Israeli,
Palestinian Hurt in 2 Incidents
Newsday, February 4, 2003
Israeli troops also demolished eight Palestinian-owned homes in
the Gaza Strip, witnesses said. -- JERUSALEM -- Palestinians seriously
wounded a Jewish settler in a shooting attack in the Gaza Strip
on Tuesday. Meanwhile, a Palestinian boy was critically wounded
by army fire in a clash in the West Bank.
"This
is our hobby" -- Soldiers Around Nablus Threaten to Murder
ISM Activists
International Solidarity Movement, February 4, 2003
"For every word you say a Palestinian will have to wait an extra
hour." -- As I write this three ISM activists from the US, France
and Denmark are standing in the pouring rain at a checkpoint to
the east of Nablus with twenty-seven Palestinian villagers and
their four Israeli persecutors.
Norway
Wants NATO to Act as Barrier Between Palestinians, Israelis
Palestine Media Center, February 4, 2003
Norway on Monday said that NATO should send troops to the Middle
East to act as a barrier between Palestinians and Israelis, as
President Yasser Arafat sent messages to Jordanian and Egyptian
leaderships, carried by the Palestinian chief negotiator Sa’eb
Erekat, who stressed that the “roadmap” being developed
by the Quartet of mediators must be released without delay.
U.N.:
Air violations by Israel in Lebanon increase
Al-Bawaba, February 4, 2003
The United Nations Monday expressed deep concern that air violations
by Israel across the line of withdrawal in southern Lebanon are
continuing and seem to have increased in the past few days.
Hizbullah
chief warns of retaliation for IAF overflights
Jerusalem Post, February 4, 2003
Hizbullah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah has warned that the organization
will retaliate for any further violations of Lebanese airspace
by IAF warplanes.
Report
to human rights committee on conscientious objection in Israel
Alternative Information Center, February 4, 2003
As a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights, Israel is about to present its periodical report to the
Human Rights Committee (overlooking the implementation of that
covenant) this March. Download
the report - Acrobat format
Jewish
Settlers: Population Up 12,000
Newsday, February 3, 2003
JERUSALEM -- Jewish settlers said Monday their number grew by
more than 12,000 last year, even though they often are targeted
in Palestinian attacks. The Settlers Council said 226,028 Jews
were living in the West Bank at the end of 2002, an increase of
12,356 -- or 5.8 percent -- from 213,672 a year earlier. The increase
over the past two years is 11.3 percent, the settlers said.
Israel
aid in US 2004 draft budget: At least $2.776b
Globes, February 4, 2003
The aid package for Israel in the 2004 US draft budget is at least
$2.776 billion. This sum includes US participation in the Arrow
anti-ballistic missile system. Israel is continuing to receive
the largest share of US foreign aid.
US
arms official to visit on Mideast WMD probe
Jerusalem Post, February 4, 2003
US Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International
Security John Bolton plans to meet with senior officials in Israel
Wednesday and Thursday to discuss the pursuit of weapons of mass
destruction by Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Libya.
Mofaz:
U.S. administration is determined to carry out Iraq attack
Ha'aretz, February 4, 2003
Speaking during a visit to navy shipyards in Haifa on Tuesday,
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said that the U.S. administration
is "determined to carry out the American attack, and I can say
with the appropriate caution that this attack appears to be inevitable."
Mill
Valley Seniors Stage Protest for Peace
Common Dreams/Marin Independent Journal, February 4, 2003
Some residents of Mill Valley's Redwoods Retirement Center feel
President Bush is leading the country into war and they demonstrated
yesterday - using canes, walkers and wheelchairs - to let him
know they want no part of it.
Egged
wins NIS 52M in damages against PA and Arafat
Ha'aretz, February 4, 2003
Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat will have to pay
the Egged bus cooperative NIS 52 million in damages as a result
of the loss of a year's income during the intifada, the Tel Aviv
District Court ruled yesterday.
Mitzna
`shocked' by Sharon's hard line
Ha'aretz, February 4, 2003
Labor Party Chairman Amram Mitzna came out of a two-hour meeting
with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon "shocked" and "more worried than
ever" by Sharon's hard-line refusal to consider evacuation of
Gaza Strip settlements and the Jewish community in Hebron, Mitzna
told the elected Labor Party faction yesterday.
Swedish
FM slams Israel again
Jerusalem Post, February 3, 2003
"I fear that the Palestinian people soon will lose all hope of
an independent state, and that Israel will lose its moral values."
-- After months of relative quiet from Stockholm, Swedish Foreign
Minister Anna Lindh again raised eyebrows in Jerusalem with a
speech Thursday in which she blasted the Israeli election results
and put down Israel's democracy.
B’Tselem:
IOF Using Forbidden Weapons Against Palestinians
Palestine Media Center, February 4, 2003
IOF Admit firing Falchette Rounds on Palestinian Children on Friday
-- The leading Israeli human rights group, B’Tselem, accused
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) of using prohibited weapons against
Palestinian civilians as well against crowded neighborhoods, especially
in the Gaza Strip.
Israel
transfers NIS 280M to PA
Ha'aretz, February 4, 2003
Israel yesterday handed over NIS 280 million in taxes to the Palestinian
Authority - the largest payment of its kind since the outbreak
of the intifada.
Hear
Palestine, February 4, 2003
NEWS: Occupation Soldiers Open Fire at Civilian Car in Al-Qarara
/ Ramallah: Israeli Soldiers Invade 3 Buildings in City
Center / Bethlehem: 4 Arrested in Deheishe; 2 Schools Closed Down
in Al-Khader / Tulkarem: Ongoing Tight Military Curfew and Siege;
2 Children Wounded / Occupation Army Bulldozes Homes and Property
in Deir al-Balah / Nablus: Occupation Demolishes Home in Beit
Forik / Khan Younis: Woman and 2 Children Wounded in Israeli Fire
Settler
injured in Gaza Strip ambush; Israel sentences Hamas member to
27 years in prison for alleged ties with Al Qaeda
Al-Bawaba, February 4, 2003
Palestinian fighters shot and wounded a settler in an ambush in
a hothouse area near Kfar Darom settlement early Tuesday.
IOF
Kill Two Farmers, Demolish More Houses in Rafah
Palestine Media Center, February 4, 2003
Number of Illegal Settlers Rose by 6% in 2002: Israeli Ministry
-- Two Palestinian farmers were killed by Israeli tank fire in
the southern Gaza Strip on Monday as they were working in their
fields, Palestinian security and medical officials said.
Occupation
Chronicle Events in Palestine, February 4, 2003
Palestine Media Center, February 4, 2003
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) killed two Palestinian farmers
in the Gaza Strip town of Abassan and wounded a mother and her
two children in Khan Younis. IOF also demolished four Palestinian
houses; three in Rafah and one near Nablus / IOF Raid a Nablus
Clinic, Detain Nurse
Flechette
Shells: An Illegal Weapon
B'tselem, February 4, 2003
Flechettes are an anti-personnel weapon that is generally fired
from tanks. The shell explodes in the air and releases thousands
of metal darts 3.75 mm in length, which disperse in a conical
arch three hundred meters long and about ninety meters wide.
Report:
Conscientious objection to military service in Israel: an unrecognised
human right - Acrobat format
War Resisters’ International, February 3, 2003
Report for the Human Rights Committee in relation to Article 18
of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
Israeli,
U.S. Troops Finish Exercises
Newsday, February 4, 2003
JERUSALEM -- Israeli and American forces fired a salvo of Patriot
missiles Tuesday as part of a joint exercise to test air defenses.
Israel's defense minister also said a U.S.-Iraq war is "apparently
inevitable."
Palestinian
Authority resumes efforts to prevent Qassam launches in Gaza
Ha'aretz, February 4, 2003
For the first time in many months, Israeli intelligence officials
say they are seeing signs that the Palestinians are taking steps
against terrorist groups.
Gilad:
Iraqi missiles only one wartime concern
Jerusalem Post, February 3, 2003
Escalation in the North, a mega-terror attack, and public panic
fueled by rumors are among the country's central concerns during
the first weeks of a possible US war in Iraq, Maj.-Gen. Amos Gilad
said Sunday.
Fence
proposal fires controversy among settler leaders
Ha'aretz, February 4, 2003
"It annexes 110,000 Palestinians" -- An alternative separation
fence route, drafted by some West Bank council heads, is the focus
of a raging controversy among settler leaders. The fence route
map, presented by some leaders of the Yesha Council of settlements
to Central Command commander Moshe Kaplinsky and Defense Minister
Shaul Mofaz, leaves dozens of settlements on the west side of
the fence.
Some
Israelis Rely on European Passports
Newsday, February 4, 2003
TEL AVIV, Israel -- Holding relatives' faded birth certificates
and speaking a few choppy words of Polish, dozens of Israelis
line up daily at the Polish embassy to reclaim the citizenship
their parents and grandparents lost after fleeing wartime Europe.
Hebron
civilian life under attack
Alternative Information Center, February 4, 2003
On January 29, the Israeli army Central Command ordered the prolongation
of the closure of two Hebron educational institutions, the Polytechnic
and the Hebron University. No reason was given for this order,
stating only that the reasons given originally for the closure
on 16th January still stand.
IDF
won’t buy IMI Tavor rifle for lack of budget
Globes, February 4, 2003
In order to improve the chances that the IDF will purchase the
Tavor, IMI is negotiating with several US companies to jointly
manufacture the rifle. If US companies make the entire Tavor,
or at least 50% of its components, it would be declared “Made
in USA” and US aid could be used to procure it. --
The IDF is not equipping its combat units with Israel Military
Industries’ (IMI) Tavor assault rifle at this time.
IMI
to open New Delhi office
Globes, February 3, 2003
The Ministry of Defense supports arms sales to India, provided
they are discrete so as not to arouse the ire of Washington. --
Israel Military Industries (IMI) will open an office in New Delhi
and is planning to collaborate with India’s defense industry.
IMI has designated India as one of its key target markets, and
estimates potential arms sales at $1 billion.
IDF
arrests Jihad men responsible for Hebron, Otniel attacks
Ha'aretz, February 4, 2003
IDF troops arrested Tuesday morning a senior Islamic Jihad operative
in the West Bank city of Hebron suspected of belonging to a terror
cell responsible for two attacks on Israelis in 2002 that left
16 people dead.
Court
rejects damages for murdered collaborator's kin
Ha'aretz, February 4, 2003
The Supreme Court yesterday rejected a request to compensate the
family of a Palestinian who was murdered for collaborating with
Israel.
Uncertainty
stalls Mideast growth
Business Day, February 4, 2003
BRUSSELS - The West Bank and Gaza have suffered an "unprecedented"
economic decline over the last two years, while growth across
the troubled region slumped by more than half, a report says.
The European Commission, in a report on its Mediterranean partners,
also noted that Israel suffered two consecutive years of recession,
in 2001 and 2002, in part due to "the worsening regional political
and security situation."
Katsav
continues rounds of meetings with Knesset factions
Ha'aretz, February 4, 2003
10 parties, representing 85 MKs, tell Katsav that Sharon should
be PM -- President Moshe Katsav continued his round of consultations
on Tuesday with the 13 parties elected to the Knesset last week.
Background/PM
may get his last choice gov't: the hard right
Ha'aretz, February 4, 2003
Settlements, a jack-in-the-box variable of the Middle East dispute,
have cropped up once again in a crucial political equation, the
complex algebra of Israeli coalition-building, wherein a series
of mathematical dead-ends could force Ariel Sharon to accept a
wall-to-wall rightist government.
Analysis:
As Shinui squirms, Labor sticks to its guns
Ha'aretz, February 4, 2003
Labor Party Chairman Amram Mitzna looked relieved yesterday when
he came out of his meeting with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. With
his characteristic openness, or what some of his party colleagues
refer to as his "squareness," Mitzna admitted as much.
Israeli
Labour party rejects Sharon's call
The Guardian, February 4, 2003
The leader of Israel's Labour party yesterday told Ariel Sharon
he would not join a coalition government unless the prime minister
agreed to shut Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip and begin
negotiations with the Palestinians.
Shinui,
UTJ doubt they will find any common ground
Ha'aretz, February 4, 2003
Shinui leader Yosef (Tommy) Lapid, who had ruled out joining a
coalition with the ultra-Orthodox parties during the election
campaign, said yesterday that he was ready to accept United Torah
Judaism as a potential coalition partner.
Likud
to summon all parties to work out `emergency plan'
Ha'aretz, February 4, 2003
The Likud coalition negotiating team will invite all of the Knesset
parties to discuss an "economic-diplomatic emergency plan" in
parallel to holding coalition negotiations, Likud sources said
yesterday.
Labor,
Likud trade blame for aborted unity talks
Jerusalem Post, February 4, 2003
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plans for a national-unity government
were aborted on Monday before coalition talks even began, as Labor
Party chairman Amram Mitzna rejected Sharon's offer to appoint
a team to negotiate the coalition.
Ministry
signals Rubinstein to resign soon
Jerusalem Post, February 4, 2003
The Justice Ministry came close Monday to confirming that Attorney-General
Elyakim Rubinstein will resign soon, after almost six years in
office.
State
to sell 49% of El Al on TASE in May
Globes, February 4, 2003
The state will retain a golden share in the airline, enabling
it to commandeer aircraft in an emergency. -- Government Companies
Authority director Eyal Gabbai told ''Globes'' today that the
flotation of El Al Israel Airlines shares would take place in
Tel Aviv this May.
Israel
to ask for another space trip
Ha'aretz, February 4, 2003
WASHINGTON - Israel will be asking the U.S. to approve the training
of another Israeli astronaut, Israeli sources in the U.S. capital
said yesterday.
Sale
of fish caught off TA-Herzliya coast banned
Jerusalem Post, February 4, 2003
In an action that has not endeared it to the fishing industry,
the Health Ministry on Monday banned the sale of fish caught off
the coast from Tel Aviv to Herzliya. The action was taken to prevent
the spread of disease from the consumption of fish contaminated
by the unchecked flow of raw sewage into the Mediterranean.
Italian-Egyptian
Teen's Novel Translated
Newsday, February 4, 2003
ALEXANDRIA, Egypt -- A 16-year-old Egyptian-Italian writer has
come to her parents' homeland to launch the Arabic edition of
her first novel, a precocious story of love, violence and politics
that has sparked criticism it incites hatred toward Jews.
Jewish
militant to plead guilty to bomb plot
The Guardian, February 4, 2003
A senior official in the Jewish Defence League is to plead guilty
today to a plot to blow up a mosque in the Los Angeles area and
the office of a Lebanese-American congressman.
JDL
Member Pleads Guilty in Bomb Plots
The Guardian, February 4, 2003
LOS ANGELES (AP) - A member of the Jewish Defense League pleaded
guilty Tuesday to conspiring to bomb a mosque and the office of
a Lebanese-American congressmen.
Bush
Proposes Mammoth Increase in US Foreign Aid
Palestine Media Center, February 4, 2003
Palestinians Expected to Receive Same Amount as Last Year -- US
President George W. Bush said on Monday he is proposing a mammoth
increase in US aid offered to foreign countries but some of it
will come hand-in-hand with demands for key ‘democratic’
changes in those states.
Top
EU official hails relations with Iran
Al-Bawaba, February 3, 2003
EU Commissioner for external relations, Chris Patten, arrived
in Tehran Monday on a three-day visit for the second round of
negotiations between Iran and the European Union on mutual trade
and cooperation agreement.
Improve
human rights, EU urges Iran
BBC, February 4, 2003
The European Union's Commissioner for External Relations, Chris
Patten, who is visiting Iran, has urged the country's leadership
to improve human rights if they want better economic relations
with the EU.
'Suspect
in murder of US diplomat is in Syria'
Jordan Times, February 4, 2003
AMMAN (AFP) — A member of the Al Qaeda terror network identified
by the Jordanian authorities as a suspect in the murder of a US
diplomat here last October is currently in Syria, diplomatic sources
said on Monday.
U.N.
Report: The Picasso Cover-Up
Common Dreams/Washington Times, February 4, 2003
"..it was a surprise for many..envoys to arrive at U.N. headquarters..only
to find the searing work covered with a baby-blue banner and the
U.N. logo." -- A tapestry of Pablo Picasso's powerful anti-war
tableau "Guernica" has hung outside the U.N. Security Council
since 1985, and it would be difficult to imagine a more fitting
example of site-specific art...U.N. officials said last week that
it is more appropriate for dignitaries to be photographed in front
of the blue backdrop and some flags than the impressionist image
of shattered villagers and livestock.
Tehran
court rules against US
The Christian Science Monitor, February 3, 2003
Case decided last week could lead to more suits. -- NICOSIA, CYPRUS
– An Iranian businessman abducted in a sting operation by
American undercover customs agents 12 years ago has successfully
sued the US government in a Tehran court, which last week awarded
him half a billion dollars in damages.
Cairo
to Host Periodical Arab Summit in Early March
Islam Online, February 4, 2003
MANAMA, February 4 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Bahrain
announced Tuesday, February 4, that the venue of the upcoming
Arab summit, scheduled for March 24, would be relocated to the
Egyptian capital Cairo.
Arab
summit to take place in Egypt instead of Bahrain
Al-Bawaba, February 4, 2003
Bahrain declared Tuesday that the venue of the upcoming Arab summit,
scheduled for March 24, would be relocated to Cairo.
To
Beautify Image in Arab World, U.S. Launches Arabic TV Network
Islam Online, February 4, 2003
WASHINGTON, February 4 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) –
In a relentless endeavor to polish much smeared image in the Arab
and Islamic worlds in the wake of the September 11 attacks, the
U.S. unveiled Monday, February 4, plans to launch a new Arabic-language
television network in the Middle East and to double radio broadcasts
to Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation.
Activist's
Retrial Opens in Egypt
Newsday, February 4, 2003
CAIRO, Egypt -- Egypt's highest court on Tuesday opened a new
trial for an Egyptian-American human rights activist whose seven-year
conviction for tarnishing his country's image has drawn widespread
international criticism.
