Palestinian Professor in Florida Released, Deported: Lawyers
Islam Online, August 23, 2002
TAMPA, Florida, August 23 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – U.S. authorities released and deported Florida-based Palestinian professor Mazen al-Najjar. He had been held without charges for much of the past five years on secret evidence, which the government said linked him to terrorism, according to his lawyers Thursday, August 22, 2002.

Arafat aide says Israel reneging on pullout deal
Arab News, August 23, 2002
RAMALLAH, 23 August — Palestinian officials said yesterday that Israel had failed to fulfill an agreement between the two sides about a withdrawal from the reoccupied autonomous city of Bethlehem and areas in the Gaza Strip.

Israel Stops Withdrawal - Talks Fail
Palestine Chronicle, August 23, 2002
RAMALLAH: Palestinian officials said that Israel had failed to fulfill an agreement between the two sides about a withdrawal from the reoccupied autonomous city of Bethlehem and areas in the Gaza Strip.

Two Palestinians killed in Gaza Strip, Israel demolishes house of Hamas activist
Al-Bawaba, August 23, 2002
Israeli troops prevented an attempt overnight Thursday by three Palestinians to infiltrate the Gaza Strip settlement of Kfar Darom, Israel Radio reported. Two of the Palestinians were killed in the gunbattle that ensued, and troops were chasing after a third one.

Palestinians flee Israeli incursion
Arab News, August 23, 2002
GAZA CITY, 22 August — Israeli forces raided a Gaza Strip refugee camp on a demolition mission yesterday, further undermining the Middle East process. Palestinians picked up sleeping children and ran through the dark to find shelter in back streets or a hospital as Israeli tanks and bulldozers invaded the Khan Younis refugee camp in the early hours.

Disagreements with United States could delay Palestinian elections
New Jersey.com, August 23, 2002
JERUSALEM (AP) -- U.S. and Palestinian leaders sharply disagree over the details of Palestinian elections planned in January, officials said Friday, jeopardizing the vote that Washington hopes will usher in a new Palestinian leadership.

Syrians tell Mideast forum gov't would consider border changes
Ha'aretz, August 23, 2002
LONDON - A closed-door conference that brought together opinion makers and officials from the Middle East - including Israelis, Syrians, and Palestinians - heard surprising readiness on the part of the Syrians to discuss border corrections in any peace deal with Israel involving a return of the Golan Heights.

More Israeli incursions, land confiscation, one Palestinian woman killed
Arabic News, August 23, 2002
The Israeli forces intend to confiscate hundreds of agricultural lands in Toulkarem area in order to install the security wall which would separate the West Bank from Israel ( the territories of 1948.)

Palestinian factions vow to continue resistance as PA, Quartet delegates hold talks in Paris
Al-Bawaba, August 23, 2002
The Palestinian Authority's security chief opened talks with 12 Palestinian factions Thursday seeking to establish a united front and get armed groups to stop bombing and shooting attacks inside Israel.

British MP calls to investigate Abu Nidal involvement in Lockerbie bombing
Al-Bawaba, August 23, 2002
A prominent British parliamentarian urged the Foreign Minister to investigate new claims that Palestinian militant Abu Nidal was responsible for the 1988 Lockerbie bombing.

Attempt to sack 'terror link' professor reaches court
Guardian, August 23, 2002
A Florida university's long-running attempt to sack an Arab academic accused of having links with terrorist groups has finally reached court. The University of South Florida's dispute with Dr Sami al-Arian, a computer science professor, is condemned by the American Association of University Professors as an attack on academic freedom. But the univeristy gained the support yesterday of the governor of Florida, Jeb Bush.

Ramullah: thousands eulogize Saadat
Arabic News, August 23, 2002
More than 3,000 Palestinians on Thursday took part in the funeral of Muhammad Saadat, the brother of the secretary general of the People's Front for the Liberation of Palestine who was killed on Tuesday at the hands of Israeli Comandos.

Sharon cancels Florida trip after criticism
Ha'aretz, August 23, 2002 
Hours after the New York Times ran an article reporting intense criticism of a planned trip by Prime Minster Ariel Sharon to meet Florida governor Jeb Bush - who is running for reelection in a tight race - the Prime Minister's Office announced the trip was canceled.

Sharon Postpones Trip To U.S.
Guardian, August 23, 2002
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has postponed his trip to the United States set for next month, Israeli officials said.

Palestinian groups: continued Intifada is a strategic option
Arabic News, August 23, 2002
The Palestinian groups on Thursday held a press conference in Damascus in which they stressed attachment to the Palestinian principles and the right of the Palestinian people to resist and continue the Intifada until the legitimate national objectives are achieved and "foiling the Zionist project in the region."

Palestinian minister briefs resistance organisations on 'Gaza First' plan
Israel says Palestinian security team 'sincere'
Jordan Times, August 23, 2002 
THE NEW Palestinian security chief opened talks Thursday with 12 rival Palestinian factions in an attempt to forge a united front and get Islamic resistance groups to stop bombing and shooting attacks in Israel.

Warsaw ghetto uprising leader wants talks with Palestinian resistance groups
Jordan Times, August 23, 2002    
LODZ — The lone survivor of the leadership of the 1943 uprising in the Warsaw ghetto, Marek Edelman, says talks between the Israeli occupation army and Palestinian resistance leaders rather than politicians are needed to end the bloodshed. 

Palestinian official tries to stop attacks: Security chief makes little progress in talks with groups
The Olympian, August 23, 2002 
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- The Palestinian Authority's security chief met with 12 rival Palestinian factions Thursday in a new effort to forge a united front and get militant groups to stop bombing and shooting attacks in Israel.

Fayyad: Board named to open PA finances to scrutiny
Ha'aretz, August 23, 2002
A seven-member board has been appointed to head a Palestinian investment fund intended to open Palestinian Authority finances to international scrutiny, Finance Minister Salam Fayyad said on Friday.

Israel deploys Patriot missiles to protect nuclear reactor against possible attack by Iraq
Al-Bawaba, August 23, 2002
Israel deployed Thursday Patriot anti-missile missiles to protect its nuclear reactor against possible attack by Iraq.

Mideast task force worried by Palestinian humanitarian situation
Ha'aretz, August 23, 2002 
An international task force including members of the "quartet" of Middle East peace brokers raised concerns on Friday about what it called "the deteriorating Palestinian humanitarian situation."

Mideast 'quartet' studies Palestinian reforms
Jordan Times, August 23, 2002     
PARIS (R) — Palestinian officials presented details of reform efforts on Thursday to an international task force of key donors and members of the "quartet" of Middle East peace brokers.

UN official: Israel to give Palestinians greater access to aid
Ha'aretz, August 23, 2002 
UNITED NATIONS - Israel has agreed to ease restrictions on Palestinian areas, allowing greater access to medical aid and local farm jobs to lessen the suffering of the civilian population, a UN official said.

Dismantled Hamas cell brings East Jerusalem issue to forefront
Jordan Times, August 23, 2002     
TEL AVIV (AFP) — The arrest of a Hamas cell made up of Palestinians living in East Jerusalem with Israeli residency permits sent a shock wave through the city, amid already strained ties between Israel's Jewish majority and large Arab minority.

IDF: No new West Bank troop redeployment at this stage
Ha'aretz, August 23, 2002 
The commander of the IDF's central command, Moshe Kaplinski, who met Friday with General Haj Ismail, the head of the PA's National Security force, announced that there would be no further redepolyment of Israeli troops until the Palestinian Authority carried out more steps to control the terror activities of militant Palestinian groups, Israel Radio reported.

IDF foils attempt to infiltrate Gaza Strip settlement
Ha'aretz, August 23, 2002
Israel Defense Forces troops prevented an attempt overnight Thursday by three armed Palestinians to infiltrate the Gaza Strip settlement of Kfar Darom, Israel Radio reported.

Opposition in IDF to proposed withdrawal from Hebron now
Ha'aretz, August 23, 2002
Senior officers in the Israel Defense Forces oppose an Israeli withdrawal from Hebron, which has been discussed by the political echelon as a possible next step in the "Gaza and Bethlehem first" plan for gradual withdrawals from Palestinian territory.

Syria blasts Israeli nuclear threat to Iraq   
Jordan Times, August 23, 2002     
DAMASCUS (AFP) — Syria's state-run media blasted Thursday Israeli threats to use nuclear weapons to retaliate against any eventual attack from Iraq.

Zamzam Cola’s success rides on anti-American sentiments
MENA Report
The popular boycott of American products in the Middle East has opened a window of opportunity for Iran’s Zamzam Cola. The company’s Saudi distributor reported that demand for the product was three times higher than anticipated during the product launch last week. More than four million cans of the soft drink were sold in the first seven days of sales, reported Reuters.

International Group Warns of Palestinian Humanitarian Crisis
Palestine Chronicle, August 23, 2002
PARIS: An international task force is calling for full and free access of aid workers to the Palestinians in order to avert a serious humanitarian crisis. The task force warns of a shattered economy and deteriorating humanitarian situation in the occupied and re-occupied Palestinian territories after nearly two-years of struggle against the Israeli occupation.

Palestinian Groups Reject PA Call for Ending Attacks, Say Occupation Must End First
Palestine Chronicle, August 23, 2002
GAZA CITY: Palestinian Interior Minister Abdel Razaq al-Yahya has urged resistance groups to accept a new security agreement with Israel. The plan calls for an end to Palestinian attacks against Israeli targets in exchange for a gradual Israeli withdrawal from re-occupied Palestinian territories.

Ministry doesn't expect S. Africa summit to be anti-Israel fest
Ha'aretz, August 23, 2002 
Sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday that they believe that the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), which starts on Monday in Johannesburg, South Africa, will not be anti-Israeli in character.

They have no other country
Ha'aretz, August 23, 2002 
The Hebrew Israelites of Dimona consider themselves Israelis in every respect. Now they want the state to give them citizenship and minimal living conditions. In return, they will agree to end polygamy: Even if their living conditions, which are unfit for humans, do not change in the future, the attitude of the Hebrew Israelites will remain the same. They will continue to love Israel, to see it as the land of their forefathers and to bless every moment they enjoy its sacred atmosphere. However, their connection to Israel also has a more material side.