Israeli Troops Kill Palestinian Teen
Austin 360, March 24, 2003
JERUSALEM (AP)--A 15-year-old Palestinian throwing stones at Israeli troops in the West Bank was killed by army fire Monday, Palestinian hospital officials said.

IOF Arrests 13 Civilians and Seals off two Islamic Societies in Hebron
International Press Center, March 24, 2003
HEBRON, Palestine,  March 24, 2003, IPC--Israeli occupation forces (IOF) rounded up today 13 Palestinian civilians during the arrest campaign in different parts of Hebron city of the West Bank. Earlier hours today, a massive IOF troops broke in the complex of Islamic Benevolent Society in Al Salam Street in Hebron, causing trauma to the female students of the orphan school.

Israeli Tanks Thrust into Rafah; 4 Civilians Wounded in Gaza City
International Press Center, March 24, 2003
RAFAH, Palestine, March 24, 2003, IPC +WAFA-- Israeli occupation forces (IOF) thrust early Monday morning into the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, Palestinian security sources said.

Road map put off until after Iraq war
Haaretz, March 23, 2003
The United States has reached a secret understanding with Palestinian prime minister-designate Mahmoud Abbas, better known as Abu Mazen, to put off the formal presentation of the "road map" until the new Palestinian cabinet is sworn in and possibly until after the war in Iraq.

Israel Denies US Ready to Announce Road Map Peace with no Changes
International Press Center, March 23, 2003
JERUSALEM, Palestine, 23 March, 2003, (IPC+ Agencies)--Sources at the Israeli Prime Minister's Office Arial Sharon denied reports coming out from the United States that the "road map" peace plan will be announced once Mahmoud Abbas “Abu Mazen” makes up his cabinet in three weeks.

Israel Extends ‘Segregation Wall’ Further Into West Bank
Palestine Media Center, March 24, 2003
Palestinians Say Israel Wants to Destroy ‘Roadmap’ -- March. 24, 2003 - Palestine National Authority (PNA) cabinet minister Sa’eb Erekat accused Israel on Sunday of trying to destroy the “roadmap” to peace and a Palestinian state by proposing to extend the “segregation wall” 20 kilometers farther into the West Bank, thereby annexing thousands of dunums of Palestinian land.

Israel to extend security fence deep into West Bank
The Independent, March 24, 2003
Israel is preparing to move a security fence, designed to separate Israelis and Palestinians, further into the West Bank. About 40,000 more settlers and another 3,000 Palestinians would find themselves on the Israeli side of the barrier.

Erakat: Extension of the Fence-off Barrier inside the Palestinian Territories Rules out “Road Map” Peace Plan
International Press Center, March 24, 2003
GAZA, Palestine, March 24, 2003, (IPC+ Agencies) –Dr. Sa’b Erakat, the Palestinian local government minister charged Sunday Israel of trying to sabotage the US sponsored road map peace plan following the announcement made by the Israeli army establishment in respect to the extension of the fence-off barrier that would swallow more than 20Km of the Palestinian lands in the West Bank.

Palestinian Activist Opens Fire On Israeli Kibbutz
Islam Online, March 24, 2003
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, March 23 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - At least one Palestinian resistance fighter opened fired on the northern Israeli kibbutz of Katzir, although there were no immediate reports that anyone was wounded, Israeli public radio said Sunday, March 23.

CIA sets up department to implement the road map
Haaretz, March 24, 2003  
The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency is establishing a special department that will be responsible for implementing the road map for an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement. According to reports reaching Jerusalem, the CIA officers will coordinate supervision and monitoring of the implementation of the road map.

Israel removes illegal outpost
BBC, March 24, 2003
Israeli troops dismantle an outpost inhabited by Jewish settlers in the West Bank for the first time since the new government took power.

Breaking News: IDF Bulldozers Dig Trenches, Erect Barriers In Nahalin
International Press Center, March 24, 2003
13:45-- Israeli army bulldozers have dug deep trenches and erected sand barriers in the main road in Nahalin village of the west bank, adjacent to the bridge set up in the settlement bypass road leading the to the  illegitimate Jewish settlement of “Bitar”, WAFA news agency reported.

Bombs thrown at homes inside Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon
Jerusalem Post, March 24, 2003 
Rival militants hurled bombs and hand grenades at several homes inside Lebanon's largest Palestinian refugee camp Monday, causing damage but no injuries, Palestinian officials said.

Court tells ACRI to revise petition against emergency regulations
Haaretz, March 24, 2003  
A petition demanding that the 55-year-old state of emergency finally be canceled must be revised in light of the current security situation before it can be considered, the High Court of Justice told the Association for Civil Rights in Israel yesterday.

NII: Budget cuts to put 200,000 Israelis, 136,000 of them children, in poverty
Haaretz, March 24, 2003
Estimate: Implementing cuts in Netanyahu's emergency economic plan will push nearly one quarter of Israeli families under poverty line.

Israel faces general strike
BBC, March 24, 2003
Israel's unions are preparing to call a general strike. The country's main trade union federation, the Histadrut, is angry about the government's plans to sack thousands of public servants and slash the pay of many who remain.

Jenin:  Fourth Day of Collective Punishment for Ya'bad;  Israeli Army Keeps up Pressure on ISM
International Solidarity Movement, March 22, 2003
Following the killing of a Jewish settler by a member of the Palestinian resistance at about 2 pm on Wednesday afternoon, the Israeli Army of Occupation around Jenin has been taking its revenge upon Ya'bad, a town about 8 kilometres to the west of Jenin, close to the by-pass road upon which the killing took place.  (By pass roads are those reserved for the exclusive use of Jews and soldiers).

Palestinians: Youth killed in Jenin; 2 soldiers hurt in Gaza
Haaretz, March 24, 2003  
A 15-year-old Palestinian throwing stones at IDF troops in the West Bank city of Jenin was killed by army fire Monday, Palestinian hospital officials said. IDF troops enforced a curfew in the city Monday as they searched about 30 homes.

Israeli army closes down charities, orphanage in Hebron region
Islamic Association for Palestine, March 24, 2003
The Israeli occupation army has closed down several charitable institutions in the Hebron region as part of its harsh onslaught on anti-colonialist Palestinian resistance activism.

Four Palestinians wounded in battles with IDF in Jenin
Jerusalem Post, March 24, 2003
Four Palestinians were shot and injured during battles with IDF troops in Jenin on Monday. IDF Central Command reported that one of the Palestinians was injured when the firebomb he was preparing to throw at troops went off in his hand, reports Israel Radio.

Israel continues breaking in operations, Abbas starts consultations to form a Palestinian government
Arabic News, March 24, 2003
The Palestinian occupation forces Saturday broke into several Palestinian areas in the West Bank and Gaza. Three Palestinians were arrested in Dana village, al-Khalil district and three in Jenin area and other two in Beit Hanya to the north of Jerusalem under the pretext of throwing explosives under at Israeli cars.

Occupation Chronicle Events in Palestine, March 24, 2003
Palestine Media Center, March 24, 2003
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) raided two areas in the Gaza Strip wounding four in al-Zaitouna neighborhood in Gaza city and detaining five citizens in Rafah. IOF also raided Nahalin village, near Bethlehem city in the West Bank, and detained three citizens. IOF Wound 4 Citizens in Gaza / IOF Raid Rafah, Detain 5 Citizens / 3 Citizens Detained in Bethlehem / IOF Raid al-Saf Neighborhood, Detain 2 Citizens / IOF Raid Citizens’ Houses in Jenin

Israel stalls over new 'roadmap'
The Independent, March 23, 2003
The US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, has scheduled talks with the Israeli Foreign Minister amid mounting concern that international pressure to push forward the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians is faltering.

Israel Proposes New Palestinian Barrier
Yahoo! News, March 23, 2003
Israel is considering two plans to extend a barrier separating Israelis from Palestinians, officials said Sunday. Both would likely claim more land for Israel and muddy progress on a U.S.-backed plan for Palestinian statehood.

Israel Proposes New Barrier That Leaves Less Land For Palestinians
The Day, March 24, 2003
Critics Say Plan Means Doom For Peace Process -- Jerusalem — Israel is considering two plans to extend a barrier separating Israelis from Palestinians, officials said Sunday. Both would likely claim more land for Israel and muddy progress on a U.S.-backed plan for Palestinian statehood.

Palestinians Consider Interior Minister
Yahoo! News, March 23, 2003
RAMALLAH, West Bank - A commander who has quarreled with Yasser Arafat (news - web sites) may be tapped to head all of the Palestinian security forces as incoming premier Mohammed Abbas starts to assemble his Cabinet, officials say. Palestinian sources speaking on condition of anonymity said Abbas met with Mohammed Dahlan, the former Gaza security chief, and is considering naming him Interior Minister.

Dahlan, al-Rajjoub two candidates for Palestinian government, People's Front refrain to join
Arabic News, March 24, 2003
Israeli reports talked about an agreement between the designated Israeli prime minister Mahmoud Abbas ( Abu Mazin) and Washington that calls for postponing the announcement of the so-called "roadmap" until after the formation of the Palestinian government and the end of the war against Iraq.

Palestinian PM Starts Consultations to Form Cabinet amid Worldwide Welcome
Palestine Media Center, March 23, 2003
March. 23, 2003 - Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) began talks Saturday to form a new government, kicking off negotiations with the Palestinian mainstream Fatah movement and members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC).

Hoping for an American failure
Haaretz, March 24, 2003 
What will happen to the Palestinians the day after the war? Will it be good for them? A number of people from the West Bank and Gaza Strip have begun discussing it in recent days against the background of diplomatic activity on the Palestinian issue, even as the fighting is underway.

Israel government debt reached 103% of GDP in 2002
Globes, March 24, 2003
Israel has one of the highest government debt ratios in the world: 103% of GDP in 2002, according to Bank of Israel figure published today. Israel has a higher debt ratio to GDP than most OECD countries, surpassing Canada. Only four OECD countries had a higher debt ratio: Belgium, Greece, Italy and Japan.

Netanyahu-Perez talks on economic plan stalled
Globes, March 24, 2003 
Minister of Finance Benjamin Netanyahu’s meeting last night with Histadrut (General Federation of Labor in Israel) chairman Amir Perez achieved no progress.

Histadrut declares economy-wide labor dispute
Globes, March 24, 2003 
The Histadrut (General Federation of Labor in Israel) House of Representatives declared a general labor dispute last night. The declaration means that the Histadrut may launch organized measures, up to a general strike, in two weeks.

Wishful thinking
Globes, March 24, 2003  
There are few signs that the Iraq war will help Israel’s economy. -- If you believe Minister of Finance Benjamin Netanyahu, the benefits for Israel of the second Gulf War will not be confined to the strategic advantage of Saddam Hussein’s elimination. He believes there will also be an economic benefit.

Their day in court
Haaretz, March 24, 2003  
Hundreds of Israelis whose businesses have suffered because of the intifada are trying to sue the Palestinian Authority for damages. The courts are sympathetic and the money is there, but some legal experts believe the plaintiffs won't see a penny of it.

Histadrut declares labor dispute
Haaretz, March 24, 2003  
The Histadrut labor federation yesterday declared a nationwide labor dispute over the treasury's plans to slash jobs and cut wages in the public sector. Workers are permitted under law to begin industrial action 15 days after the declaration.

Iraq accuses Israel of taking part in war
Haaretz, March 24, 2003 
Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri yesterday accused Israel of taking part in the war on Iraq, after an Israeli missile part was found in Baghdad. Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz told the government that the missile was apparently from a batch a weapons sold to the U.S. in the 1990s.

Mofaz: Israeli alert to last 'more than a few more days'
Jerusalem Post, March 24, 2003
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said today that it is not inconceivable for Iraq to move missile launchers back into the western zone where they can be fired toward Israel. Therefore, despite reports of the US capture of H2 and H3 airfields in western Iraq, Israel cannot take down its war readiness at this time, Mofaz said in a speech.

Some foreign airlines start coming back
Haaretz, March 24, 2003 
A number of international airlines have renewed their flights to and from Israel, following what is perceived to be a reduction in the risk of Iraqi missiles being fired at Israel.

US provides $2.6 million for Palestinian jobs in Gaza
MENA Report, March 24, 2003 
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) is joining with the United Nations Program of Assistance to the Palestinian People (UNDP) in an initiative to create jobs in Gaza to help stem the raising tide of poverty and unemployment in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Launch of the News from Within website
Alternative Information Center, March 23, 2003 
We are pleased to announce the launch of the website for News from Within, the monthly English-language publication of the Alternative Information Center. Reflecting the AIC’s combination of political activism with research and analysis, News from Within presents a critical discussion of the political realities which have resulted from the Oslo process and its derivatives. (www.newsfromwithin.org)

Iraqi Shiite opposition will not fight alongside US against Baghdad: leader
Yahoo! News, March 22, 2003
DOHA (AFP) - Iraq (news - web sites)'s main Shiite opposition faction, based in Iran, will not take part in the "aggressive war" being waged by the United States and its allies on Iraq, its leader said.

Lahoud presses home dangers of war
The Daily Star, March 22, 2003
EU diplomat hears argument that iraq conflict’s impact will be global -- President Emile Lahoud [Lebanon] told Europe’s top diplomat for the Arab-Israeli conflict Friday that the impact of the ongoing US-led war in Iraq wouldn’t be restricted to one country, but would spread throughout the world in years to come.

Commander Of Iraqi 51St Division Denies Surrender On TV
Islam Online, March 23, 2003
DOHA, March 23 (IslamOnlione.net & News Agencies) – Appearing on Al-Jazeera satellite TV channel, an Iraqi commander near the southern city of Basra said Sunday, March 23, that his division, which Washington earlier claimed had surrendered, would continue to resist U.S. and British forces.

U.S. Accuses Russia Of Helping Iraq Militarily
Islam Online, March 24, 2003
MOSCOW, March 23 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – The U.S. on Sunday, March 23, complained that Russia has not adequately dealt with its concerns about arms sales to Iraq by Russian firms which it said threatened the safety of U.S., British and Australian troops now invading Baghdad, adding that Russian technicians are helping Iraq jam satellite signals that currently guide bombs and military aircraft.

War in Iraq - situation in southern Iraq
Iraqwar.ru, March 23, 2003
[The IRAQWAR.RU analytical center was created recently by a group of journalists and military experts from Russia to provide accurate and up-to-date news and analysis of the war against Iraq.] March 23, 2003, 1200hrs MSK (GMT +3), Moscow - The situation in southern Iraq can be characterized as unstable and controversial. Heavy fighting is taking place in the Umm-Qasr-An-Nasiriya-Basra triangle. Satellite and signals intelligence show that both sides actively employ armored vehicles in highly mobile attacks and counterattacks. Additionally, fighting is continuing near the town of An-Najaf.

Banks ordered to transfer $1.74 billion frozen Iraqi funds to US account
Al-Bawaba, March 24, 2003 
Switzerland's leading financial institution UBS will comply with an American request to transfer million-dollar Iraqi funds, frozen under the UN sanctions imposed after the 1991 Gulf War, to a US treasury fund. The bank spokesperson who confirmed the decision refrained from specifying the exact sum involved.

Wave of digital retaliation as Iraq war starts
Al-Bawaba, March 23, 2003  
American, British, Australian and South Korean online business interests have come under heavy digital attack since Friday, March 21. The start of the military campaign against Iraq is likely to contribute to March becoming the worst month for digital attacks ever since records began in 1995, according to digital crime statistics released by the London-based mi2g Intelligence Unit.

US firms; anti-war computer hackers' target
Middle East Online, March 24, 2003
HAMBURG, Germany - Attacks by computer hackers against company Internet sites have been increasingly focusing on US firms, with many of the incidents clearly aimed at protesting the US-led war against Iraq, a specialist British consultancy said on Thursday.

Sgt. Held in Attack Had Been Reprimanded
The Guardian, March 24, 2003
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (AP) - When Sgt. Asan Akbar was taken into custody on suspicion of killing a fellow serviceman with a grenade, an Army spokesman said he may have acted out of resentment. But where such bitterness may have come from remains a mystery.

US missile hits Syrian passenger bus near Iraqi border, five people killed
Al-Bawaba, March 24, 2003   
A U.S. missile hit a Syrian passenger bus near the Iraqi border, killing five and injuring 10, Syria's official news agency reported Monday.

Four Jordanian students killed in Mosul bombings; Jordan deports Iraqi diplomats
Al-Bawaba, March 23, 2003  
Four Jordanian students died on Saturday when a missile exploded near their car as they were driving out of Mosul in northern Iraq to flee US and British bombings, a Jordanian government official said Sunday.

Where is Raed?
Salam Pax, March 22 - 24, 2003 (Web diary of a citizen of Baghdad)
4:30pm (day3) -- half an hour ago the oil filled trenches were put on fire. First watching Al-jazeera they said that these were the places that got hit by bombs from an air raid a few miniutes earlier bit when I went up to the roof to take a look I saw that there were too many of them, we heard only three explosions. I took pictures of the nearest. My cousine came and told me he saw police cars standing by one and setting it on fire. Now you can see the columns of smoke all over the city.

Baghdad calling
The Guardian, March 24, 2003
There are dozens of journalists and TV cameras in the Iraqi capital. But the most vivid account of the build-up to war and the start of the bombing has appeared on the internet - on the weblog of an unknown Iraqi writing under the name Salam Pax. But who is he?

Greek- Orthodox church deplores attack against Iraq
Arabic News, March 24, 2003
Patriarch of Antioch and all the East for Greek Orthodox, Ignatius Hazim IV, has condemned the policy of "the right of might vis- a- vis the power of right" which are practiced by the American and British administrations against Iraqi people and the Arab and Islamic nations without any legitimate justification.

Iraqi citizens in Jordan decide to return back home to fight
Arabic News, March 24, 2003
The Iraqi citizens in Jordan have decided to return back home and take part in defending it against the American- British aggression.

Cook Criticizes US Double Standards in Middle East
Palestine Chronicle, March 23, 2003
'"The real difficulty is that the Arab world sees a double standard. They don't see us being in the same way engaged and pressurizing Israel to take forward the peace process with the Palestinian people.." -- LONDON (IRNA) - Former British cabinet minister Robin Cook, who resigned as House of Commons leader in protest against the war in Iraq, warned Sunday about the dangers of the US policy of pre-emptive military strikes and the example of double standards that has been set.

‘Shame On You Mr. Bush’: Oscar Winner
Islam Online, March 24, 2003
HOLLYWOOD, March 24 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Famed U.S. filmmaker Michael Moore used his Oscar win Sunday, March 23, to launch a diatribe on wartime U.S. President George W. Bush and invasion of Iraq. "We live in fictitious times," he said when picking up the award for best documentary for his anti-gun film "Bowling for Columbine," Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported Monday, March 24.

Gorbachev: Iraq war result of US internal crisis
Middle East Online, March 24, 2003
United States needs its perestroika: Gorbachev -- MOSCOW - The war on Iraq is the result of an internal crisis in the United States and could end badly for the US administration, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev said Monday, hinting at a parallel with the ill-fated Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

PM: Jordan to launch offensive to stop war
Jordan Times, March 24, 2003
AMMAN — Jordan on Sunday announced it will launch a fresh diplomatic offensive to stop the conflict in Iraq, warning that war was a “no win” situation with “devastating” effects. 

Basra faces water supply crisis
BBC, March 24, 2003
The Iraqis claim 77 people have been killed in the Basra bombings -- A humanitarian disaster is looming in Iraq's southern city of Basra, the Red Cross has warned. Water and electricity supplies to the country's second city have been cut off for more than two days.

What transforms a soldier into a conscientious objector?
The Bellingham Herald, March 24, 2003
For one soldier, personal transformation dawned with the intrusive memory of a Palestinian boy shot by an Israeli fighter. For another, it was when American missiles showered Baghdad. For a third, it was on South Carolina's red clay during a bayonet drill, chanting "kill with no mercy." Their roads to military discharge as conscientious objectors began differently, all since the last time their country faced war with Iraq. Now, with the nation waging war again in Iraq, a small number of today's soldiers are confronting their consciences in the same way.

Palestinian recruits bolster Iraqi soldiers
This Is London, March 24, 2003
They call them the Martyr Battalions, diehard troops who are fighting Saddam Hussein's battles to the death. Here in Basra, in Umm Qasr to the south and on the road to Baghdad, allied forces are encountering Saddam's trump card in the battle for Iraq - fanatics who have vowed never to surrender.

100 million, a Japanese donation to Jordan because of war against Iraq
Arabic News, March 24, 2003
Japan announced yesterday it will give Jordan 100 milliondollars in aid to support it in withstanding the consequences of the war led by the USA against Iraq.

On the escape of Iraq general in Denmark
Arabic News, March 24, 2003
The Danish BT daily said that the agents of the CIA had organized the escape of the opposition Iraqi Lt. Gen. Nizar al-Khazraji, the former chief of staff of the Iraqi army to Saudi Arabia via Germany...Worthy mentioning that al-Khazraji who is recently considered by the American press as one of the candidates to succeed the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was under home arrest in Denmark when the judicial authorities accused him of committing war crimes against the Kurds during the 1980s.

Click for more Iraq News