Breaking News: 10 Year-old Girl and Three Other Palestinians Killed
International News Center, March 25, 2003
20:40 Medical sources in Bethlehem said that another Palestinian girl, Christine George Sa'ada, 10, was also killed by IOF gunfire in Bethlehem, along with the three Palestinians, during IOF's raid on the city's houses. The child's father is reported to have sustained critical wounds.

ISM Members Try To Protect Palestinian Wounded at Jenin Hospital; Jenin Boy Killed
Palestine Chronicle, March 24, 2003
"At that time, members if the ISM accompanied him to the ‘Martyr Doctor Khalid Suliman hospital’. As soon as the members of ISM were gone from the area, the Israeli soldiers shot in the head and killed Ahmed .." -- JENIN CITY (ISM) – A 15-year-old Palestinian boy was shot in the head and killed by Israeli forces while imposing curfew on the city of Jenin. The boy was identified as Ahmed Imad Abu Jelhad. Another child was shot in the leg and is recovering at “Martyr Doctor Khalid Suliman hospital” in Jenin.

Israeli Sniper Kills Palestinian Boy in Jenin
Palestine Media Center, March 25, 2003
IOF Attack Peace Activists -- March. 25, 2003 - Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) shot dead a 14-year-old boy and wounded another Monday while enforcing a curfew on the city of Jenin and attacked a number of international peace activists who were trying to evacuate a number of wounded to a local hospital.

Israeli forces surround Ramallah
Palestine Monitor, March 24, 2003
Palestinian fears of Israeli forces laying the groundwork for an escalation in repression in the West Bank were realized in Ramallah today, as word got out that Israeli forces have now encircled the city and, as of 4.30 pm local time, have closed all entrances and exits to the de-facto Palestinian capital.

Blair to press Bush on Middle East
The Guardian, March 25, 2003
Tony Blair will press the US president, George Bush, to push forward with the Anglo-American "road map" to peace in the Middle East when he meets him later this week, Jack Straw told MPs today.

High-level team drawing up alternative to 'Quartet' peace plan
Jerusalem Post, March 25, 2003
A blue-chip panel established by Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz when he came into office in November is drawing up a plan for an Israeli diplomatic initiative that could serve as an alternative to the Quartet's so-called road map for peace in the Middle East.

Donors freeze money to Palestinian human rights group over allegations of mismanagement
New Jersey.com, March 25, 2003
JERUSALEM (AP) -- International donors have frozen funding of a leading Palestinian human rights group after an independent audit raised suspicion of mismanagement of millions of dollars in grants, the European Union said Tuesday. The group under scrutiny is Law Society, which has been monitoring Israeli and Palestinian human rights abuses in the West Bank and Gaza Strip since 1990.

LAW responds to difficulties caused by previous mismanagement
LAW Society, March 25, 2003
In September 2002, LAW’s board informed donors that the organization’s previous management set aside approximately US1.5 million. Donors then began an external financial investigation, and LAW’s board of Trustees appointed an internal investigations committee.

Minister of Health: “241 Palestinians killed, including 60 children by IOF fire from early 2003 to 24 March ”
International News Center, March 25, 2003
GAZA, Palestine, March, 25, 2003, IPC --- Palestinian Health Minister, Dr. Ahamd Al Shibi declared Monday that the total number of Palestinians killed by the Israeli occupation forces, in the last three months is 241, distributed as follows: 141 in Gaza Strip and 100 in the West Bank. In a press briefing Monday by the ministry of health, Dr. Al Shibi made clear that out of those killed, 60 children (below 18 years old) were killed including 35 in Gaza Strip and 25 in the West Bank.

Greens Call For Investigation of the Murder of American Peace Activist Rachel Corrie by Israeli Forces
International News Center, March 24, 2003
As Israeli military forces attack a memorial service for Corrie, Greens renew the call for suspension of U.S. aid to Israel, and warn that the Sharon government, taking advantage of the U.S. invasion of Iraq and U.N. turmoil, might try to evict Palestinians from the occupied territories.

Sixty Palestinian prisoners in tragic detention conditions in Hawara
Palestinian Information Center, March 25, 2003
Nablus- Two lawyers from the international Tadamon (Solidarity) human rights committee have visited Palestinian prisoners in the Hawara army barracks to the southeast of Nablus. The lawyers, Fares Abu Hassan and Mohammed Al-Halabi, have said that they managed to meet 54 prisoners from the sixty detainees held in the eight detention centers in the army barracks.

Palestinians Slam Israeli Peace Overture As “Propaganda”
Islam Online, March 25, 2003
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, March 25 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - A senior Palestinian minister on Tuesday, March 25, slammed an Israeli peace overture extended by Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom to the emerging Palestinian leadership headed by moderate prime minister Mahmud Abbas as a mere "Propaganda".

Abu Mazen to strip former ministers of their power and pay
Haaretz, March 25, 2003
Palestinian Authority prime minister-designate Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) intends to cancel the posts that Chairman Yasser Arafat gave to members of the previous Palestinian cabinet.

The use of civilians as human shields and the destruction of houses during the IDF invasion of Nablus, February-March 2003
B'tselem, March, 2003
The following are testimonies that residents of Nablus gave to B’Tselem’s researchers. The testimonies indicate that, during the IDF’s invasion of the city, which began on 19 February 2003. The soldiers used civilians as human shields, in violation of the state’s commitment to the High Court of Justice, and blew up the interior of houses.

ICRC and Egyptian Red Crescent assist Palestinians
ICRC, March 25, 2003
Early last year, as part of their ongoing cooperation, the ICRC delegation in Cairo and the Egyptian Red Crescent Society equipped a first-aid centre affiliated with the National Society in Rafah, on the Egyptian-Israeli border, with furniture and basic medical supplies.

Israeli troops kill 4 in West Bank; Palestinians sentenced in court
Raleigh News, March 25, 2003
JERUSALEM (AP) - Israeli forces killed two children and two gunmen in the West Bank on Tuesday, doctors and media reports said, and three Palestinians were sentenced to multiple life terms by an Israeli military court.

Teenager shot outside of Hebron
Star-Banner, March 25, 2003
JERUSALEM - A Palestinian teenager was shot to death Monday during a clash with Israeli soldiers on the West Bank as troops searched houses on a routine sweep for militants. Three other youths were wounded, witnesses said.

Israeli Troops Kills a Palestinian Child, tights its grip on Jenin
International News Center, March 25, 2003
JENIN, Palestine, March 25, 2003, (IPC)- - Israeli Occupation Forces killed a Palestinian child and arrested one other late on Monday in the West Bank city of Jenin, Palestinian medical sources said.

Urgent, 1 child killed,1 shot in leg, Soldiers to search hospital - Jenin
International Solidarity Movement, March 24, 2003
A 15 year old child was shot in the head and killed by Israeli forces while imposing curfew in the city of Jenin. His name was "Ahmed Imad Abu Jelhad". Another child was shot in the leg and is recovering at Martyr Doctor Khalid Suliman hospital  in Jenin. Israeli forces have threatened to search the hospital for other children they claim have entered the hospital and who were not hurt.

Palestinian girl, 2 Hamas men killed by IDF in Bethlehem
Haaretz, March 25, 2003
Two Hamas activists and a Palestinian girl were killed Tuesday evening when special Israel Defense Forces troops opened gunfire on a car in the West Bank city of Bethlehem.

Palestinian boy killed in West Bank
Al-Bawaba, March 25, 2003
A Palestinian boy aged 12 was shot dead by Israeli troops in the northern West Bank town of Jenin, during clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youths, hospital officials said.

Jenin teenager killed during IDF sweep
Haaretz, March 25, 2003
One Palestinian teenager was killed and three others were injured yesterday in clashes with Israeli troops in Jenin. The city was under curfew during the third day of an IDF sweep for terror suspects. Altogether, some 40 suspects were arrested in Jenin and other areas of the West Bank yesterday.

Israeli troops kill four in West Bank, court gives life sentences to three Palestinians
Everett Herald, March 25, 2003
JERUSALEM - Israeli forces killed two children and two gunmen in the West Bank on Tuesday, doctors and media reports said, and three Palestinians were sentenced to multiple life terms by an Israeli military court.

Israel Extends Fence-off Wall Further Into West Bank
International News Center, March 25, 2003
TEL AVIV, March 25, 2003, IPC+ Agencies – Israeli defense establishment announced earlier that the so-called security fence could be shifted 20 kilometers (12 miles) eastward. In a proposal, the new delineation will protect the illegitimate settlements of “Ariel” and “Kaddumim” built on Palestinian owned land in the northern West Bank.

Blair: 'Absolutely determined' to push Mideast peace process
Haaretz, March 25, 2003
The Middle East peace process was one of the things most concerning the Arab world, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Tuesday, adding that it was an issue that he was "absolutely determined" to take forward.

Analysis: Israel, the next target
UPI, March 25, 2003
SKOPJE, Macedonia, March 25 (UPI) -- Its leader seems more comfortable in battle fatigues than in civilian suits. He has been long pursuing a policy of military aggression and annexation. The regime is often castigated due to rampant human rights violations. The country possesses weapons of mass destruction, although it repeatedly denies the allegations. It refuses to honor numerous U.N. Security Council resolutions. President George H.W. Bush once subjected it to sanctions. The United States has already trained its sights on this next target: Israel.

Palestinian gets life term for Ramallah lynching of reservists
Haaretz, March 25, 2003
An Israeli military court sentenced a Palestinian militant to life in prison on Tuesday for involvement in the lynching of two soldiers by a Palestinian mob in the West Bank in 2000, an army spokesman said.

Donors freeze money to Palestinian human rights group
Haaretz, March 25, 2003
International donors have frozen funding of a leading Palestinian human rights group after an independent audit raised suspicion of mismanagement of millions of dollars in grants, the European Union said Tuesday.

Veteran Palestinian NGO suspected of defrauding donors
Haaretz, March 25, 2003
$4 million in overseas donations allegedly misappropriated  -- The Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment (LAW) has been operating in the territories for 13 years. Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Ireland, as well as the European Union and International Commission of Jurists, have funded the organization's activities.

Occupation Chronicle Events in Palestine, March 25, 2003
Palestine Media Center, March 25, 2003
Israeli Occupation Forcers (IOF) killed a 14 year-old boy and wounded another in the northern West Bank town of Jenin. IOF also raided charity institutions in Hebron and detained dozens in Hebron, Jenin, Bethlehem and Gaza. IOF kill Boy, Wound Another in Jenin / IOF Closes Charity Institutions in Hebron / IOF Detain More Palestinians

American forces train on storming cities in Nablus
Palestinian Information Center, February 24, 2003  
Nablus- American army forces last week took part in the Zionist occupation troops’ incursion into suburbs in the old quarters of Nablus, according to reports in that West Bank city.

Palestinians: Marines training in guerilla warfare in Jenin
Jerusalem Post, March 25, 2003 
Two Palestinian Web sites claimed Tuesday that US troops are training in guerilla warfare in the Jenin refugee camp. According to the Palestine Information Center, which is affiliated with Hamas, the training is aimed at preparing the Marines for the invasion of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.

136,000 children will drop below poverty line with budget cuts
Haaretz, March 25, 2003
Some 136,000 children will join those living under the poverty line if Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's budget plan is approved, according to figures presented yesterday by Labor and Social Affairs Minister Zevulun Orlev.

Large majority expected to back budget 
Haaretz, March 25, 2003
The government is slated to hold a marathon meeting today on the new budget, with its NIS 11 billion in cuts and major structural reforms in the economy. The plan is expected to pass a vote with a large majority.

Two Palestinians held for break-in at Weisglass home
Haaretz, March 25, 2003
Two Palestinians from the West Bank are suspected of breaking into the home of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's bureau chief Dov Weisglass and stealing two automobiles and other property.

'Birthright Israel' program endangered due to proposed budget cuts
Jerusalem Post, March 25, 2003 
The landmark 'Birthright Israel' program which has introduced the country to tens of thousands of young Diaspora Jews since its inception over three years ago may cease to exist if the government approves a finance ministry proposal to withdraw Israel's financial support for the program, philanthropist and program co-founder Charles Bronfman said Tuesday.

Palestinians name babies after Saddam
Jerusalem Post, March 25, 2003
Many Palestinian couples in Nablus, the largest city on the West Bank, have begun naming their newborn babies after Saddam Hussein.

21 allegedly gay men get 3 years
Middle East Times, March 21, 2003
At a spartan court in Downtown Cairo early on March 15, three young judges entered the room and – without even hearing the cases of the 21 alleged gay men on trial - delivered their verdicts within two minutes: guilty. Each of the accused now faces the maximum three years in prison, followed by a further three years of nightly sojourns in custody at the police station.

Supporters: Al-Arian backed Bush, received White House access
Miami Herald, March 25, 2003
TAMPA, Fla. - A professor accused of being a terrorist group's U.S. leader rallied the support of the Muslim community behind President Bush in 2000 and received security clearances to the White House to discuss Muslim issues, witnesses testified Tuesday.

Possible hate crimes investigated
UPI, March 25, 2003
BURBANK, Ill., March 25 (UPI) -- Federal authorities Tuesday investigated whether a Palestinian Muslim family was the victim of a possible hate crime explosion that damaged their van late Friday night.

More antiwar protesters arrested
Whittier Daily News, March 25, 2003
Antiwar protesters took to the streets again Monday, with more than 100 arrests in the city's financial district and noisy student demonstrators crowding the hallways of an administration building at San Francisco State University.

Washington enraged by Russian weapon sales to Iraq, Moscow denies
Al-Bawaba, March 25, 2003
The US State Department claims that three private Russian firms are involved in illicit sales of sensitive military equipment to Iraq, including antitank guided missiles, thousands of night-vision goggles and half-dozen global positioning system (GPS) jamming devices, the Washington Post reported.

U.N. Launches Big Appeal for Iraq Food
The Guardian, March 25, 2003
ROME (AP) - With food dwindling for millions of Iraqis, a U.N. aid agency will make the biggest single request for cash in its history - more than $1 billion to help feed the war-stricken nation for about six months.

Aridi’s remarks anger US diplomatic mission
Lebanon Daily Star, March 25, 2003
Information Minister Ghazi Aridi’s recent invective against the US administration and its war in Iraq has drawn the ire of the US diplomatic mission in Beirut, with reports emerging that the US ambassador had requested Aridi be reprimanded.

Europeans flock to al-Jazeera
The Guardian, March 25, 2003
Al-Jazeera: 4 million new subscribers in Europe since last Wednesday -- The Arabic-language TV network al-Jazeera has seen its European subscriber numbers double since the start of the war in Iraq amid huge demand for an alternative to western media coverage.

Bush war budget 'does not add up'
The Guardian, March 25, 2003
As President George Bush today formally asks Congress for $75bn (£48bn) for the war in Iraq, his emergency request has already come under fire.

Saudi Arabia Proposes End To War
Islam Online, March 25, 2003 
RIYADH, March 25 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - In a passionate appeal for an end to bloodshed, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, March 25, said it had proposed a peace plan to Iraq and the United States and is awaiting a response.

Global Anti-war Protests Continue Unabated
Islam Online, March 25, 2003
WORLD CAPITALS, March 25 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - With the Anglo-American war on Iraq entering its sixth day, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators continued to flock to the streets of world capitals Tuesday, March 25, to protest the unjustified war, waged without a mandate from the U.N. Security Council.

Iran Turns Away Militant Group
Washington Post, March 25, 2003
Halt in Aid to Kurdish Faction Comes After Missile Attacks -- SULAYMANIYAH, Iraq, March 24 -- A local Kurdish official said today that Iranian authorities turned back wounded Islamic militants seeking medical care after a U.S. attack against their enclave in northern Iraq.

Al-Jazeera Web Site Enduring Hack Attack
Excite, March 25, 2003
Hackers attacked the Web site of Arab satellite television network Al-Jazeera on Tuesday, rendering it intermittently unavailable, the site's host said. The newly launched English-language page, which went live Monday, was hardest hit in a bombardment of data packets known as a denial-of-service attack.

U.S. Plans to Run Iraq Itself 
Common Dreams/New York Times, March 25, 2003
WASHINGTON — The United States is preparing to establish immediate sole control of postwar Iraq, initially without recourse to the United Nations, with a civilian administration under the direct command of the military, according to senior administration officials. Even before American troops reach Baghdad, administration officials are assembling a team of civilian officials, largely retired American diplomats, to run Iraq as soon as the fighting is over.

Arabs Demand UN Security Council Meeting to Halt ‘Aggression’ on Iraq 
Palestine Media Center, March 25, 2003
March. 25, 2003 - Arab envoys demanded on Monday an urgent session of the UN Security Council to press for a quick halt to the war on Iraq, after Arab League foreign ministers condemned the US-led “aggression” and demanded “immediate withdrawal” of the invading forces, while masses took to the streets across the Middle East in a fifth day of anti-war protests.

FBI Investigates Hate Crimes In Villa Park And Burbank 
WBBM, March 25, 2003
(Chicago) -- The FBI said Tuesday it was investigating several possible war-related hate crimes in the Chicago area, including incidents in Burbank and Villa Park. In the most recent incident, on the evening of March 11, "there were some projectiles thrown" at the windows of the Islamic Foundation, 300 W. High Ridge Rd. in Villa Park, FBI spokeswoman Carrie McCune said. The FBI was "basically looking into what (the projectiles) were, she said.

US awards contract to manage Umm Qasr port
Middle East Online, March 25, 2003
US firm awarded $4.8-million contract to be in charge of Iraqi port of Umm Qasr, foreign firms not invited to tender. -- WASHINGTON - The United States on Monday awarded a 4.8-million-dollar contract to manage the Iraqi port of Umm Qasr, recently seized and tenuously-held by invading US and British troops.

Riyadh frees leading reformist cleric
Middle East Online, March 25, 2003 
RIYADH - Leading Saudi reformist cleric Sheikh Saeed bin Zuair has been released after spending eight years in jail for objecting to a religious edict allowing peace with Israel, supporters said Tuesday.

War in Iraq - situation at An-Nasiriya
Iraqwar.ru, March 24, 2003
March 24, 2003, 0800hrs MSK (GMT +3), Moscow - As of morning (MSK, GMT +3) March 24 the situation in Iraq can be characterized as quiet on all fronts. Attacking coalition forces have settled into positional warfare, they are exhausted, lost the attacking momentum and are in urgent need for fuel, ammunition, repairs and reinforcements. The Iraqis are also busy regrouping their forces, reinforcing the combat units and setting up new defense lines.

Arab FMs call for immediate US-British withdrawal from Iraq
Jordan Times, March 25, 2003   
CAIRO (AFP) — Arab foreign ministers Monday called for the "immediate withdrawal" of US and British forces from Iraq and condemned their aggression, but with Kuwait declining to sign up to the call.

Hunger turns Iraqi civilians against coalition
Middle East Online, March 25, 2003  
Incidents of looting and assault have broken out in recent days  -- With no water, no electricity, no food, civilians of south no longer believe in US promises of humanitarian aid. Days into the US-led war, Iraq's civilians are still waiting for the food, water and other help Washington and London promised they would distribute behind their advancing soldiers.

Red Cross warns of 'humanitarian disaster' in Basra
The Independent, March 25, 2003
A humanitarian disaster is looming in the city of Basra, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says. More than a million civilians have been without clean water or electricity in the city since Friday as fighting rages outside.

UCF professor remains in jail despite winning his bid for bail
Sun-Sentinel.com, March 25, 2003
Despite a federal judge's decision to free him on $50,000 bail, a UCF professor facing immigration charges will not be back in class today. An attorney for Hussam Jubara, a computer-engineering professor at the University of Central Florida, successfully argued to have his client released Monday.

US beefs up security, will detain asylum seekers
Middle East Times, March 21, 2003
American citizens will be in for a domestic show of force as their government muscles up on the foreign front this week. Federal law enforcement officials are preparing to take their readiness "up a notch" – to prepare for possible terror attacks by Iraqi agents.

Weapons found at suspect site; no chemicals
Jerusalem Post, March 25, 2003 
In the midst of a sand storm that turned the landscape into moonscape, day into night, and night into pure blackness, a US Army
sensitive site team arrived at the ammunitions storage facility at Najaf Tuesday to investigate suspicions that the complex had been used for
chemical weapons.

More antiwar protesters arrested
Whittier Daily News, March 25, 2003
Antiwar protesters took to the streets again Monday, with more than 100 arrests in the city's financial district and noisy student demonstrators crowding the hallways of an administration building at San Francisco State University.

Cheney daughter - human shield in Baghdad???
Al-Bawaba, March 25, 2003
The London based Arabic daily Al Quds Al Arabi reported on Tuesday, March 25 that the American vice president, Dick Cheney, would soon head to the Jordanian capital, Amman. The newspaper claimed that the visit would be an attempt by Cheney to convince his daughter, who was in the Jordanian capital, to back down her decision to go to Baghdad within a group of volunteers who want to form human shields against the US led attacks on Iraq.

Cheney: No daughters as human shields
UPI, March 25, 2003
WASHINGTON, March 25 (UPI) -- Vice President Dick Cheney's office denied reports on Tuesday that either of his daughters was even considering becoming a human shield in Iraq.