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Labor:
No to a Sharon gov't; Likud: Unity without Mitzna
Ha'aretz, January 14, 2003
The Labor Party is today expected to announce what is being called
its "doomsday decision" - it will not join any coalition led by
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon under any circumstances, and that includes
the much touted Likud-Labor-Shinui secular bloc favored by Shinui
leader Yosef Lapid.
Palestinians
deliver reform agenda
BBC, January 14, 2003
A video linked London with Palestinian delegates -- Palestinian
delegates have condemned suicide bombings in Israel as they promised
key reforms by video link to a London summit. They also criticised
Israeli restrictions on the Palestinian territories during the talks.
Three
Islamic Jihad activists killed, Hamas rejects Arafat call to stop
attacks on Israelis
Al-Bawaba, January 13, 2003
Israeli troops Monday afternoon shot and killed two Palestinians
who tried to attack a bus that was traveling in the Gaza Strip from
Netzarim settlement to Karni crossing point, Israel Radio reported.
Hear
Palestine, January 14, 2003
NEWS: Ongoing Bulldozing Activities in Beit Hanoun / Ramallah: Campaign
of Home Raids and Searches in Aroura Village / Tulkarem: Occupation
Army Blows Up Ancient Building West of the City / Jenin: Residents
Arrested in Toubas and Kufer Ra'i / Nablus: Ongoing Arrests in City
and Bulldozing Activities in Villages / Qalqilya: Occupation Soldiers
Invade the Home of a Detainee in Jayous / Occupation Soldiers Invade
al-Ram and Arrest Residents / Bethlehem: Occupation Army Confiscates
Residents' Bulldozers / Salfeet: Occupation Soldiers Invade City
and Open fire at Children FEATURES: Khan Younis. Homes
for Condolences / Settlers Open Fire at Ambulance near Ramallah
Home
demolitions could spark clashes, Arab leaders warn
Ha'aretz, January 14, 2003
One of the houses was occupied by a single mother with 10 children.
-- The Supreme Monitoring Committee of Israel's Arab citizens has
warned that hostilities could break out between Jews and Arabs following
the demolition of four houses belonging to Arab citizens in mixed
Jewish-Arab towns.
Palestinians:
Israel withholding communications equipment
Globes, January 14, 2003
PalCel claims Israel is withholding equipment worth $7-8 million,
including 70 amplifier stations and billing equipment. Palestinian
high-tech and telephony companies claim Israeli customs has withheld
communications equipment and computers worth millions of dollars
for a year, citing security reasons.
US
'inciting global rights abuse'
BBC, January 14, 2003
The US is setting a bad example, advocates say -- Washington is
overlooking abuses in countries which back its war on terror, a
human rights group has said. The willingness to ignore problems
in nations which the United States wants as partners is undermining
efforts to improve conditions around the world, Human Rights Watch
said. (see also: Human
Rights Watch Report)
ACLU
Calls For Congress to Investigate Arab, Muslim Detentions
Common Dreams, January 14, 2003
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is calling
for Congress to conduct a full investigation of the Justice Department's
immigrant registration program that has resulted in hundreds of
arrests of mainly Muslims and Arabs around the country on minor
immigration infractions or following botched official procedures.
Israel’s
Awaited “Messiah” Embraces Islam
Islam Online, January 14, 2003
CAIRO, January 14 (IslamOnline) - “His top-notch manners,
remarkable devoutness and honest transactions with all people made
us feel that he was the Messiah. He was indeed a Messiah singled
out for his rare qualities. But we did not know that he was a Muslim,”
neighbors of the Israeli citizen Abraham, or to be precise Ibrahim,
told an Israeli magazine.
Rantisi
Urges Palestinian Children Not to Attack Settlement
Islam Online, January 14, 2003
"Spare your precious blood for the days to come"” Rantisi
told Palestinian children. -- GAZA CITY, January 14 (IslamOnline)
– Abd al-Aziz al-Rantisi, a prominent figure of the Islamic
resistance movement Hamas, on Tuesday, January 14, appealed to Palestinian
children to refrain from attacking Jewish settlement.
Saudis
unveil surprise reform plans
BBC, January 13, 2003
Saudi Arabia says it has launched an initiative calling for major
reforms in the Arab world. The Saudi press has published details
of the proposals, which advocate internal reform and developing
political participation in Arab countries.
Hamas
gets RPG launchers, develops advanced version of Qassam rockets
Al-Bawaba, January 14, 2003
The Palestinian resistance group Hamas said Tuesday it has received
a large number of rocket-propelled grenade launchers and has produced
a new batch of an advanced version of its Qassam rockets.
Arafat
Thanks Russia for Supporting Palestinian People
Antara, January 14, 2003
Damascus, Jan 14 (ANTARA/RIA Novosti) - `It was a meeting of friends`,
the leader of the Palestinian National Authority Yasser Arafat said
about his talks with Andrei Vdovin, a special representative of
the Russian Foreign Ministry in the Middle East. The meeting took
place at Arafat`s residence in Ramallah on Saturday.
In
West Bank, Devastating Isolation
Hartford Courant , January 9, 2003
DEIR ISTIYA, West Bank -- Fuad Awad rolls his own cigarettes these
days to save the $3 that his two-pack-a-day habit demanded. With
the extra money, he buys a little chicken for his children.
Ongoing
Israeli Aggression Leaves Three Palestinians Dead
Palestine Media Center, January 14, 2003
More Than 8,000 Palestinians Held in Israeli Prisons -- Israeli
Occupation Forces (IOF) escalated their military aggression in the
occupied Palestinian territories Monday killing three Palestinian
civilians, two in Gaza and another in the West Bank, following a
bloody weekend, which left over ten Palestinian civilians dead.
International
Solidarity Movement, January 13, 2003
1) Gazans will try to march home - January 13, 2003 - Mawasi is
a village on the coast side of Rafah (in the Gaza Strip) that is
surrounded by settlements and guarded by a checkpoint that has not
allowed a Palestinian through in 2 years. The villagers survive
on whatever they themselves grow. No food or medicine has been allowed
though for these 2 years. People who leave have not been allowed
back. 2) Camp Rafah - January 13, 2003 - Internationals
fighting non-violently for peace and an end to the Israeli occupation
in Rafah, Gaza Strip, have initiated a campaign for a permanent
presence through camping in tents along the strip of destroyed Palestinian
homes and farms better described as 'no man's land'. 3) A
community rises up to stop construction of Apartheid Wall - January
8, 2003 - The Apartheid Wall, now being built at lightning pace
in Occupied Palestine, is officially being constructed for Israeli
Security. But cutting through the flimsy rhetoric its true illicit
nature is clear: an illegal attempt to steal Palestinian land by
force.
Neither
Mitzna Nor Sharon Will Be Crowned PM on January 28: Analysis
Palestine Media Center, January 14, 2003
Probably weeks of negotiations will pass after the Israeli elections
on January 28 before either PM Sharon or - less likely - his Labor
rival Mitzna - has formed a majority coalition and is pronounced
prime minister, and even if Sharon keeps his job, a weakened Sharon
would probably be even less inclined to sign a US-backed plan for
Palestinian statehood by 2005, an analysis said on Tuesday.
Labour
rejects Sharon coalition
The Guardian, January 14, 2003
The Israeli Labour party today said that it would not stand in a
coalition government led by the prime minister, Ariel Sharon, because
he is unfit to serve. The move could throw Israel into political
limbo following the elections due on January 28, with neither Mr
Sharon nor the Labour leader, Amram Mitzna, able to form a workable
government.
Mitzna:
Labor will not join government led by Sharon
Al-Bawaba, January 14, 2003
The Israeli Labor Party said Tuesday that it would not join a government
led by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Labor's decision could mean
that neither Sharon nor Labor leader Amram Mitzna will be able to
form a stable coalition government.
Likud
rallies
Globes, January 14, 2003
The Likud party has recovered somewhat after last week's dip; Shinui's
star has faded slightly, but Labor is still not gaining.
Top
South African anti-crime unit to probe Kern loan
Ha'aretz, January 14, 2003
South Africa's elite anti-crime investigative unit, the Scorpions,
will be assigned to investigate the transfer of $1.5 million from
British businessman Cyril Kern, resident in Cape Town, to Gilad
Sharon, the prime minister's son, who allegedly used the money as
collateral for a loan to pay back illegal foreign contributions
to his father's 1999 campaign for the leadership of the Likud.
Parties’
economic platforms
Globes, January 14, 2003
[a review of the economic platforms of the major Israeli political
parties]
Police
urged indicting Olmert, Appel in `Greek Island' affair
Ha'aretz, January 14, 2003
The 2001 police investigation into suspicions of influence buying
by Likud activist David Appel included a recommendation that Jerusalem
Mayor Ehud Olmert be indicted for allegedly accepting bribes from
Appel, who was trying to cobble together a deal to build a tourism
resort on a Greek island.
Sharon
draws slim hope from polls as revelations continue
The Guardian, January 14, 2003
Ariel Sharon drew slight comfort from a new round of opinion polls
yesterday that showed his dramatically curtailed television broadcast
last week had stemmed the flow of votes from his party before this
month's general election.
S
Africa investigates Sharon loan claim
BBC, January 13, 2003
South Africa is to investigate damaging allegations that a local
businessman loaned $1.5m to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Palestinians
Defy Israeli Ban, Participate in London Talks Via Video Link
Palestine Media Center, January 14, 2003
Technology Strips Sharon of Aim to Veto Int’l Diplomacy --
A Palestinian delegation, banned by Israeli authorities from traveling
to London on talks on reforms and future statehood, will bypass
the Israeli decision and participate via telephone conference in
today’s summit.
Who's
who at the talks
The Guardian, January 14, 2003
[List of particpants in the 'London' Palestinian reform talks, in
London and the West Bank.]
London
meeting ends: PA to redraw constitution
Al-Bawaba, January 14, 2003
Palestinians speaking via video hookup told an international conference
on the Middle East on Tuesday that peace talks can resume only when
suicide bombings stop and Israel eases restrictions on Palestinians.
Straw
hails Palestinian reform talks
The Guardian, January 14, 2003
The foreign secretary, Jack Straw, today hailed as "positive" talks
in London between international negotiators and a slimmed-down Palestinian
delegation on the progress of reforms to the Palestinian authority.
Israel
arrests top Hamas activist as London conference opens
Al-Bawaba, January 14, 2003
Yasser Arafat must step up his efforts to make the Palestinian Authority
more democratic in order to get the Middle East peace process back
on track, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Tuesday.
Cheshin
asked to stop Likud photo-ops at IDF facilities
Ha'aretz, January 14, 2003
The Labor Party yesterday petitioned the chairman of the Central
Elections Committee, Judge Mishael Cheshin, to prohibit IDF Chief
of Staff Moshe Ya'alon and other top brass from participating in
photo opportunities with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Defense
Minister Shaul Mofaz during their tours of army facilities.
Saudi
crown prince: Palestinians demand equality, justice
Jordan Times, January 14, 2003
WASHINGTON (AP) — Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince said Monday
he remains hopeful that a war in Iraq can be avoided and said he
believes that US policy in the Middle East is tilted towards Israel.
Occupation
Chronicle Events in Palestine, January 14, 2003
Palestine Media Center, January 14, 2003
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) killed three Palestinian civilians
in the occupied Palestinian territory in the past twenty-four hours.
Another Palestinian boy died of wounds he sustained earlier in August
when IOF invaded the Gaza Strip refugee camps. - IOF kill Two Teenagers
in Gaza / Palestinian Boy Dies of Wounds in Egypt / IOF Assassinate
Activist in Nablus / IOF Blow up House in Ramallah / IOF Raid Northern
West Bank, Detain Dozens of Civilians
Angry
crowd excoriates NPR's Mideast coverage
South of Boston/The Patriot Ledger, January 14, 2003
BOSTON - In the packed sanctuary of a Boston synagogue, National
Public Radio came under fire for its coverage of the Middle East
last night. A vociferous, standing-room-only crowd at Temple Israel
on Longwood Avenue, many wearing stickers reading ‘‘NPR
lies'' and ‘‘NPR: No Pledge Radio'' listened to NPR
president and CEO, Kevin Klose and Jane Christo, the general manager
of WBUR in Boston, discuss the station's coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict with Bob Zelnick, Boston University journalism department
chair, and Jonathan Tobin, editor-in-chief of the Jewish Exponent,
a Philadelphia newspaper.
Disunity
over unity
Globes, January 14, 2003
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon says a unity government is “of
supreme importance”; Labor leader Amram Mitzna declares he
won’t serve in one under Sharon and arouses dissent in his
own party.
Likud:
Labor to lose 4 seats by nixing unity
Ha'aretz, January 14, 2003
Amram Mitzna's opposition to forming a national unity government
with Ariel Sharon will cost the Labor Party four Knesset seats and
force him to step down as Labor's leader after the Jan. 28 elections,
Likud officials said yesterday, citing survey data collected on
Sunday.
Thousands
of dead voters are still on the voting lists
Ha'aretz, January 14, 2003
Tens of thousands of people over the age of 120 are on the voter
registration list published by the Interior Ministry, claims Shinui
MK Yosef Paritzky, who said that could tempt vote counterfeiters
on election day.
Shas
versus the elites
Ha'aretz, January 14, 2003
Shas launched a new videotape yesterday aimed at circumventing the
regular channels of election campaigning. The party plans to distribute
hundreds of thousands of copies of the video to the public.
The
Likud screws them, but gets their votes
Ha'aretz, January 14, 2003
Amram Mitzna could not believe his eyes. Stopping to visit the Kouja
family in the impoverished "Argazim" Quarter of south Tel Aviv,
he looked around in amazement at the neglect, destruction and decrepitude
jutting out from both sides of the street. Houses on the verge of
collapse, pocked with large holes.
Abu
Abbas confirms he held talks in Cairo
Al-Bawaba, January 14, 2003
A Palestinian guerrilla leader who masterminded the 1985 hijacking
of an Italian cruise ship was quoted Tuesday as saying he had attended
Palestinian talks in Egypt but left after he was informed of a threat
on his life.
'Biblical
Temple' tablet found
BBC, January 14, 2003
The tablet was reportedly found where the Temple stood -- Israeli
geologists say a purportedly ancient stone tablet detailing repair
plans for the Jewish Temple of King Solomon is genuine, an Israeli
newspaper has reported.
Israeli
households average 1.5 air conditioners each
Globes, January 14, 2003
68% of households have one air conditioner only. 77% of Israel’s
Jewish population has air conditioners at home - an unsurprising
statistic given the country’s climate.
Export
Institute sets up Iraq war emergency HQ
Globes, January 14, 2003
The Israel Export Institute is readying itself to solve the problems
of exporters in the event of a war in Iraq. The Export Institute
has set up an emergency office and hot line, and will hold a conference
on the issue next week.
Hear
Palestine, January 13, 2003
NEWS: 2 Children Killed in Gaza Strip this Eveneing / Khan Younis:
11-Year Old Child Wounded in Israeli Fire / Ramallah: Occupation
Soldiers Blow Up Uninhabited House in City / Gaza City: Occupation
Shells Fields and Residential Areas / Deir al-Balah: Child Died
Affected by Injuries / Beit Hanoun: Construction of New Settlement
Road / Al-Mawasi: Bulldozing Activities on Vast Areas of Land /
Jerusalem: Woman Has Miscarriage from Teargas; Man Critically Wounded
/ Tulkarem: Occupation Soldiers Bulldoze Main Road / Elderly Man
Wounded East Gaza City / Occupation Tanks Invade North Gaza Strip
and Salah al-Din Street / Jenin: Occupation Army Invades the City
at Dawn Again / Israeli Helicopters Attack Beit Lahya and Jabalya
Refugee Camp FEATURES: Al-Bireh: Occupation Soldiers Break
Arm of Youth through "Lottery" / Tulkarem City Faces Humanitarian
Crisis
Report:
Israel helping Sudan with advanced irrigation systems
MENA Report, January 14, 2003
Sudan and Israel are reportedly cooperating on irrigation and agricultural
development projects, despite the fact that the Islamic government
of the east African state has no formal ties with the Jewish state,
Israeli daily Maariv revealed Tuesday, January 14.
Hamas
says it has rockets and grenade launchers to use against Israel
USA Today, January 14, 2003
BEIRUT (AP) — The Palestinian militant group Hamas said Tuesday
it has new rocket-propelled grenade launchers and advanced rockets
to use against Israel.
Negev
residents call for a fence along the border with Egypt
Ha'aretz, January 14, 2003
Residents of the southern border town of Pithat Nitzana in the Negev
have begun demanding the construction of an electronic fence along
the border with Egupt, in response to several incidents along that
border over the past few months.
Untrained
seam line security squads are using World War II carbine rifles
Ha'aretz, January 14, 2003
Most of the security officers in local settlement squads along the
seam line are equipped with outdated World War II carbine rifles
and have not been given rudimentary training in how to respond to
a terrorist infiltration of their communities.
Syrians
Walk a Diplomatic Tightrope
Washington Post, January 13, 2003
DAMASCUS, Jan. 13 -- Faced with the likelihood of war next door
in Iraq, Syria has positioned itself as both defender of its Arab
neighbor and promoter of good relations with the United States.
Popular
revolt may end Turkish Cyprus
The Guardian, January 14, 2003
The veteran Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash will face the massed
forces of his people today demanding his signature on the UN proposals
for uniting the island, or his resignation.
After
period of strained relations Qatari Emir, Jordanian King meet in
France
Al-Bawaba, January 14, 2003
King Abdullah II of Jordan held talks in France Monday with Qatar's
Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, in their first meeting
following a row between their countries.
Kuwait
embraces women traders
BBC, January 14, 2003
The Kuwaiti stock exchange has created a special trading room for
women, allowing them to participate directly in the market for the
first time.
The
Bush `Warbucks' Family Cashes In
Common Dreams, January 14, 2003
William H.T. (``Bucky") Bush, an uncle of George W. Bush, is on
the Board of Directors of a company which will benefit substantially
from war with Iraq, according to financial analysts.
New
Survey Documents Global Repression
Human Rights Watch, January 14, 2003
U.S. Human Rights Leadership Faulted -- (Washington, D.C.,
January 14, 2003) - Global support for the war on terrorism is diminishing
partly because the United States too often neglects human rights
in its conduct of the war, Human Rights Watch said today in releasing
its World Report 2003.
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