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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..

IOF Kills a Palestinian Citizen in Jenin, Demolishes a House in Jerusalem International Press Center 9/2/2003 JENIN, Palestine, September 2, 2003, (IPC+Agencies)- - Israeli occupation forces (IOF) killed Tuesday one Palestinian citizen and critically injured an other one in the West Bank city of Jenin. Witnesses said Israeli soldiers stopped a white vehicle near the entrance of Al-Zawyeh village, south of Jenin, and ordered the passengers to leave it before opening fire at them from a very short distance. “The two passengers left the car while they were raising their hands, then a soldier ordered them to uncover their waists, when they raised their clothes he opened fire from M16 gun ,” eyewitness, Abed Alkilani, told IPC correspondent. Militant killed near Jenin; Gazan girl dies from wounds Ha'aretz 9/2/2003 An armed Palestinian was shot and killed by Israel Defense Forces troops Tuesday afternoon south of Jenin. He was identified as Abd al-Qadar Dahani, a wanted Islamic Jihad militant. Military sources said that the man was shot during IDF operations next to the village of Pachma....Earlier in the day, an 11-year-old Palestinian girl died of injuries sustained last week in an Israeli missile strike against a Hamas militant, hospital officials said. Eight-year-old Aya Fayad shot dead as she rode her bicycle Palestine Monitor 9/1/2003 Aya Fayad was one little girl out of one million eighty-five thousand Palestinian children, who should be having their first day back at school today. Aya is not having hers because she was murdered; thousands of others will not have theirs, because of some 400 Israeli checkpoints and road blocks, which prevent passage between cities and villages. Most Palestinian children back to school but not without hurdles ReliefWeb 9/1/2003 JENIN, West Bank, Sept 1 (AFP) - More than a million Palestinian children made their way back to school after the summer holidays Monday but checkpoints and Israeli army blockades meant many were either late or unable to attend class at all. "The military siege imposed on Jenin is disturbing the new school year," Mohammed Abu Rub, the education ministry's senior official in this northern West Bank town, said. "Many teachers and students cannot reach their schools and others take hours to get there because of checkpoints. We have decided to re-route teachers to the first schools they can reach," he added. A Little Girl Dies of Israeli Missiles as Israeli Troops Wound Others International Press Center 9/2/2003 GAZA, Palestine, September 2, 2003 (IPC)-- A Palestinian little girl died Tuesday of wounds she sustained last week after being hit with Israeli missiles shrapnel as Israeli warplanes raided the Ebad Elrahman neighborhood, north of Gaza Strip last Tuesday.. ..Meanwhile, local medical sources in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis said that Basema Al-Astal , 40, a local Palestinian woman was shot with a live bullet in her right thigh as Israeli soldiers opened their heavy fire on Palestinain-owned houses....Also in Khan Younis, Israeli troops imposed early on Tuesday a tight curfew on the Batn Alasamen neighborhood, south of the city. IPC correspondent said the Israeli occupation forces, under a barrage of heavy gun fire, imposed curfew on the area using loud speakers....In the meantime, at least 15 Palestinian civilians were reportedly wounded yesterday by Israeli troops in the West Bank city of Nablus....In the West Bank city of Hebron, Israeli troops blew up a Palestinian-owned house in the Yatta neighborhood, south of the city.      Boy dies in Gaza hospital following Sunday’s assassination attack,Father of five shot dead in Bethlehem Palestine Monitor 8/28/2003 Seventeen year old, Muhammad Ibrahim Barlousha, died last night in Hospital, unable to recover from the severe injuries he incurred on Sunday in Israel’s latest assassination attempt. The three men actually being targeted by Israeli forces managed to flee their car before it was hit by three or four missiles in a busy street north of Gaza City. Though the missiles missed their intended target the attack killed 64-year-old Hassan Hamlawi instantly and injured up to twenty other bystanders. Zionist troops murder Palestinian near Jenin Palestinian Information Center 9/2/2003 Occupied Jerusalem - Israeli occupation troops on Tuesday killed a Palestinian citizen south of Jenin in what eyewitnesses called a cold-blooded murder. Palestinian sources said Zionist troops manning a roadblock south of Jenin opened fire on a car in which two people were riding, killing one of them. The Israeli state-run radio quoted an army spokesman as saying that that the victim was armed with a pistol. The Zionist spokesman also claimed that a rifle and a bullet cartridge were found in the car. Palestinian sources denied the Israeli account, dismissing it as “pure lies.” Report: Missing Israeli Is Likely Alive The Guardian 9/2/2003 JERUSALEM (AP) - An Israeli navigator who jumped out of his crippled fighter jet over Lebanon in 1986 and was captured by Lebanese guerrillas is likely alive, according to an official report to the military, Israeli television said Tuesday. The last sign of life from Ron Arad was a picture and letter to his wife issued by his captors in 1987. Since then, Israeli officials have been stumped by his fate. Israel's Channel One said an in-depth report was presented to Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Moshe Yaalon three weeks ago stating that Arad is alive. Israeli Apache Fire On Crowded Gaza Street International Middle East Media Center 9/2/2003 Israeli Apaches fired 4 missiles and hit a private car on the heavily crowded Alwihda street of Gaza city Monday afternoon. The attack killed 2 of the car passengers and wounded about 30 bystanders. IMEMC correspodnandt reported that Khader Husari, 36, one of the car passengers who died immediately, was a leader in the military wing of Hamas, while Munsar Knita, who died later at Al-Shifa hospital was one of the organization operatives. The third passenger Mundar Darmita, was moved to the hospital in serious condition.      Sequel to Israel’s Assassinations Leaves Palestinian Dead, 25 Injured Palestine Media Center 9/2/2003 A missile strike launched by US-made Israeli helicopter gunships has rendered one Palestinian dead and twenty-five others injured, in the 7th extra-judicial assassination carried out by Israel in less than two weeks. Witnesses said that a car traveling on a busy road in Gaza City was engulfed in flames after an Israel Apache gunship struck it with several missiles, leaving a charred body of man who was later identified by relatives as Khader al-Husari. The strike, which was backed by F-16 fighter jets, left 25 other bystanders, including four children and a woman, wounded. BREAKING NEWS: Second militant dies following Gaza missile strike International Press Center 9/2/2003 20:00 -- Palestinian citizen, Riad Sbaih, 29, died of wounds he sustained yesterday after being critically wounded when Israeli helicopters fired 4 rockets on a vehicle killing one Palestinian citizen, medical sources reported. / 16:25 - - Minister of Health: 29 Palestinians were killed and 295 injured by Israeli occupation forces in the previous month (August)....

Diplomacy..

EU's Solana: situation 'critical' between Israelis, Palestinians Ha'aretz 9/2/2003 AMMAN - The European Union's foreign policy chief on Monday expressed concern about the "critical" situation between the Israelis and the Palestinians and stressed that the U.S.-backed road map was the only solution. Javier Solana, who arrived herefrom Israel, spoke to reporters after a 90-minute meeting with Prime Minister Ali Abul-Ragheb on the so-called road map forpeace and the escalation of tension between Palestinians and Israelis. Mofaz: Israel made a mistake by not expelling Arafat Ha'aretz 9/2/2003 Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat is a significant obstacle to Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and the road map process being led by the United States, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said on Tuesday. In an interview to Army Radio,Mofaz said that the Palestinian leadership recognized today by the world was Abbas, Security Affairs Minister Mohammed Dahlan and Finance Minister Salem Fayad.  Sources: Morocco to soon reopen its diplomatic offices in Israel Ha'aretz 9/2/2003 Israel and Morocco will soon renew their diplomatic activities in Rabat and Tel Aviv, sources accompanying Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom in Morocco said Tuesday afternoon following Shalom's meeting with King Mohammed VI in Tetouan. The king has already instructed Moroccan Foreign Minister Mohamed Benaissa to renew the issuing of travel visas to Israelis wishing to visit the country, the sources said. Bin Issa: Full Normalization Subject To Peace Developments Al-Hayat 9/2/2003 Western sources in Rabat anticipated that Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom's visit to Morocco yesterday would bring about a fundamental agreement to renormalize the relations between Israel and Morocco. The sources stated that Israel requested full normalization from Moroccan authorities, to the stage of exchanging ambassadors. However, Rabat related that to significant development in solving the Middle Eastern crisis and implementing the Roadmap, as a first stage. Yet, the prevailing belief is that normalization could begin by reopening both offices of communication in Rabat and Tel Aviv. 'No need to go to Israel' The Hindu 9/1/2003 NEW DELHI SEPT. 1. The Palestinian Foreign Minister, Nabil Sha'ath, has said that he disagreed with growing Indian efforts to coordinate anti-terrorist actions among New Delhi, Tel Aviv, and Washington. In an exclusive interview to The Hindu on Sunday, Dr. Sha'ath said: "I know it is the position of some of your Ministers. First of all, I see no need to go to Israel to reach the United States. The United States is open to India. I do not think you need that intermediary." Ureikat: Israel wants to end PA, get rid of Arafat Palestinian Information Center 9/2/2003 Occupied Jerusalem - Palestinian Authority official Sa’eb Ureikat accused the apartheid Israeli regime Tuesday of planning to eradicate the PA and liquidate or deport its chairman Yasser Arafat. Speaking to reporters in Ramallah, the former Palestinian negotiator called Israeli designs to that effect “malicious and diabolical.” Hamas 'to escape total funding freeze' BBC 8/29/2003 European nations are cooling on the idea of freezing the assets of militant Palestinian group Hamas. The idea of extending the ban on funding for Hamas' military activities, to include its political and humanitarian arms as well, is on the agenda for a European Union foreign ministers' meeting on 5 September. Israel Says Arafat Likely to Be Expelled The Guardian 9/2/2003 JERUSALEM (AP) - Yasser Arafat should be removed from the Palestinian leadership and Israel may have to decide by year's end whether to expel him if he continues to get in the way of a U.S.-backed peace plan, Israel's defense minister said Tuesday. Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz issued the warning as Arafat and his Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas remained locked in a bitter power struggle. Abbas, backed by the United States and Israel, is increasingly unpopular at home and could be ousted, possibly in a parliament vote next week. The Palestinian Leadership Warns of Risks Facing the Peace Process due to Israeli Aggression International Press Center 9/2/2003 RAMALLAH, Palestine, September 2, 2003 (IPC+Agencies)-- The Palestinian leadership warned Monday of the risks facing the peace process due to continued Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, including the assassination policy, frequent incursions, arrests and assaults on Islamic and Christian holy places. Jewish groups blast French envoy's off-the-cuff comments Ha'aretz 9/2/2003 Jewish organizations in France have reacted angrily to reports that their country's newly-appointed ambassador to Israel described Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as a "lout" and said the Jewish state was "paranoid" during a recent cocktail party inParis. The ambassador, Gerard Araud - who is due to take up his post in September - immediately denied the accusations, whichwere published in Yedioth Aharonoth on Sunday, according to a brief statement released by the French foreign ministry. King concerned over spreading of violence in Palestinian territories Jordan Times 9/2/2003 AMMAN (Agencies) — His Majesty King Abdullah expressed on Monday his deep concern over the spreading of violence in the Palestinian territories in the past few days. During a meeting with EU foreign and security policy chief Javier Solana, the King emphasised that there is no alternative to the roadmap to help end the violence and current tensions. Sleeping with the enemy Al-Jazeera 9/1/2003 Morocco’s attempts to normalise relations with Israel will upset many in the Arab world. -- Israeli Foreign Minister Sylvan Shalom’s upcoming visit to Rabat will be seen by some as a betrayal of the Palestinian cause. He is due to have talks with King Muhammad VI, and is expected to discuss the opening of liaison offices in Tel Aviv and Rabat. With the Palestinian peace process in tatters, critics say this is not the time to be cosying up to Israel – whatever the economic benefits. Solana visiting to discuss position on peace process Daily Star 9/2/2003 European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana will arrive in Beirut Tuesday as part of a regional tour including Iran, Israel, Jordan and Syria, diplomatic sources said Monday. The sources said Solana is expected to inquire about the Lebanese position concerning developments in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to assert that the EU’s policy is unchanged despite US pressure on the Palestinians and on some Arab countries that are influential in Palestinian decision-making. Israeli minister wants Arafat exiled BBC 9/2/2003 Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz has called for Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to be expelled, saying he is obstructing peace moves. Mr Mofaz told Israeli army radio that Mr Arafat was a "major obstacle for (Palestinian Prime Minister) Mahmoud Abbas and for the whole political process". He was speaking amid a reported power struggle between Mr Arafat and his moderate prime minister for control of the Palestinian security forces. Palestinians renew calls for international intervention Jerusalem Post 9/2/2003 Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Sha'ath - in India on an official visit - called for international intervention in the Palestinian territories in order to achieve a lasting peace with Israel. Other Palestinian officials also said that direct US intervention in the form of buffer force was needed to move forwards on the roadmap, since such a force would stop Israeli reprisal raids and prevent terrorists from attacking Israel.  Palestinian FM calls for int'l presence in the territories Ha'aretz 9/2/2003 NEW DELHI - Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Sha'ath - in India on an official visit - called for international intervention in the occupied Palestinian territories in order to achieve a lasting peace with Israel, a report said Tuesday. "We feel that internationalpresence in Palestine today might be really the single-most important requirement for peace," Sha'ath told the The Hindu newspaper. He also said the struggle for peace in Iraq and the occupied territories are linked.

Human Rights..

The foreigners who brave Israeli bullets Al-Jazeera 9/1/2003 One warm August day, Juliana Fredman, a US citizen from New York, prepared herself to be gassed and shot at by Israeli soldiers. Along with about 60 other international activists and 200 local Palestinians, she joined a brazen daylight attempt to tear down part of Israel's apartheid wall in a West Bank village near Tulkaram, where hundreds of farmers have been denied access to their land. That day, 28-year-old Fredman became one of the first casualties of steel-core rubber bullets, baptised with a bloody purple welt on her right forearm. Earth barricades block Palestinian students' path Miftah 9/2/2003 For Nadia, a 15-year-old Palestinian schoolgirl, the path to education on the first day of classes on Monday meant a long detour around earth barricades the Israeli army piled on a West Bank road. "It is not a good start to the day," said Nadia, who declined to give her surname, as she walked about two km (one mile) to school near the Palestinian city of Ramallah. More than a million students, about a third of the Palestinian population, flocked to schools in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Arab East Jerusalem. UHCC… Witnesses a Recurrent Incursion Scene International Press Center 9/2/2003 The most prominent problem we witnessed was in the citizens’ suffering, whom were held in their apartments, as Israeli soldiers occupied their building. -- Since the recent incursion on Nablus-City last Thursday 21/8/2003, UHCC [Union of Health Care Committees] has intensified & activated its emergency plan that is already set since the first Israeli incursion April 2002. UHCC’s different hot & emergency lines in the Main Headquarter, Al-Amal Center, & Al-Baldh Al-Qadima (Old City) headquarter were advertised & announced in all local media services available in the city & the mobile numbers of our ambulances drivers were mentioned as well. Volunteers’ “paramedics” groups were divided into 6 groups; each group consisted of 5 volunteers; in addition to a resident doctor in Al-Baldh Al-Qadima (Old City) 24 hours a day. New Israeli Law Stifles Love Palestine Media Center 9/1/2003 Mariam doesn't venture far from home and even stays clear of the supermarket for fear of arrest. The 20-year-old Palestinian from the West Bank lives in Israel illegally due to a new law that prevents her and thousands of other Palestinians with Israeli spouses from obtaining residency. "It's an absurd situation," said her husband, Said, a 41-year-old teacher, who like his wife spoke on the condition that his last name not be revealed. "We are in continuous hiding." Statement Regarding the Separation Wall from The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem Palestine Media Center 8/30/2003 We the head of Churches in Jerusalem affirm our determination to do all in our power to work for Peace in the Holy Land - a Peace that is concerned with the well-being of every resident of this Land, be they Israeli or Palestinian, to give them security , justice, freedom, independence and personal dignity. PCRS: Weekly Press Release for the period 23-29 August 2003 Palestine Red Crescent Society 9/1/2003 During this reporting period, the Israeli Army has continued to violate the First and Fourth Geneva Conventions and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by denying freedom of movement to Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) ambulances and its medical teams, who were threatened by gunfire, humiliated and verbally and physically abused. Delays, denial of access and arbitrary searches had a negative impact on the sick and the wounded in Nablus, Qalqilia and Tubas. Update: The Palestinian Territories ReliefWeb/Global IDP Project 8/29/2003 Political status quo and the new security barrier worsening the humanitarian situation for Palestinian IDPs -- Since Israel occupied the Gaza Strip and the West Bank in 1967, Israel has ordered the demolition of thousands of homes in the Palestinian Territories and has confiscated land, such as in East Jerusalem. According to the Israeli government, these measures have been taken for security and administrative reasons. According to many human rights organisations, however, demolitions have often been carried out in an illegal or discriminatory manner. Pilgrims of Golan Druze visit their homeland Syria Arabic News 9/2/2003 A source at the International Committee of the Red Cross ICRC in Damascus said that 208 Druz Sheikhs of the villages of the occupied Golan heights, occupied by Israel, yesterday crossed to Syria through al-Quneitra border to visit the holy sites for the Druz sect. The source explained that Israel "permitted the Druz pilgrims, most of them are elderly to visit Syria only for 24 hours."

Economy..

Upswing didn't last: August durables imports sank 9% Ha'aretz 9/2/2003 The upswing in durables imports in July was of short duration indeed. Imports sank again in August, indicating that the recession is still roaring, according to figures from the Customs and VAT Authority. Import of consumer items sank 9% in August against the previous quarter to $113.2 million, mainly due to a slump in car imports. Israel's terms of trade worsen 3.6% in Q2 Globes 9/2/2003 Importers' (excluding diamond merchants) profits fell by 1.2% in the second quarter of 2003. -- The improvement in Israel's terms of trade stopped in the second quarter of 2003, due to falling prices for exports and higher prices for imports, the Central Bureau of Statistics reported today. The appreciation of the shekel, the weakness of the dollar, and strength of the euro were the reasons for deterioration in the terms of trade. PM to act on interest rate panel `very soon' Ha'aretz 9/2/2003 There will be a "real change, very soon" in the way the Bank of Israel makes decisions on interest rates, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told the cabinet yesterday at its first meeting on the 2004 budget. Sharon will hold further discussions on the budget today with Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, much of which will be devoted to the Finance Ministry's proposal for a major cut in the defense budget. Eilat Aquaria project approved Globes 9/2/2003 The $350 million amusement park will cover hundreds of acres. The project has been delayed for years. -- The National Planning and Building Council, headed by chairman Amram Kolagi, today approved for deposit Eilat's Aquaria project. A group of US investors are behind the project. The council for agricultural land and open spaces must now approve the Aquaria project....Aquaria's developers plan to invest $350 million in the huge amusement park to be built along the Israel-Jordan border.

People..

Jewish peace winner attacks Israel Al-Jazeera 9/1/2003 Jewish historian Reuven Moskovitz, who was awarded a prestigious peace prize, fired a broadside at Israel during his acceptance speech. The outspoken award winner used the glittering occasion to launch an attack on Israel's policies which have caused misery for millions of Palestinians. And he called on Europe to exert pressure on Ariel Sharon to stop the persecution of Palestinians. A team with a mission — eye care for the West Bank poor Jordan Times 9/2/2003 “Today is different.” The soldier at the Hebron checkpoint was adamant. No one, apart from United Nations personnel, Red Cross/Red Crescent ambulances or members of TIPH (the Temporary International Presence in Hebron), was getting through this barrier, the only way into Hebron. Not this day. “Today,” as the soldier repeated, “is different.”...However, the checkpoint soldier may have wished to define the day, for them it was just another Thursday in another week of an almost two-decades-old healthcare programme of which all of them are enormously proud. The outreach programme provides free eye care twice weekly: Tuesdays in the northern West Bank, Thursdays in the Hebron area. It was set up in 1984, explains Mohammad Karmi, the team's optometrist, for the same reason that it remains necessary today. Video: Not going there, don't belong here Free Speech TV Filmmaker Visits Refugee Camps in Lebanon - Helga Tawil, a Palestinian-American, recently visited Palestinian camps in Lebanon where people forced from their homes by the Israelis live in poverty and desperation, yet never give up hope. Paris Shows Israeli Film On Anti-Palestinian Discrimination Islam Online 8/31/2003 PARIS, August 31 (IslamOnline.net) - Presenting his "August" movie to the French audience Saturday, August 30, Israeli filmmaker Avi Mograbi said it reflects the state of despair and fear Israeli citizens are suffering as well as the extent of anti-Arab Israeli discrimination. He also told reporters present that the documentary captures different scenes from the everyday life of ordinary Israeli citizens after the eruption of Al-Aqsa Intifada on September 28, 2000.

International..

Families may sue Israel for jet downing Al-Jazeera 9/2/2003 Libya’s payment of compensation to the families of victims in two plane crashes seems to have inspired yet another compensation claim – by families of victims of an Arab aircraft that was shot down by Israeli airforce jets 30 years ago. According to the Islamic Association of Palestine news agency based in the US, Arab families who lost their relatives in the shooting down of the Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 114 are planning to go to court to get compensation from Israel. United U.S. Muslims To Vote Against Bush Re-election Islam Online 9/2/2003 CHICAGO, September 2 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Leaders of the U.S. Muslim community intend to deliver a bloc vote in next year's presidential elections, one that will go against the candidate they endorsed last time - President George W. Bush.The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the American Muslim Council, the American Muslim Alliance, and the Muslim Public Affairs Council agreed this weekend to cooperate on a voter registration drive that they hope will send one million Muslims to say "No" to Bush's 2004 re-election bid. Damascus seeks to reopen the Iraqi oil line; a stock market in 2004 Arabic News 9/2/2003 Syria called yesterday for reopening the line to transport oil from Iraq at a capacity of 200,000 barrels daily that was closed by the American forces in April, while the Syrian Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade Ghassan Rifaee said that Damascus which steps towards implementing large scale economic reforms is planning to establish a stock market next year. Lebanon court clears Canadian of collaborating with Israel Ha'aretz 9/2/2003 BEIRUT - A Lebanese military court ruled Monday that a Canadian Christian missionary was not guilty of collaborating with Israel, a charge punishable by 15 years jail. Bruce Balfour, 52, had pleaded innocent after being arrested July 10 at Beirut airport on a military court order accusing him of visiting Israel and collaborating with the enemy. Women take a silent stand against violence Denver Post 9/2/2003 They get honked at, cheered and flipped the bird. In snow, rain and blazing heat, they stand, unfazed, in silence. They are the Women in Black, who gather three to 30 in number for their weekly street-corner vigil for peace. "It's a little thing that we can do to stand up against war and violence," said Vicki Rottman, a sculptor who has organized vigils every Thursday in Denver after hearing about a similar group protesting on Wednesdays in Boulder. "Sometimes silence speaks louder than words." Convicted spy Pollard returns to court to challenge life term Ha'aretz 9/2/2003 Jonathan Pollard, who has been serving a life sentence at the federal prison in Butner, N.C. for spying for Israel, will appear at a U.S. District Court in Washington on Tuesday, as a judge considers procedural matters in Pollard's long campaign to reduce his sentence. It will be the first time Pollard has been seen in public since 1987, when he was sentenced to life in prison. It is expected that he will be granted the right to speak during the hearing. Battle: Lebanon is top portal for US goods Daily Star 9/2/2003 Lebanon is still considered as the most important economic regional portal to the Middle East market, US Ambassador Vincent Battle said during the inauguration of the Made in America 2003: For the Earth exhibition at the Beirut Port Export Center on Monday. “Despite minor instability issues, Lebanon promises huge growth potential,” Battle told his audience, while outside the center protesters called for boycotting US products. Battle added that “the reconstruction of Iraq promises to be a real boom for both US and Lebanese companies and their respective national economies.” Webmaster sentenced to one year in Federal prison Free Speech News 8/11/2003 Sherman Austin, webmaster of RaisetheFist.com, was sentenced today, August 4, 2003, to one year in federal prison, with three years of probation. Judge Wilson shocked the courtroom when he went against the recommendation of not only the prosecution, but the FBI and the Justice Department, who had asked that Austin be sentenced to 4 months in prison, and 4 months in a half-way house, with 3 years of probation. US Muslim leaders oppose Bush Al-Jazeera 9/2/2003 Leaders of the US Muslim community hope to hurt President George W Bush at the polls next year by attacking his administration's treatment of Arab and Muslim Americans. The heads of four leading US Muslim groups said last weekend that as many as one million of their followers may use next year's presidential elections as a chance to register their dissatisfaction with the Bush administration. Muslim Leaders Make Civil Rights Top Issue Arab News 9/2/2003 CHICAGO, 2 September 2003 — American Muslim leaders, stung by the government’s scrutiny of their community during the domestic hunt for terrorists, have pledged to express their anger at the polls. Leaders of the Islamic Society of North America announced plans Sunday during their annual meeting to register 1 million Muslim voters and make civil rights a top issue in any endorsement of a presidential candidate. Lebanese court finds Balfour innocent Come And See 9/2/2003 A Canadian missionary arrested in Lebanon and accused of collaborating with Israel was found innocent Monday and was expected to be released, while his family accused Ottawa bureaucrats, claiming they failed to publicly denounce the arrest. A Lebanese military court ruled that Bruce Balfour, 52, a Christian missionary from Calgary, was not guilty of collaborating with Israel, a charge punishable by 15 years jail. Verdict due in spy case against Canadians Daily Star 9/2/2003 A Canadian pastor on trial here for spying for Israel insisted Monday on his innocence minutes before the Military Tribunal adjourned for consultation about the verdict and possible sentence. “I didn’t do anything that harmed Lebanon or benefited Israel,” Bruce Balfour told the panel, which was presided over by Brigadier Maher Safieddine. “I dedicated my work and life to God and to help the needy in Lebanon.”

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