IOF
Assaults Palestinian Women in Jerusalem, Imposes Curfew on Hebron
International Press Center, July 12, 2003
JERUSALEM, Palestine, July 12, 2003, (IPC+Agencies)-- Several Palestinian women
vendors were lightly wounded and suffered bruises Saturday after being hit by
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) in the occupied East Jerusalem. Israeli police
force and assaulted tens of Palestinian women farmers and vendors in the Salahiddine
St. and “Bab El-Amood” neighborhood in the Old City of Jerusalem,
Palestine News Agency (WAFA) reported.
Hamas
attack Palestinian security base in Gaza
Times of India, July 12, 2003
GAZA CITY: Members of the Islamic militant group Hamas attacked Palestinian police
cars in the Gaza Strip after bodyguards shot and wounded a Hamas member, a Palestinian
security source said on Saturday. Hamas members attacked Palestinian police cars
on Friday night in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City, the source added.
Israelis
May Consider Deporting Arafat
The Guardian, July 12, 2003
JERUSALEM (AP) - A senior aide to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Saturday
that Israel would consider deporting Yasser Arafat if the Palestinian leader continued
to try to ``scuttle the peace process.''
Sharon
Decries Europe's Ties to Arafat
ABC News, July 12, 2003
Sharon Says Europe Undermining Mideast Peace by Maintaining Ties With Palestinian
Leader Arafat -- JERUSALEM July 12 — European leaders are undermining peace
efforts in the Middle East by maintain ties with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat,
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said in a newspaper interview published Saturday.
Dahlan
calls for fresh elections for Fatah Central Committee
Haaretz, July 12, 2003
Palestinian Minister for Security Affairs Mohammed Dahlan on Saturday called for
new elections for the Fatah Central Committee, saying that its current make-up
was incapable of making any decisions. Dahlan told reporters in Gaza that the
previous elections to the top Fatah body were held 13 years ago, "even before
the two intifadas."
New
Israeli Violations of ‘RoadMap’
Palestine Media Center, July 12, 2003
The Palestine National Authority (PNA) would like to draw your attention to a
new Israeli confiscation of Palestinian land, this time in the southern West Bank
town of Al-Khadher. A number of Palestinian owners of agricultural land in Umm
Rukba south of Al-Khadher (No. 03/4/T) were handed a military order dated 10 July
200, and signed by the so-called Commander of IDF in Judea and Samaria Moshe Kablinsky
Olof, confiscating hundreds of dunums of the town’s land “for military
purposes,” effective the date of signing the order.
Hamas
demands arrest and trial of security elements
Palestinian Information Center, July 12, 2003
Gaza - The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, has demanded the arrest and trial
of the Palestinian Authority’s security men who fired at and seriously wounded
Mujahid Mohammed Al-Simiri, member of the Qassam Brigades the military wing of
Hamas.
Hamas
threatens to resume kidnappings
Daily Star, July 12, 2003
Israeli soldiers could be exchanged for detainees -- As Israelis and Palestinians
inched along their “road map” to peace without any breakthroughs on
the key issues, Hamas threatened Friday to begin kidnapping Israeli soldiers in
order to exchange them for its prisoners. Despite earlier uncertainty due to deep
divisions within the Palestinian leadership, Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz
met Palestinian Minister of State for Security Affairs Mohammed Dahlan Thursday
night at the Erez crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian
Village Finds Itself Walled In, Not Out
New York Times, July 12, 2003
HIRBAT JUBARA, West Bank, July 10 — Ishan Awad's well-tended garden, anchored
by olive and palm trees and lined with pink roses, is a soothing place to spend
a summer afternoon sipping thick black coffee. But with Israel's new security
fence closing in on his village, Mr. Awad feels a sense of captivity rather than
relaxation. "This fence is trapping us," said Mr. Awad, 39. "There is no way we
can live a normal life."
PA
sets up roadblocks in Gaza Strip to stop armed Palestinians
Haaretz, July 12, 2003
Palestinian security forces set up several roadblocks overnight Friday around
Gaza's Gush Katif settlement bloc and the settlement of Kfar Darom in order to
deny entry to armed Palestinians seeking to carry out terror attacks there. Israel
Radio reported Saturday morning that Palestinian security had confiscated several
weapons located in suspicious vehicles in the Gaza Strip city of Khan Yunis.
Israeli
Apartheid Wall Threatens West Bank Life
International Press Center, July 12, 2003
PALESTINE, July 12, 2003-- A number of West Bank villages as Masha, Snairiya,
Beit Amreen, Azzoun, Atma and Bedia, which are close to the cities of Salfiet
and Qlqilia have been undergoing an increasing life threat including economic
and environmental due to the Israeli constructing of an apartheid wall-off-fence
on the Green Line-West Bank borders.
Washington
admits difficulty of replacing Hamas
Palestinian Information Center, July 12, 2003
Cairo - James Brown, one of the American administration’s advisors, has
admitted in a report that Washington’s declaration of a developmental program
in the Palestinian cities to confront and replace Hamas’ social programs
would face numerous problems, an Egyptian magazine reported.
Israeli
judges too meek to dispense justice
Daily Star, July 12, 2003
Courts fail to outlaw the use of Palestinians as human shields -- NAZARETH: The
Israeli Supreme Court heard three major cases this week involving army policies
in the Occupied Territories, which, according to human rights groups, either grossly
violate the individual rights of Palestinians or inflict unfair collective punishment
on the civilian population.
Palestinian
Authority, Hamas confront each other in Gaza
Jerusalem Post, July 12, 2003
Hamas activists in Gaza City attacked cars belonging to the Palestinian Authority's
Preventive Security Service Friday night after Minister of Security Muhammed Dahlan's
bodyguards shot and wounded a Hamas member. Palestinian sources said the bodyguards
opened fire at Muhmamed Sumari, a Hamas activist, after suspecting him of planning
to assassinate Dahlan.
PA
security men suffer serious injuries
Palestinian Information Center, July 12, 2003
Gaza - Members in the so-called “Death Squads” affiliated with the
Palestinian Authority’s preventive security apparatus were seriously injured
during recent clashes with Mujahideen of the popular resistance committees. Sources
in that apparatus said that absolute secrecy was shrouding identity of those wounded
elements.
Prisoners
endanger their lives in protest at dire conditions
Palestine Monitor, July 10, 2003
The Palestinian Prisoners society reported this week that four Palestinian prisoners,
who were being held by the Israeli authorities in the Qaddoumi detention center,
had been transferred to a prison hospital. Issa Qaraka, the head of the Prisoner’s
society, said on the 4th of July the four prisoners carried out acts that endangered
their lives, in order to protest the dire conditions in which they are kept in
the detention facility.
Dividing
Wall
Jerusalem Times, July 10, 2003
Hundreds of children have recently participated in a protest demonstration as
to mark the passing of one year since the Israeli authorities had begun building
what is known as the "dividing wall" between Israel and the Palestinian areas.
The children shouted against the confiscation of their childhood through the establishment
of a wall the building of which had caused the destruction of their playgrounds
and the burial of their dreams under the bases of the wall and behind it.
Sharon
government monitors Palestinians in 1948 areas
Palestinian Information Center, July 12, 2003
Occupied Jerusalem - The resigned director of the Zionist national security council
has said that the “Israeli” government had formed a special ministerial
committee headed by premier Ariel Sharon to monitor behavior of Palestinians in
1948 areas.
Palestinian
Child Killed, Run over By Settler’s Car
Palestine Media Center, July 12, 2003
IOF Detain 6 Internationals in Nablus, Demolish House in Rafah -- Meanwhile, IOF
informed Palestinian farmers of the northern West Bank villages of Quffin, Alar,
and Nazlat Issa that 424 Dunums of their land will be confiscated. IOF also marked
land in Um Rukba, south of the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem, for confiscation,
Palestinian officials said.
Law
Society: IOF Escalates Oppressive Measures Against Palestinian Prisoners
International Press Center, July 12, 2003
RAMALLAH, Palestine, July 12, 2003, IPC+WAFA-- The Palestinian society for Human
Rights and Environment Protection “Law” stressed
Friday in its weekly report that Israeli occupation forces IOF escalated over
the last week discriminative and oppressive measures against Palestinian prisoners
in Israeli detention camps.
Occupation
Chronicle Events in Palestine July 12, 2003
Palestine Media Center
A 13-year-old child was killed after an Israeli settler drove his car over him
near the northern West Bank city of Nablus. Meanwhile, IOF detained six ISM activists
near Nablus and demolished a Palestinian house in the southern Gaza Strip town
of Rafah. Two Palestinians Wounded, Detained by IOF. IOF Confiscate More Palestinian
Land.
Arafat:
Abu Mazen has betrayed the Palestinian people
The Independent, July 12, 2003
Reliable sources said the quotations were not accurate - but that they did reflect
Mr Arafat's attitude at the meeting where he had spoken out against Abu Mazen
in a fury. -- There were signs of an intensifying power struggle for the Palestinian
leadership after it emerged yesterday that the Palestinian President, Yasser Arafat,
had criticised his Prime Minister, Abu Mazen, in an extraordinary outburst during
a meeting with a senior United Nations official.
Arafat
Should Be Sidelined For Peace: Sharon
Islam Online, July 12, 2003
GAZA CITY, July 12 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – While the Israeli
army demolished a Palestinian house in Rafah, in its first such action in the
Gaza Strip since main Palestinian resistance movements declared a ceasefire last
month, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said that Arafat must be sidelined
if progress is to be made towards Middle East peace.
Israeli
source: Arafat could be deported if he hinders Abbas
Haaretz, July 12, 2003
Sources in Jerusalem said Saturday that Israel could deport or arrest Palestinian
Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat if he held up Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud
Abbas' efforts to implement the internationally-brokered road map to Middle East
peace.
Sharon
urges EU leaders to halt contacts with Arafat
Al-Bawaba, July 12, 2003
Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said on Saturday that the fact European leaders
were still in contact with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was undermining Palestinian
Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas.
E.U.
Shuns Ban on Hamas
Forward, July 11, 2003
Rebuffing Washington, the European Union decided last week that it will not reclassify
the political wing of Hamas as a terrorist group, insisting that its activities
qualify it as a legitimate organization. Meeting last week in Brussels, the 15
European foreign ministers reached a unanimous decision not to change the political
wing's designation, a move that had been sought by the United States, although
they may revisit the issue at a summit scheduled for July 21 to July 22 if more
countries are seen to support a change.
Family
fears for boy in Israeli jail
Toronto Star, July 11, 2003
Among scores of detained teenagers - Prisoner issue seen as threat to truce --
DEHEISHA REFUGEE CAMP, West Bank—It is difficult to reconcile the two portraits
of Mohammed Naajar. The Palestinian boy's father remembers a happy-go-lucky extrovert,
a joker with an infectious gift for good-natured mimicry of the many friends he
kept.
Old
warrior on the look-out for a place in history
The Telegraph, July 12, 2003
Among the mementos that decorate Ariel Sharon's office in Jerusalem, there is
a photograph of Yitzhak Rabin, his predecessor and rival who was assassinated
by a Jewish extremist for trying to make peace with Palestinians. To hear Mr Sharon
speak about the "painful concessions" he is ready to make for a lasting peace,
one might imagine that the prime minister is picking up the mantle of Mr Rabin
as a warrior-turned-peacemaker.
Blair
told to ditch Arafat and save road map
The Telegraph, July 12, 2003
Ariel Sharon will deliver a blunt message when he sees Tony Blair in Downing Street
on Monday: cut all ties with Yasser Arafat, or risk derailing the latest peace
plan. The Israeli prime minister will tell Mr Blair that there are in effect two
Palestinian governments. One is headed by the new prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas,
who Israel believes is ready to make peace, and the other by Mr Arafat, which
is committed to a "strategy of murder".
Palestinian
– Israeli Deadlock Over Detainees, More IOF Withdrawals
Palestine Media Center, July 12, 2003
Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman Expected in Ramallah -- Egyptian intelligence
chief Omar Suleiman is expected Saturday or Sunday in Palestinian Territory for
talks with President Yasser Arafat and Prime Minister Mahmud Abbas in the West
Bank city of Ramallah to help break a Palestinian-Israeli deadlock over the issues
of detainees and further withdrawals by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF).
President
Arafat: Sharon Is Working Hard to Sabotage the Road Map
International Press Center, July 12, 2003
RAMALLAH, Palestine, July 12, 2003, (IPC)-- President Yasser Arafat accused Saturday
the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon of trying to sabotage the Road Map peace
plan. The Israeli occupation and the comprehensive siege are the main obstacle
that stumbles the implementation of the Road Map which we Palestinians already
accepted while the Israelis did not.
Sharon's
visits aim to mend rifts with Europe
Financial Times, July 11, 2003
Ariel Sharon, the Israeli prime minister, will try to start the long process of
repairing relations with Europe with visits to Britain and Norway starting on
Sunday. The three-day visit to Britain comes against a background of fears on
the Israeli right, of which Mr Sharon has long been a figurehead, that Tony Blair,
the British prime minister, can use his personal relationship with President George
.W Bush to push a stronger pro-Palestinian line.
Egyptian
mediation between Israel and the Palestinians
Arabic News, July 12, 2003
The chairman of the Egyptian intelligence Lt. Gen. Omar Suleiman will head for
the city of Ramullah in the West Bank and Gaza within 48 hours in order to lead
the Egyptian efforts aiming at fixing the Palestinian truce, despite the rejection
of the government of Israel to implement affiliated obligations concerning the
implementation of the Roadmap to peace.
ME
Security Talks Fail to Make Breakthrough
Arab News, July 12, 2003
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, 12 July 2003 — Israelis and Palestinians continued yesterday
to advance haltingly along their road map to peace, but the latest high-level
security talks failed to yield any breakthrough on the key issues. Israeli Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas were expected
in Washington at the end of the month for meetings with US President George W.
Bush which could give peace efforts new momentum.
Israel
Tries To Ease Concern About Fence
Forward, July 11, 2003
WASHINGTON — Responding to American criticism of its West Bank security
fence, Israel has given Washington assurances that the fence, which snakes and
winds inside the West Bank, is not intended as a border with the future Palestinian
state. Israel also assured the Bush administration that it will give due consideration
to Palestinian humanitarian concerns as it charts the course of the fence.
Palestinians
and Israelis Face Chance for Peace: FM Spokesman
People's Daily, July 12, 2003
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said Friday that the Middle East
peace process has reached a new era and Palestinians and Israelis are facing an
opportunity to realize peace. Kong made the remarks in response to a question
on the recent visits of Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath and the Israeli
Foreign Minister's special envoy Oren Shachor to China.
Sharon
May Shuffle Cabinet, Rebuild Labor Coalition
Forward, July 11, 2003
JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Sharon is facing growing political obstacles
in his efforts to steer Israel along President Bush's "road map" to peace, and
insiders say he may soon be forced to reshuffle his Cabinet and reestablish a
broad-based unity coalition with Labor. Sharon's moderate policies are meeting
opposition not only from his right-wing coalition partners, the National Union
and the National Religious Party, but also from within his own Likud party.
Corridors
of Power / Altered states
Haaretz, July 12, 2003
In Ya'alon's view, the current Israeli discourse does not give Abu Mazen enough
credit. And there are some around Ya'alon who believe the Palestinian prime minister
may - one day - be ready to cede the demand for the right of return. -- 1. A possible
turning point: Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon tends to think in terms of processes.
He is a student of history and when he summarizes the 1000-days' war - something
he has been doing a lot of in recent days, sometimes in the presence of guests
from outside the IDF - he aims to put it in perspective within the history of
the State of Israel.
Press
Review: Democracy and freedom
Al-Ahram Weekly On-line, 10 - 16 July 2003
Struggles for democracy and freedom in Palestine, Iraq and Algeria predominated
the Arab press this week. -- Little faith developed this week in the roadmap for
peace between Israel and the Palestinians, with most of the Arab press remaining
sceptical about its future.
Netanyahu,
Naveh to meet over state hospital deficits
Haaretz, July 12, 2003
Health Minister Dan Naveh is expected to meet with Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
on Saturday night in an effort to reach a solution that will grant immediate aid
to Israel's cash-strapped state hospitals.
The
Dimona revolt
Haaretz, July 12, 2003
The violence has waned, but the struggle at the southern branch of Haifa Chemicals
continues. The workers' victory in court is apparently not impressing the management.
How a group of young people from Dimona became the leaders of a workers' struggle....The
rebelling workers note that the huge sums Haifa Chemicals - which is owned by
Arie Genger, the prime minister's friend - has spent on the struggle against them
show its great fear of the workers' desire to unionize.
Syrian
paper: Damascus ready to return to peace talks
Haaretz, July 12, 2003
DAMASCUS - Syria on Saturday reiterated that it's ready to return to peace negotiations
with Israel, a government newspaper reported. In a front-page editorial, the Tishrin
government newspaper, which reflects government thinking, said returning to the
basis of the Madrid peace conference is the sole way to inject life into the stalled
Middle East peace process.
Sri
Lankan defense minister to buy Israeli weapons
Palestinian Information Center, July 12, 2003
Tel Aviv - The Sri Lankan minister of defense arrived in the Zionist entity on
Thursday for a ten days official visit to finalize a number of arms agreements....Sri
Lanka depends on Zionist weapons in its war against the Tamil rebels especially
speedboats. Intelligence sources recently revealed that the Zionist entity had
also supplied the Tamil guerrillas with cannons capable of hitting those boats!
Some
80,000 Palestinians in Iraq
Arabic News, July 12, 2003
The UNHCR has said it will start next week registering 80,000 Palestinians living
in Iraq, many of them were expelled from their houses and do not enjoy legal protection
since the collapse of the regime of Saddam Hussein.
Iran
President Offers to Quit, Paper Says
The Guardian, July 12, 2003
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - President Mohammad Khatami said in a speech he would resign
if people want him to, amid growing public dissatisfaction over his failure to
meet promises of democratic reform, a newspaper reported Saturday.
Annan
to meet Bush in Washington on Monday for wide-ranging talks
United Nations News, July 10, 2003
10 July – United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan plans to travel to
Washington on Monday to meet with United States President George W. Bush and his
advisers for wide-ranging discussions, including Africa, which both are currently
visiting, and on the Middle East.
Nader
Urging Democrats to Back Kucinich in '04 Primaries
CommonDreams/Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 11, 2003
WASHINGTON - Consumer activist Ralph Nader, still undecided about running again
as a third-party candidate, said yesterday that he is urging Democrats to vote
for Rep. Dennis Kucinich in the presidential primaries next year.
Bush
Bid for Jews' Votes Zeroes In on Gen X
Forward, July 11, 2003
GOP Nurtures Cadre of Activists -- The White House is nurturing a cadre of Generation
X Republican Jewish activists, many of them Orthodox, as part of a concerted strategy
to boost Republican strength among Jewish voters — and Jewish political
donors — in the run-up to the 2004 election. In private conversations recently,
Bush aides have voiced hopes that the president's image as a leader in the war
against terrorism will help bring the Republicans a record share of the Jewish
vote next year, with some citing figures as high as 40%.
U.S.
Ordered to Resolve Case Against Pair
Los Angeles Times, July 12, 2003
Immigration judge's decision means the government must attempt to deport two Palestinians
or drop the 16-year-old case. -- A federal immigration judge in Los Angeles on
Friday denied a request by federal officials to postpone a deadline for resolving
a long-standing deportation case against two Southern California immigrants who
advocate a Palestinian state. The ruling means the government is now left with
the choice of dismissing the case or attempting to deport Khader Hamide, 49, and
Michel Shehadeh, 47, based on charges filed in January 1987.
