to receive the Legion of Honor in ceremonies over the weekend.

The world leaders attending the festivities included Russian President Vlaclimir Putin, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder the first German leader to attend a D-Day commemoration in Normandy. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II also attended. Schroeder's participation symbolized Germany's transformation from mortal enemy to trusted partner. "France's memory of June 6, 1944, is different than that of Germany," Schroeder said. "Nevertheless we share the same common conviction: We Remembering AbbyOvermyer on her birthday June 6 Loving Missing You, Scottie, Evalena, Marcus, Steve, Lynora, Mike Keith 1365 IM SL 345-592r Good For Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner Now Open Mondays and serving Breakfast at 8am 7 Days a Week Showtime Buffet Restaurant 21st Broadway, Mattoon, IL 234-4151 1 coupon per person per I coupe ftWaMiawtaawiiQ some authority is returned to Iraqis.

Lowering the U.S. military's profile may be the only way the United States can keep its forces inside Iraq after it declares its occupation at an end. Another U.S. offensive could turn Iraqis and Allawi's fragile government against the Americans. 0 ft "Frorrl here on, U.S.

forces are going to be in Iraq at the pleasure of the Iraqi government," said David Phillips, an Iraq analyst at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. "If we pursue a confrontational approach, it either derails the political process by radicalizing Iraqis or it could prompt Iraq to request that U.S. forces leave the country." 3 Piece CHICKEN DINNER! Includes: mashed potatoes gravy, creamy cole slaw biscuit 800 Charleston Ave. Mattoon, IL DunuiEiv 144 Tl -oa i tl 3 ft 1 1 i -j want peace" The waves on Normandy shores ran red with blood on D-Day as Allied soldiers scurried across heavily mined and obstacle-covered beaches. Other flew into the back country in gliders or dropped in by parachute, with some getting snagged in trees or buildings.

There is no definitive D-Day death toll, but estimates range from 2,500 to more than 5,000. Bodies still are unearthed along the Normandy coast. Soviet generals and many military historians argue that D-Day was of secondary importance in World War II because the German military machine had already been broken beyond recovery in the battles of Stalingrad and Kursk. In the Soviet Union and Russia, D-Day is widely known as the opening of a "second front." In Colleville-sur-Mer, French and American flags flew at half-staff in memory of former President Reagan, who died Saturday at age 93 following a 10-year battle with Alzheimer's disease. Actor Tom Hanks and director Steven Spielberg, whose movie "Saving Private Ryan" depicted the invasion, sat discreetly in the audience, surrounded by aging veterans in military uniforms and wheelchairs.

Queen Elizabeth began the commemorations at Juno Beach by thanking Canadian soldiers, who were assigned to capture it during the invasion. Several thousand people, including hundreds of British veterans, crowded between rows of white gravestones during a British-French memorial service at a British cemetery in Bayeux. "On behalf of my generation, the younger one, I thank you," Blair told Australian veteran Gordon Church, 96, who landed on Gold Beach. The queen and Chirac laid a wreath of red poppies at one grave as Australian Prime Minister John Howard and New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark looked on. At dawn Sunday, veterans proudly supporting their medals came to Omaha GOYER INSURANCE Call For Insurance J.

Logan Cover Int Agy Inc. 235-5411 MO-S-M-F Sen and Broadway Mattoon SHOP AT HOME SERVICE "WeBringTkStorrToYou" HunterDounlas window fashions mm A 1 1 Tvnre fir Custom Blinds Shades Julie Dale Eveland (217)234-3190 4-, I IMMtMaf WIpM.MMMairtl aw- SWEET CAR AUDIO SOUND AND SERVICE AT LOWER PRICES! CAR STEREO SALES CAR STEREO INSTALLATION ELECTRONICS ACCESSORIES ALL STEREO AMD VCR REPAIR COMES TO TODH CAR, EXFBUEIKEISAafUST Epp Ingle Electronics Technician For 28 Years 209 NORTH 19TH ST. mattoon, n. 258-8225 papk by WHENR JVC popular demandl. Mon Chicken Fried Chicken Tue-Grilled Cheese wAiacni tomato Wed -Grilled Chicken Thur-Polish Sausage Fri-Fish Sat -Onion Rings Sun -Chicken Salad The Razorz Edge Salon Spa Sophisticated Skin Care Cosmetics Showcase We look forward to the pleasure of your company E.L.

Krackers Private Dining Room Thursdayjune 10 pm Complimentary Food Beverages Seating is limited. Reservations required RSVP 512-0339 or 3T45-3142 byjune8thj Hi i I i i I.