5
dead amid fighting in Hebron, failed Gaza settlement
attack
Jordan Times, March 12, 2003
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (Agencies) — Fighting
between Israeli occupation forces and Palestinians
cost five more lives, with a resistance fighter
and a soldier killed in a Hebron shootout, two
Palestinians killed in Gaza on Tuesday and another
Israeli succumbing to wounds from last week's
Haifa bus bombing.
Gunman
Dies When Israelis Level Building
New York Times, March 12, 2003
JERUSALEM, March 11 — Israeli troops in
the West Bank destroyed a three-story apartment
building today with a tank shell and a bulldozer,
killing a Palestinian gunman inside. Soldiers
also shot and killed two militants carrying pipe
bombs outside a Jewish settlement in the southern
Gaza Strip, the army said.
Hebron
Faces Ethnic Cleansing
Palestine Media Center, March 12, 2003
IOF Soldiers, Settlers Terrorize Residents --
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) persisted in their
military assault against the 300,000 residents
of Hebron city, which has been completely sealed
off and put under curfew since Monday in revenge
for the killing of an Israeli soldier and the
wounding of four others.
Arafat
Expected to Ask PM to Form PNA Government in 48
Hours
Palestine Media Center, March 12, 2003
Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council
(PLC) Ahmad Qure’i said that President Yasser
Arafat will ask the prime ministerial nominee
Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) to propose a new government
within forty-eight hours.
Israel
sends in bulldozers after soldier dies in ambush
The Independent, March 12, 2003
The Israeli army demolished an apartment building
in Hebron yesterday, leaving several Palestinians
homeless, after Palestinian militants used the
building to ambush Israeli soldiers on Monday
night.
Beit
Lahia Sustains Grave Damage Due To Israeli Invasion
International Press Centre, March 11, 2003
BEIT LAHIA, Gaza Strip, March 11, 2003(IPC)--
Nothing encountered in the vicinity of the Israeli
new military post in the east of Beit Lahia town,
north of Gaza Strip, escaped the harassment and
wreckage induced by the IOF soldiers over
the last four days before IOF soldiers and artillery
war machine being pulled back.
Israel
Demolishes Seven Palestinian Houses in Hebron,
Gaza and Jerusalem
International Press Centre, March 11, 2003
HEBRON, West Bank, March 11, 03, (IPC+WAFA)- Israeli
occupation forces dynamited Tuesday three Palestinian
owned houses in the old city of Hebron.
Arab
man sues gov't for house demolition
Jerusalem Post, March 12, 2003
An attorney said today he would sue the government
for NIS 400,000 ($80,000) for destroying the home
of an Arab from east Jerusalem despite a court
order delaying the demolition.
Israeli
Prison Authorities Maltreat 6,000 Palestinian
Detainees
International Press Centre, March 11, 2003
JERUSALEM, March 11, 2003 (IPC+ WAFA)-- MANDILA,
a Palestinian non-governmental organization, caring
for Palestinian detainees and based in occupied
east Jerusalem, disclosed Monday that Palestinian
detainees inside the Israeli prisons and detention
camps have been increasingly facing harsh and
difficult conditions.
Child
prisoner briefing: February 2003
Alternative Information Center/Defence of Children
International-Palestine, March 12, 2003
In this month's report, we review the needless
violence and abuse suffered by 16 year old Ziyad
Sheludi from Gaza who was arrested at home in
January. Ziyad was beaten in front of his family
by four Israeli soldiers, before being detained
for 9 days.
UN
protests latest Israeli military assault on one
of its schools in Gaza
United Nations News, March 11, 2003
11 March – The United Nations agency assisting
Palestine refugees is formally protesting to the
Government of Israel damage done to one of its
schools in the northern Gaza Strip during last
weekend's occupation.
Gov't
sells expired protective kits to foreign workers
Haaretz, March 12, 2003
The defense establishment is selling gas masks
and atropin injections that have passed their
expiry dates to foreign workers, according to
a study conducted by Haaretz.
ISM
Update: Susan Barclay Free but Ordered to Leave
the Country
International Solidarity Movement, March 11, 2003
Today the Haifa District Court turned down the
State Attorney's request for the re-arrest of
Susan Barclay. This was followed by a separate
decision in which the Jerusalem District Court
ruled in favour of the State Attorney's petition
that Susan be made to leave the country tomorrow.
IDF
checkpoint hit by `kabbala' peace demo
Haaretz, March 12, 2003
IDF troops stared in amazement and weary Palestinians
broke into broad grins as a group of Jewish, Christian
and Druze activists descended on an army checkpoint
yesterday to hand out ancient Jewish mystical
texts in the name of peace.
Jewish
extremists worry defense heads
Haaretz, March 12, 2003
Defense officials are worried that right-wing
extremists will start armed action against Palestinians,
and a top concern is that they might attack Islamic
holy sites.
Newspaper
ad warning Israeli soldiers about participating
in war crimes
Alternative Information Center/Gush Shalom, March
12, 2003
The following ad was published in Ha'aretz by
Gush Shalom on 11 March 2003..
Arafat
diverts power-sharing bill, 3 Palestinians, Israeli
soldier die in Hebron, Gaza
Chicago Tribune, March 12, 2003
JERUSALEM -- An Israeli soldier and a Palestinian
gunman died in a nightlong gun battle in the West
Bank city of Hebron that ended early Tuesday when
Israeli forces destroyed a building where the
gunman was holed up...Palestinian leader Yasser
Arafat spent Tuesday studying a parliamentary
measure to name a prime minister with authority
over internal affairs, sending the bill to a Justice
Ministry committee instead of signing it as expected.
Israeli
Troops Kill Three Palestinian Civilians In Gaza
and Hebron, Arrest 11 Others In West Bank
International Press Centre, March 12, 2003
DEIR ELBALAH, Gaza Strip, March 12, 2003
(IPC+WAFA)- Three Palestinians were killed by
Tuesday by Israeli occupation forces (IOF) in
two separated incidents in the Gaza Strip and
Hebron. Israeli tanks, stationed near the
illegitimate Jewish settlement of “Kfar
Darom”, middle the Gaza Strip, opened their
heavy machine guns against Palestinian civilians'
houses, Palestinian security sources said.
Israeli
Troops Kill a Youth and Wound Several Others in
a Raid on Saida Village in West Bank
International Press Centre, March 12, 2003
SAIDA, West Bank, March 12, 2003, (IPC) -- At
least one youth was killed and several others
wounded Wednesday morning as Israeli occupation
troops opened heavy fire on a crowd of Palestinian
civilians attempting to resist the Israeli raid
of the West Bank village of Saida in the district
of Tulkarim, IPC correspondent said.
IDF
soldier killed in gunbattle in West Bank village
Haaretz, March 12, 2003
An Israel Defense Forces soldier, Staff Sergeant
Asaf Fuchs, 21, from Kibbutz Gvat, was killed
and another was wounded Wednesday in exchanges
of fire in the West Bank village of Saida, near
Tul Karm, as troops hunted for militants on the
army's wanted list.
Palestinian,
Israeli soldier killed during Israeli raid on
West Bank village
Al-Bawaba, March 12, 2003
At least one Palestinian civilian and an Israeli
soldier were killed during an Israeli raid on
a west Bank village.
Bodies
of two Palestinians found in Gaza Strip; More
West Bank houses demolished
Al-Bawaba, March 11, 2003
The bodies of two Palestinians killed by Israeli
fire were discovered Tuesday morning. Troops killed
them Monday night after they attempted to approach
the Kfar Darom settlement in the Gaza Strip.
Palestinians
vote for powerful premier
The Independent, March 11, 2003
Yasser Arafat loosened for the first time yesterday
the tight grip with which he has help power as
Palestinian leader for the past 35 years. In an
initial vote, the Palestinian parliament voted
in favour of creating a new post of prime minister
and gave the premier the authority to appoint
ministers a power Mr Arafat had guarded
for himself.
Bit
By Bit, Arafat's Powers Are Whittled Away
The Day, March 12, 2003
Ramallah, West Bank (AP) — First Israel
cut Yasser Arafat off from his people by confining
him to his headquarters and destroying the surrounding
compound. Then he lost control over much of the
Palestinians' money. Now the Palestinian leader
has caved in to demands he share power with a
prime minister.
First
reading passed of bill to continue 43-day reserve
duty
Haaretz, March 12, 2003
The Knesset plenum on Wednesday passed the first
reading of a bill allowing the continued drafting
of reserve duty soldiers for 43 days each year,
instead of thirty days.
Israeli
Arab sentenced to 25 years for bombing TA-Haifa
rail line
Haaretz, March 12, 2003
Haifa District Court sentenced an Israeli Arab
man on Wednesday to 25 years imprisonment for
placing a bomb on the coastal rail line adjacent
to Kibbutz Ma'agan Michael in the summer of 2001.
PM
to tackle 2003 defense budget today
Haaretz, March 12, 2003
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will meet today with
Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense
Minister Shaul Mofaz in an effort to finalize
the defense budget for 2003. During meetings earlier
this week, defense and finance officials narrowed
the gap between defense demands and treasury allocations
by nearly a half - to about NIS 3 billion.
Rabbinical
panel determining `proof of Judaism' is dissolved
Haaretz, March 12, 2003
Immigrants who arrived here after 1990 and were
sent to a special rabbinical committee to be "approved"
as Jews in order to marry will no longer be required
to appear before the panel.
Labor
Party forum to vote on Ben-Eliezer's peace platform
Haaretz, March 12, 2003
The Labor Party's central committee will be asked
to vote tomorrow on the peace platform proposed
last year by MK Benjamin Ben-Eliezer as part of
an effort by Ben-Eliezer loyalists to budge the
party more to the right.
Two
wanted men remain in Muqata
Haaretz, March 12, 2003
Only two top wanted men remain in refuge at Palestinian
Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat's Muqata in Ramallah,
according to Palestinian sources. At the height
of the siege of the office complex in September,
defense officials said as many 40 wanted men were
in the complex.
Iraq
hands out another $260,000 to Gaza 'martyrs''
families
Jerusalem Post, March 12, 2003
Twenty-six families in the Gaza Strip whose homes
were demolished or lost relatives in the uprising,
were to receive $260,000 in aid from the Arab
Liberation Front today, a Palestinian faction
financially backed by Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
Hizbullah:
Invasion of Iraq will ultimately destroy Israel
Jerusalem Post, March 12, 2003
BEIRUT, Lebanon - A US-led invasion of Iraq will
awaken Arabs and Muslims, ultimately leading to
Israel's destruction and an end to American dominance
in the region, according to the leader of the
Hizbullah militant group.
Mitzna
says too many reservists guard illegal settlements
Jerusalem Post, March 12, 2003
Labor Party leader Amram Mitzna said today that
too many IDF reservists are serving as guards
for illegal settlement outposts.
2,929
Palestinians killed in uprising, PA says
Jerusalem Post, March 12, 2003
The Palestinian Health Ministry said Wednesday
that 2,929 Palestinians have been killed since
the outbreak of the latest Intifada in October
2000.
Fifteen
Palestinians arrested in West Bank raids
Jerusalem Post, March 12, 2003
IDF troops carried out raids in the village of
Saida, near the West Bank town of Tulkarm arrested
five wanted Palestinians early Wednesday morning.
Al
Aksa Brigades terrorist gets six life sentences
Jerusalem Post, March 12, 2003
Abd-al-Karim Awass, one of the leaders of the
Al Aksa Martyrs' Brigades - an offshoot of Palestinian
Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement
was sentenced to six consecutive life sentences
Wednesday for his role in the planning and carrying
out of several large-scale terrorist attacks.
Occupation
Chronicle Events in Palestine, March 12, 2003
Palestine Media Center, March 12, 2003
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) persisted in their
aggression against residents of Hebron city, which
is still under curfew and closure. IOF also demolished
five houses in the West bank and Gaza Strip while
a Palestinian citizen was killed by IOF gunfire
near Tulkarem.
LAW
Society: New Report to UN Human Rights Commission
LAW Society, March, 2002
2003 report to HRC Comments on Torture and Other
Ill-Treatment of Palestinians and Related Issues
in the Second Periodic Report of the State of
Israel Concerning the Implementation of the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Press
watchdog urges Kuwait to cancel ban on foreign
journalists passing reports to Israeli news media
Al-Bawaba, March 12, 2003
Reporters Without Borders, the French-based international
watchdog for the freedom of the press, urged Tuesday
Kuwaiti information minister Sheikh Ahmed Al-Fahd
Al-Sabah to withdraw his threats against foreign
journalists based in Kuwait who pass information
to Israeli news media.
Drink
“Muslim Up” & “Arab Cola”
Islam Online, March 12, 2003
CAIRO, March 12 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies)
– Enhancing the already active boycott campaign
of U.S. products, three French Muslims of Arab
decent established earlier in March a beverage
company under the name of “Muslim Up for
Beverages,” whose products swept the French
markets in a just one month.
US
Jews Lash Out at Congressman Linking Them with
Iraq War
Palestine Media Center, March 12, 2003
The White House and Jewish organizations lashed
out at a Democratic lawmaker Tuesday for suggesting
in an anti-war forum in Reston, Virginia, that
American Jews were behind President George W.
Bush’s push for a war on Iraq and that Jewish
leaders could prevent war if they wanted to.
White
House, Jewish groups slam congressman for saying
Jews behind military buildup toward war in Iraq
Al-Bawaba, March 12, 2003
The White House and congressional leaders joined
Jewish groups in sharply criticizing Rep. James
P. Moran, D-Va., who said Jews were behind the
buildup toward war with Iraq, one day after he
apologized for the remarks.
Commission
proposes new EU neighbourhood policy
EurActiv.com, March 12, 2003
The Commission proposed on 11 March a new strategy
for the enlarged EU's relations with Russia and
other post-Soviet states, as well as the Southern
Mediterranean.
EU
sees Russia, Israel, Arab nations joining free
trade area
Haaretz, March 12, 2003
The European Commission yesterday raised the prospect
of countries stretching from Russia and Ukraine
to Israel and Morocco joining a free trade area
with the EU in which all their citizens could
move freely.
News
from ground zero
Journalism UK, March 12, 2003
A new web site aims to publish eyewitness accounts
from the ground on Iraq should hostilities commence.
Launched 8 February 2003, electronicIraq.net is
published by antiwar campaigners Voices in the
Wilderness and the Electronic Intifida, a publisher
specialising in reference material about the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict.
Caught
Up in the System
Arab News. March 12, 2003
WASHINGTON, 12 March 2003 — Abdulraouf Batterjee
is a Saudi caught up in the red tape of America’s
new system of justice. Despite a valid US visa,
the INS detained him for almost three months before
releasing him on bail. He is also awaiting sentencing
for a “felony” offense, which occurred
when he bought a firearm. His crime? He filled
out the wrong document given him by the storeowner
trained and licensed by the federal government
on firearms laws and regulations.
Allied
bombs threaten a new generation of children with
trauma, disease and death
The Independent, March 10, 2003
The tension of the weeks of waiting is reaching
fever pitch, and fear is now all-pervasive as
Iraqis wait for the ferocious bombardment that
the Americans have promised to unleash upon them.
