Israeli
Troops Shoot Dead a Palestinian in Gaza Strip
New York Times, February 2, 2003
GAZA, Feb. 1 (Reuters) — Israeli troops shot dead an armed
Palestinian in a Gaza Strip border zone today and imposed a curfew
on the West Bank city of Hebron in a renewed military crackdown
after the Israeli national elections.
Israeli
Army Demolishes Houses in Hebron
The Guardian, February 2, 2003
HEBRON, West Bank (AP) - The Israeli army, citing a lack of building
permits, demolished nine houses belonging to Palestinians in the
West Bank city of Hebron on Sunday, leaving dozens homeless.
IDF
razes 22 Palestinian buildings and farm houses in Hebron
Jerusalem Post, February 2, 2003
IDF soldiers razed 22 Palestinian buildings in the West Bank city
of Hebron today, including stables and farm shacks, media reports
said.
Report:
Palestinians say IDF fired outlawed tank shells
Haaretz, February 2, 2003
IDF troops fired outlawed tank shells at children playing soccer
in the Jabalya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip over the weekend,
Israel Radio quoted Palestinians sources as saying Sunday.
20
Palestinians hurt in prison clashes
Haaretz, February 2, 2003
Tens of Palestinian detainees in the Negev's Ketziot Prison clashed
Sunday afternoon with IDF troops guarding the prison, military
officials said.
Israeli
Peace Activist Assaulted by Settlers While Soldiers Look On
International Solidarity Movement, February 2, 2003
Today a group of 5 Israeli Ta'ayush peace activists visited the
town of Yanoon near Nablus on a fact finding trip concerning the
Palestinian farm on which two members of the ISM were assaulted
on Wednesday (see ISM Press email of 29 Jan).
ISM
Activists in Gaza Shot Upon While Retrieving Dead Body
International Solidarity Movement, February 2, 2003
At 2 am last night Israeli soldiers shot and killed a man in an
olive orchard near the border crossing between Gaza and Egypt
and refused to allow anyone to retrieve the body.
US,
Britain weigh dispatch of observers to West Bank, Gaza
Jerusalem Post, February 2, 2003
The US and Britain are considering the possibility of sending
observers to Palestinian Authority areas to expedite peace efforts,
a Palestinian source told The Jerusalem Post.
Israel
to train Indians in anti-terror warfare
Jerusalem Post, February 2, 2003
The Indian army will send thousands of special forces troops to
Israel for training to fight Islamic militants in troubled Kashmir,
and the two countries have signed a multimillion-dollar weapons
deal, a news report said Sunday.
Nothing
to Justify Delay of Quartet’s ‘Roadmap’: PLC
Speaker
Palestine Media Center, February 2, 2003
The United States has not officially notified the Palestine National
Authority (PNA) that the Quartet’s “roadmap”
to peace in the Middle East has been delayed, Speaker of the Palestinian
Legislative Council (PLC) Ahmad Qurei said Sunday.
Sharon
fights to lure Labour into coalition
The Independent, February 2, 2003
Likud leader needs support of party he thrashed to gain $12bn
in American aid -- Despite trouncing Israel's opposition Labour
Party in last week's elections, Ariel Sharon was still trying
at the weekend to entice the party into his coalition government.
Its participation may be vital to the $12bn (£7.3bn) in additional
aid Israel is desperately seeking from the US.
Sharon
to offer Labor either treasury or foreign portfolio
Ha'aretz, February 2, 2003
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will meet Labor Party Chairman Amram
Mitzna on Monday to ask him to join his government. Sharon will
offer the party either the finance or foreign portfolio, according
to senior Likud sources.
Prime
Minister Sharon to meet Labor leader Amram Mitzna
Jerusalem Post, February 2, 2003
Sharon is to meet for the first time on Monday with Labor Party
Chairman Amram Mitzna. The Labor party has been resisting overtures
from the Likud party to join a unity government.
Palestinian
Parliament Pass 2003 Budget
Palestine Media Center, February 2, 2003
Gazan Business Owners Protest Against Israel -- The Palestinian
Legislative Council (PLC) on Saturday passed the Palestine National
Authority’s (PNA) 2003 budget on its first reading, with
45 votes in favor and only four against.
Rubinstein
to resign as Attorney General in March
Globes, February 2, 2003
The Supreme Court is divided over Elyakim Rubinstein's suitability
for appointment to the court. -- Sources inform “Globes”
that Attorney General Elyakim Rubinstein will resign in March,
about the time the new government will take office, but before
a decision has been taken whether to appoint him to the Supreme
Court.
President
Arafat Welcomes Egypt’s efforts to Revive Peace Talks
Palestine Media Center, February 2, 2003
President Yasser Arafat on Friday welcomed Egyptian President
Hosni Mubarak’s invitation to newly re-elected Israeli Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon to Cairo for talks aimed at reviving the
Middle East peace process.
Hear
Palestine, February 2, 2003
NEWS: Hebron Resident Died of Heart Attack as a result of Closure
/ Hebron: Occupation Army Demolishes 22 Homes and Farm / Bethlehem:
Collective Punishment Measures amidst Curfew / Ramallah: Curfew
Imposed on Town of Silwad / Qalqilya: Tight Closure on Villages;
Resident Arrested in Azoun / Nablus: Tightened Military Siege
and Curfew / Tulkarem Villages Isolated / Khan Younis: Resident
Wounded in Israeli Fire FEATURES: Iyad Moussa:
Occupation Assassinates Survivor of Jenin Massacre / Beit Lahya:
Homes near 'Dogit' Settlement Besieged with Barbed Wire / Missile
Targets Children's Bedroom North Jabalya Refugee Camp /
Jenin: Night Guards Live Obsession of Getting Killed / 72 Palestinians
Killed, Including 24 Children Last January
Lebanese
officials: Israeli planes carrying out mock raids
Jerusalem Post, February 2, 2003
Israeli warplanes flying over Lebanon for the fourth straight
day Sunday carried out mock raids over a disputed region, Lebanese
security officials said.
IMI
offers Indian Army concrete piercing bombs
Globes, February 2, 2003
Israeli Military Industries (IMI) is offering the Indian Army
bombs capable of piercing concrete, fortresses, and bunkers. The
bombs will be displayed this week at the Aero India 2003 defense
exhibition in Bangalore, in southern India.
Where
and how much depleted uranium has been fired?
LAKA Foundation, March, 2001
Developments in Israel and Turkey -- Outside the US, the Israeli
Defence Force (IDF) is the largest user of the [depleted uranium-clad]
M60 series. As of 1993, they probably had about 1000 M60/M60A1
tanks and about 600 M60A3s.
Israel
grieves for fallen astronaut
BBC, February 1, 2003
Ramon had become a symbol of hope for Israelis -- When Israel's
first astronaut, Colonel Ilan Ramon, blasted into space on board
the space shuttle Columbia, he offered a rare glimmer of hope
to this troubled country.
Surgeon
Sets Sail on Mission to Help Refugees
Scotsman Online, February 1, 2003
A surgeon who chartered a cargo ship to ferry humanitarian aid
to the Palestinian people in Gaza as a New Year resolution today
set sail on the mercy mission. After a month of planning and hard
work, 62-year-old David Halpin left from Torquay, Devon for the
3,000-mile trip.
Ecological
disaster threatens TA beaches
Ha'aretz, February 2, 2003
An environmental catastrophe is threatening Tel Aviv's beaches
due to the Dan Region Sewage Union's decision to direct sewage
into the sea for two consecutive months, the Environment Ministry
warned over the weekend.
Israeli
astronaut carried sketch by Auschwitz boy
The Observer, February 2, 2003
Colonel Ilan Ramon, the first Israeli in space, wore his country's
heritage on his sleeve during his flight on the Space Shuttle
Columbia.
Arafat
offers condolences to shuttle families
Reuters, February 1, 2003
RAMALLAH, West Bank, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Palestinian President Yasser
Arafat offered condolences on Saturday to the families of seven
astronauts -- one of them an Israeli fighter pilot -- killed in
the break-up of the space shuttle Columbia.
PA
calls for renewed cease-fire talks
Ha'aretz, February 2, 2003
The Palestinian leadership, led by Palestinian Authority Chairman
Yasser Arafat, on Friday night called on the Israeli government
to negotiate a cease-fire in the territories. This is probably
the first time the Palestinians have attempted to start cease-fire
talks since the start of the intifada in October 2000. [sic]
Mofaz:
Arafat gave 'green light' to suicide attacks
Ha'aretz, February 2, 2003
Information directly linking Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser
Arafat to terror organizations was presented Friday by Defense
Minister Shaul Mofaz. Addressing the Economic-Social Club in Nes
Tziona, Mofaz charged that Arafat had instructed the heads of
the organizations to kill more Israelis.
Belgium
amends law to enable Sharon trial
Ha'aretz, February 2, 2003
LONDON - The Belgian Senate on Thursday approved an interpretational
amendment to the Universal Authority Law, which, if passed, will
allow for indicting Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for his involvement
in the Sabra and Chatila massacres in 1982.
3
Palestinians killed
Ha'aretz, February 2, 2003
Three Palestinians, one of them a firefighter, were shot dead
in clashes with the IDF in the territories over the weekend. The
IDF is continuing its extended operation in Hebron, where it bombed
the houses of suspected terrorists and destroyed the Palestinian
food market in the city.
Halevy
in talks with U.S. over Iraq attack
Ha'aretz, February 2, 2003
National Security Advisor Efraim Halevy discussed the impending
American attack on Iraq with senior administration officials in
Washington over the weekend.
IDF
destroys tunnel in Rafah
Jerusalem Post, February 2, 2003
IDF forces discovered and destroyed a tunnel near Rafah used to
smuggle weapons from Egypt to Gaza.
Shinui
demands tax cut as condition for joining gov't
Haaretz, February 2, 2003
The Shinui Party is demanding a tax cut for the middle class and
a ban on foreign workers entering the country - unless they work
in agriculture and food services - as conditions for joining a
government under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Citing
free speech, High Court allows anti-Sarid posters in J'lem
Haaretz, February 2, 2003
Citing the right to free speech, the High Court on Sunday ordered
the City of Jerusalem to allow a right-wing activist to place
posters with the slogan "Sarid is Arafat's caretaker" in the capital.
The
more Jewish, the more vulnerable
Haaretz, February 2, 2003
For growing numbers of Jews, the threat of anti-Semitism has shifted
from social discrimination to anti-Israel hostility. -- Alarmed
by the growing specter of terrorism abroad and at home, American
Jews report feeling high levels of anxiety and fear of further
attacks - on their nation, their community and themselves.
American
financed campaign to reopen Temple Mount to visitors
Jerusalem Post, February 2, 2003
Nearly two and a half years after police closed Jerusalem's Temple
Mount to non-Muslims due to concern over renewed Palestinian violence,
efforts are underway to convince Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to
reopen the contested site to visitors, including an Israeli advertising
campaign launched last week that is being sponsored by several
American Jewish magnates.
President
to meet party heads before naming new premier
Jerusalem Post, February 2, 2003
President Moshe Katsav is to launch consultations on Monday with
party leaders in advance of designating a new prime minister following
last week's national election.
International
Solidarity Movement, February 2, 2003
International Solidarity Movement
1) Terrorists Among the Apples, by Art Gish (CPT), 2) A Game of
Darts, by Dr. Mona Al Farra, 3) Neta’s interrogation: Solidarity
call from Gush Shalom
Israel
Space Agency chair: Sharon supports bigger space budget
Globes, February 2, 2003
Israel Space Agency (ISA) chairperson Prof. Yuval Neeman said
today that although Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had decided to
increase the ISA 2003 budget by NIS 15 million, the ISA had not
received the money.
Israeli
Aggression Persists as Palestinians Call for Reviving Peace Talks
Palestine Media Center, February 2, 2003
Israeli Occupation Troops (IOF) shot dead a Palestinian activist
in the Gaza Strip near the border with Egypt on Saturday and imposed
a curfew on the West Bank city of Hebron, where they carried out
massive house-to-house searches as the Palestinian leadership
reaffirmed readiness to discuss a ceasefire with Israel and revive
peace talks.
Abed
Rabbo: Demolition of Hebron Houses is Implementation of Israeli
Transfer
Palestine Media Center, February 2, 2003
The Palestine National Authority (PNA) Minister of Culture and
Information, Yasser Abed Rabbo, condemned the Israeli demolitions
of twenty-two houses in Beit Anoun and Jabal Jawhar in Hebron.
Occupation
Chronicle Events in Palestine, February 2, 2003
Palestine Media Center, February 2, 2003
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) imposed a curfew on Palestinian
cities and towns in the West Bank and demolished 22 houses in
Hebron. IOF also killed a Palestinian citizen in the Gaza Strip
town of Rafah.
AP
misrepresents the world consensus on Palestine
Palestine Media Watch. January 31, 2003
PMWATCH - January 31, 2003 -- The Asssociated Press has taken
a firm stand against referring to international law in the context
of its coverage of Israeli military actions in the Occupied West
Bank and Gaza Strip. In line with this position, the Associated
Press has virtually abandoned the use of the phrase "Occupied
Territories," language which is taken directly from the Geneva
Conventions and which has for decades provided a standard and
universally-accepted framework for referring to this conflict.
PCHR
supervises the "Schoolbag" campaign
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, February 2, 2003
Far from its regular activities, the PCHR has distributed 2200
packages of school stationery to 76 schools and educational institutions
throughout the Gaza Strip.
US
seeks to boost flagging trade ties
Arab News, February 2, 2003
RIYADH, 2 February 2003 — US Ambassador Robert Jordan held
talks yesterday with Commerce Minister Osama Faqeeh over ways
to boost trade ties, as Washington’s exports to the Kingdom
continue to slide.
Arabs
Hope Shuttle Disaster Prompts U.S. Reflection
New York Times, February 2, 2003
CAIRO, Egypt, Feb. 2 — In the Middle East, where the hand
of God is never believed too far off the tiller of daily events,
one explanation for the shuttle disaster quickly gained widespread
currency today: divine retribution.
Syrifan
moves hint at large gas reserves
Middle East Times, January 31, 2003
Faced with the inexorable decline of its modest oil reserves,
Syria is preparing to speed up exploitation of its sizeable reserves
of natural gas both to secure its own domestic energy needs and
to free up more crude oil and petroleum products for export, a
move that could pose a threat to Egypt's ambitions for gas exports
in the region.
Envofy
from Greece, current EU president, begins Mideast tour
Jerusalem Post, February 2, 2003
Greece's foreign minister on Sunday called for a peaceful solution
to avoid a possible US war on Iraq, which his Syrian counterpart
said could bring more bloodshed and disorder to the Middle East.
