Mideast Talks Resume Despite Deaths
Guardian, August 15, 2002
JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel's overnight killing of a disabled Hamas leader - and the death of a second Palestinian at the same house - drew sharp Palestinian criticism and threats of a new round of reprisals Thursday.

'Human shield' death sparks debate
BBC, August 15, 2002
The use of human shields is officially banned in Israel: The death of a Palestinian teenager in an Israeli army operation has revived the debate over human shields. The young man was shot on Wednesday in the West Bank town of Tubas. He was forced to go to the door of a house where a Hamas militant was believed to be hiding.

Soldiers used Nidal Abu M'khisan to get Nasser Jarrar out of his House
B'tselem, August 14, 2002
This evening, IDF Spokesperson admitted that IDF soldiers used a Palestinian resident of Tubas to get Nasser Jarrar to come out of his house. When the Palestinian went to the house, Jarrar shot and killed him, apparently thinking he was an IDF soldier. Information given to B’Tselem reveals that the Palestinian who was sent to Jarrar’s house and was then killed, is Nidal Abu M’khisan, aged 19, the nephew of B'Tselem field researcher ‘Ali Daraghmeh. Daraghmeh, who was present at the scene, said that his nephew was taken by the soldiers and was forced to go to Jarrar’s house at gunpoint.

Mandela to observe Fatah leader's trial
Guardian, August 15, 2002
In a major embarrassment to Israel, Nelson Mandela has agreed to observe the trial of a Palestinian leader formally indicted yesterday on charges of murder and terrorism.

'Human shield' dies as Hamas man is killed by troops
Ha'aretz, August 15, 2002  
IDF: Jerar was planning high-rise attack: Despite state promises to the High Court of Justice that the Israel Defense Forces would cease using "human shields" during operations, a 19-year-old teenager was killed yesterday when a Border Patrol counter-terrorism force moved in on a house in the Jenin area where a wanted Hamas man was hiding.

Al Qaida, Fatah Clash In Lebanon
Middle East News Online, August 15, 2002
NICOSIA [MENL] -- Al Qaida insurgents and Fatah gunmen are battling for control of a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon. The two sides are using rocket-propelled grenades and assault weapons in the Ein Hilwe camp near the coastal city of Sidon. It is the first time that Al Qaida insurgents are battling Palestinians commanded by Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat.

Peres talks truce, economics with PA
Ha'aretz, August 15, 2002
Two teams, led by Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, yesterday discussed moves toward a cease-fire and ways to improve the economic situation in the territories.

Terror trial may put Israel in the dock
Guardian, August 15, 2002
Palestinian legislator, Fatah leader, friend of peaceniks, Marwan Barghouti stands indicted for 26 deaths: Handcuffed and in a brown prison uniform, but looking energetic and in high spirits, Israel's most famous Palestinian detainee, Marwan Barghouti, made his first public appearance yesterday since he was arrested near Ramallah in April.

Barghouthi's trial postponed; court is illegal
Arabic News, August 15, 2002
The Israeli court has postponed its first trial session for Marwan Barghouthi, the secretary of the Fatah movement in the West Bank, which was held in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, until September 5th.

Israeli rockets kill Hamas leader
Guardian, August 15, 2002
Army says Palestinian military chief was plotting suicide attack: Israeli forces fired rockets into a house in the West Bank yesterday, killing a disabled Hamas military leader as well as another Palestinian. The soldiers then used bulldozers to demolish the house in the village of Tubas near Nablus.

Hamas vows to ''punish'' Israel; PA, Israel to continue discussions on ''Gaza first'' plan
Al-Bawaba, August 15, 2002
A second Palestinian was killed in the northern West Bank town of Tubas during an Israeli raid which claimed the life of Hamas' military leader in Jenin. Nidal Abu Mohsen, 19, was shot dead after the Israeli army used him as a "human shield" to go into the house where the Jenin military chief for Hamas, Nasser Jarrar, was hiding, the family said, according to AFP.

Reports: Israel considers nuclear retaliation if attacked by Iraq; US bid to set up humanitarian relief projects in Iraq
Al-Bawaba, August 15, 2002
If Iraq attacks Israel with non-conventional weapons, causing massive casualties among the civilian population, Israel could respond with a nuclear retaliation that would eradicate Iraq as a country. This assessment, from American intelligence, was presented last week to the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Haaretz reported Thursday.

Barghouti defiant at trial
Arab News, August 15, 2002
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, 15 August — Marwan Barghouti was a picture of defiance at his trial in a Tel Aviv court yesterday. "The intifada will win," the bearded West Bank Fatah leader shouted in Hebrew at reporters outside the Tel Aviv District Court where he was charged with killings of scores of Israelis in a political move that analysts said would likely boomerang.

LAW Weekly Roundup, 1 August - 7 August 2002
Israeli Forces Kill Eighteen Palestinians Including a Child and a Woman, Retaliations Against Suicide Bombers' Families, Five Extra Judicial Executions, Reoccupation and Shelling on Nablus, Shooting at a Car in Hebron, Israeli Military Operations inside Palestinian Areas Continue

Palestine News Roundup: 27 Percent Drop in Immigration to Israel
Palestine Chronicle, August 14, 2002
GAZA STRIP/WEST BANK: Israel Approves Route of ‘Security Fence’; 27 Percent Drop in Immigration to Israel; Occupation Army Destroys Two Palestinian Homes; Barghouti Speaks to Reporters; Israel Assassinates Top Jenin Leader; Palestinians Continue Unity Talks; Annan’s Envoy Meets Arafat

Israel: We Will React To Iraq Attack
Guardian, August 15, 2002
JERUSALEM (AP) - If Iraq attacks Israel in response to an American invasion, as it did during the Persian Gulf War, this time Israel will react, the Israeli air force chief said.

Factions meet to coordinate intifada
BBC, August 14, 2002 
Israeli re-occupation shows the intifada has failed: Palestinian factions have been holding talks in Gaza to try and forge a common position on their uprising against Israel. The effort has taken on urgency since Israel's re-occupation of West Bank towns - a clear sign that the armed intifada has failed.

US opposes expulsion of Palestinians
Arabic News, August 15, 2002
The US Department of State on Tuesday expressed its opposition to the Israeli policy aiming at expelling families of the Palestinian resistance men, who carry out operations, from the West Bank to Gaza.

Israeli-Palestinian Security Talks Continue
Islam Online, Auguist 15, 2002
Saeb Erekat stressed that Israel’s military policies of targeted killings and deportations was a poison:
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, August 15 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – Israelis and the Palestinians were set Thursday, August 15, to hold security talks a day after Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres met with chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat.

Israeli exports decrease following the Palestinian Intifada
Arabic News, August 15, 2002
The volume of the Israeli exports has decreased following the eruption of the Palestinian Intifada at a rate of 10% in the first 7 months of this year in comparison with the same period of 2001.

Israeli economy shrank 0.4% in first half 
Alternative Information Center, August 15, 2002 
Minus 1.5% growth is forecast for all of 2002. But the decline in GDP and investments has slowed. 
Central Bureau of Statistics figures published today show the Israeli economy shrank an annualized 0.4% in the first half of 2002. Minus 1.5% growth is forecast for all of 2002. GDP fell 2.9% in January-June 2002, compared with the corresponding period in 2001, and per capita GDP fell 4.9%.

New Israeli, Palestinian parties call for confederation
Jerusalem Post, August 15, 2002
Confederation and integration, not separation, is the answer, according to a new Israeli party and a sister Palestinian movement set to be established Thursday night in a meeting of Israelis and Palestinians at a Jerusalem hotel.

Peres: Bethlehem up for discussion; Israel to transfer NIS 70 m. to PA
Jerusalem Post, August 15, 2002
Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said Thursday that Israel had told the Palestinians that it has no problem in discussing a phased withdraw from Bethlehem along side the 'Gaza first' plan. Speaking on Israel Radio, Peres said that his talks Wednesday with a senior Palestinian team were "to the point and constructive."

Hamas vows revenge after IDF kills terrorist planning mega-attack
Jerusalem Post, August 15, 2002
A leading Hamas terrorist who had allegedly been planning "a mega attack" in Israel was killed Wednesday in an IDF raid on his hiding place in the Tubas village in Samaria. Representatives of the organization threatened to avenge his death Thursday.

PA: Holding company formed to oversee all funds, assets
Ha'aretz, August 15, 2002
Palestinian Finance Minister Salam Fayad said on Thursday a holding company had been formed to consolidate all Palestinian Authority funds and assets under a single umbrella, a reform that meets a key U.S. demand.

U.S. not ruling out Israeli nuclear strike against Saddam
Ha'aretz, August 15, 2002 
Israel would be free to hit back if Iraq attacks Israel during a U.S. military operation, senior adviser to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Dore Gold said Thursday. "Israel has both the capabilities and perhaps even the freedom of action to do what is necessary to defend its population, should Iraq decide to extend its war against the international community to Israel itself," Gold said.

'If attacked, Israel might nuke Iraq'
Ha'aretz, August 15, 2002  
If Iraq strikes at Israel with non-conventional weapons, causing massive casualties among the civilian population, Israel could respond with a nuclear retaliation that would eradicate Iraq as a country. This grave assessment, from American intelligence, was presented last week to the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Israel deports Reuters cameraman to Jordan
Ha'aretz, August 15, 2002
TEL AVIV - Israel deported Reuters cameraman Ahmed Bahaddou, a Belgian national, to Jordan on Thursday after detaining him overnight in a cell at Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion airport. Daniel Seaman, the head of the Israeli government's press office, said the Interior Ministry had denied Bahaddou entry on Wednesday under pressure from trade unions that oppose foreign cameramen working in Israel.

Palestinians demonstrate in Gaza against U.S.
Ha'aretz, August 15, 2002
RAFAH - Setting fire to U.S. and Israeli flags, and chanting "Dear Saddam, bomb Tel Aviv", several hundred Palestinians demonstrated on Thursday in support of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and against U.S. policies. The demonstrators waved Palestinian flags as well as posters of Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat and Saddam, who fired dozens of Scud missiles into Israel during the 1991 Gulf War.

ICRC launches large relief programme in urban centres of West Bank 
Alternative Information Center, August 15, 2002 
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) launched on 13 August a large relief programme to provide support for the most vulnerable population in the major urban centres of the West Bank. 20,000 families in nine cities and towns - i.e. approximately 120,000 persons representing 20% of the urban population - will benefit from this programme.

Settlers leave W. Bank home after demanding that IDF destroy it
Ha'aretz, August 15, 2002 
Some 30 women from the settlements of Shilo and Ma'aleh Levonah left the roof of a house in the West Bank village of Luban a-Sharkiyeh late Thursday morning after they demanded that the IDF destroy it. The women claimed that the house was the site from which terrorists shot and killed Revital and Avi Wolansky last week.

Israel will get Patriots in the event of U.S. strike against Iraq
Ha'aretz, August 15, 2002  
Israel could get more batteries of Patriot missiles before any American attack on Iraq, even though no formal request has been made for them. Both sides expect that if the U.S. decides to attack Iraq, it will offer batteries to Israel, based on the 1991 precedent when then-president George Bush offer Patriots to Israel.

AUDIO: Profile: Support for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is Slipping
NPR, Morning Edition: August 14, 2002

Use of "Human Shields" Prohibited following Petition by Human Rights Organizations to the Israeli High Court of Justice
B'tselem
Following a petition filed on 5 May 2002 by five human rights organizations, the State Attorney’s Office informed the High Court of Justice that the State would forbid the use of "human shields” in IDF actions in the Occupied Territories.

Response on behalf of the Respondents to the Application for a Temporary Injunction
B'tselem
1. The petition is a request by the Petitioners that the Respondents show cause why they do not prevent the use of human beings as “human shields” and/or as hostages during their military actions in the West Bank.