Sharon
calls for unity government
The Guardian, January 29, 2003
The Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, today called for a national
unity government against what he described as the "murderous hatred"
of Palestinian militants. The call came after his Likud party
had secured a resounding election victory.
Army
kills 7 Arabs as Israelis vote
Arab News, January 29, 2003
JENIN, West Bank, 29 January 2003 — Seven Palestinians were
killed yesterday during Israeli raids on Jenin and Gaza, as Israel
chose a new government in a vote expected to be won by Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon on a tough security pledge.
Palestinians
youth killed, IDF soldier wounded in Gaza
Jerusalem Post, January 29, 2003
Palestinian sources said Wednesday that a 19-year-old Palestinian
youth was killed and 10 others wounded in clashes with IDF troops
in the Gaza Strip.
Clare
Short helps launch Palestinian poverty report
Christian Aid, January 29, 2003
The Secretary of State for International Development, Clare Short,
spoke at the launch of Christian Aid's major new report on Palestinian
poverty in the House of Lords today. This disturbing report, Losing
ground: Israel, poverty and the Palestinians, examines in detail
how Israel's occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip has
been the primary cause of the destruction of the Palestinian economy.
It calls for full Israeli withdrawal from the Occupied Palestinian
Territories, and for international monitors to oversee the process.
Get
the report
US
groups funneled $1m to help Sharon
Arab News, January 29, 2003
WASHINGTON, 28 January 2003 — US donors funneled more than
one million dollars into coffers supporting political activities
by Ariel Sharon before he was elected Israeli prime minister two
years ago, the Washington Post reported yesterday.
Sharon
to seek unity goverment with Labor, then try Shinui
Ha'aretz, January 29, 2003
Senior PM aide: In the end, Labor will join Likud, Shinui in unity
government; Katsav calls on Mitzna to join Sharon-led coalition.
-- Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is to begin contacts on forming
a new government within the next few days, with fis favored goal
being a unity coalition with the Labor Party.
Two
Israelis shot in West Bank; soldier lightly hurt in Gaza
Ha'aretz, January 29, 2003
A man and his son, both Israeli, were wounded Wednesday afternoon
in a shooting attack near the settlement of Beit El and south
of the Ofra settlement, in the West Bank.
Arafat:
I would meet with Sharon 'tonight'
Jerusalem Post, January 29, 2003
Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat on Wednesday declined
to criticize the Likud victory in yesterday's election, saying
he is prepared to meet with Sharon. Arafat told Israel's Channel
10 TV that he would be prepared to meet Sharon "tonight. If he's
ready, I'm ready."
Militants
predict more violence following Sharon's victory
Ha'aretz, January 29, 2003
Islamic militants Wednesday predicted an escalation in the conflict
after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's resounding victory in Tuesday's
polls, coupled with the collapse of the left-wing.
Sharon
will try to tailor the 'road map' to suit coalition
Ha'aretz, January 29, 2003
The first mission of the new Sharon government will be to thwart
the imposition of an international initiative - the "road map"
- for settling the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Hear
Palestine, January 29, 2003
NEWS: Youth Killed in Rafah this Evening / Gaza Strip: 3 Palestinians
Killed Last Night; 1 Died of Injuries Today / Nablus: Tight Military
Measures and Arrests / Tulkarem: Hundreds of Dunums of Land Confiscated
by Military Order / Ramallah: Police Station Raided in Abu Flah
village / Jenin: Ongoing Curfew and Military Measures for 2nd
Day / Bethlehem: Heavy Military Presence amidst Ongoing Home Raids
/ Qalqilya: Ongoing Curfew and Tight Military Siege / Jerusalem:
High Security Alert and Heavy Military Presence / Palestinian
Detainees Declare Food Strike for One Day FEATURES:
Sharon Sends a Message from Jenin to the Israeli Elector / Nablus:
Severe Beating and Confiscation of School Bag as Punishment /
The Israeli Elections: Nothing New Under Curfew
Israeli
Poll A "Defeat For The Peace Camp": EU's Solana
Islam Online, January 29, 2003
BRUSSELS, January 29 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - The EU
will stick to its Middle East peace plan whatever government emerges
after Ariel Sharon's sweeping poll victory in Israeli, which marked
a defeat of the peace camp there, foreign policy chief Javier
Solana said Wednesday, January 29.
Turnout
is historic low
Ha'aretz, January 29, 2003
Pollster: `The public is fed up' -- The voter turnout for
yesterday's Knesset elections were the lowest in the history of
the State of Israel.
Arafat
advisor: Mitzna's joining nat'l unity government only way to save
peace process
Jerusalem Post, January 29, 2003
Bassam abu-Sharif, an advisor to Palestinian Authority Chairman
Yasser Arafat, said he hoped Labor could be convinced to join
a national unity government with Likud and Shinui so that the
new Israeli government could renew peace negotiations with the
Palestinians.
Malaysia
wants Arafat to attend Non-Aligned summit
Ha'aretz, January 29, 2003
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia urged major world powers yesterday to
persuade Israel to allow Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser
Arafat to attend a summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in
Kuala Lumpur next month.
LAW
to investigate the killing of Maher al-Jizmawi (17)
LAW Society, January 29, 2003
Maher’s sister sneaked her brother’s death certificate
under her dress, along with a paper showing he’d participated
in Jewish-Arab friendship meetings, and photos of his corpse.
She was afraid they’d be taken by Israeli soldiers at the
checkpoint. The four and a half hour journey from Tulkarem to
Jerusalem had distressed her and Maher’s father, but they
wanted some kind of justice.
PNA
Condemns Israel’s Decision to Build Segregation Wall in
Tulkarem
Palestine Media Center, January 29, 2003
Palestine National Authority (PNA) minister of Culture and Information
Yasser Abed Rabbo condemned in a letter to the diplomatic corps,
the Israeli decision to start work on the so-called “security
fence” to the east of the Green Line boundary in the northern
West Bank city of Tulkarem.
Four
gunmen killed in Jenin clashes
Ha'aretz, January 29, 2003
The Israel Defense Forces and Border Police yesterday killed four
armed Palestinians during clashes in Jenin. Several other Palestinians
were wounded and two border policemen were lightly injured. Three
Palestinians, one a teenage girl, were killed by an explosion
in Gaza overnight on Monday. Both Israeli and Palestinian sources
say it was a "work accident" involving Hamas bomb-makers.
Palestinians
'sink into extreme poverty'
BBC, January 29, 2003
Poverty has as much effect on Palestinians as violence -- The
charity Christian Aid has published a report describing what it
calls the situation of extreme poverty into which most Palestinians
in the West Bank and Gaza Strip are sinking.
REPORT:
Losing ground: Israel, poverty and the Palestinians
Christian Aid, January 28, 2003
Based on Christian Aid's work with local organisations in both
Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories over the last
five decades, this report looks at how and why ordinary Palestinians
find themselves in conditions of deepening poverty. Download
the report
Hear
Palestine, January 28, 2003
NEWSL Jenin: 4 Killed and 5 Wounded during Israeli Invasion /
Gaza Strip: 5 Palestinians Killed and Over 11 Wounded / 53 Shop
Owners Ordered to Evacuate for Demolition in Nazlat Issa / Occupation
Army Invades Toubas / Tulkarem: Soldiers Wage Attacks on Residents
under Curfew / Bethlehem: Ongoing Home Raids and Searches / Qalqilya
under Curfew FEATURES: Between Jenin and Gaza. Same
Pretexts for Committing Massacres / 33 Killed, Including 8 Children
in One Week
Three
Israelis wounded in W. Bank, Gaza Strip; Hamas says Sharon re-election
to bring further escalation
Al-Bawaba, January 29, 2003
Two Israeli settlers were wounded Wednesday afternoon in a shooting
attack near the settlement of Beit El in the West Bank. One settler
was reported to be seriously wounded.
Sharon
Party Scores Victory in Election
The Guardian, January 29, 2003
JERUSALEM (AP) - Here's a breakdown of the seats won by the largest
parties in Israel's election Tuesday. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's
Likud is by far the largest party, with 37 seats, but will still
need coalition partners to reach the 61 spots required for a majority
in the 120-seat parliament. Still to be counted are soldiers'
and diplomats' votes, which could change the outcome slightly.
Sharon,
Likud Win Big, Mitzna Concedes Defeat, Peace Camp Collapses
Palestine Media Center, January 29, 2003
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was set to form a new government
Wednesday after his right-wing Likud party won a sweeping election
victory - on the lowest turnout in Israeli history - and the Labor
party slumped to its worst result ever, together with the Israeli
peace camp, which threatens to spark a fresh surge of violence
against the Palestinian people in the occupied territories.
Sharon
win pushes Israel further to the right
The Guardian, January 29, 2003
Israeli voters firmly rejected the peace camp yesterday by re-electing
Ariel Sharon as prime minister and driving the Labour party to
its worst ever defeat, according to normally reliable exit polls.
Palestinians
Fear the Worst After Sharon’s Re-Election
Palestine Media Center, January 29, 2003
Bush: We Will Continue to Seek Peace in Middle East -- The Palestine
National Authority (PNA) said the Palestinian people feared the
worst after Ariel Sharon’s Likud party easily won Israel’s
general elections Tuesday, with right-wing parties scoring a clear
majority.
Mubarak,
Sharon agree to meet; Syria, Lebanon say Israelis do not want
peace
Al-Bawaba, January 29, 2003
Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak is expected to soon hold a meeting
with Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Mubarak called Sharon
on Wednesday morning and congratulated him on his victory in Tuesday's
elections.
More
violence to follow Sharon victory
Courier-Mail, January 30, 2003
LEADING Palestinian figures warned of a new rise in violence in
the territories as official election results published today gave
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's right-wing Likud an overwhelming
victory.
Voters
snub peace candidate and opt for more from hardliner Sharon
The Independent, January 29, 2003
The Prime Minister who has presided over two years of ever-rising
casualties and an economic slide is voted back in.
Klein:
4.3% deficit in 2003 without deep budget cut
Globes, January 29, 2003
Bank of Israel forecast: Business product will fall 2% and unemployment
will exceed 300,000. -- Governor of the Bank of Israel David Klein
has rejected calls to slash the interest rate out of concern for
economic and financial stability, and so long as there is no explicit
government ommitment to significantly cut spending and reduce
the deficit.
“The
Economist” cuts Israel growth forecast to 1.3%
Globes, January 29, 2003
British weekly “The Economist” has again cut its growth
forecast for Israel.
And
2003 will be even worse...
Globes, January 29, 2003
Israel’s banks thought 2001 was their worst year ever -
until 2002. -- Israel’s banks thought 2001 was their worst
year ever - until they suffered an even worse year in 2002. There
are no signs of improvement for 2003, and even the large banks
are not far from falling into the red. Everything hinges on the
recession.
Focus:
Sharon pursues a lesser evil
Ha'aretz, January 29, 2003
The averaged results of all three television surveys suggest that
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon would be able to form a right-wing
plus ultra-Orthodox coalition within a week that could survive
for a long time. However, in recent private conversations Sharon
has repeatedly declared "there will be no right-wing government."
Israeli
election: Sharon calls for ''unity government''; PA says Israelis
commit ''historical mistake''
Al-Bawaba, January 29, 2003
Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his Likud Party won a
massive victory in Israel's parliamentary elections Tuesday, as
voters endorsed his hard-line approach to the Palestinian uprising
and dealt the dovish Labor Party its worst defeat in history.
Fringe
leader relishes role in limelight
The Independent, January 29, 2003
To listen to the election victory speech last night of the Shinui
Party's leader, Tommy Lapid, you'd think the party had come first,
not third, and Mr Lapid was about to become Prime Minister. But
what he is more likely to become is kingmaker.
Ariel
Sharon's coalition options
Ha'aretz, January 29, 2003
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will do everything in his power and
use everything at his disposal to establish a national unity government
in the image of the previous one - including the Labor Party.
Poor
showings leads to resignations from Sharanksy, Sarid
Ha'aretz, January 29, 2003
Following Tuesday's election in which their respective parties
failed to win the expected number of seats, Yisrael b'Aliyah Chairman
Nathan Sharansky quit the Knesset on Wednesday, while Yossi Sarid
resigned as Meretz chairman.
Mubarak
expected to meet Sharon after he forms coalition
Ha'aretz, January 29, 2003
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is expected to soon hold a meeting
with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Mubarak called Sharon on Wednesday
morning and congratulated him on his victory in Tuesday's elections.
Background:
War in the Gulf may mean Labor in the cabinet
Ha'aretz, January 29, 2003
A triumphant Ariel Sharon, master artisan of the tactical trap,
has set his sights on snaring Amram Mitzna's Labor into a unity
government - but the prey may prove so stubborn that it may take
a war in Iraq to force it to take the bait.
Likud
wins almost double Labor's seats
Ha'aretz, January 29, 2003
The Likud, with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon at its head, yesterday
won an historic - and expected - victory over the Labor Party,
led by Amram Mitzna, while the center, led by Yosef Lapid's Shinui
tripled in size and now shares the role of the swing vote with
the ultra-Orthodox.
Shinui
captures center; jubilant Lapid demands a `secular unity coalition'
Ha'aretz, January 29, 2003
In his victory speech, Yosef Lapid last night vowed that his Shinui
party would help "shape the government, its policies and Israel's
image - because that's what the people want," but in the same
speech he called on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to form a "secular
unity coalition" with Shinui and the Likud.
Mitzna:
We won't join Sharon
Ha'aretz, January 29, 2003
Defeated Labor leader Amram Mitzna last night repeated his pledge
not to sit in a government under Ariel Sharon.
`Alas,
oh enemy'
Ha'aretz, January 29, 2003
The Arab press and intelligentsia are losing faith in Israel's
desire for peace. -- The e-mail sent to me by a Lebanese
friend contained just four lines. "What a pity," he wrote, "that
when I read Ha'aretz on the Internet I understand that we are
again facing four years of no hope for peace. After all, you will
again elect Ariel Sharon as prime minister. The Israelis are about
to opt for occupation and oppression again."
Now
it's up to the police and the media
Ha'aretz, January 29, 2003
The Likud ponders its victory -- "Sharon's code words to the right
at the televised press conference were `they are persecuting us'
and they contradicted the left's code words `enforcing the law.'"
What
happens next? How will the new government be formed?
Ha'aretz, January 29, 2003
Questions and answers about the process of forming a new Israeli
government.
Election
results for settlements, Kibbutz movement and Moshavim
Jerusalem Post, January 29, 2003
Israelis living in the settlements gave Likud 28.6% of the vote.
The National Union was second with 15.6%, United Torah Judaism
received 10.8% and the National Religious Party received 14.4%
of the vote....
Herut
cries fraud
Ha'aretz, January 29, 2003
Election fraud sabotaged Herut's results at dozens of pollings
stations in ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods, charged party chair,
Michael Kleiner yesterday, predicting that a revote will be necessary
at these stations. According to the exit polls, Herut may not
have made it into the next Knesset.
Shas
mood swings from joy to shock
Ha'aretz, January 29, 2003
When the results of the Channel Two and Channel 10 exit polls
came through, the throng of Shas supporters gathered at a banquet
hall in Jerusalem went quiet.
PM
threatens to call new elections if unable to form broad coalition
Ha'aretz, January 29, 2003
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has threatened to call new elections
if he is unable to form a government that includes Shinui, one
of his associates said last night.
Cheshin
suggests fining non-voters
Ha'aretz, January 29, 2003
Responding to yesterday's low voter turnout, Central Elections
Committee Chairman Mishael Cheshin suggested that the Knesset
consider fining citizens who do not exercise their right to vote.
Peretz's
One Nation increases strength
Ha'aretz, January 29, 2003
Commenting on television exit polls showing his party had won
three seats in the 16th Knesset, Oane Nation Chairman Amir Peretz
said his party had increased its strength by 50 percent from the
previous Knesset and predicted it would gain a fourth seat when
the votes were counted.
Group
linked to space alien cult Rael says first cloned baby is in Israel
Jerusalem Post, January 29, 2003
FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida -The head of the group that claims to
have cloned humans testified under oath Wednesday that the first
clone, a baby girl known as Eve, is in Israel rather than the
United States.
Germany
ships anti-missile defense systems to Israel
Jerusalem Post, January 29, 2003
NORDENHAM, Germany - The German military on Wednesday began loading
two anti-missile defense systems onto a ship bound for Israel,
which requested the weapons to fend off any Iraqi attack if war
breaks out in the region.
Mauritania
Bans Anti-U.S. Protests
The Guardian, January 29, 2003
NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania (AP) - The Arab-dominated West African
nation of Mauritania has banned anti-U.S. protests and deployed
hundreds of security forces in the capital to enforce the prohibition.
FBI
target Iraqi exiles in search for terror suspects
The Guardian, January 29, 2003
FBI supervisors have been ordered to count the number of Muslims
and mosques in their areas and interview up to 5,000 Iraqi-Americans
and immigrants in order to assess how vulnerable they are to terrorist
attack.
Egyptian
pound slumps 15 percent on first free float trading
Al-Bawaba, January 29, 2003
The Egyptian government decided to liberalize its exchange rate
policy and allow the local pound currency to float freely, Prime
Minister Atef Ebeid stated Tuesday, January 28, at an Economist
conference in Cairo. On the first day of abandoning the ‘managed
peg’ system, the pound plunged 15 percent, to match black
market rates.
Iran
outraged by Bush speech
BBC, January 29, 2003
Ties between Iran and the US remain ruptured -- Iranian Foreign
Minister Kamal Kharrazi has condemned an allegation by US President
George W Bush that Iran is developing weapons of mass destruction.
Travel
advisory issued for U.S. Muslims
Council on American-Islamic Relations, January 27, 2003
Islamic civil rights group concerned pilgrims will be harassed
-- (Washington, D.C.) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) today issued a travel advisory for American Muslims who
may face harassment or denial of entry when returning to the United
States from travel abroad.
US
interrogators turn to 'torture lite'
The Guardian, January 29, 2003
The second half of our investigation finds America bending the
rules in the wake of September 11 -- The United States is condoning
the torture and illegal interrogation of prisoners held in the
wake of September 11, in defiance of international law and its
own constitution, according to lawyers, former US intelligence
officers and human rights groups.
FBI
urged to rescind Mosque tally policy
Council on American-Islamic Relations, January 27, 2003
Counting mosques to set goals for investigations called profiling
-- (Washington, D.C.) - A Prominent national civil rights and
advocacy group is calling on the Department of Justice to rescind
a new policy directive that would have FBI field offices count
local mosques to determine goals for counter terrorism investigations
and secret wiretaps.
Iran
Rejects Bush Comments on Weapons, Suppression
Reuters, January 29, 2003
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi Wednesday
denounced as baseless Washington's allegations that Iran was seeking
to develop weapons of mass destruction and repress its people.
photo
Noknesset
movement
Alternative Information Center, January 29, 2003
A member of the Noknesset movement fixes stickers of his organization
over banners of different Israeli parties in Yitzhak Rabin Square
January 28, 2003 in Tel Aviv during the Israeli parliamentary
elections.
