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Palestine Diaries

courtesy The Electronic Intifada

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Map of Israel's planned "security fence", adapted for clarity from Gush Shalom map. Gush Shalom notes: The Israeli government did not publish full, official maps of the wall. The path of the Eastern wall was compiled by the Land Research Center and the Palestinian Hydrology Group, based on expropriation orders issued to Palestinian land owners.

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Video Archives
Audio Archives

VIDEO
BBC:
Gap Between CIA
And Bush Stories
posted 10/9/02

VIDEO
BBC:
Region As
Unsettled As It's
Ever Been
10/9/02

VIDEO
BBC:
"No compromise
here"
posted 10/8/02

VIDEO
BBC:
Another Gaza
Attack
posted 10/6/02

VIDEO
BBC:
PA's Erekat: We
Need International
Protection Now
posted 10/6/02

VIDEO
BBC:
Khalil Shikaki, CPR:
'Chances slim for
negotiation'
posted 9/28/02

PHOTOS
Islam Online:
Arafat HQ
Destroyed
posted 9/25/02

PHOTOS
Islam Online:
Nine Palestinians Killed In Gaza
posted 9/24/02

VIDEO
Konscious:
Metal of Dishonor
The Face of US
War on Iraq
posted 9/18/02

VIDEO
BBC:
Sabra & Shatila
Is Sharon A
War Criminal?
posted 9/13/02

VIDEO
CBC:
Israeli
Army Was
Embarrassed
By Release
of Video
released 3/18/02
posted 9/6/02

Video Archives

Conflict..

Four killed in suicide attacks The Guardian 8/12/2003 Four people, including the two bombers, died in back-to-back suicide attacks in Israel and the West Bank today as the Middle East peace process suffered a further setback. The first attack took place at a shopping centre in the Israeli town of Rosh Ha'ayin, with the second happening at a bus stop outside the Israeli Ariel settlement in the West Bank. IOF Destroys Two Palestinian Houses in East Jerusalem International Press Center 8/12/2003 OCCUPIED EAST JERUSALEM, Palestine, August 12, 2003, (IPC+ Agencies)-- Israeli occupation forces (IOF) destroyed Tuesday two houses owned by Palestinian citizens in the neighborhood of “Jabal Al-Mokabbir” in the Occupied East Jerusalem.Tens of Israeli police vehicles imposed curfew on the “Jabal Al-Mokabbir” and destroyed the houses of Omar Sarri, and Mohammed Atia, Palestine News Agency (WAFA) reported. Israeli soldiers did not allow Sarri to evacuate his house from furniture. Sarri has built the house 8 years ago. The two families of Sarri and Atia (14 persons) became homeless. they have not only lost their buildings but also furniture, books, clothes and all "equipments" of their daily life. Occupation authorities demolish Palestinian house Palestinian Information Center 8/12/2003 Occupied Jerusalem - Palestinian citizens have said that the Zionist occupation authorities had demolished this morning a Palestinian house in Jabal Mukabir to the south of occupied Jerusalem at the pretext of not obtaining construction permit. The citizens explained that occupation police and border guards stormed the village of Jabal Mukabir early this morning and encircled the house of Omar Sarri before the Zionist tractors razed it to the ground. PNIC Report: Israel Killed 2,647 Palestinians During 34 Months of Intifada International Press Center 8/12/2003 GAZA, Palestine, August 12, 2003 (IPC)-- Since the outbreak of Al-Aqsa Intifada in September 2000, up to July 2003, 2,647 Palestinian lives have been claimed by the Israeli occupying forces (IOF) in the Palestinian territories, a report issued by the Palestinian National Information Center (PNIC) of the State Information Service (SIS) said. The Palestinians killed were included 1,157 (%43.7) in Gaza Strip and 1,490 (%56.3) in the West Bank. Hebron University Students Denied Graduation Middle East Peace/Christian Peacemaker Teams 8/12/2003 The Israeli army denied more than one thousand Hebron University students from graduating today. After a day of negotiation with university officials, the Israeli Central Region Commander of the West Bank ordered the campus closed just before ceremonies were to begin. On the morning of August 10 the Israeli civil administration extended the closure of Hebron University campus for the forth time this year. On the morning of August 11, CPT Hebron received an urgent call that soldiers were at the campus gate. Occupation forces to confiscate hundreds of dunums of Palestinian farmland in Jericho Palestinian Information Center 8/12/2003 Jericho - Scores of Palestinian families in the city of Jericho have organized a protest sit-in at one of the city’s suburbs to protest the Zionist occupation measures aimed at confiscating 550 dunums of cultivated land. The citizens issued a statement denouncing the Zionist aggressive practices that were in total disregard of international doctrines and human rights. Israel Says Will Open al-Aqsa again for ‘Non Muslims’ Palestine Media Center 8/12/2003 Arafat Calls for Emergency Summit of the Islamic Confrence -- Israeli Public Security Minister Tzachi Hanegbi Monday said that al-Aqsa Mosque compound would open “to Jews, tourists and non-Muslim pilgrims next week, even if there is no agreement with the Waqf,” thus vindicating again Palestinian President Yasser Arafat’s call last week for convening an emergency summit of the Islamic Confrence Organization. Israeli Troops Close Jenin’s Entrance, impose Curfew over Barta’ International Middle East Media Center 8/12/2003 Israeli troops closed the main entrances to jenin, therefore isolating the city of its vicinity. At the same time Israeli soldiers forced a curfew over the nearby village of Barta’. Eyewitnesses reported that the military vehicles and tanks closed all the city inlets and outlets preventing residents from moving into or out of the place. Local source reported that Israeli soldiers prevented nay one with Jenin’s ID to enter the city forcing dozens of residents to seek shelter in the nearby villages. At the same time Israeli soldiers chased local cars and prevented drivers from using field roads to arrive to the city. 854 Israeli Violations Of Truce In July: Report Islam Online 8/12/2003 GAZA CITY, Aug 12 (IslamOnline.net) - Israel has in the last month alone killed seven Palestinians and carried out 854 violations of the three-month truce declared by Palestinian resistance factions, a Palestinian human rights report revealed Tuesday, August 12. The seven victims included four children under 18, one man who was assassinated by Israeli troops and two others, who were killed by Israeli settlers, according to a report by the Palestinian National Information Center of the Gaza Information Service. Palestinians protest in Hebron Jordan Times 8/12/2003 OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli police on Monday briefly detained a Jewish settler from Hebron, saying he talked of killing Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, while several hundred Palestinian students in the West Bank city demonstrated to demand reopening of a college shut by the Israelis....Israel closed Hebron's Polytechnic Institute in January, saying students belonging to Hamas and Islamic Jihad had used its facilities to plan and carry out attacks. About 400 students marched on to the Palestinian Authority office in Hebron, calling on leaders to work to reopen the college. Israeli Raid On Nablus Triggered Attacks: Dahlan Islam Online 8/12/2003 GAZA CITY, August 12 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - The Palestinian Authority and resistance factions heaped blame on Israel for the new flare up of violence, asserting that incessant Israeli aggressions, particularly the recent raid on Nablus which claimed the lives of four Palestinians, worked as the trigger for the two bombings in Israel and the West Bank earlier Tuesday, August 12. No orders, no paperwork, no answers… just bulldozers International Solidarity Movement 8/12/2003 Occupied Jayyous - What Happened to Your Promises Mr. Sharon? -- Mr. Sharon has promised over and over that the Apartheid Wall Israel is building “won’t interfere with the daily lives of Palestinians”. He might like to tell that to Helmi, the farmer in Jayyous who woke up yesterday morning to discover a bulldozer in his front yard. Before he could stop them, they began tearing up a l5-meter (45-foot) swath through his fruit and olive trees. One hundred were destroyed before he stood in front on the bulldozer and made it stop. When he asked for paperwork to see why his property was being destroyed, there was none. No orders, no paperwork, no answers from the operator of the enormous bulldozer devouring his land. Interior Ministry demolishes Bedouin homes Ha'aretz 8/12/2003 Bedouin activists accused police and ministry inspectors of using violence during the procedure. The Bedouin said that yesterday's demolitions raise the number of houses destroyed since the beginning of the year to 117. Police use of force to be probed Ha'aretz 8/12/2003 The Justice Ministry's unit for the investigation of policemen launched an inquiry yesterday into a police actions in an altercation with Druze protesters Sunday during a rally held in Jerusalem, across from the Prime Minister's Office. The police investigation unit will focus its inquiry on policemen who were caught on film hitting protesters after they were detained. The unit's decision to open the investigation came on a day when Knesset members angrily accused police of using excessive force against the Druze. Analysis / Longtime agreement not to agree Ha'aretz 8/12/2003 When Public Security Minister Tzachi Hanegbi speaks about the possibility of an agreement with the Waqf (Muslim religious trust) over renewing visits by Jews to the Temple Mount, he means in fact agreement on the lack of an agreement. An informal agreement of this type was reached some three months ago when the police, on the advice of the political echelons, decided that visits to the mount could be renewed after almost three years since Ariel Sharon visited the site in September 2000. Police prepare to open Mount to Jews next week Ha'aretz 8/12/2003 Public Security Minister Tzachi Hanegbi's statement yesterday that the Temple Mount would open "to Jews tourists and non-Muslim pilgrims next week, even if there is no agreement with the Waqf," prompted an angry response from the Islamic trust. Waqf manager Adnan Al Husseini said the minister's statement was "an unnecessary provocation." He denied there was any agreement between the Waqf and the police about allowing "Christian or Jewish" tourists onto the plaza. No one hurt in multiple Gaza shootings Ha'aretz 8/12/2003 A number of gunfire incidents flared yesterday at Gush Katif, on the Gaza Strip. Although the number of clashes greatly exceeded the daily average since the start of the hudna (cease-fire), nobody was hurt. Israel Defense Force officers noted at least seven incidents in which shots were fired. Suicide bombers shatter Israeli calm BBC 8/12/2003 Palestinian suicide bombers have struck in Israel and the West Bank for the first time in over a month, killing two Israelis. One blast ripped through a shopping centre in the Tel Aviv suburb of Rosh Haayin and a bomber blew himself up at a bus stop outside the Jewish settlement of Ariel. Two Palestinian militant groups claimed they carried out the attacks in specific retaliation for a deadly Israeli raid last week. Analysis: Bombs test the ceasefire BBC 8/12/2003 The two latest suicide bombs will test the current ceasefire but will probably not end it. -- Hamas has, on its website, said that it was responsible for one of the attacks, at the large Israeli settlement of Ariel on the West Bank. Israelis say only disarming militants will end attacks. This was the first time it had openly broken its ceasefire but, perhaps significantly, it linked the attack to a raid by Israelis in Nablus last Friday in which two members of Hamas were killed. The al-Aqsa Brigades, part of the Fatah movement, are reported to have claimed responsibility for the explosion at Rosh Haayin in Israel, also linking this to the Nablus and other Israeli raids. Suicide bombings jolt Mideast peace hopes Christian Science Monitor 8/12/2003 ROSH HAAYIN, ISRAEL – Attacks by two Palestinian suicide bombers in Israel and the West Bank Tuesday dealt a serious blow to a tenuous six-week cease-fire, and threaten to undermine the Palestinian Authority's campaign to stop Israel's barrier and settlement building in the West Bank. The timing of Tuesday's bombings, which left two Israelis dead and 11 wounded, came hours before US envoy William Burns met with Israeli officials to press the Bush administration's opposition to the course of the barrier under construction in the West Bank. Two Israelis killed in suicide bomb blasts Financial Times 8/12/2003 Two Israelis were killed in separate suicide bombing attacks on Tuesday, the first since Palestinian militants groups declared a three-months ceasefire on June 29. Israeli army officials said the attack on a shopping mall in the Israeli town of Rosh Ha'ayin was carried out by renegade followers of Yassir Arafat's Fatah movement. The Islamic militant group Hamas claimed responsibility for the second blast that killed one person and injured at least 13 people near the Jewish settlement of Ariel in the West Bank. Two Israelis Killed, Palestinians Claim Attacks Islam Online 8/12/2003 GAZA CITY, August 12 (IslamOnline.net) - The armed wings of the Palestinian Fatah movement and the resistance group Hamas claimed responsibility for two separate attacks that rocked central Israel and a Jewish settlement in the West Bank earlier Tuesday, August 12, killing two Israelis and wounding several others. Israelis Closures and Curfews Imposed After Army Invaded Nablus, Killing Four Miftah 8/12/2003 Israeli soldiers continued yesterday to strangulate cities in the West Bank by closing Nablus and imposing a curfew on Jenin and Barta’. This comes just a few days after Israeli forces killed four Palestinians during a raid in a refugee camp near Nablus. Israeli forces closed the main military checkpoint to Nablus, called Huwwara, until 2 p.m. yesterday. East of Nablus, Israeli soldiers completely closed Beit Furik military checkpoint to effect a total blockade around the city. In Salem village near Nablus, phone lines destroyed by Israeli bulldozers were still down, and residents complained of random Israeli shooting and chasing of Palestinian youth in and near the village. PNA Condemns the Explosion in “Ras Al-A’ain" International Press Center 8/12/2003 GAZA, Palestine, August 12, 2003, (IPC+Agencies)-- Palestinian National Authority (PNA) condemned Tuesday the explosion took place in the city of Rosh Ha’ain as well as the Israeli continued attacks on the Palestinian cities especially Nablus and Jenin.“… (The Palestinian leadership) strongly affirms its condemnation of the Tel Aviv operation took place against Israeli citizens this morning,” the PNA said in a press release published Tuesday by the official Palestine News Agency (WAFA). Occupation Chronicle Events in Palestine August 12, 2003 Palestine Media Center 8/12/2003 Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) detained nine Palestinians in the northern West Bank, including five in the town of Tubas. IOF also raided al-Matahen area in Gaza Strip and searched Palestinian houses there. 3 Palestinians Detained in Nablus.

Diplomacy..

Sharon freezes scheduled release of some 80 prisoners Ha'aretz 8/12/2003 Prime Minister Ariel Sharon froze the scheduled Tuesday release of approximately 80 Palestinian prisoners in reaction to the two suicide bombings that killed two Israelis and wounded about a dozen in Rosh Ha'ayin, near the Green Line, and the West Bank settlement of Ariel. Sharon's directive interrupted the release process that had already begun, and buses holding the prisoners headed back to the jails. PM: political process will not continue if terror doesn't stop Ha'aretz 8/12/2003 Prime Minister Ariel Sharon warned Tuesday that the political process would not continue if Palestinian "terror does not stop." Talking shortly after two Israelis were killed and 13 injured in two separate suicide attacks Tuesday morning, Sharon said that if violence did not cease, then the Palestinians "are unlikely to win what they hope to win." The first blast occurred at around 9 A.M. in the Israeli town of Rosh Ha'ayin, on the outskirts of Petah Tikva, killing 42-year-old Yehezkel Yekutiel, and a second followedwithin an hour at the entrance to the West Bank settlement of Ariel, killing 18-year-old Erez Hershkovitz. White House tells PA 'to act now' to dismantle terror Ha'aretz 8/12/2003 Israel freezes prisoner release in response to attacks, but not expected to launch major retaliation; Dahlan: I won't allow truce violations. -- The United States said on Tuesday that the Palestinian Authority "must act now" to dismantle terrorist groups after a pair of Palestinian suicide bombings threatened to derail U.S. peace efforts. "The Palestinian Authority must act now to dismantle terrorist networks that perpetuate such attacks and to prevent future attacks," White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan toldreporters in Crawford, Texas. US urges Israel border restraint BBC 8/12/2003 Diplomatic efforts are under way to prevent an escalation of violence on Israel's northern border with Lebanon. This follows raids by Israeli aircraft after a teenager was killed in northern Israel on Sunday by shellfire blamed on Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas. U.S. formally okays Phalcon sale to India Ha'aretz 8/12/2003 The U.S. yesterday officially announced it is withdrawing all opposition to Israel's sale of the Phalcon airborne radar system to India. A year-and-a-half ago, Israel and India agreed to the deal and the Americans gave approval in principle. But in early 2002, the U.S. asked Israel to postpone the sale because of rising tensions between India and Pakistan. State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said the U.S. had recently informed the two countries it no longer had any objections to the deal. Analysis: The effect of the two terror attacks on the hudna Ha'aretz 8/12/2003 The shaky cease-fire and negotiation process with the Palestinians were dealt the heaviest blow on Tuesday since the hudna was declared on June 29. But the suicide bombings in Rosh Ha'ayin and Ariel shouldn't have surprised anybody: The events ofrecent days - from the deadly shooting attack near Bethlehem last week to the IDF's weekend operation in Nablus that killed two top Hamas activists and Hamas' vow to avenge those deaths - led to the attacks of Tuesday. Hizbullah, Israel turn up the heat ­ carefully Daily Star 8/12/2003 Possible deal could end overflights, AA fire -- The Hizbullah fighter was polite but firm. “You can’t enter the wadi, it’s not safe,” he said, shading his eyes from the noonday glare with a walkie-talkie and pointing to where the track descended into a steep valley on the edge of Teir Harfa village 3 kilometers from the border with Israel. His four plainclothes comrades avoided the scorching heat by sitting in the shade of an olive tree, one of them holding an AK- 47 rifle. Palestinian PM Says Israeli Practices Could Lead to Total Collapse Palestine Media Center 8/12/2003 Abbas Warns: PNA Will Hunt, Disarm and Arrest Violators of Hudna -- The Palestine National Authority (PNA) Prime Minister Mahmud Abbas (Abu Mazen) warned Monday that the practices of the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) -- including violation of the declared truce, as well as their continuation of assassination operations and house demolitions -- could lead to a total collapse of the situation, while at the same time he warned Palestinian anti-Israeli occupation groups against violating the Hudna (truce). Zahhar: Truce is not surrender Palestinian Information Center 8/12/2003 Gaza - Dr. Mahmoud Al-Zahhar, one of the Hamas Movement leaders in the Gaza Strip, has held the Zionist government and its premier Ariel Sharon responsible for exploding the situation after the two commando operations this morning. Commenting on those operations, Zahhar said that the Palestinian factions, especially the Hamas Movement, had strictly abided by the declared truce in its first five weeks while the Zionists repeatedly violated it. Diplomacy eases tensions in the North Ha'aretz 8/12/2003 The military tension on the northern border subsided yesterday as Israel turned to diplomacy to impress upon Syria the need to rein in Hezbollah, even as the army positioned a second artillery battery in the north in less than a week. This was meant to send the message it would not tolerate more Hezbollah anti-aircraft fire landing in Israeli towns. Israel lodges additional complaint with UN on Hezbollah fire Ha'aretz 8/12/2003 Israel lodged a new complaint with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and with the President of the Security Council on the Hezbollah attacks on the northern border, Israel Radio reported Tuesday. Israel's criticism is being pointed at Syria, who'sambassador is serving as the current president of the Security Council. The complaint says a twisted reality has been created in which the country in charge of peace and security in its role at the Security Council is the one violating them. Sharon blames Abu Mazen's inactivity for seperate suicide bombings Ha'aretz 8/12/2003 Prime Minister Ariel Sharon accused his Palestinian counterpart Tuesday evening of not doing enough to clamp down on terrorists, and thereby allowing two Nablus teenagers to carry out separate suicide bombings in which two Israeli were killed and 13 injured earlier in the day. Speaking to a group of several hundred Jewish youths from overseas, Sharon said that Palestinian PM Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) had reneged on his commitment to act against the terror groups operating in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Abbas apologizes to Kuwait for support of occupation Daily Star 8/12/2003 Prime minister issues official condemnation of 1990 Iraqi invasion -- Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas gave in to Kuwaiti demands for an official Palestinian condemnation of Saddam Hussein’s 1990 invasion of the tiny Gulf country, saying on Monday it was wrong to back Saddam Hussein. Abbas was snubbed by Kuwait because he would not apologize for Yasser Arafat’s support of Iraq after the invasion. Europeans condemn 'all such acts', request restraint Jerusalem Post 8/12/2003 Javier Solana, EU High Representative for CFSP, couched his condemnation of the two suicide attacks on Tuesday in Rosh Ha'ayin and Ariel, but did so in the context of provocations, presumably by Israel. He said in a statement, "I would like to express my profound preoccupation at the latest violent events in the Middle East. I deeply regret that innocent civilians have become again targets and deplore the loss of lives...." Abbas condemns attack, blames Israeli provocations Jerusalem Post 8/12/2003 Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbad condemned Tuesday's terror attacks in Ariel and Rosh Ha'ayin in which two Israelis were killed and over 13 injured, but accused Israel of provoking the attacks. Abbas cancelled his visit to Tunis because of the attacks and said he would return home later in the day. But an aid to Abbas said the Palestinian prime minister had decided to meet with US peace envoy William Burns in Amman on Wednesday before returning to the West Bank. Shalom asks Swiss to renew security relations Ha'aretz 8/12/2003 Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom met yesterday in Berne with his Swiss counterpart, Michelin Calmy-Rey, and requested that Switzerland renew security ties with Israel. Switzerland was an important customer of Israel's military industries until it decided tosuspend security ties in the wake of Operation Defensive Shield last year. The Swiss froze the signing of new security contracts with Israel. Former PM denounces Israel’s complaint against Hizbullah Daily Star 8/12/2003 Former Prime Minister Rashid Solh on Monday denounced Israel’s complaint to the UN Security Council against Hizbullah’s operation two days before in the Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms as “a blatant act.” “It is not just a complaint against Lebanon and Syria; it amounts to a complaint against the whole Arab world,” he said in a statement. “It is blatant because Israel is the occupying and aggressive party that is committing all sorts of crimes against Lebanon and the Lebanese.” British and Russian ambassadors in Beirut vow support to ME peace Arabic News 8/12/2003 Britain's ambassador to Lebanon Richard Kinchen has expressed his country's concern over the Israeli military escalation in South Lebanon. In a statement issued in Beirut yesterday following his meeting with Lebanese Foreign Minister Jean Obeid, the ambassador stressed his country's support to move the peace process forward according to the Security Council resolutions, Madrid reference and land for peace formula. Russia 'concerned' over tension between Israel, Lebanon Jordan Times 8/12/2003 MOSCOW (AFP) — Russia expressed concern on Monday at a flare-up of tension between Israel and Lebanon after Beirut asked the United Nations to prevent Israel from carrying out threatened retaliatory air strikes in its south. The escalation of tension near the Lebanon-Israel border gave rise to “concern and regret,” Deputy Foreign Minister Yury Fedotov told the ITAR-TASS news agency. “We call on all sides to carry out their obligations, to exercise restraint and move towards realising the `roadmap' (for peace),” Fedotov said. Abbas in Qatar on latest stop of Gulf tour Middle East Online 8/12/2003 DOHA - Palestinian prime minister Mahmud Abbas arrived in Qatar Tuesday on the third leg of a regional tour focused on Middle East peace efforts, the official QNA news agency reported. He arrived here as the peace process was shaken by two suicide bombings, in Israel and in the West Bank. Analysis: Rapport between Bush, Sharon masks differences on key issues JTA 8/12/2003 JERUSALEM, Aug. 11 (JTA) — The way top Israeli officials tell it, ties between Jerusalem and Washington have never been better. They point to the relaxed camaraderie of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s late July meeting with President Bush at the White House, which they describe as their best ever. “The two leaders are on the same wavelength on all the big issues,” a close Sharon aide told JTA. For all the upbeat talk, however, the Sharon-Bush meeting revealed at least three major issues on which Israel and the United States are divided and could clash further down the road...

Human Rights..

Court rejects petition by administrative detainees held without trial for 18 months Ha'aretz 8/12/2003 The High Court of Justice has authorized extending the administrative detention of three Palestinians who have been held without trial for more than a year-and-a-half. The three petitioned the court to end the lengthy detention, saying that not enough had been done to try them on criminal charges.  Palestinian Health System Facing Major Crisis, WHO Warns Palestine Media Center 8/12/2003 Palestinian health system is on the edge of collapse due to the Israeli occupation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned in a survey published on Monday. The UN agency praised Palestinian health services for their ability to adapt to the Israeli occupation army’s policy of closures and curfews, but predicted the remaining infrastructure would face a major crisis if the situation endured or worsened. “Up to 95 per cent of Palestinians were still able to reach a health facility in 2002 ... in spite of severe restrictions on the free movement of Palestinians,” according to the survey carried out in cooperation with the Palestinian health ministry and Al-Quds University. Severe mobility restrictions in West Bank and Gaza force Palestinian population to change health services Relief Web/WHO 8/11/2003 WHO releases survey on access to health services in occupied Palestinian territory -- Jerusalem. During 2002, half of the Palestinian population was unable to consult their usual health services, due to border closures and curfews, a World Health Organization (WHO) survey published today reveals. Detours and long waiting hours at Israeli checkpoints led to considerable delays and often forced the population to divert to a different health facility. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, more than 90 patients have died during the last three years while waiting in an ambulance to cross a checkpoint.

Economy..

Single mother protesters refuse to accept treasury plan Ha'aretz 8/12/2003 The single mother protesters refuse to accept the treasury's plan to encourage them to enter the work force, Army Radio reported Tuesday. Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Monday that the plan would be launched this week. US approves Israel's Phalcon sale to India Globes 8/12/2003 The deal is worth approximately $1 billion. US spokesman: The deal will probably not destabilize the region. -- The US administration last night approved Israel's sale of Phalcon AWACS planes to India. Negotiations for the sale lasted several years, after the US forced Israel to cancel a similar sale to China in July 2000, on the grounds that the Phalcon would upset the regional balance of power with Taiwan. Netanyahu: Ministerial plan to get single mothers working will start this week Ha'aretz 8/12/2003 Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced yesterday that the treasury's plan to encourage single mothers to enter the work force is to be launched this week. Netanyahu made the announcement at a meeting of the social-economic cabinet in Jerusalem. "It should now be clear to everyone that there is only one government plan for dealing with the problem and thatdiscussions have been exhausted," Netanyahu said after the meeting. Treasury: '04 defense budget must be cut by up to NIS 5 billion Ha'aretz 8/12/2003 The Finance Ministry believes that it will be necessary to slash the defense budget by some NIS 4-5 billion in the year 2004. Treasury officials say that the cuts "will have to come from both the fat and the flesh" and will include the budgets for new tanks and airplanes. The prime minister or the cabinet will have to decide in principle what the budget priorities are and specifically, what the security needs of the state will be in the coming years, the officials say. Exports up annualized 7.4% to $2.5b in July Globes 8/12/2003 Assessment: Israel's trade deficit will shrink by 24.6% to $5.2 billion in 2003. -- Israel's trade deficit has plunged by 17.8% since January 2003. The Central Bureau of Statistics today reported that Israel's trade deficit shrank to $3.04 billion in January-July 2003, $657 million less than the $3.69 billion in the corresponding period last year. Number of legal foreign workers fell 14% from Jan to May Ha'aretz 8/12/2003 The number of legal foreign workers in Israel has been steadily dropping. From January to May 2003, the number fell by 14% to 71,400, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics. In May 2002, there were 91,000 legal foreign workers in Israel, making the drop from last year to this some 22%.

People..

An unlikely alliance The Guardian 8/12/2003 She is the Jewish lawyer. He is the man accused of orchestrating Palestinian suicide bombers. Ori Golan explains what brings Gisèle Halimi and Marwan Barghouti together -- In her Paris office, Halimi explains why she is currently representing Marwan Barghouti, leader of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the Palestinian militant group that has killed and maimed an estimated 200 soldiers and civilians. Barghouti, 43, is the highest-profile Palestinian to be tried by Israel. First Century Meal in the Nazareth Village Come And See 8/12/2003 Nazareth village launches an exciting new program for visitors..Nazareth Village is a full creation living musem located in the heart of the city of Nazareth -- Nazareth Village has launched a new program where visitors will accompany the a guide for a short tour at the village before they settle in a huge tent where they will spend time having a first century meal. During the time of dining, a special first century Nazarene citizen will tell of his encounter with Jesus of Nazareth, whom he met near the sea of Galillee. The role of this first century citizen-storyteller is played by the well known Arab Christian actor Lottof Nwaisri. Obituary: Rabbi Yitzhak Kolitz The Guardian 8/12/2003 Powerful conservative mediator in Israel's religious quandaries -- Many of the flock of the Ashkenazi chief rabbi of Jerusalem, Yitzhak Kolitz, who has died aged 81, are descended from European Jews who emigrated to Ottoman Palestine before the predominantly secular Zionist influx of the 20th century. These haredim - literally, those who tremble before God - still feel at odds with the mores of the worldly Israeli polity, despite their growing numbers. Palestinian Christians: Strangers in a Familiar Land Come And See 8/12/2003 The editorial coordinator of Christian History in "Christianity Today" writes about the history of Palestinian Christians: "They've called the Holy Land home for centuries, but they've never actually governed themselves" -- Steven Gertz, Christianity Today, Aug 8, 2003 -- At the height of the conflict with Iraq this spring, Riah Abu Al-Assal, an Anglican bishop in Jerusalem spoke ominously about the future of Christians in the Holy Land. "Speaking of Islam and Muslims as a bunch of terrorists," he said, "will cause the greatest harm to the Christian presence in the birthplace of our faith. I fear for what remains in this land of the Holy One." Civil rights group says Mel Gibson film may fuel anti-Semitism Ha'aretz 8/12/2003 NEW YORK - A Jewish civil rights organization in the United states expressed concern on Monday that Mel Gibson's film "The Passion" will fuel anti-Semitism by reinforcing a belief that Jews were guilty for Jesus' death.

International..

Mass Deportation Flight of Palestinians Planned for Tuesday, August 12 Middle East Peace 8/11/2003 Coalition for the Human Rights of Immigrants (CHRI) has received information that the US Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (BICE), a division of the Department of Homeland Security, is preparing a mass deportation flight of as many as 100 Middle Eastern detainees, most likely including Palestinians. According to the information received, this charter flight is scheduled to depart on the night of Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2003, or in the early morning hours of Wednesday, Aug. 13, from the area of Buffalo, New York, heading to Amman, Jordan and possibly other destinations in the Middle East. Pakistan opposes Israel's sale of advanced radar to India Ha'aretz 8/12/2003 U.S. decision to approve deal 'enhances India's arrogance, will raise tensions in South Asia.' -- SLAMABAD, Pakistan - Pakistan on Tuesday warned that Israel's plans to sell an early-warning radar system to India's military could raise tensions in South Asia and destabilize the region. Pakistan also said that the United States - which last year asked Israel to postpone the deal - recently decided that it had no objections to the sale of the PHALCON advanced airborne radar system. Israeli pilot helmet found in Iraq BBC 8/12/2003 Israeli armed forces are investigating the discovery of an Israeli air force helmet in Iraq. The helmet, reportedly found either at a Baghdad museum or at a memorial for Iraqi soldiers several weeks ago, was handed to the Israeli embassy in Jordan by US forces last week. US military forces discovered the helmet next to a scrap of metal bearing the traditional blue Star of David insignia of the Israeli air force. WJC: Jews from Arab states are also refugees Ha'aretz 8/12/2003 The World Jewish Congress has asked the UN to recognize Jews forced out of Arab countries as refugees of similar status to Palestinian refugees. WJC director general Avi Becker said the UN should follow the Council of Europe, which two months ago called for a solution to the Palestinian problem via the countries where they settled. Arabs Push Common Agenda Arab News 8/12/2003 CAIRO, 12 August 2003 — Saudi Arabia and Egypt yesterday stepped up their efforts to forge a common Arab policy on Iraq and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, held a second round of talks here yesterday with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak before leaving for Morocco. America Cancels War Drills With Egypt Washington Post 8/12/2003 CAIRO, Egypt - The United States has canceled this year's "Bright Star" maneuvers with the Egyptian military because American forces are over-stretched, the charge d'affaires at the U.S. Embassy said Sunday. "This decision was made purely on technical grounds because of commitments we have in Iraq, Afghanistan, and in fighting the war against terrorism," Gordon Gray said in remarks posted on the embassy's Web site. Police killed in Saudi gunfight BBC 8/12/2003 Four Saudi police officers have died in a gun battle with suspected Islamic militants in the Saudi capital Riyadh, reports say. Shooting erupted after security forces attempted to storm villas in the southern district of al-Suwaidi late in the afternoon. Firing and grenade blasts could be heard for about five hours and it was not clear if the siege was over as night fell. Kingdom, Russia to Sign Oil Accord Arab News 8/12/2003 JEDDAH, 12 August 2003 — Saudi Arabia yesterday gave the green light to a landmark agreement with Russia for cooperation in the oil and gas sectors. The weekly Cabinet meeting authorized the oil minister to sign the accord. The strategic Cabinet decision comes ahead of the state visit to Russia of Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard. Human rights organization in Syria welcomes release of exiled Syrians Arabic News 8/12/2003 A Syrian human rights organization has welcomed the release of 30 Syrians who were arrested after their coming back to the country during the three past months from exile. In a statement yesterday, the society listed the names of released persons, most of them relatives or children of the ruling Baath Party in Syria. With loan sanctions a possibility, Congress may weigh in on fence JTA 8/12/2003 WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 (JTA) — U.S. lawmakers are gearing up to defend Israel’s security fence to the Bush administration, which continues to raise concerns about the barrier being erected between Israel and the West Bank....Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), the House minority whip who last week led a Democratic delegation that was the largest congressional group ever to Israel, told JTA he believes Bush administration officials were unfair when they said that deducting the money would carry out Congress’ intent. Human shield fined over sanctions BBC 8/12/2003 A retired US teacher who served as a human shield in Iraq has been told she faces fines of $10,000 by the US Government. The US Department of the Treasury is fining Faith Fippinger because it says she broke US sanctions prohibiting citizens from engaging in "commercial, financial or trade transactions" after she entered Iraq in February. Flagship Rainbow Warrior will bring Greenpeace mission to Lebanon Daily Star 8/12/2003 Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior will visit Lebanon at the end of this month to provide the public with environmental information, on its Right to Know campaign. Greenpeace campaigner in Lebanon, Wael Hmaidan, told The Daily Star on Monday he hoped that “public access to information can save Lebanon’s environment.” US weakens UN Convention by blocking measures tackling political corruption Miftah/Transparency International 8/12/2003 Transparency International welcomes breakthrough on international co-operation on return of stolen assets, but UN Anti-Corruption Convention falls short on tackling political corruption -- Berlin, 11 August 2003 --- "Transparency International is outraged by the stance taken by the US in blocking Article 10 on the funding of political parties," said Peter Rooke, TI Advisory Council member and observer at last week's negotiations on the United Nations Convention Against Corruption in Vienna. TI is the world's leading non-governmental organisation engaged in the fight against corruption.

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