2 hurt in Jerusalem shooting; 4 Palestinians killed in W. Bank
Haaretz, March 13, 2003
Four Palestinians were killed Thursday evening by IDF troops in the West Bank town of Tamun, northeast of the city of Nablus. -- Two Israelis - father and son - were seriously wounded Thursday afternoon in a shooting attack on their car in the Morasha neighborhood of Jerusalem. The attack is thought to have had a nationalistic motive.

IDF kills 2 Israelis near Hebron in case of mistaken identity
Haaretz, March 13, 2003
A unit of IDF troops shot dead two Israeli security guards near a Hebron-area West Bank settlement Thursday afternoon, apparently believing them to be terrorists.

IOF Raid Tulkarem, Kill Citizen
Palestine Media Center, March 13, 2003
YMCA Demands Israel to Free its Employees -- A Palestinian citizen was killed and several others were wounded Wednesday afternoon when Israeli occupation troops opened heavy gunfire on a crowd of Palestinians after raiding the West Bank village of Saida near the northern West Bank town of Tulkarem.

"Green line" not so holy after all 
Alternative Information Center, March 12, 2003 
South West Bank Region – The town of Idna west of Hebron has been gradually losing its agricultural ground lying close to the 1949 cease fire “Green Line.” The latest incident occurred last Thursday, 6 March 2003, when Israeli civilians sprayed 30 dunum (30,000 sq m) of agricultural land with toxic chemicals, rendering the land unusable.

House demolitions in al-Walaje 
Alternative Information Center, March 13, 2003 
3 houses were already demolished this morning in the village of al-Walaje. The houses belonged to the Abu-Tin family and over 20 persons were living in them. It is anticipated that a total of 15 houses will be demolished in the village.

Political prisoners in Jericho Central Prison begin open-ended hunger strike 
Alternative Information Center/Addameer, March 13, 2003 
Addameer Prisoners Support and Human Rights Association views with great concern new developments that have taken place against
Palestinian Authority political prisoners being detained at Jericho Central Prison. Beginning 11 March 2003, the administration of the prison launched a series of arbitrary and inhumane measures against the political detainees..

UN protests latest Israeli military assault on one of its schools in Gaza
United Nations News, March 12, 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.

MOH: ” Israel Killed 154 Palestinian Citizens In Last Two Months”
International Press Centre, March 13, 2003
GAZA, Gaza Strip, March 13, 2003, (IPC+ Agencies) --The Palestinian Ministry of Health (MOH) released Tuesday a report, stating that the total number of Palestinian citizens killed by Israeli occupation forces over the past two months is estimated at 154, of them 88 in Gaza Strip and 66 in West Bank, including 14 killed in Israeli assassination attempts, as well as 3 Palestinian paramedics.

Women prisoners denied medical treatment, including cancer patient
LAW Society, March 12, 2003
The women’s representative in the al-Ramle prison for women, Amina Mona, in an affidavit given to LAW lawyer Fahmi Shkeirat on Tuesday (March 11) has accused the prison administration of extremely critical medical negligence, threatening a woman with deportation, and serious abuse.

UN evacuates families of employees in Palestine, Israel 
Xinhuanet, March 13, 2003
GAZA, March 13 (Xinhuanet) -- Various UN organizations in the Palestinian lands and Israel have instructed their employees to evacuate families for fear of an expected US-led war with Iraq, a UN official said on Thursday.

Hear Palestine, March 13, 2003
NEWS: Jabalya Refugee Camp: Palestinian Youth Dies of Injuries / Salfeet: Civilian Wounded in Settler Attack / Hebron: State of High Tension Following Death of 2 Settlers / Tulkarem: Ongoing Military Operation in Saida; 2 Homes Demolished / Gaza City: 2 Farmers Wounded in Israeli Fire / Bethlehem: 2 Homes Demolished; Father Kidnapped / Nablus: 12 Arrested in Israeli Arrest Campaigns / Jenin: Arrests in Silat al-Harithiya, Qabatya and al-Yamoun / Jerusalem: Soldiers and Settlers Terrorize Al-Thawri Residents / Qalqilya: Resident Arrested at Dawn   FEATURES:
Al-Najah University Students Suffer at Military Roadblocks

IMF report urges Israel to cut budget, interest rates
Globes, March 13, 2003
“The restoration of peace, given Israel's strong fundamentals, would yield substantial economic gains to the region as a whole.” -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) today released its annual review of the Israeli economy, in which it urged expenditure cuts from the government and small interest rate cuts from the Bank of Israel.

Poll: Palestinian poverty worsening
Middle East Online, March 13, 2003
JERUSALEM - A Palestinian poll released Wednesday showed that living conditions have plummeted to new depths, with 77 percent of families having a per capita income of less than two dollars a day.

Hezbollah: US troops will face suicide attacks
Middle East Online, March 13, 2003
BEIRUT - The leader of Lebanon's Shiite Muslim militia Hezbollah warned here Thursday that US troops will face suicide attacks if they strike Iraq, in an address to hundreds of thousands of followers.

Hamas criticises PM post
BBC, March 12, 2003
The militant Palestinian group, Hamas, has criticised the decision taken by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to create the post of prime minister.
In a statement, Hamas said Mr Arafat's decision had been a response to what it called "US-Zionist pressures".

Israeli soldier, Jihad gunman, killed in WBank
Middle East Online, March 12, 2003
Firefight between Islamic Jihad, Israeli army erupts in village of Saida as Palestinian resistance getting firmer.  -- An Israeli soldier and a Palestinian gunman were killed in a gun battle in the West Bank Wednesday, the latest deadly skirmish between troops scouring the territory and militants resisting Israeli reoccupation.

2 Israelis Killed in West Bank Shooting
The Guradian, March 13, 2003
JERUSALEM (AP) - Two Israeli motorists were killed in a West Bank shooting Thursday, and radio reports raised the possibility they were shot by Israeli troops in a case of mistaken identity.

Two Israelis shot in accident
BBC, March 13, 2003
Two Israelis have been mistakenly shot dead in the West Bank by the Israeli army, which mistook them for Palestinian gunmen, the army said.
The shooting happened southeast of the city of Hebron as the two armed Israelis were travelling in a car, the army said.

Israel Demolishes Two Palestinian Houses in Bethlehem, Continues Wide Campaigns of Arrests
International Press Centre, March 13, 2003
BETHLEHEM, West Bank, March 13, 2003, (IPC+ WAFA)-- Israeli occupation forces (IOF) demolished Thursday morning two houses owned by Palestinian families in the West Bank city of Bethlehem and arrested six civilians in Nablus as other arrests were continued in several West Bank cities, towns, villages and refugee camps.

Two Killed as Israel Launches New West Bank Raids
Arab News, March 13, 2003
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, 13 March 2003 — An Israeli soldier and a Palestinian were killed in a gun battle near the West Bank city of Tulkarm yesterday in what the army said was an ongoing series of raids in pursuit of Palestinians.

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.

Palestinian poverty, security woes growing
Jordan Times, March 13, 2003       
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (AFP) — A Palestinian poll released Wednesday showed that living conditions have plummeted to new depths, with 77 per cent of families having a per capita income of less than two dollars a day.

Saddam funds fail to buy Gaza hearts
The Guradian, March 13, 2003
Payments to families of suicide bombers and intifada victims bring only indifference -- Sheik Yassim Jamasi said he was grateful for the $25,000 cheque he received from Saddam Hussein, but it did not change his attitude towards the Iraqi president.

Arafat delays signing of bill to create new position of prime minister
Al-Bawaba, March 13, 2003
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat delayed Thursday the signing of a bill that creates the new position of prime minister. Arafat asked for two procedural changes, including retaining the right to convene Cabinet ministers, officials said.

Abed Rabbo: There Are No Internal Disagreements on Continuing Reform Process 
Palestine Media Center, March 13, 2003
March. 13, 2003 - Palestinian minister of culture and information said that there were no internal Palestinian disagreements regarding moving ahead with the reform process initiated by the Palestine National Authority (PNA), the last of which involved setting up a new prime ministerial post.

Arafat considering making changes to PM bill
Middle East Online, March 13, 2003
Palestinian leader consulting legal panel on amendments, report reveals 365 innocent Palestinians killed in intifada. -- RAMALLAH, West Bank JERUSALEM - Yasser Arafat is considering making amendments to a parliamentary bill creating a prime minister to share power with the veteran Palestinian leader, a parliamentary official said Thursday.

Islamic Bank reports on Syria's money deposit to Palestinian Intifada
Arabic News, March 13, 2003
The head of Islamic Bank for Development Ahmad Muhammad Ali sent today his appreciation and thanks to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and Syrian people for the continuous support of Palestinian People.

UN protests latest Israeli military assault on UN-managed school in gaza
Arabic News, March 13, 2003
A bulldozer demolished the entire front wall, gate and playground outbuilding, UNRWA said, adding that most of the windows in the front of school were broken and some classrooms were damaged during the assault that occurred under Israeli control.

LAW challenges Israel's harassment of Palestinian taxi drivers
LAW Society, March 13, 2003
Where does Jerusalem end and the West Bank begin? According to some Israeli soldiers, anywhere they want.

An Islamic conference on Saturday in Jeddah to revitalize boycott of Israel
Arabic News, March 13, 2003
The conference of technicians and specialists concerned with "Israel boycot affairs" in the Islamic countries starts its deliberations on Saturday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Occupation Chronicle Events in Palestine, March 13, 2003
Palestine Media Center, March 13, 2003
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) persisted in their aggression against residents of Saida village near Tulkarem and detained fifteen of them. IOF also demolished two houses near Bethlehem. Meanwhile, a Palestinian citizen died of wounds he sustained earlier during the IOF invasion of Jabalya refugee camp on March 06.

Congress: DeLay Against Road Map, Moran Against Jewish Influence 
Israel National News, March 13, 2003
U.S. Republican House leader Rep. Tom DeLay is against the American "Road Map" plan. The plan calls for a Palestinian state within two years. Speaking with a delegation of Jewish leaders from the Orthodox Union last night, DeLay said that the State of Israel has "every right to reject proposals that will undercut her fundamental ability to defend herself." 

Ben-Eliezer: Mitzna's policies 'not right for Labor Party'
Haaretz, March 13, 2003
Former Labor Party chairman Benjamin Ben-Eliezer harshly criticized the leadership of his successor Amram Mitzna during the party's Central Committee meeting Thursday evening, accusing Mitzna's leftist policies of being the cause of Labor's failure in the recent Knesset elections.

PM approves new economic plan; talks to resume on defense budget
Haaretz, March 13, 2003
Prime Miniser Ariel Sharon on Thursday approved the main points of a new economic plan being developed by the treasury, while talks were to resume Thursday evening between Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister without Portfolio Meir Sheetrit, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and IDF Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon on the 2003 defense budget, Israel Radio reported.

18% of 1,945 Palestinians killed in intifada were innocent civilians, IDF says; 130 were children
Haaretz, March 13, 2003 
Some 1,945 Palestinians have been killed since the intifada erupted on September 29, 2000, according to a defense establishment report. These include 365 people (18 percent) who had nothing to do with terrorist activity: 130 (7 percent) children under the age of 16 and 235 (11 percent) adults, many of them women and elderly people.

Israeli warplanes violate Lebanese airspace
Arabic News, March 13, 2003
The Israeli warplanes yesterday renewed violation of the Lebanese airspace and sovereignty. The directorate of guidance at the Lebanese army said that two Israeli warplanes coming from the sea direction violated yesterday the Lebanese airspace over Shakka and Jbeil areas and then returned back to Israel.

Call for emergency volunteers 
Alternative Information Center/Ittijah: Union of Arab Community Based Organisations, March 13, 2003 
Ittijah is gravely concerned that Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip may face increased risk to their safety with the probable, imminent commencement of hostilities in Iraq. Accordingly, we are seeking volunteers to come and provide assistance to the following groups in preparing for and carrying out emergency programs for Palestinians in the Occupied Territories.

Islamic conference planned to revitalise boycott of Israel 
Alternative Information Center/Arabic News, March 13, 2003 
The conference of technicians and specialists concerned with "Israel boycot affairs" in the Islamic countries starts its deliberations on Saturday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Bank of Israel leads salary excess list
Globes, March 12, 2003
"..1,826 senior public employees earn a gross salary of over NIS 35,000 per month, more than the monthly salaries of the prime minister and rest of the cabinet. These executives’ salaries cost the public a total of NIS 7.7 billion per year, a fifth of the total civil service wage costs."

Better use of water urged
BBC, March 13, 2003
Farmers around the world are being urged to make better use of water as demand for resources from other users grows.
The United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says that one in five countries in the developing world will face severe shortages within the next 30 years - with the Middle East, North Africa and parts of Asia among the regions hardest hit.

AP Protests Gov't Seizure of Package
The Guradian, March 13, 2003
WASHINGTON (AP) - Government agencies opened a package mailed between two Associated Press reporters last September and seized a copy of an eight-year-old unclassified FBI lab report without obtaining a warrant or notifying the news agency.

UN organisations, NGOs plan for an expected `disaster'
Jordan Times, March 13, 2003   
AMMAN — As it is still difficult to predict with any level of certainty the humanitarian consequences a war in the region would bring about, UN agencies and NGOs are operating on mere estimations in planning for a crisis.