Hamas man killed in shootout with Palestinian security officers
Haaretz, March 20, 2003
A member of the militant Hamas organization was killed early Thursday in a shootout with Palestinian security forces trying to break up an outdoor training session on how to fire homemade rockets at Israel.

Rubber Bullets Hit American in West Bank
The Guardian, March 20, 2003
NABLUS, West Bank (AP) - An American activist in a pro-Palestinian group said he was injured Thursday by rubber-coated steel pellets fired by Israeli soldiers, days after an Israeli army bulldozer crushed an American from the same group.

One Israeli settler killed, Sharon stress continued aggression against the Palestinians
Arabic News, March 20, 2003
One Israeli settler was killed in confrontation that took place yesterday between several Israeli settlers and Palestinians to the north of Nablus, while the Palestinian resistance fighters opened fire and two anti- tank missiles against the Israeli army in Rafah.

Palestinian from Jenin said killed in Baghdad bombardment
Jerusalem Post, March 20, 2003
A Palestinian man from the West Bank city of Jenin was said to have been killed in the US missile strikes on Baghdad early Thursday morning.

US offers Israel billions in aid
BBC, March 20, 2003
The US has offered $10bn (£6.4bn) to Israel, to bail it out of the worst economic crisis in its history. Israel's Finance Ministry said the package consisted of $1bn (£640,000m) in direct military aid and $9bn in loan guarantees.

Abu-Mazen Commences His Post of Prime Minister
International Press Center, March 20, 2003
RAMALLAH, Palestine, March 20, 03 (IPC+ Agencies)-- Mahmoud Abbas (Abu-Mazen) accepted Thursday President Arafat’s decision of assigning him the first Palestinian Prime Minister in the framework of underway  Palestinian National Authority’s political and economic reforms, president Arafat top advisor Nabil Abu Rdinah said.

Israeli Troops Storm Maghazi As US Starts Aggression on Baghdad
International Press Center, March 20, 2003
MAGHAZI, Palestine, March 20, 03 (IPC+ Agencies)-Israeli occupation forces (IOF) stormed Thursday dawn the refugee camp of Maghazi in middle of Gaza Strip. Tens of Israeli tanks and armored personnel carriers, backed by military bulldozers, under cover of ”Apache” war planes, invaded the Maghazi refugee camp, under a barrage of heavy gun fire, local Palestinian sources said.

IOF Injures Two Palestinian Civilians, Arrests Others in the West Bank and Gaza
International Press Center, March 20, 2003
HEBRON, Palestine, March 19, 2003, (IPC)--Israeli occupation forces (IOF) shot and injured Wednesday two Palestinian civilians including a 13-year-old child in the West Bank city of Hebron, Palestinian medical sources said. Manar Alrajabi, 13, and another citizen were shot and injured with live ammunition on Wednesday, Al-Mohtasib hospital sources in Hebron said.

Small window open for putting Middle East peace back on track, Security Council told
United Nations News, March 19, 2003
19 March – The appointment by the Palestinian Authority of an empowered Prime Minister, the decision to present the diplomatic Quartet’s “road map” to the parties and the Israeli Government’s willingness to return to the negotiating table were among the steps under way pointing to a small window of opportunity for pulling the Middle East out of the “abyss” of violence and suffering, the senior United Nations envoy for the region told the Security Council today.

Na'amat chair: Women will be hardest hit by Netanyahu's planned cuts 
Haaretz, March 20, 2003
Attorney Talia Livni, chairman of Na'amat, says that other clauses in the Treasury's new economic austerity program will affect mainly women. "The decrees set us back years and wipe out benefits that women organizations struggled so long to achieve," she said.

As the war approaches, Palestinian fears rise
By Amira Hass, Haaretz, March 20, 2003
In recent weeks, residents in the West Bank and Gaza have been spinning horror scenarios that could happen under cover of the war in Iraq.

Palestinians 'not given gas masks'
BBC, March 20, 2003
Gas masks have been distributed to Israelis free of charge -- The Israeli army has not distributed gas masks to Palestinians in parts of the West Bank, despite a ruling by the Israeli High Court. Around 60,000 Palestinians in the West Bank are under Israeli security and administrative control.

Parents of American Pacifist Crushed to Death Demand Peace Activists’ Safety
Palestine Media Center, March 20, 2003
The parents of Rachel Corrie, the US peace activist crushed to death by an Israeli army bulldozer on Wednesday asked Congress to call on the Israeli government to stop attacking peace activists in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Declaration of establishment of joint Palestinian-Israeli emergency committee
Alternative Information Center, March 18, 2003 
At a press conference that took place in East Jerusalem this morning, a coalition of Palestinian and Israeli organisations and movements declared the establishment of a joint emergency committee that will operate during the war on Iraq.

Tulkarem: Activists Assist Palestinians in Dismantling Roadblock
International Solidarity Movement, March 19, 2003 
On Tuesday ten ISM activists assisted about 25 Palestinians in the removal of the Sahel military roadblock which had been blocking road access to homes and business in the village of Shweika for more than eight months.

Guarantees - $9b; grant - $1b
Globes, March 20, 2003
Minister of Finance Netanyahu thanked US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, and asked her to reconsider the grant. -- The Ministry of Finance has confirmed yesterday’s exclusive “Globes” report that the US administration had approved $9 billion in loan guarantees and a $1 billion military aid grant for Israel. 

Assessment: Israel will get $1b grant within weeks
Globes, March 20, 2003
US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice notified Minister of Finance Benjamin Netanyahu last night that the US will give Israel $9 billion in loan guarantees and $1 billion in special military aid.

Hear Palestine, March 20, 2003
NEWS: Israeli Army Invades al-Maghazi at Dawn; Demolishes Home / Nablus: Wide-Scale Israeli Military Operation and Curfew / Jenin: Curfews and Arrests / Jericho: Demolition of Homes and Tents / Qalqilya: Curfew Lifted after 2 Days; Campaign of Raids / Hebron: Curfew for Third Day Running; Child Wounded / Ramallah: Settlers Occupy Home by Force in Ein Yabroud   FEATURES: Palestine: War Over There and War Over Here Too / "Health", "Electricity", "Communications" Prepare for Emergency

Palestinians fear for their safety in upcoming days; demand guarantees from international community
Palestine Monitor, March 19, 2003
As a US attack on Iraq draws ever closer, Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip are feeling increasingly vulnerable and unprotected, according to Palestinian civil society organizations.

Conspiracy theories running rampant
Haaretz, March 20, 2003
Ten days ago, the British ambassador to Berlin, Sir Paul Lever, appeared on Info-Radio's flagship interview show, "Meet the Press." The main subject, of course, was the Anglo-American crisis with Germany and France over the war in Iraq. The hosts were Jurgen Hogrefe, a senior correspondent for Der Spiegel and Hans-Hermann Klare, the foreign editor of Stern magazine. At one point, Hogrefe slipped in a rather shocking item: "The Mossad asked the German intelligence authorities to make sure Germany doesn't protest if Israel starts expelling Palestinians from the territories when the war in Iraq begins."

Administration Reassures ADC it would "Strongly Oppose" Transfer of Palestinians
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, March 11, 2003
Washington, DC, March 11 - The Bush Administration today assured the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) that it was "not aware of any plans" for and "would strongly oppose" any transfer of Palestinians by Israel under the cover of a U.S. war with Iraq.

Israel May Use Iraq War to Transfer Palestinians, Israeli and Palestinian Human Rights Groups Fear
Palestine Media Center, March 20, 2003
A group of left-wing Israeli and Palestinian activists voiced fears that the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) might use the US-led war on Iraq—which began this morning—as a cover to transfer thousands of Palestinians from their homes into neighboring countries, such as Jordan, as it did during the previous 1948 and 1967 Arab-Israeli wars.

Rubber Bullets Hit American in West Bank
Bradenton Herald, March 20, 2003
NABLUS, West Bank - An American activist in a pro-Palestinian group said he was injured Thursday by rubber-coated steel pellets fired by Israeli soldiers, days after an Israeli army bulldozer crushed an American from the same group.

Rachel Corrie Immortalized in Beirut
Palestine Chronicle, March 20, 2003
Under a sign reading Rachael Corrie martyr of her consciousness of human responsibility, and symbol of moral awakening in the world, the Lebanese Coalition of Popular Committees and Confederations, held a meeting in Beirut on Tuesday March 18th took the following decisions..

From Parents of Rachel Corrie press conference
International Solidarity Movement, March 19, 2003
Friends, This morning the Corrie family held a press conference on Capitol Hill.  Rachel’s Congressman, Brian Baird’s (D-WA) office arranged the press conference, in which the congressman participated and announced his plan to introduce a resolution in Congress later this week.

Parents of crushed US peace activist call for protection of others
Jordan Times, March 20, 2003   
WASHINGTON (AFP) — The parents of Rachel Corrie, the US peace activist crushed to death by an Israeli occupation army bulldozer on Wednesday, asked Congress to call on the Israeli government to stop harassing nonviolent activists in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli shot dead near Jenin
Al-Bawaba, March 20, 2003
An Israeli settler was shot dead Wednesday afternoon between the West Bank settlements of Mevo Dotan and Shaked, near the city of Jenin.

British bank firebombed in Ramallah in Iraq war protest
Haaretz, March 20, 2003
Palestinians threw a number of firebombs yesterday evening at a Ramallah branch of the British Middle East Bank. Palestinian sources reported anonymous assailants targeted the bank apparently in protest against British support for the use of military force in Iraq.

IDF told to explain why it refuses to give books to security detainees
Haaretz, March 20, 2003
Supreme Court President Justice Aharon Barak yesterday ordered the IDF to explain by the end of this week why it has not taken steps against the commander of IDF troops in the West Bank, to ensure that he provides newspapers, books and games to Palestinian detainees at the Ofer military base.

Arafat Officially Asks Abbas to Take Over as PM
Arab News, March 20, 2003
RAMALLAH, West Bank, 20 March 2003 — Palestinian President Yasser Arafat yesterday officially asked his moderate PLO deputy Mahmoud Abbas to become prime minister a day after Parliament approved the creation of the post, a top Arafat aide said here.

Abu Mazen agrees to serve as first PA prime minister
Haaretz, March 20, 2003
LONDON - Mahmoud Abbas last night accepted the post of Palestinian prime minister, several hours after being tapped by the Palestinian leader.

Abbas accepts Palestinian PM post
BBC, March 20, 2003
The deputy leader of Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, has agreed to become prime minister, a senior aide to Mr Arafat has said. Nabil Abu Rudeina said Mr Abbas had accepted the post and all the constitutional procedures have been completed.

US Aid to Sharon Gov’t Reward for Settlement, Aggression Policy: Abed Rabbo
Palestine Media Center, March 20, 2003
Palestinian minister of culture and information, Yasser Abed Rabbo described America’s agreement to give Israel a mammoth aid package worth $10 billion, as a “reward” for the policy of terror exercised by Ariel Sharon’s government against the Palestinian people.

Hezbollah deploys Katyushas as deterrence against Israel
Haaretz, March 20, 2003
Following weeks of reports from South Lebanon about Hezbollah preparing for a possible Israeli assault under cover of the Iraq war, the Lebanese newspaper, A Safir, quoted eyewitnesses as saying that the Shi'ite organization had deployed Katyusha rocket launchers in the area as a deterrence against an Israeli attack.

Defense sources: Syria and Lebanon are taking steps to keep North quiet
Haaretz, March 20, 2003
The defense establishment views positively the new Lebanese Army patrols along the border with Israel. Defense sources say that it is evidence of Syrian and Lebanese intentions to prevent any escalation in the North during the American assault on Iraq.

Katsav met with top PA official
Haaretz, March 20, 2003
President Moshe Katsav confirmed yesterday a report that he secretly met last week with a senior Palestinian Authority official in a bid to explore a possible cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinians.

Leadership Expresses Concern Over Iraq War, Calls For its End
Palestine Media Center, March 20, 2003
An official Palestinian source expressed the Palestinian leadership’s concern over the outcomes of the US-led war against Iraq.

Israelis Carrying Gas Masks Just in Case
The Guardian, March 20, 2003
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) - Israelis carried gas masks to school and work Thursday after the opening U.S. attack on Iraq, while Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip waved pictures of Saddam Hussein and burned American flags.

Iran Strongly Rejects It Helped Palestinian Groups
Tehran Times, March 20, 2003
TEHRAN -- Iran on Tuesday strongly rejected allegations of Tehran's financial assistance to resistant Palestinian groups, including the Islamic Jihad.

Arrow anti-missile system on high alert
Haaretz, March 20, 2003
Israel's Arrow anti-missile system went onto high alert Thursday as a result of a false alarm. The alarm went off during a press briefing at an Arrow battery in the Palmahim base by Brig. Gen. Yair Dori, the head of the IDF's anti-aircraft forces.

Air France to cease all flights to Israel from Friday
Haaretz, March 20, 2003
Air France announced Thursday that it will be ceasing all flights to Israel from Friday due to the U.S. attack on Iraq.

School attendance low as pupils take gas masks
Haaretz, March 20, 2003
Israeli schoolchildren went to classes with gas mask kits dangling from their shoulders Thursday, but school attendance was reported to be low in many areas, despite a calls by Education Minister Limor Livnat urging parents to maintain routine in the face of war threats.

Jordan denies Israeli forces on the Jordanian-Iraqi borders
Arabic News, March 20, 2003
The Jordanian minister of information has denied what was stated by certain media on the existence of Israeli forces along the Jordanian- Iraqi borders.

Mitzna not ruling out joining national emergency gov't
Haaretz, March 20, 2003
Labor party Chairman Amram Mitzna said Thursday he was not ruling out joining a national emergency government, though he clarified that the initiative for such a move would have to come from Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

A-G asks Knesset to remove immunity of MK Blumenthal
Haaretz, March 20, 2003
Attorney General Elyakim Rubinstein approached Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin Thursday with a request that the Knesset remove the immunity of Likud MK Naomi Blumenthal, so that she can stand trial on election bribery charges.

Imprisoned foreign workers deported early - at their request
Haaretz, March 20, 2003
The Immigration Police is negotiating with some airline companies, including El Al and Turkish Airlines, to fly dozens of foreign workers to relatively nearby destinations such as Romania and Turkey, before a war-related emergency breaks out in Israel.

Petition filed to halt IDF air-wave grab
Haaretz, March 20, 2003
Attorney Michael Kirsch yesterday petitioned the High Court of Justice against the IDF chief of staff, demanding the court cancel the defense establishment's decision to commandeer all Israeli and cable channels, including foreign news broadcasts, in case of a missile attack.

Court to hear director's appeal of `Jenin, Jenin' ban
Haaretz, March 20, 2003
The High Court of Justice will hear a petition today filed by film director Mohammed Bakri, appealing the decision of the Censorship Board to forbid public screenings of his movie "Jenin, Jenin."

Ports Authority blocks Belgian tender winner
Haaretz, March 20, 2003
The Ports and Railways Authority is holding up the implementation of a Belgian company's bid to supply terminal tractors in a deal valued at 2.55 million euros, pending assurance that Israelis involved in the deal will not face legal charges in Belgium.

Budget cuts will close some IDF field units
Haaretz, March 20, 2003
Budget cuts have prompted the Israel Defense Forces into planning widespread austerity measures that that will include closing down field units. A military source described this year's cuts - amounting to almost NIS 3 billion - as "a dramatic event" that would require far-reaching measures.

Palestinian police kill Hamas member in Gaza Strip
Jerusalem Post, March 20, 2003 
A Hamas man from the Gaza Strip died Thursday of wounds he sustained when Palestinian security personnel tried to prevent members of the Islamic radical group from firing Kassam rockets at Israeli communities.

Israeli ambassadors to US, UK put on 'low profile'
Jerusalem Post, March 20, 2003 
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom instructed Israel's ambassadors to Washington and London to keep a "low profile" a few hours after the initial US attacks in Baghdad.

Nablus Diary, Day 273: Death in the Air
Palestine Chronicle, March 20, 2003
So few people know the feeling of death when it is in the air. This feeling is returning to Palestinians and Iraqis. Death is in the air again.

US claims 45 nations in 'coalition of willing'
The Guardian, March 19, 2003
The "coalition" is willing to offer moral support, though most countries are not offering soldiers. Britain has contributed about 45,000 troops, Australia has offered 2,000 and Poland, 200. Albania has offered 70 soldiers for noncombat roles, and Romania contributed 278 non-combat experts in demining and in chemical and biological decontamination, and military police.

Sad Blix says he wanted more time for inspections
The Guardian, March 20, 2003
The UN chief weapons inspector, Hans Blix, yesterday expressed sadness that he had not been allowed more time to complete his work, as foreign ministers from France, Germany and Russia condemned the US and British rush to war.

Egyptian riot police clash with anti-war protesters
Al-Bawaba, March 20, 2003
Egyptian anti-war protesters clashed with riot police Thursday, hurling stones and metal barricades, pounding on cars and shouting against the United States and their own leaders.

Selected Arab, international reactions regarding the U.S. raid
Al-Bawaba, March 20, 2003
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday condemned U.S. military action against Iraq and called for a rapid end to U.S. operations.

The US/UK Double-Standard in the Middle East
Badil, March 20, 2003
NON-IMPLEMENTATION of UN Security Council Decisions – A CASE FOR WAR? -- The US/UK led attack on Iraq, which began in the early house of 20 March 2003, provides yet another example of the double-standard that governs US and UK foreign policy vis-à-vis the Palestinian/Arab-Israeli conflict.

Analysis: Which American groups back war?
UPI, March 20, 2003
LOS ANGELES, March 20 (UPI) -- Now that war has started, support by the American public for an invasion of Iraq can be expected to rise among all groups. But what segments of the public have been the strongest and most consistently supportive of a pre-emptive attack?

Top White House anti-terror boss resigns
UPI, March 19, 2003
The top National Security Council official in the war on terror resigned this week for what a NSC spokesman said were personal reasons, but intelligence sources say the move reflects concern that the looming war with Iraq is hurting the fight against terrorism.

Muslims Bracing For Hate Crimes
Newsday, March 20, 2003
Fear repeats of post-9/11 attacks -- Shahdan Tawfik, an administrator at the Islamic Center of Long Island, hopes that what happened 18 months ago won't happen again.

ADC Advisory Statement to Arab Americans and Muslims
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
In light of the high likelihood that the United States may soon be involved in a war with Iraq, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), is releasing the following advisory statement to members of the Arab-American and Muslim communities.

Action Alert: Stop New "Patriot Act II"
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee 
Issue: The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has drafted an 86-page bill, which seeks to give the Federal government new, sweeping powers to increase domestic intelligence gathering, surveillance and law enforcement prerogatives while decreasing judicial review and public access to information as a way to fight domestic terrorism.

Jordanians feel for Iraqis' plight
BBC, March 20, 2003
The first salvo of America's war against Saddam Hussein has come as a bit of an anticlimax for the population of Iraq's nearest neighbour, Jordan. That is probably just how the US military planners wanted it, because Amman - like many other Arab governments - has been dreading the effect of popular discontent as the first bombs fell on Baghdad.

Background / Could U.S. be at war for years?
Haaretz, March 20, 2003
A Pentagon-dubbed 'decapitation' mission, a pre-dawn air assault with Saddam Hussein as its reputed target, may have been President George Bush's best chance to stave off a protracted war, which could spell ultimate defeat even if American troops score strings of tactical victories.

Even as we shop for canned food and painkillers, it is difficult to grasp the reality of what is coming
By Robert Fisk in Baghdad, The Independent, March 20, 2003
In Yasser Arafat Street, at the Sana Nimr al-Ibrahim pharmacy, Riad offered to give me two rolls of bandages free. . I told him I'd better pay, since I thought the RAF was going to bomb him in a few hours time. "I think they are,'' he said. Then he shot me the kind of grin I didn't deserve.

Former CBS anchor Cronkite voices disappointment in move to war
Daily Record, March 19, 2003
Retired journalist addresses Drew about future of U.S. -- "We are going to be in such a fix when this war is over, or before this war is over … our grandchildren's grandchildren are going to be paying for this war," Cronkite said. "I look at our future as, I'm sorry, being very, very dark. Let's see our cards as we rise to meet the difficulties that lie ahead," he added, in a play on Bush's dismissive remarks about France.