|
Court
lifts election ban on Arab Israelis
The Guardian, January 9, 2003
Two Arab MPs will be able to stand for re-election to the Knesset,
Israel's supreme court ruled today.
The decision overturns a bar on Azmi Bishara and Ahmed Tibi - both
Israeli Arabs - from standing for election over their support for
the Palestinian uprising against the Israeli occupation of the West
Bank and Gaza Strip.
IDF
soldiers shoot dead two Palestinians
Ha'aretz, January 9, 2003
The Israel Defense Forces killed two armed Palestinians in two separate
exchanges of gunfire yesterday, the army said. The first incident
took place in Gaza, just outside the Gush Katif settlement bloc,
when soldiers were removing bushes used by militants as cover when
firing on troops. Palestinians attacked the force with anti-tank
missiles, gunfire and grenades, the army said, and soldiers returned
fire, killing one armed Palestinian. But Palestinians disputed this,
saying the dead man, 30-year-old Ihab Hanidak, was a taxi driver
who had merely stopped to watch Israeli tanks moving through the
area.
Likud
drops to 27 seats; Labor at 24
Ha'aretz, January 9, 2003[
A Ha'aretz/Dialogue poll shows a drastic decrease in support for
the Likud, and the right wing-religious parties bloc. For the first
time during the current election campaign, these parties appear
to be in danger of losing an absolute Knesset majority.
CEC
chair orders halt to Sharon's press conference
Ha'aretz, January 9, 2003
The chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Justice Mishael
Cheshin, ordered a halt to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's special
press conference Thursday evening, called to give his version of
the $1.5 million loan his long-time friend Cyril Kern transferred
to a joint bank account held by his sons Omri and Gilad. The press
conference was underway in Sharon's Jerusalem office when Cheshin
ordered the halt in coverage, citing a violation of the broadcasting
law.
Syrian
shot dead in Golan Heights
BBC, January 9, 2003
Israeli forces have shot and killed a Syrian man in the Golan Heights,
in a rare shooting incident on the normally quiet border.
21
Palestinians arrested; Arafat convenes Palestinian Central Council
despite Israeli ban
Al-Bawaba, January 9, 2003
A quarter of the members of the Palestinians' highest legal body
gathered at President Yasser Arafat's headquarters despite an Israeli
travel ban blocking a full quorum.
Palestinian
officials defy travel ban
BBC, January 9, 2003
Senior Palestinians have held a meeting at President Yasser Arafat's
West Bank headquarters, defying a travel ban imposed by Israel.
Israel
arrests Canadian activist over expired visa
The Toronto Star, January 9, 2003
Jaggi Singh to be deported `He overstayed his welcome' -- TEL AVIV—Israel
plans to deport Montreal political activist Jaggi Singh after arresting
him yesterday for defying the terms of his entry permit, which required
him to leave the country before Christmas and stay out of the West
Bank. Singh, who joined international pro-Palestinian protests against
Israeli military actions in the West Bank, was nabbed at 6:40 p.m.
as he arrived at the Jerusalem home of a Canadian college friend.
Washington
sources: Israel may not receive whole aid package
Globes, January 9, 2003
Israeli delegation headed by Ministry of Finance director general
Ohad Marani meets with House Foreign Operations Subcommittee. --
The US Congress understands Israel’s positive economic potential
in the medium and long term. This assessment will carry great weight
in Congress’s willingness to approve US aid to Israel, Israeli
sources in Washington told “Globes” last night, following
the Israeli delegation’s meeting with members of Congress.
Defense
sector fears UK embargo will delay deliveries
Globes, January 9, 2003
Britain’s embargo on engine sales to Israel could delay the
delivery of goods to foreign customers by Israeli defense companies.
Defense industry sources admitted today, “Israel was trapped
when it entered into supply contracts with the UK. The British embargo
is reminiscent of the French embargo on arms sales to Israel of
30 years ago. Production and deliveries to customers are liable
to be delayed.”
Israeli
anger at talks with Sharon rival
The Guardian, January 9, 2003
Labour leader's invitation to No 10 sends relations to new low --
Tony Blair will land another blow to his battered relations with
Ariel Sharon today by welcoming the leader of Israel's opposition
Labour party to Downing Street just three weeks before a general
election.
Israel
wants more than total US foreign aid budget
Financial Review (Australia), January 8, 2003
A delegation from Israel, the largest recipient of US foreign aid,
has sought $US12 billion ($21 billion) in assistance at a meeting
with State Department and White House officials, Israeli officials
said. The request, covering the next three to five years, exceeds
the total $US11.6 billion budgeted last year by the US for all countries.
Lawyers
say Arafat is undermining Palestinian Authority judicial system
Jerusalem Post, January 9, 2003
Dozens of Palestinian lawyers, political activists, and human rights
and law organizations signed a petition Wednesday accusing the Palestinian
Authority of "scorning" the rule of law and undermining the independence
and solemnity of the judicial system.
Dahlan
calls for Fatah elections
Jerusalem Post, January 9, 2003
Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement is
falling apart as different factions act on their own, former Gaza
Preventive Security chief Muhammad Dahlan told The Jerusalem Post
on Wednesday. To reorganize the movement and regain control of activists
on the ground, Fatah must hold elections for a new leadership, he
said.
Duisenberg:
President Arafat and I Condemn Suicide Bombings
Palestine Media Center, January 9, 2003
After visiting Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, Gretta Duisenberg,
the wife of the European Central Bank (ECB) President, said she
as well as the Palestinian leader condemn suicide bombings.
Israeli
security forces kidnap Jaggi Singh
The Electronic Intifada, January 8, 2003
Canadian activist Jaggi Singh (pictured right) traveled to Palestine
on December 14th to write about the realities of the Israeli occupation
and participate in the activities of the International Solidarity
Movement. On January 8th, while arriving for a pre-arranged meeting
with a friend in West Jerusalem, Singh was bundled into a car by
three Israelis in plain clothes.
Supreme
Court of Israel ruled to reject ban on Palestinian political parties
The Electronic Intifada, January 9, 2003
This morning, the Supreme Court of Israel ruled to reject three
disqualification decisions issued by the Central Elections Committee
(CEC). The Court approved the participation of the National Democratic
Assembly (NDA), and reinstated the candidacies of MKs Azmi Bishara
and Ahmad Tibi, for the upcoming Israeli elections.
Court:
MKs Tibi, Bishara and far-right activist Marzel can run
Ha'aretz, January 9, 2003
A panel of 11 Supreme Court justices on Thursday overturned the
Central Elections Committee's decisions to disqualify Arab MKs Ahmed
Tibi, Azmi Bishara and the Balad party from running in the January
28 election. The court also upheld the decisions to allow far-right
activist Baruch Marzel to run, and to disqualify Likud candidates
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and Moshe Feiglin.
Blair
meeting fuels Israeli tension
BBC, January 9, 2003
Relations between Israel and the UK are under pressure -- UK Prime
Minister Tony Blair is meeting the leader of Israel's opposition
Labour Party amid strained relations between the two countries.
Two
Palestinians killed, scores arrested; Israel demolishes Palestinian
homes
Arabic News, January 9, 2003
The Palestinian Youth Ahmad Ajaj ( 18 year old) was killed in Sidon
village near Toulkarem, when an Israeli soldier opened fire at a
group of Palestinians. Eye witnesses said that Ajaj was on the roof
of a building near a house which the forces were demolishing belonging
to the chairman of the village council. The Palestinian Ayman Jindiq
( 20 year old) was also shot dead by Israeli bullets fired against
him to the west of Khan Younis camp.
Likud
shocked by steep drop in polls
Ha'aretz, January 9, 2003
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon convened his advisers last night in
his Tel Aviv office to say he has decided to deliver a public statement
of his version of the $1.5 million loan his long-time friend Cyril
Kern transferred to a joint bank account held by his sons Omri and
Gilad.
British
embargo grounds Israel's nuclear capability
Al-Bawaba, January 6, 2003
The unofficial but rapidly growing British and European embargo
on supply of military equipment to Israel is causing grave concern
to Israeli military planners. Following the refusal of Germany to
provide critical parts for the local production of the Israeli Army's
Merkava battle tanks, a British embargo on ejector seat parts is
threatening to seriously damage Israel's much feared nuclear capability.
Council
Reviews Palestinian Constitution
The Guardian, January 9, 2003
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) - The PLO Central Council on Thursday reviewed
a first draft of a Palestinian constitution, but made no decisions
because three-fourths of the 128 members were kept away by an Israeli
travel ban.
Profile:
Israel's Arab voice
BBC, January 9, 2003
Israel's top court has overturned a ban on two Arab politicians
standing in this month's general election. Who are Azmi Bishara
and Ahmed Tibi?
Analysis:
Scandal hits Sharon hard
BBC, January 9, 2003
Approval ratings for Ariel Sharon and his Likud party have dropped
dramatically in Israel's polls less than three weeks before a general
election.
The fall has happened despite the Israeli prime minister's full-throated
denial of corruption allegations levelled against him this week.
Israeli
forces kill Syrian, Damascus considers incident as violation of
cease-fire agreement
Al-Bawaba, January 8, 2003
Israeli forces gunned down Wednesday a member of an armed group
trying to infiltrate from Syria, Israeli sources said. Israeli troops
patrolling the northeastern border area shot dead the man and captured
another.
U.N.:
Syria, Israel cooperating with probe into shooting incident on border
Al-Bawaba, January 9, 2003
Israel will turn over to the United Nations a captured Syrian and
the body of another, the United Nations said Thursday. This announcement
came a day after Israel said the two infiltrated the northern border
and opened fire on Israeli soldiers.
UN:
Israel hands over body of Syrian infiltrator
Ha'aretz, January 9, 2003
Israel has turned over to the United Nations the body of a Syrian
shot dead during an infiltration attempt, and will soon hand over
his surviving accomplice, the United Nations said Thursday, the
day after the two infiltrated the northern border and opened fire
on IDF soldiers.
Background:
Hezbollah seeks to deny Israel an excuse to attack
Ha'aretz, January 9, 2003
Syria and Lebanon also have their own reasons to keep Hezbollah
quiet during a U.S.-led offensive in Iraq. Assad is trying to play
it both ways - courting Washington, while opposing the war in Iraq
and granting refuge to terrorists.
Israeli
moves near Lebanese borders: Ghusein; efforts continue to eliminate
the mines
Arabic News, January 9, 2003
"..so far some one million square meters of the Lebanese lands have
been cleared from the Israeli mines." -- Armored Israeli moves were
observed yesterday at the Southern Lebanese borders point at al-Tahweh
al-Abaseyah axis, while the Israeli warplanes were flying in the
airspace of the Shebaa farms until the Lebanese borders with Israel.
PCBS:
Global Palestinian population: 9.3 million
Globes, January 9, 2003
Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics: The number of Palestinians
will double in 22 years. -- The number of Palestinians worldwide
is 9.3 million, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS)
in Gaza reported today. The PCBS states that 3.6 million Palestinians
reside in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and eastern Jerusalem, and 4.6
million in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and other countries.
Downing
St: Israel rejects Blair appeal for PA delegates
Ha'aretz, January 9, 2003
Israel has turned down British Prime Minister Tony Blair's personal
appeal to allow a Palestinian delegation to attend a London conference,
Blair's office said Thursday.
Likud's
continued slide keeps Ariel Sharon's hands tied
Ha'aretz, January 9, 2003
The snowball that began to roll slowly downhill on December 8 last
year - the day the Likud held its primaries for the list of Knesset
candidates - is not coming to a stop. Instead, it grows ever larger,
flattening the Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's party of power, which,
until a month ago, seemed invincible.
The
Lapid file - chauvinist, hater of the religious and Mizrahim, scornful
of the poor
Ha'aretz, January 9, 2003
The information headquarters of the Labor Party recently prepared
a file that contains a collection of particularly outrageous statements
made over the years by the leader of the Shinui party, MK Yosef
(Tommy) Lapid. The file was prepared after the Labor Party began
to realize that those who are disappointed by the corruption in
the Likud are finding comfort in Shinui, and marked the party as
a strategic target.
Mitzna:
Arafat `irrelevant' but we must talk with him
Ha'aretz, January 9, 2003
Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat is indeed "irrelevant,"
but Israel must nevertheless conduct negotiations with him, Labor
Party Chairman Amram Mitzna said yesterday.
Discharged
soldiers petition court to gain Israeli citizenship
Ha'aretz, January 9, 2003
Ministry refused request because they aren't Jewish -- Three recently
demobilized soldiers yesterday asked the High Court of Justice to
order the Interior Ministry to grant them citizenship under the
Citizenship Law.
Viewers
tune out as election campaign hits TV
Ha'aretz, January 9, 2003
Viewing figures for the first night of television campaigning on
Tuesday show that a sharp decline in the number of Israelis bothering
to tune in, compared to both of the previous election campaigns.
From a sample of 512,000 people, it appears that only one in every
five Israelis - 20 percent, compared to almost twice that in 2001
- actually watched the broadcasts.
Pressure
Mounts on Israel to Overturn Its Decision to Ban PNA Delegation
EU Adds its Voice to Criticism Piling on Jewish State
Palestine Media Center, January 9, 2003
As Israel stood unyielding to international pressure to allow a
Palestinian delegation to travel to London for talks, a top EU official
added his voice to the mounting criticism piling on the Jewish state
over its decision to bar the officials from attending the conference
on PNA reforms and the Mideast peace process.
UNESCO
criticizes French isolation of Israeli academics
Jerusalem Post, January 9, 2003
PARIS UNESCO, the UN agency for cultural preservation and education,
on Wednesday added its voice to criticism of a move by an elite
French university to isolate Israeli academics. UNESCO director-general
Koichiro Matsuura said the campaign by the University of Paris VI
to discontinue research and educational exchanges with Israeli universities
runs counter to the goal of advancing peace and understanding through
education.
Sharon
insists fence won't be border
Jerusalem Post, January 9, 2003
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon took a broad swipe at his political
rivals in the Labor Party Wednesday, denouncing any notion of negotiations
with Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat and cautioning
that unilateral separation will "only invite more terror."
Sharon's
envoy holds talks in Cairo
Jerusalem Post, January 9, 2003
National Security Council head Ephraim Halevy held high-level talks
in Cairo on Wednesday, the first time in nearly a year Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon publicly dispatched a personal envoy to Egypt. Halevy
met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher and veteran presidential
adviser Osama el-Baz.
West
Bank boy reunited with mother
BBC, January 9, 2003
One of four Welsh children trapped in the West Bank after their
Palestinian father refused to let them return to Britain has arrived
in Wales after a dramatic escape.
Hear
Palestine, January 9, 2003
NEWS: Gaza Strip: Escalation in Military Attacks; Civilian Wounded
/ Jenin: Arrests in Villages and Tight Military Siege / Nablus:
Ongoing Random Raids and Arrests; Tight Military Closure / Tulkarem:
Wide-Scale Acts of Destruction in City and Villages / Ramallah:
Settlement Activities in Bettin Village / Bethlehem: Ongoing Curfew
for Third Day Running / 100 Dunums of Land Confiscated in Kufer
Sour, Tulkarem FEATURES: Israeli Plan to Remove Al-Daba'a
Village from the Face of the Earth / New Ditch at Entrance of Aba
Village
Yemeni
Security Will Be Trained in U.S.
The Guardian, January 9, 2003
SAN`A, Yemen (AP) - Yemeni security officers will be trained in
the United States to improve counterterrorism efforts in their homeland,
which has seen a rash of attacks linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida
network, the U.S. Embassy announced.
Middle
East to remain world’s top oil producing region
MENA Report, January 9, 2003
While many regions in the world are likely to witness crude oil
production rising over the next decade, the Middle East is forecasted
to maintain, and even increase, its position as the global leader
in crude production, asserts Hart's new World Fuels and Refining
2000-2005 Analysis.
How
Opec's hawks turned dove - and saved the western world
The Guardian, January 9, 2003
Thirty years ago, the idea of Opec meeting as the world was planning
war in the Middle East would have sent shivers down the spine of
the markets. But at this Sunday's assembly in Vienna, the 11-member
oil producers' cartel will be playing the role of John Wayne riding
to the rescue of the world economy.
World
on path to disaster, bomb pioneer warns
The Guardian, January 9, 2003
Defence analysts at Guardian non-proliferation conference see increased
risk of atomic war -- President George Bush, hijacked by hardliners
in his administration, is setting the world on a course towards
nuclear disaster, a founder of the nuclear deterrence policy said.
US
strategy 'risks dangerous new arms race'
The Guardian, January 9, 2003
Double standards on Iraq and Korea set back disarmament cause --
Adopting differing approaches to tackle the nuclear threats posed
by North Korea and Iraq will undermine long-standing agreements
controlling nuclear proliferation, a senior official at the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned yesterday.
More
on the Guardian / RUSI conference 2003
The Guardian, January 9, 2003
Here you can read reports from a conference on nuclear policy and
proliferation organised in London on January 8 2003 by the Guardian,
the Royal United Services Institute for Defence Studies and the
US Physicians for Social Responsibility.
France
tackles tide of anti-semitism
The Guardian, January 9, 2003
The French interior minister, Nicolas Sarkozy, attended a prayer
service at a Paris synagogue yesterday marking the recent attacks
on a liberal rabbi and the fear that anti-semitism may once more
be on the rise in France.
|
