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Vermonters for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel News Archives - January 2007 Select News by subject: Conflict • Diplomacy • Government • Human Rights • Economy • People • International |
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PM approves eastward move of section of separation barrier Ha’aretz 1/31/2007 Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has approved the moving of the separation barrier at least five kilometers eastward from the Green Line in the area of Modi’in Ilit, in order to take in the settlements of Nili and Na’aleh, according to security sources and a brief submitted by the state to the High Court of Justice. The new route will create two Palestinian enclaves containing about 20,000 people. Nili and Na’aleh together have some 1,500 residents. Olmert approved the change in response to pressure from residents of the two settlements, both of which would have been left outside the barrier, according to the route approved by the cabinet last April. The new route will lengthen the fence by about 12 kilometers, which will cost an estimated NIS 120 million. more.. Israeli forces increasing procedures against East Jerusalem: five houses demolished Palestine News Network 1/31/2007 After demolishing three homes in East Jerusalem’s Azaria, At Tur and Issawiya Tuesday, Israeli forces continued into the evening. Israeli-controlled Jerusalem Municipality bulldozers destroyed two more homes in At Tur and Beit Hanina. The demolitions came at the same time as the major threat to Al Aqsa Mosque. The excavations underneath have rendered the area insecure as Israeli forces dug out tunnels linking the mosque and the Silwan neighborhood. They are also confiscating more of the Old City of East Jerusalem to build a synagogue near the Muslim holy site. Israeli forces use the pretext of “building without a permit” to destroy Palestinian homes throughout East Jerusalem. However much of the area, and specifically the Beduoin area from Tuesday morning’s demolitions, is being confiscated to expand the major Ma’ale Adumim Settlement in East Jerusalem. more.. Hamas militant killed in latest Gaza violence Middle East Online 1/30/2007 Factional fighting continues despite truce, Palestinian leader condemns Hamas executive force as illegal. -- A Hamas militant was killed in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, jolting a truce declared just hours earlier between rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah after four days of bitter fighting. The death of Hussein al-Shubassi, 28, who according to medics was gunned down in the southern town of Khan Yunis, brought to 35 the number of people killed since the latest bout of internecine fighting erupted on Thursday, the bloodiest in a year. A spokesman for the Hamas government condemned the killing but refrained from blaming the rival Fatah party of president Mahmud Abbas. "Those who killed the young man were masked," Fawzi Barhum said. "We do not want to accuse Fatah..." -- See also: Palestinian ceasefire broken, leaving one dead and Hamas gunman shot dead in southern Gaza more.. Israeli special forces stage ambush, shoot and injure 12 year old in Jenin Palestine News Network 1/31/2007 Palestinian security sources report that Israeli forces conducted an undercover operation in which they shot a 12 year old and arrested two people on the so-called wanted listed Tuesday night. In the northern West Bank’s Jenin District, Israeli special forces set an ambush at the western entrance to Jenin, between the city and Kafr Dan Village. The targets were two men from northwestern Jenin’s Al Yamoun Village. Eyewitnesses report that an Israeli special unit suddenly appeared on Haifa Street. After lying in wait, soldiers opened fire when a car with Palestinian plates belonging to Abdullah Ahmed Noahadah drove past. At the same time, a booming explosion was heard and large numbers of Israeli forces rushed the area. Eyewitnesses saw people lying on the ground near the targeted vehicle, but Israeli forces prevented [PRCS] ambulances... more.. Israeli army abducts 23 Palestinian men from a village near Nablus International Middle East Media Center 1/30/2007 A large Israeli army force invaded the village of Kufer Kalil to the south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus and abducted 23 Palestinian men on Tuesday morning. Soldiers forced families out while searching and ransacking their homes, eyewitnesses reported. During this campaign Israeli forces abducted 23 men from the village. Among those abducted were Sae’d Amer, Bilal Mansur and three of his brothers, Murad, Jawad and Iyad. Israeli soldiers left the village and took all 23 men to an unknown military detention camp. Israeli army sources claimed that all 23 were Fatah and Hamas activists, a claim that was not verified by a Palestinian source. [end] ’We didn’t believe it would happen in our town’ Ha’aretz 1/30/2007 Hani Azoulay works at a small grocery store in the strip mall where the attack occurred. Yesterday she arrived, as usual, at 8:30 A. M. Three workers from the Lehamim bakery - owners Emil Almaliakh and Michael Ben Sa’adon and employee Israel "Izzy" Samolia - had arrived hours ago to prepare bread for local hotels and restaurants." I came in to say good morning, as usual," she said. "About an hour later, I went outside and saw Mika. I waved and we both went back inside. Less than a second later, I heard an explosion. The whole store shook and the cigarettes fell off the walls." Azoulay, like other residents of the neighborhood, assumed that the noise was a cooking gas cylinder that had exploded. No one thought it was a terrorist. Azoulay went into the bakery. "I saw the horror - arms, legs, things no one should see." more.. Eilat operation intended to stop Palestinian internal fighting, says Islamic Jihad leader; warns of more to come Ma’an News Agency 1/30/2007 Gaza - The deputy secretary-general in the Islamic Jihad movement, Ziyad Al-Nakhaleh, has stated that the bombing in the Israeli city of Eilat on Monday was intended to drop "the flaming ball" in the Israeli court and, therefore, keep internal fighting and the prospect of civil war out of the Palestinian street. He also stressed that resistance is the only choice of the Palestinian people. He also threatened that such bombing operations will return to "the heart of Israel". He also mentioned that the Eilat bomber followed a complicated route to reach his destination, and he could be followed by others in the future. Al-Nakhaleh said that the success of the bomber denies the Israeli allegations that they are controlling the security situation through building the separation wall. more.. Palestinian child injured, two fighters taken prisoner in Jenin International Middle East Media Center 1/31/2007 Palestinian sources reported on Tuesday at night that under-cover forces of the Israeli army infiltrated into the northern west Bank city of Jenin, shot and injured one child and abducted two resistance fighters. The Palestine News network, PNN, reported that the under-cover units ambushed two fighters at the western entrance of Jenin, between Kafer Dan village and Jenin. The forces were ambushing the fighters in Al Sa’ada area, in Haifa Street; after ambushing the vehicle and firing at it, soldiers called additional troops to back them up. Dozens of military vehicles arrived to the scene directly after the attack and closed the area barring even Red Crescent ambulances from crossing in. One child, identified as Sa’ed Mahmoud Abid, 12, was shot and injured by a live round in his leg. more.. Arrests in West Bank on the rise while Israeli military court postpones trials for officials Palestine News Network 1/30/2007 The Israeli policy of arrests in the West Bank was escalating before Monday’s explosion. On Saturday and Sunday Israeli forces arrested more than 100 Palestinians in the West Bank. The Ministry of Detainees and Ex Detainees Affairs appealed to the international community for help. On Monday Israeli forces arrested more than 30. Conditions in Israeli prisons remain dismal with proper medical care an unavailable luxury and torture on the books as a method of extracting confessions, while the military court system relies heavily on "secret evidence" and postponing trials. Arrests were already escalating, but after the explosion in Eilat on Monday the Israeli government said they would increase. Israeli sources reported Tuesday morning that the Israeli army was “given the green light to act against ticking bombs. ” more.. IDF to strike Islamic Jihad, but wants to maintain Gaza ’calm’ Ha’aretz 1/31/2007 The Israel Defense Forces will act against the Gazan terror infrastructure of the Islamic Jihad, it was decided Tuesday, following a consultation between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz, Public Security Minister Avi Dichter, as well as heads of the IDF and the Shin Bet security service. Islamic Jihad is the organization that took responsibility for Monday’s terror attack in Eilat which killed three people. At the same time, it was decided that Israel will otherwise maintain the cease-fire and policy of "calm" in the Gaza Strip. According to government sources in Jerusalem, all of the participants in the meeting addressed the internal situation in the Palestinian Authority and the struggle between Fatah and Hamas, saying that Israel has no vested interest in uniting the various battling factions against it. more.. An-Nasser Salah Eldin Fires a Home-made Shell at an Israeli Town International Middle East Media Center 1/30/2007 The An-Nasser Salah Eldin Brigades, the military wing of Palestinian Resistance Committees, announced on Tuesday that it has fired a home-made shell at the Israeli town of Miftahim, to the east of Gaza Strip, in retaliation to an Israeli air strike on Gaza earlier in the day. Israeli air forces bombarded a tunnel near the Karni commercial crossing in eastern Gaza City, under the pretext of foiling possible Palestinian attacks in Israel. The Israeli attack on Gaza came after a Palestinian resistance attack on the southern Israeli town of Eilat on Monday, in which three Israelis were killed. Israel declared it would uphold an already shaky Palestinian-Israeli ceasefire agreement which has been in place since last November. [end] Palestinian security officer dies of wounds he sustained on Monday International Middle East Media Center 1/30/2007 Palestinian medical sources reported that a Palestinian security officer of the 17 force, a Fatah affiliated force, died on Tuesday morning due to wounds he sustained on Monday during the Hamas Fatah infighting in Khan Younies city in the southern Gaza strip. Sources in Nasser hospital reported that Atief Al Najar, 43, died due to wounds in the legs and groin, sources in Khan Younies reported that Al Najar was shot by troops from the executive force, a Hamas affiliated force. On Monday at least seven Palestinians were killed during internal clashes between the two rival parties Fatah and Hamas, bringing the death toll due to infighting since Thursday to at least 35. A cease-fire agreement between Hamas and Fateh was reached at 3 A. M on Tuesday. The two movements agreed to withdraw all gunmen from the streets, and to release all abductees. more.. Bomb explodes in a music shop in Rafah Ma’an News Agency 1/30/2007 Gaza - An explosive device was detonated in a shop selling popular music tapes in Rafah refugee camp in the south of the Gaza Strip on Tuesday morning. Sources told Ma’an that the shop belongs to Suheil Al-Kurdi and the operation took place at 4 am on Tuesday. This is not the first time that shops of this kind, particularly those selling cassettes, videos or offering internet services, have been targeted by unknown groups. [end] 25 Gazans dead in Fatah-Hamas clashes Jerusalem Post 1/28/2007 The number of Palestinians killed in fierce fighting between Fatah and Hamas gunmen in the Gaza Strip over the weekend rose to 25 on Saturday night, with dozens more wounded in the clashes. At least six of the victims died on Saturday. Among the casualties was two-year-old Yehya Abu Bakreh, who was killed when Fatah gunmen fired at his father’s car. Fatah gunmen and Palestinian Authority policemen also attacked a mosque in Gaza City, killing a number of worshipers. The fighting, the heaviest between the two parties since Hamas came to power a year ago, left the streets of Gaza City completely deserted except for hundreds of militiamen and police officers. The PA Ministry of Education announced that studies in universities and schools would be suspended until further notice due to the growing violence. more.. Hamas: "Fateh gunmen fired at the house of FM Zahhar" International Middle East Media Center 1/27/2007 The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, said on Friday at night the “Fateh gunmen” fired at the house of Palestinian Foreign Minister, Mahmoud Zahar”, one of the senior leaders of Hamas. Hamas blamed senior Fateh leader, Mohammad Dahlan for the attack since it considered him as “the leader of the coup against the Hamas-led government”. Senior Hamas sources reported that the shooting at Zahar’s house is considered at attempt to assassinate him. Zahar said that rounds of live ammunition and an RPG shell were fired at his house and vowed that the assailants will be punished. Two rooms at Al Zahar’s house were damaged, no injuries were reported. Hamas media sources blamed Fateh for the latest escalation of violence, and said that some Fateh leaders and members are trying to inflame the situation and “drag the area into civil war”. [end] IDF destroys 2 Hezbollah bunkers on Israeli side of Lebanon border Ha’aretz 1/27/2007 Israel Defense Forces troops on Friday destroyed two Hezbollah bunkers discovered during searches in the area around the Lebanese border fence. The IDF was combing the Katamon valley in the western part of the area surrounding the Lebanese border with Israel. One bunker had already been discovered during this summer’s war, and the other was discovered on Wednesday. The bunkers were both within Israel’s territory, somewhere between the international border and the border fence. The bunkers housed supplies, food and tools that would enable a long stay underground. In a statement released Friday, the IDF spokesman’s office said that the aim of the operation was to prevent Hezbollah from reclaiming the bunkers, and represents a shift in IDF methods around the border with Lebanon... more.. Fatwa issued in Gaza; internal fighting prohibited Ma’an News Agency 1/27/2007 Gaza - A number of Islamic clerics have issued a Fatwa in the Gaza Strip, prohibiting internal fighting between Fatah and Hamas, and called for compliance with this Fatwa ruling. The delegation, a group of scientists and reformists appealed in a press conference to the presidency and the government "to sit together to resolve the differences between the two movements, so that Gaza does not become a pool of blood. [end] Two innocent bystanders from Qalqilia injured during clashes Ma’an News Agency 1/27/2007 Qalqilia - Palestinian citizens, 15 year old Ala’ Wajih Ibtali, and Imad Jalaj Ju’eidi, aged 19, were injured on Saturday during an inter-family clash in the northern West bank city of Qalqilia. Medical sources reported that one of the young men was critically injured when he received a bullet to the head, while the other was moderately injured in the shoulder. Both victims were innocent bystanders during a fight between two other men. [end] Israeli warplanes intrude on Beirut airspace Daily Star 1/27/2007 BEIRUT: As Beirut’s curfew ended at 6 a. m. Friday and Lebanese looked forward to a day of calm following Thursday’s deadly clashes, Israeli forces conducted a series of overflights across Lebanon, including the capital, in what was for many a stark reminder of the summer 2006 war. An Israeli plane was seen "circling at a low altitude" off the coast of Beirut early Friday, in violation of the terms of the cease-fire ending the war with Israel, a Lebanese Army source told The Daily Star. This was the first time since October 30 that an Israeli plane was detected near the capital, but a spokesperson for the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFL) told The Daily Star that Israel violates Lebanese airspace south of the Litani River, where UNIFIL operates "almost every day." more.. 21 killed in weekend of factional clashes in Gaza Ha’aretz 1/28/2007 Six Palestinians were killed Saturday - including a 6-year-old boy - in clashes between Fatah and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, bringing the number of fatalities since fighting began Thursday to 21. Some fifty people were kidnapped throughout the weekend and fifty others wounded. Talks between representatives of Fatah and Hamas to end the internecine fighting in the Gaza Strip collapsed Saturday night. The fighting between the rival Palestinian factions continued throughout the weekend, despite a cease-fire agreement reached on Friday. The incidents began on Thursday night, following the death of a Hamas militant who was killed in a car bomb in the Jabalya refugee camp. Hamas blamed Fatah for the blast, but the group affiliated with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas maintained that the explosion was the result of a "work accident"... more.. Deadly battles shatter Gaza calm BBC Online 1/27/2007 At least 13 people have died in some of the deadliest fighting between rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah in Gaza for months. Two civilians - one a two-year-old boy - were among those killed, Palestinian medics said. The clashes erupted after weeks of relative calm and renewed efforts to form a national unity government. Both Hamas and Fatah said they were suspending talks after the violence, which continued into the night. Both factions also kidnapped members of the opposing side during the day. More than 40 people have died as a result of a power struggle between supporters of the Hamas-led government and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah faction since mid-December. The BBC’s Alan Johnston in Gaza says there has been intensive mediation by Egyptian diplomats in an effort to stop the bloodshed there. more.. Gunmen fail to abduct director of endowment department in Salfit Ma’an News Agency 1/27/2007 Salfit - Local sources in Salfit have on Saturday confirmed that an attempt by unidentified gunmen to abduct the director of Salfit governorate’s endowment department failed. Ma’an received information from multiple sources, reporting that four masked gunmen tried to kidnap Humam Mir’I, director of the endowment department, yet when they broke into the headquarters, he had already left. The gunmen then headed to the office of local governance to continue with their mission, but also failed, thanks to the efforts of the director and employees of the local governance department. Following the incident, the Salfit governorate witnessed the heavy deployment of security forces in the streets. [end] Ministry of education condemns Israeli attack on their official Ma’an News Agency 1/27/2007 Jenin - Hashem Al-Za’muti, the director of the ministry of education in Qabatiya village has condemned the injury to the head of the operations section, Hosni Al-A’raj. Al-A’raj was traveling in a car owned by the ministry when it was deliberately hit by an Israeli tank at the Al-Bathan military checkpoint, north east of the city of Nablus, late on Wednesday evening. He stated that, through these practices, the Israelis show their lack of concern over the lives of citizens and their belongings. [end] Three Palestinians arrested near Nablus Ma’an News Agency 1/27/2007 Nablus - Israeli forces have arrested three Palestinians during a raid in the Ein Beit el Ma refugee camp near the city of Nablus on Saturday morning. Palestinian security sources said that ten Israeli military jeeps entered the camp at dawn, breaking into several houses, and searching each invasively. The troops arrested Mohammad Abu Namous, 16, Ahmad Abu Ar Rish, 21, and Shadi Shehada, 16. They were taken to an unknown location. [end] Al Aqsa Brigades’ unit launches six projectiles at Sderot Ma’an News Agency 1/27/2007 Gaza - The "groups of the Martyr Yasser Arafat", a unit of the Fatah-affiliated Al Aqsa Brigades, has appealed to the Fatah movement, and all militant groups, to disregard those they called "promoters of sedition". They also appealed to the people of the Hamas movement, to "resort to the language of logic and reason". The brigades assured that Abu-Marwan, the deputy general leader of the "martyr Yasser Arafat" unit is currently besieged in the house of Al-Aqsa Brigades’ leader Mansur Shalayel. In addition, the groups of the martyr Yasser Arafat announced their responsibility for the launch of six homemade projectiles towards the Israeli town of Sderot at 3:15 Friday afternoon. [end] Israeli army abducts a Palestinian clergy man from Bethlehem International Middle East Media Center 1/26/2007 The Israeli army abducted Ibraheim Thwiab, the Imam of a local mosque, on Friday morning from a village east of Bethlehem city in the southern West Bank. Israeli troops invaded Za’tara village, searched some homes then abducted the Imam and took him to an unknown military detention camp. [end] Israeli forces beat up a Palestinian man in Jerusalem International Middle East Media Center 1/26/2007 Ali Rumi, 31, was beaten up by Israeli soldiers on Friday morning while he was trying to cross a military checkpoint near Jerusalem. Rumi stated that soldiers stopped his car, searched it, them beat him before letting him continue his journey to work. Rumi works as the director of the prisoner’s media office that belongs to the democratic Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) movement. [end] Eight Palestinian men abducted by Israeli army in several West Bank areas International Middle East Media Center 1/26/2007 Israeli sources reported that the Israeli army has abducted eight Palestinian men from several West Bank areas during pre dawn invasions on Friday. According to the sources the abductions took place in Nablus, Qalqilia and Bethlehem. The Israeli army claim that all abductees are on their ’wanted’ list. [end] Violence Mars Hamas Celebrations Palestine Chronicle 1/26/2007 Hamas had originally announced that the main rally would take place in Gaza City, but it was relocated to Jabalya after an attack on Hamas supporters on Thursday night and turnout was significantly less than expected. -- GAZA - Fatah has postponed unity government talks with rival Hamas after at least nine people were killed and 24 others abducted in factional violence across the Palestinian Territories. The clashes on Friday marred celebrations to mark the first anniversary of Hamas’s election victory. They also came after Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, said a deal could be done in weeks. "The entire dialogue could explode," Tawfiq Abu Khoussa, the Fatah spokesman, said as he blamed Hamas for the violence. "How can dialogue go on when there is a bomb underneath the table?" more.. ANALYSIS: Fatah scores its first victories in clashes with Hamas Ha’aretz 1/28/2007 The recent clashes between Fatah and Hamas in Gaza normally start with a local incident that spills over into an exchange of fire throughout the Gaza Strip, and continues with a series of abductions on both sides, use of RPGs and mortars, the takeover of homes, snipers on the roofs, roadblocks and executions - Rwanda-style. However, unlike similar clashes several weeks ago, for the first time Fatah can mark a victory. In all the previous gun battles, the number of Fatah casualties was always higher than those of Hamas. During the weekend, Hamas lost more of its people. The incident most reflective of Fatah’s success occurred on Friday night. Similar to the raid in which Colonel Muhammad A’rib, of Fatah’s Preventive Security Apparatus, was assassinated, Hamas’ Executive Force surrounded the home of a senior Fatah official... more.. Update: Thirteen killed, at least 29 abducted in the internal clashes International Middle East Media Center 1/26/2007 The internal clashes between Hamas and Fateh gunmen continued on Friday and the number of Palestinians killed arrived to thirteen, while at least 29 from both factions were abducted. Eight of the ten killed residents are members of both movements, and two including one child wee civilians. Hamas sources reported that thee residents were killed and several others residents were injured when gunmen fired RPG shells at a mosque in Gaza City. According to the Hamas sources, the mosque is currently surrounded and under fire. Meanwhile, Palestinian sources reported that Hamas gunmen abducted eight Fateh members while Fateh gunmen abducted eleven Hamas members in Gaza and nine members of the Hamas-led Executive Force in Nablus city, in the northern part of the West Bank. more.. Israeli army invades Tulkarem, kills 18-year-old Al-Quds Brigades’ leader Ma’an News Agency 1/25/2007 Tulkarem - A teenage leader of the Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, was killed on Thursday during an Israeli military incursion into the West Bank city of Tulkarem. Fadl Mitlak Balawneh, 18, a leader in the Al-Quds Brigades in Tulkarem, was shot by the Israeli forces as they besieged his house in the Al-Aqsa district in the north of the city, eyewitnesses reported. An eyewitness added that Balawneh was on the second floor of the besieged house when he was shot. This shot caused him to fall to the ground. Palestinian medical sources in the governmental hospital in Tulkarem confirmed that Balawneh was shot by a bullet in his lower back but the cause of death was the fall from the second floor to the ground. more.. Fatah says gunmen kill Palestinian activist in Gaza YNetNews 1/26/2007 Jeep filled with Hamas security men drives over roadside bomb in Jabalya, causing death of one Hamas activist, wounding nine others, including two children. Later, Fatah reports that one of its members shot to death by Hamas people -- Gunmen killed an activist with Fatah-linked group al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades in Gaza early on Friday, Fatah said, hours after a member of a Hamas-led security force was killed by a roadside bomb. The police spokesman, who is affiliated with Hamas, Islam Shahawan reported that the explosion occurred when a Jeep carrying six members of a Hamas security force drove over a roadside bomb. After the event, Hamas gunmen started shooting in the air and calling for revenge. The Hamas-affiliated mosques made announcements condemning the "traitors and Israel’s collaborators," an allusion to Fatah members. more.. Executive Force member killed, five injured in a Jabalia explosion International Middle East Media Center 1/26/2007 Islam Shahwan, spokesperson of the Hamas-led Executive Force, reported on Thursday at night that one member of the force was killed and five civilians were injured when an explosive charge, placed on the side of the road, detonated as the force was driving near it in Jabalia, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. Shahwan said that the explosion targeted a patrol composed of eight members of the force driving in Al Fallouga area in Jabalia killing one member of the force and injuring several passersby, including two children. Hamas held Fateh responsible for the attack, and said that this is part of a series of attacks carried by Fateh gunmen who “are planning a coup against the Hamas-led government”. Hamas also charged that Fateh gunmen aim at escalating the situation as national unity talks are ongoing. [end] One killed, several injured by a roadside explosive device in Gaza Ma’an News Agency 1/25/2007 Gaza - One member of the Executive Force has been killed, and at least eleven other Gazan citizens have been injured, including two children and five members of the Executive Forces of the ministry of interior, when an explosive device detonated on the roadside in Jabalia town in the northern Gaza Strip. Ma’an’s correspondent quoted the spokesperson of the Executive Force, Islam Shahwan, "the explosive device was planned to target an Executive Force patrol and resulted in the serious injury of two members. At the same time, a number of bystanders including two children were also injured. [end] Hamas condemns the attack on the Executive Force leader in northern Gaza Ma’an News Agency 1/25/2007 Gaza - Hamas has on Thursday condemned what they called "the revolutionary group" for launching a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) at the house of the Beit Hanoun leader of the Executive Force on Wednesday evening. The Hamas movement said in a statement, which Ma’an received a copy of, that unidentified gunmen hurled an RPG at the house of Mahir Udwan, who is in charge of the Executive Force in Beit Hanoun in the north of the Gaza Strip, on Wednesday. However, the shell exploded before it landed on his house. Hamas warned of the outcome of this so-called "destruction and targeting honest people by hired gangs." They called on "all sane people" to end "these ridiculous performances". [end] Israeli army seizes 28 ’wanted’ West Bankers at dawn on Thursday Ma’an News Agency 1/25/2007 Bethlehem - The Israeli forces arrested 28 Palestinians from various areas of the occupied West Bank on Thursday at dawn, claiming that they are ’wanted’ by the Israeli authorities. Israeli media sources said that the Israeli army arrested 11 Palestinians in the southern city of Hebron, all allegedly ’wanted’ members of the Islamic Jihad movement. Reportedly, the Israeli forces also arrested 10 Palestinians in Bethlehem, who were allegedly members of Fatah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad. The rest of the detainees were seized in the northern West Bank cities of Ramallah, Nablus and Jenin. [end] Israeli soldiers fire at a Palestinian youth near Qalandia Ma’an News Agency 1/25/2007 Bethlehem - A Palestinian youth was injured by an Israeli army bullet near Qalandia refugee camp in the south of the West Bank city of Ramallah, north of Jerusalem, on Wednesday evening, according to Israeli sources. It was reported that a Palestinian youth threw stones at the Israeli forces working near to Qalandia on Wednesday evening and the Israeli soldiers responded with gunfire, injuring the Palestinian. No Israelis were injured. On the other hand, an Israeli settler was slightly injured when Palestinians threw stones at his car near Hebron city in the south of the occupied West Bank. The Israeli newspaper ’Yedioth Ahronoth’ reported that the settler was taken to hospital for treatment of his slight injuries. Yedioth Ahrinot that reported about the settler said that Palestinian threw stones on his car and he was injured then sent to hospital for treatment. [end] Israeli settlers abduct a youth, beat and cut him with sharp tools International Middle East Media Center 1/25/2007 Palestinian sources reported on Wednesday at night that Israeli settlers abducted a youth from Hizma village, northeast of Jerusalem, severly punched and clubbed him and cut him with blades until he fell unconsious. Eyewitness reported that three settlers abducted Ra’fat Samih Al Khateeb, 16, as he was heading back home after visiting a relative living on the main road that links Hizma with Jericho. The settlers took Al Khateeb to an area near Maali Adumim settlement and attacked him with blades while punching and kicking him. After attacking Al Khateeb, the settlers drove him to an area near his town while he was unconscious, dropped him there and sped away. He was moved later on to Haddasah Ein Karem Israeli hospital in Jerusalem. [end] Arrests on the rise: 17 from Hebron and 7 in Nablus Palestine News Network 1/25/2007 In days worth of broad arrests throughout the West Bank, Israeli forces took 17 Palestinians from Hebron to unknown locations Thursday and seven from Nablus. Yesterday it was 16 from a single Bethlehem village. The raids concentrated on the towns of Beit Awa, Deir Samit and Halhoul, southwest and north of Hebron City. Among the 17 arrested were two women and a member of the County Board, a municipal employee and a member of the mayoral office. Sources in the Joint Operations Room in the southern West Bank city said that 12 of the 17 were injured before being taken to unknown locations. Further north in the West Bank’s Nablus, Israeli forces conducted an explosive incursion this morning during which they besieged several buildings. more.. Israeli forces shoot a young shepherd boy in northern West Bank Ma’an News Agency 1/24/2007 Nablus - A young Palestinian shepherd boy was injured in his abdomen on Wednesday when Israeli forces opened fire on him as he tended his sheep. Our correspondent in the West Bank city of Nablus reported that Maher Hajja, 15, was tending his sheep near his village of Burqa, situated northwest of Nablus, when he was suddenly hit by an Israeli bullet. He was evacuated to Rafidia hospital in Nablus for treatment. In a separate incident, Israeli police apprehended a Palestinian, Ahmad Abu Bakr, 24, from the town of Ya’bad, situated west of Jenin close to the separation wall, for working in Israel without a license. [end] Palestinian cemetery attacked by settlers and soldiers in West Bank International Middle East Media Center 1/24/2007 Dozens of settlers accompanied by soldiers broke into a cemetery and vandalized headstones in Awarta village in the northern West Bank on Wednesday morning, claiming that Jewish shrines were buried there. Dozens of armed settlers accompanied by soldiers broke into a cemetery and vandalized headstones in Awarta village in the northern West Bank on Wednesday morning, claiming that Jewish shrines were buried there. Sources in the village, which is near the illegal Israeli settlement of Itamar stated that the incident occurred after the group initially stormed the village along with five army jeeps, and claimed that Jewish shrines were buried in the area. Apparently this is not the first time that the village and its cemetery have been attacked by such a group. During the incident settlers attacked and damaged houses and parked cars in the area, sources stated. [end] Youth killed, two residents injured and abducted in the Gaza Strip International Middle East Media Center 1/24/2007 Dr. Khalid Al Najjar, head of the Al Aqsa Hospital told the Maan News Agency that the youth Mahran Zakariyya Abu Al Maseer, 17, died of a gunshot injury in his stomach. The youth was shot by troops stationed east of Dir Al Balah. Palestinian medics said that the army handed them the body of Al Maseer, and informed them that two other residents were injured, and were taken prisoner. The three residents were standing near a dumpster east of Dir Al Balah, local sources reported, military bulldozers were present in the area and were bulldozing lands. Meanwhile, the Israeli army claimed that the three tried to sneak into Israel from the Gaza Strip. Israeli online daily, Haaretz, reported that Palestinian security officials said that the three are apparently manual laborers trying to illegally enter Israel through the “security fence” to find work. [end] 4 Qassam rockets land in western Negev YNetNews 1/25/2007 Rockets hit open areas in southern Israel; residents complain of recurring blasts -- Four Qassam rockets were fired from the northern Gaza Strip Thursday evening, landing in open areas in the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council. There were no reports of injuries or damage. Throughout the day, Sderot residents reported hearing a large number of blasts which caused panic, mainly among school children in the area. One of the residents said, "There is a feeling that something unclear is going on, because also when Qassam rockets landed we didn’t know if they were rockets or blasts. No one is giving us updated information." Qassams were last fired at the area three days ago, when two rockets were fired from the northern Gaza Strip towards Sderot. more.. Israeli forces open fire on Palestinian national forces in Gaza City Ma’an News Agency 1/25/2007 Gaza - Israeli Special Forces shot and injured two members of the Palestinian national forces in east Gaza City on Wednesday evening. Our correspondent in Gaza reported that Israeli Special Forces opened fire on a group of Palestinian national security forces, moderately injuring two of them. They were taken to hospital for medical treatment. The medical sources said that the two injuries happened near the border with Israel in the area of the juice factory and the Islamic school. [end] Al-Quds Brigades attack Israeli military engineers as they repair border fence Ma’an News Agency 1/25/2007 Gaza - The Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad movement in Palestine, have on Thursday claimed responsibility for targeting an Israeli engineering unit which was mending the electric fence east of the village of Al-Qarara, located north east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. In their statement, the Brigades affirmed that this operation falls within their natural retaliation to the Israeli violations against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. [end] Al-Quds Brigades launch projectile, destroy jeep Ma’an News Agency 1/25/2007 Gaza - The Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad movement in Palestine have, on Thursday, launched a homemade projectile towards the Israeli city of Ashkelon. They have also announced that they detonated an explosive device in an Israeli jeep in southern Gaza City. In their statement, the brigades said the operations are "natural retaliation to the Israeli violence against the Jihad leaders. [end] Gunmen open fire at the Canadian and German embassies in Ramallah International Middle East Media Center 1/26/2007 Palestinian security sources reported on Thursday that unknown gunmen fired at the Canadian and German embassies in Ramallah city, in the northern part of the West Bank, no injuries were reported. The sources stated that two gunmen fired at the German embassy in Ramallah Al Tihta area, and fired at the Canadian embassy in the center of Ramallah, causing damage but no injuries. Security devices initiated a probe into the two attacks, and deployed dozens of security personnel and policemen around the embassies and governmental institutions in the City. [end] Israel releases two teenagers, injured and arrested on Wednesday in Gaza Ma’an News Agency 1/25/2007 Gaza - The Israeli authorities released on Wednesday evening two teenage boys who were injured and arrested by Israeli soldiers in the central Gaza Strip on Wednesday morning. Dr. Mu’awiya Hassanein, the general director of emergencies and ambulances in the ministry of health, said that the Israeli forces released the two youths who had been arrested on Wednesday morning, Abed Al-Ra’uf Al-Edeini, 15, and Imad Muhammad Abu Shikhah, 16. The two were injured by Israeli gunfire on Wednesday morning in the area east of Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, close to the border with Israel. When the Israeli forces stationed in the area opened fire on the youths on Wednesday morning, they killed one teenager, Mahran Zakariya Abu Nuseir, and injured the other two, Al-Edeini and Abu Shikhah. more.. Two P.A security members injured by soldiers east of Gaza International Middle East Media Center 1/25/2007 Palestinian sources in the Gaza Strip reported on Wednesday at night that two members were shot and injured by the under-cover forces of the Israeli army east of Gaza City. The sources stated that the under-cover forces infiltrated through an area near the Islamic School and the Juice factory, east of the city, and fired at members of the Palestinian security forces moderately injuring two. The two were moved to a local hospital for treatment. Earlier on Wednesday, soldiers shot and killed one youth and injured two residents in the central Gaza Strip. Dr. Khalid Al Najjar, head of the Al Aqsa Hospital told the Maan News Agency that the youth Mahran Zakariyya Abu Al Maseer, 17, died of a gunshot injury in his stomach. [end] Military factions fire five projectiles at Israeli targets around the Gaza Strip Ma’an News Agency 1/24/2007 Gaza - The Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, and the Al-Aqsa Brigades, the military wing of Fatah, have claimed responsibility for launching 5 homemade projectiles at Israeli targets over the last 24 hours. The Al-Quds Brigades launched two homemade projectiles at an Israeli military airbase, east of the village of Qarara in the south of the Gaza Strip, on Wednesday morning. The Al-Aqsa Brigades launched three homemade projectiles at the Israeli villages of Erez and Netiv Ha’asara, located north of the Erez crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip, on Tuesday evening. The two brigades assured in separate statements that these operations came in response to Israel’s continuous aggression against the Palestinian people in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. more.. Winograd quizzes Peretz on Lebanon war Ha’aretz 1/26/2007 Defense Minister Amir Peretz, who testified before the Winograd Committee yesterday, explained the decision-making process that took place the day the war broke out. In the session, which lasted more than four hours, Peretz described the talks he had with the prime minister that day. He was asked if the objectives of the war had been defined before hostilities began - and what predictions the defense staff had made regarding the war’s duration. Peretz was also asked how much Israel knew about Hezbollah’s capabilities on the day the war started, July 12. Peretz spoke about the decision not to launch a major ground offensive at the beginning of the fighting, although there was a detailed plan for such an offensive. He was asked about the decision to launch the large ground operation in the last two days of fighting... more.. IDF troops kill Palestinian trying to sneak into Israel from Gaza Ha’aretz 1/24/2007 Israel Defense Forces troops shot dead a Palestinian early Wednesday and arrested two others, as the men tried to sneak into Israel from the Gaza Strip, the army said. Palestinian security officials in Gaza said the Israeli had informed them of the incident and that the three men had apparently been manual laborers trying to slip into Israel to find work. An army spokeswoman said that before dawn, troops spotted three crouching figures near the dividing fence and when they ignored orders to halt and disregarded warning shots the soldiers fired at one of the group. On Tuesday, Palestinian militants seized a French diplomat and his two bodyguards in the West Bank city of Nablus, and released them two hours later to another French envoy, witnesses and the militants said. more.. Tens of people homeless after Israeli bulldozers destroy Jerusalem apartment building Palestine News Network 1/23/2007 Bulldozers belonging to Israeli-annexed Jerusalem’s municipality demolished a four story residential building belonging to Mohammad Mahmoud Al Aemes. Israeli forces used the pretext of building a street for a settlement in destroying the Sur Baher neighborhood home. But they did not finish on Monday, leaving half for today. Several months prior to demolition foreign solidarity activists camped out in the building in hopes of saving it, but to no avail. At 8:30 in the morning yesterday Israeli forces came from all directions using several means, including horses, to enter quickly. They attacked neighbors and residents, beating all family members in the building with batons and rifle butts. The father of the homeowner, 60 year old Mahmoud Al Aemes, has a fractured neck while his 35 year old son in law, Abu Zaid Awadullah has a broken hand. more.. Three French nationals seized in Nablus released Ma’an News Agency 1/23/2007 Nablus - Three French nationals seized by the Al-Aqsa Brigades, the main military wing of Fatah, on Tuesday afternoon, have been released, according to local sources. Members of the Al-Aqsa Brigades seized three French nationals a few hours previously in the West Bank city of Nablus on suspicion of collaborating with the Israeli military, according to sources in the Brigades. Sources in the Al-Aqsa Brigades told Ma’an that its members ’arrested’ three Israeli Special Forces members dressed in Palestinian disguise and masquerading as French journalists. They say that the undercover soldiers were on a mission to assassinate an Al-Aqsa leader in the city. However, according to the French newspaper ’Le Monde’, the three French men had been kidnapped in Nablus by armed gunmen. more.. Israeli forces destroy two Palestinian homes near Bethlehem Ma’an News Agency 1/23/2007 Bethlehem - The Israeli forces destroyed two Palestinian homes on Tuesday in the area of As-Sawahira, located north east of the city of Bethlehem and south of Jerusalem, claiming they were built without a license. Our Bethlehem correspondent reported that the Israeli forces demolished two houses, one belonging to Jamal At Taweel and the other to Amir Abu Diab, in the As-Sawahira area between Jerusalem and Bethlehem on Tuesday afternoon. [end] Gaza tourist resort attacked in al-Qaeda’s name YNetNews 1/23/2007 Some 40 masked gunmen storm beach resort, blow up reception hall; no injuries reported. Assailants claim to be members of Osama bin Laden’s terror organization, but officials say ’there no evidence indicating al-Qaeda is operating in Strip; attack linked to Fatah-Hamas struggle’ -- Dozens of masked gunmen claiming to be members of al-Qaeda stormed an empty beach resort and blew up a reception hall on Tuesday, saying they were sending a message to a close ally of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Officials said there were no injuries and they were investigating the claim. Security officials have discounted such claims in the past.... “Tell Dahlan al-Qaeda has arrived in Gaza and his property and assets are targets,” Sari quoted the attackers as saying. Dahlan is widely rumored to own the resort... more.. A Palestinian Civilian Dies of Wounds he Sustained from Israeli Army Gunfire International Middle East Media Center 1/23/2007 A Palestinian resident of Khan Younis City, south of Gaza Strip, died on Tuesday of wounds he sustained last September, medical sources confirmed. Ziyad Abu Sa’ada, 23, of the Kheza’a village, to the east of Khan Younis, died early on Tuesday after having been battling with critical wounds he sustained during an Israeli army invasion into his village last September, the Alwafa local hospital in Gaza City announced. The Israeli army launched a massive military attack on various parts of the Gaza Strip in June 2006, killing so far at least 500 Palestinians, wounding about 4000 others and causing large-scale destruction to main points of infrastructure such as homes, ministerial buildings, bridges, power plants and water networks. [end] Israeli military arrest two Palestinian brothers from Tulkarem Ma’an News Agency 1/23/2007 Tulkarem - Israeli sources have said that on Monday ’Izat Mahmud ’Amir, aged 47, and his brother Haitham, 43, from the village of Bal’a, east of Tulkarem, were arrested in the Palestinian occupied West Bank. Ma’an’s correspondent reported that the two brothers were arrested from their shop in the region of Shwekeh, north of Tulkarem, by an Israeli military force, who took them to an unknown destination. [end] Sea still spitting oil six months after Lebanon war Middle East Online 1/22/2007 Rain, low tide have created new pollution zones which may take at least a year to get rid of. -- Six months after thousands of tonnes of fuel oil spilled into the Mediterranean when Israel bombed a Lebanese power plant, the waters are still spitting out black poison despite efforts to clean up the mess." The rain and the low tide have created new pollution zones," Ahmed Kojok of the Sea of Lebanon association said. On Beirut’s sun-splashed Ramlet al-Bayda beach, a human chain passed buckets filled with large black chunks -- mixtures of fuel oil, sand and debris -- which were emptied by a volunteer into large white watertight bags." It’s sad," muttered a fisherman who works for the association, running his fingers over dozens of seashells mucked together in a sticky glob. more.. Fatah youth leader arrested in an Israeli military raid on a village near Nablus Ma’an News Agency 1/23/2007 Nablus - Tulkarem - Israeli forces arrested the secretary of the Fatah youth organization in the village of Beita, south of the city of Nablus, on Tuesday. Local sources said that five Israeli jeeps invaded the village and the Israeli troops broke into the house of Sultan Barham, 19, before arresting him and taking him to an unknown destination. In another regard, the Israeli military court at Salem detention centre sentenced Mo’ammar Amara, 28, from Tulkarem refugee camp, to one year’s imprisonment and a fine of 1500 Israeli shekels (~ US $354). The Amara family said that their son was arrested on 28 March 2006 and he is now in Megiddo prison. The reason for his arrest was not revealed. [end] Officer: Ground ops only considered in third week of war Ha’aretz 1/24/2007 A senior officer in the Israel Defense Forces General Staff said Tuesday that during last summer’s war, the option of a large-scale ground operation in southern Lebanon was not seriously discussed by the General Staff or by the political establishment until July 27, more than two weeks after the war broke out. The officer made the comments in response to a report published in Haaretz Tuesday regarding the consultations held among the army’s top brass during the war. The senior officer told Haaretz that "the only senior member of the political-security establishment to demand on July 12 to initiate a major ground operation was Mossad Chief Meir Dagan. I was present at all the major discussions - and Dagan was the only one who made a clear demand on the issue." more.. One year of Palestinian crisis ReliefWeb 1/23/2007 GAZA CITY, Jan 24, 2007 (AFP) - Palestinian factions have been locked in a power struggle since Hamas dramatically trounced the Fatah faction of president Mahmud Abbas in elections a year ago. Here is a chronology of key events since Hamas’s election win, which led to a Western aid freeze and an Israeli boycott of peace talks. 2006January 25: In its first electoral outing, Hamas sweeps legislative elections in the Palestinian territories, ending 10 years of Fatah domination. Israel refuses to do business with the new administration, saying it is led by terrorists bent on destroying the Jewish state. February 4: First meeting between Hamas leaders and Abbas, who was elected 13 months earlier after the death of Yasser Arafat. February 19: Israel implements sanctions against the Palestinians, triggering an economic crisis.... more.. Israeli Army: At least 44 roadblocks allegedly removed, did not exist International Middle East Media Center 1/22/2007 An Israeli army source admitted that at least 44 roadblocks that were allegedly removed from around West Bank villages did not actually exist, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz said on Monday. Last Tuesday, the Israeli army announced that it had removed 44 roadblocks to fullfil promises made by the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in their meeting nearly a month ago. Olmert had pledged measures to ease the lives of Palestinian civilians, however nothing has changed. Haaretz quoted a military source as saying that these obstacles "had either been removed before the political level decided on the alleviations or had been bypassed by Palestinians earlier, and a decision had been made not to rebuild them." This statement confirms allegations by the United Nations organizations operating in the occupied Palestinian territories that most of these barriers were not removed, because they had not existed for months. There are nearly 500 dirt blocks and military checkpoints placed all over the West Bank, which disrupt the everyday lives of Palestinians. [end] Israeli Army Invades Yatta Village Near Hebron, Abduct Two Palestinian Men and Attack Three Others International Middle East Media Center 1/22/2007 Israeli forces invaded the village of Yatta, to the south of Hebron city in the southern part of the West Bank on Monday morning, abducted two Palestinian men and attacked another three. Issa Al Imor, 26, and Ahmad Murr, 25, were abducted by Israeli troops and taken to an unknown location when soldiers attacked and searched their families homes in the village. Eyewitnesses reported that during the invasion, soldiers also attacked the house of Khalil Musif, 45, and forced him outside along with his two sons Khaled, 24, and Thaer, 22. The three were attacked and hit with rifle butts and batons by the soldiers detaining them; they were released shortly thereafter with cuts and bruises. Soldiers were apparently looking for a family member called Khairat, who they claimed is on their wanted list, the Musif family reported. [end] Israeli army invades Balata refugee camp in Nablus International Middle East Media Center 1/22/2007 The Israeli army invaded Balata refugee camp in the eastern side of the northern West Bank city of Nablus on Monday morning and searched houses. Local sources reported that more than 10 army vehicles and one bulldozer stormed the Balata refugee camp, surrounded and searched the house of Ibrahiem Hanoun and a factory which makes carton boxes. Soldiers also forced some neighboring families out of their houses and interrogated them for some time. Eyewitnesses reported that Israeli soldiers fired live rounds and sound bombs randomly at residents’ houses, medical sources reported no injuries. Residents told IMEMC that the Israeli army troops are invading the city and nearby refugee camps on a daily basis. [end] Israeli forces invade Palestinian areas during the night arresting four Ma’an News Agency 1/22/2007 Jerusalem - Israeli forces have arrested a Palestinian citizen from Az Za’ayyem, east of Jerusalem early on Monday. Palestinian security sources said that the Israeli army raided the town and broke into the house of Rasmi Al Asmar and arrested his son, 22 year old Jafar, after damaging the furniture of the house. The young man was taken to an unknown destination. Israeli forces also arrested three Palestinian citizens late on Sunday evening from the town of Yatta, south of the city of Hebron, in the Palestinian occupied West Bank. Palestinian police sources said that the Israeli forces raided the town and broke into many houses claiming they were looking for "wanted" Palestinians. The sources added that the Israeli forces arrested.... They were also taken to an unknown destination. more.. Islamic Movement in Israel: "Israel is still digging under Al Aqsa Mosque" International Middle East Media Center 1/21/2007 The Islamic Movement in Israel, headed by member of Knesset Ibrahim Sarsour, said on Sunday that Israel is still digging and carrying out excavations under the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, which is threatening the foundations of the mosque. -- Israeli online daily, Haaretz, reported that Sarsour said that Israel paid a Palestinian vendor $60,000 for his store bordering with the Temple Mount compound on which the mosque is located. Israel denied the report. Northern branch leader of the Islamic Movement, Sheikh Ra’ed Salah, said that the digging comes “to fulfill Israel’s darkest dream of building a Jewish temple in place of the Al Aqsa mosque”. Haaretz added that several leaders of the movement said that they will present information about any upcoming digging that Israel intends to carry out under the mosque. more.. Halutz objected to ground offensive almost until end of war Ha’aretz 1/23/2007 The outgoing Chief of Staff Dan Halutz strongly opposed a broad ground operation until the very last stage of the war in Lebanon last summer, even though the two General Staff members also from the air force - Military Intelligence Chief Amos Yadlin and Major General Idan Nehushtan - supported such action. What is surprising is that the two major generals who supported a broad ground offensive at an early stage - Deputy Chief of Staff Moshe Kaplinsky and Chief of Operations Gadi Eisenkot - changed their views as the war continued and then hesitated to carry out such an offensive. A Haaretz probe in recent weeks has enabled, for the first time, a reconstruction of critical parts of the exchanges during a series of meetings headed by the chief of staff. more.. Hamas accuses Fatah-affiliates of launching an RPG at the house of a leading Hamas figure Ma’an News Agency 1/21/2007 Gaza - The Hamas movement on Sunday accused Fatah members of launching a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) at the house of a leading Hamas figure, Mahmoud Abu Salman, which resulted in the injuring of his son. In a statement that Ma’an received, Hamas said that "Fatah affiliated members, who belong to the so-called revolutionary current within the Fatah movement, have launched an RPG shell at the house on Saturday at midnight. Furthermore, they opened fire on Sunday evening at a group of Hamas members near the Al-Awdah towers in northern Gaza City, injuring one. [end] Israeli PM grants license to build Jewish synagogue at door of Muslim Quarter near Al Aqsa Mosque Palestine News Network 1/22/2007 The current Israeli Prime Minister and former Mayor of Jerusalem is achieving his dream to further Judaize the Palestinian capital. Ehud Olmert has granted a license for a Jewish synagogue to be built 40 feet from Al Aqsa Mosque. The Israelis would not allow President Arafat to be buried in Jerusalem, despite UN Resolution 35 which states that Israel’s annexation of Jerusalem, and claiming the city as its own capital, is illegal and must be immediately rescinded. Over the past month in the Old City of East Jerusalem along the western side of the Al Aqsa Mosque Israeli forces have built a ramp and answered inquiries as to what they were doing with a simple, “just cleaning,” as they excavated to the point of damaging the western side of Al Aqsa’s wall. Olmert has just granted a license to build a Jewish synagogue at the door of the Muslim Quarter in the Old City... more.. PA police chief: West Bank crime up 60%; blames militants, poverty Ha’aretz 1/22/2007 Crime in the West Bank was up 60 percent in 2006, the Palestinian police chief said Monday, blaming growing poverty and increasingly brazen militants. Coordination problems with Israel are hampering crimefighting, said the West Bank chief, Colonel Adnan Aldameri. Israel still controls large areas of the West Bank, and Palestinian police have to coordinate to move from place to place, a time-consuming process that often slows down the hunt for suspects, Aldameri said. About 20,000 regular police patrol in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, but only 7. 5 percent have weapons, said Aldameri. Ammunition is also scarce, with the price of bullets for Kalashnikov assault rifle driven up by an arms race between the rival Hamas and Fatah movements. Gunmen from the different factions have far more firepower than the police, Aldameri said. more.. Closure of Al-Badhan checkpoint Ma’an News Agency 1/22/2007 Nablus - Occupying Israeli military forces have, on Monday, re-closed the checkpoint in the Al Badhan valley, north-east of Nablus in the northern West Bank. Eyewitnesses told Ma’an that Israeli troops stopped hundreds of Palestinian citizens, who had earlier left the city, and prevented them from coming back through the checkpoint. Dozens of private vehicles, as well as public transport, were stuck at the barrier. The Israeli authorities have stated that the checkpoint is closed for 24 hours, for "security reasons". [end] Israeli army abducts one Palestinian man from Al Ezariya village near Jerusalem International Middle East Media Center 1/22/2007 An Israeli army force invaded the village of Al Ezariya to the east of Jerusalem and abducted one Palestinian man on Monday morning. Soldiers attacked and searched the home of Ja’far Al Asmar, 22, then abducted him and took him to an unknown military detention camp. The Ja’far family reported that soldiers destroyed some furniture an beat up their son during the abduction. [end] Palestinian security arrest a man guilty of collaborating with Israel Ma’an News Agency 1/22/2007 Gaza - The Palestinian preventive security on Monday revealed that a collaborator with the Israeli intelligence force ’shabak,’ was apprehended. He was transferred to the general prosecution following his confession. In a statement which Ma’an received, the preventive security said "the 33 year old worked in Israel for several years during which he was assigned by the Israeli Mafia to steel containers of goods belonging to Palestinians from the Ashdood terminal in Israel. The stolen goods included frozen meats and electric tools. He used forged ID cards to commit the robberies." The agent had joined the Israeli intelligence in June 2006 and was given money and a mobile phone simcard so as to monitor those launching homemade projectiles and resistance fighters in general. more.. Islamic Jhad’s military wing fires projectile at kibbutz near Sderot as part of ’Operation Red Rose’ Ma’an News Agency 1/22/2007 Gaza - The Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, have claimed responsibility for launching a homemade projectile at an Israeli kibbutz south of the town of Sderot around noon on Monday. The Brigades assured in a statement that this operation came in response to the aggressions of the Israeli occupation army in the West Bank and Gaza. They also said that this action is a continuation of a new operation launched by the brigades on Sunday 21 January, which they are calling ’Operation Red Rose. [end] Palestinian militants in Gaza fire three Qassam rockets at Israel Ha’aretz 1/22/2007 Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fired three Qassam rockets at Israel on Monday. One of the rockets was fired in the afternoon at strategic facilities located in the southern city of Ashkelon, but it could not be determined exactly where the rocket hit. Two additional rockets were fired Monday evening at the western Negev town of Sderot, and apparently hit in open areas. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage in any of the attacks. On Sunday, three mortar shells landed near the border fence in central Gaza early and two Qassam rockets struck an open area near the Negev town of Sderot. No injuries were reported in either attack. Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for Sunday’s Qassam attacks. more.. Anti-Wall demonstration in Um Salamonah village near Bethlehem International Middle East Media Center 1/19/2007 At least 1500 Palestinian and international peace activists gathered in Um Salamonah village near the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem on Friday to protest the construction of the illegal Israeli wall on the village land. Before the demonstration Friday prayers were conducted on the farm land, 700 dunams of which is intended for confiscation. If this goes ahead, much of the agricultural land which supplies the village’s income will be annexed behind the wall or destroyed. Protesters were met by more than 100 Israeli soldiers and after chanting resistance slogans and waving flags for some time, decided to end the demonstration with the promise to return soon. No clashes with the army occurred, eyewitnesses told IMEMC. more.. Israeli army invades Nablus, kills 22-year-old Fatah operative Ma’an News Agency 1/18/2007 Nablus - In a major military operation, the Israeli army has shot dead a member of a previously unknown armed wing of Fatah on Thursday morning in the old city of Nablus, in the north of the occupied West Bank. Our correspondent in Nablus reported that, according to Palestinian security and medical sources, Muhanad Muhammad Al-Ghandour, 22, was killed in an armed confrontation with Israeli soldiers in the old city of Nablus. Al-Ghandour, nicknamed "the Jordanian", was a member of a new armed group calling themselves the Al-’Awda Brigades (’The Return’ Brigades), which is reported to be affiliated to the Fatah movement. Al-Ghandour was shot by an Iraeli sniper while another 3 Palestinians were injured in subsequent clashes.... more than 50 military vehicles, plus a number of Israeli bulldozers have been carrying out a major operation... more.. Palestinian patient dies at a military checkpoint, woman died of earlier wounds International Middle East Media Center 1/18/2007 Palestinian sources reported on Thursday that at night that a Palestinian patient died at an Israeli military roadblock after the soldiers stopped the vehicle transferring him to hospital. In a separate incident, one woman died of wounds suffered two days ago. The sources stated that resident Taiseer Al Qaisy, 45, from the northern West Bank city of Nablus, died after soldiers stationed at a Nablus checkpoint stopped the vehicle transferring him to hospital. Troops claimed that the car “does not carry a permit to cross the checkpoint”. Al Qaisy had to step out of the car, and fell dead after he walked a few meters. In a separate incident, Palestinian sources in Jerusalem reported that Abeer Al Arameen, who was shot and injured by Israeli military fire two days ago, died of her wounds on Thursday. more.. Israeli troops seize dozens of West Bankers at dawn on Thursday; invasions in Nablus, Qalqiliya, Ramallah, Tulkarem Ma’an News Agency 1/18/2007 West Bank - The Israeli forces arrested on Thursday at dawn at least 13 Palestinians from various cities in the occupied West Bank, claiming that they are wanted by Israel. Israeli media sources have reported that the arrests took place in a number of West Bank cities including Bethlehem, Ramallah, Jenin and Nablus. According to our correspondent and Palestinian sources, a Palestinian man was shot dead by an Israeli sniper in the northern city of Nablus. Israeli sources say, however, that an armed Palestinian was injured in a shooting exchange with the Israeli forces in Nablus. The Israeli sources add that some Palestinians shot at the Israeli army in Ramallah; no injuries or casualties were reported. Palestinian security sources add that some nine Israeli military vehicles also broke into the city of Jenin from its western axis... more.. Israeli tanks roll into northern Gaza Strip on Thursday morning Ma’an News Agency 1/18/2007 Gaza - On Thursday morning, a number of Israeli tanks and other military vehicles advanced into the area of Abu Safieh, east of Jabalia refugee camp in the north of the Gaza Strip, amid random gunfire. The director general of ambulances and emergencies in the Palestinian health ministry warned of the severe risk of casualties as a result of the shooting, particularly as the invasion came during a period of high activity in the streets with children going to school and workers heading to their workplaces. He also warned of the danger to farmers in the north east of the Gaza Strip due to this most recent invasion. The Israeli military aircraft also fired this morning flares in the skies of the northern Gaza Strip. [end] Qalqilia: frequency of invasions on the rise, number of residents in Israeli jails reaches 600 Palestine News Network 1/18/2007 Israeli forces invaded Qalqilia’s ’Azzoun Village on Thursday and took 10 Palestinians, one of whom is blind, to unknown locations. Families of the arrestees described a high number of military vehicles storming the northwestern West Bank this morning. Ra’ed Abdel Fattah is blind and was arrested for the second time. Three and a half years ago Israeli forces imprisoned him while his family appealed for his release due to his condition. Ashraf Abdel Awad Qur’an, Khaled Aref Mohammed Nofal, Abdel Basset Tawfiq, Khalil Abdullah Abu Awad, Nayef Awad Atta of Egypt, and Mahmoud Mohamed Khaddrg, Mohsen Hardan and another who had just been released for a year after six and a half years in prison, were all taken Thursday morning after invasive searches of their homes and the contents. more.. Gunmen fire at vehicles of Ramallah deputy mayor and municipality board member International Middle East Media Center 1/19/2007 Palestinian sources reported on Thursday that unknown gunmen fired at the vehicles of Ramallah deputy Mayor and municipality board member as the two vehicles were parked in front of the municipality building. The gunmen fired at the vehicles as the municipality council was holding a session at the city-hall. The Hamas-run news website, Palestineinfo, reported that the gunmen “are believed to be Fateh members”, but the claim was not verified. The vehicles that were fried at belong to deputy mayor of Ramallah, Mahmoud Abdullah, and municipality engineer and board member, Khaldoun Khader. The Hamas-run website said that Fateh members who, according to the site, are planning a coup against the Hamas-led government, carried several shooting attacks and broke into several governmental institutions... more.. Rabbis: Naveh deserves to be killed Jerusalem Post 1/19/2007 A group of rabbis have issued a halachic opinion implying that OC Central Command Maj. -Gen. Yair Naveh deserves to be killed. The rabbis, all connected with a movement to resurrect the Sanhedrin, the ancient Jewish governing body, said in their halachic ruling this week that Naveh was guilty of being a moser, a Hebrew word that can be roughly translated as an informant or traitor. Literally, it means someone who transfers another’s property or person to enemy authorities. The rabbis see the Olmert government as the equivalent of a gentile enemy that "evilly and violently expels and causes mental and physical damage to Jews." Maimonides ruled in his Mishneh Torah: "It is permitted to kill a Jewish moser anywhere, even today when rabbinic courts are not permitted to decide on capital punishment matters." more.. Indictment: Jewish convert aided terror YNetNews 1/18/2007 Assaf Ben David, 39 year-old Palestinian convert to Judaism, charged with conspiring to aid his brother, a member of Islamic Jihad -- The Haifa District Attorney’s Office filed an indictment at the Haifa District Court Thursday against Assaf Ben David for conspiring with the enemy, and having contact with a foreign agent. The indictment accused Ben David of contacting his brother, a member of Islamic Jihad and other terror organizations with the intention of aiding in attacks against Israel. Ben David, a 39 year-old Palestinian who converted to Judaism, left both his village and his religion to become haredi.... Ben David’s brother, Saleh Suafta, was an Islamic Jihad activist who had been wanted by security forces for a long period of time. The indictment claimed that Ben David was aware of his brother’s involvement in the terror organization. more.. Israeli government continues to judaise Jerusalem and destroy ancient Arab buildings and land Ma’an News Agency 1/17/2007 Jerusalem - The Al-Aqsa Institution for the Reconstruction of the Islamic Sanctities has announced that the Israeli government has carried out a wide excavation campaign in the furthest western side of the ’Al-Buraq’ yard, on the outer perimeter of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem. The Israeli goverrnment also carried out excavations on a vast surrounding area, which entailed the demolition of ancient Arab and Islamic buildings and the removal of hundreds of cubic metres of earth by bulldozers. They were digging for weeks in the area, which was considered until 1967 a major part of Al-Magharbeh neighborhood of the Old City of Jerusalem and included at that time dozens of historic and valuable buildings from various Islamic eras. [end] PA minister: Israel plots to annex more Palestinian lands Palestinian Information Center 1/17/2007 Gaza - Mohammed Al-Agha, the PA minister of agriculture, has denounced the Israeli occupation forces’ repeated closure of the gates of the "racist wall" in the West Bank, which prevented Palestinian farmers from properly attending to their farmlands that are isolated behind that separation wall. Agha said in a press release on Wednesday that the IOF deliberately reduce the daily number of hours during which the gate north of Jayos town, Qalqilia district, opens namely from 12 to only 3 hours. He charged that the measure caused major frustration for citizens especially the farmers who could not accomplish their works in such a short period of time. The minister noted that the IOF troops were surveying Palestinian lands in prelude to annexing them to build the separation wall. more.. Palestinian killed by unexploded Israeli ordnance in south Lebanon ReliefWeb/Deutsche Presse Agentur 1/17/2007 Beirut, Jan 16 -- A Palestinian man was killed in southern Lebanon Tuesday when he tried to defuse an unexploded Israeli bomb, police said. According to the police, 30-year-old Palestinian refugee Ahmed Houeidi was trying to cut the tip off an unexploded Israeli bomb to use the metal when it blew up in his hands killing him instantly. Houeidi was a Palestinian refugee living in a camp near the southern port city of Tyre, the police said. Police said the bomb was a result of munitions dropped by the Israeli air force over Lebanon its July 2006 war against the Hezbollah movement. The police said around 800,000 cluster bomblets were dropped over Lebanon, some 40 per cent of which failed to explode on impact. Since the UN-sponsored ceasefire on August 14, 2006, unexploded ordnance has killed at least 27 people and wounded more than 146. [end] Leftovers from Israeli war in Lebanon kill one Palestinian Ma’an News Agency 1/17/2007 Bethlehem - Lebanese police have on Wednesday announced that a Palestinian citizen was killed when remnants from a cluster bomb detonated. The bomb was part of the one-million leftover pieces of unexploded cluster bomb ordinance from the latest Israeli war against Lebanon. The sources reported that Kamal Ad-Din Muhammad, aged 43, was collecting wood near the Rashidiya refugee camp, when he stepped on an explosive "bomblet", which ended his life after causing serious wounds. [end] Israeli army invades Hebron city and several nearby villages and abducts eight Palestinian men International Middle East Media Center 1/17/2007 On Wednesday morning, Israeli forces invaded Hebron city in the southern part of the West Bank and the nearby villages of Yata, Doura, and Halhol. Eight Palestinian men were abducted in the operation. In Yatta village south of Hebron, Israeli jeeps and troops stormed and searched a number of houses and ransacked them. During the operation the Israeli army abducted five villagers, eyewitnesses reported.... Moreover, in downtown Hebron city, and the nearby village of Halhol, Israeli forces attacked and searched residents’ homes, and took three Palestinian men prisoner. ... The sources added that soldiers gave military orders for another six men in the city to be interviewed at the secret service office in the Kufar Atzion military post east of the city.... anyone who tried to ask the Israeli soldiers not to damage the house was attacked with rifle butts and batons. more.. Israeli forces abduct a Palestinian student from Jordan valley area in northern West Bank International Middle East Media Center 1/17/2007 Hanifa Salah, 19, was abducted by the Israeli army while working on his family’s farm in the Jordan valley in the northern West Bank on Wednesday morning. Soldiers and jeeps arrived at the farm, detained the young man and questioned him, then took him to an unknown military detention camp, eyewitnesses reported. [end] Israeli Army fires one tank shell into the eastern side of Beit Hannoun International Middle East Media Center 1/17/2007 Israeli army tanks stationed at the Gaza/Israel borders fired one tank shell into the eastern side of Beit Hannoun in the northern part of the Gaza strip on Wednesday at midday. The shell landed in farming lands and caused damage but no injures, Palestinian sources reported. The residents of Beit Hannoun said that Israeli tanks have fired several shells since Wednesday morning at different areas in Beit Hannoun, but reported no injuries. [end] Palestinian teen injured in Jabalia refugee camp International Middle East Media Center 1/17/2007 Ibrahiem Hassan, 16, was injured when an unidentified object exploded near him in Jabalia refugee camp in the northern part of the Gaza strip on Wednesday. The boy sustained critical wounds in his right hand, medical sources reported, and added that he was moved to Kamal Adwan hospital for treatment. [end] Palestinians: Girl, 10, seriously hurt by Border Police fire Ha’aretz 1/17/2007 A 10-year-girl was seriously wounded by Border Police troops Tuesday in the West Bank village of Anata, northeast of Jerusalem, according to Palestinian sources. Abir Aramin suffered a serious head wound Tuesday during her school’s recess. At the time, there were clashes nearby between Border Police forces and protestors, and witnesses and her family say she was injured by Border Police fire directed near her school. A spokeswoman for Hadassah University Hospital in Ein Karem, where the girl is currently hospitalized, said the cause of her injuries cannot be absolutely determined based on medical evidence. Aramin is unconscious, and is on a respirator. A hospital source said, however, that she seemed to have suffered wounds from a ricochet, which would support the "conjecture" that a stun grenade exploded near her head. -- See also: Soldiers hit 10 year old in the head at Jerusalem school, Director: soldiers throw grenades at kids more.. Hamas and Islamic Jihad members arrested in Jerusalem for allegedly opening fire at Israeli border guards Ma’an News Agency 1/17/2007 Jerusalem - Israeli sources have announced on Wednesday that the Israeli forces have exposed a Palestinian cell which Israel accuses of opening fire at Israeli border guards stationed near the separation wall in the Dahiat Al-Barid neighborhood in north Jerusalem. Israeli radio stated that the cell consists of 9 Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives. [end] Israeli army abducts one Palestinian man from Tulkarem International Middle East Media Center 1/17/2007 The Israeli army invaded the eastern side of the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem on Wednesday at dawn, and abducted one Palestine man. Islam Bider, 21, was taken by the army to an unknown military detention camp after troops attacked and searched his father’s houses in the city, the family reported. Soldiers also searched some nearby houses and left the city shortly afterwards. [end] Israeli army abducts three Palestinian men during invasions of villages near Hebron International Middle East Media Center 1/17/2007 Israeli forces invaded several villages near the southern West Bank city of Hebron and abducted three men on Wednesday morning. They also gave military orders to another six for interviews with the Israeli secret service agents in a nearby military complex. [end] Unknown gunmen throw a hand grenade at a shop in downtown Gaza city International Middle East Media Center 1/17/2007 A group of unknown gunmen threw a hand grenade at a shop in downtown Gaza city on Wednesday morning. The shop, which is a cell phone shop, was badly damaged. No injures were reported. [end] Home demolitions begin for the year in East Jerusalem Palestine News Network 1/16/2007 Four Palestinian houses in East Jerusalem were demolished today. They were postponed on Monday after Kazim Abdullah’s home was demolished without prior warning. Early yesterday bulldozers belonging to the Israeli-controlled Jerusalem Municipality surrounded the Tur neighborhood house. Soldiers, police and workers were in full force. The police blocked every door, preventing anyone from going in or the family from leaving, as soldiers overtook neighboring rooftops. Police presented the family with a demolition order from the Municipal Court ruling to destroy the Palestinian house under the pretext that it did not have an Israeli-issued building permit. Abdullah told PNN on Monday, “We were surprised this morning at the presence of a large force of police and border guards at the house and the demolition workers with the bulldozers..." more.. Israeli forces attacked in Jenin and fourteen Palestinians arrested throughout the West Bank Ma’an News Agency 1/16/2007 Jerusalem - Israeli sources have stated that Israeli forces have been attacked with hurled bombs and gunfire in Jenin, in the northern occupied West Bank, no injures were reported. Israeli radio informed also that the Israeli forces discovered nine bombs, two shotguns and a handgun in a house in Aida refugee camp northern Bethlehem. Israeli occupation forces also apprehended 14 Palestinians in various areas of the West Bank including a woman and her daughter in Aida refugee camp last night. [end] Raids in Jenin Refugee Camp and Qabatiya: soldiers threaten to harm residents if they aid resistance Palestine News Network 1/16/2007 Israeli forces launched an attack on the northern West Bank’s Jenin Refugee Camp and the southern Jenin town of Qabatiya Tuesday. Soldiers broke into dozens of homes while on the hunt for “wanted” members of Saraya Al Quds and Nasser Salah Addin Brigades. In Jenin Camp the armed resistance fought back against the invasion by throwing three explosives at military vehicles while Israeli forces launched a wide search campaign. In Qabatiya Israeli forces encircled Mount Zakarneh and forced residents to leave their homes. Eyewitnesses report that the sky was lit up by explosions while soldiers took the men to one area and the women and children in another.... Israeli intelligence members conducting interrogations threatened citizens with physical harm to them and their families if they assisted any of the so-called wanted... more.. Israeli forces arrest Palestinian man at Allenby Bridge Ma’an News Agency 1/16/2007 Tulkarem - Israeli forces have apprehended 20 year old Nidal Ahmad ’Afy, from a refugee camp in Tulkarem, whilst traveling to Jordan over the Allenby Bridge crossing. Afy works for the Palestinian presidential guard. [end] Two Palestinian children injured by Israeli army missile attack northern Gaza strip International Middle East Media Center 1/16/2007 Palestinian medical sources reported that two Palestinian children were injured due to an Israeli missile attack that targeted Beit Hannoun northern Gaza strip on Tuesday morning. Dr. Mu’awiah Hassanin, the director of the emergency department in the ministry of health in Gaza reported that Israeli troops stationed at northern Gaza Israeli borders lunched two land-land missiles that hit Palestinian homes located in Beit Hannoun town and injured the two children, the were moved to nearby hospital were there wounds were described as critical. [end] Israeli forces abduct two Palestinian men from Beit Ula and Nuba villages near Hebron International Middle East Media Center 1/16/2007 The Israeli army has abducted two Palestinian men from the villages of Beit Ola and Nuba west of the southern West Bank city of Hebron on Tuesday morning. According to a statement by the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society in Hebron the two were identified as Ashraf Al A’dam, 30, from Beit Ula village who works at the Islamic Charitable Society in the village, and Mohamed Al Sharuf, 39, from Nuba village, director of the ministry of education office in Hebron city. Army vehicles stormed residents homes in both villages searched and ransacked them after forcing the families out, eyewitnesses reported, before leaving and taking the two men to unknown location. [end] Israeli navel boats opens fire at the Al Waha beach near Beith Lahiaya northern Gaza strip International Middle East Media Center 1/16/2007 The Israeli army navel boats opened fire on Tuesday midday at the Al Waha beach near Beit Lahiaya town in the northern part of the Gaza strip. The boats fired heavily at the beach, no injures were reported, eyewitnesses reported. [end] Army abducts two women from Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem International Middle East Media Center 1/16/2007 The Israeli army invaded Aida refugee camp in the northern side of Bethlehem city on Tuesday morning and abducted two Palestinian women. Army jeeps and soldiers stormed the camp and opened fire randomly at residents houses, then troops searched and ransacked the houses of Riad Abu Sirour, soldiers left the house damaged and took Abu Sirour’s wife Nawal, 45, and his daughter Ashjan, 21, to unknown military camp. Nawal is a house wife and her daughter Ashjan is a student in Abu Diess University, Abu Sirour said and added that soldiers gave no reason for the abduction. [end] Al Quds Brigades launch a missile at Israeli town, in protest against Israeli pursuit of Fatah leaders Ma’an News Agency 1/16/2007 Gaza - The Al Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, have claimed that they launched missile, ’Quds 3’at the Israeli town of Sderot on Thursday. The Al Quds Brigades, in a press release, assured that they, "will continue the shelling operation, this is a normal response to Israels breach of agreements and their daily pursuit of Fatah leaders in the Gaza Strip. [end] Palestinian militants blow up an Israeli bulldozer Ma’an News Agency 1/16/2007 Nablus - The Jihad Jibreel Brigades, the military wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command and the Al Aqsa Brigades, the main military wing of Fatah, announced their responsibility for the explosion of a military bulldozer, in Nablus Thursday morning. They said, "this act is just replying to Israeli attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. [end] Israeli Army abducts two Palestinian men from Nablus International Middle East Media Center 1/16/2007 Israeli forces invaded the northern West Bank city of Nablus and the nearby Ein Beit Al Ma’e refugee camp and abducted two Palestinian men on Tuesday morning. A massive force along with two bulldozers invaded the dawn town Nablus and surrounded several neighborhoods, eyewitnesses reported, and added that soldiers forced the residents out of their houses before searching them. In the meantime another force attacked and searched residents’ houses in the nearby Ein Beit Al Ma’e refugee camp, soldiers abducted Ibraheem Abu Al Rish, 19, and Jalal Ghanamah, 20, after searching their families’ houses in the camp, eyewitnesses reported. Moreover Israeli soldiers also entered Balata refugee camp in Nablus searched some houses there but abducted no residents. more.. Unknown gunmen shots and injures a Palestinian security officer in Gaza International Middle East Media Center 1/16/2007 A group of unknown masked gunmen opened fire, in Al Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza city, at a Palestinian security officer working for the preventative security force on Tuesday. Medical sources reported that Ahmad Saleh was hit with two live rounds in the abdomen and was moved to Al Aqsa hospital in Dier Al Balah central Gaza strip were his wounds were described as moderate. [end] Unknown gunmen injures a Palestinian resistance fighter in Rafah south of Gaza International Middle East Media Center 1/16/2007 Murad Al Akhras, 20, Aqsa brigades resistance fighter, was shot and injured after being targeted by a group of unknown gunmen in Rafah city south of the Gaza strip on Tuesday midday. The man was moved to Abu Yousif Al Najar hospital in Rafah, where his wounds were described as moderate. Eyewitnesses stated that a group of unknown gunmen targeted Al Akhras and then fled the scene, no Palestinian group have calmed responsibility. [end] Unknown gunmen open fire at a residential building in Gaza city International Middle East Media Center 1/16/2007 Palestinian sources reported that unknown gunmen opened fire on Tuesday afternoon at the residential building in dawn town Gaza city, no injuries reported. The sources added that the Majed Abu Shamalih, Fatah PLC member, and Yousif Issa, the director of the preventative security forces in Gaza city, both live in the building. Eyewitnesses stated that the group using a white car opened fire at the building and fled the scene. [end] Inquest finds Israel had ’no clear objective’ during war Daily Star 1/17/2007 BEIRUT: A former chief of staff of the Israeli military has told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that the 2006 summer war against Lebanon "was carried out with no clear objective," Israel’s Haaretz newspaper said Tuesday. The daily quoted General Dan Shomron as saying that Israeli forces were unable to "translate into a military operation the instructions given by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to prevent rockets from being fired at Israel." "The threat of rockets being fired from Southern Lebanon at Israel remains today as it was before the war," he said. Haaretz said Shomron had presented the committee with the outcome of a probe into the conduct of the general staff of the military during the summer conflict. The probe found the current general staff capable of "rehabilitating" the Israeli forces, the paper reported. more.. Two Palestinians killed by Israeli military fire in the Gaza Strip International Middle East Media Center 1/15/2007 Palestinian sources reported on Monday that two residents were killed on Saturday evening near the border fence separating between the Gaza Strip and Israel. Israeli sources claimed that the two were crawling towards the fence. An Israeli military source reported that soldiers opened fire at two armed Palestinians crawling towards the border fence. Bullets fired by the soldiers apparently hit explosives crates the two were carrying, setting their explosives off. The Salah Ed Deen brigades, the armed wing of the Popular Resistance Committees identified the two as Mousa Mohammad Qarmout, 22, and Kamal Khader, 19. The Committees stated that the two were attempting to plant an explosive charge in Abo Kado area, close to the border fence, east of the northern Gaza Strip city of Beit Hanoun. more.. Israeli forces confiscating southern Bethlehem village, farmers demonstrate Palestine News Network 1/15/2007 Since early this morning dozens of Palestinian farmers in southern Bethlehem’s Umm Salamuna Village have tried to stave off the Israeli bulldozers that razed 270 dunams of land for the Wall. A number of foreign supporters joined the Palestinians in what has turned into yet another outmatched battle of sorts with Israeli forces. Two citizens are suffering broken limbs after severe beatings for refusing to move from their land. A Palestinian Red Crescent Ambulance rushed them to a nearby hospital. Israeli soldiers used rifle butts to strike people throughout their bodies. Umm Salamuna is 15 kilometers south of Bethlehem, and like many Palestinian villages, is being eaten up by the Israeli Wall. The bulldozers arrived early Monday with dozens of Israeli soldiers and border guards “armed to the teeth,” as they were described. more.. Ma’aleh Adumim building approved Jerusalem Post 1/16/2007 The Construction and Housing Ministry on Monday issued tenders for the construction of 44 new housing units in Ma’aleh Adumim, in a bureaucratic move blasted by Peace Now as "spitting in the face of the Americans," but which the Americans themselves did not publicly protest. A ministry spokesman said that the timing of the issuing of the tenders for construction in the 07 neighborhood had nothing to do with the visit of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who met with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday. He said that the fact that the tenders were issued yesterday had to do with the bureaucratic process involved. A senior official in the Prime Minister’s Office said there should be no problem with the issuing of the tenders, since Ma’aleh Adumim is part of the settlement blocs that Israel has made clear "it will retain"... more.. Palestinian house leveled in Jerusalem, four pending International Middle East Media Center 1/16/2007 Palestinian sources in the occupied East Jerusalem reported on Monday that the Jerusalem Municipality demolished one Palestinian house in Jerusalem after claiming that it was illegally constructed; the municipality intends to demolish four more homes under the same claims. The house was leveled after the Israeli army, police, and a bulldozers belonging to Jerusalem municipality invaded Al Tour neighborhood in Jerusalem and leveled the house of Malouk Kathim Abdullah. Abdullah did not receive any eviction notice or any court order to demolish her house, the Palestine News Network reported. The attack was carried out by dozens of policemen and soldiers who surrounded the area and invaded several neighborhoods. The soldiers and policemen sealed the area and barred the residents from entering or leaving it. more.. East Jerusalem home demolitions expected to rise in 2007 Palestine News Network 1/15/2007 The Israeli Committee Against Home Demolitions issued its annual report for 2006 expressing concern that Israeli forces will destroy more of Palestinian East Jerusalem this year. The Wall has already cut-off thousands of Jerusalem residents from the city and that number is expected to grow. More Israeli settlements are being planned for East Jerusalem while plans are also being made to lay waste to more Palestinian neighborhoods. The full text of the ICAHD report follows: In 2006 there was a marked decrease in East Jerusalem home demolition statistics. During that year 81[1] structures were demolished, of which 18 were pirate gas stations; in other words, 63 residential buildings weredestroyed. There was also a decrease in the amount of square metres demolished during the year - 6,000 sq. m. more.. Israeli forces take 11 Palestinians from Nablus to unknown locations Palestine News Network 1/15/2007 Israeli forces invaded the northern West Bank’s Nablus early Monday. The raids have become nearly daily and include home break-ins, damage, and arrests. Before dawn this morning was no exception with Israeli forces launching a campaign against the city of Nablus and its Balata Refugee Camp. Eleven Palestinians were arrested and taken to unknown locations, including three brothers. Palestinian security sources report that the Israeli invasion did not end until 5:30 this morning. In the city Israeli forces arrested two 16 year olds, a 19 year old, two 22 year olds and a 23 year old, most from the Rafidiya neighborhood. On the eastern side of the city in Balata Refugee Camp, Israeli forces stormed the narrow streets and arrested three brothers among others. Soldiers also broke into the family home of a recently killed man and destroyed its contents. [end] Israeli Army abducts fourteen Palestinian men from several parts of the West Bank International Middle East Media Center 1/15/2007 Israeli Forces invaded several cities and villages in different parts of the West Bank and abducted fourteen Palestinian men during an invasion on Monday morning. In Nablus city in the northern part of the West Bank, a massive Israeli Army force invaded the downtown area of Nablus city and the nearby Balata refugee camp, abducting ten Palestinian men. Local residents reported that soldiers attacked, searched and ransacked scores of residents’ houses in both the city and refugee camp. Palestinian sources in the city added that seven men were taken from the city while another three brothers were taken from the refugee camp.... In the meantime, three Palestinian men were abducted by the Israeli Army from villages near the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem... more.. Palestinians open fire at Israeli forces in Jenin and Ramallah; 19 West Bankers arrested Ma’an News Agency 1/15/2007 Jerusalem - Nablus - Jenin - Israeli sources have reported on Monday that the Israeli army has apprehended 19 Palestinian citizens in the occupied Palestinian West Bank. Israeli radio reported that people opened fire at an Israeli force, in the northern West Bank refugee camp of Jenin and at another unit in northern Ramallah in central West Bank. No casualties have been reported. According to local sources, the Israeli army, including many armoured vehicles, invaded Jenin refugee camp, and apprehended Mohammad Kassim Abu ’Ubaid, 37. Also according to Palestinian sources, the Israeli army invaded the West Bank city of Nablus city on Monday morning and arrested 9 Palestinians from various locations in the city including Amman Street, and the neighbourhoods of ’Askar and Rafidia. more.. Al Quds Brigades launch a missile at Israeli town of Sderot Ma’an News Agency 1/15/2007 Gaza – A group of Al Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, have launched an advanced missile at the Israeli town of Sderot, east of the Gaza Strip, at midday on Monday. The Al Quds Brigades pledged to retaliate to any assassination attempts by the Israelis of the Palestinian people. Israeli sources announced that a homemade missile fell on Monday near Sderot, but no injuries were reported. [end] 20 year old student arrested by Israeli forces on Beit Iba checkpoint Ma’an News Agency 1/15/2007 Salfit - Israeli forces have apprehended a female student from Qira village, in the north of Salfit, in the northern occupied Palestinian West Bank. 20 year old, Roba Mahmoud Taleeb, from Al Najah national university, was stopped for four hours on Beit Iba checkpoint in northern Nablus, before she was arrested and taken to an unknown destination. [end] Jihad threatens ’100 rockets’ YNetNews 1/15/2007 Islamic Jihad threatens ’Operation Red Rose’ to target Sderot, Ashkelon as immediate ’response’ -- The website of Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Arabic released a statement Monday in which the terror organization threatened to fire "100 rockets" as an immediate response to any IDF activities in Gaza or the West Bank. "The al-Quds Brigades declares the commencement of Operation Red Rose," the communiqué read, adding: "The al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad in Palestine, has declared the commencement of Operation Red Rose rockets, in response to the ongoing aggressions against the beloved Gaza Strip and our resisting West Bank." In the statement, Islamic Jihad threatened that "the minute Israel commits aggression in our land and against our people… we will launch 100 rockets." more.. Israeli Army invades Howara town near Nablus and enforces curfew International Middle East Media Center 1/15/2007 The Israeli army invaded the town of Howara south of Nablus in the northern part of the West Bank and enforced a curfew on Monday. Residents said that the army invaded the town and started to announce the curfew through loud speakers. Soldiers also forced the shops and schools to close and threatened to shoot at any Palestinians remaining in the streets. At the time of this report Howara is still under curfew according to witnesses from the town. [end] The interior ministry’s executive force foils kidnapping of foreigners in Khan Younis International Middle East Media Center 1/15/2007 The executive force of the ministry of interior foiled the kidnapping of foreigners in the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Younis on monday. IMEMC correspondent in Gaza reported that the force troops managed to capture 8 gunmen who tried to kidnap the foreigners and surrounded them at the ministry of interior for further investigation. [end] Israeli army surrounds two mosques and abuses villagers near Jenin International Middle East Media Center 1/15/2007 The Israeli army invaded the village of Kufer Ra’ie, south west of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, surrounded two mosques and abused villagers leaving the mosques on Monday at dawn. Eyewitnesses stated that soldiers attacked the village, searched some houses then surrounded two mosques in the village. Soldiers forced the men leaving after the morning prayers to lift their shirts up, searched them and assaulted some verbally and others physically. The eyewitnesses added that most of the men where too old to have political activities. [end] Ma’areef: Israeli Ministers Call for a Massive Military Attack on Gaza International Middle East Media Center 1/15/2007 Yesterday, the Israeli Daily Ma’areef quoted a senior Israeli military officer saying that the Israeli army is preparing to launch a massive military campaign on the Gaza Strip. According to this source, the anticipated attack will aim at preventing Palestinians from smuggling weapons to the Gaza Strip through the Philadelphia route at the Egypt-Gaza border line. The newspaper published that according to Israeli security assessments, the Palestinian organizations have resumed weaponry development, including sending out some cells for training abroad. The Israeli radio earlier reported that a number of Israeli ministers called for the launch of a massive military operation in the Gaza Strip, in order to crack down on ‘Palestinian resistance groups who fire homemade rockets at nearby Israeli towns. more.. Identity of outgoing police anti-terror unit chief declassified Ha’aretz 1/16/2007 The identity of the head of the police’s special anti-terror unit (Yamam) was released for publication for the first time this morning, on the occasion of his departure. Zohar Dvir, who headed the Yamam for the past five and a half years, joined the unit seven and a half years ago, after years of serving in the career army, where he commanded the Golani unit, among other things." During the last intifada, we initiated hundreds of thousands of operations," he told reporters last week." The unit’s achievements include killing some 50 suicide bombers before they were able to carry out their attack, killing 129 suspected terrorists on the wanted list, arresting 550 people wanted as terrorists and wounding 44 others. We also arrested 93 people for criminal reasons," he said, summing up Yamam’s activity during the last intifada years. more.. PA security ’foils Hamas assassinations’ Jerusalem Post 1/16/2007 The Palestinian Authority security forces have foiled an attempt by Hamas to assassinate senior PA leaders in the Gaza Strip, including PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Fatah legislator Muhammad Dahlan, Palestinian security sources said Monday. The sources said that over the past few days the security forces discovered a number of underground tunnels in the northern Gaza Strip that were dug along major roads used by PA and Fatah leaders. Some of the tunnels were also discovered beneath the homes of top Fatah officials in the same area, the sources said.... A senior Hamas official in the Gaza Strip denied the charges that his movement was planning to assassinate Abbas and Dahlan, explaining that the tunnels were supposed to be used to repel a possible attack by the IDF. more.. Palestinians up quality of improvised explosives Jerusalem Post 1/16/2007 Under Hizbullah guidance, Palestinian terror groups in the West Bank have recently obtained high-grade explosives that have significantly improved the effectiveness of roadside improvised explosive devices (IED) used against IDF patrols, senior defense officials told The Jerusalem Post on Monday. According to the officials, the Palestinians, adopting Hizbullah tactics, have also improved the way they camouflage and hide the explosive devices on the sides of roads patrolled by IDF jeeps. While some of the explosives used in the bombs were smuggled into the West Bank - from the Sinai Desert - the Palestinians also used homemade explosives that were less effective but still lethal. "With predictions of another wave of violence in the West Bank around the corner, the Palestinian IEDs are a point of concern," said one senior official. more.. 10 January: Internal clashes continue, Israeli tanks return Rafah Today 1/15/2007 The internal clashes between the two biggest factions of Palestinians are still going on and the tension is rising in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. In Gaza it is more tense because the security is going from bad to worse. During the last 72 hours, around 8 Palestinians have been killed and more than 60 have been injured in factional clashes in the northern part of Gaza. Despite a political deal to restore calm, the killings continue. Among the last victims was Ayman Sobeh, 26, killed as a result of fighting between forces loyal to President Mahmud Abbas’s Guards Forces which are loyal to the Fateh faction and those of the ruling Hamas movement in the town of Jabaliya, according to medics. Sobeh was a member of police force loyal t Hamas in the north of Gaza, medical sources say. more.. Israeli Army Storms Tulkarem, Restricts Movement International Middle East Media Center 1/14/2007 Israeli army troops invaded the West Bank city of Tulkarem early on Sunday morning and were positioned in the northern part of the city. Witnesses said that a large Israeli force invaded the north-western neighborhood of Tulkarem and broke into the house of local resident Feras Khashan, making a mess of its contents. No further house invasions were reported. In Bethlehem city six Israeli army patrols swept into the Artas village, south of the city, local sources reported. The sources said that the Israeli soldiers blockaded the house of Essam Ismail and then searched it thoroughly. Meanwhile on Sunday morning, an Israeli army force chased a group of Palestinian workers to the south of Hebron city in southern West Bank. more.. Army invades Tamoun village near Tubass International Middle East Media Center 1/13/2007 Israeli forces invaded the village of Tamoun near the northern West Bank city of Tubass on Friday morning. Eyewitnesses reported that soldiers and army jeeps invaded the village from several directions, and currently are searching houses and stopping cars in the village center. No abductions by the army have been reported at the time of this report. [end] The Israeli Municipality of Occupied East Jerusalem Constructs a Synagogue International Middle East Media Center 1/13/2007 The Israeli municipality of occupied East Jerusalem has completed the construction of a Synagogue on an Islamic WAQF land in the holy city, just 50 meters away from the Al-Aqsa mosque. The Al-Aqsa Foundation for Islamic WAQF affairs quoted a local Palestinian resident of the Alwad neighborhood, “about one month ago, Jewish constructors began reconstructing the roof of Al-Ain public bath, over which the Israeli army took control during the 1967 Arab-Israel war." The resident, who spoke anonymously, added that the Israeli authorities have also begun construction work in an area called the Bayara (plantation), owned by the Palestinian Islamic WAQF department. The Foundation pointed out that local residents have called the Israeli authorities to halt construction in the said area, yet the authorities denied any constructions... more.. Son of Arrow Globes Online 1/11/2007 Father of the ‘Arrow’ missile Dov Raviv believes he has the answer to Hizbullah’s Katushyas. Will the defense establishment listen? -- To the current nuclear arms race between Israel and Iran has been added a bombshell dropped by MST founder, chairman, and CEO Dov Raviv, the “Father of the Arrow anti-ballistic missile". Raviv announced that he has developed a system, called the “Hotzetz,” (Buffer) for defending Israel against missiles, rockets and Katushyas with ranges from 5-1,500 kilometers. Raviv’s plan has caused uproar within the defense establishment, which has functioned under problematic civilian and military leadership since the second Lebanon war, and which suffers from lack of public confidence and support. Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) has decided to back Raviv’s plan and has adopted the project. more.. Unknown gunmen attack the home of the Police commander in Bethlehem International Middle East Media Center 1/13/2007 A group of unknown gunmen detonated a home-made bomb near the house of the Police Commander in the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem Issa Hejju on Friday morning. A group of unknown gunmen detonated a home-made bomb near the house of the Police Commander in the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem Issa Hejju on Friday morning. The bomb caused serious damage to his house and his car, however no one was injured. A short while later also a group of unknown gunmen opened fire at some stores in the city that belong to Palestinian residents believed to be affiliated with Hamas. Hejju said in a press conference that he believes the doers are a group of outlaws interested to distract the police who have been very instrumental in arresting thieves and drug dealers. more.. Four injured in Abu Bakier Mosque in Beit Hanoun, north of the Gaza strip International Middle East Media Center 1/12/2007 author Friday January 12, 2007 14:23author by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC & Agenciesauthor email ghassanb at imemc An IMEMC correspondent in Gaza reported that four residents were injured after Friday prayers in Abu Bakier Mosque in Beit Hanoun, northern part of the Gaza strip, due to a fist fight between Hamas and Fatah supporters. [end] Unknown gunman opens fire at Fatah activists house in Beit Lahiya, northern part of the Gaza Strip International Middle East Media Center 1/12/2007 Palestinian sources reported that a group of unknown gunmen opened fire at a house that belongs to a Fatah activist located in Beit Lahiya, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. [end] Two Palestinian Brigades target Israeli sites on Friday Ma’an News Agency 1/12/2007 Gaza - The Al-Aqsa Brigades, the armed wing of the Fatah movement, has on Friday claimed responsibility for launching two homemade projectiles at the southern Israeli town of Sderot. In a separate incident, the Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, the armed wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), have said that they launched one homemade projectile at an Israeli memorial statue on Friday morning. They have not mentioned where this memorial is however. [end] Construction of new synagogue begins on stolen Palestinian land in east Jerusalem International Middle East Media Center 1/11/2007 Residents of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City are requesting international assistance as Israeli forces move forward with plans to build a Jewish Synagogue in the heart of the Palestinian area. The exact location is just 50 meters from the Al Aqsa Mosque, which is itself already under threat from Israeli groups that have been digging under the Mosque in an attempt to undermine its foundations. In a field visit by the Al Aqsa Media Foundation, Walid Alzerba and Ismail Doek, the potential damage was recorded. The construction is adjacent to Alzerba’s home. He said, “A month ago they began bringing in the equipment and starting the work on an area of 200 square meters taken for the Jews after the Israeli occupation of Jerusalem began in 1967. more.. Palestinians: Two Palestinian fishermen wounded by IDF fire Ha’aretz 1/12/2007 Palestinian sources reported Thursday that two Palestinian fishermen were wounded when an Israel Defense Forces ship fired upon them near the Gaza shore. According to the report, a third fisherman was missing. Earlier Thursday, the IDF reported that a fishing boat had strayed from the zone in which Palestinian fishermen are allowed to fish, and the Palestinians manning the ship failed to respond to IDF calls to halt. The IDF ship then fired several warning shots but did not hit anyone. Several hours later, the Palestinians reported the casualties. Also Thursday evening, Palestinian militants fired a Qassam rocket at the western Negev. The rocket landed south of Sderot and caused no damage or injuries. On Thursday afternoon, an Israel Air Force aerial drone crashed near the north Gaza town of Beit Hanun Thursday. more.. Court orders NIS 100,000 fine for companies building in W. Bank Ha’aretz 1/11/2007 The High Court of Justice imposed a NIS 100,000 fine Thursday on construction companies that are continuing to build apartments in the Matityahu East neighborhood in the West Bank settlement of Upper Modi’in, despite a temporary High Court injunction forbidding them to do so. The decision is considered relatively severe, due both to the fact that the High Court rarely imposes punishment and to the large amount the companies are being instructed to pay. The High Court ordered construction temporarily frozen roughly one year ago, due to the fact that the neighborhood was being built on private Palestinian land. Part of the construction was being conducted without any authorization whatsoever, while the rest was being carried out as part of an illegal master plan approved by the Upper Modi’in Council. more.. Israeli forces continue arrests, including four children from Hebron Palestine News Network 1/11/2007 Israeli forces continued the daily arrest campaign throughout the West Bank Thursday, including abducting prominent Hamas leader Sheikh Khalid Haj in a special forces raid on Jenin. Israeli forces took an additional 19 Palestinians from throughout the West Bank to unknown locations, including nine Fateh members from Qalqilia and seven members of Hamas from Bethlehem and Hebron this morning. In the southern West Bank city of Hebron Israeli forces arrested another nine Palestinians today, including four children and the General Director of the Ministry of Waqf and Islamic Affairs. Israeli forces launched a large-scale invasion of Hebron City, Al Fawwar Refugee Camp, and the towns of Dura, Dhahiriya and Sa’ir.... the General Director of the Ministry of Waqf and Islamic Affairs, 56 year old Amr Fathi Abdel Aziz, was arrested in Dura. more.. Israeli Special Forces arrest a sheikh in Jenin, confiscate his computer Ma’an News Agency 1/11/2007 Jenin - Israeli Special Forces have apprehended Sheikh Khalid Al-Haj, a leader in the Hamas movement, during an invasion into the city of Jenin in the north of the occupied West Bank on Thursday. The sheikh’s wife informed Ma’an that ’’a large special force besieged the neighborhood here to arrest my husband’’. She added that, at the beginning, Khalid fought back, believing that this operation was just one in a series of attacks against Hamas targets from the Fatah movement. However, the shouts and screams of the soldiers continued and the Israeli forces arrested him. The Israeli troops are also reported to have confiscated his personal computer. Hamas has condemned Sheikh Khalid Al-Haj’s arrest, saying that this act is intended to incite further clashes in the Palestinian arena. more.. Sources deny a Hamas broadcast announcing internal clashes between Force 17 and the presidential guards Ma’an News Agency 1/11/2007 Gaza - A Palestinian official source on Thursday denied the news that was broadcast by the Hamas-affiliated, ’Al-Aqsa TV channel,’ in which it was stated that armed confrontations had broken out between the presidential guards and Force 17 in Gaza. The presidential guards and Force 17 are two names for the same group. The news said that one was killed and two others were injured. The source said that "the broadcast was untrue and aims to falsify events and create an atmosphere of suspicion." The source also clarified that a member of the Executive Force of the ministry of interior had opened fire at a Force 17 post and that they had returned fire, but no one was harmed. [end] Israeli army abducts 12 Palestinian men from the West Bank International Middle East Media Center 1/11/2007 Israeli military forces invaded several parts of the West Bank on Thursday at dawn and abducted 12 Palestinian men, Palestinian sources said. Eight residents were abducted from the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia, as Israeli army vehicles stormed the city, attacked and searched scores of residents’ homes. The army left the city in the early hours of the morning taking the eight to an unknown location.... Israeli troops invaded the Tamoun village near the northern West Bank city of Tubas. Eyewitnesses stated that more than 16 army jeeps entered Tamoun and surrounded the home of Bani O’deh family. Soldiers shot live rounds and sound bombs into the familys home before they broke in and searched it.... the Israeli army invaded Aida refugee camp in the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem... more.. Israeli army abducts 10 Palestinians from Hebron, southern West Bank International Middle East Media Center 1/11/2007 Israeli forces abducted at least 10 Palestinians including four children, during invasions of the city of Hebron and neighboring villages in the southern part of the West Bank, on Thursday. Soldiers attacked and searched houses. Families’ belongings were ransacked and destroyed, eyewitnesses and families’ members reported. In Hebron city troops abducted, Fathi Amro, 56, director general of the holy sites ministry office in the city.... Israeli soldiers abducted four children from the village of Sa’er east of Hebron, they were identified as; Thafer Al Fruch, 12, Ayman Al Mutawar, 12, Firas Al Fruch, 13, Bilal Al Mutawar, 14.... the number of Palestinians abducted by the Israeli army has increased to 22, by the time of this report. 12 were abducted from Qalqilia, Tubass, in the northern part of the West Bank and Bethlehem south. more.. Israeli forces release Al Aqsa Brigades leader from Hebron Ma’an News Agency 1/11/2007 Hebron - The Israeli occupation forces released 34-year-old Hazim Qafeshah on Monday evening. Qafeshah is a leader of the Al Aqsa Brigades, the main military wing of Fatah, in Hebron city in the south of the occupied West Bank. Qafeshah had been imprisoned by the Israelis for three years. The Israeli forces had demolished his house three times before he was captured. [end] Palestinians open fire at an Israeli force near Jenin Ma’an News Agency 1/11/2007 Jenin - Israeli sources have said on Wednesday that Palestinian gunmen opened fire at an Israeli force, in the northern West Bank town of Qabatiya, south of Jenin. The sources added that none of the soldiers were hurt and that the Israeli army has begun an investigation into the attack. Earlier a spokesperson of the Al-Aqsa Brigades, the main military wing affiliated to Fatah, confirmed that the brigades had attacked an Israeli military checkpoint in southern Jenin. [end] Hezbollah arms cache found on border, near abduction site Ha’aretz 1/12/2007 An arms cache was discovered Thursday approximately one kilometer from where Hezbollah ambushed an IDF patrol last July, abducting two reservists and sparking last summer’s war. A Golani Brigade patrol discovered the cache on the northern side of the fence bordering Lebanon, but within Israeli territory. It is believed that the weapons belonged to the militants who abducted reservists Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev. Three rocket-propelled grenades, a MAG 7. 62 machine gun, ammunition belts and shoes were found in the bag of weapons. This area is considered to be Israeli territory because the Blue Line - the recognized border - lies north of the fence in that area. GOC Northern Command described the patrol’s movement north of the fence as part of an effort to vary routines... more.. New synagogue near Al Aqsa Mosque Palestine News Network 1/11/2007 Residents of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City are requesting international assistance as Israeli forces move forward with plans to build a Jewish Synagogue in the heart of the Palestinian area. The exact location is just 50 meters from the Al Aqsa Mosque, which is itself already under threat. In a field visit by the Al Aqsa Media Foundation, Walid Alzerba and Ismail Doek, the potential damage was recorded. The construction is adjacent to Alzerba’s home. He said, “A month ago they began bringing in the equipment and staring the work on an area of 200 meters squared taken for the Jews after the Israeli occupation of Jerusalem began in 1967. The first step was a synagogue and at the same time they started work on another structure on a plot of land belonging to the Department of Islamic Endowments... more.. Al-Qassam Brigades capture an Israeli drone in the Gaza Strip Ma’an News Agency 1/11/2007 Gaza - The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas movement, has claimed on Thursday that they captured an Israeli drone after it had crashed in the Gaza Strip. The Brigades’ spokesman, Abu Obeida, said that "the Israeli occupation should have known that their jets are not going for a picnic in Gaza since there are fighters who blockade these jets". He added that the drone will be photographed and published in the media. The Israeli army announced earlier that a pilot-less drone had crashed near the town of Beit Hanoun in the north of the Gaza Strip due to a technical fault. Meanwhile, the Brigades’ spokesman refused to reveal any details regarding the incident. [end] Israeli army abducts 20 Palestinian men from several parts of the West Bank International Middle East Media Center 1/10/2007 The Israeli army abducted 20 Palestinian men from several West Bank cities and villages during dawn invasions on Wednesday; Palestinian sources reported. Meanwhile another Israeli army force invaded the village of Nahalin southwest of Bethlehem, and abducted 14 Palestinian men during a house-to-house search in the village. Eyewitnesses reported that army vehicle convoys stormed the village and surrounded it. Soldiers then searched and ransacked residents homes. Eyewitnesses said troops forced the families out of the homes during the search, adding that soldiers assaulted some residents with their rifle butts. Troops left the village several hours later, taking with them the 14 men to unknown military detention camps.... On Wednesday at dawn, the Israeli army took prisoner another three Palestinian villagers... more.. Israeli forces apprehend 16 Palestinians in and around Bethlehem Ma’an News Agency 1/10/2007 Bethlehem - Israeli forces have apprehended 16 Palestinians in Bethlehem city and Nahaleen village, southwest of Bethlehem, including the Nahaleen local council chairman. Sources informed Ma’an that Israeli forces invaded Nahaleen and arrested at least 15 men inlcuding, Ibrahim Gaiada, the local council chairman. Israeli forces also arrested 22-year-old Iz Eddin As-Sadouq, in Bethlehem, in the south of the occupied West Bank. [end] Israeli army critically injures a Palestinian youth in Gaza International Middle East Media Center 1/9/2007 Samir Al Madhon, 17, was critically wounded after Israeli soldiers opened fire at him near the borders in the eastern side of Gaza city on Tuesday afternoon. Medical sources reported that the young man was moved to a nearby hospital were he lies in critical conditions due to live rounds hits in his knees. Eyewitnesses reported that soldiers stationed in an army post near to Beit Hanoun crossing east of Gaza opened fire at Al Modhon while standing near the concrete wall of the crossing and injured him. [end] Israeli forces apprehend nineteen PFLP activists near Ramallah Ma’an News Agency 1/10/2007 Ramallah - It was revealed on Wednesday that the Israeli forces have apprehended 19 Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) operatives in the northern West Bank town of Deir Abu Mash’al, northwest of Ramallah. The arrestees were charged with launching Molotov cocktails and stones at Israeli cars while they used a road leading to the nearby settlements. Israeli radio reported that three of the arrestees admitted that they threw three Molotov cocktails at an Israeli military jeep in the village, resulting in the incineration of the vehicle. [end] Palestinian student shot near Jenin by anonymous gunmen Ma’an News Agency 1/10/2007 Jenin - A student of the American University in Jenin, in the northern West Bank, was injured on Tuesday when anonymous gunmen opened fire at him near the town of Birqin in southern Jenin. The assailants got away in a car. Eyewitnesses said that two cars approached 21 year old Muhammad Makhlouf, then the masked occupants of the car shot him and fled. The student was moderately injured and sent to hospital. Over the past week, Hamas supporters have been subjected to more than 10 assaults ranging from abduction, to forced entry of their homes, arson attacks on their institutions, and shootings. Both the Fatah and the Hamas movements have condemned the incident. [end] Israeli forces invade Jenin area, arresting two Palestinians Ma’an News Agency 1/10/2007 Jenin - Israeli forces apprehended two Palestinian brothers on Wednesday morning in the village of Silat al Harithiya, in western Jenin, in the north of the occupied West Bank. Palestinian security sources informed Ma’an that the Israeli forces have arrested 29 year old Khalid and 25 year old Mohamad Jaradat. The sources added that a large force invaded the village, while villagers looked on. [end] Unknown masked men set the municipality building of Jenata village, near Bethlehem on fire International Middle East Media Center 1/10/2007 Unknown masked men set the municipality building in Jenata village, south east of the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem, on fire, Wednesday at dawn. Ibraheem Asakra, chair of the village council, told the Palestinian News Agency WAFA that the municipality was totally burned. Asakra also stated that the people who did this attack want to create chaos and a state of lawlessness. [end] Israeli forces abducted two Palestinian men from Jericho city International Middle East Media Center 1/10/2007 Israeli forces invaded the West Bank city of Jericho on Wednesday morning and abducted two Palestinian men. Local sources reported that troops and army jeeps stormed and searched residents houses in ’Oqbat Jabir refugee camp in the southern side of Jericho. Soldiers left after several hours, taking with them Mohamed Mitiyer, 28, and Ibraheem Al Alam, 22, to an unknown military detention camp. Residents said that soldiers destroyed some the families belongings in the searched houses. The Israeli army claims that the two men are members of the Islamic Jihad. These claims were not confirmed by the residents of the Refugee camp. [end] Money constraints could halt fence Jerusalem Post 1/11/2007 For the first time, monetary constraints rather than legal problems could halt work on the security fence in 2007, defense officials on Wednesday told the Knesset group that lobbies for the barrier." We would have to stop working," a defense official told the lobby when he spoke of the NIS 500 million slated to be cut from the NIS 1. 3 billion set aside in the 2007 budget for construction work on the security barrier. That sum represents some 38 percent of the overall 2007 budget for the fence. Given that the security fence costs approximately NIS 9 million a kilometer, such a cut would halt the construction of some 55 kilometers of the barrier in 2007. more.. New data illustrates war’s impact on tourism industry Daily Star 1/11/2007 BEIRUT: Lebanon’s tourism industry took a giant step backward in 2006, according to year-end figures from the Tourism Ministry and Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport. About 1 million tourists visited Lebanon last year, which is about 35 percent less than the ministry’s projection of more than 1. 6 million total, Tourism Minister Joe Sarkis told The Daily Star on Wednesday. The airport handled about 2. 82 million passengers in 2006, down 14 percent from the 2005 total of 3. 28 million passengers, according to figures from the General Directorate of Civil Aviation." What happened this year is devastating - there’s no other way to put it," said Nassib Ghobril, head of economic research at Byblos Bank. "Things deteriorated very quickly on July 12," the first day of the summer war with Israel. more.. Israeli forces continue to take Palestinians into its prison system at an alarming rate Palestine News Network 1/9/2007 Israeli forces continued the rampant campaign of arrests Tuesday, not leaving out the southern West Bank district of Hebron. The day’s total for the West Bank is over 40, with eight coming from Hebron. Among those arrested were a member of the Palestinian security forces and three brothers. Israeli forces hit the western towns of Deir Samit and Sureif, and the city of Hebron. Palestinian security forces and the local offices of the Palestinian Prisoner Society reported today that Israeli forces launched widespread campaigns, tearing through dozens of homes. Eight names were released for Hebron, including Ibrahim, Ismail and Mohammad Abdel Majid from the town of Deir Samit, southwest of the city of Hebron..... Hundreds of Israeli soldiers invaded a northern Tulkarem suburb at dawn today. more.. Hamas: At least 5 Hamas men hurt in factional fighting in Gaza Ha’aretz 1/9/2007 Rival Palestinian factions fought gun battles in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday and at least five Hamas militants were wounded, Hamas officials said. On Monday, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah issued a decree ordering the disbanding of the Executive Force, a Hamas-affiliated militia that answers to Interior Minister Sayeed Sayam in the Gaza Strip. Several days ago, Abbas declared the Executive Force to be an illegal organization. In recent days, senior Hamas officials have threatened to respond to attempts to target Executive Force members. Late Monday, five Hamas militants were kidnapped by loyalists of the rival Fatah Party who stopped their car at gunpoint in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahiya, militants from Hamas and other factions said. more.. Report: 12,400 new settlers in 2006 Jerusalem Post 1/10/2007 The population growth rate of West Bank settlements is close to three times as high as that of the rest of the country, according to statistics released Tuesday by the Interior Ministry. While the population throughout Israel grew by 1. 8 percent from 2005 to 2006, communities in Judea and Samaria saw a population hike of 5. 2% according to the Interior Ministry numbers. In 2005 there were 253,748 people living in the West Bank compared to 267,163 in 2006. The information came as no surprise to the Council of Jewish Communities of Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip (Yesha) who have long contended that their communities are a popular place to live." It shows that we are stronger than the government’s opposition to us," said Council spokeswoman Emily Amrusi. more.. Peretz halts construction of fence in the desert Ha’aretz 1/9/2007 Defense Minister Amir Peretz decided yesterday to freeze construction of the separation fence in the Judean Desert, in order to examine alternate routes for the fence as soon as possible. Peretz’s decision follows Labor faction whip Yoram Marciano’s warning regarding the serious harm the fence could cause the desert’s unique environment and landscape. The defense establishment has already broken ground on 10 kilometers of the 20-kilometer section that will run from the Beit Yatir settlement deep into the desert. Several MKs, scientists and environmental groups have called in recent weeks on the defense establishment to halt construction and replace the fence with a "virtual fence" that would include electronic surveillance and patrol routes. more.. Population Administration: West Bank settlements grew by 6 percent last year Ha’aretz 1/9/2007 The number of Jews living in West Bank settlements rose by some 15,000, or about 6 percent, last year, according to data from the Population Administration. Altogether, 268,400 people lived in the settlements at the end of 2006, compared to 253,700 at the end of 2005. Most of the increase occurred in the two large Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) settlements of Modi’in Ilit and Beitar Ilit, which grew by about 4,000 and 2,300 people, respectively. This growth turned Modi’in Ilit into the largest settlement in the territories, with some 34,500 residents. Previously, this title was held by Ma’aleh Adumim, but having grown by only some 1,700 people last year, that city currently numbers only about 33,300 residents. In another two to three years, Ma’aleh Adumim may well be overtaken by Beitar Ilit as well. more.. Leftists and Islamic Jihad garner release of Hamas members kidnapped by Fateh Palestine News Network 1/9/2007 The leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Islamic Jihad were able to garner the release of five Hamas members widely believed to have been kidnapped by Fateh in the northern Gaza Strip’s Beit Lahia Monday night. Efforts continued until 3:00 o’clock in the morning Tuesday. A representative of the national and Islamic forces in the North Province, Sarhan Sarhan, said that “a positive atmosphere prevailed during the follow-up dialogue. ”Commenting on the general situation in the northern Gaza Strip, Sarhan said Tuesday, “Things are moving in a comfortable direction, despite some tensions. ”At the same time, a spokesperson for the PFLP condemned the ongoing disruption of the internal cease-fire, and the attacks against citizens, officials and property. more.. Hamas security blames Fateh members for kidnapping and shooting in northern Gaza Palestine News Network 1/9/2007 Executive Forces spokesperson Islam Shahwan accused members of the Fateh movement of spreading sedition in the Palestinian street. The Ministry of Interior’s security force, comprised of members of the Hamas movement, said Tuesday that Fateh members abducted an Executive Forces member and others from Hamas. Last night in the northern Gaza Strip’s Beit Lahia the Executive Forces member was kidnapped. Shahwan said today, “Fateh elements carried out the kidnapping, although things had remained calm throughout the day yesterday. ”He accused some Fateh members of “living in an atmosphere of strife and wanting to keep it that way for others. ” Shahwan added, “After recent events in the northern Strip it was agreed to form committees to investigate, but we were surprised by Fateh members kidnapping a member of the Executive Forces..." more.. Plan: 1,000 housing units in Har Homa YNetNews 1/9/2007 Controversial southeast Jerusalem neighborhood built on confiscated Arab land to be expanded further -- The southeastern Jerusalem neighborhood of Har Homa, the construction of which was at the focal point of the dispute between Israel and the United States, is set to be significantly expanded: The Local Committee at the Jerusalem Municipality submitted on Monday a plan to build 1,000 housing units in the neighborhood. The state-owned land slated for the project is situated between Har Homa and the Arab village of Tzur Bacher, although a wadi separates the Jewish neighborhood from the village. The municipality’s Planning and Construction Council said the plan was initiated by the Housing Ministry. Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski said the plan serves as just one example of an alternative to the Safdie plan. more.. A vast Israeli military force invades Jericho Ma’an News Agency 1/9/2007 A large military force has invaded Jericho from many sides. Eyewitnesses informed Ma’an that the Israeli jeeps were on the city’s roads for more than two hours, but no arrests resulted. [end] Israeli forces invade Tulkarem and expropriate 60 Palestinian vehicles they claim were ’stolen’ Ma’an News Agency 1/9/2007 Tulkarem - Israeli forces arrested eight Palestinians in northern Tulkarem, in the north of the West Bank on Tuesday. The Israeli incursion resulted in the severe damages to several auto-repair garages and many vehicles have been confiscated by the army. The Israeli forces claimed that the operation aimed to retrieve cars that were stolen from Israel by Palestinians and to arrest the car thieves. 60 cars in total have been confiscated and 8 Palestinians arrested. The invasion was supported by 50 armored vehicles, a large troop of soldiers, as well as police forces. Garage owners stated that Israeli forces have confiscated cars owned by 48 Palestinians which were undergoing repairs. They demanded that Israeli forces return all the cars which they claimed were stolen and to tell the truth. more.. Israeli forces invade Bethlehem arresting three brothers Ma’an News Agency 1/9/2007 Bethlehem - Twenty armoured vehicles invaded the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Tuesday afternoon and apprehended three brothers, after seizing their house in the Hindaza mountain area, in the west of the city. A Ma’an correspondent said that three brothers, Raed, Iyad and Mohamad Al-Kamel, were arrested by the Israel forces during the military operation. Iyad Al-Kamel is reportedly a member of the Al-Aqsa Brigades, the main military wing of Fatah. The Israeli government had deported Ramy Al-Kamel, another brother, to Ireland in 2002 as a result of a deal to deport 39 Palestinian activists to the Gaza Strip and European Union countries after Bethlehem’s Nativity Church was seized. [end] Israeli army abducts seven Palestinian men from Hebron International Middle East Media Center 1/9/2007 The Israeli forces, on Tuesday morning, abducted seven Palestinian men among them three from the same family during a house to house search campaign in several parts of the southern West Bank city of Hebron and neighboring villages. Local security sources reported, that Israeli troops took prisoner three residents during a house search campaign in the old town part of the city of Hebron.... In the meantime the Israeli army invaded Beit Samit village, south west of Hebron and abducted for Palestinian men after searching and attacking residents houses... In the village of Surif near Hebron troops stormed the houses of Mohamed Al Qadi, 23, who works in the village municipality, the family reported that after soldiers trashed the houses they left and took Mohamed with them to unknown location. more.. Israeli army invades down town Bethlehem, surrounds a house and abducts three brothers International Middle East Media Center 1/9/2007 At least 15 Israeli army vehicles invaded Al Saf Street in down town Bethlehem city in the southern part of the West Bank, surrounded one house and abducted three brothers, on Tuesday midday. Local sources told IMEMC that the surrounded house belongs to Eyad Kamel, said to be Aqsa brigades of Fatah activist, soldiers searched the houses along with neighboring houses and abducted Eyad 30, and two of his brothers Ra’ed, 32 and Mohamed, 22 and moved them to unknown military detention camp. The fourth brother Rami was exiled by the Israeli army to Ireland after the "Defensive Shield" Israeli military operation in 2002 when Israeli army invaded all West Bank cities... more.. Expat Who Exported Military Items to Hizbullah Arrested in Israel Arutz Sheva 1/7/2007 (IsraelNN. com) An Israeli expatriate in the U.S. , Tomer Grinberg, 33, who was found guilty in U.S. District Court last April of being a co-conspirator in attempting to ship night-vision goggles and infrared aiming scopes to Hezbollah, has been deported to Israel, where he will be tried for treason. He has already served a sentence in the U.S. for customs violations. He was met Friday by security agents at Ben Gurion Airport. On May 19, 2004, Grinberg and a co-conspirator, Naji Antoine Abi Khalil, 40, of Montreal and originally from Lebanon, were arrested as they prepared to ship the restricted military equipment to Greece for receipt by Hezbollah "terrorists" without obtaining proper licenses for the shipment. more.. Army: ’We abducted 4110 Palestinians in 2006’ International Middle East Media Center 1/9/2007 A senior Israeli military official said on Monday that soldiers abducted 4110 Palestinians in several Palestinian areas 2006. The sources stated that most of the abducted residents “were wanted to the Israeli security services”. The Israeli Radio reported that the official, who works at the general military command of the Central Region, said that the military abilities and operations in the West Bank created a significant drop in the “Palestinian attacks inside Israel”. Moreover, the Israeli Radio added that soldiers in cooperation with the Shabak (Security Services) foiled on Monday morning a suicide bombing that was planned by Fateh gunmen. Earlier on Monday, soldiers claimed uncovering and safely detonating two explosive belts in the Balata refugee camp, in the northern West Bank city of Nablus. more.. Israeli army abducts 18 Palestinians from several parts of the West Bank International Middle East Media Center 1/9/2007 Palestinian sources reported that the Israeli army has abducted 18 Palestinians from several parts of the West Bank on Tuesday morning among them several children. In the villages of Abu Dis and Al Azariah, east of Jerusalem, central West Bank Israeli army attacked residents’ houses, searched and ransacked them before leaving and abducting six residents on Tuesday at dawn. Residents identified those abducted as, Montaser Dandan, 15, Ahmad Dandan, 15, Murad Rabi’e, 18, Tha’er Rabi’e, 18 Samih Rabi’e, 18, all five from Abu Dis village, while Ala Al Omreen, 25, was abducted from his house in Al Azariah village. The families of the detainees said that soldiers handcuffed and blindfolded their sons and beaten them up before abducting them and moving them to unknown Israeli military detention camp. more.. IDF: New Qassams could reach north of Ashkelon Ha’aretz 1/10/2007 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip may soon succeed in extending the range of Qassam rockets as far as the southern port city of Ashkelon or beyond, the Israel Defense Forces estimates. Qassams launched last summer demonstrated a range of 16 kilometers. This means that if fired from the northernmost point in the Gaza Strip, they could land just north of Ashkelon. The IDF and the Shin Bet security service have been aware for some time that terrorist organizations in Gaza were trying to improve the Qassam’s range. Surprisingly, it is apparently Islamic Jihad, which initially simply copied the rockets made by Hamas, that achieved the breakthrough. Two of its launches, in July and August 2006, registered ranges of 15 and 16. 3 kilometers, respectively. more.. 5 Hamas operatives kidnapped in Gaza Jerusalem Post 1/9/2007 Five Hamas operatives were kidnapped by loyalists of the rival Fatah Party who stopped their car at gunpoint in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahiya late Monday, Hamas and other factions said. Three were released after about an hour following mediation by three other militant groups, said one of the mediators, Mohammed Madhoun of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Hamas said two others continued to be held. There was no comment from Fatah on the latest incident of violence between the two groups. The Hamas operatives were driving near the house of a Fatah leader when gunmen stopped their car, seized them, then torched the vehicle, Hamas said. Prior to the kidnappings, Fatah gunmen went on a rampage throughout the city Sunday night... more.. Army abducts at least twenty residents in the West Bank International Middle East Media Center 1/9/2007 Palestinian sources reported on Monday that Israeli troops continued their invasions and attacked in the West Bank and abducted at least twenty residents. Troops also installed dozens of roadblocks blocking entrances and exits of several Palestinian areas. In Nablus city, in the northern part of the West Bank, soldiers carried two major invasions in less than twenty-four hours and took prisoner several residents. Also, several other residents were taken prisoner in the several areas in Bethlehem, Jenin, Nablus and Ramallah. At least five residents were taken prisoner in Nablus, six in Qalqilia, two in Jenin, two in Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem and five other residents were taken prisoner on roadblocks in several West Bank areas. more.. Israel controls 80% of Palestinian water and regional control has methodically grown for years International Middle East Media Center/PNN 1/8/2007 Palestinian researcher Abu Kishek said that the Arab water security is threatened due to Israeli policy and that any political solution to the Palestinian issue will not happen except through the water. The researcher said that Arab water security is facing a number of challenges, and has been for a long time. However, little attention has been paid to Israel’s steady take-over of water resources. “The solution to the entire situation lies in the subject of water. ” He pointed out that Israel began its quest to control Palestinian water when the state was established in 1948. Water has assumed top priority for Israel since it nationalized its water project in 1949. Israel worked to gain control of the groundwater and surface water in the Jordan River basin, threatening the most fertile agricultural area. more.. Revealed: Israel plans nuclear strike on Iran Times of London 1/7/2007 ISRAEL has drawn up secret plans to destroy Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities with tactical nuclear weapons. Two Israeli air force squadrons are training to blow up an Iranian facility using low-yield nuclear “bunker-busters”, according to several Israeli military sources. The attack would be the first with nuclear weapons since 1945, when the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Israeli weapons would each have a force equivalent to one-fifteenth of the Hiroshima bomb. Under the plans, conventional laser-guided bombs would open “tunnels” into the targets. “Mini-nukes” would then immediately be fired into a plant at Natanz, exploding deep underground to reduce the risk of radioactive fallout. “As soon as the green light is given, it will be one mission, one strike and the Iranian nuclear project will be demolished,” said one of the sources. -- See also: Focus: Mission Iran more.. Hamas website: "Fateh gunmen attack Hamas houses in Jenin" International Middle East Media Center 1/8/2007 The Palestine Info news website run by Hamas reported on Sunday at night that members of the Preventive Security Force, loyal to Fateh movement, attacked dozens of houses that belong to Hamas supporters in Jenin, in the northern part of the West Bank, and abducted one member. According to the site, one of the residents reported that masked Fateh gunmen broke into his house and dozens of other houses, and demanded the families to instruct their sons to surrender. The site also reported that at least one member of Hamas was abducted by the gunmen. The resident was identified as Ziad Souqiyya, an employee at the Jenin municipality. The gunmen, according to Hamas sources, are breaking into houses in an attempt to abducted Hamas members. more.. Not involved in internal fighting, Israeli forces target Islamic Jihad Palestine News Network 1/8/2007 Israeli forces are launching a campaign against Islamic Jihad, the movement not involved in internal Palestinian fighting and not involved in the Palestinian government or authority. The targeting is taking place in the streets and inside the prisons against the party that continues to call for unity in fighting occupation. Palestinian security sources report that Israeli forces arrested two young people Monday morning near Jenin in the northern West Bank claiming they have affiliation with Islamic Jihad. The sources added that the young men were arrested at a checkpoint in southern Jenin where Israeli forces were stopping vehicles and subjecting both the cars and passengers to invasive inspections. Residents report that soldiers had arrested the young men during the investigation, charging them with belonging to the Islamic Jihad movement. more.. IDF arrests 4 Tanzim men, seizes 2 explosive belts in Nablus raid Ha’aretz 1/7/2007 Israel Defense Forces soldiers arrested four members of the Fatah-aligned Tanzim movement in the West Bank city of Nablus early Sunday, in a raid that also yielded the discovery of two explosive belts. The army said the operation had thwarted a suicide bombing planned in the coming days, and that the arrests included two masterminds of the attack. The would-be bomber, a 16-year-old boy, had been arrested previously, army officials said. According to a statement issued by the IDF Spokesman’s Office, following their arrest, the two masterminds, Yusef Yusef Abed Al Khader Sahli, 21, and Darwish Nimer Darwish Shafi, 24, gave security forces the location of two explosive belts, which were hidden in their apartment. The statement said the arrest prevented a deadly suicide bombing within Israel... more.. Palestinian government condemns the assault on a cabinet building Ma’an News Agency 1/8/2007 Gaza - The Palestinian government has on Monday condemned what they called, "The atrocities by armed groups," which opened fire at the building of the Palestinian cabinet on Sunday night. In a statement which Ma’an received, the government said the assault resulted in damages to walls and properties. They said: "These atrocities indicate the tendency by certain groups to feed the state of chaos and take advantage of the lack of security on the Palestinian streets." The Palestinian government affirmed that they will chase these "fools" and bring them to justice for their dangerous folly. [end] Focus: Mission Iran Times of London 1/7/2007 Israel will not tolerate Iran going nuclear and military sources say it will use tactical strikes unless Iran abandons its programme. Is Israel bluffing or might it really push the button? Uzi Mahnaimi in New York and Sarah Baxter in Washington report In an Israeli air force bunker in Tel Aviv, near the concert hall for the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra, Major General Eliezer Shkedi might one day conduct operations of a perilous kind. Should the order come from the Israeli prime minister, it will be Shkedi’s job as air force commander to orchestrate a tactical nuclear strike on Iran. Two fast assault squadrons based in the Negev desert and in Tel Nof, south of Tel Aviv, are already training for the attack. On a plasma screen, Shkedi will be able to see dozens of planes advance towards Iran... -- See also: Revealed: Israel plans nuclear strike on Iran more.. Hamas and Fatah step up Gaza power struggle amid renewed violence Ha’aretz 1/7/2007 The power struggle between Fatah and Hamas in the Gaza Strip intensified Saturday, with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas describing the paramilitary forces of Hamas as "illegal," only for the group to announce plans to increase the size of its force to 12,000. Islam Shihuan, spokesman for the Hamas Executive Force, said Saturday that the force would be doubled and that "conscription has begun and we are calling on every loyal citizen to prepare himself to join the force." The Executive Force is independent of the more veteran Hamas military wing, Iz al-Din al-Qassam. Several months ago, Abbas agreed to include the Executive Force in the ranks of forces controlled by the Interior Ministry. more.. IDF: Drop in Israeli casualties despite increased "terror" activity Ha’aretz 1/8/2007 The noteworthy drop in Israeli casualties from Palestinian attacks belies the fact that there has been "significant escalation on the ground in terms of the threat levels and the number of attempts to dispatch suicide bombers" in recent months, a senior officer in the Israel Defense Forces Central Command told reporters on Sunday. Relaying data on violence in the territories during the past year, the officer said that 187 Palestinians currently in Israeli custody were involved in conspiracies to carry out suicide bombing attacks in 2006. Last year, 11 Israeli citizens were killed in two suicide bombings perpetrated within the Israel proper, the lowest such figure since 2001. According to the senior officer, the greatest asset in the arsenal of the security forces is the ability to operate freely in Palestinian cities. more.. Palestinian "terror" cells seek to acquire Katyusha technology Jerusalem Post 1/8/2007 A number Palestinian "terror" cell members have recently left the Gaza Strip and traveled abroad to learn how to manufacture and effectively launch short-range Katyusha rockets, high-ranking defense officials told The Jerusalem Post on Monday. According to the officials, the new rockets, with an estimated range of over 35 kilometers, could reach the southern cities of Kiryat Gat, Netivot and Ofakim. A senior IDF officer said the "terrorists" who traveled abroad were those responsible for the development and firing of Kassam rockets at the western Negev. The "terrorists" have decided, the officer said, to begin using Katyusha rockets against Israel, since the Kassam has exhausted itself technologically." The Kassam cannot be further upgraded, and the Palestinians need a new weapon," the officer said. more.. Senior army officer: "Ramallah invasion that left four Palestinians dead was a mistake" International Middle East Media Center 1/7/2007 Israeli sources reported on Sunday that the a senior military officer said that the arrest invasion which was carried in Ramallah, in the northern part of the West Bank, that left four Palestinians dead ahead of the Mubarak-Olmert meeting is a mistake. The invasion was carried out under-cover forces of the Israeli army last Thursday, four Palestinians were killed and at least twenty were injured. Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, are set to meet on Thursday in the Sharm Al Sheikh Egyptian resort. Israeli Defense Minister, Amir Peretz, said that he was not informed of the attack and new about it from his advisors who had read about it from newswires, according to the Israeli online daily Haaretz. more.. Abbas outlaws the Executive Force; Hamas decides to increase its members International Middle East Media Center 1/6/2007 Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, decided on Saturday that the Executive Force, formed by the Hamas controlled Ministry of Interior, is illegal and outlawed. Hamas in return decided to increase the number of its force to 12000. Abbas stated in his decree that the Executive Force will be dealt with as an illegal force unless its members are integrated into the recognized security devices in accordance with the basic Palestinian law. Also, Abbas said that incidents of chaos and insecurity have increased, and assassinations were carried out against leaders, fighters and residents, including innocent children. Abbas also decided on a series of procedures that includes appointing new security officers and transferring officers and members to different areas. more.. Gush Etzion Residents March Against ’Hostile Arab Village’ Arutz Sheva 1/5/2007 Some 150 Jews [settlers] marched towards the hostile Arab village of Tzurif this morning. "If the police and army won’t protect us, we’ll have to do it ourselves," they said. In the past week alone, Arabs from Tzurif - famous for the many murderous "terrorists" who have grown up there - broke into two homes in Bat Ayin Bet, stole two cars, and made off with 15 sheep. "If we don’t stop this now," said one marcher, "it could easily reach much worse proportions, including murder." The police arrested two people, including Nadia Matar, co-head of the Women in Green organization. Many witnesses said that they dragged her roughly over the ground and beat her." In addition," said one woman, Datia Yitzchaki of the former Gush Katif neighborhood Kfar Yam, "I can tell you they were specifically looking for her [Nadia]..." more.. A Muslim Cleric Killed and Another Wounded in Shootout in Central Gaza Strip International Middle East Media Center 1/5/2007 Unknown gunmen shot dead a local Muslim cleric and wounded another in the central Gaza Strip on Friday. Cleric Adel Nassar of the Maghazi refugee camp was shot to death as several bullets riddled his body, while stepping out of a local mosque in the Nuseirat refugee camp, where he delivered a Friday sermon prohibiting infighting among Palestinian factions, medical sources and witnesses said. The sources added that Jebril Al-‘Aour, the cleric’s assistant, was also critically wounded in the attack. A car loaded with gunmen approached the cleric and a group of locals, before the gunmen sprayed the group with bullets, causing the instant death of Nassar and the injury of Al-‘Aour, witnesses confirmed. Witnesses added that a detachment of the Palestinian national security force chased the assailants. more.. Israel eyes West Bank growth Christian Science Monitor 1/5/2007 More Israeli building, fresh Palestinian fighting may complicate efforts for peace talks. -- MASKIOT, WEST BANK – Tucked into a remote cluster of hills is a rather rare species these days: a new Israeli settlement taking shape. As advocates are keen to point out, there has been an Israeli presence here since 1982, including an army base and military prep school. Two decades ago, in 1986, Maskiot’s plot of "state land" was given an approval to become a bona fide settlement. For a smattering of reasons political or bureaucratic, it never happened, and Maskiot’s existence was hardly known outside the 20 other small Jewish settlements in the Jordan Valley. But last week, the Israeli defense ministry announced that it had authorized construction of 30 new homes here - for settlers who were evacuated from the Gaza Strip. more.. Israeli forces storm Ramallah and kill six Palestinians Palestine News Network 1/4/2007 Israeli forces stormed the central West Bank’s Ramallah late Thursday afternoon with at least 30 military vehicles under the cover of helicopters. Members of the armed resistance arrived in an attempt to stave off the invasion. Israeli forces killed a total of six Palestinians during the invasion, including Yousef Mahmoud Dour, Ala’ Fawaz Hamran and Khalil Badawi. Israeli forces also injured at least 20 people, among them a press photographer Fadi Al Aruri. Two of the injured later died. Israeli forces also destroyed dozens of parked cars. Palestinian security sources report that the Israeli invasion targeted a member of the Fateh linked armed resistance wing Al Aqsa Brigades. No arrests were made. After the Israelis withdrew, Ramallah residents crowded the area shouting against the occupation and for Palestine. [end] Fateh leader, three others, killed in Jabalia infighting; six total on Thursday International Middle East Media Center 1/5/2007 Palestinian medical sources reported on Thursday evening that Mohammed Ghayeb, a Fateh leader, was assassinated in his home by members of the Executive Force formed by Hamas, in Jabalia, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. Three other people were killed in the shelling of Ghayeb’s house, including two of his staff and a bystander. Earlier Thursday, Ayman al-Subuh, 26, a member of Hamas’ Executive Force, was killed in a firefight between the Executive Force and supporters of the rival Fateh party, and a bystander was reportedly also killed. A total of eighteen people were injured in Thursday’s clashes, according to hospital sources. Just before Mohammed Ghayeb was assassinated by the shelling of his home Thursday evening, he issued a plea for help on Palestine TV, saying, ’’They are killers,’’ he said of the Hamas gunmen. more.. Gunmen attack Hamas offices in Jenin International Middle East Media Center 1/5/2007 Palestinian sources reported on Thursday at night that that gunmen attacked several offices and institutions that belong to the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, in Jenin, in the northern part of the West Bank. Fateh members and supporters held a protest in Jenin against the recent clashes. The Hamas-run news website reported that the gunmen burnt the Islamic Club in Jenin and obstructed the Civil Defense vehicles as they tried to reach the burnt construction. Sheikh Khaled Al Haj, one of Hamas political leaders, slammed the attack and the recent repeated attacks in Jenin, Ramallah and Gaza, and said that these attacks only serve the interests of the Israeli occupation. He called for a direct end to all chaos and insecurity and demanded the Palestinian factions to unite and stop the internal clashes. more.. Six Gazan citizens injured during funeral processions of preventive security service members Ma’an News Agency 1/4/2007 Gaza - Large crowds at the central Gazan refugee camps of Maghazi and Deir Al-Balah have on Thursday participated in the funeral procession of three members of the preventive security service who were killed on Wednesday, in the bloody events in the Khan Younis governorate. The procession was accompanied by hundreds of gunmen, shooting in the air as an expression of condemnation of yesterday’s events, resulting in the injury of six people. Dr Mu’awiya Hasanein, director of the ambulance and emergencies department of the Palestinian ministry of health, stated that two people were "moderately injured" in Maghazi refugee camp, during the funeral of Anwar Najjar. Four more Gazan citizens were injured during the funeral of Osama Nassar and Osama Shami in the refugee camp of Dier Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. [end] Executive Force member killed in fresh Fatah-Hamas clashes in Jabalia Ma’an News Agency 1/4/2007 Gaza - A member of the Palestinian Executive Force, affiliated with the ministry of interior, Ayman Subih, 26, was killed on Thursday in fresh clashes between the Fatah and Hamas movements in the northern Gaza Strip refugee camp of Jabalia. The Gaza Strip has witnessed serious developments after the ceasefire between the Hamas and Fatah movements was violated. Wednesday’s death toll following that deterioration reached five by the end of the day. [end] Three Palestinian farmers and a child injured in Beit Lahia Ma’an News Agency 1/4/2007 Gaza – Three Palestinian farmers and a child are in a critical situation after being injured by Israeli military troops in the northern Gaza Strip. Dr Mu’awia Hassanein, the director of the emergencies and ambulance unit of the ministry of health stated that the Israeli soldiers had shot the men directly, while they were working during the morning in Beit Lahia. Dr. Hassanein described how the child Mohamad Ma’rof, 16, was injured by three bullets in his arms, while Faiz Asa’ad Alsos, 24, A’ziz A’eish, 30, and Ae’sa Salem, 24, were also wounded. [end] Israeli forces abduct five Palestinian men from a village near Hebron International Middle East Media Center 1/4/2007 Five Palestinian men were abducted by invading Israeli forces to Beit Kahiel village west of Hebron city in the southern part of the West Bank on Thursday morning. Israeli army vehicles and troops stormed Beit Kahiel, searched and ransacked a number of villager’s houses and took the five men to unknown Israeli military detention camps, local sources identified the five as Mahmod Al Ataounah, 27, Abd Al Rahman Al Zuhur, 51, Fisal Darwish, 44, Nu’man Ateel, 40, and his brother Sa’di, 30. The sources added that soldiers also gave military orders to three residents for interviews with the Israeli secret services (Shin-Biet) department in the nearby Kfar Atzion military post. [end] c more.. Israeli army injuries four Palestinian farmers in northern Gaza strip International Middle East Media Center 1/4/2007 Israeli army troops stationed at the northern border of the Gaza Strip in Beit Lahiyia city shot and injured four Palestinian farmers on Thursday morning. Medical sources identified the four as Khaled Al Sous, 24, Aziz Al Sous, 30, Issa Qaud, 24, and Rajab Ma’ruf, 16. All were moved to a nearby hospital for treatment. [end] Fighter of the Al Aqsa Brigades killed in the northern part of the Gaza strip International Middle East Media Center 1/4/2007 Palestinian medical and security sources reported on Wednesday that one fighter of the Al Aqsa Brigades, the armed wing of Fateh was shot and killed by unknown gunmen who ambushed him in Beit Lahia, in the northern party of the Gaza Strip. Dr. Moawiya Hassanen, head of the Emergency Unit at the Palestinian Ministry of health, reported that Ala’ Mohammad Abu Al Nasser, 22, was shot in the head as he was standing on the rooftop of a house in Beit Lahia Housing Project. The house belongs to Monther Abu Al Nasser, also a member of the Al aqsa Brigades. Dr, Hassanen added that the body of Mohammad was transferred to Al Shifa hospital in Gaza for autopsy and forensic testing. [end] Ministry of health official released Ma’an News Agency 1/4/2007 Ramallah - The undersecretary of the Palestinian ministry of health has been released after being kidnapped in the central West Bank city of Al-Bireh. Immediately after his release, Dr Karmi said that he was kidnapped from his house in the city of Al-Bireh, handcuffed and blindfolded, and was held for around 5-6 hours. No dialogue whatsoever took place between him and his kidnappers, he stated. Dr Karmi commented that the West Bank is clearly not immune from the regrettable events that are going on in the Gaza Strip between the Fatah and the Hamas movements. As he has no evidence toward the identity of his kidnappers, the undersecretary of the ministry of health did not accuse any party for being responsible for his ordeal. more.. Army invades Bethlehem, injures a Palestinian man and abducts him International Middle East Media Center 1/4/2007 At around 4:30 on Thursday afternoon at least 15 Israeli military jeeps invaded the city of Bethlehem in the southern part of the West Bank injured a Palestinian man and abducted him. Local sources told IMEMC that the invasion targeted a neighborhood, on the southern side of the city. Soldiers surrounded a number of houses and are currently searching them. Rami Aby Khido, a resident of the neighborhood told IMEMC from inside his surrounded house that soldiers invaded the area and opened fire at a man critically wounding him then they abducted him and took him to an unknown location. He added that soldiers are forcing all the men in the neighborhood to go down to the street to be searched while other troops are searching the houses. more.. Israeli army abducts a Palestinian man and his son in Tubass city International Middle East Media Center 1/4/2007 The Israeli army invaded the northern West Bank city of Tubass on Thursday morning and abducted a man and his son. Hafeth Sawaftah and his son Bassam, were both taken to an unknown Israeli army detention camp after troops attacked and searched his house and damaged the family belongings. Local sources reported that his son was killed two weeks ago in an army operation near Jenin, and added that Sawaftah has three children in jail, two who have been detained since last year, while his daughter Saedah was taken prisoner from her house in Tubass on Wednesday morning. With Sawaftah and son abducted, that amounts to five family members in the Israeli army detention camp. [end] Israeli army abducts one Palestinian man from a village near Bethlehem International Middle East Media Center 1/4/2007 The Israeli army abducted a Palestinian man during an invasion on Wednesday morning in the village of Al Shawourah, east of Bethlehem. Mohamed Shawourah, 22, was taken to an unknown detention camp when Israeli soldiers attacked and searched his house in the village. His family said that soldiers forced all the members of the family into one room of the house while searching it, then left, taking Mohamed with them. [end] 6 Palestinians die in IDF Ramallah raid Jerusalem Post 1/4/2007 Six Palestinians were killed and close to 30 wounded on Thursday during fierce clashes between IDF troops and Palestinian gunmen in the West Bank city of Ramallah. One IDF soldier was lightly wounded by shrapnel during the clashes. Troops from an elite unit swept into the city in the early afternoon in pursuit of a Palestinian wanted for involvement in terror activity against Israel. Backed by armored vehicles and D-9 bulldozers, as well as soldiers from the Duchifat Battalion, the troops surrounded the home of the suspect, identified by Palestinians as a member of the Aksa Martyrs Brigades, who succeeded in fleeing the scene and evading capture. The troops apprehended four other Palestinians inside the home. Six Palestinians were killed and nearly 30 were wounded, including the photographer for a local news agency... more.. 5 Palestinians killed as internal tensions reignite in Gaza Strip Ha’aretz 1/3/2007 Five Palestinians, including four Fatah members and a woman bystander, were killed Wednesday as simmering internal tensions seemed to erupt once again in the Gaza Strip, after a lull of several weeks. In the southern Gaza town of Khan Yunis, three security officials loyal to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas were killed Wednesday afternoon when unidentified gunmen attacked their vehicles, hospital officials said. Abbas’s Preventive Security force blamed the ruling Hamas movement for the attack. Before the ambush, the security officers stormed a house where they believed a colleague who had been kidnapped earlier in the day was being held, officials said in a statement. Militants attacked the officers, and one was injured, the statement said. more.. Two killed and Ma’an photojournalist Fadi Arouri among 20 injured in Israeli invasion of Ramallah Ma’an News Agency 1/4/2007 Fadi found himself arguing with Israelisoldiers during an earlier incursionRamallah – Ma’an news agency photojournalist, Fadi Arouri, has been shot in the flank by Israeli military forces during an Israeli invasion of Ramallah. Fadi was photographing the incursion for Ma’an news. Two Palestinians were killed during the incursion. Ma’an’s correspondent reports that one of those killed has been identified as Yousif Abdul-Qadir, 23, while the other remains anonymous. Israeli military vehicles invaded the central West Bank city of Ramallah shooting heavily. Confrontations broke out between the invading military and Palestinian fighters, resulting in the injury of 20 Palestinians. Israeli bulldozers destroyed cars and street-level shops, so as clear a path for large military vehicles, while young Palestinian men threw stones at the invading forces. more.. Israeli settler "slightly injured" near Ramallah Ma’an News Agency 1/4/2007 Bethlehem - Israeli sources have stated that an Israeli settler was "slightly injured" late on Wednesday evening, when his car was stoned by young Palestinian men near the central West Bank city of Ramallah. The sources stated that the stones thrown broke the front windscreen of the car, resulting in the injury of the settler, who was treated at the scene, while Israeli soldiers started searching for the stone-throwers. In a separate incident, another settler was injured near the southern West Bank town of Tuqu’, near Bethlehem, after his car was stoned by Palestinians. It is not known what the Israeli settlers were doing in Palestinian areas. [end] -- See also: Israeli vehicles get stoned near Hebron and Nablus more.. 5 Palestinians killed, including 3 preventive security members; 6 injured in fresh Hamas-Fatah clashes Ma’an News Agency 1/3/2007 Gaza - Four Palestinians have been killed and six others were injured in fresh confrontations between the Hamas and the Fatah movements in the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday. Palestinian medical sources have stated that the Fatah member Ala’ Muhammad ’Inaya, 25, was shot dead while he was on the roof of his house in Beit Lahia, while two others were seriously injured and four were "moderately injured". In addition, Ma’an’s reporter stated that Osama Shami and Anwar Najjar, members of the preventive security service were killed, while a third was seriously injured in clashes that broke in Khan Younis on Wednesday evening. Muna Salha, 22, was also killed in inter-Palestinian fighting in the northern Gaza Strip. more.. The Israeli Wall will annex 19000 out of 22000 Dunams in Al Khader village International Middle East Media Center 1/4/2007 Al Khader, near Bethlehem, is facing a harsh future as a result of the construction of the Annexation Wall, as Israeli bulldozers continue to uproot the town’s farmlands to construct a Wall that will annex most of the villages’ lands. Resident Khaleel Ismail Salah, 65, said, while standing is his land slated for annexation, that the Wall is killing the town and strangling it slowly. Salah’s land is close to Efrat settlement. In the past he used to be able to reach it, but now, six years later, his land has become unreachable unless he rides his donkey or if he walks. Salah owns 200 Dunams, but since they are close to Israeli settlements, he is unable to have free access to them to farm and plow them. Al Khader residents are famous for their grapevines. But the siege, the Wall and the inability to access Jerusalem has made the farmers unable to market... more.. Israeli army invades Nablus and Tubass, three residents abducted among an injured man International Middle East Media Center 1/3/2007 The Israeli army invaded the northern West Bank cities of Nablus and Tubass on Wednesday at dawn, attacked residents’ homes, wounded one resident and abducted three includinf the wounded, Palestinian soruces reproted. Israeli Army vehicles and troops stormed the down town of Nablus and the nearby Balata refugee camp and town. Troops broke into and ransacked scores of residents’ homes. Eyewitnesses said that sounds of explosions were heard during the invasion along with gun clashes sounds,the family members reported. Murad Qassab, said to be a Fatah Activist, was abducted by the Israeli troops along with his brother Ala’, who was lightly wounded when troops blew up the door of the family house and barged into the house. In the meantime, also in the northern West Bank, Israeli forces invaded the city of Tubass... more.. Deputy Minister of Health abducted near Ramallah International Middle East Media Center 1/4/2007 Palestinian security sources reported that an unknown armed group abducted on Wednesday night after midnight the Palestinian Deputy Minister of health, Bashar Al Karmi, after breaking into his home in Al Biereh town, near Ramallah in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. The Maan News Agency reported that four masked gunmen broke into the house of Al Karmi and abducted him. The gunmen also stole an amount of money and a Laptop before speeding way taking Al Masry to an unknown destination, the agency added. Palestinian security sources reported that the attack is most likely criminally motivated, and that an investigation has been launched into the assault. The Al Aqsa Brigades, the armed wing of Fateh, said that its fighters are not involved in the attack. more.. Bodies of a Woman and child found in Gaza International Middle East Media Center 1/3/2007 The bodies of a child and a woman were found in the Gaza strip on Wednesday morning, Palestinian Medical sources in the Gaza strip reported. Dr. Mou’awiah Hassanin, director of the emergency department in the Palestinian ministry of health reported that Sami Ashour, 14, was found dead near a gas station in central Gaza strip, Dr. Hassanin added that the boy was beaten up on the head very badly, shot in the back and his body had torture marks. Meanwhile Dr. Hassanin identified the woman as Halimah Al Najar, 40, and stated that her body was dumped near residential area in Jabalia refugee camp northern Gaza strip, she had fractions and bruises all over her body, Dr Hassanin said, security sources reported that the body was moved to the forensic department for further examination. more.. Brothers arrested in Balata Refugee Camp invasion Palestine News Network 1/3/2007 Israeli forces invaded Nablus’ Balata Refugee Camp in the northern West Bank beginning pre-dawn Wednesday and lasting into the morning hours. They arrested two brothers. Palestinian security sources report that a large force of the Israeli military incurred into the refugee camp at 1:30 am, coming from southern Nablus’ Huwara Checkpoint and military installation. Israeli forces overtook a family home at the northern entrance of Balata Refugee Camp for a sniper control post, and turned another home in the central market area into a military installation after detaining Abu Shaher Ashtioi son’s Hussein for several hours. When Israeli forces stormed the camp, sleeping residents were awoken by an explosion described as “violent, that shook the eastern region. ” more.. Unknown gunmen abduct a Palestinian security officer in the southern part of Gaza Strip International Middle East Media Center 1/3/2007 Palestinian security sources reported on Wednesday that a group of masked gunmen injured and kidnapped a Palestinian security officer in Khan Younis city, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. Eyewitnesses reported that the gunmen opened fire at Mo’taz Al Tawil, 40, an officer working with the Palestinian Preventative Security forces, while he was leaving a mosque in Khan Younis at dawn. He was shot and injured before he was forced into a vehicle before it sped away. [end] Unknown gunmen kill a Fatah Activist in northern Gaza strip International Middle East Media Center 1/3/2007 A group of unknown gunmen opened fire and killed a member of Al Aqsa brigades the armed wing of Fatah movement, in Beit Lahiyia town in the northern part of the Gaza strip on Wednesday afternoon. Dr. Mou’awiah Hassanin, the director of the emergency department in the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that Ala Abu Al Nasser, 22, was admitted into the Kamal Adawan hospital in Beit Lahiyia were he was pronounced dead due to direct hit with a live round in the head. The body was moved to the forensic department of Al Shifa hospital in Gaza city for further examination. Eyewitnesses said that Al Nasser was on top of his friend’s house when he was targeted by a group of masked gunmen who shot him and fled the scene, no Palestinian armed group have claimed responsibility for the attack. [end] Six injured in internal clashes in Gaza International Middle East Media Center 1/3/2007 Palestinian medical sources in the Gaza Strip reported on Wednesday that six Palestinians were shot and injured during clashes between members of the Executive Force and members of the Preventive Security forces in the Jabalia refugee camp, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. The Executive Force was formed by Hamas after it won the legislative elections. Eyewitnesses reported that members of the Executive Force stopped the car of Mohammad Ghareeb Abu Al Majd, a senior security commander, and abducted two of his companions before burning the vehicle. Following the incident, armed clashes took place near the house of Abu Al Majd; three members of the Executive Force and three members of the Preventive Security force were injured. more.. Israeli vehicles get stoned near Hebron and Nablus Ma’an News Agency 1/3/2007 Hebron - Israeli sources have said that several Israeli vehicles were damaged on Wednesday when stones were thrown at them near the southern West Bank town of Halhoul, north of Hebron. In a separate incident, an Israeli bus was stoned near the northern west bank village of Sawiyah, south of Nablus. The bus was damaged, yet no injuries were reported. [end] Year end statistics: Israeli forces killed 742 Palestinians, injured 3,735 and arrested 5,671 Palestine News Network 1/3/2007 Official Palestinian health statistics, compared against human rights organizations data and press reports were submitted for the final report for the year 2006. The report was issued from Gaza this afternoon and indicates that Israeli forces killed 742 Palestinians, injured 3,735 and arrested 5,671 in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the year 2006. Two hundred and ten were killed in targeted assassinations, and 588 of the total number of Palestinians killed were in the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces killed 154 Palestinians in the West Bank. The Israelis killed 144 children, the youngest being three days old. Israeli forces killed 52 women, including pregnant women, mothers, the elderly and five women with special needs. Palestinians killed 23 Israelis, as reported by the Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem. more.. One killed six injured in renewed clashes between Palestinian security forces in Jabalia International Middle East Media Center 1/3/2007 One Palestinian young woman was killed and six men injured in renewed clashes between Palestinian factions in Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza strip on Wednesday afternoon, Palestinian sources reported. Eyewitnesses reported that a gunfight erupted in the refugee camp between the executive force of the Palestinian ministry of interior and members of the Palestinian Preventative Security forces. Medical sources said that Mona Salha, 22, was hit by a live round in the head, and was moved to Kamal Adwan hospital were she was pronounced dead shortly after. According to the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA), the gunfight started when officers from the executive force stopped the car of Mohamed Ghareb, a high ranking officer in the Palestinian Preventative security forces... more.. Israeli army abducts three Palestinian men near Nablus International Middle East Media Center 1/3/2007 Israeli soldiers stationed at the Huwwara checkpoint, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, have abducted two Palestinian men on Wednesday afternoon. Israeli security sources said that the soldiers on the checkpoint detained the two men for allegedly carrying a magazine of bullets. The two were then taken to an unknown location. In addition, Israeli forces invaded the nearby village of Kfar Aboush, and abducted Hisham Bushnaq, 46, after searching his home in the village, local sources reported. [end] Islamic Jihad’s armed resistance wing measures its success at year’s end Palestine News Network 1/3/2007 Islamic Jihad’s armed resistance wing, Saraya Al Quds, released statistics for its end of the year activities. Between 26 November and 20 December 2006 the resistance launched 53 Al Quds projectiles and five mortar shells in response to the “continued operations carried out by occupation forces against the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, and the dozens of killed, imprisoned and wounded." The Islamic Jihad resistance wing said Wednesday that the fight was somewhat successful in giving back just a fraction of what they say they have taken as the “Zionists closed many factories in the southern industrial zone of Sderot and Majdal, and suspended classes in schools and universities. ”Saraya Al Quds also seriously injured two Israeli settlers, in addition to damaging a large number of houses, cars, and agricultural machinery... more.. Carnage starts to unfold once more in the Gaza Strip Ma’an News Agency 1/3/2007 Khan Younis - The Gaza Strip has, on Wednesday, witnessed several anonymous killings. One young man was shot in the head, and killed instantly, in the northern Gaza Strip, while the punctured corpses of a woman and child were also found, having been stabbed several times. At the same time, Samir Khail, a member of the entourage of the Palestinian minister of interior was wounded in an unidentified explosion in the northern Gaza Strip, causing the loss of an arm and a leg. The Kamal Udwan hospital has received the body of Ala’ Abu An-Nasir, 30, who was found dead after being shot in the head. Unidentified gunmen have also abducted a member of the preventive security service in Khan Younis, after shooting him. more.. Israeli army abducts 11 Palestinian men from different parts of the West Bank International Middle East Media Center 1/2/2007 The Israeli army has abducted 11 Palestinian men in pre-dawn invasions to several areas of the West Bank on Tuesday. Israeli forces invaded, searched and ransacked residents’ homes in Aida refugee camp in the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem and nearby Beit Fajjar village and abducted six Palestinian men. Among those abducted were Ibrahim, 16, Arafa, 14 and Mohamed Abu Srour, 17, all from the same family from Aida refugee camp and Ayman 19 and Osamah Thawabta, 19, were taken from their houses in Beit Fajar village after Israeli troops attacked and searched them, eyewitnesses reported.... In the meantime in the northern part of the West Bank, Israeli forces invaded the city of Jenin, Jenin refugee camp and nearby Burqin village and took prisoner five residents. more.. Israeli forces attack Jenin’s imprisoned Islamic Jihad leader’s family on Eid By Ali Samoudi, Palestine News Network 1/2/2007 For years Mahmoud Assadi’s children have not seen him on Eid. Jenin’s Islamic Jihad leader was in Israeli prison, let out for a short time, and then taken again last week. Since then Israeli forces have been harassing his family. During the Eid Al Adha feast in the Jenin Refugee Camp home, Israeli forces burst in once again. Of his four children, the eldest told PNN that the years have been painful, particularly for his younger siblings, and that visits were not allowed in the Israeli Telmond Prison due to “security reasons. ”His child said, “Just days before the Eid occupation forces surrounded our house and began shooting. They said they would demolish the house if my father did not turn himself over to them. ”When they came to take Assadi’s brother Nasser, the situation was described as just as ugly. more.. W. Bank building drive: 200 new trailers since June Ha’aretz 12/31/2006 Settlers are continuing to place mobile homes and trailers in West Bank outposts and settlements, without legal permits. Civil Administration reports show that since the start of the second Lebanon war in July, some 200 mobile homes have been placed. This is a substantial increase over the few dozen trailers placed in the first half of the year. Despite declarations by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz, there has been no progress toward dismantling outposts. Since the beginning of the month, nearly 90 trailers were placed illegally in the West Bank. A Defense Ministry aerial survey found new mobile homes in illegal outposts such as Givat Assaf, near Beit El, and Amona, near Ofra. Some of the new mobile homes were also placed in veteran settlements. more.. P.A security officer shot and injured by gunmen in Hebron International Middle East Media Center 1/2/2007 Palestinian security sources reported on Tuesday that a Palestinian security officer was shot and injured by unknown gunmen in Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank. The officer was identified as Falih Younis Arar; he was injured in his feet and was moved to al Ahli Hospital in Hebron. Eyewitnesses reported that three gunmen fired at Arar as he was in his house after the assailants knocked the door and as he was heading towards the door to open it, the gunmen opened fire at him through the window. Fahmi Shahin, coordinator of the Islamic and National factions in Hebron slammed the attack and called for an investigation into the incident. Shahin added that this attack “was carried out by lawless vandals who seek to destabilize the Palestinian society." [end] Engineer again warns that Moghrabi Gate walkway may collapse Ha’aretz 1/2/2007 The engineer of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, Ofer Cohen, has again warned that the remains of the ramp upon which the temporary entrance to the Moghrabi Gate of Jerusalem’s Old City was built is in danger of collapse. Cohen wrote to the head of WWHF, Rabbi Mordechai Eliav, that a significant snowfall, or even large amounts of rain, could threaten the stability of the bridge. The rabbi of the Western Wall, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch, said in response that as far as he is concerned the Moghrabi Gate could be locked and its use discontinued immediately." If the police thinks it needs the entrance for security reasons, then let it approve the [construction of the] permanent bridge," Rabinovitch said. "If the police doesn’t do so, we shall begin taking apart the temporary wooden bridge shortly." more.. Hamas member of the Executive Force killed in Gaza explosion International Middle East Media Center 1/2/2007 The Palestinian Information Center, controlled and run by Hamas, reported on Tuesday that a member of the Executive Force that belongs to the Ministry of Interior was killed in an explosion in Beit Lahia, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. The Executive Force was formed by Hamas movement after it won the legislative elections last year. Islam Shahwan, spokesperson of the Executive Force, denied media reports which claimed that a vehicle that belongs to the force was targeted by an RPG shell near the Force’s center in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. Shahwan added that the force was not subjected to gunfire, and that investigations in the causes of the explosion are still ongoing. He also said that the explosion was apparently caused by an “internal accident” and that there are no external parties involved in the explosion. [end] Truck driver wounded as a mortar shell hits the Karni crossing in the Gaza Strip International Middle East Media Center 1/2/2007 A mortar shell was fired on Tuesday morning at the Karni border crossing at the eastern Gaza strip. A Palestinian truck driver was wounded in the attack, which no Palestinian resistance group declared responsibility for. Israeli media sources stated that the injured man was moved to the Soroka hospital in the Israeli town of Beer Sheva in the Negev desert. The name of the wounded driver was bit rekeased yet. [end] Israeli Gunboats Abduct Three Fisherman off Rafah Seashore International Middle East Media Center 1/2/2007 Israeli army gunboats have abducted three Palestinian fishermen off the Rafah seashore on Tuesday at dawn. The three were identified as Ayman Al Ejbur, Isma’el Basalah, and his brother Samer, eyewitnesses reported that the three were fishing in the dedicated fishing zone when they were stopped by the Israeli gunboats which abducted them and took them to unknown location. Palestinian fishermen said the Israeli army navel boats regularly attack and shoot at them or destroy their simple boats. Several Palestinian fishermen have been killed by the Israeli army over the past few months, the sources added. [end] Israel to test installation to monitor Iran’s nuclear activity: report SpaceWar 1/2/2007 (JERUSALEM, AFP) Israel on Tuesday will test, for the UN, an underground installation in the Negev desert designed to monitor any attempt by arch-foe Iran to test nuclear devices, the daily Yediot Aharonot reported. The test will consist of three strong explosions Israel will deliberately set off in the northern Negev using 15 tonnes of liquid explosives, to see how they register on equipment at the underground site. Each blast will be equivalent to a seismic tremor of 2. 4 on the Richter scale, the report said. The facility is equipped with seismographs and other equipment able to detect earth tremors and transmits the data directly to the International Atomic Nuclear Agency (IAEA) in Vienna via Israel’s nuclear research facility at Nahal Sorek, the paper said. The new underground testing center is in the mountains near the Red Sea beach resort of Eilat. more.. Operational link with U.S. missile defense system sought Ha’aretz 1/2/2007 Israel wants to increase the likelihood of the U.S. deploying emergency missile defense systems within Israeli territory. The heads of the Homa anti-missile project in the Defense Ministry asked the U.S. Department of Defense about two months ago for information on two advanced defense systems being developed in the U.S. :The ground-based Theater High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, and a new model of the Aegis naval defense system. According to a Defense Ministry source, the request for information was aimed at promoting the possibility of an "operational link" between the Israeli and U.S. defense systems, as a continuation of an ongoing project. The U.S. Army has deployed Patriot missile batteries in Israel on a number of occasions. -- See also: Israel may replace Arrow missile defense system with U.S. version more.. Wave of kidnappings in Gaza YNetNews 1/2/2007 Peruvian photographer working for French press agency in Strip kidnapped; no immediate claim of responsibility for abduction; all captive Hamas, Fatah gunmen released following agreement reached between PFLP, Islamic Jihad -- Palestinian gunmen kidnapped a Peruvian photographer working for the French press agency in the Gaza Strip on Monday, Agence France-Presse and Palestinian security sources said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the abduction of Jaime Razuri. An AFP reporter said the photographer was returning from an assignment in Gaza and was abducted at gunpoint as he got out of his car with his driver. Palestinian security officials said the victim was standing at an intersection when about five masked men approached him, pushed him in a car and sped away. more.. Islamic Jihad, PFLP mediate to release abducted Hamas and Fateh members International Middle East Media Center 1/2/2007 The Islamic Jihad Movement and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) announced that they have struck a deal late on Monday evening that would see the release of abducted Hamas and Fateh members who were abducted during clashes between the two movements in Beit Lahia, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. The Islamic Jihad and the PFLP issued a press release stating that the two movements managed to achieve a deal between Hamas and Fateh in order to release the captured members of the two movements and end the cycle of violence and bloody clashes among the members of Fateh and Hamas. The deal was reached after further clashes took place between Fateh and Hamas members on Monday evening in the northern part of the Gaza Strip... more.. No change at the Israeli Military checkpoints in Palestine International Middle East Media Center 1/1/2007 The hardships on the Israeli military checkpoints in the West Bank are still making the life of Palestinians who need to travel a nightmare, despite the Israeli claims of removing 27 checkpoints and easing the travel. Taxi drivers, who need to go through these checkpoints which are placed all over the West Bank, said nothing have changed, they said that they still need between 30 to 60 minutes to be able to drive through many of these checkpoints. There are more than 450 checkpoints in the West Bank disconnecting the villages from the towns and cities and only a few of them lead to Israeli areas." It is still the same, everything they said about removing or easing the checkpoints are lies only," one taxi driver said. more.. Palestinian death toll triples this year The Independent 12/30/2006 The number of Palestinians killed by Israeli security forces in the West Bank and Gaza Strip tripled this year, according to an Israeli human rights organisation. B’Tselem said 660 Palestinians had been killed during 2006, including 141 minors. The report claimed that at least 322 of those killed were not fighters. At the same time, B’Tselem recorded a drop in the number of Israelis killed during the year. Palestinians killed 17 civilians, including one minor, and six members of the security forces. In Gaza alone, since the kidnapping of Corporal Gilad Shalit in a cross-border raid on 25 June, Israel has killed 405 Palestinians, including 88 minors. Of this total, 205 were defined as non-combatants. B’Tselem said the number of civilians killed showed a "deterioration in the human rights situation in the occupied territories". -- See also: 683 people killed in the conflict in 2006 more.. Palestinian groups renew Gaza clashes, abductions Ha’aretz 1/2/2007 Internal tensions between rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah flared Monday in the northern Gaza Strip as unknown assailants abducted 12 Hamas members and four from Fatah, security sources said. All the kidnapped militants were later freed after both sides agreed to swap captives, sources from the groups said. The groups declared a truce in December to end weeks of deadly violence, which intensified after Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, head of Fatah, called for new elections. The militant group Hamas, which won a parliamentary ballot in January, has dismissed calls for fresh elections as attempts at a coup. The kidnappings Monday sparked gunbattles between the factions, which wounded three Palestinians caught in the crossfire, including a boy, Palestinian rescue workers said. more.. Hamas, Fatah members grabbed in Gaza Jerusalem Post 1/1/2007 After members of the Palestinian Hamas and Fatah factions carried out tit-for-tat kidnappings Monday in northern Gaza City, violating an internal agreement to avoid such deeds, the Islamic Jihad has stepped in and is attempting to mediate between the two warring factions, Israel Radio reported Monday evening. The Islamic Jihad boycotted the Palestinian Authority legislative elections last January and has refused to sign any agreements on a cease-fire with Israel. Seven of the Hamas members kidnapped had been released later Monday evening, sources said. They said that initially Hamas gunmen abducted the brother of a senior Fatah member in northern Gaza Strip refugee camp of Jabaliya, provoking Samih al-Madhoun of Fatah’s armed wing to seize a number of Hamas loyalists. more.. Exclusive: UNIFIL raises level of alert Jerusalem Post 1/1/2007 Fearing attacks by Global Jihad and Hizbullah, the UNIFIL has raised the level of alert around its bases in southern Lebanon, a high-ranking officer in the multinational force told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday. According to the officer, threat-warnings recently relayed by the IDF regarding potential threats were "taken seriously" and were being handled with extreme caution. The officer refused to say what changes had been made to security procedures in UNIFIL bases, except that "necessary measures" were taken." This threat is serious," the high-ranking officer said, "and we are taking the necessary precautions." Two weeks ago, Brig. -Gen. Yossi Baidatz, head of Military Intelligence’s Research Division, told the cabinet that there were increasing signs that Global Jihad elements were establishing a presence in Lebanon and planning attacks against UNIFIL. more.. Israeli Navy Boats Abduct Three Palestinian Men Near Rafah Beach International Middle East Media Center 12/30/2006 Palestinian sources reported that Israeli army navel boats have abducted three Palestinian brothers near Rafah beach south of the Gaza strip on Saturday. Majied Farahat, his two brothers Mohamed and Ahmad were fishing on their boat when Israeli war ships surrounded them and abducted them to unknown destination, eyewitnesses reported. [end] Army installs a roadblock in Qabatia International Middle East Media Center 12/30/2006 Israeli soldiers installed on Saturday evening a roadblock at the southern entrance of Qabatia town, south-east of Jenin in the northern part of the West Bank. Local sources reported that soldiers detained dozens of vehicles and residents for several hours without any apparent reason, forced the residents out of the vehicles and interrogated them. The southern entrance of Qabatia also leads to several villages south of Jenin. [end] Israeli Army Abducts Two Men From Al Showawra Village Near Bethlehem International Middle East Media Center 12/30/2006 The Israeli army abducted two men during a morning invasion in the village of Al Showawra east of the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem on Saturday. Several army vehicles stormed the village, and searched and ransacked several houses before abducting Imad Hmadan and his twin brother Adel, both 19, and leaving the village, taking the two to unknown destination, their family reported. [end] Al Quds Brigades fires shells into Israeli settlements and military camps International Middle East Media Center 12/30/2006 The Al Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad, claimed responsibility for firing seven homemade shells into Israeli military camps and settlements adjacent to the Gaza Strip. The Brigades issued a press release claiming responsibility for firing the shells at the Sofa Crossing and the Kissufim military camp in addition to several Israeli areas adjacent to the Gaza Strip. The Brigades stated that the firing of homemade shells comes in retaliation to the repeated Israeli violations and continuous attacks against the residents in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Israeli sources reported that one house in a Kibbutz in the Western Negev sustained a direct hit from a Qassam rocket Friday evening; damage was reported, no injuries. Israeli online daily Haaretz reported that the shell was the tenth to be fired from the Gaza Strip. more.. Israeli journalist reveals the secrets of the assassination of Arafat by Ariel Sharon Ma’an News Agency 12/29/2006 Bethlehem - The recently deceased Israeli writer, Uri Dan, who was close to Ariel Sharon, the former Israeli Prime Minister, published a book in France in which he accused Sharon of assassinating the former Palestinian President Yasser Arafat by poisoning him. Dan confirmed in his book that Arafat’s health began to deteriorate at in April 2004 after Sharon ended a phone call with American President George Bush who gave him the green light to deal with Arafat. Another writer, Amnon Kabilok, wrote a revision of the book which is entitled ’Sharon,’ in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. He inquired how Uri Dan knew about the sickness of Arafat and its causes and symptoms months in advance of the deceased’s symptoms appearing. more.. Five Palestinians abducted by Israeli Army from West Bank International Middle East Media Center 12/29/2006 On Friday morning raids in various parts of the West Bank, Israeli forces abducted five Palestinian men, according to local sources. One was abducted from the village of Beit Oniah, near Ramallah. Elsewhere in the northern West Bank, Israeli forces invaded the city of Nablus and its three refugee camps, searched and ransacked houses, and detained and interrogated scores of Palestinian residents. Eyewitnesses reported that soldiers opened fire randomly at residents’ houses but reported no injuries. Israeli sources added that Palestinian resistance fighters targeted the invading forces with a homemade roadside bomb. The army reported no injuries. [end] Palestinian resistance shells Askalan in Israel International Middle East Media Center 12/29/2006 A group of Palestinian fighters fired one home made Qassam shell at the town of Asqalan North West Israeli on Friday midday. Al Qudes Brigades the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad, clamed responsibility for the attack and said it comes in response to the Israeli army violations of the announced ceasefire and continues attacks against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and Gaza strip. [end] Despite promises to ease passage, Israeli military increases restrictions on travel in the West Bank International Middle East Media Center 12/29/2006 Palestinian residents of the West Bank reported on Friday that the Israeli troops stationed at the checkpoints which separate West Bank cities from each other, have tightened searches and inspections of residents and their cars, which contradicts the Israeli army announcement that it would facilitate the movements of Palestinian residents in the West Bank before and during the Muslim holiday of Eid Al Adha, which begins on Saturday. [end] Israel may replace Arrow missile defense system with U.S. version Ha’aretz 1/2/2007 Israel will be able to purchase THAAD with American military funding assistance -- In recent months Israel and the United States have discussed the possibility of an Israel acquiring the American-made missile defense system THAAD, instead of developing a new generation of the indigenous Arrow defense missile. Israeli decision-makers will have to make up their minds in the coming year whether to commit to acquiring the American weapon system or invest in the development of a more advanced Arrow. The American THAAD (Theater High-Altitude Area Defense), developed more than a decade ago, and whose mission is similar to that of the Arrow, failed in initial testing and the timetable for the completion of its development has been delayed on a number of occasions. However, in 2006 the system passed a number of critical tests... more.. 2006: Most difficult year in ten Palestine News Network 1/1/2007 By most accounts of local analysts and observers, 2006 was the most difficult year in a decade. Several human rights organizations referred to it as the year of “hunger and blockade in every sense of the word. ” All agreements, payments and aid were cut in March, any monies owed or gifted to the Palestinian Authority from the European Union and others were stoped. It all happened at the beginning of 2006, after Hamas won the Palestinian Legislative Council elections on 25 January and the government became exclusively Hamas. The United States refused to accept it, and many followed suit including the Israelis who stopped paying tax revenue due on trade. The deterioration of the Palestinian situation was remarkably serious. more.. Lebanon Destroyed, Destabilised, Desperate for Change By Dahr Jamail, Inter Press Service 1/1/2007 BEIRUT, Dec. 31 (IPS) - The 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah has left Lebanon heavily damaged and politically destabilised, with hopes for a better future only dimming as the New Year approaches. Before Jul. 12 this year when the war broke out, many people in this nation of four million situated north of Israel believed they were finally shaking away the last of the dust from the 15-year civil war 1975-90 which decimated the country. That civil war was fought between extreme Muslim and Christian groups. Lebanon is now believed to be about 60 percent Muslim. In years of recovery from that civil war, tourism was up, business was finally improving, Syrian occupation troops had left - even though it was after the assassination of former prime minister Rafiq Hariri Feb. 14 last year -- and hope for a united Lebanon seemed at least a possibility. more.. Escaping the Qassams YNetNews 1/1/2007 Residents in communities near Gaza react to military estimations of possible escalation of rocket attacks -- Pessimistic estimations by the IDF that a military confrontation may take place in Gaza during the summer of 2007 are causing residents in Sderot and surrounding communities to prepare for such a scenario and its implications in their communities. The Shaar Hanegev and Ashkelon Beach Regional Councils formulated a program for mass evacuation in the event of an unusually massive rocket barrages. These communities, in close proximity to Gaza, have been suffering continuous Qassam barrages for months. Regional council leaders have appealed repeatedly to the government regarding the fact that most structures in the area are not fortified, but their requests to rectify this have gone largely unanswered. more..  Diplomacy
Saudi King Invites Palestinian Factions to Talks New York Times 1/29/2007 JERUSALEM, Jan. 28 — King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia called Sunday on the rival Palestinian factions to hold emergency talks in the holy city of Mecca in the latest bid to halt some of the worst ever Palestinian internal fighting. As the two main factions, Hamas and Fatah, waged a fourth straight day of fighting in the Gaza Strip, leaders from both groups said they would take up the invitation by the Saudi monarch, though no date was set. “I call on my brothers, the Palestinian people, represented by their leaders, to put an immediate end to this tragedy and to abide by righteousness,” the king said in an announcement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency. Saudi Arabia does not have a tradition of such direct involvement in Palestinian affairs. more.. Russia: Lift Hamas gov’t blockade Jerusalem Post 1/31/2007 Four days before the Quartet is scheduled to meet in Washington and discuss ways to "reenergize" the road map, a top Russian diplomat called on Tuesday for the lifting the international blockade of the Hamas-led Palestinian government, the Interfax news agency reported Tuesday. According to the report, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Saltanov said Moscow would use the Quartet meeting to urge the lifting of the economic sanctions on the Palestinian Authority." Russia has always argued against the blockade and we expect the Quartet to listen to our view," Interfax quoted him as saying. Both US and European diplomatic officials have told The Jerusalem Post in recent days that there was no intention in Washington or Brussels to water down the three criteria that the international community has set for granting legitimacy to the PA government... more.. US admits Israel ’likely’ broke rules on cluster bombs Daily Star 1/30/2007 BEIRUT: The United States said on Monday that Israel "likely" violated an agreement with Washington in its use of US-made cluster bombs during the 2006 war against Lebanon." There were likely violations," US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Monday as the department sent Congress a preliminary report on its investigation of Israel’s use of cluster-bombs in civilian areas of Lebanon during the summer war. It is up the Congress to decide whether the issue will be investigated further, he said. Under the US Arms Export Control Act, if the US government believes a foreign country violated agreements over how US-made weapons were used, the administration must draw up a report and send its findings to Congress. The State Department spokesperson declined to say how Israel had violated US rules... more.. Israel May Have Violated Arms Pact, U.S. Says New York Times 1/28/2007 WASHINGTON, Jan 27 — The Bush administration will inform Congress on Monday that Israel may have violated agreements with the United States when it fired American-supplied cluster munitions into southern Lebanon during its fight with Hezbollah last summer, the State Department said Saturday. The finding, though preliminary, has prompted a contentious debate within the administration over whether the United States should penalize Israel for its use of cluster munitions against towns and villages where Hezbollah had placed its rocket launchers. Cluster munitions are anti-personnel weapons that scatter tiny but deadly bomblets over a wide area. The grenadelike munitions, tens of thousands of which have been found in southern Lebanon, have caused 30 deaths and 180 injuries among civilians since the end of the war... more.. ’Cluster bombs used in self-defense’ Jerusalem Post 1/28/2007 Israel used cluster bombs in self-defense during the past summer’s war in Lebanon, Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said Sunday. Regev’s comments came in response to reports that a preliminary US State Department report found that Jerusalem violated US-Israel arms agreements governing the use of cluster bombs. Congress is expected to be briefed on the conclusions of the report this week." We have an open dialogue with the US," Regev said. "We have provided them with information, and tried to be as forthcoming, detailed and transparent as is possible. Our understanding is that the use of these weapons was done within the framework of self-defense in dealing with rockets designed to kill Israeli citizens." more.. Demographer: ’Relinquish Jerusalem’s Palestinian neighborhoods’ Ha’aretz 1/30/2007 Demography Professor Sergio DellaPergola, a member of research teams that prepared the Jerusalem Master Plan, commissioned by the Cabinet, and the Strategic Master Plan, commissioned by the Jerusalem Municipality, believes that it would be wise to "relinquish parts of the city’s territory in which mainly Palestinian residents live." DellaPergola wrote this in an article slated to appear in the coming months in a book to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the city’s reunification, published by the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies. In the article, he stresses that his statements are based on demographic considerations and the forecast of an additional decrease in the Jewish majority by 2020. Since the Six-Day War in 1967, the Jewish share of the capital’s population dropped from 73. 5 percent to 66 percent. more.. Egypt urges the Palestinian Authority to form one army Jerusalem Post 1/31/2007 Egypt is trying to persuade the Palestinians to establish an army that would comprise members of all Palestinian factions, in a bid to resolve the crisis in the Palestinian Authority, Hamas and Fatah officials said Tuesday. They said Egyptian security officials who have been mediating between Fatah and Hamas over the past few days raised the idea at the request of Egyptian General Intelligence chief Omar Suleiman. The mediation efforts resulted in yet another cease-fire between Hamas and Fatah, which went into effect early Tuesday morning. The Egyptian security team, headed by Burhan Hamad and Ahmed Abdel Khalek, held a series of meetings Tuesday with Hamas and Fatah leaders and strongly urged them to abide by the cease-fire agreement. more.. Qatar urges Israel to talk to Hamas Jerusalem Post 1/30/2007 Israel should talk with Hamas, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani told visiting Vice Premier Shimon Peres on Tuesday. Peres, the highest-level Israeli official to visit the Persian Gulf in more then a decade, replied that Hamas was not interested in dialogue with Israel, did not accept previously-signed agreements with Israel, was not willing to forswear terrorism, and has even said that an Israeli withdrawal to the 1967 lines would not lead it to sign a peace agreement. Peres arrived in Qatar Monday night to take part in BBC a program on Tuesday called The Doha Debates in front of an audience of Arab students. During his meeting with the emir, Peres asked the Qataris to continue their efforts to bring about the release of kidnapped IDF soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit. more.. Nasrallah slams US, Israel policies Jerusalem Post 1/30/2007 Hizbullah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah said on Tuesday that Israel and the United States were working to promote civil wars across the Middle East." George Bush and Israel are trying to overcome the resistance movements in Lebanon, Palestine, and Iraq by means of promoting civil war," Nasrallah said during a speech in Beirut. Nasrallah was addressing crowds of Shiite Muslim men who had gathered to mark Ashoura, the holiday that commemorates the 7th century death of the grandson of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad." The ones who fomented chaos in Lebanon, who destroyed Lebanon, who killed women and children, old and young, in Lebanon, is George Bush and (Secretary of State) Condoleezza Rice, who ordered the Zionists to launch the war on Lebanon," Nasrallah said. more.. PM Mahmoud Abbas condemns Eilat bombing International Middle East Media Center 1/30/2007 On Tuesday the Fateh-oriented Palestinian Prime Minister, Mahmoud Abass, condemned the suicide bombing in Eilat which killed three Israelis yesterday, Israeli media reported. After talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo, Abbas told reporters that he did not expect the bombing to jeopardize the two-month-old ceasefire between Israel and Palestinians in Gaza." My position regarding this operation is that I do not accept it and I reject and condemn it. There was no need at all, and it does not benefit us at all. I do not think that this operation in particular will impact the calm between us and the Israelis in the Gaza Strip," Abbas said. Abbas has since stated that the Hamas-created executive force security unit must be dissolved. [end] EU, U.S. slam Eilat bombing Ha’aretz 1/30/2007 The European Union condemned yesterday’s suicide bombing in Eilat, calling it a bid to derail the Middle East peace process. Palestinian leaders must "put an end to terror and bring to justice those who support terror," said Germany, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, in a statement. "Such attacks are aimed at innocent civilians with the goal of derailing the peace process." The White House also condemned the bombing and said that the Palestinian Authority was responsible for preventing such attacks. "Failure to act against terror will inevitably affect relations between that government and the international community and undermine the aspirations of the Palestinian people for a state of their own," said White House spokesman Tony Snow in a statement. more.. Former FM says Israel a captive of Shoah memories YNetNews 1/30/2007 Shlomo Ben-Ami, speaking to Spanish Parliament in honor of Holocaust Memorial Day, says Israeli Jews must stop comparing current events to Shoah or current leaders to Hitler in order not to legitimize comparisons between Israel and the Nazis -- It’s time for Israeli Jews to leave behind the mentality of the victim and the ghetto, and stop making comparisons between Hitler and Arafat, Saddam Hussein or even Ahmadinejad, said former Foreign Minister Shlomi Ben-Ami in a speech to the Spanish Parliament Sunday. Such comparisons are an obstacle to Israel’s relationship with the international community and, even worse, "Give legitimacy to some Palestinian comparisons between Israel and the Nazis," he said...." if the strongest nation in the Middle East refers to every war and every threat as a threat of Holocaust, we ourselves are making the Holocaust banal." more.. Israel’s Peres meets emir of Qatar Middle East Online 1/30/2007 Peres to take part in debate on Middle East, put forward Israeli position to 300 students. -- DOHA - Israeli’s deputy prime minister Shimon Peres held talks Tuesday with the emir of Qatar, during a rare visit by a high-ranking official of the Jewish state to the Gulf emirate. The meeting with Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani was also attended by Qatar’s state minister for foreign affairs, Ahmad Abdullah al-Mahmud, QNA official news agency reported, without giving details of the discussions. Peres arrived in Doha Monday to take part in a debate on the Middle East with students. He was expected to "put forward the Israeli position in front of 300 students," Sharon Kravicky, the spokeswoman of the veteran Israeli leader said. The debate is an initiative by the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Development. more.. Defense minister vows to boost security on southern border YNetNews 1/30/2007 Peretz visits Eilat day after deadly suicide bombing in town, promises decisive action in response to attack. Defense officials warn against lack of security along Israeli-Egyptian border -- The defense establishment will boost operations along the border with Egypt in order to prevent further terror attacks in the area, Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Tuesday. During a tour in Eilat and a visit to the scene of Monday’s suicide bombing, Peretz said, "We will increase the activity along the fence, deal with the traffic routes, boost operations along the routes and reexamine all existing measures, in order to address the current threats and target the terror infrastructure." The defense minister pledged to act "decisively" against what he described as "a very serious action." more.. Interview: Zahhar admits to negotiating with Israel Ma’an News Agency 1/26/2007 Bethlehem - In an interview with the Arabic-language, daily newspaper published in Israel, ’Kul Al Arab’, Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahhar has revealed that he met the former Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin several times. In the interview, the paper began by asking Zahhar where we had reached in terms of the national unity government. Zahhar responded: "The issue is that the USA and Israel do not want a national unity government, but a government which accepts the Quartet conditions [that the Palestinian government renounce violence, adopt all previously signed agreements and recognise Israel’s right to exist]. So let’s assume that a government of technocrats, or of Fatah or Hamas, was formed, and presented itself to the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). We will find that many members from the PLC will not vote for it, and so, it will not be formed..." more.. Khatami to Haaretz: No chance of talks between Iran, Israel Ha’aretz 1/28/2007 DAVOS - Former Iranian president Mohammed Khatami told Haaretz Saturday that there was no chance for talks between Iran and Israel. Speaking after a session at the World Economic Forum at Davos, Khatami said a solution for the Arab-Israeli conflict must be found that would allow the Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and establish a Palestinian state. During the session, he attacked the involvement of foreign powers in the Middle East, especially the United States. He called on Middle Eastern countries to reach a solution without outside involvement. However, he also said that relations with the U.S. were very important, but slammed leaders he said were trying to force their will on others just because they were bigger. He said Iran was also big, and no problem in the Middle East would be solved without its involvement. more.. New forum to press gov’t on Syria talks Jerusalem Post 1/28/2007 An organization aimed at mobilizing Israeli public opinion to pressure the government into entering negotiations with Syria will be launched Sunday in Jaffa. The group, an initiative of author Sami Michael and David Sasson, an Iraqi-born Israeli businessman who lives in London, will include a number of public figures such as former chief of General Staff and minister Lt. -Gen (res. ) Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, former Shin Bet head Ya’acov Perry and former Foreign Ministry director-general Alon Liel. The Next Century Foundation, a British-based NGO that promotes informal "track-two" diplomatic initiatives, is also involved in the new forum. The move comes two weeks after reports that Liel and Syrian-born American businessman Ibrahim (Abe) Suleiman held talks between 2004-2006 under the auspices of the Swiss Foreign Ministry... more.. UN adopts resolution condemning Holocaust denial Ha’aretz 1/27/2007 NEW YORK - The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution Friday condemning the denial of the Holocaust, with only Iran rejecting it as an attempt by the United States and Israel to exploit the atrocity for their political interests. The resolution, co-sponsored by 103 countries, was approved by consensus, without a vote. At the General Assembly, Iran stood by its stance that the Holocaust should be closely examined to determine its scope. "Only by studying objectively what happened in the past, can we ensure that such crimes will never be repeated again," said Iranian delegate Hossein Gharibi. "The seriousness and sincerity of this endeavor would be indeed undermined by rendering political judgments on such events and closing the door to any inquiry on their characteristics, scope and extent," he said. more.. Spain pledges 7 million euros in emergency aid for PA Ha’aretz 1/27/2007 Spain pledged its support Friday for the efforts of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to form a national unity government in his country. After a meeting with Abbas, Spain’s Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero announced 7 million euros of emergency aid for the Palestinian authority. The government in Madrid would also continue to push all diplomatic efforts to open up the stalemated peace process this year, officials said. Zapatero and Abbas did not meet with the press. Rather, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos and Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat made the announcement and called for an end to all violence. They said common efforts of all those involved must produce a political compromise. more.. Spain offers aid to Palestinian president YNetNews 1/27/2007 Following meeting with chief Palestinian negotiator Erekat, Foreign Minister Moratinos says Spain to allocate seven million euros to Mahmoud Abbas’ office; Prime Minister Zapatero underlines Madrid’s commitment to finding solution to Mideast conflict -- Spain is to provide seven million euros (USD nine million) to the office of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas , Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said. Moratinos made the announcement after talks in the Spanish capital with Palestinian chief Mideast peace negotiator Saeb Erekat. Abbas was in Madrid on his way to Jordan and then an African Union summit next week in Addis Ababa, after attending the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. more.. Russia: Include Syria, Iran in peace process YNetNews 1/27/2007 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov embarks on new attack against United States, demanding that the superpower explain its heavy military presence in Middle East. Lavrov also calls to include Syria, Iran in peace process -- Russia expects the United States to explain its growing military presence in the Middle East when the countries next meet to discuss the region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Russian news agencies on Saturday. "I have seen no change in Washington’s fairly aggressive rhetoric," Lavrov said. "It continues, just like its actions to increase the military presence in the region. It will be one of the questions which we want to clarify in Washington. What’s it all about?" Lavrov is expected to take part in a meeting of the Middle East quartet group in Washington on February 2... more.. Abbas says peace talks will start "today rather than tomorrow" Ma’an News Agency 1/26/2007 Davos - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed hope on Thursday that negotiations with the Israelis will be starting "today rather than tomorrow" and described the situation as "suitable for negotiations". In his speech before the World Economic Forum, held in the Swiss resort of Davos, he said, "it is time to recruit all efforts to make peace a fact in the holy land and to start negotiations today rather than tomorrow". In a discussion with Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Abbas expressed his "full readiness for negotiations." He also said that the atmosphere is suitable for a resumption of the peace process, which he said should lead to a Palestinian state on the territories of 1967, living in peace with its neighbours including Israel. more.. Egyptian delegation meets with Islamic Jihad leader Dr Muhammad Al-Hindi Ma’an News Agency 1/27/2007 Gaza - The Egyptian security delegation who have sojourned in the Gaza Strip, on Saturday met with a prominent leader within the Islamic Jihad movement, Dr Muhammad Al-Hindi, in his Gaza-based office, on the occasion of his return to his homeland. The Egyptian delegation included major general, Burhan Hammad, and security advisor, Ahmad Abdul-Khaliq. Several Islamic Jihad dignitaries were at the reception for the Egyptian delegation. The delegates discussed the regrettable events which prevail in the Gaza Strip and affirmed the necessity of containing these events. [end] UN Assistant Secretary General Calls for Resumption of Palestinian-Israeli Talks International Middle East Media Center 1/26/2007 The United Nations Assistant Secretary General for political affairs, Ibrahim Gembari, called on both the Palestinians and Israelis to resume peace talks, given recent breakthrough between the two sides. Gembari, who was speaking yesterday in a special session on the Middle East held by the UN Security Council, said that the UN Secretary General is calling on parties concerned to go forward towards implementation of signed agreements and kick off a dialogue on key outstanding issues. Secretary General, Pan Ki-Moon, is optimistic regarding meeting of the Quartet Committee for Middle East peace (United Nations, United States, European Union, Russia) due to be held next week in Washington, Gembari told the Security Council. more.. Haniyeh: Deal for Shalit’s release still long way off Ha’aretz 1/26/2007 Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said Friday that reaching a deal on the release of captive Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit is "complex and difficult," and will require much additional work to be reached, Army Radio reported. In comments published Friday in the London-based newspaper Al-Hayat, Haniyeh said Fatah and Hamas had already embarked on the path of forming a unity government, and that he hoped the outstanding disagreements between them would be resolved in ongoing negotiations in Gaza. Asked whether Hamas would engage in negotiations with Israel if a Palestinian unity government is formed, Haniyeh replied that it is still too early to say. Abu Mujahid, a spokesman for the Popular Resistance Committees militant group, said two weeks ago that Shalit would be released only when Israel freed 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. more.. Israel tries to cut off Tehran from world markets The Guardian 1/26/2007 Israel is launching a campaign to isolate Iran economically and to soften up world opinion for the option of a military strike aimed at crippling or delaying Tehran’s uranium enrichment programme. Pressure will be applied to major US pension funds to stop investment in about 70 companies that trade directly with Iran, and to international banks that trade with its oil sector, cutting off the country’s access to hard currency. The aim is to isolate Tehran from the world markets in a campaign similar to that against South Africa at the height of apartheid. Meanwhile, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is to be pursued in international courts for calling the Holocaust a myth, and saying Israel should be wiped off the map. The case will be launched under the 1948 UN convention on the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide, which outlaws "direct and public incitement to genocide." more.. Abbas talks peace with Israeli foreign minister The Guardian 1/26/2007 A new council uniting Israeli and Palestinian businesses is to be formed under proposals to stimulate investment in the Middle East put forward at the World Economic Forum (WEF) yesterday. The meeting saw Tzipi Livni, the Israeli foreign minister, and Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, pledge to work harder towards a settlement. The session ended with the WEF’s founder, Klaus Schwab, appearing to promise to move the forum’s money-spinning annual meeting from Davos to Jerusalem next year. The understanding is that the move could take place as long as there had been "progress" on peace, which is likely to take significantly more than a year. The forum has only once moved the annual meeting in its 36-year history, when it moved to New York after 9/11. "Next year in Jerusalem. This is our goal," said Ms Livni yesterday. more.. Livni warns Abbas against striking deal with Hamas Ha’aretz 1/26/2007 DAVOS, Switzerland - Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni warned Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas Thursday that should he reach a compromise with Hamas, that would send the diplomatic process into a deep freeze." Compromising with extremists will not promote anything, but it can lead to further stagnation," Livni told Abbas during a session of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Abbas, though not mentioning Hamas by name, responded by saying that should the Islamic organization refuse to honor agreements signed by the Palestine Liberation Organization or to accept proposals that have the support of the Arab world - an apparent reference to the Arab League’s Beirut declaration of 2002 - he will call new elections. more.. Israel raises nuclear stakes with Iran The Independent 1/25/2007 The Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, dramatically raised the stakes in the international showdown with Iran last night, with a clear warning that his country was prepared to use military force to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. "The Jewish people, with the scars of the Holocaust fresh on its body, cannot afford to allow itself to face threats of annihilation once again," Mr Olmert said in a speech to a high-level security conference in Herzliya. "No nation has the right even to consider its position. It is the obligation of every country to act against this will all its might... We can stand up against nuclear threats and even prevent them," he said. Israeli military officials warned this week that Israel – acting alone or in coordination with the US – could launch preemptive military strikes against Iran before the end of this year. more.. French divers fail to find missing Israeli diplomat YNetNews 1/26/2007 Deputy leader of Defense Ministry’s mission to France David Dahan missing since Wednesday when car found along Seine. Dahan said to be suicidal. Search continues -- French divers sought in vain on Thursday for the body of a missing Israeli diplomat, whose abandoned car was discovered at the edge of the River Seine in the northwestern city of Rouen. The police divers trawled the freezing river for 90 minutes under the bridge where David Dahan’s car was discovered on Wednesday. Investigators from Paris and Israeli embassy staff were in Rouen to assist in the search. The police told AFP the underwater search could continue on January 29 but not before because of tidal problems. Dahan, 54, went missing on Sunday night from his flat near the Israeli embassy in Paris. Israeli newspaper Maariv said he was known to be be depressed... more.. Netanyahu in London: Ahmadinejad must be tried in Hague YNetNews 1/26/2007 British and Candian parliament members meet with MK Benjamin Netanyahu, who is leading initiative to put Iranian president on trial for inciting genocide. Netanyahu warned the British: Ahmadinejad has weapons that can reach Israel, but he wants to reach Paris and London’ -- LONDON- Likud Chairman Member of Knesset Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently visiting London, met with Canadian and British members of parliament in order to harness their support for his initiative that calls to put Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on trial for inciting genocide. Former Israeli ambassador Dore Gold and MK Danny Naveh also participated in the meeting. Netanyahu and an international organization of leading lawyers are trying to drum up support for an initiative to put Ahmadinejad on trial in The Hague for inciting genocide. more.. WHO chief wants to up Israelis’ role Jerusalem Post 1/26/2007 Dr. Margaret Chan, the new director-general of the World Health Organization, has invited Israeli health professionals to contribute their experience and skills to the UN organization." I welcome any help from every member country," Chan told The Jerusalem Post at a reception for the WHO’s executive board this week. Two out of the possible nine Geneva headquarters positions currently are filled by Israelis. However, the WHO’s executive board has 34 members who are qualified in the field of health, none of whom are Israelis. The agenda for the forthcoming World Health Assembly is agreed upon and resolutions for forwarding to the assembly are adopted at the board meeting, which will be held in Geneva in May. Chan, a physician from China, received her MD in Canada and began her career in public health in Hong Kong 30 years ago. more.. UN to condemn Holocaust denial YNetNews 1/25/2007 General Assembly expected to pass resolution Friday condemning denial of Holocaust following recent Tehran conference, remarks made by Iranian president -- WASHINGTON - The United Nations General Assembly is expected to condemn Holocaust denial on Friday. Eighty-two countries have signed as co-sponsors. Additional countries are expected to sign in the next 24 hours, including Arab countries who have announced that they would vote in favor of the resolution. The resolution was brought forward by the United States and its active partners: Members of the European Community, Russia, Australia and Canada, and, of course, Israel. The Israeli mission to the UN has been working diligently in the last few weeks to push the vote forward. more.. Italy to outlaw Holocaust denial YNetNews 1/26/2007 Government passes anti-racism package bill which will send holocaust deniers to prison. President Napolitano in speech before students in Rome: ’No to anti-Semitism, even when its disguised as anti-Zionism’ -- Italy’s government proposed legislation on Thursday that would increase jail sentences for inciting or committing acts of anti-Semitism and racial discrimination, the Justice Ministry said. The bill also includes financing for an international education program on the Holocaust and creates a body to monitor anti-Semitism in Italy. Passed unanimously by Prime Minister Romano Prodi’s government, the bill will now be brought before the Italian parliament for a final vote. Italian daily Corriere della Sera reported that according to the bill Holocaust deniers face a sentence of up to four years imprisonment. more.. Anglicans helped create Israel Jerusalem Post 1/26/2007 Evangelical Anglicans of the 19th century played a central role in the process that led to the establishment of the State of Israel, according to documents to be made available for the first time next week by the Christ Church Center near Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem. "It is impossible to understand the Balfour Declaration of 1917 without first understanding the theological developments that reached their peak in 1850," said Kelvin Crombie, a historian and member of the Christian Missionary Among the Jewish People (CMJ). "In the 19th century, evangelical Christianity had a major impact on Britain’s political leadership," said Crombie. "There was a strong belief among British political leadership that the second coming of Jesus would not happen until the Jews returned to the Land of Israel." more.. Jordan restores Temple Mount pulpit Jerusalem Post 1/26/2007 An ornate wooden pulpit on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount that was destroyed nearly four decades ago by a deranged Christian tourist has been completely restored, Israeli and Jordanian officials said Thursday. The pulpit, which was demolished in a 1969 fire set by the Christian tourist on the Temple Mount, has been remade and transported to its original location next to the Aksa mosque this week, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The new pulpit, which towers six meters high, four meters long and one meter wide and includes 18 steps, was made of Turkish hard wood and Sudanese ivory, Dr. Raief Najim, the vice president of the Jordanian Construction Committee who has been involved in several recent Temple Mount projects, said in a telephone interview from Amman. more.. Report: Listening posts in Syria track IDF movements Jerusalem Post 1/25/2007 Russia maintains listening posts along the Syrian border with Israel which it uses to follow IDF movements in the Golan Heights, it was revealed Thursday night. According to a report on Channel 2, the posts are manned by Russian military officers who pass on information to Hizbullah in Lebanon. Israel, The Jerusalem Post learned, has known about the posts for over a decade since they were established. Russia’s involvement in the Iranian nuclear program, as well as various state-of-the-art arms sales it has periodically made to both Syria and Iran, has caused some friction over the last few years in Russian-Israeli ties. Diplomatic officials said that the while Prime Minister Ehud Olmert discussed with the Russians during his visit to Moscow in October the advanced Russian arms that were found in Hizbullah’s possession... more.. World community cannot afford another year like 2006 in Middle East, says Under-Secretary-General, briefing Security Council ReliefWeb/UNSC 1/25/2007 Ibrahim Gambari Says Recent Months Marked by Instability, Suffering, Combined with Renewed International Urgency to Find Political Way Forward -- Ibrahim Gambari, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, briefed the Security Council this morning, saying, “None of us can afford another year like the last one in Lebanon and the Middle East. ” The period since the former Secretary-General’s final report to the Council in early December, he continued, had been marked by heightened levels of instability and suffering, combined with a renewed sense of international urgency to find a political way ahead. Underscoring the “clear priority” of a resumed political process between Israel and the Palestinians, he said solutions were urgently needed also to the political impasses among the Palestinians and in Lebanon. more.. UN Security Council supports resumed Middle East talks ReliefWeb 1/25/2007 New York_(dpa) _ UN Security Council members said Thursday they support the resumption of Middle East discussion led by the so-called quartet in order to end violence between Israelis and Palestinians." There was a strong expression of support for a successful meeting of the quartet on February 2 and discussion of the road map," said Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, the council president. Churkin said Middle East problems were discussed during a closed-door session of the council after the body met with UN Undersecretary General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari, who gave an assessment on the situation. The United States has called for a restart of the quartet talks involving the United Nations, the European Union, the US and Russia. more.. USAID funds a waste removal project in Tal El Sultan ReliefWeb/USAID 1/25/2007 12 Jan 2007 - Tal El Sultan, Gaza Strip - The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is assisting in the removal of a hazardous solid waste dump in Tal El Sultan neighborhood in Rafah. Through this $25,000 emergency assistance program, USAID is responding to a serious health threat to the residents of Tal El Sultan. The cleanup, which started on December 19, will improve the environment and quality of life for 30,000 people. The Tal El Sultan waste removal project is part of USAID’s $28. 2 million emergency assistance program, Rafeed. This program enables USAID to respond promptly to the immediate humanitarian and emergency needs of the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza. more.. Americans told to ’wake up’ to plight of Israeli Arabs Jerusalem Post 1/25/2007 The greatest challenge that Israel faces, next to the conflict with the Palestinians, is how to approach the Arab minority within Israel, according to a panel held this week in New York. Given America’s civil rights history, some say, American Jews may have a particular role to play when it comes to improving the rights of Israeli Arabs." Eventually the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will be solved, and then it will be a matter of how Jews and Arabs will live together in Israel," said Dr. Eli Rekhess of Tel Aviv University in his opening remarks at Monday’s conference. The panel - organized by the Israel Democracy Institute - offered participants an overview of the political, economic and social challenges facing Israel regarding its Arab minority, which makes up roughly 20 percent of the population, and offered visions for how the situation could be improved... more.. Livni says Palestinian state is achievable YNetNews 1/25/2007 Foreign minister tells World Economic Forum negotiations between Israel, Palestinians must be based on idea of two states living side by side in peace. Palestinian President Abbas says agreement will help strengthen moderates in region -- Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Thursday that the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians must be based on the idea of two states living side by side in peace. Speaking at World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Livni said that a Palestinian state is ’’not an illusion. It’s there, it’s achievable. ’’ The WEF hosted a panel of 2,500 world leaders, which was also attended by Vice Premier Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Livni called on the international community to support moderates in the Middle East and told Palestinian President Abbas that ’’compromising with extremists will not promote anything. ’’ more.. US politicians rip Iran in Herzliya Jerusalem Post 1/24/2007 Republican US presidential aspirant Mitt Romney summed up the sentiment of four US presidential hopefuls who addressed the Seventh Annual Herzliya Conference over the last two days by saying, "Iran must be stopped, Iran can be stopped, and Iran will be stopped." "The heart of the jihadist threat is Iran," the former Massachusetts governor said. "I believe that Iran’s leaders and ambitions represent the greatest threat to the world since the fall of the Soviet Union and before that Nazi Germany." Romney said that when Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad denies the Holocaust, "he could care less about history. His point is about the present and the future." Romney said the Iranian leader’s aim was "not to deny the Holocaust, but to deny Israel. He is testing the waters. He wants to know who will object..." more.. Bibi to US officials: Divest from Iran Jerusalem Post 1/24/2007 Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu on Tuesday asked New England officials to divest state pension funds from Iran, a step he said could pressure Iran into backing away from its nuclear ambitions. "Iran is a radical regime and is susceptible to economic pressure. It is a regime that talks about imagining the world without America, without Israel," Netanyahu told Massachusetts State Treasurer Tim Cahill and other officials from New Hampshire and Rhode Island. "It is both morally necessary and prudent to take this action while there is time." Netanyahu’s comments came after former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a potential 2008 Republican presidential candidate who arranged the meeting for Netanyahu, issued a similar call during the Herzliya Conference run by the Institute for Policy and Strategy of the IDF Herzliya... more.. Israel faces nuclear Holocaust warns Gingrich YNetNews 1/23/2007 Newt Gingrich: Haifa, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem facing mortal Iranian threat, says former US Speaker of the House; emphasizes ’three nuclear weapons are a second Holocaust’ -- The Israeli people are facing the threat of a nuclear Holocaust, former US Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich warned the Herzliya Conference held by the Institute for Policy and Strategy at IDC Herzliya on Tuesday afternoon. Meanwhile, he said, the United States could lose a few million people or a number of cities to a terrorist attack with weapons of mass destruction. Gingrich, who addressed the conference via satellite from the United States, said he thought Israel’s existence was under threat again for the first time in 40 years. "Israel is in the greatest danger it has been in since 1967. Prior to ’67, many wondered if Israel would survive..." more.. U.S. to present UN resolution condemning Holocaust deniers Ha’aretz 1/23/2007 The United States intends to introduce a United Nations resolution on Tuesday condemning deniers of the Holocaust, a document drafted in response to a conference in Iran last month dominated by delegates who questioned the extermination of six million Jews by the Nazis in World War II. U.S. officials hope the resolution, which so far is backed by 39 nations including European nations, Russia and China, could be adopted on Friday in the 192-member UN General Assembly. The measure urges member states "to reject any denial of the Holocaust as a historical event" and "condemns without reservation any denial of the Holocaust." It does not mention Iran by name, although American officials said it was a reaction to the Tehran conference convened in December by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. more.. Arab League Chief Criticizes the Quartet Committee International Middle East Media Center 1/23/2007 Secretary General of the Arab States League, Amr Moussa, called yesterday for a comprehensive solution for the Middle East conflict, criticizing the international Quartet. Moussa’s remarks came during a symposium at the Royal Belgium Institute for International relations in Brussels yesterday, where Moussa sharply criticized the Quartet Committee for Middle East for what he called the Quartet’s ‘ineffective role’. "The Quartet Committee (United States, United Nations, Europe, Russia), only issues statements, and that is not enough”. Mr. Moussa stressed that once the current chance for peace is lost, finding a solution for the Palestinian question will take a very long time. He also maintained that the Arab side has been determined to reach peace with Israel through various peace initiatives; however, Israel has not lived up to its obligations. more.. VIDEO - US presidential candidate: Iran serious about its threats YNetNews 1/23/2007 VIDEO - Former Senator John Edwards (Dem. ) tells Herzliya Conference serious political, economic steps should be taken against Islamic Republic; ’in order to ensure Iran never gets nuclear weapons, all options must remain on table,’ he says, adding that Syria should be held accountable for its support of Hizbullah, Hamas -- "Iran is serious about its threats," former US Senator John Edwards told the Herzliya Conference at the Interdisciplinary Center on Monday. "The challenges in your own backyard – represent an unprecedented threat to the world and Israel," said the candidate for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination, referring mainly to the Iranian threat. In his speech, Edwards criticized the United States’ previous indifference to the Iranian issue, saying they have not done enough to deal with the threat. more.. US says Arabs too concerned by Iran military Middle East Online 1/23/2007 Burns on Iraq: ‘we choose to stay’ -- Burns says US will not allow Iran to dominate Middle East, seeks to allay fears that military action was inevitable. -- DUBAI - The policy of the United States toward Iran and Iraq is conditioned by the concerns of the countries in the Gulf and the Middle East, and not a result of its own interests, US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns said in Dubai on January 23. Delivering a policy statement at the Gulf Research Center (GRC), Burns said Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine-Israel conflict and Iran are the four major challenges in the region that require quick solutions for peace and stability to prevail. Identifying Iran as the key concern of not just the United States, but of the 192-member United Nations, the American diplomat said that there was no scope for “rapprochement” with Iran until it halts its uranium enrichment program. more.. Israeli politician suggests handing control of the Palestinian territories to a European force Ma’an News Agency 1/23/2007 Bethlehem - A member of the Israeli Knesset from the right-wing Kadima party, Shlomo Breznitz, has suggested that the control of the occupied Palestinian territories be handed over to the Europeans. Breznitz’ plan, which he has described as revolutionary, has been revealed in the Israeli media. The plan is based on an Israeli withdrawal from most of the Palestinian territories and the dismantling of dozens of settlements in the occupied territories. These territories will then be handed over to a European force, which Breznitz described as an "important force [which will] control the situation in preparation for the establishment of a Palestinian state". Breznitz also revealed that he is going to present this plan on Wednesday at the ongoing Herzliya conference, taking place outside Tel Aviv. more.. Mediators met with Eli Cohen’s family Ha’aretz 1/24/2007 The parties to the secret back-channel negotiations with Syria met with relatives of Israeli spy Eli Cohen’s family and discussed the possibility that Damascus would allow his remains to be repatriated one peace talks are renewed. One of the meetings was sponsored by the Foreign Ministry. Nadia Cohen, widow of the executed spy, told Haaretz yesterday that before taking ill, former prime minister Ariel Sharon promised she would soon bring her husband to Israel for burial. Cohen supported any effort to end the conflict with Syria and hopes her husband’s reinterment will be one of the first confidence-building steps between the two states. Former foreign minister Silvan Shalom, a Likud MK, confirmed last week that he knew of the secret talks while serving at the ministry. more.. Palestinians’ ’Saddam Street’ funded by US YNetNews 1/23/2007 Major thoroughfare in West Bank funded by USAID honors executed Iraqi dictator to emphasize ‘values of Arabness, Jihad he represented’ -- Palestinians in the northern West Bank have named a major street after late Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein that was funded – along with the surrounding municipality – by the United States Agency for International Development. Following Saddam’s hanging earlier this month, thousands of Palestinians gathered in the Yaabid municipality, just outside of the northern West Bank town of Jenin, to hold a vigil in his honor. According to Arabic media reports translated by Palestinian Media Watch, local Palestinian municipal leaders and members of armed factions in Jenin named a school and the municipality’s main street after Saddam. more.. Envoys: US, EU alarmed by corruption in Israel YNetNews 1/4/2007 Israeli ambassadors complain to Foreign Minister Livni that corruption scandals involving Israeli politicians are focus of attention in foreign countries -- Israeli ambassadors and consuls general in European countries and the United States have complained that recurring corruption scandals involving Israeli politicians and senior public figures are damaging Israel ’s image abroad. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni heard complaints about the situation during a round of phone calls with envoys to European cities who said the issue of corruption scandals are being extensively covered in the local media and are being raised by journalists, diplomats and Jewish community leaders with whom they meet. Officials told Livni that the sexual assault scandal implicating President Moshe Katsav, a number of investigations into inappropriate conduct by Prime Minister... more.. Solana shocked at growth of Israeli settlements in West Bank Ha’aretz 1/22/2007 EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana Sunday urged Israel to freeze West Bank settlements and stop constructing the security fence. He hoped "the realities on the ground" brought about by Jewish settlement building would not "prevent a two-state solution from happening." Solana said that on a tour he held on Saturday in West Bank Arab towns on Jerusalem’s eastern slopes, he was struck by the growth of settlements and the defense barrier cutting into land that Palestinians want for a state." I had the opportunity to make a tour along the eastern part of Jerusalem and go to Abu Dis and its surroundings. You get really very shocked every time you go and you see the situation worse, the wall is more extended and settlements are more extended," Solana told reporters in Amman. more.. Rice: Abbas, Olmert agree to informal talks on state Ha’aretz 1/22/2007 At the end of her Middle East tour, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) agreed to "informal talks" about the nature of a future Palestinian state. In a conversation with U.S. reporters who traveled with her, Rice said talks in the current climate are much more likely to reach an Israeli-Palestinian agreement than was the case in the 2000 Camp David talks, due to political changes on both sides,Rice also called on the sides not to stall on the first phase of the road map and to discuss the broader issues. She mentioned talks on security arrangements and the nature of the democratic institutions in the Palestinian state. Rice plans to return to the region in early February to meet with Olmert and Abbas... more.. Prominent lobbyist Perle: U.S. will attack Iran if it obtains nukes Ha’aretz 1/22/2007 President George Bush will order an attack on Iran if it becomes clear to him that Iran is set to acquire nuclear weapons capabilities while he is still in office, Richard Perle told the Herzliya Conference on Sunday. Perle is close to the Bush administration, particularly to Vice President Richard Cheney. The leading neoconservative and fellow at the American Enterprise Institute addressed the session on Iran’s nuclear program. He said that the present policy of attempting to impose sanctions on Iran will not cause it to abandon its nuclear aspirations, and unless stopped the country will become a nuclear power. A less decisive opinion was expressed by Dr. Robert Einhorn, who until 2001 was senior advisor to the secretary of state on nuclear nonproliferation, chemical, biological and missile delivery systems. more.. Peretz: Abusive settler renders gestures to PA meaningless Ha’aretz 1/22/2007 Defense Minister Amir Peretz warned Monday that Israel’s gestures to the Palestinians are meaningless in the face of the abuse inflicted by a settler on her neighbors in Hebron, referring to footage of such abuse recently aired on television. Addressing the annual Herzliya Conference, Peretz said that "Israel is fighting against terror, not against the Palestinian people," and said that he has instructed to ease travel restrictions in the West Bank." I have taken significant measures that include less strict searches at roadblocks and the opening of additional terminals. It has an impact on the sense of cooperation. We have changed our search policy at roadblocks. But it all dwarfs in comparison to footage of a settler who curses and humiliates a Palestinian family," Peretz told the conference. more.. PRC: The fate of the captured Israeli soldier is a Palestinian concern, not open to factional bargaining Ma’an News Agency 1/22/2007 Gaza - The Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) have, on Monday, rejected any bargaining over the issue of the captured Israeli soldier, Corporal Gil’ad Shalit, assuring that all factions who captured the soldier "are in complete harmony on the issue". In a press conference to mark their new information bureau, the PRC threatened to abduct more Israeli soldiers, to exchange them with the corpses of Palestinians which remain held in Israel. The spokesperson of the PRC, Abu Mujahid, declared "the issue of the captured soldier is a purely Palestinian issue, which doesn’t belong to any political [factional] calculations. The issue is to be dealt with only by the three factions who captured of the soldier." He also stated that the "misunderstanding" between the Hamas movement and the "Jaysh Al-Islam" [army of Islam] has now been settled. more.. Rafah border crossing reopened International Middle East Media Center 1/22/2007 Palestinian sources reported that the Rafah border crossing in the southern Gaza strip was reopened on Monday morning and will stay open until five PM. The sources added that the crossing is open only to allow the Palestinians trapped on the Egyptian side of the crossing to enter the Gaza strip. The Israeli army opened the crossing for a short time two weeks ago to allow the Palestinians who traveled from the Gaza strip to do the Muslim Hajj in the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia to come back to their houses in Gaza. Last Week, Lieutenant General Pietro Pistolese, head of the third party EU monitors at Rafah border crossing, urged the Israeli army to open the Gaza-Egypt border to the hundreds of Palestinians waiting on either side. Despite promises to allow third party control of the crossing point, Israel has imposed a military closure... more.. Israelis prepare public for conflict with ’genocidal’ Iranian regime The Independent 1/22/2007 Senior Israeli politicians and analysts appear to be preparing the public for military conflict with Iran as the Iranian President again refused to bow to international demands to curb its nuclear ambitions, and Tehran announced fresh military manoeuvres. Israeli opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu told a security forum in Herzliya yesterday that individual states and companies should go beyond the UN economic sanctions. He argued that the first step should be to invoke financial sanctions to "divest genocide" and "delegitimise the regime of Iran through economic and political pressure". The hawkish Likud leader added: "Either it will stop the nuclear programme without the need for a military operation, or it could prepare for it. When we are talking about rallying public opinion on genocide, who will lead the charge if not us?..." more.. Switzerland says it mediated in informal Israel-Syria peace talks Ha’aretz 1/23/2007 Switzerland served as a mediator in informal talks between Israeli and Syrian representatives, which were first reported in Haaretz last week, Swiss Foreign Minister and Federal Councilor Micheline Calmy-Ray said Monday. The parties to the secret back-channel negotiations with Syria met with relatives of Israeli spy Eli Cohen’s family and discussed the possibility that Damascus would allow his remains to be repatriated one peace talks are renewed. One of the meetings was sponsored by the Foreign Ministry. Nadia Cohen, widow of the executed spy, told Haaretz Monday that before taking ill, former prime minister Ariel Sharon promised she would soon bring her husband to Israel for burial. Cohen supported any effort to end the conflict with Syria and hopes her husband’s reinterment will be one of the first confidence-building steps between the two states. more.. Carter denies his book is anti-semitic The Guardian 1/22/2007 President Jimmy Carter has defended his book Palestine: Peace not Apartheid after a barrage of criticism that it was unfair on Israel, saying it has not weakened his resolve for fair treatment of Israelis and Palestinians." I have been called a liar," Mr Carter said at a town hall meeting on Saturday, the second day of a three-day symposium on his presidency at Georgia university. "I have been called an anti-semite, I have been called a bigot. I have been called a plagiarist. I have been called a coward. Those kind of accusations, they concern me, but they don’t detract from the fact the book is accurate and is needed." After the book’s publication 14 members of an advisory board to his Carter Centre resigned in protest, arguing that the book was unfairly critical of Israel. more.. PRC: "We will attempt to abduct more soldiers" International Middle East Media Center 1/19/2007 The Popular Resistance Committees, one of three Palestinian groups holding the Israeli corporal Gilad Shalit captive since June 25, said that it will attempt to abduct more soldiers in order to secure the release of the bodies of Palestinians Israel is holding. Spokesperson of the Brigades, Awni Zannoun, said on Friday that the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) “warns the Zionist enemy it will use all means of capturing soldiers and settlers alive and will keep the remains of their dead until (Israel) releases the bodies of our holy martyrs", Israeli online daily, Haaretz reported. Zannoun stated that the PRC have information that Israel is holding the bodies of 144 Palestinians killed by the army in decades of the conflict and are buried in four cemeteries in Israel, and the occupied West Bank”, Haaretz added. more.. Ex-diplomat: Israeli officials don’t want Syrian talks YNetNews 1/18/2007 Former Foreign Ministry director who was involved in talks with Syrian officials, slams gov’t officials for denying knowledge of talks, attempt to downplay significance: ’There was a chance, the Syrians were interested – but Israel wouldn’t meet with them’ -- Ex-director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Alon Liel on Thursday slammed Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ’s statements denying any knowledge of talks between Israel i and Syria n officials. "I won’t name names, but these were not low-level figures (who were informed of the talks), and it wasn’t only one senior official but five," said Liel. "There was an opportunity, I applied enormous pressure – but the answer I received was negative," he stressed. Liel, who for months was involved in secret negotiations with Syrian officials, spoke on Thursday at a conference... more.. Israel, Palestinians ’can forge peace deal in 2 years’ Daily Star 1/19/2007 Peretz’s deputy cites ’opportunity’ but ’we have to do it very, very quickly’ -- Israel and the Palestinians can wrap up a final peace deal within two years, but the international climate for such talks might not remain favorable for long, Israel’s deputy defense minister said Thursday. As part of the favorable climate, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana joined growing calls to jump-start the tattered peace process by looking at aspects of a lasting deal. And in a goodwill gesture, Israel said it would free $100 million in frozen Palestinian tax revenues on Friday to boost President Mahmoud Abbas - the first Israeli payment since the militant Hamas won legislative elections and took office last year. Israeli Deputy Minister, Ephraim Sneh has formulated a new peace plan together with Defense Minister Amir Peretz of the moderate Labor Party... more.. INTERVIEW - Abdullah: Jordan will develop nuclear power Ha’aretz 1/18/2007 Jordan aspires to develop nuclear power for peaceful purposes and believes that unless all sides move quickly toward a peace settlement in the region, the recent confrontation in Lebanon is only a hint of disasters to come. In an exclusive interview with Haaretz on Thursday, King Abdullah II of Jordan spoke with Akiva Eldar: "I can say that on behalf of the U.S. president and the secretary of state, and I’ve talked to both, that they’re very serious and very committed to moving the peace process forward, because they realize the dynamics of the region at the moment. "And this is the opportunity to reach out to the Palestinians and the Israelis and say, look, this is the golden chance and to an extent, maybe the last possibility. We had a conflict this summer. The frequency of conflict in this region is extremely alarming..." more.. Hamas: "We will not release Cpl Shalit unless Palestinian prisoners are set free" Ma’an News Agency 1/18/2007 Gaza - The Hamas movement has said that they will not release the captured Israeli soldier, Corporal Gil’ad Shalit unless Israel releases Palestinian prisoners, including high-ranking leaders. The spokesperson of Hamas, Isma’il Radwan, stated, "We will not [financially] bargain over the Israeli soldier, whatever the consequences may be." In his address before a Hamas crowd in front of the Red Cross headquarters in Gaza City on Thursday, Radwan declared that Hamas will not abandon the prisoners’ issue, "under any pressure or blackmail". The spokesperson sent a message to the Arab and Islamic worlds, calling on them to support and show solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners’ cause. They also sent another message to the international Quartet and the American administration... more.. Israel "gives" Abbas USD 100 million YNetNews 1/18/2007 Money to be taken from withheld Palestinian tax funds, transferred to PA within 24 hours. Meant for strengthening presidential guard, humanitarian aid -- On Thursday that USD 100 million of the Palestinian tax funds withheld by Israel are expected to be transferred in the coming day to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The money will be transferred to the Palestinian Authority according to agreements reached by Abbas and Olmert during their meeting in Jerusalem a few weeks ago. The money that will be transferred to the Authority will be taken from the Palestinian tax funds frozen by Israel ever since the Hamas government came to power one year ago. The prime minister’s office clarified that the money would only be transferred after the Palestinians guarantee a system that would prevent the money from reaching the Hamas government. more.. ’Sharon, Assad gave their blessings’ YNetNews 1/18/2007 Ibrahim Soliman, chief negotiator in secret Israeli-Syrian talks, in exclusive interview with Ynet, reveals details of diplomatic contacts, content of drafted peace proposal. Says Syria serious about negotiations, blames US for torpedoing previous steps towards peace -- WASHINGTON - Syrian President Bashar Assad called Israel’s bluff when Israel turned down his offer to talk peace, claims Ibrahim Soliman, a Syrian American with close ties to Damascus, who has made it his personal mission to work towards attaining peaceful relations between Syria and Israel. In a rare interview with Ynet from his home in a Washington suburb, Soliman, one of the chief participants in the unofficial contacts held recently between Israel and Syria , says that talks were held with the knowledge and support of the administrations in both Jerusalem and Damascus. more.. Security Council expected to approve Graziano as new UNIFIL boss Daily Star 1/19/2007 BEIRUT: United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has tapped Italian Major General Claudio Graziano to take over command of the peacekeeping force in South Lebanon, the UN chief’s office said on Thursday. "The secretary general informed Security Council in the matter of his intention" to have Graziano head up the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), a statement released by Ban’s office said. "The Security Council is considering the choice." A spokesperson for the UN chief expected the Security Council would respond by Friday but did not expect there to be any problem.... Last week, the Jerusalem Post quoted an Israeli army source as being "delighted" with Graziano’s assumed appointment, calling him a "serious officer" with experience in combating terrorism. more.. Peres: Palestinians should be given economic aid Ma’an News Agency 1/18/2007 Jerusalem - Deputy Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres has declared on Thursday that job opportunities and economic aid should be provided to the Palestinians. He suggested the establishment of joint industrial zones between the Palestinians and the United States similar to the Aqaba trade zone in Jordan. Peres referred to the fact that efforts are ongoing to reactivate the Erez industrial zone in the Gaza Strip and to establish a similar zone in the West Bank. [end] Governor of Ramallah hosts Polish and French officials Ma’an News Agency 1/18/2007 Ramallah - The governor of Ramallah, Dr Sa’id Abu Ali, has on Thursday morning hosted the Polish representative to the Palestinian Authority, and the deputy French consul in two separate sessions. The meetings dealt with the latest political developments in the Palestinian arena, in addition to the refusal of the Israeli authorities to adhere to the promises given during the meeting between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. The governor also briefed his guests over the frequent Israeli violations of international agreements, in particular, the decision to add 1000 residential units to the Abu Ghneim "Har Homa" settlement, within the West Bank, near Bethlehem. more.. Nablus governor welcomes UK consul general, calls for greater EU support in lifting the siege Ma’an News Agency 1/18/2007 Nablus - The governor of Nablus, Kamal Al-Sheikh, welcomed the UK consul general, Richard Makepeace, and his political advisor, to his office in the northern West Bank city on Wednesday morning. Al-Sheikh discussed with the consul the latest political developments in the Palestinian arena. He clarified that the Palestinian people and its national leadership have confidently chosen the route of peace in the hope of regaining their legislative rights. However, Al-Sheikh added that, Israel, as the occupying power, did not consider the same concept of peace. Furthermore, Israel has not accepted that it is an occupying power that must be committed to international law and the principles of the United Nations, including the withdrawal from the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967. more.. OPT: Rice says Quartet to meet ahead of Israeli-Palestinian talks, says Russia, U.N., EU and U.S. can coordinate and integrate peace efforts ReliefWeb/United States Information Agency 1/18/2007 USINFO -- Washington -- Russia, the European Union, the United Nations and the United States, collectively known as the Quartet for Middle East peace, will convene in Washington at the beginning of February to help coordinate peace efforts, ahead of a planned meeting of Palestinian, Israeli and U.S. leaders, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said. Speaking with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin January 17, Rice said the Quartet will convene ahead of her meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and described the group as “a very useful mechanism for the coordination and integration of international efforts,” adding that its composition gives it “the capacity to keep pushing the process forward." more.. Pro-Israel group asks Pope to remove anti-Semitism from religious art Ha’aretz 1/18/2007 An Italian group on Thursday asked Pope Benedict to order the removal of all religious works of art and Catholic traditions that are still tainted by anti-Semitism. The Roman Association of Friends of Israel sent a letter to the Pope asking him for a "clear and strong signal" that he would not tolerate any residual or resurgent forms anti-Semitism in religious art or popular culture, such as processions. The group sent the letter to protest against an exhibition in a church in the Umbrian city of Orvieto which includes several old paintings depicting Jews desecrating a consecrated communion host, which Catholics believe is the body of Christ." The fact that this culture (of anti-Semitism) continues to survive in parishes is very worrying and alarming for us," said the letter, a copy of which was made available to Reuters. more.. IDF objects to U.S. plans to give Abbas’ forces battle equipment Ha’aretz 1/17/2007 The Israel Defense Forces has raised objections to U.S. plans to equip Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’s forces with body armor and other battle gear, an Israeli security source and European diplomats said on Wednesday. An $86 million U.S. program to strengthen Abbas’s presidential guard will include funding for four-wheel-drive vehicles, new uniforms and military training, diplomats briefed on the program said. "The IDF’s objections in this case center on equipment, such as body armor, that is liable to wind up in the wrong hands and be used for terrorism," an Israeli security source said. A U.S. diplomat based in the region said the United States would ensure the equipment does not end up with Fatah militants. "It’s going to be done in a way that’s monitored," he said. more.. US consulate general denies that the USA considers internal Palestinian violence as good for Israel Ma’an News Agency 1/17/2007 Jerusalem - In an interview with ’The Jerusalem Post’, an Israeli daily, the US ambassador to Israel, Richard Jones, inferred that the current internal Palestinian violence "is good for Israel". He suggested that the internal violence and killing, rather than Israeli-Palestinian violence, is leading to a decline in Hamas’ support amongst Palestinians, and also improving the long-term security Israel. However, the US consulate general in Jerusalem has been quick to play down this report, saying that it "does not accurately reflect the views of the Ambassador or the U.S. government." In ’The Jerusalem Post’ interview, Ambassador Jones appears to suggest that Israel’s "policy of restraint in Gaza", as the Israeli paper describes it, is causing Hamas take the blame for internal strife and casualties...." The U.S. government does not support intra-Palestinian violence." -- See also: US: Fatah-Hamas violence helps Israel more.. Army of Islam: IDF soldier Shalit held exclusively by Hamas Ha’aretz 1/18/2007 The Army of Islam, one of the three groups responsible for abducting and holding Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, issued a handbill on Wednesday proclaiming that only Hamas was holding Shalit. The proclamation, distributed in the Gaza Strip, runs contrary to all the organization’s announcements to date, which have emphasized that three groups were holding Shalit. The Islamic Army is headed by Mumtaz Dormush, who recently fell out with Hamas after its activists killed two of his relatives. It is not clear if the handbill is authentic. However, by late last night, no Army of Islam spokesman had denied it. The handbill blasted Hamas for making political use of Shalit’s abduction and of the prisoners’ issue, instead of acting swiftly to obtain the release Palestinian prisoners. more.. Rice announces Quartet will hold meeting in early February Ha’aretz 1/17/2007 Berlin - The Quartet of Middle East peace negotiators plans to meet in early February to prepare the ground for talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Wednesday. Rice said on Monday she would bring Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas together for informal talks on how to set up a Palestinian state. Preparations for that meeting will need some time, probably a few weeks, said Rice at a joint news conference with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier in the German capital." I do think it will be useful to have a meeting of the quartet in advance of that meeting," she said. Several European countries, including Germany, are keen to get the Quartet... more involved in the stalled peace process. more.. Rice: May be easier to set final, not provisional, Palestinian borders Ha’aretz 1/17/2007 U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Tuesday reiterated that she prefers to see negotiations aimed at achieving a permanent, rather than provisional, Palestinian state." My own view, and I frankly have been telling people this, [is] that if we get to that point, it seems to me that it may be more difficult to negotiate a provisional state than just to go to the end game" of final borders, Rice said. "We’re not there yet, and we’ll see." But Rice did not rule out the idea, which Israelis have floated as a way of energizing the stalled peace process, when she spoke to reporters Tuesday. Palestinians reject the proposal as a nonstarter, arguing that temporary borders would be too hard to redraw and Israel might end up with large swaths of the West Bank. more.. MP finally able to cross borders after IOA blockage Palestinian Information Center 1/17/2007 Bethlehem - MP Khaled Tafesh on Wednesday managed to cross into Jordan and headed directly to the Amman airport en route to Indonesia to attend a conference for Islamic parliamentarians. Tafesh’s office director said that the lawmaker crossed the borders into Jordan without any Israeli obstacle this time. He explained that the legislator headed to the borders a couple of days earlier but the IOA blocked his travel and told him he was banned from traveling abroad. However, Tafesh’s lawyer told him that he would be allowed exit on Wednesday, which actually what happened. Tafesh is expected to embark on a tour of a number of countries after the conference that would take him first to Saudi Arabia, his office director said, adding that he would confer with parliamentarians and ask them to pressure their governments into lifting the siege on the Palestinian people. more.. France considers construction of Israeli settlement to indicate a lack of will for dialogue on Israel’s part Ma’an News Agency 1/17/2007 Jerusalem - France considered the invitation for tenders, as issued by the Israeli government on Monday, to build 44 homes in the Ma’ale Adummim settlement, east of Jerusalem, to further complicate prospects for a final solution to the situation in the Palestinian territories. A spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry announced, "This decision is a very negative indication of the will for dialogue and the restoration of confidence between the parties." [end] Israel to transfer $100 million of taxes its withholds to Abbas International Middle East Media Center 1/17/2007 A senior Israeli official reported on Friday that Israel intends to release $100 million of Palestinian tax revenues it withheld, to the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas by Friday, Israeli online daily Haaretz reported. Haaretz added that the move is part of a U. S-led plan to bolster Abbas and make him able to make the long-due salary payments to government employees. The United States and Israel led an embargo against the Hamas-led Palestinian government since it was elected last year. Haaretz also reported that the Israeli Prime minister, Ehud Olmert, has been under pressure from the United States in order to take steps that would bolster Abbas and his power in order to weaken Hamas. On December 24, Abbas and Olmert met and the later agreed to take steps that would ease the restriction on the Palestinians. more.. Moussa to Haniyeh: Hamas has no money in the Arab League International Middle East Media Center 1/17/2007 No transfers from the Special Account can be made now -- Secretary General of the Arab League Amr Moussa told the Palestinian Prime Minister Ismael Haniyeh, that Hamas does not have sufficient funds deposited with the Arab League, and that he could not transfer any funds from the special account in Egypt at the present time. This news came in a letter sent by Moussa to Haniyeh and was also published by Al Quds Al-Arabi newspaper on Wednesday. "There is a Court ruling which obliges the Arab League to disclose the funds they have for Hamas. This ruling was issued following the League’s declaration of opening a special account, in which funds that were with the delegation of the Palestinian Authority Prime minister deposited before passing through Rafah crossing into Gaza. The funds were [$32,499,000]" more.. Chief Justice of Palestine warns of repercussions of Israeli excavations near Al Aqsa Mosque Palestine News Network 1/17/2007 Chief Palestinian Justice and Chair of the Supreme Council for Preserving Islamic Holy Sites, Sheikh Taysir Al Tamimi, warned Wednesday of repercussions due to extreme Israeli excavations in close proximity to Al Aqsa Mosque. This is not the first attempt the Israeli authorities have made to derail efforts to save the mosque, but they are increasing in frequency, while few Palestinians are allowed to go there as checkpoints to Jerusalem are closed to most Palestinians except those who live there. Sheikh Al Tamimi is concerned today with the western side of the square where Israeli excavations are dangerously close to damaging the wall around the mosque, while several other ancient Arab and Islamic buildings have been demolished. The Sheikh says that in their efforts to Judaize Jerusalem, the Israeli government is trying to erase its past and create a new one. more.. Thousands gather in Beirut to celebrate Halutz resignation Ha’aretz 1/17/2007 Thousands of Lebanese gathered in Beirut on Wednesday to celebrate the resignation of Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Dan Halutz by setting off fireworks and shooting in the air. Lebanese opposition supporters in Beirut, who have been camped outside Prime Minister Fuad Siniora’s office for over a month calling on his government to resign, staged the event. Meanwhile, Halutz’s resignation opened the news on television stations throughout the Arab world. Hezbollah representatives said his resignation was a historic event that affirmed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s claim that Israel lost in the second Lebanon war. A Lebanese parliamentary member on behalf of Hezbollah told Al-Manar television that "the war ended as Sheikh Nasrallah said: It was a holy and strategic victory. Halutz is the first victim of the victory." more.. Metzger: Inaction on Iran a ’grave sin’ Jerusalem Post 1/18/2007 Radical Islam has a lot to learn from Judaism and Christianity about morality and humanitarianism, Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger, who was in Rome to participate in an international conference on Judaism and inter-faith dialogue organized by the Vatican, said Wednesday. "Radical Islam unabashedly advocates using children as human shields, encouraging suicide bombers and other unconventional and immoral warfare tactics," Metzger said after the conference in a telephone interview from Rome with The Jerusalem Post. "And they do all this under the banner of Islam." During his speech, which focused on Judaism’s contribution to humanitarianism, Metzger called on Europe to shake off its apathy to burgeoning Islamic radicalism...." After the threats come the actions." more.. Ahmadinejad: Israel and the U.S. would not dare attack Iran Ha’aretz 1/17/2007 Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said neither Israel, nor the United States, would dare attack the Islamic Republic over its nuclear program, a Spanish newspaper quoted him as saying in an interview. The Iranian president was responding to a question on a recent article by Britain’s Sunday Times that Israel had secret plans to destroy Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities with tactical nuclear weapons. "They well know the power of the Iranian people. I don’t think they would ever dare to attack us, neither them nor their masters. They won’t do such a stupid thing," Ahmadinejad told El Mundo during a visit to Nicaragua, referring to Israel. Conservative Iranian leaders, such as Ahmadinejad, see Israel as a stooge of the United States in the Middle East. more.. Rabbi Metzger: Ahmadinejad is ’trying to imitate Hitler’ Ha’aretz 1/17/2007 ROME - Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi Yona Metzger on Wednesday accused Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of "trying to imitate Hitler" and urged the international community to isolate him. "I urge the heads of state of the whole world and the United Nations to do everything possible to stop the threat that Iran poses to my people and my country," Rabbi Metzger said at a inter-religious conference with Vatican officials in Rome. "(Ahmadinejad) is trying to imitate Hitler, hurling grave warnings against the Jewish people, who find themselves under an existential threat from the leader of Iran, who is invoking the destruction of my people," Metzger said, adding that "Not taking a position against a threat is worse than the threat itself," he added. In the past year, Ahmadinejad has launched repeated verbal attacks against Israel. more.. Minister’s warning as Israeli military chief quits The Guardian 1/17/2007 Israel’s enemies should not see the resignation of the Israeli army’s chief of staff over the flawed war in Lebanon as "a sign of weakness", the country’s defence minister, Amir Peretz, said today. Lieutenant General Dan Halutz announced he was stepping down due to his "responsibility" over the 34-day conflict, which was widely criticised within Israel for failing to crush Hizbullah. Mr Peretz said he regretted the general’s decision, describing it as "premature". He added that he was "sorry he won’t be with us to complete the task" of restoring the army after the war last summer." Do not misinterpret the army chief’s decision to resign as a sign of weakness," Mr Peretz - who also faces criticism over the outcome of the conflict - added. more.. Palestinians launch on-line resistance Jerusalem Post 1/18/2007 Hamas’s armed wing, Izaddin Kassam [Ezzedeen AlQassam Brigades], launched its first English language Web site on Wednesday. The group, which is responsible for dozens of suicide and rocket attacks against Israel, already has a Web site in Arabic [www. alqassam. ps]. Palestinian Authority officials in Ramallah told The Jerusalem Post that the new site was launched thanks to money raised by Hamas leaders during their recent visits to some Arab and Islamic countries." Hamas has collected millions of dollars to improve its information campaign," said one official. "Hamas’s official web site, The Palestinian Information Center, recently underwent a major face-lift that cost tens of thousands of dollars." In addition to Arabic, English, French and Russian, The Palestinian Information Center, which was inaugurated in 1997, also publishes in Melayu... -- See also: Ezzedeen AlQassam Brigades and Palestinian Information Center more.. Tehran largest donor in £500m Muslim pledges to Palestinians The Guardian 1/16/2007 Iran has become the single biggest donor to the Palestinian Authority, replacing the European Union, according to a senior official in the Hamas government. Ahmed Yusuf, an adviser to Ismail Haniya, the Palestinian prime minister, said Hamas ministers had received promises of donations amounting to £500m in recent travels around the Muslim world. The largest pledge was from Iran. This latest example of Iran’s increasing influence will add to the panic gripping the US, Israel, Saudi and the Gulf states about the speed of Tehran’s expansion as a regional power. Their concerns have given a push to a new Israeli-Palestinian peace initiative announced by US officials yesterday. They said the US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, who is in the region, is hoping to hold joint talks within the next few weeks [with Abbas and Olmert]... more.. PM emphatically denies deal with Syrians Jerusalem Post 1/17/2007 Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday categorically denied a report that Israelis held secret talks and reached agreements with Syrian representatives between September 2004 to July 2006, saying that such talks "never existed - there wasn’t even a fable [about it]." Speaking during a tour of the West Bank, the prime minister said that no one had informed him of any such event taking place. "I didn’t know anything, and no one in the government knew," he said. "No government officials were involved in this matter." Olmert called the alleged agreement, which was released in Ha’aretz on Tuesday, a "private initiative of someone speaking to himself," adding that it was "not serious and not dignified, and there is no need to waste words beyond what has been said until now." more.. U.S. officials: Cheney was kept abreast of Israel-Syria talks Ha’aretz 1/17/2007 Senior American government officials received regular reports of the secret meetings that took place in Europe between a former Israeli official and a Syrian representative, Haaretz has learned. Senior officials in Washington told Haaretz that U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney was kept in the picture about these indirect talks between Syria and Israel. Ibrahim (Ayeb) Suleiman, the Syrian representative, also said this at his meetings with former Foreign Ministry director general Alon Liel, adding that Cheney had made no move to stop him from participating in the talks. Suleiman is a Washington resident. A document that Dr. Nimrod Novik, a former political advisor to Vice Premier Shimon Peres, disseminated last October to members of the Council for Peace and Security also said that Washington knew about the talks. more.. Israel knew of secret peace talks with Syria, say officials The Independent 1/17/2007 Israeli officials have confirmed that the Foreign Ministry knew about a series of peace talks that have taken place in Europe between Syrians and an Israeli team headed by a former senior diplomat. The teams discussed Israel handing back the Golan Heights, which it has occupied since the Six Day War in 1967, to Syria under a formula providing for President Bashar Assad to stop giving support to Hamas and Hizbollah and to distance his regime from Iran. The news that Israelis and Syrians held seven meetings up to August - after the start of the Lebanon war - has fuelled the debate in Israel’s security establishment over whether President Assad’s recent peace overtures should be taken seriously. The Israeli interlocutors included Alon Liel, the former director general of the Foreign Ministry, and the talks were attended by a "mediator" from an unnamed European country. more.. Olmert offers carrot for recognising Israel The Australian 1/16/2007 ISRAELI Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has promised sweeping moves towards Palestinian sovereignty if a new unity government in the occupied territories commits to recognising the Jewish state. Mr Olmert last night told visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that Israel’s concessions to Palestinian statehood would be unprecedented if deadlocked talks between warring Palestinian factions succeeded in moderating the ruling Hamas administration. Hours before she departed for the Arab world, Dr Rice said the US would devote substantial resources over coming months to reactivating the peace process. Both Jerusalem and Washington have been trying to strengthen Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in a move that has pitched his Fatah party into deadly conflicts with the Hamas-led Government of Ismail Haniya. more.. US: Fatah-Hamas violence helps Israel Jerusalem Post 1/16/2007 The current internal Palestinian violence is good for Israel since it "shows the Palestinians that terror is not in their interests, because it will be directed against them," US Ambassador Richard Jones said Tuesday in an exclusive interview with The Jerusalem Post. Jones, in his first interview with the Israeli press since taking over as ambassador in September 2005, said when asked of Israel’s policy of restraint in Gaza that it was succeeding in impressing upon the Palestinians that Hamas is to blame for their current woes. "You [Israel] have given Gaza a little breathing space," he said. "You are still operating in the West Bank, you are still fighting terror there, because you didn’t extend the cease-fire there. If you look vis- -vis Gaza, Israel is no longer doing anything against the Palestinians in Gaza [sic], but still bad things are happening to Palestinians..." more.. Palestinian factions up their demands for the prisoner exchange deal involving abducted Israeli Gilad Shalit Ma’an News Agency 1/16/2007 Gaza - Dr Osama al-Muzini, a Hamas leader close to Israeli abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, has said that Hamas, along with three other movements, have agreed to increase their demands of the number of Palestinian detainees to be released in exchange for Shalit. Al-Muzini ensured Ma’an, "For Israeli attempts to delay the execution of settled agreements, they will pay the price; we’ll increase the demand of the number of detainees in Israeli jails to be released." He also stressed that Palestinan factions will not accept the last agreements, all factions will specify the new number of Palestinians to be released when Egyptian mediators resume talks on the subject. [end] Noam Shalit to meet his son’s captors Ma’an News Agency 1/16/2007 Jerusalem - According to the London-based Arabic newspaper ’Al Hayat’, the captors of Gilad Shalit have agreed to meet with his father, Noam. Gilad was kidnapped by Palestinians whilst serving in Gaza with the Israeli army. Attempts at a prisoner exchange, which would involve the release of Gilad, in exchange for many Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli jails, have so far been unsuccessful. Al Hayat reported that Noam requested to meet his sons’ captors, especially, the leader of the group, Momtaz Dughmush. It was reported that Dughmush has agreed to the meeting. [end] IDF removes 44 dirt barriers from West Bank villages Ha’aretz 1/17/2007 The Israel Defense Forces announced Tuesday that it recently removed 44 dirt barriers that were located near Palestinian villages in the West Bank. In recent years, the army established nearly 400 barriers and permanent roadblocks. The move is one of a series of steps aimed at easing restrictions on the Palestinians that were announced following the December 24 meeting between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. The IDF had previously announced it was easing the security checks at 16 central West Bank checkpoints. A reserve soldier was lightly injured Tuesday when a burning tire exploded near the West Bank village of Qibya, northwest of Ramallah. Palestinians placed ammunition in the tire and then set it ablaze near the separation fence. more.. PM calls for ease of Palestinian movement at W. Bank crossings Ha’aretz 1/16/2007 On a tour of new crossing terminals along the West Bank separation barrier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday called on security forces to make movement easier for Palestinians. Olmert told military and civilian officials in charge of the crossings to cut down the time it takes Palestinian civilians and merchandise to enter Israel. Olmert said 44 of 160 West Bank roadblocks have been dismantled, and that was only the first stage. "The defense establishment is making a tremendous effort to reduce the number of roadblocks, to ease movement in Judea and Samaria, and to make a significant contribution to the residents’ quality of life," he said. Dismantling the roadblocks was a key promise Olmert made following a summit meeting with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on December 24, 2006. more.. U.S. policies have made Israel less safe, experts say McClatchy Newspapers 1/12/2007 JERUSALEM - After years of supporting the Bush administration’s policy in the Middle East, a growing number of Israelis are openly criticizing the United States for creating more, not less, danger for Israel. Israeli experts contend that American policies have destabilized Iraq, emboldened anti-Western forces from Iran to Lebanon and paved the way for militant Islamists to gain control of the Palestinian Authority. "The threats to Middle East security and stability worsened in 2006," experts at Tel Aviv University’s Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies recently warned. "The American failure in Iraq has hurt the standing of the U.S. in the Middle East." Perhaps most strikingly, in their annual evaluation of the situation, the Israeli analysts concluded that it was better for the United States to get out of Iraq than to add troops, as President Bush is proposing. -- See also: Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies more.. US President Bush expected to extend invitation next week for tripartite meeting in Washington Palestine News Network 1/16/2007 Washington and Tel Aviv agreed they would not recognize any future Palestinian government unless it applies conditions set forth by the Quartet. The US Secretary of State and Israeli Prime Minister agreed during their three hour meeting on Monday to invite President Abbas for a tripartite meeting. As of Tuesday, however, it is expected that US President Bush will extend an invitation next week to both President Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Olmert to go to Washington. This was the second meeting between Rice and Olmert since her latest visit to the Middle East began, held the day after she met with President Abbas. During the President’s meeting with the US Secretary of State he refused to accept establishing a Palestinian state with temporary borders saying it is not “a realistic option that can be built upon. ” more.. Rice, Saudi king discuss Iraq, Israel-Palestinian conflict Ha’aretz 1/16/2007 U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has held talks with Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah on violence in neighboring Iraq and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The talks were also expected to tackle the standoff between the West and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program. "All developments on the regional and international arenas were discussed, foremost of which was the Palestinian issue and the situation in Iraq," the official Saudi Press Agency said of the late Monday night talks. A Saudi official said on Monday Iran had asked Saudi Arabia, a U.S. ally, to help ease tensions between the Islamic Republic and the United States, as Washington held out the possibility of "engagement" with Tehran if it changed tack in Iraq. -- See also: Saudi Arabia denies intermediary role between US, Iran on nuclear issue more.. Secret understandings reached between representatives of Israel, Syria Ha’aretz 1/16/2007 In a series of secret meetings in Europe between September 2004 and July 2006, Syrians and Israelis formulated understandings for a peace agreement between Israel and Syria.... The document is described as a "non-paper," a document of understandings that is not signed and lacks legal standing - its nature is political. It was prepared in August 2005 and has been updated during a number of meetings in Europe... The main points of the understandings are as follows: An agreement of principles will be signed between the two countries, and following the fulfillment of all commitments, a peace agreement will be signed. / As part of the agreement on principles, Israel will withdraw from the Golan Heights to the lines of 4 June, 1967. The timetable for the withdrawal remained open... -- See also: EXCLUSIVE: Full text of document drafted during secret talks and BACKGROUND: From Turkey, via Europe, to Damascus more.. Israel announces settlement expansion as Rice meets Olmert Middle East Online 1/15/2007 Palestinians warn move would jeopardize roadmap, Abbas rejects temporary Mideast peace deal. -- Israel announced a settlement expansion in the West Bank Monday, dealing a blow to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as she held talks with Israel’s premier on jumpstarting the dormant Middle East peace process. The housing ministry invited bids for construction of 44 new housing units in the largest settlement in the occupied West Bank, Maale Adumim. The news of the first tenders announced this year came as Rice and Olmert were meeting one-on-one for more than two hours at the premier’s Jerusalem residence. Palestinians and the Peace Now anti-settlement watchdog group warned the move jeopardized the international roadmap to Middle East peace -- a plan that Rice has been pushing on her regional tour. more.. Haniyeh: Rice vision ’perilous’ to ME Jerusalem Post 1/16/2007 A three-way meeting between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice agreed upon Monday is meant to give momentum to Israeli-Palestinian discussions, and also to keep other initiatives - such as a Madrid-style peace conference - at bay for the time being. Olmert announced the summit following a three-hour meeting he held at his Jerusalem residence with Rice. All but about 30 minutes of that meeting was held behind closed doors, without staff in attendance. Sources in the Prime Minister’s Office said the purpose of the trilateral talks would be to "add another dynamic" into the current discussions that are taking place, and will continue to take place on a nearly daily basis, between Olmert’s and Abbas’s offices. more.. American image overhaul in PA YNetNews 1/15/2007 Aggressive campaign by USAID offices in Israel, Palestinian territories aimed at improving America’s image among Palestinians; ‘Americans think they can buy our sympathy with pretty pictures, but we know that the economic situation we are facing now is a direct result of them boycotting our government,’ Ramallah resident says -- RAMALLAH - The colorful billboard stands tall on a wall in the center of Ramallah showing a girl dreaming of becoming a teacher. Another one grabs the attention of passersby with the picture of a boy holding a stethoscope imagining himself as a doctor. The sentence atthe bottom reveals a deeper thought and inspiration: “We support your future. ” These kinds of posters, placed around the inner city of Ramallah, are frequent reminders of an aggressive campaign by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)... more.. BACKGROUND: From Turkey, via Europe, to Damascus Ha’aretz 1/16/2007 It began exactly three years ago. In January 2004, Syrian President Bashar Assad came to Turkey for an important visit, some say a historic one. By complete coincidence, Dr. Alon Liel, a former Foreign Ministry director general and former Israeli ambassador to Ankara, was in Istanbul and staying at the same hotel as the Syrian delegation. His friends in the Turkish Foreign Ministry hinted to Liel that Israel had a respectable spot in the conversations between Assad and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. A few days after Liel’s return to Israel, he was invited to a meeting with the Turkish ambassador to Israel, Feridun Sinirlioglu. The Turkish ambassador told Liel that Assad had asked Erdogan to use Turkey’s good relations with Israel to remove the rust from the negotiation channel with Syria. -- See also: Secret understandings reached between representatives of Israel, Syria and EXCLUSIVE: Full text of document drafted during secret talks more.. Hamas says will never recognize Israel YNetNews 1/16/2007 Haniyeh insists Hamas will never acknowledge Israel, hopeful about faltering unity gov’t talks with Fatah, wants Barghouti as part of Shalit deal -- Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said on Monday the Islamist militant group Hamas would never recognize Israel. "Haniyeh, a Hamas leader, said in an interview from Gaza with Lebanese guerrilla group Hizbullah’s al-Manar television: "Hamas will never recognize the legitimacy of the occupation." Hamas took control of the Palestinian government last March after winning parliamentary elections a year ago.... Haniyeh renewed his rejection of Abbas’ election call. He said Hamas would never agree to conditions set by Western powers, which also included accepting previous interim peace accords signed in the 1990s by the Palestine Liberation Organization with Israel. more.. Hamas warns that any Israeli assault on Gaza will be defeated Ma’an News Agency 1/15/2007 Gaza - On Monday the Hamas movement confirmed that they are ready to retaliate to any Israeli assault on the Palestinian people. A leader of the Hamas movement, Hamad Ar-Raqab, said in a statement that Hamas, "Will be ready, as usual, to defend the Palestinian people." He said that Israeli threats come as an attempt by the Olmert government to retain his army’s dignity after they were defeated by the Lebanese resistance in Lebanon and after they failed in their operation, ’scattered illusions,’ which aimed to bring back Gilad Shalit. Ar-Raqab warned that "any Israeli adventure in the Gaza Strip will be doomed to failure, since Palestinian resistance fighters will respond to it courageously. [end] Hamas official: Israel will regret rejecting Egyptian bid on Shalit Ha’aretz 1/15/2007 A Hamas official said Monday that Israel will regret its decision to reject a deal mediated by Egypt for the release of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit. According to member of Hamas’ political bureau in Gaza Osama al-Mazeyni, in any future negotiations the group will double the number of prisoners demanded in exchange for Shalit. He said also that the senior officials involved in the negotiations with Israel do not know where Shalit is held by his abductors. Gilad Shalit was abducted by Palestinian militants on June 25, 2006 and Israel has been negotiating with Hamas over his return ever since. The major stumbling block in talks has been the number and identity of prisoners it would release in exchange for the kidnapped soldier. [end] Shin Bet: Global sanctions on Hamas bolstering Iran-PA ties Ha’aretz 1/14/2007 The global sanctions imposed on the Hamas-led Palestinian government are actually strengthening Palestinian relations with Iran, the director of the Shin Bet security services told ministers on Sunday during a weekly cabinet meeting, Army Radio reported. Yuval Diskin told ministers that the embargo placed on the leading Palestinian party since its ascension to power last year has led Iran to increase its support of the Palestinians, according to the radio. "Tehran is offering training and a lot of money," Diskin said. The Shin Bet chief also told the cabinet that the increase in violent clashes between the rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah has increased the chances that a unity government will be established in the Palestinian Authority. Diskin also reported significant advances in negotiations over the formation of the unity government. more.. Rice: Fear of Israeli strike on Iran shows risk of nukes issue Ha’aretz 1/14/2007 U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, on a visit to the Middle East, said Sunday in an interview with Channel 10 that speculation about an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities underscored the risk of failing to persuade Tehran to halt uranium enrichment. Rice said she believed there was still "plenty of room for diplomacy" in curbing an Iranian nuclear program that Western powers fear could lead to making bombs. Asked for her view of an Israeli military operation in Iran should diplomacy fail, she replied: "Well, I think that even talk of such just shows how very serious it would be to have Iran continue its program unabated." Meanwhile, the commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Sunday the United States, Britain and Israel were an "axis of evil" trying to drive a wedge between Shi’ite and Sunni Muslims. more.. Jordan: U.S. must ’actively push’ to revive Mideast peace efforts Ha’aretz 1/14/2007 Jordanian King Abdullah II told visiting U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Sunday that Washington must "actively push" for reviving Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts and warned that violence would escalate if no tangible solution was found to the lingering conflict. Abdullah also warned that Iraqi reconciliation would fail if Sunni Iraqis were not engaged in their country’s decision making." Any political process that doesn’t ensure the participation of all segments of Iraqi society will fail and will lead to more violence," Abdullah told Rice in a closed-door meeting in Amman, according to a statement by his press office. "As a key component of the Iraqi social fabric, the Iraqi Sunni community must be included as partners in building Iraq’s future," said the king, a top U.S. ally in the Mideast. more.. President Abbas rejects ’temporary solutions’ during meeting with US Secretary of State Palestine News Network 1/14/2007 President Abbas met with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in his Ramallah offices this afternoon. The President said that he discussed a number of issues with Rice, at the top being the peace process, which in order to be meaningful must be provided certain provisions such as ending the 1967 Israeli occupation as stipulated in the Road Map, and the realization of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as capital. President Abbas and the US Secretary of State held a joint press conference after the meeting in Ramallah. President Abbas told the press conference, “In order to give the political process the chance it deserves and to restore any credibility, all Israeli settlement activity must immediately cease, as must the Wall, land annexation, the siege and closures imposed on our land and our people in all its forms..." more.. Army chief: IDF not readying for war with Syria Ha’aretz 1/15/2007 Chief of Staff Dan Halutz rejected yesterday the suggestion that the Israel Defense Forces were preparing for the possibility of war with Syria in the summer. In response to a question during the weekly cabinet meeting yesterday, on the validity of reports in the press regarding such preparations, Halutz said that "none of the reports are true, but we are always ready for any eventuality, but there is nothing definite." Halutz also warned that "sometimes speculations may lead to results that no one wants." Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin told the cabinet that the "infighting has reached proportions that we never saw before," in reference to the clashes between Fatah and Hamas. He added that even though the Palestinian public is accustomed to hardship, the internecine fighting has shocked the population. more.. Palestinian Peoples Party accuses Israeli extremists of escalating conflict in the Palestinian arena Ma’an News Agency 1/15/2007 Khan Younis - The Palestinian People’s Party (P. P. P. ), on Monday accused Israeli extremists of attempting to escalate the Palestinian conflictual situation at a time when everyone is endeavouring to achieve unity. The P. P. P. portrayed Israeli threats to invade the Gaza Strip as useless; since they know the Gazan resistance groups are ready to blockade the invasion, whatever the cost will be. For his part, the leading figure of the P. P. P. , Imad Asfoor, warned what he called, the "Israeli government’s criminals," that their adventure will not be fruitful. The P. P. P. official confirmed the necessity of paving the way for a unity government, through the enhancement of the role of the security services, who will impose law and order as preconditions for unity dialogue. [end] Book: Israel, Lobby Pushing Iran War By Nathan Guttman, Forward 12/29/2006 A former United Nations weapons inspector and leading Iraq War opponent has written a new book alleging that Jerusalem is pushing the Bush administration into war with Iran, and accusing the pro-Israel lobby of dual loyalty and “outright espionage. ” -- In the new book, called “Target Iran,” Scott Ritter, who served as a senior U. N. weapons inspector in Iraq from 1991 to 1998 and later became one of the war’s staunchest critics, argues that the United States is readying for military action against Iran, using its nuclear program as a pretext for pursuing regime change in Tehran. “The Bush administration, with the able help of the Israeli government and the pro-Israel Lobby, has succeeded,” Ritter writes, “in exploiting the ignorance of the American people... If there is an American war with Iran, it is a war that was made in Israel..." more.. UNIFIL troop strength and humanitarian activities Electronic Intifada/UNIFIL 1/15/2007 Naqoura, Lebanon - The number of peacekeepers serving in UNIFIL has risen to 11,570, comprised of soldiers from 27 countries, 9,660 ground troops and 1,758 naval personnel. In addition to its core mandated activities UNIFIL continues providing humanitarian assistance to the civilian population. Between 7 - 13 January, there were 213 instances where UNIFIL peacekeepers provided medical assistance, 34 instances where they provided dental care, and 12 occasions in which veterinary services were provided. Meanwhile, between 6 - 13 January, UNIFIL de-miners from various national contingents destroyed 1,403 separate explosive devices. These include rockets, grenades, cluster bombs, anti- tank and anti-personnel mines. more.. Use of new Red Crystal finally allows Israel to join Red Cross Ha’aretz 1/14/2007 GENEVA - The world’s largest relief organization, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, on Sunday began using a third emblem whose adoption allowed Israel to join after a decades-long struggle. The red crystal on a white background is an alternative to either the cross or the crescent and is intended to provide protection to relief workers operating in areas of conflict. Both the Israeli Magen David Adom (MDA) and the Palestinian Red Crescent emergency services joined the umbrella relief organization in June 2006, six months after the movement’s signatory states and national societies agreed to the new emblem at a specially convened conference. Israel’s MDA had resisted using the cross and crescent because of their links to Christianity and Islam. more.. Alan Dershowitz seeks to grill Jimmy Carter on Israel book Ha’aretz 1/12/2007 BOSTON - Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter should face "very hard questions" over his controversial book on Israel, civil rights lawyer Alan Dershowitz said on Thursday, as Carter faced a revolt from some of his own supporters. Jewish groups have expressed outrage at "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid," arguing its comparison of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians with South Africa’s former system of racial segregation could undermine perceptions of Israel’s legitimacy. Fourteen of the Carter Center advisory group’s 200 members resigned on Thursday, saying they were "deeply troubled" by the book and public comments by Carter, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for helping mediate global conflicts. more.. Rice heads for Mideast to sell new Iraq plan Daily Star 1/13/2007 Some fear bid to revive Palestinian-Israeli peace process will be lost in the shuffle -- US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice left for the Middle East on Friday to promote Washington’s newly unveiled strategy for the Iraq war and to increase pressure on Iran over its alleged interference in Iraq. Amid fears that Rice’s focus on Iraq and Iran could overshadow efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Arab mediators were seeking to bring together Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal in a bid to defuse the deadly power struggle between their two parties, officials in Gaza said Friday. Rice departed in the evening for talks today and Sunday in Israel and the Palestinian Territories, before traveling to Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. more.. Madrid meeting proposes Arab role in ’Quartet’ Daily Star 1/13/2007 MADRID: An international meeting in Madrid on Friday acknowledged progress had run into the sand and urged concrete steps to revive it, including Arab participation in the diplomatic "Quartet." An internationally backed "road map" for peace, launched in 2003, has stalled and the Spanish chairmanship of this week’s meeting of politicians, diplomats and private individuals - many of whom attended the 1991 Middle East conference - said no time should be lost in "creating the political will tragically missing today." Spanish Foreign Minister and former EU Mideast envoy Miguel Angel Moratinos, who has been lobbying hard for Spain to host another conference, Friday proposed Arab participation in the Quartet as a step forward." The moment has come to open up [the Quartet] to the Arab world," Moratinos told the meeting. more.. Haniyeh describes Rice’s visit as an attempt to bypass Palestinian legitimacy Ma’an News Agency 1/12/2007 Haniyeh in Gaza in December (Maans)Gaza - Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh has on Friday undermined US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s expected visit to the region. He portrayed it as part of an American-Israeli to bypass Palestinian legitimacy. In a press conference held in front of the Tawhid mosque in Ash-Shati (Beach) refugee camp in Gaza City, he said, "The Palestinian people will not accept any intervention in domestic affairs and the formation of a Palestinian national unity government will be according to Palestinian demands rather than American orders." Haniyeh rejected any attempts to thwart a deal to exchange Palestinian prisoners with the Israeli captured soldier Shalit, believed to be held in Gaza. "Everybody who plans to frustrate the prisoners’ exchange will be accountable to God..." more.. Hamas accepted a prisoners’ exchange deal brokered by Egypt but Israel back-tracked, Al-Hayat claims Ma’an News Agency 1/12/2007 Bethlehem - The Hamas movement has received an Egyptian proposal for a prisoners’ exchange deal in which the captured Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, will be freed in exchange for the release of 1,429 Palestinian prisoners in three stages, Palestinian sources have told the London-based, pan-Arab newspaper "Al-Hayat". The sources added that Israel has initially approved the deal, which culminates six months of Egyptian efforts and negotiations. Nevertheless, the Israeli authorities went back on their promise under the pretext that the time isn’t ripe for such a deal. The sources, which are close to Hamas, referred to the fact that the first stage of the deal comprises of the release of 450 long-term Palestinian prisoners and the handing over of Shalit to the Egyptians. more.. Gemayel denies comments reported by Israeli media Daily Star 1/13/2007 BEIRUT: Former President Amin Gemayel on Friday denied telling an Israeli newspaper that the two Israeli troops captured by Hizbullah in July are still alive, saying he had "no information" about their status. Israel’s Maariv newspaper quoted Gemayel and a second Lebanese politician on Friday as saying the two soldiers "were alive" and that they hoped the soldiers would "return home in good health." Gemayel’s office, who said he had been participating in the international conference in Madrid to revive the Middle East peace process, issued a statement saying he "completely denies" speaking to any Israeli media about any issue. "With regards to the matter of the fate of the two captive Israeli soldiers, President Gemayel does not possess any information about this matter and he is in no capacity to speak about it," the statement added. more.. Gemayel denies saying reservists alive Jerusalem Post 1/12/2007 Former Lebanese president Amin Gemayel denied on Friday that he had said that captured IDF reservists Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev were alive and would hopefully return home safely. Goldwasser’s mother, Miki, told Army Radio that she was happy to hear Gemayel’s remarks, which had been reported by Ma’ariv. "It is great," she said. "I hope that with a little more pressure from mothers in Lebanon we will succeed in doing what maybe politicians don’t do. We want our sons home." Goldwasser went on to say that she believed that from the outset a solution to the issue would be found within one or two months. "Every possible price must be paid to secure the release of soldiers that were sent on a mission by the state," she added. more.. Middle East conference in Madrid hopes to revive peace efforts Ma’an News Agency 1/12/2007 Madrid - An informal international Middle East peace conference opened in the Spanish capital, Madrid on Thursday morning, 15 years after the first Madrid Conference which preceded the Oslo peace process. The participants in the Madrid+15 conference, who include Palestinians, Israelis, Egyptians, Syrians, Lebanese, Jordanians and Saudi Arabians in addition to a number of European and American dignitaries, have stressed the need for a greater international focus on reaching a Middle East peace settlement. Several Palestinian dignitaries are participating in the conference, including the following Palestinian Legislative Council members: Mustafa Barghouthi, Hanan Ashrawi, Jibreel Rajoub, Muhammad Shtayya, Sufian Abu Zaida and Nabil Sha’ath. more.. Syria diplomat: No preconditions to negotiations with Israel Ha’aretz 1/12/2007 Damascus will not accept any preconditions over entering negotiations with Israel, Syrian delegation head to a Middle-East conference in Madrid, Riad Daoudi, said on Friday. Daoudi, the top legal adviser to Syrian President Bashar Assad and to the Foreign Ministry in Damascus, responded to MK Ophir Paz-Pines’ (Labor) criticism of Syria’s support of Palestinian Islamic group Hamas and close ties with Iran. He said that those issues could be discussed in the future as part of possible talks, but that in any case Hamas and Iran play a significant role in the area and cannot be ignored. The second Madrid conference, which commemorates the 15-year anniversary of the historic 1991 Madrid Peace Conference, began Thursday morning. more.. Arab League Chief: an International Conference on Middle East Peace Welcomed International Middle East Media Center 1/12/2007 Chief of Arab States League, Amr Mussa, stated Friday that a number of 1991 Madrid Peace Conference members welcomed the initiative to hold a similar world peace conference on Middle East peace. Before heading for Algeria to attend a special ceremony on the would-be the cultural Arab capital, Mussa told reporters that any Middle East peace conference should be held under the auspices of the United Nations not any other country. Mussa earlier stressed that solving the question of Palestine on basis of international justice would help tackle other regional concerns. He also called for holding an international conference on Middle East in order to revive the peace process, provided that timing and goals of such a conference should be predetermined. In the meantime, King of Jordan, Abdullah II, called on Washington... more.. Security Council Report: Update report - OPT No. 2 ReliefWeb/Security Council Report 1/12/2007 Expected Council Action - Indonesia circulated on 9 January a draft presidential statement on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Initially it seemed the draft would meet the same fate as many other draft statements and resolutions on this subject. But there are signs that an important breakthrough is possible. After consultations among experts on 10 and 11 January, it seems possible that the Council will adopt a final version of the statement before the end of the week. But given past history and other contentious issues currently in play, a successful outcome is not assured. - Key Recent Developments - On 23 December 2006, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem. They discussed the reviving of the peace process... more.. UN denies media reports of Israeli incursion Electronic Intifada/UN News 1/12/2007 The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon today denied media reports claiming that the Israeli military forces recently carried out an incursion over the Blue Line separating the two countries. "There was no violation of the Blue Line," UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Commander Major-General Alain Pellegrini said in a statement. "Members of the Israel Defence Forces were carrying out regular maintenance work on the technical fence near the village of Ayta Chaab. Throughout their maintenance work, they remained south of the Blue Line," he added. UNIFIL, originally created in 1978, was strengthened last August to monitor the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hizbollah in southern Lebanon after a 34-day war. [end] Livni to visit Japan, discuss Iran ties Jerusalem Post 1/12/2007 Stopping Iran’s nuclear march will be one of the major focuses of talks Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni will have next week in Japan, one of the world’s largest consumers of Iranian crude oil. Despite Japan’s oil dependence - it imports 550,000 barrels of Iranian crude a day, or about 14 percent of its oil needs - diplomatic officials in Jerusalem said that unlike some other countries in the region, such as China, Japan does not need to be persuaded to take action to stop Iran’s nuclear march. The country, according to diplomatic officials, is looking for ways to diversify its oil supply. Currently Japan imports some 85 percent of its oil needs from the Middle East. Three leading Japanese banks decided in September to follow the US lead and refrain from doing business with Iran’s state-run Bank Saderat. more.. Peretz rejects claims of imminent war Jerusalem Post 1/11/2007 Defense Minister Amir Peretz sent out a message of calm on Thursday and vehemently rejected claims of an impending war this summer." There is no evaluation whatsoever that Israel is preparing for a war in the summer," Peretz told Labor Faction members, adding that in the event of any confrontation, "the IDF will be ready." "However," stressed Peretz, "there is no information indicating that a war will break out." # Herzog: Stop talk of impending warThe defense minister was responding to various comments made recently by Israeli officials about the IDF preparing for a renewal of fighting in the North." I urge everyone to be careful with their remarks," Peretz said. Concerning the IDF’s preparedness for another confrontation, many question marks have been raised. more.. Mideast quartet peace mediators delay meeting - UN ReliefWeb 1/11/2007 UNITED NATIONS, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Plans for a meeting of the quartet of major-power Middle East mediators later this month have been indefinitely postponed due to a scheduling conflict, U. N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday. The quartet of the United States, Russia, the United Nations and the European Union, seeking to resuscitate the near-dead Middle East peace process, had tentatively been set to meet Jan. 25 in Paris on the sidelines of an international conference on the reconstruction of Lebanon." But we found there was a scheduling conflict, and we are now pushing to have that quartet meeting convene as soon as possible," Ban told a news conference at U. N. headquarters." It is very important to re-energize the process at this time, to help facilitate the peace process in the Middle East," Ban said. more.. Red Cross adds ’red crystal’ to symbolize recent acceptance of Israeli relief agency Daily Star 1/13/2007 GENEVA: The Red Cross said on Friday that a "red crystal" will be adopted next week as a new emblem, joining the existing Red Cross and Red Crescent symbols of the international organization. The symbol - really the red outline of a square standing on its edge - has been designed chiefly with Israel’s Magen David Adom (MDA, or Red Star of David) organization in mind. The Israeli organization was previously excluded from the Red Cross movement because its emblem was deemed not to conform with the organization’s rules. The adoption of the emblem follows a conference agreement last June, which itself came after a landmark accord in December 2005 between the MDA and the Palestinian Red Crescent, which amounted to formal political recognition. more.. Sharon warned Bush of Saddam threat Jerusalem Post 1/12/2007 Former prime minister Ariel Sharon told President George W. Bush ahead of the US-led invasion of Iraq of the dangers Saddam Hussein posed for the region, but also warned him that the Arab world would not be receptive to democracy, former ambassador to the US Danny Ayalon told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday. Ayalon, who sat in on numerous Bush-Sharon meetings, said the US and Israel held close consultations during the run-up to the war, but that Sharon was very careful not to advocate any particular American action. Ayalon said he served as "Sharon’s watchdog," ensuring that when officials from the Defense or Foreign ministries came to Washington they would give US officials a "true analysis, but never cross the line of recommending policy." more.. PM dismisses Meshal comments that Israel’s existence is a reality Ha’aretz 1/11/2007 Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Thursday shrugged off comments by Hamas’ Damascus-based political chief Khaled Meshal, in which he acknowledged the existence of Israel. Meshal, whose Hamas movement leads the Palestinian government, told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday that Israel is a "matter of fact," apparently softening a previous refusal to accept that Israel’s existence. Olmert, asked by reporters accompanying him on a visit to China about Meshal’s acceptance of Israel as a state that will endure, said: "Does that mean we weren’t until now?" "Should I be expected to check what he said? Should I be expected to read what he said?" Olmert added, shrugging as he toured Beijing’s Forbidden City. more.. Hamas: Dahlan foiled the Prisoners’ Swap Deal International Middle East Media Center 1/11/2007 Hamas accused on Thursday, MP and fatah Leader Mohammad Dahlan of foiling the prisoners’ swap deal between Palestinian resistance groups and Israel which was about to be reached, said the Palestine Information Center. A Hamas political leader in the Gaza Strip said that Dahlan promised Israeli leaders that he will find the captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit who has been captured and held since June 25, 2006. In a televised speech, Osama Al-Muzaini, charged that Dahalan said he will intensify his “intelligence efforts” in the strip and find the whereabouts of Shalit, which, according to Hamas’ claims urged Israeli officials to rescind their approval of the initiative mediated by Egyptian intelligence chief, Omar Suleiman. The deal was about to be reached as it was very close to the demands of the three groups holding the captured soldier. more.. Rice arriving in region as US frets over weak PM Jerusalem Post 1/11/2007 The US administration is concerned by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s weak public standing and unsure of what or how much he can deliver, diplomatic sources said Thursday on the eve of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s journey to the region. According to the sources, Olmert’s political woes have undermined his stature in the eyes of the administration, and although he is liked personally in Washington he is not deemed a leader with the political capital able to deliver - an assessment similar to the one Washington has of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. For this reason, according to diplomatic sources in Jerusalem, it is unlikely that Rice will be carrying any dramatic initiative with her on her current visit. more.. Syrian official in Madrid calls for fresh negotiations with Israel Ha’aretz 1/11/2007 MADRID - A high-level Syrian official attending a conference in Madrid along with Israeli lawmakers on Thursday called on Israel and the United States to renew talks on an agreement that would see Israel withdraw from the Golan Heights to the pre-1967 borders, in return for comprehensive peace in the Middle East. The conference, which commemorates the 15-year anniversary of the historic 1991 Madrid Peace Conference, began Thursday morning. The participation of Israeli and Syrian representatives at a dinner Wednesday to inaugurate the conference marked the first time in seven years that officials from the two countries sat together at the same table. Riad Daoudi, the top legal adviser to Syrian President Bashar Assad and to the Foreign Ministry in Damascus, said that Assad is sticking to the position taken by his father... more.. Hamas accuses Abbas of unrealistic slogans, Ma’an News Agency 1/11/2007 Gaza - The Hamas movement has on Thursday portrayed the Palestinian president’s address marking the 42nd anniversary of the Fatah movement as unrealistic and full of slogans. The Hamas movement also criticized President Abbas for failing to call for immediate dialogue to form a unity government. The movement’s spokesman in Gaza, Dr Ismail Radwan said that "the president’s address was full of dogmas which can’t be perceived in reality and which came only to improve the image of the radicals inside the Fatah movement." With regard to the president’s reassurance of going to early presidential and legislative elections, Radwan said, "Hamas expected President Abbas to call for dialogue for a unity government based on the national unity agreement, especially after the regrettable bloody events. more.. President Abbas: peace based on justice and no negotiations on refugees or Jerusalem Palestine News Network 1/11/2007 President Abbas addressed crowds in Ramallah Thursday afternoon on the occasion of 42 years of the Fateh movement. He said that their struggle has been continuous, “transforming the question of Palestine from the case of refugees to the cause of a people. ”The President commented on contemporary politics at the same time hearkening to the past. “The revolution was triggered by the movement in 1965 and has lasted until today, adopting the principle of safeguarding national unity and a democracy of pluralism. We are focused on the justice of the cause in relation to realistic policy which necessitated the obligation to not intervene in the internal affairs of Arab countries. ”During his speech in the central square of Ramallah at noon today, he addressed the children of the Fateh movement. “We are commemorating the beginning of the second session and stressing the need to preserve national unity, to prohibit internal strife. I will never allow any individual or group to cause a civil war that kills the dream of freedom and independence. more.. PLO executive committee member says Bush’s "blind strategy" in Iraq will create more chaos and tension in the region Ma’an News Agency 1/11/2007 Ramallah - A senior member of the PLO’s Executive Committee, Tayseer Khalid, has on Thursday depicted the American president’s strategy in Iraq as "a blind strategy which will result in more chaos and tension in Iraq and the region." In a press release, Khalid affirmed that the American policy during the Bush administration neglects the interrelations between the situation in Iraq and this region. He also accused the Bush administration of adopting militaristic solutions by sending more troops into Iraq instead of searching for political solutions, which the Baker-Hamilton document laid the ground for. He added that stability and security in the region begins by recognition of the failure of the Americans’ aggressive approach, led by the neoconservatives. more.. The "Ramallah Initiative": a day after the invasion, 60 Israeli, Palestinian and international organizations meet Ma’an News Agency 1/11/2007 On Thursday, January 4, 2007, the Israeli occupation forces invaded the center of the West Bank city of Ramallah in order to kill or capture a "wanted" person. Instead, four bystanders were killed and several more were injured, including a Ma’an photographer, who remains in hospital in a serious condition. The next day, January 5, representatives from 60 Israeli, Palestinian and international peace organizations (23 Palestinian, 22 Israeli and 15 international) came together in Ramallah for three days of discussions and deliberations, in order to protest against the bloodshed, demand the end of the occupation and work together for peace between the two peoples. The slogan for this meeting was, "A New Hope". -- See also: The "Ramallah Initiative" more.. Arab League urges U.N. involvement in Israeli-Palestinian conflict International Middle East Media Center 1/11/2007 Arab League Secretary-General Amr Mussa and Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Abdul-Rahman Bin Hamad on Thursday urged the United Nations to lead a new peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. The Arab leaders made their proposal at a Madrid meeting to mark the 15th year since the 1991 Middle East peace conference in the Spanish capital, where Spain wants to stage a new conference. Mussa said an international peace conference should be organized under the UN umbrella with a "fully defined time frame and goals" in order to relaunch the peace process. Bin Hamad backed the idea. "New initiatives are not really needed, but active mechanisms to apply resolutions and solutions in the international framework," he added. more.. Condoleezza Rice launches new peace initiative for an interim Palestinian state with the Wall as its borders Ma’an News Agency 1/11/2007 Bethlehem - The US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, is expected to propose a new peace initiative in the Middle East. According to this initiative, a Palestinian state is to be established within interim borders based on the route of Israel’s separation wall. The Israeli daily newspaper ’Maariv’ has said that Rice intends to make a dramatic shift which could lead to the resumption of peace negotiations over the final settlement in the region. Rice’s initiative occupied the central part of a meeting held in Cairo between the Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak, and King Abdullah II of Jordan on Wednesday. Israeli sources have said that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas were informed about the details of the plan. Rice is supposed to tour the region next week. more.. Hamas denies Meshal said group would recognize Israel Ha’aretz 1/11/2007 Hamas denied Wednesday that its Damascus-based political leader Khaled Meshal told Reuters in an interview that his group would consider recognizing Israel once a Palestinian state is established. (Click here for the full interview)One hour after the Reuters interview was published, the Hamas government spokesman Ghazi Hamad told Haaretz that Meshal said, "Israel exists- and that’s a fact." However, Hamad maintained that Meshal did not say anything about recognizing Israel. "There was no change in our stance that Hamas does not recognize Israel," he said. Salah Bardawil, head of Hamas’s parliamentary faction, told Haaretz that after checking with Meshal, it seems to be that his words were twisted and distorted. "He didn’t speak about any recognition of Israel, only a cease-fire with Israel," Bardawil said. -- See also: Reuters Q & A interview with Khaled Meshal more.. Reuters Q & A interview with Khaled Meshal Ha’aretz 1/12/2007 Hamas leader Khaled Meshal said on Wednesday that Hamas acknowledges the existence of Israel as a reality but formal recognition by the group will only be considered when a Palestinian state has been created. Following are excerpts from Meshal’s interview with Reuters. Q: What does Hamas want? A: We in Hamas are with the general Palestinian and Arab position and we are with the consensus of the necessity of establishing a Palestinian state on the June 4 borders, including (East) Jerusalem, the right of return and the withdrawal of Israel to these borders. Q: Does accepting the 1967 borders presuppose the existence of Israel? A: The problem is not that there is an entity called Israel, the problem is that the Palestinian state is non-existent. There is a reality that Israel exists on Palestinian territory. The problem is that the Palestinian state does not exist... more.. Heads of Egypt and Jordan Voice Concern over Palestinian Tension International Middle East Media Center 1/10/2007 Both President Husni Mubarak of Egypt and King Abduallah II of Jordan voiced Wednesday their concern over the growing tension in the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly the Hamas-Fatah infighting that has marked recent weeks. In their meeting in Cairo, the two Arab leaders stressed that the Palestinian people, who have already been suffering from harsh living conditions, are the only losers of such instability. President Mubarak considered the intra-Palestinian differences as ‘unprecedented’, calling on all concerned Palestinian parties to resort to dialogue instead of further escalation and splits. more.. IDF: Growing chance of war on Lebanese, Syrian fronts Ha’aretz 1/11/2007 The Israel Defense Forces’ strategic assessment for 2007 holds that there is a growing chance for confrontation on the northern border this year. This assessment, and the lessons learned from the second Lebanon War, are being used to prepare the army’s plans for the coming year. Senior officers said yesterday that the IDF had noted a deterioration in the stability of the Middle East, citing Lebanon, Syria, the Palestinian Authority and Iran as possible fronts of conflagration. The officers also said that there is a noticeable entrenchment of jihadist elements in the region." For the first time in many years, there is no positive window of opportunity in the Middle East," the officers wrote in their assessment. "We must come to terms with this and prepare accordingly." more.. U.S. ambassador to Israel: U.S. reduced W. Bank settlements Ha’aretz 1/10/2007 Despite its support for Israel, the United States opposes expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and has succeeded in reducing it, the U.S. ambassador to Israel told The Associated Press. In an interview on Tuesday, Ambassador Richard Jones said that while Israel approves construction of some new settlement housing each year, Washington insists that Israel honor a pledge to freeze settlement activity made under the U.S. -backed ’road map’ peace plan in 2003." I think that we have definitely slowed efforts at settlement-building," Jones said. "It’s certainly true that some units are approved every year, a couple of hundred here or there, but I think the U.S. -Israeli understanding has definitely slowed down the process of settlements..." ... Washington routinely deducts from its annual aid to Israel a sum equal to the country’s estimated settlement expenditure. more.. Shalit’s father says he is willing to trade himself for his son Ha’aretz 1/10/2007 Noam Shalit said Wednesday that he was willing to turn himself over to a group of Hamas-linked Palestinian militants if they would release his son Gilad from captivity. Cpl. Gilad Shalit was captured June 25 by Hamas-linked militants in a Gaza cross-border raid. Prisoner swap negotiations to free him, brokered by Egyptian mediators, have failed. Shalit said if the kidnappers needed assurances, he was willing to offer himself up as collateral until a final deal could be secured." I am ready to vouch for the rest of the deal," he told The Associated Press. "If they don’t trust the Egyptians or the Israelis, I said that I am ready to go to Gaza and sit with the Hamas and wait for the deal." Noam Shalit also told Army Radio on Wednesday that he is willing to guarantee the demands of his son’s captors are met. more.. Hizbullah discussing prisoner swap Jerusalem Post 1/10/2007 Meetings are taking place to discuss the terms and conditions of a prisoner swap between Israel and Hizbullah, Sheikh Naim Kassem, Hizbullah’s deputy leader said in an interview published by Al Jazeera Tuesday and cited by Ma’ariv." There are meetings taking place behind the scenes which are discussing the details, how a deal would be conducted, and what are the conditions," Kassem said. Kassam added that when the time is right, an announcement would be made revealing the results of these meetings. "Negotiations are not advanced through newspaper interviews and other forms of media," he said. When asked if Hizbullah would consider allowing an interview with kidnapped IDF soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, Kassem said that the status of the soldiers was connected to "the negotiation process, and not to the media trade." more.. Haniyeh’s political advisor denies agreeing to an interim peace accord with Israel under European supervision Ma’an News Agency 1/10/2007 Bethlehem - The political advisor to the Palestinian prime minister, Dr. Ahmad Yousef has on Tuesday denied the accusations by the Palestine Liberation Organisation’s executive committee that Yousef had allegedly taken part in the formulation of an interim peace accord with Israel under the supervision of European officials. The Hamas movement admitted that they proposed a 5-10 year truce in exchange for the establishment of a temporary Palestinian state, the release of prisoners and a just solution to the refugee problem. However, Yousef told Ma’an that the accusations of agreeing to a peace accord are lies. He added that all he did was discuss with the Europeans alternatives and the subjects for discussion were submitted to President Abbas by Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. more.. Hamas softens Israel stance in calls for Palestinian state The Independent 1/11/2007 Hamas yesterday appeared to soften its long-standing refusal to recognise Israel. Khaled Meshal, the Islamic movement’s political leader in exile in Damascus, said that Israel was a "reality" and that "there will remain a state called Israel, this is a matter of fact". Both Israeli and European diplomats reacted with caution, although they acknowledged that the interview contained things Hamas had not said before. Mr Meshal is regarded as the man who dictates policy for the Palestinian government from his base in the Syrian capital. Mark Regev, Israel’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, said: "The problem up to now has been that Hamas says again and again that Israel has to be wiped off the map." Asked about Mr Meshal’s statement that there would remain a state called Israel, he conceded: "That has to be looked at more carefully..." -- See also: Reuters Q & A interview with Khaled Meshal more.. Israeli, Syrian officials mark historic 1991 summit in Spain Ha’aretz 1/11/2007 MADRID - Two senior officials of the Syrian government and an Israeli delegation comprising MKs and former ministers arrived in Madrid on Wednesday to participate in the 15-year commemoration of the historic summit, which took place in 1991. The Israeli and Syrian representatives participated in a dinner inaugurating the gathering. The Syrian representatives included the legal counselor to the president and Foreign Ministry, Riad Daudi, and the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Bushra Kanafani. The participation of the two Syrian officials was made possible following an invitation of Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister, Miguel Moratinos, and his Swedish, Norwegian and Danish counterparts, under whose aegis the event is taking place. more.. Israel and Hamas downplay Mashaal’s comments Jerusalem Post 1/10/2007 Damascus-based Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal said Wednesday that Israel is a "reality," but the significance of his words were immediately downplayed by both Israeli and Hamas officials. Mashaal, in an interview with Reuters, was quoted as saying that Israel is a "reality" and "there will remain a state called Israel, this is a matter of fact." "The problem is not that there is an entity called Israel," said Mashaal. "The problem is that the Palestinian state is non-existent." Recognizing Israel’s right to exist, as well as forswearing terrorism and accepting previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements are the three criteria that the Quartet has set for granting the Hamas-led PA government legitimacy and lifting financial sanctions. Over the last few months there have been efforts to get Hamas to implicitly recognize Israel, without explicitly saying so. -- See also: Reuters Q & A interview with Khaled Meshal more.. Merkel: Time for ’paralyzed’ Mideast Quartet to resume lead Ha’aretz 1/10/2007 United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will see if conditions are right for a meeting of the "paralyzed" Middle East Quartet, German Chancellor Angela Merkel was quoted as saying on Wednesday. Rice leaves for the Middle East and Europe on Friday to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts and to seek Arab help in stabilizing Iraq. The four-party Middle East peace mediator known as the Quartet groups the U.S. , the European Union, the United Nations and Russia. Merkel told Italy’s La Stampa newspaper in an interview that U.S. President George W. Bush "agrees with us on the fact that the Quartet should take back its leading role." "The quartet, as is known, is paralyzed in the face of recent developments, but it remains the most effective institutional possibility for coordinating international efforts in the region." more.. OIC secretary general appeals to Palestinians to observe restraint and avert bloodshed ReliefWeb/Organization of the Islamic Conference 1/10/2007 Jeddah: 8 January, 2007. The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu expressed his deep regret at the painful events witnessed in the occupied Palestinian territories and urged all the concerned forces and Palestinian components to observe self-restraint, give precedence to dialogue and steer away from any internal strife so as to spare the blood of the Palestinian brothers. He called for the implementation of the provisions of the Agreement reached during his visit to Palestine on 19th December last, according to which all arms should be withdrawn from the street, the security forces should not be thrust into the political controversy and the tension that is sweeping across the Palestinian scene should be ended. more.. Ayalon: Israel is not alone YNetNews 1/10/2007 Former ambassador to US tells Ynetnews Iran’s attempt to get US to rule out military option failed -- Iran has attempted to dispatch emissaries to try and get the United States to rule out military action against Tehran, and their efforts have failed, former Israeli Ambassador to the US, and Co-Chairman of the Nefesh B’Nefesh aliyah program, said during an interview with Ynetnews. "I can tell you here, that Iran sent many emissaries who tried get the US to declare that the military option is not on the table, and the US has never done that," Ayalon told Ynetnews. "I think the UN Security Council resolution of December… under chapter seven is a very important step in the right direction," he added, "although its language is not severe." ... Ayalon added he was confident that the Democratic Party... would remain steadfast allies of the Israeli people. more.. Siniora dismisses report of Bush ordering CIA to hit Hizbullah Daily Star 1/11/2007 BEIRUT: The government on Wednesday denied an article published in Britain’s Daily Telegraph claiming that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has received authorization to take covert action against Hizbullah. A statement from the office of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said the government’s foreign policy is based on the principles of "independence, transparency and clearness." However, the statement defended "verbal" support given it by the United States. "Lebanon needs support to stop the continuing Israeli violations of its land, sea and air, and to force Israel to withdraw from the Shebaa Farms before putting them under UN control," it added. "Lebanon also needs help to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and to ensure the success of the Paris III conference of donor nations that is to be held on January 25." The Daily Telegraph report said that the CIA was authorized to take action against Hizbullah... more.. Arab League, Israeli reps. set to meet Jerusalem Post 1/10/2007 Although the peace process appears to be stuck, representative of the Arab League, including Syria, will meet with Israeli delegates starting Wednesday at a reunion honoring the 1991 Madrid Conference. The three-day conference in Madrid, a civil initiative inspired by the need to create an international climate favorable to facilitating the peace process, is called Madrid +15: Madrid 15 Years Later. Organized by the Toledo International Peace Center, Search for Common Ground and the Fundacion Tres Culturas del Mediterraneo, Madrid +15 aims to identify the expectations of the parties involved and find a platform from which to launch a sustainable end to the conflict.... The current conference will be attended by a team of eight representatives from the Palestinian Authority headed by Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan... more.. Palestinian militants: Abducted soldier Shalit is in ’good health’ Ha’aretz 1/10/2007 One of the Palestinian militant groups behind the capture of an Israel Defense Forces soldier in June 2006 said Tuesday that he is in "good health." The comments mark the first time that the group has provided details about the health of Corporal Gilad Shalit. Abu Mujahid, spokesman for the Palestinian Popular Resistance Committees, said Shalit would not be released until Israel gives in to demands to release 1,000 Palestinian prisoners." Gilad Shalit is in good health and is being treated according to Islamic standards of dealing with prisoners of war," Abu Mujahid said. "We are prepared to keep him for years, if our demands are not met," he added. The PRC, along with the Hamas military wing and a group calling itself the Army of Islam, carried out the June 25 cross-border attack on an IDF base... more.. U.S.: Indonesian UN statement on Mideast conflict ’unbalanced’ Ha’aretz 1/10/2007 Indonesia introduced a draft UN statement Tuesday to promote the momentum of the recent meeting between the Israeli and Palestinian leaders, but the United States said it blamed Israel for recent incursions and was unbalanced. Indonesia’s UN Ambassador Rezlan Jenie, a new member of the Security Council, said his aim in presenting the draft was "to try to build up apositive momentum towards the future" following the recent meeting between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, and between Olmert and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Acting U.S. ambassador Alejandro Wolff said there is an element of encouraging talks in the draft presidential statement, but "there’s an element of blaming the Israelis for recent incursions... We’ve got a security vacuum as a result of the military conflict between Hamas and Fatah..." more.. Senior Israeli officer takes swipe at UNIFIL Daily Star 1/10/2007 BEIRUT: Hizbullah is rearming itself and the United Nations is doing nothing to stop it, Israel’s military intelligence chief charged on Tuesday. Major General Amos Yadlin told the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that "Hizbullah has almost totally rebuilt its arsenal of rockets and arms" following the summer 2006 war with Israel." The traffic of arms from Iran and Syria destined for Hizbullah is continuing and the UN peacekeeping force is doing nothing to disarm the group," he added. A spokesperson for Hizbullah told The Daily Star "Israel is constantly making accusations against Hizbullah, and so it is impossible to trust these declarations they make. These accusations are part of their propaganda against Hizbullah and this propaganda meets with another one inside Lebanon..." more.. UNIFIL denies report of clash with Hizbullah Daily Star 1/10/2007 SOUTH LEBANON: UNIFIL’s spokesperson in the South denied Tuesday media reports of a clash last Saturday between French troops and Hizbullah. In news published on Tuesday, An-Nahar daily quoted "well-informed sources as saying that troops from the French battalion fought with Hizbullah members last Saturday in the area of Khraj al-Khrayeb- Mjadel and shot at each other." An-Nahar said the "Lebanese Army was forced to intervene after French troops began raiding locations used by Hizbullah in search of weapons." Acting UNIFIL spokesperson Richard Moczynski denied the reports and said he was "surprised by them." In remarks to The D | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
