Conflict..

Officials accuse Israel of laying pipes to steal water from South The Daily Star 9/29/2006 WAZZANI: Lebanese officials and residents of the South on Thursday accused the Israeli Army of stealing water from the Wazzani River. Mohammad Ghamlush, the engineer heading the Wazzani River pumping systems, told AFP that the Israeli Army sabotaged the water pumps on the river last week and installed a pipe to pump hundreds of cubic meters of water to Israel. During the last weekly Cabinet meeting on Thursday, the government denounced what it called an Israeli violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which brought 34 days of hostilities to a close. Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora discussed the issue over the phone with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on September 22, according to the National News Agency. more.. Israeli soldiers hit by an explosive device in Balata refugee camp; raids and arrests across West Bank Ma'an News 9/28/2006 West Bank - Palestinian gunmen threw an explosive device at Israeli forces invading Balata refugee camp in the northern West Bank early on Thursday morning. Israeli forces raided a number of northern West Bank villages, seizing several Palestinians. Israeli 'security' measures were increased in the Hebron and Salfit areas. Israeli forces raided the camp in the city of Nablus, claiming that they were searching for 'wanted' Palestinians. Israeli media sources also reported that an explosive device was thrown at the Israeli troops. No casualties were reported. Israeli sources reported that the Israeli forces arrested eight 'wanted' Palestinians from across the West Bank on Thursday. According to Palestinian security sources, more than ten Israeli military vehicles raided the village of Az Zababida, south of Jenin, early on Thursday morning... more.. Army invades Al Zababda and Sliat Al Harthia villages near Jenin and takes three prisoners International Middle East Media Center 9/28/2006 Israeli forces invaded the villages of Al Zababda and Sliat Al Harthia near the West Bank city of Jenin and took prisoner three residents on Thursday at dawn. Troops entered Al Zababda village east of Jenin and took Amar Abass, 29, and Mohamed Abu Khamis, 32, to unknown locations after searching a stone making factory where they work. Meanwhile, soldiers invaded Sliat Al Harthia village west of Jenin, searched and ransacked scores of residents' homes before taking Mahmoud Tahina, 20, to an unknown location, local sources reported. [end] Israeli aerial F16 bombardment on Rafah home Palestine News Network 9/28/2006 Again Thursday morning Israeli F16 warplanes bombed homes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah. At least two missiles hit a house in western Rafah whose owners were forewarned to leave. Eyewitnesses reported that the Israeli bombardment targeted the home of Sami Sabri Brekke, an armed resistance member affiliated with the Hamas movement. The Israeli bombing destroyed the three-story house completely and damaged surrounding buildings. Medical sources reported that no injuries were reported. Yesterday at dawn Israeli forces fired missiles, killing a 14 year old girl in a home on the Egypt – Gaza Strip border. The occupation army continues its policy of aerial bombings on homes of resistance members.... Dozens of homes have been destroyed in this manner over the past two months. more.. The Occupation Report September 28, 2006 Vermonters for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel 9/28/2006 Chronicling the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict - Jerrold Cohen, Ph. D. , Editor -- Gaza Strip: "Israeli jet fighters in Rafah bombarded the three-story house of Sami Braika with two missiles, and flattened it. Several houses were damaged, but there were no reports of casualties. (2) Braika is (8) an armed resistance (11) member of the Hamas movement. (8) 0411 hours: On Wednesday, an Israeli aircraft shot two missiles at a building used for storing weapons in Rafah, after giving advance warning by phone. ... West Bank: Israeli forces stormed several houses and arrested five Palestinians in different parts of Jenin. In Bethlehem, Israeli patrols arrested two Palestinians, identified as Rami Shawriya, 22, and Nader Zawahreh, 44. Two Palestinians were arrested in the Balata Refugee Camp near Nablus... more.. Israeli Jetfighter Flattens a House in Rafah WAFA - Palestine News Agency 9/28/2006 RAFAH, September 28, 2006, (WAFA)- Israeli jetfighters on Thursday morning bombarded a house in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah and completely destroyed it. Witnesses said that Israeli fighters hit the 3-storey- house of Sami Braika with two missiles and flattened it. WAFA reporter said that several houses were damaged during the airstrike where no wounded were reported. [end] IOF Arrests 9 Citizens in WB WAFA - Palestine News Agency 9/28/2006 (WAFA)- Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) arrested Thursday nine citizens, including a girl, in different cities in the West Bank, witnesses and security sources said. Witnesses told WAFA that a 20-year-old girl, Doaa Hussein, and an unidentified man, were arrested in the refugee camp of Balata, near Nablus. In the meantime, IOF arrested five citizens in different places in Jenin, security sources said. The sources said that Israeli soldiers stormed several houses and arrested the five citizens. Two other citizens were also arrested Thursday in the holy city of Bethlehem, witnesses said. They added that Israeli patrols deployed in the streets of Bethlehem and arrested both Rami Shawriya 22, and Nader Zawahreh 44. [end] Army injures farmer north of Beit Lahia International Middle East Media Center 9/28/2006 The Israeli army injured Jamal Al Attar, 45, after firing live rounds at him in Al Siqa area, north of Beit Lahia town, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip on Thursday. Medical sources in Kamal Adwan hospital near Beit Lahia reported that Al Attar sustained medium injures due to a built wound in the leg and will remain at the hospital for more treatment. [end] Army invades Iskaka village, east of Salfit International Middle East Media Center 9/28/2006 The army invaded Iskaka village, east of the West Bank city of Salfit Thursday morning, searched and ransacked residents' homes. Troops entered the village, stormed homes, including that of Rabi' Harb where they confiscated two computers and left. The army gave no reason for this action, residents reported. [end] Army takes prisoners two residents from Nablus International Middle East Media Center 9/28/2006 The Israeli army took prisoner two residents in a predawn invasion to several parts of the West Bank city of Nablus on Thursday. In Balata Refugee Camp troops attacked and ransacked scores of residents' homes and shot live rounds randomly at residents before taking a 20 year old young woman, Du'a Hussen, and another unknown youth from the refugee camp to unknown locations, eyewitnesses reported. Elsewhere, in the nearby Rojeb and Assira Al Shamaliha villages near Nablus, soldiers searched scores of homes and damaged families' belongings during the dawn invasion today. The army claimed they were looking for wanted people. [end] Daily invasion of Balata Refugee Camp: several arrested, a pharmacy and internet café destroyed Palestine News Network 9/28/2006 Israeli forces invaded eastern Nablus’ Balata Refugee Camp again Thursday morning, arresting a young man, Baha Amin Asawalhi. Several men at the Mosque for morning prayers were also taken. Eyewitnesses report that eight military vehicles invaded the camp, focusing the raids near the school. Israeli forces broke into the homes of Ziad Hassanain and Fahkri Al Aktam under the pretext of searching for Amar Hassanein. An Israeli bulldozer razed a pharmacy, internet café, and several other stores. Camp residents said that Israeli soldiers shouted obscenities through loudspeakers, especially offensive, the citizens complained, during the month of Ramadan. Members of the resistance detonated an explosive near a jeep during Thursday’s invasion of Balata, a daily occurrence since Ramadan began. [end] Israeli security claims to have defused an intended operation in their territories Ma'an News 9/28/2006 Nablus -- Israeli security sources have claimed on Thursday that they had, on Wednesday, defused an intended bombing operation inside the Israeli territories. The source added that force number 101 discovered and detonated an explosive belt in the Palestinian city of Nablus weighing approximately 10 kilos. The military spokesperson then said that they had arrested the planners of the operation during the invasion of Balata refugee camp near Nablus. The Israeli security services accused the Al-Aqsa Brigades operatives Jihad Toqan and Abdullah Qatawi who were arrested during the invasion of Balata on Wednesday. [end] Israeli army seizes a young Palestinian woman in Nablus accused of intending to carry out a bombing operation in Israel Ma'an News 9/28/2006 Nablus - Israeli forces arrested a young Palestinian woman from Balata refugee camp in the north of the occupied West Bank on Thursday morning, claiming she was intending to carry out an explosive operation inside Israel. Our correspondent in Nablus reported that, according to Palestinian sources, dozens of Israeli military vehicles penetrated the camp in the city of Nablus and arrested Do'a Hussein, 20, after they inspected several houses. Israeli sources claimed that the woman belonged to the Islamic Jihad movement and the Israeli forces arrested her after she expressed her readiness to carry out an explosive operation in one of the Israeli cities. On Tuesday night, Israeli sources reported that the Israeli forces had found an explosive belt weighing ten kilograms in the camp. Israeli bomb experts detonated the belt. more.. Al Quds Brigades claim responsibility for two explosions in Nablus Ma'an News 9/28/2006 Nablus - The Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, have claimed responsibility for throwing an explosive device at an Israeli patrol in Al Ain Beit Al Ma refugee camp in Nablus in the north of the West Bank on Thursday. In the same regard, the Al-Quds Brigades also claimed responsibility for throwing another explosive device at an Israeli patrol in Balata refugee camp, also in Nablus, in a joint operation with the Fatah-affiliated Al-Aqsa Brigades. In a joint statement, both Brigades confirmed that the operations came as natural response to the Israeli atrocities. The Brigades warned that similar such operations are planned for the future. [end] Resident dies of wounds sustained during internal clashes last week International Middle East Media Center 9/28/2006 Palestinian medical sources in the Gaza Strip reported on Thursday morning that one resident died of wounds sustained on September 22 during clashes between members of the Executive Committee and fighters of the Al Aqsa Brigades, the armed wing of Fateh. The Executive Committee Force was formed by the Hamas party after the movement won the majority of the Legislative Council seats. The clashes took place around Kamal Adwan hospital, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. Six residents were injured in the clashes, resident Taiseer Misbah Al Hindy, 45, was injured in his head and died of his wounds on Thursday. The northern part of the Gaza Strip witnessed increasing tension between members of the executive force and members of Fateh's armed wing. more.. Israeli incursion into Al-Am'ari refugee camp; one Israeli soldier injured, three Palestinians seized Ma'an News 9/28/2006 Ramallah - Israeli sources reported on Wednesday evening that one Israeli soldier was lightly injured when an Israeli force was exposed to stone-throwing in Al Am'ari refugee camp in the West Bank city of Ramallah. The sources added that the Israeli troop raided the camp and arrested three Palestinians claiming that they were wanted. Meanwhile, a group of Palestinian youths threw stones at the soldiers, injuring one Israeli soldier in his head. The sources did not reveal the identities of the three arrested Palestinians. [end] Israeli forces arrest two in Jenin Palestine News Network 9/28/2006 During the continual invasions of the northern West Bank Jenin District Thursday, Israeli forces arrested Mahmoud Abu Khamis. He was a factory worker in the Jenin area town of Al Zababda. Israeli forces stormed the factory, and arrested another worker, Ammar Ibrahim Abbas. Also at dawn this morning, Israeli forces invaded Jenin Refugee Camp, breaking into several homes while claiming to search for "security information. [end] Army takes prisoner two residents in Abu Da'eif village near Jenin International Middle East Media Center 9/28/2006 The Israeli army took prisoner Obaida Yassen, 21, and Ibrahem Yassen, 22, during a dawn invasion of Abu Da'eif village east of the West Bank city of Jenin on Thursday. Troops and army jeeps raided the village and conducted a house-to-house search campaign and ransacked families' belongings before taking the two detainees to unknown locations. [end] Army invades Obaydiah village, east of Bethlehem International Middle East Media Center 9/28/2006 Israeli troops invaded Thursday morning the village of Obaydiah, east of the West Bank city of Bethlehem. Several army vehicles stormed the village and troops searched a number of houses, ordering five residents to turn themselves into the army. The five were known as Mohamed Shanaita, his son Nasser, Nayif Shanaita, Mohammad Shanaita and his son Sanad. [end] Army takes prisoner two residents in Bethlehem International Middle East Media Center 9/28/2006 Israeli forces took prisoner two residents in a pre dawn invasion to the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Thursday. More than 8 army vehicles surrounded Rakhmah area on the east side of Bethlehem, searched several homes, then took Rami Shawuria, 22, to an unknown location. Moreover, in Al Karkafa area, on the west side of the city, troops stormed, searched and ransacked the house of Moussa Zawahra, 44, then took him to an unknown location, eyewitnesses reported. [end] Israeli court sentences Bethlehem men Ma'an News 9/28/2006 Bethlehem - The Israeli military court of Ofer has on Thursday sentenced the Palestinian Hilmi Abdul-Kareem Hammash from Deheisheh refugee camp in southern Bethlehem to 12 terms of lifetime imprisonment. The same court also sentenced the brothers Ala' and Imad Ahmad Da'du' from Al-Khadir in western Bethlehem to 7 months' imprisonment each, and a fine of 5000 NIS. Hammash was arrested on 09/03/2004, and was charged with being a member of the Al Aqsa Brigades, the military wing of Fatah, and of recruiting the Palestinian who blew themselves up in Jerusalem in January 2004. [end] Member of security forces arrested in Jericho by Israeli troops Ma'an News 9/28/2006 Jericho - Ma'an - Israeli forces have on Thursday invaded the Palestinian refugee camp of Aqabat Jaber in Jericho and arrested a member of the Palestinian security forces, after surrounding his house for two hours. Ma'an's reporter stated that Abdul-Hakeem Al-Qabbani, 27, was arrested and taken to an unknown location. [end] Al-Quds Brigades launch three projectiles at Sderot Ma'an News 9/28/2006 Gaza -- The Al-Quds Brigades, the armed group of the Islamic Jihad movement, have on Thursday evening launched three "Quds3" home-made projectiles at the southern Israeli town of Sderot. In a statement received by Ma'an, the brigades stated that the bombing comes in retaliation for ongoing Israeli atrocities, and commemorates the first anniversary of the assassination of the Islamic Jihad leader Mohammad Sheikh Khalil. Israeli sources have admitted that the projectiles landed in Sderot. [end] Lebanese border village eagerly awaits Israeli pullout The Daily Star 9/29/2006 MAROUN AL-RAS: At home, Lina and her family tread on dangerous ground. The house, partly destroyed by rockets, has two unexploded bombs still buried underneath it. Israeli soldiers are still controlling the entrance of the hilltop village, which was the first area to be occupied in South Lebanon at the outbreak of the month-long Israeli offensive that ended August 14. In the ruins of Maroun al-Ras, the rocky village that overlooks northern Israel, Lina and her family can hardly make ends meet. Three weeks ago, the young woman came home with her three daughters, her disabled husband and her parents-in-law to find their house bombarded and vandalized, and all of her tobacco fields nearly dried to the roots. more.. Only an antimissile system can save our tanks Jerusalem Post 9/29/2006 The guerrillas lay in specially dug foxholes waiting for the IDF Merkava tanks. Once the tanks were spotted, the Hizbullah fighters pulled out their antitank missiles - some of the most advanced in the world - and within seconds knocked off another Israeli tank and then another. This is how it worked during Israel's second war in Lebanon, which brought Military Intelligence to a better understanding of Hizbullah's fighting tactics. The guerrilla group would train fighters for specific missions. Unlike IDF infantrymen who are trained for face-to-face combat and to fire antitank missiles in Low Intensity Conflicts (LIC) and conventional warfare, Hizbullah trained its fighters to become experts in a single field - one of those being the antitank missile, which during the war turned into the IDF's worst nightmare. more.. Merkava tank production to stop within four years Globes 9/28/2006 The IDF has decided that the Merkava tank production line will be shut down within four years. "Globes" reports that the decision to stop production of the tank, one of the most expensive projects in the history of Israel's military industries and the pride of the army, was made shortly before the outbreak of the war in Lebanon. Leaders of the project decided that the benefits do not justify the cost of the product. During the fighting in Lebanon, the Merkava tanks sustained serious damage from antitank rockets fired by Hizbullah militants. The tank, which has been boasted as having the best protection in the world, and which was designed for classic tank on tank battles, was not impervious to the rockets. 500 rockets were fired at Israeli tanks, 47 Merkava tanks were hit (two more were hit by roadside bombs) and 33 IDF soldiers were killed. more.. 9-Year-Old Boy, 4 Other People Hurt By Cluster Bomb Explosions An Nahar 9/27/2006 A nine-year-old boy was killed and four other people wounded in south Lebanon Wednesday in two separate cluster bomb explosions, security officials said. Mohammed Hassan Sultan was instantly killed when a cluster bomb exploded near his house in the village of Sawwaneh, some 17 kilometers north of the Israeli border. Three men were also wounded in the explosion, said officials. In Qaaqayiet al-Jisr, about 10 kilometers farther north from Sawwaneh, a 36-year-old woman was wounded in another cluster bomb explosion. U. N. de-mining experts said Tuesday that up to a million unexploded cluster bombs fired by Israel could be in south Lebanon -- nearly three times as many as previously estimated. Israel has not responded to repeated U. N. requests to hand over detailed information about the cluster bomb strikes... more.. Israel Stealing Wazzani River's Waters An Nahar 9/27/2006 Lebanese officials and residents of the south have accused the Israeli army of stealing water from the Wazzani border river. Mohammad Ghamlush, the engineer heading the Wazzani river pumping systems, told Agence France Presse the Israeli army sabotaged the water pumps on the river last week and installed a pipe to pump hundreds of cubic meters to Israel. During the last weekly cabinet meeting on Thursday, the government denounced what it called an Israeli violation of. UN. Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended 34 days of Israeli-Hizbullah hostilities. Premier Fouad Saniora discussed the issue over the phone with U. N. Secretary General Kofi Annan on September 22, according to the National News Agency. In a region where water is scarce, the issue may have dramatic consequences and the U. N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has opened an investigation. more.. Israeli warplanes bomb Rafah home, kill 14 year old girl and injure 20 people Palestine News Network 9/27/2006 Israeli forces opened fired from F16 warplanes over the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah Wednesday morning. The bombing targeted a family home near the Egyptian – Palestinian border. Medical sources in Rafah’s Abu Yousef An Najar Hospital reported that a girl arrived at the emergency room with her head crushed from falling concrete as her home crumbled under the Israeli attack. She was 14 year old Izzat Ahmed Hammad. The Israeli bombing also injured 20 people, including the girl’s father. Seventeen of the 20 are in Rafah’s Abu Yousef An Najar Hospital while three were transferred to a larger Gaza Strip hospital due to the critical nature of their injuries. The Israeli warplanes launched two separate aerial attacks this morning. The second bombing was on the home of Sami Salim Sha’er, also near the border with Rafah. The home was entirely destroyed as were adjacent houses. more.. Israeli forces invade Balata Refugee Camp, impose curfew Palestine News Network 9/27/2006 At dawn Wednesday Israeli military jeeps and a bulldozer invaded eastern Nablus’ Balata Refugee Camp. Israeli forces imposed curfew, meaning no one could move from where they were at that moment, and helicopters buzzed in circles overhead. Eyewitnesses report that dozens of Israeli military vehicles flooded from all axes to the street market where an explosive device was detonated. The Al Aqsa Brigades armed resistance wing later claimed responsibility. The Israeli bulldozer engaged in other acts of vandalism, breaking off facades of storefronts and plowing through the narrow camp streets. Israeli soldiers imposed a curfew on the camp and further reinforcements arrived at the center of the camp across the valley, setting up temporary military installations in the vicinity of the Old Mosque. more.. Israeli incursion into Balata refugee camp; at least two men taken prisoner Ma'an News 9/27/2006 Ma'an - During an Israeli military incursion into Balata refugee camp on Wednesday morning, there were clashes, explosions, shooting and reportedly a number of injuries and arrests. The Israeli army claimed that three Palestinians were injured and two arrested during the clashes in Balata, in the city of Nablus in the north of the occupied West Bank. However, our reporter in Nablus said that Palestinian sources denied the Israeli reports about injured Palestinians. The reporter confirmed that a number of young Palestinian men were taken prisoner by the Israeli forces, including Ala'a Sharay'ah, 21, and Jihad Shoufan, 17. Palestinian sources in Nablus also said an Israeli military vehicle was damaged when a roadside bomb exploded. more.. Israeli tanks roll into southern and central Gaza Strip Ma'an News 9/27/2006 Gaza -- Fifteen Israeli tanks and bulldozers rolled into the area of Sofia in the south of the Gaza Strip early on Wednesday morning, flattening Palestinian agricultural land, fruit trees and homes, the media coordinator in the Palestinian national security services has reported. Adnan Barbakh reported that the Israeli military vehicles entered Sofia, a region east of the city of Khan Younis and only 700 meters from the Gaza Strip's borders with Israel. They started bulldozing Palestinian fields and destroying homes, claiming they were looking for tunnels. Barbakh confirmed that the Israeli forces seized more than 30 Palestinian citizens and took them to an unknown destination. He added that Israeli Special Forces broke into many houses in the area. Soldiers surrounded many other houses and occupied the roofs of other houses. more.. Jeeps invade one northern West Bank village; soldiers airdropped into another Ma'an News 9/27/2006 Jenin -- More than ten Israeli military vehicles and jeeps broke into the village of Aqqaba, and Israeli soldiers were airdropped over Badhan and Talluza, in the Tubas area in northern occupied West Bank, local sources have reported. The Israeli forces raided the village of Aqqaba from the north early on Wednesday and broke into many houses. The soldiers carried out a search of these houses, claiming they were looking for 'wanted' Palestinians. Israeli helicopters also airdropped soldiers into villages south of the city of Tubas early on Wednesday, Palestinian security sources reported. The airdrop caused damage to the land in the area and it is reported that the Israeli forces fired intensive gunfire in the air during the operation. more.. Israeli settlers in southern West Bank bulldoze Palestinian land Palestine News Network 9/27/2006 Israeli settlers from Kiryat Arba, known for some of the most violent behavior in the West Bank, spent Wednesday destroying vast areas of Palestinian agricultural land. The southern West Bank city of Hebron suffers at length from the oldest settlement and the Israeli soldiers that work in it. Today settlers bulldozed major tracts of Palestinian land to the north for settlement expansion under heavy guard of Israeli soldiers. All settlements, expansion, and the settlers, are illegal under international law. The destroyed land belonged to Palestinians from eastern Hebron City. According to official sources from the Office of the General Committee for Land Defense in the West Bank, Israeli military forces and settlers brought bulldozers and other military vehicles and spent hours Wednesday afternoon destroying 15 dunams of Palestinian land. more.. Egypt destroys weapons tunnel Jerusalem Post 9/27/2006 Egyptian security forces destroyed a tunnel used to smuggle weapons into the Gaza Strip, police said on Wednesday. Police discovered the tunnel Wednesday near Karm Salem, less than 5 kilometers (3 miles) from Rafah crossing point, Capt. Mohammed Amin said. No arrests were made in the operation and police later detonated explosives in the tunnel to block it up. On Tuesday, Palestinian security forces discovered two underground tunnels along the Gaza Strip border with Egypt. Only one reached Egypt and officials sealed it later in the day. Since Israel pulled out of Gaza last summer, turning control of the border over to Egypt and the Palestinians, the IDF has said that cross-border smuggling of weapons and explosives has increased considerably. more.. IDF soldier hurt in op near Ramallah Jerusalem Post 9/27/2006 IAF aircraft shot two missiles at a building used for storing weapons in Rafiah, near the Egyptian border, it was reported late Wednesday night. Two people were lightly wounded, and the building was lightly damaged. The army reported that the building's residents had been warned in advance by phone and had evacuated the premises. Arab sources claimed the IDF has recently attacked several homes of those suspected of smuggling arms to the Gaza Strip. Earlier Wednesday evening, an IDF soldier was lightly wounded when he was hit by a concrete block thrown by a Palestinian during an arrest operation in El-Amri refugee camp, next to Ramallah. During the operation, IDF Special Forces arrested an Al-Aksa Martyrs Brigades operative and two other Palestinian fugitives. more.. Invasion of southwestern Jenin town Palestine News Network 9/27/2006 At dawn Wednesday members of the Islamic Jihad-linked armed resistance wing Al Quds Brigdes joined with the Nasser Salah Addin Brigades in fighting off Israeli forces invading Qabatiya Village, southwest of Jenin. Eyewitnesses reported that Israeli forces invaded the town, with at least 20 military vehicles, besieged neighborhoods and began raid and search campaigns. Israeli forces injured two young members of the armed resistance and did not arrest anyone they claimed to be “wanted". [end] The Occupation Report September 27, 2006 Vermonters for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel 9/27/2006 Chronicling the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict - Jerrold Cohen, Ph. D. , Editor -- Gaza Strip: Israeli soldiers backed by three bulldozers and 15 tanks stormed the al-Fakhari area in north Khan Younis, launched a wide-scale search campaign, and arrested 20 Palestinians from the al-'Amour and al-Jarghoun families. The bulldozers razed "scores of dunums" (figure a dunum to be about a quarter-acre), and uprooted hundreds of olive, citrus, and palm trees. (4) For the second time, Israeli aircraft targeted the house of Sami al-Sha'er in the city of Rafah. Dan Hammad, 14, arrived at the al-Najar Hospital "scattered into pieces" as she was hit with missile shrapnel. 14 other Palestinians were wounded in that attack, one of them Dan's mother, three reported to be seriously wounded. "Witnesses said that the house was completely destroyed..." more.. Al Quds Brigades launch projectile at Ashkelon Ma'an News 9/27/2006 Gaza - Ma'an – The Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing affiliated with the Islamic Jihad movement have claimed responsibility for launching a Quds home-made projectile at the Israeli city of Ashkelon on Wednesday. In a statement received by Ma'an, the brigades stated that the operation comes in retaliation for recent Israeli atrocities, which culminated in the killing on Tuesday of "the innocent baby girl Dam-il-Iz Hammad in the brutal shelling of Rafah. [end] Jewish terrorist who murdered four Palestinians gets four consecutive life sentences Ma'an News 9/27/2006 The Jerusalem District Court on Wednesday sentenced a Jewish terrorist to four consecutive life sentences, plus an additional 12 years in prison, for the murder of four Palestinian men. Asher Weisgan was convicted on September 11th of murdering four Arab workmen and wounding a fifth at a factory in the West Bank settlement of Shilo where they all worked under his supervision, the day before the implementation of the Gaza disengagement plan in August 2005. At the end of the work day at the factory, Weisgan gave four Arab workmen a ride in his car, stole an M-16 assault rifle from the guard and used it to shoot his four passengers, killing three of them and wounding the fourth. He then he ran toward the factory and shot another workman before turning himself in to the security officer who arrived on the scene. more.. Military group fire projectiles at Sderot Ma'an News 9/27/2006 Gaza -- The An Nasser Salah Addin Brigades, the military wing of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), said that they have launched two homemade projectiles at the Israeli town of Sderot early on Wednesday. In a statement, the Brigades confirmed that the shelling of Sderot is a "natural reaction to the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people. [end] Increased delays experienced at Za'tara checkpoint on Tuesday Ma'an News 9/27/2006 Nablus -- Ma'an - Israeli soldiers stationed at the Za'tara barrier between Nablus and Ramallah in the northern West Bank stepped up their measures against Palestinians wishing to pass through on Tuesday. The soldiers held up pedestrians and vehicles at the barrier for long periods of time claiming they needed to carry out 'security' searches and checks. [end] Bureau of Statistics reports on Palestinian status since beginning of Intifada Ma'an News 9/27/2006 Gaza -- Gaza - Ma'an – The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics has issued a report in which it reviewed the Palestinian situation on the sixth anniversary of the Intifada. The report said that 4348 Palestinians were killed between the beginning of the Intifada and the end of July 2006. Of that 4348, 2372 were killed in the Gaza Strip, 1940 in the West Bank, and the remainder were killed on the Israeli side of the Green line. 847 of those killed were children under 18, and 2427 were between 18 and 29 years old. The report said that there were 30638 Palestinians injured during the six years of Intifada. In addition to death and injury caused directly by Israeli military assaults, the building of the separation wall has further caused the plight of the social and economic situation... more.. Qaqilia Zoo protecting animals against Israeli attacks Palestine News Network 9/27/2006 Even zoo animals are not spared Israeli attacks on World Day of Tourism. Wildlife living outside in the trees, wetlands, and lands overtaken and attacked by Israeli forces are killed or end up with no where to go... even within the Qalqilia Zoo, which the Israeli authorities have helped to maintain.... The animals were brought from the animal parks in Israel, which has helped with the garden at the outset. The Department of Civil Administration of the Israreli authorities aided until 1994..... Director of the Garden, Said Jaidi, told PNN Wednesday, “Animals in the park are exposed to strikes by the occupation army during invasions of the town of Qalqilia. Bullets hit the animals who are stuck inside their cages and must inhale tear gas and not be properly fed due to the impositions of curfew. ” more.. Medics: Girl killed, seven hurt in IAF Gaza strike Ha'aretz 9/27/2006 Israel Air Force air strikes on a house in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah early Wednesday killed a 14-year-old girl and wounded seven other people, hospital officials said. The air raids came several hours after a rocket fired from Gaza wounded a woman soldier in the western Negev town of Sderot. The attack targeted the house of Sammy al-Shaer, a weapons dealer, witnesses said. The army called al-Shaer 15 minutes before the initial raid, they said, and told him to clear out of the house, which he did. There were no major injuries in the initial strike, which leveled the house. However, as children gathered to look at the rubble, a second airstrike hit the house, killing a 14-year-old girl and wounded seven other children, hospital officials said. more.. 'Million bomblets' in S Lebanon BBC 9/26/2006 Up to a million cluster bomblets discharged by Israel in its conflict with Hezbollah remain unexploded in southern Lebanon, the UN has said. The UN's mine disposal agency says about 40% of the cluster bombs fired or dropped by Israel failed to detonate - three times the UN's previous estimate. It says the problem could delay the return home of about 200,000 displaced people by up to two years. The devices have killed 14 people in south Lebanon since the August truce. The manager of the UN's mine removal centre in south Lebanon, Chris Clark, said Israel had failed to provide useful information of its cluster bomb strikes, which could help with the clearance operation. Last month, the UN's humanitarian chief, Jan Egeland, accused Israel of "completely immoral" use of cluster bombs in the conflict. more.. Relentless raids leave Gaza reeling BBC 9/26/2006 In a village in southern Gaza, an old Palestinian woman stood surveying the wreckage of her life, and her home - bulldozed by the Israeli army. Subhiya Mouamr pointed out her family's store of flour strewn in the rubble, and the tent she now lives in." We sit here - between the earth and the sky - and we survive just on what the Red Cross brings us," Subhiya Mouamr said." They destroyed everything." But on that night when the Israelis came late last week, Subhiya Mouamr lost even more than her home and all that she owned. She also lost her son and her daughter-in-law. What happened in the village of Um al-Nasr is typical of the nature of the Israeli offensive in Gaza - which is now going into its fourth month.... The army says that it went in to Um al-Nasr to capture what it calls terrorists... the troops came under fire from two buildings, and... they were consequently demolished. more.. Soldier hurt in Qassam strike Ha'aretz 9/27/2006 Two Qassam rockets fired from the Gaza Strip landed in the western Negev yesterday morning, causing moderate injuries to a soldier. Also yesterday, a secret meeting of Israeli, Palestinian, European and American officials was held in Jerusalem to discuss the reopening of the border crossing at Rafah. The first rocket incident occured when a Qassam crashed near the central square of Sderot, close to the public market. A soldier on her way to her base suffered moderate injuries from shrapnel. Emergency crews rushed her to Barzilai Medical Center, Ashkelon, where she underwent surgery. She is in stable condition. Several civilians were treated for panic as a result of the incident. A spokesman for the Sderot municipality said that the supply of electricity to the town was cut for a short time. more.. Child injured by Israeli military in a Jenin refugee camp International Middle East Media Center 9/27/2006 Palestinian medical sources reported on Tuesday at night that one child was injured in Al Far'a refugee camp, near Jenin, in the northern part of the West Bank, after the Israeli army invaded the camp and fired at several residents during clashed that erupted at the main entrance of the camp. The sources stated that dozens of youth hurled stones at the invading forces and that one child identified as Moneer Mohammad Abdul-Fattah, 14, was moderately injured and was transferred to Khalil Suleiman Governmental Hospital in Jenin. Several children and residents inhaled gas fired by the army and received treatment. The clashes started during evening hours after several armored jeeps and military vehicles invaded the camp.... more.. Israelis settle in for long stay in village of Ghajar The Daily Star 9/27/2006 ABBASSIYEH, Lebanon: The once divided Southern town of Ghajar, half occupied by Israel and half within Lebanese territory, appears to have been finally reunited under one flag. "Khalas, it is gone. It is a new Israeli town and they are even repainting it in Israel's favorite colors, pink and yellow," said 16-year-old shepherd Walid Ain Zat, who along with his two younger brothers regularly tends his flock of goats in the open fields near the border town. Ghajar appears to be excluded from reports that circulated Tuesday announcing that Israel has withdrawn from 90 percent of the territory it held in the South after the recent month-long war on Lebanon." I guess no one will ever be coming out of or going in there again," said Ain Zat, who wasn't the only Southern resident to notice "changes" in Ghajar, such as the raising of an Israeli flag.... more.. Israeli soldiers take six brothers captive in a raid on a West Bank village Ma'an News 9/26/2006 Jenin -- Israeli forces seized six Palestinian men from two families in one village in the north of the occupied West Bank on Tuesday. Palestinian security sources said that Israeli military forces raided the village of Kafr Dan, west of Jenin, from all directions and started a house-to-house search. The Israeli forces broke into the house of Ramzi Abid, who is considered 'wanted' by the Israeli army. As he was not at home, the soldiers seized four of his brothers instead – Qahir, 37, Hitler, 30, Osama, 28, and Lutfi, 23. The soldiers also broke into the Salah family house and seized the two brothers, Mohammad and Khair Samir Salah. The six men were taken away to an unknown destination. Eyewitnesses said that they heard sounds of explosions during the raid on the village. [end] Three days of invasions disrupt Ramadan in Nablus Palestine News Network 9/26/2006 For the third consecutive day, Israeli forces have continued the invasion of Nablus City, converting several high buildings into sniper towers. Residents say the “atmosphere of Ramadan is spoiled. ”Official Palestinian security sources said that Israeli snipers shot into the apartment of Kamil Abu Saed Iddin, striking 23 year old Amjad Anabtawi in the chest. The Nablus man is hospitalized as of Tuesday morning. Israeli forces concentrated on several Old City neighborhoods, including Yasmina and Kalbouna, conducting major raids. Military vehicles incurred from Checkpoint 17 and the Beit Iba suburban checkpoint, while opening heavy gunfire and launching grenades this morning. [end] Troops abduct a resident in Qabatia International Middle East Media Center 9/26/2006 Palestinian sources reported on Tuesday at night that Israeli soldiers abducted Ali Abu M'alla, 20, from Qabatia town, south of Jenin in the northern part of the West Bank. The sources stated that Abu M'alla was approaching his home when he was attacked and abducted by undercover forces of the Israel army. After the resident was taken prisoner, Israeli soldiers invaded the town and exchanged fire with resistance fighters, no injuries were reported. Army claims that the resident is a member of the Islamic Jihad Movement. [end] Army installs two checkpoints on Jenin–Tulkarem and Jenin-Nablus roads International Middle East Media Center 9/26/2006 Israeli troops installed two military checkpoints on Jenin–Tulkarem and Jenin-Nablus Roads, on Tuesday morning. Soldiers stopped civilian cars and taxis, searched them and checked the identity cards of the residents after forcing them to stop out of the vehicles for long periods. Also soldiers forced several residents to undress in public uder the pretext of searching themat the two checkpoints, eyewitnesses reported. Troops also confiscated several vehicles after claiming that they were illegal, eyewitnesses added. [end] Army takes two prisoners from Hebron and a nearby village International Middle East Media Center 9/26/2006 Monther Hassan, 28, from the West Bank city of Hebron and Sobhi Zma'ra, 16, from the nearby Halhoul village were taken prisoners by the Israeli army on Tuesday morning. Troops stormed, searched and ransacked residents' houses in Hebron city and Halhou, before taking the two to unknown locations, their families reported. The sister of Zma'ra said that troops stormed their house in Halhoul 50 days ago and abducted her19-year old brother who remained in detention until now without charges or trial. [end] Army invades Kofer Dann village near Jenin, takes six prisoners International Middle East Media Center 9/26/2006 Tuesday at dawn, Israeli army invaded the village of Kofer Dan, west of Jenin in the northern part of the West Bank, and took six residents prisoners, including four brothers. Several army vehicle invaded the village and fired flares and sound bombs while soldiers conducted wide scale house-to-house search campaign and ransacked families belongings before taking the six to unknown locations. The detainees were identified as; Qaher Abed, 39, and his three brothers Samir, 33, Osama, 29, and Lotfi, 25, Mohamed Abu Al Hija, 21, and his brother Khairy, 20. [end] Two Palestinians seized in Halhul, north of Hebron Ma'an News 9/26/2006 Hebron -- The Israeli forces seized two Palestinians in the Hebron area of the southern occupied West Bank on Tuesday morning. Palestinian security sources reported that the Israeli forces invaded the town of Halhul, north of Hebron, and arrested Muhammad Subhi Za'amrah, 16 and Munther Jamil Abdul-Karim. The Israeli soldiers also stepped up their security measures in Hebron by checking everyone entering the city. [end] Masked gunmen assault student leader in Khan Younis Ma'an News 9/26/2006 Khan Younis -- Unknown armed men attacked the head of the student union of Al Aqsa University in Khan Younis on Tuesday. Four armed and masked men arrived in a black Subaru car and stopped Ala'a Jokhlob near the university, that is in the south of the Gaza Strip. They severely beat him and humiliated him, then left. The man was transported to hospital with many bruises and broken bones. The reasons for the attack are unknown. [end] Military groups fire projectiles at Sderot and detonate roadside bombs next to Israeli jeeps in Gaza Ma'an News 9/26/2006 Ma'an - The Al Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, have claimed responsibility for launching two homemade projectiles at the Israeli town of Sderot on Tuesday. In a statement issued on Tuesday morning, the Brigades said that the shelling of Sderot was in reaction to the Israeli minister of defence Peretz' statements in which he called for the launching of projectiles to be stopped and said that Israel will continue pursuing the projectile-launchers. The Al Quds Brigades announced earlier on Tuesday morning that they had launched a projectile at the town of Sderot. A young Israeli woman was reportedly injured by shrapnel from a homemade projectile fired at the town on Tuesday morning. Israeli medical sources said that the woman was in an Israeli hospital and her condition is stable. more.. Israel: Sderot still under fire ReliefWeb/IRIN 9/26/2006 SDEROT, 26 September (IRIN) - With the end of the war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, rocket attacks on the north of Israel are now no more than a bad memory. However, the small southern town of Sderot has long been the target of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip by Palestinian militants." Nobody tells the story of Sderot. We've been suffering almost six years on a daily basis. We don't have the same life as before the Qassams [rockets] came to visit," said Eli Moyal, Mayor of Sderot. With a population of 24,000, Sderot is barely a mile away from the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt). The first Qassam rocket fired from Gaza landed on Sderot in April 2001. Five years on, about 3,000 rockets have hit the town - and they show no sign of abating. more.. How cluster bombs work BBC 9/26/2006 Cluster bombs are controversial weapons consisting of a canister which breaks apart to release a large number of small bombs. A range of so-called bomblets can be employed to attack different targets such as armoured vehicles or people - or to start fires. They can cover a large area but do not have precision guidance. Dropped from medium to high altitudes, they can wander off target. There is a significant "dud rate" of about 5% [est. 40% of Israel's cluster bomblets remain unexploded in Lebonon - Ed. ]. In other words, many do not explode but, rather like landmines, litter the ground with the potential to explode years later. There are said to be thousands in Kosovo. more.. Israel pressed on cluster targets BBC 9/19/2006 The UN has urged Israel to say exactly where it fired cluster bombs during its recent bombardment of south Lebanon. Humanitarian co-ordinator David Shearer says Israel's failure to provide the co-ordinates has hampered a clear-up effort that could take many months. An average of three people are killed or wounded a day by cluster munitions since the fighting ended on 14 August. Thousands of cluster bomblets landed in farms and villages, some 30-40% of which failed to explode at the time. Israel denies using the munitions illegally against civilian targets during the conflict. But Mr Shearer said Israel has yet to explain why 90% of its cluster munitions were fired in the last days of the conflict, as UN members were finalising a ceasefire resolution. -- See also: Lebanon, a unique example of humanitarian solidarity more.. IAF planes to fly over Lebanon until 1701 implemented Jerusalem Post 9/25/2006 Gearing up for the complete withdrawal of soldiers from Lebanon by the end of the week, the IDF said on Monday it would continue - even following the withdrawal - to fly surveillance planes over Lebanon until UN Security Council Resolution 1701 was fully implemented. On Tuesday, Brig. -Gen. Udi Dekel, head of the IDF's Strategic Planning Division will meet with UNIFIL commander General Alain Pellegrini and representatives of the Lebanese Army at UN headquarters in Nakoura, just north of Rosh Hanikra.... To the UN's dismay, the officer said, Israel did not plan to suspend its aerial activity over Lebanon until Resolution 1701 was fully implemented, the kidnapped soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser were released and the Lebanese border with Syria was hermetically sealed to weapons transfers to Hizbullah. more.. Rights group: Israel abducting civilians The Daily Star 9/26/2006 BEIRUT: The Khiam Rehabilitation Center for the Victims of Torture said Monday that Israel continues to abduct Lebanese citizens from Lebanese territories in a "clear violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and UN Security Council Resolution 1701." The center said in a statement that "the convention prohibits the taking of hostages who have no active role in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those put out of action by sickness, wounds, detention or any other cause." The center urged the international community to force Israel to stop abducting civilians and release all Lebanese detained in its prisons. It added that Israel's actions violate Resolution 1701, which calls for a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hizbullah. more.. Israeli forces attack northern Gaza Strip several days running Palestine News Network 9/25/2006 At dawn Monday Israeli forces invaded the northern West Bank town of Beit Hanoun. Eyewitnesses report that a number of Israeli tanks and bulldozers advanced towards citizens’ homes and imposed earth roadblocks. Imposition of another military installation inside the Gaza Strip is underway. Located between two former settlements, Dugit and Eli Sinai, area residents have suffered under three days running of Israeli attacks. It began when Israeli soldiers forced Palestinians from their homes under the pretext of searching for tunnels used for resistance activities. In nearby Beit Lahia, Israeli forces killed three young boys herding sheep in the area just days ago. [end] 14-year old boy in critical condition after being shot in the chest by Israeli soldiers Ma'an News 9/25/2006 Bethlehem -- A Palestinian boy was seriously injured when Israeli forces shot him in the chest on Sunday. Palestinian sources said that 14-year old Ghassan Salah was shot in the chest and his condition is critical. Eyewitnesses said that confrontations erupted between Palestinians and Israeli forces when they entered the village of Al Khader, south of Bethlehem on Sunday. They also said that another two were injured but did not identify them. The boy was transferred to Beit Jala hospital near Bethlehem. [end] Israeli forces still destroying agricultural land in Gaza Strip Palestine News Network 9/24/2006 Governor of the southern Gaza Strip’s Khan Younis, Dr. Osama Farra, told PNN Sunday that the total direct agricultural losses suffered due to recent incursions are estimated at approximately four million dollars. In an official press statement issued today, the Information Office wrote that the occupation’s recent aggressions focused mainly on Absan, Farahin, Al Qarara, and other agricultural land in the mid-Gaza Strip. Israeli forces are eradicating fruit-bearing trees and others, and destroying the infrastructure including the agricultural sector, the water wells, irrigation systems, ponds and water harvesting. He added that losses have been countless since the beginning of the month of July 2006, with direct material losses amounting to 40 percent of the total losses incurred by the agricultural sector compared with the rest of the sectors. more.. Israeli forces bulldoze 100 metres of land in southern Gaza Strip Ma'an News 9/25/2006 Gaza -- The Israeli forces penetrated the neighbourhood of Farahin in the town of Abasan Al Kabira, southeast of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, on Monday, Palestinian security sources said. The sources added that the Israeli forces bulldozed a stretch of land measuring at least 100 metres in length and searched the area for roadside bombs. [end] One of President Abbas' guards seized by Israeli soldiers in a morning raid Ma'an News 9/25/2006 Bethlehem -- Israeli forces seized one of Palestinian President Abbas' guards in a raid of a town in the south of the occupied West Bank early on Monday, Palestinian security sources have said. Palestinian sources reported that an Israeli contingent broke into the town of Adh Dhahiriya, southwest of Hebron, early on Monday morning and launched a house-to-house search. They surrounded the house of Nasser Nayef Hussein, 24, a member of the Palestinian presidential security guards, 'Force 17' and took him prisoner. [end] Israeli incursion into Tubas and Far'a refugee camp; no injuries or arrests Ma'an News 9/25/2006 Jenin -- Israeli forces disguised as Palestinian civilians broke into the West Bank city of Tubas on Monday morning, while military vehicles rolled into Far'a refugee camp. A contingent of "must'arabeen", Israeli Special Forces in disguise, broke into the city of Tubas in the northwest of the occupied West Bank while four Israeli military vehicles backed them up, Palestinian sources said. They entered from the northern entrance and besieged the house of Jawdat Masri. They then broke in and searched it invasively. No arrests were reported. In Far'a refugee camp, south of Tubas, Palestinian sources said that more than a dozen military vehicles entered, accompanied by a military bulldozer which took up position at the entrance of the camp. more.. 5,000 Israeli troops linger in South The Daily Star 9/25/2006 Despite an Israeli pledge to withdraw from Lebanese territory once the number of United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon troops reaches 5,000, Israeli soldiers remain in their positions in the South on Sunday. A security source told The Daily Star that the Israeli Army "will be withdrawing behind the UN-demarcated Blue Line by the end of this month." The Israeli Army has pulled out of some Southern villages, such as Mayss al-Jabal and Mohaibeb, and redeployed to other parts of the South, but it has not withdrawn completely from Lebanese territory. Meanwhile, the Lebanese Army continues to deploy its troops along the Southern border in the villages which the Israelis have already left. For the first time in three decades, Lebanese Army troops from the 6th Legion reached the Southern border point of Naqoura, south of Tyre... more.. Israeli forces storm Marda village again Ma'an News 9/25/2006 Salfit -- Israeli forces raided the West Bank village of Marda, north of the city of Salfit, on Sunday evening. The Israeli soldiers stormed the village in the northeast of the occupied West Bank amid heavy gunfire and while firing sound bombs and flares. Eyewitnesses said that the Israeli forces broke into the house of Hisham Radwan in the village and destroyed his furniture. The soldiers also assaulted one of the men of the house. No arrests were reported. Marda suffers frequent Israeli military incursions and violent raids. Israeli soldiers invaded on both Thursday and Friday nights last week. [end] Five Palestinians arrested at new temporary barriers in the West Bank on Sunday Ma'an News 9/25/2006 Salfit -- The Israeli forces set up new checkpoints on Palestinian roads on Sunday. At one, the Israeli soldiers detained three Palestinians from the northwest of the West Bank, and at another, they detained two teenage boys from a Bethlehem refugee camp. Eyewitnesses said that the Israeli forces erected a temporary barrier between the two villages of Deir Istiya and Kifl Haris, north of the city of Salfit and the illegal settlement of Ariel. They reported that the Israeli soldiers arrested three allegedly 'wanted' Palestinians at the barrier from the nearby villages of Haris and Qira. Two of the arrested men were named as Fuad Awwad, 21, and Ibrahim Mahmoud, 19, and the third's identity was not revealed. The Israeli forces also set up a flying checkpoint in the Wadi Nar area... more.. In two separate incidents Israeli forces arrest three Palestinians from Bethlehem Palestine News Network 9/25/2006 Israeli forces occupying Bethlehem at the encroaching Har Homa Settlement opened fire on Beit Sahour for hours today. Eyewitnesses report from the southern Bethlehem suburb that the Israelis began shooting at noon and did not stop in Beit Sahour and further into Bethlehem. Israeli soldiers brought military dogs with them and began breaking into homes, conducting invasive searches. Israeli forces arrested one young Palestinian man who was in search of work. By all accounts Israeli soldiers opened fire on three young men who had tried to work in the settlement without obtaining permits, as money and employment are so scarce. Israeli soldiers shot at all of them and arrested one. Palestinian security sources in Bethlehem also report that Israeli forces arrested two boys from Bethlehem... more.. 2 Qassam rockets land in south YNet News 9/25/2006 One rockets lands near Kibbutz Mefalsim, causing damage to two cars; one woman suffers from shock. Another rocket hits Sderot area; no injuries reported -- Palestinians fired two Qassam rockets from the northern Gaza Strip on Monday morning. One of the rockets landed near Kibbutz Mefalsim, causing damage to two cars. A Magen David Adom crew dispatched to the area evacuated a woman who suffered from shock to the Barzilai Medical Center in Asheklon. The other rocket landed near the southern town of Sderot and did not cause injuries or damage. The Sderot Municipality spokesman reported that the Red Color alert system was activated in the southern town once a report was received on the launching of the rockets. more.. Islamic Jihad faction fires two projectiles into Sderot; one woman reportedly hit Ma'an News 9/25/2006 Ma'an -- Ma'an - The Al Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, announced responsibility for launching two homemade projectiles at the southern Israeli town of Sderot early on Monday. In a statement, the Brigades said that explosions and sirens were heard in the town and ambulances rushed to the scene. The statement said that, according to Israeli sources, one woman had been hit. The statement also said that the launching of projectiles was part of their reaction to the Israeli occupation's crimes. [end] Military wing of Islamic Jihad launches four projectiles at Ashkelon Ma'an News 9/25/2006 Gaza -- The Al Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, have claiming responsibility for launching four homemade projectiles at the Israeli city of Ashkelon on Monday. In a statement issued Monday afternoon, the Brigades claimed that this launching was a reaction to the Israeli aggressions. [end] Israeli forces confiscating more Palestinian land for settlement expansion Palestine News Network 9/24/2006 The Israeli military issued a decision to confiscate more West Bank land to build a settler bypass road within the Salfit District south of Qalqilia City in the northwestern West Bank. “Baber Samaria” Street construction will confiscate hundreds of acres of Palestinian agricultural land and still more will become inaccessible due to fences. Israeli forces are taking the West Bank piece by piece, lately with the northwestern West Bank and the city of Bethlehem as major targets. The purpose is to further overtake land for illegal settling in the Ornit Settlement bloc, as widely reported by human rights sources, and not for security purposes as some would hope to claim. The Israeli-built Wall is also destroying the area and farmers are reaching the point of no longer being able to function. All is being done in contravention to international law. more.. Tension prevails in Al Khader as eight remain in local prison Palestine News Network 9/24/2006 Two-hundred Palestinians demonstrated in Al Khader Village last night. Among them, 15 wore masks. They barricaded streets and burned car tires in protest of Palestinian police arresting eight Palestinians in the southwestern Bethlehem town. The conflict began during a traffic accident at the beginning of the month. A civilian car and police jeep collided, two citizens were injured and claimed the police jeep hit them purposefully. When Police Chief, Colonel Issa Hijo, was tasked to relieve tensions, he was attacked by dozens. After four days a number of citizens were detained, with eight remaining arrested. Three were minors and one an elected member of the Al Khader Municipality and Principal of the Husan Secondary School. more.. 4 Million Direct Agricultural Losses in Khan Younis City WAFA - Palestine News Agency 9/24/2006 KHAN YOUNIS, September 24, 2006 (WAFA) - Khan Younis Governor,Dr. Usama al-Farra, announced Sunday that the total direct agricultural losses estimated about US $ 4 Million in the wake of the recent Israeli incursions in the southern Gaza Strip (GS) city of Khan Younis during July 2006. In a statement, issued by the Governorate Information office, Al-Farra pointed out that 5500 trees of olive,citrus trees and fruit were uprooted , in addition to 800 palm trees, 300 Dunums of irrigated vegetables, and 30 dunums agricultural greenhouses. He added that IOF damaged irrigation systems used to feed about 800 Dunums of arable lands, and destroyed nearly 7 of poultry farms, while the razed and burned lands reached 1350 Dunums. While more than 505 farmers were affected due to Israeli incursion. more.. Palestinian radio journalist abducted in Gaza City Ma'an News 9/25/2006 Gaza -- Unidentified gunmen abducted Palestinian journalist Salim Abu Amro from the radio station where he works in Gaza City on Monday. Some fifteen armed forced Abu Amro to go with them under threat of weapons. They took him to a Volkswagen car that was waiting for them under the building and he was taken away to an unknown destination. Abu Amro was working at Al Hurriyah (meaning 'Freedom') local radio station. Palestinians say this is the first time that a Palestinian local journalist was kidnapped. Eyewitnesses said that the police forces arrived on the scene after the man had been kidnapped. It is believed that he was kidnapped for family reasons, not because he worked in the media. [end] UAE, Lebanese Army ink pact to de-mine South The Daily Star 9/26/2006 BEIRUT: A new agreement was signed Monday between the Lebanese Army and the United Arab Emirates to remove mines and unexploded bombs left by Israeli troops in South Lebanon. The agreement was signed during a conference held at the UAE Embassy in Beirut, in the presence of Ambassador Mohammad Sultan Soueidi, army representative Lieutenant Colonel Hassan Faqih and UN representative Kerry Clarks. The Emirati ambassador said the agreement "falls within the UAE Program to support and rebuild Lebanon." Soueidi added that the UAE armed forces would remove mines and unexploded bombs from the areas south of the Litani River, in cooperation with the British ArmorGroup. more.. Israeli troops to leave South by 'end of week' The Daily Star 9/26/2006 Israeli troops are still occupying 10 areas in South Lebanon from which they are due to withdraw completely by the end of the week, a senior United Nations official said on Monday. They remain in place in 10 zones stretching from Yarin in the eastern sector to Kfar Kila in the central area, said French Major Philippe Lebrat, military assistant to the commander of the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL). The announcement comes on the eve of a meeting between UNIFIL, Lebanese and Israeli officials which is due to finalize the complete Israeli pullout from the border areas it has occupied since the month-long hostilities ended on August 14 with a UN-brokered cease-fire. Lebrat said the Israeli positions were located from between 1 and 3 kilometers deep inside South Lebanon. more.. IDF: Sorties will continue over Lebanon YNet News 9/25/2006 By end of week, last IDF soldier will leave south Lebanon. Local army forces are already deployed in western south Lebanon, and IDF is satisfied with their performance -- The IDF said that following the departure of all of its soldiers from Lebanese territories, aerial sorties will continue in Lebanese skies. Israel will reserve its right to continue to carry out the flights, aimed at gathering intelligence on developments in southern Lebanon, especially in light of the fact that the two kidnapped soldiers – Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser – are still in captivity. The IDF is preparing to pull its last forces from south Lebanon, and it is estimated that the maneuver will be complete by the end of the week, in accordance with a government decision. more.. Israel Navy eyeing new US warship Jerusalem Post 9/25/2006 The Israel Navy inched a step closer to receiving a next-generation coastguard vessel over the weekend when Lockheed Martin launched the USS Freedom, which is slated to join the US Navy, at the Marinette Marine Shipyard in Wisconsin." It comes none too soon," said US Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael G. Mullen of the 115-meter Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). "Because there are tough challenges out there that only she can handle." Designed for speed, maneuverability and amphibious operations, the LCS was developed by Lockheed Martin according to US Naval specifications to operate as a "brown-water" ship in shallow coastal waters and where there are combined threats from land and sea. The Israel Navy has ordered a $5 million feasibility study from Lockheed Martin... more.. Hamas military members fire at an Israeli soldier in central Gaza Strip Ma'an News 9/25/2006 Gaza -- The Al Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, claimed responsibility for shooting at an Israeli infantry soldier east of Maghazi refugee camp in the centre of the Gaza Strip on Monday around noon. In a statement, the Brigades said that the shooting operation is "part of their confrontation with the Israeli occupation troops. [end] Tulkarem Refugees Call for Israel Boycott in Trade Fair WAFA - Palestine News Agency 9/25/2006 TULKAREM, September 24, 2006 (WAFA)- Tulkarem Refugees and other institutions called to boycott Israeli products, said Palestinian Grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign. In trade fair that is taking place in Tulkarem city, Palestinian citizens and traders gathered in the refugee camp to buy and sell Palestinian products in a statement of boycott and resistance to the Israeli occupation. Goods produced in the camp itself were on sale, including carob energy drinks, children's clothes and packaged cakes. Local people browsed the stalls while children from the camp entertained onlookers with drumming and dancing. The message of the meeting was to remind the population that boycott is a culture and a way of resisting occupation, the checkpoints and everything that the occupation is trying to impose on the Palestinian people. more.. Israel lifts closure on West Bank, Gaza after Jewish New Year holiday Ha'aretz 9/25/2006 Israel lifted a blanket closure on the West Bank and Gaza Strip on Monday, after the Jewish New Year holiday ended, the Israel Defense Forces said. The three-day blockade prevented thousands of Palestinian laborers from entering Israel, and made it difficult for people and goods to travel between towns and villages in the West Bank. Movement of goods in and out of Israel was also blocked. The IDF imposed a closure Friday on the West Bank and Gaza Strip to prevent Palestinians from entering Israel during the Rosh Hashanah holiday weekend. Security forces imposed the closure and went on high alert in light of nonspecific warnings of terror attacks during the Jewish New Year, which began at sundown Friday. [end] Rafah Today: 'What's wrong with public opinion?' Rafah Today 9/22/2006 Includes photos: All those people are leaving Gaza / Demonstrations against hunger in Gaza / Medical workers in Rafah carrying an injured child / Not enough seats for the passangers at Rafah border / A Palestinian woman taking her baby into a bus at Rafah border, the only place to get out of the Gaza Strip. It is open only for 48 hours / Palestinian women sitting in the middle of their demolsihed houses in Rafah -- What makes today's life in Gaza Strip different from yesterday? Of course, nothing, but the only thing is the number of people who were killed, people who were injured, number of houses being demolished, number of children becoming orphans and number of women becoming widows. All this is Gazan daily life under the Israeli Occupation. Sometimes, I'm wondering, what's wrong with the public opinion... ? more.. Israel Pushes for New WB Settlements Palestine Chronicle/Arab News 9/22/2006 Amid all this Israel invited bids for construction of 164 new housing units in the occupied WB yesterday, the second expansion push in less than three weeks. -- GAZA - Five Palestinians, including a woman and three teenagers, were killed and several wounded by Israeli fire in the Gaza Strip yesterday, as both Hamas and Israel cautiously welcomed the support from world powers for its participation in a Palestinian coalition government.... The Israeli Housing Ministry published s in the local press inviting the bids for 88 new units in Ariel in central West Bank, 56 units in Alfei Meache in the north and 26 units in Karnei Shomron, also in the north. The move was slammed by the Palestinian government and Israel’s anti-settlement Peace Now group. more.. Israel Pushes for New WB Settlements Palestine Chronicle/Arab News 9/22/2006 Amid all this Israel invited bids for construction of 164 new housing units in the occupied WB yesterday, the second expansion push in less than three weeks. -- GAZA - Five Palestinians, including a woman and three teenagers, were killed and several wounded by Israeli fire in the Gaza Strip yesterday, as both Hamas and Israel cautiously welcomed the support from world powers for its participation in a Palestinian coalition government.... The Israeli Housing Ministry published s in the local press inviting the bids for 88 new units in Ariel in central West Bank, 56 units in Alfei Meache in the north and 26 units in Karnei Shomron, also in the north. The move was slammed by the Palestinian government and Israel’s anti-settlement Peace Now group. more.. As Israel prepares for Rosh Hashanah holiday, army imposes full closure in the Palestinian areas International Middle East Media Center 9/22/2006 Israeli forces imposes full closure on the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip to prevent the entry of Palestinians into Israel as it celebrates the Jewish Rosh Hashanah (New year) holiday weekend. The closure also includes tightening the already imposed siege and restrictions of movement of Palestinians within the West Bank. Israeli sources reported that there are no “specific warnings” of any attacks during the Jewish New Year which beings on Friday at sunset. The closure will remain imposed until Sunday night. An Israeli army source said that only humanitarian cases, medical workers, teachers and lawyers might be allowed to cross given the condition that they receive a special permit. On the ground, thousands of security officers and troops were deployed in city centers, markets, malls, bus station and other public facilities,,, more.. As Israel prepares for Rosh Hashanah holiday, army imposes full closure in the Palestinian areas International Middle East Media Center 9/22/2006 Israeli forces imposes full closure on the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip to prevent the entry of Palestinians into Israel as it celebrates the Jewish Rosh Hashanah (New year) holiday weekend. The closure also includes tightening the already imposed siege and restrictions of movement of Palestinians within the West Bank. Israeli sources reported that there are no “specific warnings” of any attacks during the Jewish New Year which beings on Friday at sunset. The closure will remain imposed until Sunday night. An Israeli army source said that only humanitarian cases, medical workers, teachers and lawyers might be allowed to cross given the condition that they receive a special permit. On the ground, thousands of security officers and troops were deployed in city centers, markets, malls, bus station and other public facilities,,, more.. IAF bombs house of suspected Palestinian weapons dealer Ha'aretz 9/23/2006 RAFAH, Gaza Strip - An Israeli air strike late Friday demolished thehouse of a suspected Palestinian weapons dealer near the Gaza-Egypt border, the Israel Defense Forces and Palestinian police said. The two-story house was brought down in back-to-back strikes, Palestinian security officials said. The IDF said the house had covered the entrance to a smuggling tunnel. There were no reports of injuries. The IDF routinely notifies owners of homes being targeted in air strikes to give residents a chance of leave. Thousands of Fatah supporters staged an anti-Hamas march [in Gaza] Friday amid growing tension between the political rivals. more.. IAF bombs house of suspected Palestinian weapons dealer Ha'aretz 9/23/2006 RAFAH, Gaza Strip - An Israeli air strike late Friday demolished thehouse of a suspected Palestinian weapons dealer near the Gaza-Egypt border, the Israel Defense Forces and Palestinian police said. The two-story house was brought down in back-to-back strikes, Palestinian security officials said. The IDF said the house had covered the entrance to a smuggling tunnel. There were no reports of injuries. The IDF routinely notifies owners of homes being targeted in air strikes to give residents a chance of leave. Thousands of Fatah supporters staged an anti-Hamas march [in Gaza] Friday amid growing tension between the political rivals. more.. Israeli air force shells a house in Rafah International Middle East Media Center 9/23/2006 Israeli air force shelled on Friday at night a Palestinian house in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. At least one missile hit a house that belongs to Abu Jarad family, only a few minutes after the family was informed to evacuate. Eyewitnesses reported that the house was completely destroyed as a result of the blast, several neighborliness houses were damaged; no injuries were reported. Meanwhile, an Israeli military source stated that the owner of the house is a “suspected weapons dealer”. The house is close to the Gaza-Egypt border. The two-story-house was leveled by the shells, the military spokesperson stated that the shelled house had covered the entrance of a tunnel used for smuggling arms and ammunition into the Gaza Strip. more.. Israeli air force shells a house in Rafah International Middle East Media Center 9/23/2006 Israeli air force shelled on Friday at night a Palestinian house in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. At least one missile hit a house that belongs to Abu Jarad family, only a few minutes after the family was informed to evacuate. Eyewitnesses reported that the house was completely destroyed as a result of the blast, several neighborliness houses were damaged; no injuries were reported. Meanwhile, an Israeli military source stated that the owner of the house is a “suspected weapons dealer”. The house is close to the Gaza-Egypt border. The two-story-house was leveled by the shells, the military spokesperson stated that the shelled house had covered the entrance of a tunnel used for smuggling arms and ammunition into the Gaza Strip. more.. A roadside bomb in Nablus injures seven Israeli soldiers Ma'an News 9/22/2006 Nablus -- Seven Israeli soldiers were injured when a roadside bomb exploded in a street in the West Bank city of Nablus. Israeli sources said that the soldiers sustained light and moderate injuries after a bomb planted by Palestinian fighters exploded in one of the streets of the city. In a telephone call to Ma'an, a group calling themselves 'The Knights of the Night' ('Faris Al Lail") claimed responsibility for detonating the bomb. They said they are part of the Fatah-affiliated Al Alqsa Brigades. The sources added that the Israeli forces rushed to the area and started combing the area, searching for other bombs. The source said that the soldiers fired intensively at Palestinians in the area who the Israeli soldiers believed were fighters. The injured soldiers were transported to hospitals in Israel. more.. A roadside bomb in Nablus injures seven Israeli soldiers Ma'an News 9/22/2006 Nablus -- Seven Israeli soldiers were injured when a roadside bomb exploded in a street in the West Bank city of Nablus. Israeli sources said that the soldiers sustained light and moderate injuries after a bomb planted by Palestinian fighters exploded in one of the streets of the city. In a telephone call to Ma'an, a group calling themselves 'The Knights of the Night' ('Faris Al Lail") claimed responsibility for detonating the bomb. They said they are part of the Fatah-affiliated Al Alqsa Brigades. The sources added that the Israeli forces rushed to the area and started combing the area, searching for other bombs. The source said that the soldiers fired intensively at Palestinians in the area who the Israeli soldiers believed were fighters. The injured soldiers were transported to hospitals in Israel. more.. Nablus: Soldiers injured by explosive device YNet News 9/22/2006 Locals throw bomb at IDF force operating in area; one soldier moderately injured, six others sustain light injuries. Troops evacuated to hospital. Several Tanzim, Fatah operatives nabbed in Ramallah -- An Israel Defense Forces soldier was moderately wounded and six other troops sustained light injuries after Palestinians hurled an explosive device towards them early Friday, during an arrest raid in Nablus. The force was operating at the Balata refugee camp in town when the device was thrown at the soldiers. The force responded with fire. The troops were evacuated to Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikva and Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba. Earlier, IDF soldiers arrested two Tanzim activists and a Fatah operative in Nablus. A wanted woman was arrested in the Balata refugee camp. more.. Nablus: Soldiers injured by explosive device YNet News 9/22/2006 Locals throw bomb at IDF force operating in area; one soldier moderately injured, six others sustain light injuries. Troops evacuated to hospital. Several Tanzim, Fatah operatives nabbed in Ramallah -- An Israel Defense Forces soldier was moderately wounded and six other troops sustained light injuries after Palestinians hurled an explosive device towards them early Friday, during an arrest raid in Nablus. The force was operating at the Balata refugee camp in town when the device was thrown at the soldiers. The force responded with fire. The troops were evacuated to Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikva and Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba. Earlier, IDF soldiers arrested two Tanzim activists and a Fatah operative in Nablus. A wanted woman was arrested in the Balata refugee camp. more.. Two PA police wounded in Rafah blast Jerusalem Post 9/22/2006 Two Palestinian policemen were wounded on Friday when unidentified gunmen exploded a small bomb near Palestinian police guarding European Union monitors at the Egypt-Gaza border crossing of Rafah, Palestinian officials said. The incident came just moments after the crossing opened for the first time in a month. None of the EU monitors was hurt, said Hatem Barhoum, a senior police official in Gaza. Police responded by opening fire, and a gunbattle ensued. The incident took place inside the Gaza portion of the border terminal, and was corroborated by other Palestinian officials inside the building. [end] Two PA police wounded in Rafah blast Jerusalem Post 9/22/2006 Two Palestinian policemen were wounded on Friday when unidentified gunmen exploded a small bomb near Palestinian police guarding European Union monitors at the Egypt-Gaza border crossing of Rafah, Palestinian officials said. The incident came just moments after the crossing opened for the first time in a month. None of the EU monitors was hurt, said Hatem Barhoum, a senior police official in Gaza. Police responded by opening fire, and a gunbattle ensued. The incident took place inside the Gaza portion of the border terminal, and was corroborated by other Palestinian officials inside the building. [end] Military wing of DFLP claims responsibility for a roadside bomb that set an Israeli jeep alight Ma'an News 9/22/2006 Gaza -- The National Resistance Brigades, the military wing of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), have claimed responsibility for detonating a roadside bomb next to a passing Israeli military jeep east of the Khuza'a area in the southern Gaza Strip on Friday morning. In a statement issued on Friday, the Brigades said that flames were noticed in the jeep after the explosion and that many Israeli jeeps and tanks arrived on the scene shortly after. The statement added that the operation is "part of the natural reaction against the Israeli occupation troops". Khuza'a is southeast of the city of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. [end] Military wing of DFLP claims responsibility for a roadside bomb that set an Israeli jeep alight Ma'an News 9/22/2006 Gaza -- The National Resistance Brigades, the military wing of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), have claimed responsibility for detonating a roadside bomb next to a passing Israeli military jeep east of the Khuza'a area in the southern Gaza Strip on Friday morning. In a statement issued on Friday, the Brigades said that flames were noticed in the jeep after the explosion and that many Israeli jeeps and tanks arrived on the scene shortly after. The statement added that the operation is "part of the natural reaction against the Israeli occupation troops". Khuza'a is southeast of the city of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. [end] Palestinian police defend West Bank church against assailants Ha'aretz 9/23/2006 Palestinian police guarding a West Bank church exchanged fire with assailants and chased them away early Saturday, witnesses said. Shortly after midnight, the sound of heavy gun fire was heard outside theRoman Catholic Church in the West Bank city of Nablus. Resident Abdel Salam Abu Rob said police guarding the church were exchanging fire with wouldbe assailants. Police guards were posted at churches in the West Bank and Gaza last weekend, after a first spate of attacks. Residents said they heard intensive fire for about 20 minutes. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage to the church. On Friday, three pipe bombs were thrown at a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza city Friday, a church official said. more.. Palestinian police defend West Bank church against assailants Ha'aretz 9/23/2006 Palestinian police guarding a West Bank church exchanged fire with assailants and chased them away early Saturday, witnesses said. Shortly after midnight, the sound of heavy gun fire was heard outside theRoman Catholic Church in the West Bank city of Nablus. Resident Abdel Salam Abu Rob said police guarding the church were exchanging fire with wouldbe assailants. Police guards were posted at churches in the West Bank and Gaza last weekend, after a first spate of attacks. Residents said they heard intensive fire for about 20 minutes. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage to the church. On Friday, three pipe bombs were thrown at a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza city Friday, a church official said. more.. Explosives hurled at Gaza church YNet News 9/22/2006 Assailants hurl three explosives devices at Greek Orthodox church; Pope to meet Muslim envoys -- Three small explosives were thrown at a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza city Friday, a church official said. A church official in Gaza City, Nabil Ayad, said one bomb was thrown at the facade of the church, shattering glass windows of a nearby van. The main entrance was blackened. Two other small bombs were thrown inside the church compound, Ayad said. The extent of damage was not clear yet, Ayad, the caretaker of the church said. There were no reports of injuries. Earlier in the week, protesters attacked seven churches in the West Bank and Gaza, causing little damage and no injuries. more.. Explosives hurled at Gaza church YNet News 9/22/2006 Assailants hurl three explosives devices at Greek Orthodox church; Pope to meet Muslim envoys -- Three small explosives were thrown at a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza city Friday, a church official said. A church official in Gaza City, Nabil Ayad, said one bomb was thrown at the facade of the church, shattering glass windows of a nearby van. The main entrance was blackened. Two other small bombs were thrown inside the church compound, Ayad said. The extent of damage was not clear yet, Ayad, the caretaker of the church said. There were no reports of injuries. Earlier in the week, protesters attacked seven churches in the West Bank and Gaza, causing little damage and no injuries. more.. Israeli sources: 12 Palestinians arrested overnight, including one woman; a Tulkarem sheikh also seized Ma'an News 9/22/2006 West Bank -- Israeli forces arrested at least 12 Palestinian citizens, including one woman in early morning arrest raids across the West Bank on Friday, Israeli sources have claimed. An Islamic cleric was also seized from his home on Thursday night, and three men were detained at a West Bank checkpoint. The sources say that one woman was arrested in Balata refugee camp in the northern West Bank city of Nablus and two other Palestinians were arrested in the city of Nablus. Israeli sources claim that they were Hamas and Fatah activists. The sources added that six other Palestinians were arrested in the area of Ramallah, and one Palestinian was arrested in Hebron. The sources claim that the arrested Palestinians were affiliated to various Palestinian political factions. more.. Israeli sources: 12 Palestinians arrested overnight, including one woman; a Tulkarem sheikh also seized Ma'an News 9/22/2006 West Bank -- Israeli forces arrested at least 12 Palestinian citizens, including one woman in early morning arrest raids across the West Bank on Friday, Israeli sources have claimed. An Islamic cleric was also seized from his home on Thursday night, and three men were detained at a West Bank checkpoint. The sources say that one woman was arrested in Balata refugee camp in the northern West Bank city of Nablus and two other Palestinians were arrested in the city of Nablus. Israeli sources claim that they were Hamas and Fatah activists. The sources added that six other Palestinians were arrested in the area of Ramallah, and one Palestinian was arrested in Hebron. The sources claim that the arrested Palestinians were affiliated to various Palestinian political factions. more.. Israeli forces kill a woman and three children in separate attacks on the Gaza Strip Palestine News Network 9/21/2006 Official Palestinian security sources, medical personnel and eyewitnesses provided information regarding the Israeli forces’ attacks on the Gaza Strip Thursday that left five people dead and several injured. Gaza City's Palestinian Centre for Human Rights issued a report this afternoon indicating that two of whom beld to death as Israeli forces would not allow Palestinian ambulances to reach the critically injured. An Israeli tank fired a shell into the Abu Safiya neighborhood of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, killing three children. Earlier today in the southern Gaza Strip Israeli special forces shot and killed a Palestinian woman. An Israeli tank fired a shell into the Abu Safiya neighborhood of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, killing three children. Earlier today in the southern Gaza Strip Israeli special forces shot and killed a Palestinian woman. Eyewitnesses in the northern Gaza Strip reported that after hearing the tank shelling ambulances rushed to the Abu Safiya neighborhood and took three young Palestinians to Kamal Adwan Hospital. Medical sources report that parts of their bodies were charred, with dust and weeds stuck to the blood. more.. Israeli forces kill a woman and three children in separate attacks on the Gaza Strip Palestine News Network 9/21/2006 Official Palestinian security sources, medical personnel and eyewitnesses provided information regarding the Israeli forces’ attacks on the Gaza Strip Thursday that left five people dead and several injured. Gaza City's Palestinian Centre for Human Rights issued a report this afternoon indicating that two of whom beld to death as Israeli forces would not allow Palestinian ambulances to reach the critically injured. An Israeli tank fired a shell into the Abu Safiya neighborhood of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, killing three children. Earlier today in the southern Gaza Strip Israeli special forces shot and killed a Palestinian woman. An Israeli tank fired a shell into the Abu Safiya neighborhood of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, killing three children. Earlier today in the southern Gaza Strip Israeli special forces shot and killed a Palestinian woman. Eyewitnesses in the northern Gaza Strip reported that after hearing the tank shelling ambulances rushed to the Abu Safiya neighborhood and took three young Palestinians to Kamal Adwan Hospital. Medical sources report that parts of their bodies were charred, with dust and weeds stuck to the blood. more.. Israeli forces invade Marda in northern West Bank on Thursday night Ma'an News 9/22/2006 Nablus -- Ma'an - Israeli forces invaded the northern West Bank village of Marda, close to the city of Salfit, on Thursday night. They fired sound bombs and flares, in addition to intensive gunfire. The soldiers broke into many houses, searched them and destroyed property while the scared children screamed. Palestinian boys threw stones and empty bottles at the invading soldiers. Marda suffers frequently from such incursions. [end] Israeli forces invade Marda in northern West Bank on Thursday night Ma'an News 9/22/2006 Nablus -- Ma'an - Israeli forces invaded the northern West Bank village of Marda, close to the city of Salfit, on Thursday night. They fired sound bombs and flares, in addition to intensive gunfire. The soldiers broke into many houses, searched them and destroyed property while the scared children screamed. Palestinian boys threw stones and empty bottles at the invading soldiers. Marda suffers frequently from such incursions. [end] Jerusalem court orders release of defiant 15-year-old Jerusalem Post 9/21/2006 Jerusalem District Court ordered the release earlier this week of a 15-year-old girl from the settlement of Shilo who refused to leave jail on bail or to recognize the authority of the court. The girl, Tirza Sariel, spent more than two months in jail and was released only after she appealed to the Jerusalem District Court against a lower court decision. Sariel was one of six girls arrested over an altercation 10 months ago with Palestinians who had come to harvest their olive trees. The girls attacked the Palestinians, charging that they had approached too close to the settlement. According to Shmuel Medad, the legal adviser of Honenu, an organization that provides legal assistance to settlers and their supporters, police, who had been summoned to the scene of the clash, tried to arrest one of the girls. more.. Jerusalem court orders release of defiant 15-year-old Jerusalem Post 9/21/2006 Jerusalem District Court ordered the release earlier this week of a 15-year-old girl from the settlement of Shilo who refused to leave jail on bail or to recognize the authority of the court. The girl, Tirza Sariel, spent more than two months in jail and was released only after she appealed to the Jerusalem District Court against a lower court decision. Sariel was one of six girls arrested over an altercation 10 months ago with Palestinians who had come to harvest their olive trees. The girls attacked the Palestinians, charging that they had approached too close to the settlement. According to Shmuel Medad, the legal adviser of Honenu, an organization that provides legal assistance to settlers and their supporters, police, who had been summoned to the scene of the clash, tried to arrest one of the girls. more.. Tenders published for 164 housing units in West Bank Jerusalem Post 9/21/2006 The Housing and Construction Ministry published tenders for the construction of 164 new units in the West Bank settlements of Ariel, Alfei Menashe and Karnei Shomron on Thursday. The announcement came a day after United States President George W. Bush reaffirmed his commitment to a two-state solution when he met with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in New York. The US and the Palestinians said they see settlement construction in the West Bank as a stumbling bloc to that vision. The Prime Minister's Office had no comment with respect to the housing tenders, which according to the Housing and Construction Ministry fall within the guidelines of Israeli law. The left-wing activist group Peace Now, which works to combat Israeli construction in the West Bank, attacked the move... more.. Tenders published for 164 housing units in West Bank Jerusalem Post 9/21/2006 The Housing and Construction Ministry published tenders for the construction of 164 new units in the West Bank settlements of Ariel, Alfei Menashe and Karnei Shomron on Thursday. The announcement came a day after United States President George W. Bush reaffirmed his commitment to a two-state solution when he met with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in New York. The US and the Palestinians said they see settlement construction in the West Bank as a stumbling bloc to that vision. The Prime Minister's Office had no comment with respect to the housing tenders, which according to the Housing and Construction Ministry fall within the guidelines of Israeli law. The left-wing activist group Peace Now, which works to combat Israeli construction in the West Bank, attacked the move... more.. MAP - West Bank barrier update (Jul 2006) ReliefWeb 9/22/2006 Date: 05 Jul 2006 * Source: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) - Compares previous route to new route. -- Map - Format: PDF 233k more.. MAP - West Bank barrier update (Jul 2006) ReliefWeb 9/22/2006 Date: 05 Jul 2006 * Source: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) - Compares previous route to new route. -- Map - Format: PDF 233k more.. MAP - West Bank Barrier Route Projections - July 2006 ReliefWeb 9/22/2006 Preliminary Overview -- The Barrier’s total length is 703 km, more than twice the length of the 1949 Armistice Line(Green Line) between the West Bank and Israel. Twenty percent (20%) of the Barrier’s length runs along the Green Line. Map - Format: PDF 315k more.. MAP - West Bank Barrier Route Projections - July 2006 ReliefWeb 9/22/2006 Preliminary Overview -- The Barrier’s total length is 703 km, more than twice the length of the 1949 Armistice Line(Green Line) between the West Bank and Israel. Twenty percent (20%) of the Barrier’s length runs along the Green Line. Map - Format: PDF 315k more.. MAP - West Bank closures - by Governorates (Jun 2006) ReliefWeb 9/21/2006 Date: 24 Jul 2006 * Source: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) * Links to Maps, by Governate (PDF format): Tubas  - Salfit  - Ramallah  - Qalqiliya  - Nablus  - Jerusalem  - Jenin  - Hebron  - Bethlehem  - Jericho  - Tulkarm more.. MAP - West Bank closures - by Governorates (Jun 2006) ReliefWeb 9/21/2006 Date: 24 Jul 2006 * Source: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) * Links to Maps, by Governate (PDF format): Tubas  - Salfit  - Ramallah  - Qalqiliya  - Nablus  - Jerusalem  - Jenin  - Hebron  - Bethlehem  - Jericho  - Tulkarm more.. MAP - Gaza Strip - Access (Jun 2006) ReliefWeb 9/22/2006 Date: 01 Jun 2006 * Source: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) -- Highly detailed map of the Gaza Strip -- more.. MAP - Gaza Strip - Access (Jun 2006) ReliefWeb 9/22/2006 Date: 01 Jun 2006 * Source: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) -- Highly detailed map of the Gaza Strip -- more.. MAP - West Bank closures (Jun 2006) ReliefWeb 9/22/2006 Date: 01 Jun 2006 * Source: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) -- Highly detailed map of the West Bank and the occupation -- Map - Format: PDF 5,433k more.. MAP - West Bank closures (Jun 2006) ReliefWeb 9/22/2006 Date: 01 Jun 2006 * Source: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) -- Highly detailed map of the West Bank and the occupation -- Map - Format: PDF 5,433k more.. Israeli army kills Palestinian in Gaza AlJazeera 9/20/2006 Israeli troops have shot and killed a Palestinian who was operating a rocket launcher in the northern Gaza Strip. The Palestinian was killed hours after rockets were fired from the launcher towards Israel on Wednesday, the army said. Rescue services said two people, including a 15-year-old boy, were wounded in the rocket attack. Earlier on Wednesday, Israel carried out an air strike on a house in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. An Israeli military spokeswoman said: "There was an aerial attack on a house which was used as a facility to store weapons." She added that residents had been told in advance to leave the building. Witnesses said the house, which was destroyed in the early morning raid on Wednesday, belonged to a Palestinian activist and had been vacated before the attack. more.. Two children injured in Tubas, one shot in head by Israeli forces Ma'an News 9/20/2006 Nablus -- Two Palestinian children were injured on Wednesday in the West Bank town of Tubas, north east of Nablus, during clashes between Israeli forces and children in the town. Ma'an's reporter in Nablus stated that Baha Fawwaz Abu 'Amir, 12, got a bullet in the head and he is in a very critical situation. Ali Muhammad Fayiz, 9, was "moderately injured". Confrontations broke out when Palestinian children threw stones at Israeli military vehicles driving through the centre of the town, on the main road. The soldiers responded by firing live ammunition, tear gas and rubber bullets. [end] See also: Two teenagers injured by Israeli gunfire in Tubas more.. Seven Palestinians, including Islamic Jihad leader, abducted in Rafah International Middle East Media Center 9/20/2006 Palestinian sources in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, reported on Wednesday at night that under-cover forces of the Israeli army abducted seven Palestinians, including a leader of the Islamic Jihad, after ambushing them in Al Shouka area in Rafah. The attack was carried out in cooperation with local collaborators with the Israeli security. The abducted Islamic Jihad leader was identified as Salah Bahloul, 40. Five members of the same family were also abducted in the attack; they were identified as Abdullah, Wasfi, Kareem, Imad and Akram Abu Sneima. The seventh resident is a member of Al Bahdari family. The sources stated that Salah Bahloul was ambushed by the army and collaborators after receiving a phone call in his house in Al Salam neighbrohoud... more.. Air strike on southern Gaza destroys another residential home Ma'an News 9/20/2006 Khan Younis -- Israeli warplanes shelled a residential house in the southern Gaza Strip early on Wednesday morning. Our correspondent in Khan Younis reported that Israeli "F-16" jets fired a missile at the three-storey house belonging to Fathi Jaradah in Ash Shoka, east of Rafah, destroying the building completely. No casualties were reported. The strike occurred just minutes after the Israeli army informed the owners of the house to evacuate. The Israeli army claimed that the house was used for storing weapons. Israel is carrying out a ferocious assault on the Gaza Strip using a policy of contacting the owners of targeted homes shortly before a strike and advising them to evacuate their homes immediately. [end] Israeli army invades Beit Fourik near Nablus, sets one house ablaze, takes one prisoner International Middle East Media Center 9/20/2006 Israeli forces invaded the village of Beit Fourik at dawn on Wednesday, set one house ablaze and took one person prisoner. Soldiers surrounded the house of Ferass Militat, 30, and then took him to an unknown location. The army claims that Militat is a member of the Islamic Jihad. Troops fired sound bombs into resident's houses in the village, setting the house of Abdullah Hannini on fire causing massive damage. Also, soldiers detained several children and took them to a nearby military post where they where held over night, interrogated and abused, Fadi Hamdan, an eyewitness and resident of Beit fourik reported. Hamdan added that army invasions are becoming daily events in the village. [end] Checkpoints of Za'tara and Huwwara prevent Palestinians below 30 from passing Ma'an News 9/20/2006 Nablus -- Israeli soldiers stationed at the checkpoints of Za'tara in eastern Salfit and Huwwara in southern Nablus have continued on Wednesday to prevent Palestinians below the age of 30 from passing through those checkpoints. An eyewitness said he waited for an hour and a half for his turn in the queue, and when the soldier checked his ID, he was denied passage, as he was below 30. [end] Israeli forces abduct Islamic Jihad activist; trapping him with phone calls Ma'an News 9/20/2006 Rafah -- Israeli special forces have abducted seven Palestinians in the Gazan city of Rafah, including Salah Bahlul, 40, an activist with Islamic Jihad. Private sources have told Ma'an that the operation took place in the outskirts of Ash-Shuka in eastern Rafah. Five of the abductees are from the Abu Sneima family and one from the Bahdari family. The sources said that Bahlul was entrapped slowly by a series of phone calls, each telling him that someone would be waiting to rendezvous with him, to drop off money, cheques and other papers. When he arrived at the rendezvous point, he was ambushed and overwhelmed by waiting Israeli soldiers. [end] Incursion into Jenin refugee camp and Tammun, 2 detained Ma'an News 9/20/2006 Jenin -- Israeli forces seized an Islamic Jihad activist in Jenin refugee camp during their invasion of the city of Jenin and its refugee camp on Wednesday morning. They also took prisoner one member of the Palestinian intelligence apparatus during an incursion into the town of Tammun south of the city of Tubas. Palestinian security sources reported that the Israeli forces raided the camp and seized Muhammad Brik after breaking into his house. The Israeli army claimed that he is affiliated to the Islamic Jihad Movement. The Israeli forces also seized Bashar Bsharat, a member of the Palestinian intelligence forces after breaking into his house in Tammun during an invasion by dozens of Israeli military vehicles. [end] Israeli forces fire missiles into southern Gaza Strip home and bulldoze land in the north Palestine News Network 9/20/2006 At dawn Wednesday Israeli aircraft bombed the southern Gaza Strip. Their target was a citizen’s home in eastern Rafah. At least one of the rockets hit the house, as reported by eyewitnesses. Home owner Fat’hi Abu Jarad and his family made it out safely before Israeli forces launched the missiles. Their two-story home was just east of the Rafah Crossing with Egypt very near the border. In the meantime, Israeli forces invaded the northeastern Gaza Strip. Several military vehicles plowed through the area. Eyewitnesses report that tanks, jeeps, and bulldozers incurred 200 meters into Abu Safia, east of Beit Lahia, which is a kilometer deep into the northern Strip. An afternoon account from eyewitnesses indicated that Israeli warplanes fired into Beit Lahia, killing a Palestinian. more.. Israeli incursion into Tulkarem, Jenin and Hebron Ma'an News 9/20/2006 Tulkarem -- Ma'an - Israeli forces raided the West Bank city of Tulkarem on Wednesday morning and arrested two owners of money exchange and jewellery shops. Our correspondent reported that an Israeli troop raided the eastern neighborhood of the city and broke into several houses. The soldiers then seized Ibrahim Awad, 40, and Nihad Awad, 26. The Israeli forces forced the two men to take them to their shops in the city. The soldiers then inspected the shops and confiscated various documents and cheques. They also seized sums of money. Meanwhile, according to Israeli sources, the Israeli army arrested three Islamic Jihad activists in the West Bank cities of Jenin and Hebron early on Wednesday morning, after raiding the cities. Their names were not revealed. [end] Islamic Jihad faction fires projectiles into Israeli village near Gaza Strip Ma'an News 9/20/2006 Gaza -- The Al Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, claimed responsibility for launching three homemade projectiles into the southern Israeli town of Sderot and the Israeli farming village of Erez north of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday morning. In a statement, the Brigades said that "the Israeli occupation reported the injury of one settler by shrapnel from one of the homemade projectiles while another settler suffered from shock." [end] Al-Aqsa brigades sabotage an Israeli military patrol in Jenin Ma'an News 9/20/2006 Jenin - Ma'an – The Al Aqsa Brigades, the main armed group affiliated to the Fatah movement, have, on Wednesday, claimed responsibility for sabotaging an Israeli military patrol while Israeli troops conducted an invasion of Jenin refugee camp and took a Palestinian into detention. Sources within the brigades confirmed that they will continue to block every movement of the Israeli occupation until Israeli troops leave Palestine. [end] Israeli Army enters a town near Bethlehem and takes one prisoner International Middle East Media Center 9/20/2006 Siraj Yousif, 23, was taken prisoner by the Israeli army during an incursion to Al Doha town west of the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Wednesday at dawn. A number of army vehicles stormed the town, surrounded the Al Radidah building and then searched and ransacked Yousif 's home before taking him to an unknown location, Yousif works as a police officer in Bethlehem, local sources reported. [end] Army invades Al Dohaisha refugee camp in Bethlehem International Middle East Media Center 9/20/2006 An Israeli force invaded the Dohaisha refugee camp in the southern part of West Bank city of Bethlehem on Wednesday. Troops conducted a wide scale search campaign in the refugee camp. Residents said that soldiers violently forced their way into their houses, searched them then ransacked their belongings. The army left without taking any prisoners. [end] Army takes one prisoner from Tamon village International Middle East Media Center 9/20/2006 Bashar Bsharat, 24, was taken to an unknown location by the Israeli army troops who invaded Tamon village near the West Bank city of Tubass on Wednesday morning. Israeli troops and army jeeps invaded the village and searched some houses before leaving the village, taking Basharat with them. [end] Undercover Israeli army unit abducts a resident of Burkeen village near Jenin International Middle East Media Center 9/19/2006 Israeli Undercover army units abducted a resident of Burkeen village, south west of the West Bank city of Jenin, on Tuesday morning. The man was identified as Abd-Allah Atik, 30, according to eyewitnesses. Atik was in a grocery shop, and was in the middle of making a phone call on his cell phone when four masked men in civilian clothes appeared out of nowhere, pointing their guns at Atik and forcing him to the ground. The men blindfolded and handcuffed Atik, then they took him to an unknown location. [end] Israeli forces steal millions from Palestinian currency exchange shops and banks Palestine News Network 9/20/2006 Israeli forces broke into Palestinian currency exchange shops and banks throughout the West Bank Wednesday morning, taking money and computers. While Israeli forces invaded Jenin Refugee Camp with 30 military vehicles, other Israeli soldiers stole over one million shekels from a currency exchange shop in Jenin City. Official Palestinian security sources report that Israeli forces besieged several neighborhoods, including the Old City, Al Sibat and Sayyadiin, culminating in an assault on the refugee camp. At the same time the theft was underway. An Israeli military spokesperson said today the raids on 24 exchange shops and banks throughout the West Bank in Jenin, Nablus, Tulkarem and Ramallah, were conducted under the pretext that “terrorist” organizations abroad are funding Palestinian organizations in the West Bank. -- See also: IOF Confiscate 6 Million Shekels in Raids on One Bank and 11 Money Exchanges in the West Bank more.. Israeli army breaks into money exchange shops across West Bank and steals US $1.38 million Ma'an News 9/20/2006 West Bank -- In a robbery that is the largest of its kind, the Israeli forces confiscated early on Wednesday morning millions of Israeli shekels from money exchange shops in the West Bank cities of Ramallah, Nablus, Tulkarem and Jenin. The Israeli troops also detained a number of shop owners. Israeli sources estimated the value of the confiscated funds at NIS 6 million (US $1. 38 million). They said that the confiscated money had been intended for operations against Israeli targets. In the northern city of Nablus, the Israeli forces confiscated about NIS 500,000 from money exchange shops and arrested one shop owner. After failing to open the central treasury of the National Bank of Jordan in Nablus, the Israeli troops also destroyed the first floor of the bank. -- See also: IOF Confiscate 6 Million Shekels in Raids on One Bank and 11 Money Exchanges in the West Bank more.. Al Aqsa Brigades activist killed in northern Gaza Strip Ma'an News 9/20/2006 Gaza -- Palestinian medical sources have reported the killing of Omar Abu Jarad, 22, and the injury of another citizen following an Israeli air strike on the east of Beit Hanoun, in the northern Gaza Strip. Abu Jarad's corpse was transferred after Israeli forces held ambulances for over 15 minutes before allowing them to reach the incident and transport the dead body. The Al Aqsa Brigades, the military wing of the Fatah movement, confirmed that Abu Jarad had been one of their activists and been completing a reconnaissance mission when the Israeli warplanes targeted him. The Israeli military stated that they targeted a group of resistance fighters who were trying to launch homemade projectiles. [end] IDF: Militant killed, another wounded at site of Qassam launch Ha'aretz 9/20/2006 The Israel Defense Forces said Wednesday afternoon that troops had killed a Palestinian and wounded another near the sites from where Qassams were launched at the Western Negev. The army said the two were militants who had come to collect the rocket launchers. A 15-year-old was moderately wounded when a Qassam rocket hit a kibbutz in the Western Negev early on Wednesday. Paramedics rushed the youth to Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon after he was struck in the chest by a piece of shrapnel. According to an Army Radio report, the youth was from the Bedouin village of Rahat in the Western Negev. Another woman was treated for shock after the attack. -- See also: High Court questions lack of IDF probe into shooting of U.S. activist more.. Gaza Under Siege Rafah Today 9/15/2006 [Includes photos] Rafah and it's the early morning here, or to be more accurate, 2 o'clock in the morning, I was wondering what an Israeli F16's pilot is doing at this moment, hovering over the sky of Gaza and making all these scary sonic bombs. Ten minutes later, the same F16s bombed a house at Al Barazil neighborhood in Rafah, which is close to the borderline. Of course, I was unable to sleep, as ambulances started moving around. They expected something to happen, but nothing happened. The house was empty and the Israeli F16 bombed it in a strike that woke people up the entire night. In Gaza City, it was not different. Five Palestinian intelligence officers have been gunned down by unknown attackers in Gaza City near the home of Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya this morning. more.. Israeli forces shoot and kill 22 year old resistance member after arrest Palestine News Network 9/19/2006 Israeli forces killed Nabil Arif Hanani in the town of Sanour, southwest of Jenin, Tuesday morning. Israel sources claim the 22 year old refused to “give himself up” and instead opened fire during this morning's invasion of the northern West Bank town. However, this reporter and eyewitnesses confirm that Israeli soldiers shot and killed Hanani in cold blood after he was detained. A medic in the Red Crescent Society ambulance service, Mohammad Ali Miri, told PNN that he took Hanani’s body from under an olive tree near the house where he was killed and transported him to the hospital. Medical sources at Jenin's Dr. Khalil Suleiman Hospital report that Hanani bled severely after being shot several times in the head, chest, hands and feet. more.. Elderly Palestinian man attacked by Israeli settlers while Israeli soldier watches, doing nothing International Middle East Media Center 9/19/2006 Khalil Nawaja, in his 70s, was attacked with sticks and pipes Monday evening by a group of seven Israeli settlers with their faces covered. An Israeli soldier was escorting the settlers and did nothing to stop the attack, said local eyewitnesses. Villagers called the Israeli police, but could not get a response. They then called Ezra Nawi of Ta'ayush (Israeli peace group), who was able to get through to the police on their behalf and ask for an investigation. According to a press release from the Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT) working in the area, the Israeli police only arrived to the scene two hours after the attack, despite the fact that the police station is only 300 meters away from where the attack took place. -- See also: Settlers attack 79 year old Palestinian man more.. The Occupation Report By Jerrold Cohen, Ph.D., Editor, Vermonters for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel 9/19/2006 Chronicling the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict -- Incursions, invasions, arrests, demolitions, etc. -- Gaza Strip: 0655 hours: During the night the Israelis bombed a building in the Rafah area of southern Gaza "that served as a cover for a weapons smuggling tunnel. "Military officials report that the occupants of the structure were warned to evacuate ahead of the attack." (25) West Bank: 0800 hours: A wanted Palestinian was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers near Jenin. The IDF said that he opened fire at them and he was killed by return fire. Read the story below for conflicting reports. Soldiers arrested 14 Palestinians in the West Bank overnight. (26) Israeli soldiers stormed Sanour village south of Jenin... besieged the home of Ramzi Weld Ali, and arrested him and three of his sons. (7)... more.. Two killed in the West Bank one of them a pregnant woman International Middle East Media Center 9/19/2006 Two West Bank residents were killed by the Israeli army on Tuesday morning, one of them a pregnant woman who was delayed at an army checkpoint. Bushra Sultan, 27, from the Saflit region of the West Bank, died at an Israeli military checkpoint - East of Saflit - which had been closed by Israeli soldiers on Tuesday morning. Medical teams tried to revive Sultan but all attempts failed, leading to her death due to being unnecessarily held at the checkpoint. Israeli soldiers stationed at checkpoints located all over the West Bank delay ambulances for hours as they search Palestinian vehicles. This action often leads to the death of patients in ambulances waiting to cross checkpoints. Elsewhere Nabile Hanini, 25, from Sanour village south of the West Bank city of Jenin was shot and killed and another four taken prisoner... -- See also: Palestinian woman dies at checkpoint more.. Air strike destroys a residential house in Gaza Strip Ma'an News 9/19/2006 Khan Younis -- Israeli warplanes bombarded a house in the east of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip last night. The residents were given half an hour's warning to evacuate. Our correspondent reported that an Israeli F-16 fighter jet fired a missile at the house of Muslim Abu Jaradah, destroying the house completely. No casualties were reported. The Israeli army claimed that the house was being used for storing weapons. Similarly, the Khuza'ah district, southeast of Khan Younis, and the area near the Kissufim crossing were exposed to heavy artillery bombardment, and the skies above the Gaza Strip witnessed intense flight activity by Israeli fighter jets. [end] Teen moderately wounded when Qassams hit kibbutz in W. Negev Ha'aretz 9/20/2006 A 15-year-old was moderately wounded when a Qassam rocket hit his Kibbutz in the Western Negev early on Wednesday. Paramedics rushed the youth to Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon after he was hit in the chest by a piece of shrapnel. Another woman suffered from anxiety after the attack. A second Qassam hit landed in the greenhouses of the Erez communal farm that borders the Gaza Strip, but no casualties or damage were caused as a result of the attack. Earlier on Wednesday, the Israel Air Force carried out an air strike on a house in the militant stronghold of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip early, causing no casualties, the Israel Defense Forces and Palestinian witnesses said." There was an aerial attack on a house which was used as a facility to store weapons," an IDF spokeswoman said. more.. Fatah and Islamic Jihad factions launch projectiles at Netiv Ha'asara and Sderot Ma'an News 9/19/2006 Gaza -- The Al Aqsa Brigades, the main military wing of Fatah, have claimed responsibility for launching one homemade projectile into Netiv Ha'asara, an Israeli town north of the Gaza Strip, on Tuesday morning. In a statement, the Brigades said that the launching operation was in response to the ongoing Israeli aggressions against the Palestinian people. Meanwhile, the Al Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, claimed responsibility for launching two homemade projectiles into the Israeli town of Sderot on Tuesday afternoon. In a statement, they said that "the Israeli media sources confirmed that two homemade projectiles landed in the south of the town and three settlers suffered from shock." [end] Islamic Jihad faction fires projectiles at Israeli military post near Rafah Ma'an News 9/19/2006 Gaza -- The Al Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, claimed responsibility for launching one homemade projectile into the Israeli military post of Miftahim east of Rafah on Tuesday morning. In a statement, the Brigades said that "the launching operations were in response to the ongoing Israeli aggressions against the Palestinian people" and they confirmed that they will "continue their resistance and struggle against the Israeli occupation. [end] Israeli troops invade West Bank villages, take nine youths prisoner Ma'an News 9/19/2006 Bethlehem -- Ma'an - Israeli forces stormed a Bethlehem village early on Tuesday and took two youths away. More Israeli forces invaded Nablus and a nearby village, taking a further seven Palestinian youths captive. Dozens of Israeli military vehicles and armoured personnel carriers raided the village of Ash Shawawra, south east of the city of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, and closed off the village's entrances. Soldiers broke into a number of houses and seized Ala'a Shawawrah, 25, and Nidal Rabay'ah, 19. The brother of Ala'a Shawawrah explained that Ala'a was only released from Israeli prison 5 days ago after spending 9 months imprisoned for alleged affiliation to Fatah. Ala'a's brother confirmed that the Israeli soldiers beat up Ala'a in front of his family and attacked his mother and brothers with rifles. more.. Army takes seven prisoners from Nablus district International Middle East Media Center 9/19/2006 Israeli forces stormed the West Bank city of Nablus and Osren nearby village, taking seven prisoners on Tuesday. Soldiers troops stormed Askar refugee camp, east of Nablus, and took Rashad Yassein, 16, and Fadi Abu Koshik, 18, to unknown locations. Also soldiers took Bara'a Abu Ja'afar, 21, after searching several houses in the city. In Osren village, south of Nablus, soldiers broke into dozens of homes and ransacked families' belongings before taking Amin Qdili, 20, Turki Adili, 20, Salim Azimah, 19, and Haitham Adili, 20, to unknown locations, local sources reported. [end] Islamic Jihad activist kidnapped in Jenin, Israeli Special Forces blamed Ma'an News 9/19/2006 Jenin -- A contingent of Israeli Special Forces are believed to have kidnapped an Islamic Jihad activist in Burqin, a village in the north of the occupied West Bank on Tuesday afternoon. Ayman Atiq, 30, was in the shop where he works in Burqin, a village west of Jenin when masked gunmen broke in. According to one of Atiq's relatives, "he was in a shop where he works, when the phone of the shop rang by an unknown person. Ayman responded and was talking with the caller when he was surprised by four masked men who broke into the shop and pulled out their guns. They aimed the guns his head, asked him to put the phone down and told him not to move or they would shoot him." Atiq's relative claimed that whoever called Atiq wished to ensure Atiq was in the shop. [end] Extra barriers set up in the Jenin district on Tuesday Ma'an News 9/19/2006 Jenin -- Israeli forces set up several temporary military barriers in various locations across the Jenin governorate on Tuesday and prevented the local citizens from traveling around. Local residents said that the Israeli forces set up a temporary barrier at the entrance to the Khirbit Maraka region, and a number of barriers at the entrances to the villages of 'Ajja, 'Anza, Silat Adh Dhahir and Sanur southwest of the city of Jenin. The local residents reported that the Israeli forces were inspecting the vehicles and checking all citizens' identity cards. They were preventing the local Palestinian population from taking the main roads to the cities of Nablus and Tulkarem, thereby forcing them to take dirt tracks and dusty alternative roads. [end] Terror group threatens Gaza Christians Jerusalem Post 9/19/2006 A previously unknown group calling itself the Huda [Guidance] Army Organization threatened on Tuesday to target all Christians living in the Gaza Strip unless Pope Benedict XVI apologized for his remarks against Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. "We will target all Crusaders in the Gaza Strip," the group said in a leaflet, "until the pope issues an official apology. " The group also threatened to attack churches and Christian-owned institutions and homes. "All centers belonging to Crusaders, including churches and institutions, will from now on be targeted," it said. "We will even attack the Crusaders as they sit intoxicated in their homes. " The group said preparations had been completed "to strike at every Crusader and infidel on the purified land of Palestine. " more.. New AWACS enhance IAF's vision Jerusalem Post 9/20/2006 Amid growing concern that Iran's refusal to suspend its enrichment of uranium could lead to military action against its nuclear sites, the Israel Air Force on Tuesday received its first Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) surveillance plane. Called the Eitam - white-tailed Sea Eagle - the AWACS arrived at a festive ceremony at the Lod Air Force base near Ben-Gurion Airport attended by US dignitaries and the head of the IAF, Maj. -Gen. Eliezer Shkedy.... The AWACS plane that arrived on Tuesday is the first of three Gulfstream G-550 jets to be delivered to the IAF over the next three years....." The plane doesn't need to enter enemy territory," Hadas said. "It can fly far away while creating and projecting the aerial picture above the country in which the IAF wants to operate." more.. Settlers attack 79 year old Palestinian man Palestine News Network 9/19/2006 Among the most violent of Israeli settlers in the West Bank are those in the Hebron District. Tuesday was no exception as Israeli settlers beat a 79 year old Palestinian farmer in eastern Yatta Village. Khalil Mohammad Al Nawajah was working his land near his home, south of Hebron City, when settlers attacked him. Official Palestinian medical sources at Hassan Abu Kassim Hospital reported that the elderly man’s body is covered in bruises and abrasions. Some of the wounds are critical enough that he had to be transferred to another hospital. Medical sources said today that the beating was severe. Palestinian security sources report that Al Nawajah was near his home. An Israeli settlement is just one kilometer away. [end] -- See also: Elderly Palestinian man attacked by Israeli settlers while Israeli soldier watches, doing nothing more.. Peretz orders 90 'illegal houses' in West Bank razed within weeks Ha'aretz 9/19/2006 Defense Minister Amir Peretz ordered the Israel Defense Forces on Monday to renew preparations to raze structures built illegally in settlements in the West Bank. Peretz has rejected some senior officers' recommendations to freeze the demolition efforts. The minister intends to prepare to raze the homes in just a few weeks. The minister said there were plans to demolish 90 buildings built illegally, the majority of which were built by Israelis, and the rest by Palestinians. The buildings in question are mostly caravans, as well as the foundations for a few permanent structures. Peretz spoke during a meeting with some of the army's top brass. Some of the senior officers had voiced their concern that the situation in the West Bank was volatile and the demolition could only make things worse, and thus urged Peretz to hold off on raising the houses. more.. Israeli military to build 4500 meters of separation wall in 'Azzun Atma, sealing the town Ma'an News 9/18/2006 Qalqilia -- Israeli forces have issued a military order on Monday to build a new stage of the separation wall around the village of 'Azzun Atma, south of Qalqilia, in the north of the West Bank. Sources from the village council stated that the order was hung on an electricity pylon at the entrance of the village. The wall will be 4500 meters long along the southern border of the village. The village is already bordered by the wall encroaching on their lands to the north, east and west. This last section of wall will completely close and besiege the village. [end] Palestinian PM bodyguards open fire outside parliament in Gaza Ha'aretz 9/18/2006 'Al-Qaida in Palestine' says it killed PA officer -- Bodyguards for Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh opened fire outside the Gaza City parliament building Monday, trying to clear the way for him through a group of protesters, police said. The protesters were Palestinian Authority employees who demonstrated in demand of receiving their unpaid wages. As Haniyeh, of the Islamic militant group Hamas, was approaching the building for a cabinet meeting, he was blocked by the protesters. His bodyguards then began firing shots in the air and beating the demonstrators. A female Fatah parliamentarian was hurt in the melee and was taken to hospital. Haniyeh, who came to the parliament to give a speech, cancelled his address after Fatah legislators left parliament in protest over the violence. more.. Israeli forces invade Jenin area refugee camp, open fire on stone throwing youth Palestine News Network 9/18/2006 Israeli forces shot three boys in the northern West Bank Monday night. The invasion began with 10 patrols in Far’ah Refugee Camp southwest of Jenin City. Dozens of young people began throwing stones at the invading military forces. The Israelis opened fire, injuring several Palestinians. Red Crescent ambulances arrived on the scene to aid the injured. The three boys are in critical condition in the neighboring Tubas City hospital. [end] Three children critically wounded by Israeli gunfire in Al-Fara'a refugee camp International Middle East Media Center 9/18/2006 Israeli Forces wounded three Palestinians in al-Far'a Refugee Camp, north of the West Bank, on Monday, witnesses said. Local witnesses reported that three Israeli jeeps stormed the Camp and suddenly the soldiers opened fire at a group of citizens, wounding three of them. The wounded were then admitted to hospital in Jenin City, the witnesses added. [end] Churches attacked in Gaza, W. Bank Jerusalem Post 9/15/2006 A hitherto unknown group calling itself the Swords of Islamic Right on Saturday threatened to blow up all churches and Christian institutions in the Gaza Strip to protest remarks made by Pope Benedict XVI about Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. The group, which claimed responsibility for a shooting attack on the facade of a Greek Orthodox church in the Zeitoun neighborhood in Gaza City on Saturday, said it would not accept an apology from the pope. On Saturday, four other churches in Nablus were also attacked by Palestinians wielding guns, firebombs and lighter fluid. No injuries were reported in any of the attacks, which left church doors charred and outer walls pocked by bullet holes and scorched by firebombs. A policeman at the Gaza church said he saw a car escape with armed men inside. more.. Kidnap of soldiers in July was Hezbollah's fifth attempt Ha'aretz 9/19/2006 Two months before the July 12 raid in which Hezbollah abducted two Israel Defense Forces soldiers and killed three others, Israel had learned of another plan by the group to carry out an attack against an IDF patrol at the same location. Sources said Hezbollah refrained from carrying out the attack due to the deployment of large IDF forces in the area. At the same time, Israel contacted American and French diplomats, and warned them that if Hezbollah would attempt to kidnap IDF soldiers again, Israel's response would include a large-scale military operation. It is unclear whether Israel's warning of a massive response to another attempt to kidnap soldiers reached Hezbollah, nor is it clear whether the group chose to disregard the warning. more.. Request to dismantle Hamas because they didn't pay compensation YNet News 9/18/2006 Gavish family, who lost their grandfather, mother, father, and brothers in terror attack in Alon Moreh, demands Hamas to be dismantled because it didn't pay compensation to family as ruled by Jerusalem District Court -- A request to dismantle Hamas was submitted Monday morning to Jerusalem District Court. The request was submitted by the Gavish family, who lost four family members in a terror attack on their house in Alon Moreh, Passover 2002. The district court ruled last February in favor of the Gavish family, who sued Hamas. The court ruled that Hamas must pay the family NIS 92 million (USD 21. 2 million). Judge Aharon Farkash noted that he was convinced by the lawsuit's claims, according to which terror attacks must receive more compensation than other types of incidents. more.. Gazans warn pope to accept Islam Jerusalem Post 9/18/2006 Citing the words of the Prophet Muhammad, Muslim religious leaders in the Gaza Strip on Sunday warned Pope Benedict XVI that he must "accept" Islam if he wanted to live in peace. The warning, the first of its kind, came as many Christians in the West Bank expressed anger over a spate of attacks on churches in protest against remarks made by the pope about the Muslims and the Prophet Muhammad. Two more churches in the West Bank were targeted on Sunday in protest against the pope's remarks, bringing to seven the number of churches that have been attacked over the past three days. In Tulkarm, arsonists set fire to the only Orthodox church in the area, causing heavy damage to the 150-year-old structure. more.. Police raise level of alert ahead of holidays YNet News 9/18/2006 Thousands of policemen, soldiers to be stationed at city entrances, recreation centers on Rosh Hashanah. Police also preparing for month of Ramadan -- In preparation for the holidays, the police are raising the level of alert throughout Israel in fear of terrorist attacks. Police Chief Moshe Karadi said Monday that the police have received warnings of the intention of terrorist organizations to carry out attacks during the holidays, and the police are preparedly accordingly. On the night of Rosh Hashanah, the police will be on the highest possible alert level throughout the country. Policemen will be in full operational deployment. The police will operate in a number of concentric zones, from the seam line to areas within the country. more.. Work resumes at Al Aqsa Mosque after week-long strike in protest of Israeli attacks Ma'an News 9/17/2006 After a week-long work stoppage in hopes of drawing international focus to stop Israeli attacks, Palestinians involved in Al Aqsa Mosque reconstruction efforts returned to work. The East Jerusalem Muslim holy site is under frequent assault, as were the workers last week. Israeli police, who surround the mosque daily, beat an elderly man who had worked at Al Aqsa for decades. Palestinians reconstructing parts of the mosque also reported that Israeli police prevented necessary materials from arriving and generally harassed them during the process. The Supreme Islamic Conference, the Ministry of Waqf, Religious Affairs, and the Islamic Endowments expressed solidarity with the workers and issued a call to the Israeli authorities to refrain from interfering in the affairs of Al Aqsa Mosque. more.. IDF kills 3 civilians, 1 al-Aqsa operative in Qabatiya YNet News 9/7/2006 During IDF operations, house of al-Aqsa operative surrounded. Ensuing exchanges of fired leave 3 dead, 9 wounded. Palestinians threaten revenge -- Palestinian witnesses in the village of Qabatiya, adjacent to Jenin, reported Thursday afternoon that four people were killed in exchanges of fire with the IDF. According to the witnesses, three of them were civilians and the fourth was Rashid Zakarna, a senior operative in the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Fatah's military wing. Palestinians reported that a large IDF force operating in the area surrounded Zakarna's residence. During ensuing exchanges of fire, Zakarna was severely injured and later died of his wounds. Additionally, they said, at least nine other individuals arrived at the hospital in Jenin. more.. West Bank fragmented by occupation By Patrick Cockburn, The Independent 9/8/2006 The Israeli pressure on Palestinian cities, towns and villages on the West Bank is now so heavy that their inhabitants doubt their own ability to survive. The 540 Israeli checkpoints and barriers so fragment this small piece of territory that they are destroying the Palestinian economy. Nablus, once the heart of the West Bank, is like a ghost town. Ten years ago this was a bustling commercial centre but today there are few cars in the streets and half of the shops have closed." Every day I get up at 6. 30am and then wait three hours at the Israeli checkpoint before I can go to Awarta village 10km from Nablus where I teach in a school," said Iman Iskander. "Often I am so late that I miss the first three classes. It is hell. By the time I get home I am so tired and angry that sometimes I want to hit my children." more.. Israeli army announces killing of three Palestinian fighters, Ma'an News 9/7/2006 Jenin -- The Israeli army has said on Thursday evening that soldiers killed three Palestinians from the West Bank town of Qabatia who were fortified inside a house in the village. The army alleged that the men had thrown an explosive device at an Israeli military jeep without causing casualties. At the same time, local sources said that the local leader of the al-Aqsa Brigades, the main military wing of Fatah, Rashid Zakarna, was arrested. Ma'an's correspondent reported that over 40 Israeli military vehicles invaded Qabatia under cover of a helicopter and clashed with Palestinian resistance fighters, injuring five, one of which seriously. In addition, medical sources said that the Israeli army detained an ambulance which was transferring a seriously injured Palestinian. The injured Palestinian has since died. [end] West Bank violence: Palestinian man gets caught in crossfire in Nablus, female activist is seized by Israeli soldiers Ma'an News 9/7/2006 Bethlehem -- Ma'an - Palestinian gunmen shoot at an Israeli jeep near Bethlehem and mistakenly kill a fellow citizen in Nablus. Meanwhile, Israeli soldiers seize a female political activist in a refugee camp near Nablus. Palestinian armed men shot at an Israeli military jeep patrolling the West Bank village of Al Khadir, west of Bethlehem, early on Thursday. The Israeli forces combed the area after the shooting but no casualties or arrests were reported. In the north of the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces broke into Askar refugee camp in Nablus on Thursday morning and conducted a thorough search of many houses. The soldiers seized a Palestinian woman who is allegedly a Fatah activist. Also in Nablus, a Palestinian citizen was killed after shooting erupted among masked gunmen in the streets of the city on Thursday. more.. Lebanese soldiers killed in explosion AlJazeera 9/6/2006 Unexploded Israeli shells are spread across southern Lebanon -- Two Lebanese soldiers have been killed and a third wounded whilst trying to defuse unexploded Israeli ordnance in southern Lebanon, security officials said. The ordnance exploded as the soldiers tried to dismantle it near the village of Aita al-Jabal near the border with Israel on Wednesday. One of the soldiers was killed immediately and another was taken to a nearby hospital where he later died. The third casualty was reported in critical condition in the same hospital, the security officials said. The United Nations has confirmed that Israeli dropped nearly 400 cluster bombs across south Lebanon and says the bomblets have killed 14 people and wounded at least 50 since the truce. more.. Hundreds of millions spent on 'virtual fences' for settlements Jerusalem Post 9/8/2006 The government is considering creating an unprecedented security system for the Jewish community of Hebron, including never-before-used hi-tech laser radars, as part of a new NIS 400 million allocation for security systems at settlements, The Jerusalem Post has learned. The state-of-the-art Hebron defense system would be part of a second phase hi-tech settlement security project carried out by the IDF; NIS 300m. was spent on phase one over the past year and a half. The governmental body that creates security systems for settlements in the West Bank is a branch of the IDF Home Front Command called the Shabam Administration. Shabam is an acronym for "Special Security Zone." Set up in December 2004... the Shabam Administration was given the mandate and the funding to create hi-tech security systems for West Bank settlements. more.. Electronic fence to be built on Egyptian border YNet News 9/7/2006 Good years of drug and weapon smugglers to soon end; IDF preparing to build electronic protective fence on Israel-Egypt border replacing shorter, more simple fence that was on border until now -- Is this what will prevent infiltration of "terror" cells into Negev? In recent days, the Israel Defense Forces has been working on creating plan that will prevent numerous smuggling operations on the Israel-Egypt border, first and foremost in the section of the border that is most often used by smugglers – 12 kilometers (7. 44 miles) next to Eilat, from Netafim until Gesharon. The border between Israel and Egypt stretches over 400 kilometers (248 miles), and the only thing that separates the two countries is a short fence with no electronic security devices. The fence cannot prevent the hundreds of illegal drug and weapon smugglings. more.. "Terror" leader: Gaza preparing for war' YNet News/WorldNetDaily 9/7/2006 Hizbullah aiding Palestinians in 'turning Strip into southern Lebanon'; 'We learned from Hizbullah's victory that Israel can be defeated,' says Abu Ahmed -- Local "terror" groups are working with Hizbullah to turn the Gaza Strip into the Palestinian version of southern Lebanon by smuggling in heavy weaponry and rockets, building war bunkers and preparing for a large-scale confrontation with Israel , a senior "terror" leader in Gaza told WorldNetDaily. "We learned from Hizbullah's victory that Israel can be defeated if we know how to hit them and if we are well prepared," said Abu Ahmed, northern Gaza leader of the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades "terror" group. "We are importing rockets and the knowledge to launch them and we are also making many plans for battle." more.. Naval blockade to remain in effect YNet News 9/7/2006 Sources in PM’s Office says lifting of naval blockade on Lebanon delayed until arrival of international troops tasked with implementing weapons embargo on Hizbullah, prevent weapons smuggling. Lebanese PM: I expect Israel to lift sea blockade Friday -- The office of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert reported Thursday that while the aerial blockade on Lebanon has ended, the naval blockade imposed in the past eight weeks will remain in effect for the time being. Sources from Olmert's office explained that it was decided to postpone the lifting of the naval blockade because Israel is still waiting for the arrival of the international forces, so that it may implement the weapons embargo on Hizbullah and prevent weapons smuggling along the border. more.. UNRWA school kids throw stones during Israeli military invasion of Bethlehem Palestine News Network 9/7/2006 From all entrances to Bethlehem, residents stood on the sides of the road as Israeli military vehicles plowed through Thursday afternoon. That was the scene as the jeeps came from the settler road that runs past Al Khader in the southwest, Beit Jala up the hill to the west and from the Wall in the north. All was quiet for the Israeli forces until they reached Deheisha Refugee Camp. Young people poured onto the Jerusalem – Hebron Road that runs in front of the camp and began pelting the military machines with stones, empty bottles, anything they could find. Students were just being let out of the United Nations Relief Works Agency School for the day. UNRWA and private schools are not among the government schools that are on their sixth day of closure due to strikes. more.. UN's World Food Program says sees end to Lebanon aid in October Ha'aretz 9/7/2006 The UN World Food Program said on Thursday it would probably conclude its emergency operation in Lebanon by the end of next month. The WFP has said the number of those in immediate need of food, shelter and other aid appears to have fallen since a UN truce between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas began on Aug. 14." And it would be my sense given the government's capacity and given our assessment of the food security within the country that by the end of October the kind of emergency support that we provide will no longer be needed," WFP's Executive Director James Morris told reporters in the Lebanese capital. Almost a quarter of Lebanon's population returned to their homes within four days of the guns falling silent. more.. Conference to debate 'axis of truth' Jerusalem Post 9/7/2006 Strategies for dealing with the growing threat of global terrorism will be the focus of the sixth annual international conference at the Institute for Counterterrorism at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya next week. The conference, which has become a meeting place for experts in the field, is expected to attract more than 700 participants from more than 50 countries. The ICT stresses the importance of applied research and not merely theoretical studies. Therefore, one of the goals of the conference is to bring together academics and practitioners, creating a practical synthesis and working relationship between the often separate fields. A significant aspect of the conference will focus on countering the motivation of terrorists. more.. IDF kills 7 in Gaza; top Islamic Jihad militant killed in Jenin Ha'aretz 9/7/2006 Seven Palestinians were killed in five different Israel Defense Forces strikes in the Gaza Strip Wednesday, Palestinian sources said. In the West Bank, a leading Islamic Jihad operative was killed during an IDF raid in Jenin, according to Palestinian sources. In one of the Gaza strikes, an Israel Air Force missile was fired at the southern Gaza town of Khan Yunis last night, killing at least one Palestinian and wounding another five, witnesses and medics said. Witnesses said that the missile appeared to have been aimed at a group of gunmen. Medics did not immediately identify the fatality, but said that three of the wounded were Hamas militants. The IDF had no immediate comment. Earlier Wednesday, IDF troops shot and killed a 16-year-old Palestinian boy in Khouza, a village near Khan Yunis.... more.. Refugee camp storefronts destroyed and one man arrested in daily invasion of Nablus Palestine News Network 9/6/2006 Several Balata Refugee Camp store fronts and homes sustained heavy damage Wednesday morning when Israeli bulldozers plowed through the eastern Nablus camp. During this morning’s early morning hours Israeli forces again invaded the northern West Bank. When Israeli forces withdrew they took a young man with them and left behind a great deal of property damage. Dozens of shops in the central market area no longer have facades after Israeli soldiers perched themselves atop the highest buildings and bulldozers came through. Eyewitnesses report that the invasion began at 2:00 am when Israeli forces incurred into the camp center. Soldiers overtook Abu Ashraf Tirawi’s home and converted it into a military control point. -- See also: more.. Gaza doctors encounter 'unexplained injuries' Vermonters for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel / The Independent 9/4/2006 Doctors in Gaza are reporting what they say are unexplained injuries among the dead and wounded in operations by the Israeli military, which have killed more than 200 Palestinians in the past nine weeks. The World Health Organisation (WHO) is considering whether there is a case for an investigation into the injuries amid suspicions by the medics that the injuries were inflicted by what they claim may have been unidentified "non-conventional" weapons. Beside especially severe burning "down to the bones", the doctors say that, in other cases, internal organs have been ruptured without any obvious sign of shrapnel wounds. While a report from the Hamas-run Ministry of Health said the injuries raised the possibility Israel could be using "unprecedented" projectiles with "radiant" substances, the medics acknowledge that there is no proof so far of their claims. more.. Ongoing Israeli assault on southern Gaza Strip kills five Al Qassam members and a 16-year old boy Ma'an News 9/6/2006 Rafah -- Five Palestinians from the military wing of Hamas were killed and 26 were injured during an Israeli incursion and air strikes on the southern Gaza Strip overnight. Israeli soldiers also seized a senior Palestinian security officer and two of his brothers. The raids continued on Wednesday, killing a sixteen-year old boy and injuring many more. Eyewitnesses said that, amid heavy shooting, dozens of Israeli armoured vehicles and tanks penetrated the town of Khuza'ah, near the edge of the Gaza Strip southeast of Khan Younis, while helicopters hovered overhead. The witnesses added that the operation concentrated on the neighbourhood of Um Addar and the cemetery. Israeli soldiers shot randomly at residents' houses while military bulldozers flattened farms and land in the area. more.. Six killed in 24 hours of Gaza violence ReliefWeb 9/6/2006 Gaza_(dpa) _ Israeli troops on operations in the southern Gaza Strip shot dead two Palestinians Wednesday, bringing to six the number of people killed in renewed violence in the salient during a 24-hour period. The two fatalities Wednesday were killed when Israeli troops rolled into the southern Strip city of Khan Younis around dawn. Witnesses said a sniper who took up position on a roof in the easter part of the city shot and killed a 15-year-old boy in the early afternoon and wounded two others. Earlier, the Israelis killed one Hamas militant and wounded three others, during gunfights which erupted as several Israeli army tanks and bulldozers rolled into the Khan Younis environs. That death brought to five the number of Hamas militants killed since Tuesday night.... more than 30 people, mostly bystanders, were wounded. more.. Four Palestinians injured east of Khan Younis Ma'an News 9/6/2006 Khan Younis – Ma'an -- Khan Younis – Ma'an - At least four Palestinians have been injured on Wednesday in an Israeli raid on a group of resistance fighters in the Gazan town of Khuza'a, east of Khan Younis city. Medical sources at Naser hospital said that one injury was critical, while local sources reported that more injured people are still at the scene, because the ambulances were not able to reach them during the intensity of the Israeli attack. [end] Al-Qassam Brigades launch Qassam projectiles at Nahal 'Oz Ma'an News 9/6/2006 Gaza -- Qassam Brigades, the armed group of the Hamas movement, have claimed responsibility for launching two Qassam homemade projectiles at the Israeli kibbutz of Nahal 'Oz on Wednesday. In a statement received by Ma'an, they said the operation comes as part of "the commitment of free men to block the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip. [end] Armed groups affiliated to both Hamas and Fatah target Israeli military vehicles in southern Gaza Strip Ma'an News 9/6/2006 Gaza -- The Al Aqsa Brigades, the main military wing of Fatah, have claimed responsibility for ambushing an Israeli patrol and two Israeli armored vehicles in the area of Farahin, east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, on Wednesday morning. The Al Aqsa Brigades said that clashes erupted. In a statement, they affirmed that this operation is part of their resistance against the Israeli occupation forces and as a reaction to the Israeli acts against the Palestinian people. Meanwhile, the Al Quds Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, claimed that one of its cells launched a rocket-propelled grenade at an Israeli military bulldozer east of the city of Khan Younis and hit it directly. The Al Quds Brigades said that many Israeli military vehicles then arrived on the scene to remove the bulldozer. [end] Israeli Settlers begin construction of a new road in Hebron International Middle East Media Center 9/6/2006 A group of Israeli settlers from the illegal settlement of Kiryat Arba, east of the West Bank city of Hebron, started to open a new road to connect the settlement with the Ibrahimi mosque (Tomb of Patriarchs) in the city of Hebron, Wednesday afternoon. The settlers, protected by the Israeli army, started to bulldoze lands and uproot olive trees that belong to local Palestinian residents in preparation for the opening of the road that settlers call the 'worshippers road'. Local residents said that the area they are bulldozing is located to the east of the city and the settlers have already uprooted 25 olive trees, they also added that the residents along with the local committee against the wall went to the Israeli high court of justice and had a court diction not to destroy their land and to open this road early this year. more.. Israeli settlers in Hebron bulldoze Palestinian land as soldiers look on passively Ma'an News 9/6/2006 Hebron -- Israeli settlers from Kiryat Arba in the West Bank city of Hebron bulldozed on Wednesday a piece of land in the Ar Ras neighbourhood belonging to a Palestinian citizen and the Israeli soldiers failed to do anything to stop them. The owner of the land, Ahmad As'ad Nabir, asked Israeli soldiers stationed nearby to stop the settlers but they did nothing, telling him that the settlers have permission to do whatever they wish and whatever they deem suitable for the land. Nabir said that he has a court case regarding this piece of land. The Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, such as Kiryat Arab, are illegal under international law. The settlers in the Hebron area are well-known to be some of the most violent and extremist settlers colonising Palestinian land. [end] Israeli troops uproot twenty olive trees near Hebron International Middle East Media Center 9/6/2006 Israeli bulldozers uprooted Wednesday scores of olive trees to pave a colonial road near the Jewish colony of Kiryat Arba in the West Bank City of east Hebron. Local sources of Wadi al-Haseen neighbourhood said that Israeli bulldozers, supported by Israeli soldiers, began razing citizens' lands today to pave the way for the construction of a 'Jewish-only' road that links Kiryat Arba and Ibrahimi holy mosque. Witnesses told the Palestinian News Agency, WAFA, that Israeli bulldozers uprooted 20 Olive trees that were planted over ten years. [end] Army invades Kafer Dan and Qabatia villages near Jenin International Middle East Media Center 9/6/2006 Israeli soldiers invaded the villages of Kafer Dan and Qabatia, near the West Bank city of Jenin on Wednesday morning. Soldiers and army jeeps stormed the two villages and attacked residents' houses, searched and ransacked families belongings. Eyewitnesses reported that soldiers opened fire at the houses, no injures were reported. [end] Army takes one prisoner from Beit Kahil village near Hebron International Middle East Media Center 9/6/2006 Thiab Al Asafra, 41, a resident of Beit Kahil village, near the West Bank city of Hebron, was taken prisoner by the Israeli army on Wednesday morning. Al Asafra was taken to an unknown destination when troops stormed the village searched several houses and ransacked family belongings. Local sources reportred that Al Asafra was released from the Israeli jails two months ago after serving a one-year sentence. [end] Army bars teachers from reaching schools near Qalqilia International Middle East Media Center 9/6/2006 Israeli soldiers stopped on Wednesday a number of school teachers and barred them from from arriving to their school where they teach in the village of Ras-Tira near the West Bank city of Jenin. The troops stationed at the gate of the Annexation Wall, which separates the village from the city, barred the teachers from passing throw it despite that they carry permits to cross into the village. Several villagers said that the army does not allow anyone who does not live their to go into the village without obtaining a permit from the military office. [end] Israeli troops arrest two Palestinians east of Qalqilia Ma'an News 9/6/2006 Qalqilia – Ma'an -- Qalqilia – Ma'an - Israeli forces raided the town of 'Azzun, east of the city of Qalqilia early on Wednesday morning. Troops surrounded many houses and launched an invasive searching campaign, before arresting two of the citizens and taking them to an unknown location. Ma'an's correspondent said that Israeli forces arrested Owdah Anaya, 17, and Mamdouh Al Akhras, 28, after searching their homes. [end] Israeli forces arrest three Palestinians near Bethlehem Ma'an News 9/6/2006 Bethlehem -- Israeli forces have arrested three Palestinians from the village of Al Fureidis in eastern Bethlehem, after invading the village. Local sources reported that a number of military vehicles entered the village and arrested Haj Muhammad Jaddal Mubarak, 60, and Hasan and Mansur Hasan Mubarak 32, and 34, respectively. [end] Israeli Army installs a checkpoint at Tayasser- Tubas road International Middle East Media Center 9/6/2006 An Israeli force installed a temporary checkpoint on the main road that connects Tayasser village with the nearby West Bank city of Tubas, late Tuesday night. Troops stopped civilian cars and searched them, and also checked the ID cards of local residents and detained some for several hours at the checkpoint before allowing them to go. [end] Army source: "Palestinian hurl a roadside bombs at army vehicle in Nablus" International Middle East Media Center 9/6/2006 An Israeli army source reported on Wednesday that Palestinians hurled a roadside bomb at a military force near Awarta checkpoint, south of Nablus in the northern part of the West Bank. Army reported no injuries. [end] Lebanon health facilities have suffered considerable damage Electronic Intifada/WHO 9/6/2006 BEIRUT/GENEVA -- A newly-published assessment of health facilities in Lebanon shows that a quarter of those examined are not functioning due to physical damage, lack of staff or lack of accessibility, and that water and fuel shortages remain a serious concern. At the same time, demands on the health system are growing given the numbers of people injured during the conflict, and people returning to their communities requiring health care. The assessment, by the Lebanon Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization, looked at more than 400 health facilities in Lebanon in the areas most affected by the conflict. These include dispensaries, health care centres, outpatient hospital departments and hospitals in the affected districts. The findings are critical to determine priorities in the early recovery of Lebanon's health system. more.. IDF: Lebanon war cost NIS 11.2 billion in military expenses alone Ha'aretz 9/7/2006 The direct cost of the war in Lebanon totaled NIS 11. 2 billion, including NIS 3. 5 billion for ammunition and NIS 1 billion for the reserves, Israel Defense Forces officers told the Knesset Committee on the Defense Budget Wednesday. An estimated 237,000 artillery shells were fired during the war, they added. The Finance Ministry and the defense establishment are at odds over restoring the army's preparedness, which is expected to cost NIS 7 billion to NIS 7. 5 billion. The defense establishment wants to complete the job within one year, while the treasury wishes to spread the cost over three years. Some Knesset members suggested using some of the $1. 75 billion that Israel receives annually from the United States. But defense officials said that for the next few years, most of this aid is already committed to buying Apache helicopters, F-16 planes, air force ammunition and fuel. more.. General Staff officers warned PM: Last-minute expansion of war is a mistake Ha'aretz 9/7/2006 Two Israel Defense Forces General Staff officers, operations chief Major General Gadi Eisenkut and the Intelligence Division's head of research, Brigadier General Yossi Beiditz, strongly opposed last month's decision to launch a broad ground offensive against Hezbollah shortly before the UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for a cease-fire in the war in Lebanon. The decision to embark on the operation was made on Wednesday, August 9, when it was already clear that the Security Council would vote on a cease-fire resolution soon thereafter. The council in fact passed the resolution at 5 A. M. on Saturday. Beiditz wrote in a letter to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz that his division believed that the last-minute offensive would not significantly affect the enemy or lead to achievements. more.. Bus driver and passengers held at gun point south of Tel Aviv Ha'aretz 9/7/2006 An Israeli soldier briefly held an Israeli bus driver at gunpoint south of Tel Aviv Wednesday evening, raising alarms of a hijacked bus, police said. Spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the reservist, apparently drunk, pulled a gun on the driver and several passengers. The 23-year-old suspect from Gedera boarded the Ashdod-bound bus at Tel Aviv's Central Bus Station. When the bus reached the Holon area he approached the bus driver, loaded his rifle and ordered him to drive straight to Ashdod. The Connex bus company driver noticed a police car nearby and managed to signal them that he was in distress. Police officers boarded the bus and arrested the man. [end] Four killed in two separate air strikes in the Gaza Strip International Middle East Media Center 9/6/2006 Palestinian medical sources in the Gaza Strip reported on Tuesday at night that four residents in two separate Israeli air strikes in Rafah city, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. Israeli army sources claimed that the attacks carried resistance fighters. Dr. Moawiya Hassanen, head of the Emergency Unit at the Palestinian Ministry of Health, reported that two Palestinians were killed and at least three were injured after the Israeli air force fired missiles at a Palestinian vehicle driving in Al Jneina neighborhood in Rafah, the two killed residents were in the vehicle, the Palestinian News Agency, WAFA, reported. Dr. Hassanen added that the bodies of the two residents were severely mutilated and completely burnt as a result of the blast. Also on Tuesday at night, one resident was killed after the Israeli air force fired at least one missile at his vehicle... more.. Gaza militants attempt to obtain anti-tank missiles Ha'aretz 9/6/2006 Israeli defense officials have been growing concerned over a recent increase in the number of attempts to smuggle weapons into the Gaza Strip. They are particularly worried by the efforts of Palestinian terror groups, led by Hamas, to smuggle anti-tank missiles into Gaza. The Palestinians have been trying for years to improve the quality of the anti-tank missiles at their disposal. Shortly before Israel withdrew from Gaza as part of last summer's disengagement plan, the Palestinians succeeded in improving the quality of their missiles by smuggling modern rocket-propelled grenades to replace the improvised weapons they had used until then. Now there is a marked attempt to improve still further the quality of the missiles in the Palestinian arsenal. more.. Gunmen shoot at a Gaza police station Ma'an News 9/5/2006 Khan Younis – Ma'an – According to Palestinian security sources, unidentified armed men shot at the Khan Younis police station and at some police patrols in the south of the occupied Gaza Strip on Tuesday. No casualties were reported. The sources accused some local families of being behind this shooting saying that this was an attempt to release two of their relatives who had been arrested for stealing from the Gaza settlements which the Israelis evacuated last September. [end] Increased checkpoints northwest of Ramallah Ma'an News 9/5/2006 Ramallah -- Israeli forces stepped up the closure of villages north of the West Bank city of Ramallah on Tuesday morning, amid rumours that Israeli soldiers had discovered a car carrying arms in the area. Many temporary checkpoints were erected on the main roads and at entrances to villages, eyewitnesses told Ma'an. One checkpoint was erected at the entrance to Aboud, a village northwest of Ramallah, and citizens were not allowed to leave. Another checkpoint was erected in the area of Abu Zaid, also northwest of Ramallah, and all cars passing through were subjected to a thorough search. Israeli forces also erected a checkpoint close to the nearby Israeli settlement of Hallamish where the same procedures were carried out by the Israeli soldiers. Settlements such as Hallamish are illegal under international law. more.. War worsens plight of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon ReliefWeb 9/5/2006 TYRE, Lebanon, Sept 5, 2006 (AFP) - Things were bad enough for Youssef Ali Moussa and other Palestinian refugees in south Lebanon before a month-long war between Israel and the Hezbollah Shiite militia. Now their plight is even worse as rising unemployment and inflation add to their poverty, United Nations relief workers and the refugees themselves say. In one sense Moussa is lucky. He is one of the few refugees with a job, as a casual labour in the orchards around this southern coastal city. At 70 years old, he still works to support the six people in his household, a responsibility that entails a deadly new risk since a ceasefire took effect on August 14. The fields where he must work are littered with unexploded munitions from the war. more.. Islamic Jihad leader in Jenin escapes arrest, ten other Palestinians don't Ma'an News 9/5/2006 Jenin – Bethlehem - Ma'an – The leader of the Al Quds brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, in the northern West Bank city of Jenin, escaped arrest by Israeli Special Forces on Monday night. Israeli Special Forces entered Jenin refugee camp around 11pm on Monday in a Palestinian car, shortly followed by ten Israeli military vehicles. The vehicles surrounded the area near to the house of Mahmoud As Sadi, the man wanted by the Israel army. Clashes soon broke out between fighters from the Al Quds Brigades and the Israeli soldiers and during the ensuing fighting, As Sadi made his escape. As Sadi has escaped many Israeli attempts to arrest or assassinate him in the past. Meanwhile, the Israeli army seized at least ten Palestinians in arrest raids carried out in various cities in the occupied West Bank overnight. more.. Peres: Robots, Nanotechnology May be Next Answers to "Terrorism" By Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres, The Guardian 9/4/2006 [From Commentary piece] -- In Lebanon we have experienced a new form of battle. Terrorist organisations are.... seeking to target populations wherever possible, even before trying to control territory.... What are the lessons to be drawn from these changes? No deterrent weapon is everlasting..... A terrorist might be deterred by the knowledge that new surveillance tools have been developed that could identify him, even in a large crowd; that his weapon could be detected without his knowledge. This kind of deterrent could be based on miniaturised arms or on remote-control robots operating on the battlefield; perhaps even on a type of intelligence hitherto unknown, grounded in revolutionary nanotechnology. Luckily, Israel already has an excellent group of hi-tech scientists.... Furthermore, Israel should pursue a policy of population decentralisation... more.. OCHA Weekly Briefing Notes 23 - 29 Aug 2006 ReliefWeb/OCHA 9/4/2006 - More than 15 IDF tanks and bulldozers, backed up by two IAF helicopters, entered approximately 800 metres into the Al Ahija’ia neighbourhood of Gaza City near Karni crossing. Eight Palestinians have been killed and 24 injured to date during the incursion. Palestinian homes have been used as observations posts by IDF snipers. At the end of the reporting period the IDF remained in the area. - At least 12 homemade rockets were fired by Palestinian militants from inside the Gaza Strip towards targets inside Israel, mainly into Sederot and Western Negev. Three anti-tank missiles were also fired at the IDF from inside the Gaza Strip. - The IDF continued to fire artillery shells into the Gaza Strip (the exact number is currently unavailable from the Palestinian DCO). The IAF conducted at least 13 air strikes throughout the Gaza Strip... more.. GAZA UNDER SIEGE Rafah Today 9/3/2006 [Includes BubbleShare Photo Album] -- I have not slept yet. The Israeli attack on the Eastern part of Gaza is ongoing, and the world is, as usual silent. Israel public opinion is falling and international community is no longer moving from its murderous silence. To whom should we complain? The Palestinian Authority? They are already broken and have no control. The USA? They are no longer interested in stability in the region. The EU or the Security Council? That is, of course, none of their business, since they have other things to care about. In the past few days tens of people were killed and the number is increasing even as I type this text. This is the result of ongoing Israeli attacks. Schools have started and the children have no new uniforms or school bags; even the teachers have not been paid for the last six months. more.. Israeli forces kill four Palestinians in targeted assassinations of Hamas-linked armed resistance Palestine News Network 9/6/2006 In late night air attacks on the southern Gaza Strip Israeli forces killed four Palestinians. All were members of the armed resistance and the killings were targeted assassinations. Security sources report that Israeli warplanes fired missiles in two separate assaults on the city of Rafah. Eyewitnesses said that the first attack targeted the car in which two members of the Al Qassam Brigades were riding. An Israeli military reconnaissance plane fired at least two missiles into the car, killing two Palestinians from the Hamas linked resistance group. Medical sources report that in the attack Israeli forces injured eight other people. Shortly after, Israeli reconnaissance aircraft bombed another car that was traveling on a residential street in Rafah. more.. Helicopters strike gunmen in south Gaza YNet News 9/5/2006 First IAF strike kills two men in Rafah; two activists killed in second strike on their car in Gaza City, later third strike targets gunmen approaching border -- Before daybreak Wednesday, Israeli helicopters fired at gunmen in the southern city of Khan Younis, killing one and wounding two, witnesses and hospital officials said. The military said the target were gunmen who were approaching the border fence. Israeli forces began clearing the area near the fence, the military said. Earlier, three Hamas members were killed Tuesday evening in two Israel Air Force strikes. At first, the IAF struck a car in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah. One Hamas members who was in the car were killed, and another was critically wounded and later died of his wounds. more.. Faction claims to have killed an Israeli soldier in central Gaza Strip Ma'an News 9/5/2006 Gaza -- Gaza - Ma'an – The Abu Ali Mustapha Brigades, the military wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), have claimed responsibility for the shooting of an Israeli soldier in the neighbourhood of Abu Ijlin, east of Deir Al Balah in the central Gaza Strip on Tuesday. In a statement, the Brigades said that the soldier was inside an Israeli military bulldozer at the Israeli military post in the area when he was shot and hit. The Brigades said that this attack confirmed the path of resistance taken by the PFLP against the Israeli occupation. [end] Footage released of Har Dov abduction Jerusalem Post 9/5/2006 As the families of kidnapped IDF soldiers Gilad Shalit, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev wait and hope for their safe return, the families of three soldiers abducted and killed by Hizbullah six years ago saw for the first time on Tuesday new video footage of their sons' abduction. A Lebanese film documenting the negotiating process over the 2003 return of the three soldiers' bodies was aired Tuesday night on Channel 10 and showed never-before-seen footage released by Hizbullah of the actual kidnapping and of missing IAF navigator Ron Arad speaking to his captors, the first time his voice has been heard since he was taken hostage in 1986. The Arad video was first aired last week by the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation. more.. 700 housing units to be built in W. Bank Jerusalem Post 9/4/2006 The government of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday said it was seeking bids for construction of 700 housing units in the West Bank - its largest settlement construction project since taking office in May. The Construction and Housing Ministry published ads in Israeli newspapers requesting proposals for the new construction in Ma'aleh Adumim and Betar Illit, both outside Jerusalem. Ministry spokesman Kobi Bleich confirmed the project is the largest so far by the new government. Previously, the government issued bids to build 98 homes in other projects. Despite his calls for a withdrawal, Olmert has repeatedly said Israel would keep major settlement blocs - including Ma'aleh Adumim and Betar Illit - under any final peace deal with the Palestinians. In all, more than 60,000 people live in the two communities. more.. Israeli army leaves Khaza'a village, east of Khan Younis, after inflicting massive damage International Middle East Media Center 9/4/2006 The Israeli army left Khaza'a village east of Khan Younis in the Gaza strip after having destroyed a good portion of the village land, Monday afternoon. Army bulldozers uprooted farmlands and olive orchards that belong to the residents of the village. According to local sources, troops already destroyed scores of Dunams of farming land and uprooted more than 100 olive trees. The troops invaded the village in the morning and took one prisoner, identified as Eid Qadih, a 60-year old farmer. [end] more.. IDF troops wound three Palestinians in Bethlehem arrest raid Ha'aretz 9/5/2006 Israel Defense Forces troops on Monday shot and wounded three Palestinians in an arrest raid near the West Bank city of Bethlehem, medics said. It was unclear whether they were militants or civilians. An IDF spokeswoman said soldiers detained one man and fired rubber-coated bullets in the air during the raid but did not identify anyone getting hit. She also said Palestinians detonated a bomb, which wounded several Palestinians. In a separate incident, a Palestinian boy was wounded by an explosive device, apparently set by militants to target IDF soldiers, Israel Radio reported. Earlier Monday, Israel Air Force helicopters fired missiles at a house in the Jabalya refugee camp next to Gaza City, destroying it, witnesses and security officials said. Two neighbors were wounded by the blasts, they said. more.. Bethlehem to be hemmed in on four sides, the latest for the Wall & a settler road in the southwest Palestine News Network 9/5/2006 The Israeli forces Commander for the Central Region of the occupied West Bank, Major General Yair Naveh, has decided to confiscate 152 dunams of southern Bethlehem. The stated aims of the confiscation are “military purposes” and “the security wall. ” Director of the Committee to Defend against Land Confiscation in the southern West Bank, Khalid Al Azzeh, says that this portion of the Wall will run alongside a new settler road linking Israeli settlements surrounding Bethlehem. The road will be strictly “settler only,” for Israelis and their cars. Several villages in the southern Bethlehem District will each become individually isolated. The Wall will stretch from southern Bethlehem to the west side in the town of Al Khader and then further south to northern Hebron’s Beit Umar Village. more.. IDF fire kills father and son in Gaza Strip; another Palestinian killed at border fence Ha'aretz 9/4/2006 'Security forces arrest 2 Fatah men who tried to fire rockets from W. Bank, on Hezbollah's orders' -- Israeli security forces recently arrested two Fatah activists in Tul Karm who tried unsuccessfully to launch home-made rockets into Israel. The Border Police's undercover unit arrested the pair, Tahar Amar and Hassan Offi, with an 8-kilogram explosive device and two rockets in their possession. They are suspected of acting on the orders of Hezbollah. Three Palestinians were killed by the Israel Defense Forces in the Gaza Strip over the weekend. In one incident, a Hamas militant and his father were killed, while in another, a Palestinian was killed when he approached the border fence. An IDF force entered the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanun Friday night to pursue Hamas activists. more.. Israeli forces invade Doha village, injure two, including a child International Middle East Media Center 9/4/2006 Armored Israeli jeeps and personnel carriers invaded the Palestinian village of Doha, west of the city of Bethlehem in the West Bank on Monday evening. Israeli troops opened fire on unarmed civilians in their homes and on the street during the invasion, injuring two. The injured civilians were identified as Riad Al-Azza, who was hit by a piece of shrapnel in the head, and a child, Muhammad Jamil Ghanayim, had a rubber-coated bullet embedded in his foot. The injured were taken to Al-Yamama hospital in Al Khadir, south of Bethlehem. The Israeli troops surrounded the home of Nidal Malash, who is apparently on a 'wanted list' put together by the Israeli military, composed of political dissidents and members of 'illegal' political parties in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories. more.. Israeli Army takes two prisoners from Tarqomia, near Hebron International Middle East Media Center 9/4/2006 Mohammad Al Markten, 25, and Mahdi Shahror, 30, were taken to unknown locations by the Israeli army during an invasion of the village of Tarqomia, west of the West Bank city of Hebron on Monday. Troops invaded the village, searched scores of houses and ransacked the belongings og the two families, then took the two men away; the army said they were looking for "Wanted People. " [end] more.. Four injured by Israeli gunfire in Qabatia village near Jenin International Middle East Media Center 9/4/2006 Four residents were injured during the Israeli army invasion of the village of Qabatia, near the West Bank city of Jenin, on Monday. The injured were identified as Ahmad Nazal, 18, Mohamed Abu Al Rab, Mohamed Kameel, and Rabi'e Turkman. All were moved to a nearby hospital in the city, local sources reported. In the early morning hours, troops stormed the village, took four prisoners and injured Rabi'e, as the day continued, the soldiers injured another three, local sources said. [end] more.. Army invades Nablus, takes at least four prisoners International Middle East Media Center 9/4/2006 The Israeli army invaded the West Bank city of Nablus, the Balata and Al Ein refugee camps in the city on Monday morning, and took four prisoners. Local sources reported that scores of army vehicles stormed the city and the two refugee camps, and fired rounds of live ammunition at the residents' houses. In Al Ein refugee camp, troops searched several houses and took Amer Khalifa prisoner. In Nablus, troops attacked residents' houses and ransacked them before taking Wajdi E'lawi, 26, Jaber Kalbonah, 26, and Lo'ai Barakat, 21, to unknown locations, eyewitnesses reported. In Balata refugee camp, troops also searched residents houses and ransacked them but no arrests were made there, local sources added. [end] more.. Army injures one resident and takes four prisoners from Qabatia village near Jenin International Middle East Media Center 9/4/2006 Israeli forces invaded the village of Qabatia south of the West Bank city of Jenin, injured one resident and took four prisoners including three brothers. More than 15 Israeli armored vehicles stormed Qabatia and opened fire at residents and houses injuring Rab'e Turkman, 22, in his abdomen, he was moved to a near by hospital in Jenin city, medical sources reported. Soldiers conducted wide scale search campaign to the residents' houses and took four prisoners, among them three brother, they were identified as; Anass Assaf, his two brothers Mo'men and Hisham, and Tha'er Abu Al Rob, all were taken to unknown locations. The military operation is still ongoing in the village, eyewitnesses reported. [end] more.. Army takes two prisoners from Tal village near Nablus International Middle East Media Center 9/4/2006 Yousif Selwadi, 22, and Hitham Ramadan, 36, were taken prisoners when the Israeli army invaded Tal village, south of the West Bank city of Nablus on Monday morning. Troops and army vehicles invaded the village, surrounded the houses of Selwadi and Ramadan, searched them and then took the two to unknown locations, Omer Ishtawi, the head of the village council reported. Ishtawi added that in the house of Selwadi family troops destroyed the floor of the house and ransacked the furniture. [end] more.. One resident injured in Kofer Dan village near Jenin International Middle East Media Center 9/4/2006 Ibrahim Abed, 24, was injured during and invasion to the village of Kofer Dan west Jenin city in the northern part of the West Bank, on Monday at dawn. Israeli army surrounded the village and closed all its exits and entrances late Sunday night, then stormed the village in the early hours of Monday. According to local sources, soldiers clashed with resistance fighters in the village. Abed is wanted by the Israeli security since ore than three years, local sources added. [end] more.. Army uproots farmlands east of the Jablia refugee camp International Middle East Media Center 9/4/2006 Israeli soldiers uprooted on Sunday afternoon agricultural lands in Abu Safiyya area, east of the Jabalia refugee camp, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. Soldiers, supported by tanks and armoured vehicles, invaded the area and uprooted the farmlands using military bulldozers. Also, soldiers uprooted dozens of trees near Al Shuhada Graveyard, east of the camp and opened fire at several homes in the area; damage was reported, no injuries. [end] more.. Israel confiscates 152 dunums of farmland near Bethlehem Ma'an News 9/4/2006 Bethlehem -- Israeli occupation forces have issued warrants to confiscate 152 dunums (1 dunum = 1000 square meters) of land which belong to the Palestinian town of Umm Salamuna, south of Bethlehem, to be used for building the separation wall and for a security crossing. This confiscation will separate the town from the southern suburbs of Bethlehem, and so its lands will become under absolute Israeli control, resulting in the suffocation and collapse of the agricultural industry in this town and its surrounding villages; a sustainable economy, established for generations, will be lost if the separation wall is built there. [end] more.. Armed men attack Driver of a senior Fateh official and legislator International Middle East Media Center 9/4/2006 Palestinian security sources and eyewitnesses reported, on Sunday evening, that an unknown group of gunmen stopped the car of Dr. Nabil Shaath, a senior Fateh official and a Palestinian legislator and attacked his driver after forcing him out of the car. Dr. Shaath was not in the vehicle when the attack took place, the sources added. The gunmen drove the vehicle away after the attack. Eyewitnesses stated that several gunmen stopped the BMW car of Shaath in Al Nafaq Street, north east of Gaza City, forced the driver out and severely punched and kicked him before fleeing the scene. The Palestinian police initiated a probe into the incident after transferring the driver to Al Shifa Hospital in the city. Recently, the Gaza Strip witnessed repeated attacks by unknown armed groups... more.. Fatah bloc in PLC condemns the assault against Shaath's assistant Ma'an News 9/4/2006 Gaza - Ma'an – The Fatah parliamentary bloc in the Palestinian Legislative Council on Monday condemned the assault on an assistant of the former Palestinian foreign minister Nabil Sha'ath, and the taking of his car by force. In a statement received by Ma'an, the bloc considered that such deeds encourage the chaos and the ongoing violation of security law and order in the Palestinian street. They called on the Palestinian government, namely the interior minister, Said Siyam, to reveal the identity of the perpetrators, in order to bring them to justice. [end] more.. Five residents injured in Gaza air strike International Middle East Media Center 9/4/2006 Israeli Air Force fired on Sunday night after midnight several missiles at a Palestinian house in the Jabalia refugee camp in the Gaza Strip; five residents were injured while the house was completely destroyed. An Israeli military sources reported that the house belongs to a fighter of Fateh movement, and that soldiers warned him and his family to leave the house prior to shelling it. The sources claimed that the house is used by resistance fighters to store weapons and ammunition. Over the last several weeks, the Israeli army has been using a policy of phoning the family 10 -15 minutes before shelling their house and informing them that they should leave. This policy is considered a violation to the international law and principles of human rights... more.. Resident taken prisoner near Abu Dis International Middle East Media Center 9/4/2006 Israeli soldiers abducted one resident at the Container Checkpoint, near Abu Dis, east of Jerusalem as he was heading back home in Al Obediyya village, near Bethlehem. The resident is the sixth family member arrested by troops within two weeks. The Palestine News Network reported that resident Suleiman Salim Shanaita, 40, was on his way back home from Ramallah when the soldiers stopped him at the checkpoint and severely punched and clubbed him. He was later on handcuffed, blindfolded and taken to an unknown destination, local sources reported. Meanwhile, an Israeli military source claimed that Shanaita is a member of the Islamic Jihad and that he is wanted to the Israeli security for alleged attacks against the Israeli army. more.. Israel moves to expand settlements AlJazeera 9/4/2006 The Israeli authorities have invited tenders for the construction of about 700 new housing units in two existing Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. The housing ministry published advertisements in the press on Monday inviting the bids, with 348 houses to be constructed in Maale Adumim, east of Jerusalem, and 342 houses to be built in Beitar Eilit to the south of the Holy City. The number of Israelis living in the occupied West Bank, excluding annexed east Jerusalem, has increased by 2. 7% to 260,042 during the past six months, according to statistics published by the interior ministry last week.... The Palestinians say any building on the so-called E-1 corridor between Maale Adumim and Jerusalem will wreck the viability of their promised future state by cutting off the rest of the West Bank from east Jerusalem. more.. Israeli factory contaminates air in northern West Bank village & large swathes of land confiscated Palestine News Network 9/4/2006 An Israeli military checkpoint lies in the northern Nablus village of Qusin with the same name. Barbed wire surrounds several points of the village extending to the Beit Iba Checkpoint and the situation is worsening for residents. Qusin is about to be closed from all sides. The fence is extending south on the west side and will close Jit and Sarra villages southwest of Nablus. The area will become a “closed military zone,” with all movement prohibited, including traffic. Israeli factories are occupying much of the confiscated land and one burned throughout the day leaving a layer of contaminated smoke over the region. Israeli forces confiscated 2,000 dunams of Palestinian land and there will no longer be an entrance to Qusin Village other than Beit Iba Checkpoint. more.. The Occupation Report By Jerrold Cohen, Ph.D., Editor, VTJP/The Occupation Report Newsletter 9/4/2006 Chronicling the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict - September 4, 2006 - Incursions, invasions, and arrests, etc. - Gaza Strip: An Israeli special unit stormed the eastern area of Khouza'a, in the eastern part of the Khan Younis governorate, and arrested Eid Qdeeh, 60. (1) The Israeli occupation forces stayed in Khouza'a town six hours, destroying land owned by Palestinians and a number of greenhouses, as well as farm buildings. Israeli bulldozers uprooted more than 100 olive trees and razed "scores of dunams" of arable land in Khan Younis. (2) "Scores of dunums" would be most easily translated as "dozens of acres," in language that Americans are familiar with, provided they are talking about four score or higher. At dawn, Israeli warplanes fired two missiles at the home of Khalil Abu Fool, (a similar PNN article spells his name Khalil Abu Haboub) a commander in the Aqsa Martyrs Brigades in the Jabaliya Refugee Camp. The home was leveled to the ground.... more.. Father, his five sons, taken prisoners in Hebron International Middle East Media Center 9/3/2006 Israeli soldiers invaded on Sunday at dawn the Al Fawwar refugee camp, near Hebron city in the southern part of the West Bank, and arrested a father and his five sons after surrounding their home, Palestinian News Agency, WAFA, reported. The agency stated that a large military force surrounded the house of Khalil Hussein Hdeib, located at the northern entrance of Al Fawwar refugee camp, broke into it, searched it for three hours and arrested him and his five sons. Hdeib, 55, was taken prisoner along with his sons Ziad, 35, member of the Palestinian police, Ashraf, 25, Ishaq, 22, Shadi, 26, and Mahmoud, 33. Fatima Hdeib, the wife of Khalil, said that soldiers surrounded her house, broke into and ransacked it before taken her husband and five of her sons prisoners. more.. Is the RPG-29 to Blame for Israeli Failures in Lebanon? By Viktor Litovkin, International Middle East Media Center/RIA Novosti 8/29/2006 Israeli Public Security Minister Avi Dichter and Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Hizbollah was using modern anti-tank weapons of Russian make, specifically the RPG-29 Vampirs with a tandem warhead. Such statements have perplexed Russian arms experts, but they agreed to talk with me if I did not mention their names. "As usually happens in war, either side can interpret our words in its favor, and we don't want that. We are neutral, and do not want to be accused of bias," one of them said. The main point they made is this: the fact that Hizbollah militants are armed with RPG-29 handheld anti-tank grenade launchers does not mean that they received them from Syria, which acquired them in the course of military-technical cooperation with Moscow. A suspicion is not a fact. Facts must be proved by documented evidence, but there is none. -- See also: Israel to Moscow: Hezbollah used Russian-made missiles against IDF more.. Airliner lands in Beirut despite siege The Daily Star 9/5/2006 But Jewish state says it approved qatar airways flight 'a week ago' -- BEIRUT: A Qatar Airways flight landed at Beirut's Rafik Hariri's International Airport on Monday, breaking an eight-week old Israeli air and sea blockade on the country. Flight QR 422 left the Qatari capital, Doha, with 140 passengers on board and landed in the Lebanese capital in the afternoon. The plane left Beirut again one hour later and touched down in Doha. The airline plans to operate the flights daily, a spokesman for the company said earlier in Doha. The flight was reportedly the first to enter Lebanon's airspace without first getting clearance from Israel. The plane arrived as a response to Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri's plea to Arab countries to break Israel's siege by flying in their planes. more.. IDF readies to leave Lebanon in 10-14 days Ha'aretz 9/4/2006 The Israel Defense Forces could withdraw all troops from Lebanon in a period of 10 days to two weeks if UNIFIL continues to deploy at the present rate, security forces told Haaretz over the weekend. Meanwhile, the bolstered peacekeeping force in Lebanon began taking shape yesterday as 1,000 Italian soldiers started moving in - the first large contingent of international troops dispatched to help safeguard a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah. The Italian advanced forces, which landed in Tyre in helicopters and rubber boats, are meant to protect the Italian navy ships docking today. With Israel apparently racing to destroy Hezbollah arms caches in the territory it occupies ahead of an impending withdrawal, the U. N. force commander said the truce was still "fragile" and warned any incident could quickly escalate. more.. How the IDF blew chance to destroy short-range rockets By Ze'ev Schiff, Ha'aretz 9/4/2006 A large number of the short-range rockets fired at Israel from southern Lebanon were launched from permanent positions, the Israel Air Force discovered by chance toward the end of the war. The discovery was made after an air strike burned away vegetation, revealing a dug-in Katyusha position on a permanent launch pad. Additional permanent positions were subsequently discovered. If the tactical intelligence of the Northern Command was unaware of the existence of hundreds of permanent short-range rocket launching positions in South Lebanon, then this is a major intelligence failure. If the Northern Command knew of them and did not pass on detailed information to the air force, then this is a serious failure in the management of the war. more.. Haredim lead settlement growth beyond Green Line Jerusalem Post 9/5/2006 The Construction and Housing Ministry issued tenders on Monday for the construction of 690 new housing units in Betar Illit and Ma'aleh Adumim, two of the largest settlements over the Green Line. "Betar Illit is part of the consensus," and the tenders were seen as efforts to bolster the consensus in settlement blocs, said Bezelel Kahn, media advisor to Betar Illit Mayor Yitzhak Pindrus. Kahn said haredim were not ideological settlers. "If this government decides to evacuate Betar Illit, residents will take their compensation check and be out in a day," he said, adding that "it seems unlikely that we will be evacuated from here. "A shortage of cheap housing in older, established haredi cities is pushing thousands of haredi families to outlying cities such as Beit Shemesh and Ashdod. more.. Skyshield air defense being considered Jerusalem Post 9/5/2006 With Hizbullah still in possession of more than 10,000 short-range Katyusha rockets, the Defense Ministry has contacted Lockheed Martin - one of the world's largest defense contractors - and asked it to run tests and make adjustments to a high-powered, rapid-fire cannon built by the company to intercept incoming aerial targets. The Skyshield 35 Air Defense System is a cannon that fires a unique 35-mm. AHEAD (Advanced Hit Efficiency And Destruction) shell that destroys incoming targets. It ejects 152 sub-projectiles that are released just ahead of the incoming target up to distances of close to 10 kilometers. The projectiles create a cloud ahead of the incoming rocket and penetrate it, inflicting enough damage to prevent it from striking its target. The system was developed by the Switzerland-based Oerlikon Contraves Corporation. more.. PM didn't know in advance of tenders for West Bank houses Ha'aretz 9/4/2006 Prime Minister Ehud Olmert did not know in advance of the tenders for building hundreds of apartments in West Bank settlements issued by the Housing Ministry on Monday. The Housing Ministry on Monday solicited tenders for construction of 690 apartments in Beitar Ilit and Ma'aleh Adumim - the biggest such project approved by the Olmert government to date. Defense Minister Amir Peretz had been advised in advance of the expected tender, but Housing and Construction Minister Meir Sheetrit assumed there was no need for special approval from the Prime Minister's Office, since the construction is planned for large settlements within consensual settlement blocs. Olmert had promised before the last election that he would act to expand communities within the large settlement blocs... more.. Palestinians killed in Gaza attack AlJazeera 9/2/2006 Rescue prevented -- Two Palestinians have been killed in an exchange of gunfire between Israeli forces raiding a north Gaza town and Palestinian fighters. According to witnesses, several other people were wounded by an Israeli air strike, also early on Saturday morning. The Israeli army had no immediate comment on the reports. Witnesses said the forces, backed by helicopters, entered the town of Bait Hanun and engaged in heavy clashes with Palestinian resistance fighters. Israel began a major offensive in Gaza after fighters captured a soldier in a cross-border raid on June 25. Younis Abu Odah, a resident, told local media that bullets fired during the gunfight came through his house and killed his 54-year-old father and 27-year-old brother, and wounded two of his sisters. more.. Israel formally announced confiscating 14 percent of Bethlehem Palestine News Network 9/1/2006 Israel has both effectively and officially overtaken northern Bethlehem, swallowing the entire Rachel’s Tomb area. The process was slow enough, ongoing for the past two years, however it all occurred with very little fuss. Those that did protest were gassed, shot at, imprisoned, or ignored. Now historic Bethlehem is entirely cut off from its twin city Jerusalem by a kilometer stretch of the Wall. Hundreds of shops, factories, cultural institutions, religious and social centers, and residential homes were either confiscated or annexed to Jerusalem and under complete Israeli control. Although Rachel’s Tomb has been a military installation for years, it looks quite different now surrounded by the Wall and higher sniper towers. The Israeli government confiscated what was once northern Bethlehem and is converting it into a militarized Jewish enclave like any settlement in the West Bank. more.. IDF has razed Hezbollah bunkers in Lebanon within past 24 hours Ha'aretz 9/1/2006 Israel Defense Forces troops have demolished an unspecified number of Hezbollah bunkers in southern Lebanon over the past 24 hours, the army said in a statement early Friday afternoon. The statement said the bunkers contained rocket-propelled grenade launchers, mortar shells, light arms and communications equipment. The operation took place around the southern Lebanese village of Ayt a-Shab, the IDF said. Ayt-a-Shab was the scene of fierce fighting between Israeli soldiers and Hezbollah militants during the war in the north. [end] more.. Israeli forces arrest eight Palestinians in the West Bank; increase closure around many villages Ma'an News 9/1/2006 West Bank -- West Bank - Ma'an – The Israeli forces arrested eight Palestinians early on Friday morning in the occupied West Bank, claiming that they are wanted by the Israeli authorities. A number of additional closures in the northern West Bank were also reported. According to Israeli sources, Israeli troops arrested five Palestinians from the northern West Bank cities of Jenin and Nablus claiming they were affiliated to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and Islamic Jihad. The Israeli forces said that they found two homemade guns on two of the arrested men. Palestinian sources also reported that Israeli troops invaded Baqa Ash Sharqiya, a small town north of Tulkarem in the northeast of the occupied West Bank, close to the Separation Wall, early on Friday morning. more.. Witnesses: IDF troops kill two Palestinians in Gaza Strip raid Ha'aretz 9/2/2006 GAZA - Two Palestinians were killed on Saturday during an exchange of gunfire between Israel Defense Forces troops raiding a north Gaza town and Palestinian gunmen, and several others were wounded by an Israel Air Force strike, witnesses saidThe IDF had no immediate comment on the reports. Witnesses said the forces, backed by helicopters, entered the town of Beit Hanun and engaged in heavy clashes with Palestinian gunmen. Israel began a major offensive in Gaza after militants abducted Corporal Gilad Shalit in a cross-border raid on June 25. Yunis Abu Odah, a Beit Hanun resident, told Palestinian media that bullets fired during the gunfight came through his house and killed his 54-year-old father and 27-year-old brother, and wounded two of his sisters. He appealed for medics to take them to hospital. more.. Faction fires projectiles from Gaza Strip at generator near Ashkelon Ma'an News 9/1/2006 Gaza - Ma'an – The Al Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, claimed responsibility for launching two homemade projectiles at a power generator and the Israeli military post of "Zikim" south of the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon (Al Majdal). In a statement, the Brigades said that the launching operations were in response to the Israeli aggressions against the Palestinian people, the latest being the assassination of the leaders, Hussam Jaradat and Fadi Qafaishah, in addition to the crimes committed in the Ash-Shuja'iyyah neighbourhood of Gaza City that led to the killing of 21 Palestinian citizens. [end] more.. Israeli forces violate ceasefire in Lebanon again by conducting major operation over last 24 hours International Middle East Media Center 9/1/2006 In the village of Ayt al-Shab in southern Lebanon, refugees have been trying to return home to their ravaged village. But an ongoing Israeli military operation there, in direct violation of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire of August 14th, has made coming home impossible for many. Since yesterday, according to Israeli sources, a major military campaign has been carried out against the village of Ayt al-Shab, a town which Israel considers to be a 'Hezbollah stronghold'. Jonathan Cook, a political analyst in Israel, notes, "In the 'relative calm' that has followed Israel's month-long pounding of Lebanon... Israelis may no longer be dying but the Lebanese most assuredly are as explosions of US-made cluster bombs greet the south's returning refugees and the anonymous residents of Gaza perish by the dozens each and every week... " more..

Diplomacy..

Palestinian source: US thwarting PA unity YNet News 9/29/2006 Senior Palestinian source tells Ynet difficulties revealed during talks between Abbas and Hamas regarding unity government surfaced shortly after PA president met with US consul general in J’lem; ‘Americans asked Abbas to dissolve parliament, prepare for elections,’ he adds -- A senior Palestinian source told Ynet Thursday that “pressure applied by the United States on (President) Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas) is preventing the establishment of a unity government in the Palestinian Authority. ” According to the source, difficulties in the talks between Abbas and Hamas regarding a unity government began to surface shortly after Abbas’ meeting with US consul general in Jerusalem, Jack Wallace, a few days before the president left for the US to attend the opening of the UN General Assembly. more.. 'Settlements can't be evacuated' Jerusalem Post 9/28/2006 Vice Premier Shimon Peres said on Thursday that "the government cannot evacuate more settlements in Judea and Samaria," given that Israel has continued to suffer rocket attacks since last summer's withdrawal from Gaza. Peres's statement, made during a visit to London, echoed words already expressed earlier this month by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who told the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that his plan to withdraw from isolated areas of the West Bank was no longer relevant at this time. Both statements reflect a shift in policy on the part of both Olmert and Peres, who had campaigned on the prospect of further withdrawals. Peres said that when it comes to further construction in the territories, homes are being built to support the natural growth rate. more.. Officials: IDF reluctant to complete Lebanon pullout Ha'aretz 9/29/2006 Despite their repeated assurances of a quick troop withdrawal from Lebanon, Israeli officials said on Thursday they were reluctant to complete the pullout, though six weeks have passed since a cease-fire agreement ended a month of bloody conflict. Large and small issues remain unresolved, involving Hezbollah and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the Lebanese army in the border area. Security officials say a few thousand Israel Defense Forces troops are still just across the border in Lebanon. Disagreements about deployment of Lebanese and UNIFIL troops in southern Lebanon have delayed the the final troop pullout, despite the cease-fire that went into effect on August 14, based on Security Council Resolution 1701. more.. PM: Palestinian prisoners won't be released until Shalit is freed Ha'aretz 9/29/2006 Hours after announcing plans to meet with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he would not discuss releasing Palestinian prisoners jailed in Israel, even as a goodwill gesture to Abbas, before abducted IDF soldier Gilad Shalit was freed." I am not making gestures," Olmert told Israel Radio. "Until Gilad Shalit is freed, I will not deal with freeing Palestinian prisoners." In an interview on Army Radio, Olmert said his meeting with Abbas was not conditional upon Shalit's release. Olmert announced on Thursday that he intends to meet Abbas "in the coming days." The Prime Minister's Bureau later said that the meeting will not take place next week, as it requires advance planning. more.. U.S. congressmen accuse UN agency of sponsoring terrorists Ha'aretz 9/29/2006 Two United States congressman on Thursday accused a United Nations agency that gives relief to Palestinians of allegedly distributing funds to members of terrorist organizations. Representatives Steve Rothman (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) lambasted the United Nations Relief Works Agency for allegedly appropriating money to employ members of Hamas and for distributing funds to Palestinian refugees with connections to terrorist groups. In a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the congressman called for "stricter oversight" of the more than $100 million in U.S. foreign aid provided to United Nations humanitarian programs each year. "We know that Hamas supports the indiscriminate killing of civilians. We know that UNRWA cannot account for large amounts of money it has spent..." said Rothman. more.. French tanks face off with Israelis near border village The Daily Star 9/29/2006 UNIFIL spokesman says incident was 'misunderstood' -- French tanks attached to UNIFIL had a brief face-off with Israeli jeeps and armored vehicles on Thursday on a road in South Lebanon where the Israeli Army has been stopping motorists at temporary checkpoints. According to AFP correspondents, four French Leclerc tanks moved up a hill to stand 500 meters from the entrance to the border village of Marwaheen as Israeli armored vehicles and jeeps operated nearby on Lebanese soil. The two sides were locked in a 20-minute face-off, the first between the Israeli Army and UNIFIL since the latter was beefed up to enforce the cease-fire in effect since August 14. The French tanks then withdrew, as observers from the UN Truce Supervision Organization deployed in the area. -- See also: UNIFIL: IDF troops violated UN-drawn border with Lebanon more.. UNIFIL: IDF troops violated UN-drawn border with Lebanon Ha'aretz 9/28/2006 Israel violated the UN-drawn border it shares with Lebanon on Thursday, six weeks after its cease-fire with Hezbollah guerrillas went into effect in the region, the spokesman for the United Nations peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon said. Alexander Ivanko, a spokesman for the UN peacekeeping force known as UNIFIL, would not provide details about the violation, but denied reports that a standoff had occured between IDF and UN troops." The French peacekeepers observed an Israeli violation of the Blue Line and reported it to the UNIFIL command," Ivanko said, referring to the UN-demarcated line between Lebanon and Israel. An Associated Press photographer who witnessed the incident said an Israeli armored vehicle and two jeeps drove through the border fence and tried to penetrate further... -- See also: French tanks face off with Israelis near border village more.. Olmert says hopes to meet Abbas in coming days ReliefWeb 9/28/2006 JERUSALEM, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he hoped to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas soon for a summit the international community believes could help revive peace talks. But Olmert cautioned against expecting quick results, especially with the Islamist Hamas movement running the Palestinian government. Hamas is sworn to destroy Israel." I am making a very great effort to have a dialogue... I want to meet with him, we should start a process," Olmert said in an interview with Israel Radio broadcast on Thursday, referring to the moderate Abbas." How it will work out, how it will end, that we shall see." Olmert said he hoped the meeting with Abbas could be held in the coming days, although he gave no precise time frame. more.. Rice to visit Israelis, Palestinians with little sign of breakthrough ReliefWeb 9/28/2006 WASHINGTON, Sept 28, 2006 (AFP) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will travel to the Middle East next week, US officials announced Thursday, but with little prospect of producing a breakthrough in the long-stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process. With the United States under intense pressure from its European and Arab allies to do more to revive peace efforts, Rice will leave Sunday and visit Israel and the Palestinian territories as well as Saudi Arabia and Egypt. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack was quick to play down the ambitions for Rice's trip, saying the focus would be "consultations" rather than big decisions." This is a trip designed to lay the foundations, potentially, for moving the process forward. There aren't any guarantees in that regard," he said. more.. UNRWA Commissioner General calls for action to ease plight of Palestine refugees ReliefWeb/UNRWA 9/28/2006 27 Sep 2006 - Amman – Commissioner General of UNRWA Karen Koning AbuZayd has called for action to ease the plight of Palestine refugees. Speaking to delegates participating in UNRWA’s Advisory Commission meeting, which opened in Amman this morning, Ms. AbuZayd appealed to concerned actors to address the causes of conflict. "The political front is where we need your leadership", the Commissioner General told the meeting. "I see my role as one of informing political leaders of the facts on the ground and of encouraging action that will ease the plight of the refugees", said AbuZayd, expressing hope that a unity government in Palestine will become a reality, thus paving the way for revitalizing the peace process. more.. Hamas Demands Release of Palestinian Prisoners in Return For Israeli Soldier International Middle East Media Center 9/28/2006 Syrian-based Hamas leaders restated their demands Thursday that mediators first secure the release of Palestinian prisoners; only then would they free captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shilit. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he will not discuss the issue of Palestinian prisoners until the question of Shilit’s release is resolved. Although Olmert is eager to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, he reminded Abbas that negotiations must not be hasty, especially since Hamas controls the Palestinian government, he said in an interview with Israeli Radio Thursday. Abbas said on Thursday that they halted Egyptian mediation over talks to free Shilit in response to Hamas’s request for new arbiters. more.. Egypt-Hamas talks over Shalit hit a crisis Ha'aretz 9/29/2006 Egypt and Hamas have deadlocked in their negotiations over terms for freeing kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, Palestinian sources said yesterday. They said that Egypt blamed Khaled Meshal, the head of Hamas's political bureau in Damascus, for thwarting a deal. Egypt has reportedly demanded that Hamas stop blocking the deal and immediately release the Israeli soldier. The Associated Press, quoting Palestinian officials, said that the Egyptian demand came in a "strongly worded letter" to Meshal from Egypt's powerful intelligence chief, Omar Suleiman. Suleiman reportedly demanded that Shalit be freed by the end of Ramadan (October 23), warning that otherwise, Hamas would bear responsibility for a large Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip. more.. Shin Bet chief accuses Egypt of allowing arms smuggling into Gaza Strip Ha'aretz 9/28/2006 The director of the Shin Bet domestic security service, Yuval Diskin, on Wednesday accused Egypt of allowing Palestinian militants to smuggle tons of weapons into the Gaza Strip since Israel withdrew from the coastal area last year." The Egyptians know who the smugglers are and don't deal with them," Diskin told a Cabinet meeting, according to a participant in the meeting. "They received intelligence on this from us and didn't use it." Since Israel withdrew from Gaza a year ago, militants have smuggled 19 tons of weapons and explosives into the strip from Egypt, Diskin said. Egypt and the Palestinians have controlled the border since Israel withdrew. "We're talking about an escalation that is endangering us," Diskin told the ministers, according to the participant... more.. Bibi encourages Olmert to meet Abbas Jerusalem Post 9/28/2006 Prime Minister Ehud Olmert received a surprising endorsement on Thursday for his plan to meet in upcoming days with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas: Opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu feels the same way. Olmert told Army Radio he would meet with Abbas regardless of whether kidnapped Cpl. Gilad Shalit was released, because Abbas supported releasing Shalit. Netanyahu told the radio station that if he were prime minister, he would also meet with Abbas." The dramatic change that has occurred is the development of an alliance of extremists against the alliance of moderates to which we belong," he said. "I would try to create a diplomatic process that would initiate an alliance between us and the Palestinians, but for this to happen, Hamas must fall." more.. Israel submits an official complaint to UN about Palestian projectiles landing in southern Israel Ma'an News 9/28/2006 Israel has submitted an official complaint to the United Nations against the Palestinian Authority about the continued launching of homemade projectiles from the Gaza Strip into Israeli towns and the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon. The Israeli radio station "Voice of Israel" quoted the Israeli foreign ministry spokesman as saying, "The continuation of the homemade projectile attacks are contrary to the United Nations Security Council resolutions". The spokesman added that "there is no justification for the continuation of these attacks after Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip". Israel's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Danny Gillerman, sent a letter to the President of the UN Security Council demanding an immediate intervention by the UN secretary-general, Kofi Annan, into the launching of the homemade projectiles. [end] Gaza facing a humanitarian catastrophe, Gaza governor tells Red Cross Ma'an News 9/28/2006 Gaza - Dr. Abdullah Abu Samhadana, a Gaza governor, has warned of a real humanitarian catastrophe soon because of the worsening economic situation due to the continued embargo by the Israeli occupation. The governor met with a delegation from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the governorate headquarters in the city of Deir Al Balah in the central Gaza Strip. They discussed the difficult conditions which the Palestinians are living through due to the siege and the cessation of international aid, in addition to the ongoing Israeli aggressions. [end] Siniora calls on Germany to help revive peace process The Daily Star 9/29/2006 Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora urged Germany to do more on Thursday to secure peace in the Middle East, while calling on Israel to speed up its withdrawal from Lebanon and put an end to its "repeated violations" of his country's sovereignty. Siniora focused on Germany's role in maintaining peace in Lebanon during his visit to Germany, where he met with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss the deployment of German peacekeepers in Lebanon." It is so important that Europe can play an effective role in these matters," Siniora told the media after meeting with Merkel. "I am confident that our meeting today was a very important step in [creating] real strong foundations for the relationship between Germany and Lebanon." more.. Syria vows to back Hamas, Hizbullah at all costs The Daily Star 9/29/2006 DAMASCUS: Syria will keep supporting Hamas and Hizbullah despite US threats to impose more sanctions on it, a Syrian government newspaper said on Thursday. Relations between the United States, Israel's chief ally, and Syria have been bad for years, and hit a new low after last year's assassination in Beirut of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, who was friendly with Washington. A UN investigation said the assassination could not have been carried out without the knowledge of Syrian security officials. Damascus denies involvement in the killing." Syria is more determined to stand by the resistance until the land is liberated and Israel is defeated," an editorial in the newspaper Baath said. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice threatened this week to toughen sanctions Washington imposed on Syria in 2004... more.. Hizbullah: Nasrallah will not visit Saudi Arabia The Daily Star 9/29/2006 BEIRUT: Hizbullah denied reports that leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah will be visiting Saudi Arabia, as stated by a Saudi newspaper in an article published on Thursday. Al-Jazeera newspaper quoted Nasrallah as thanking Saudi Arabia for "all great humanitarian efforts and for standing by the Lebanese people during the war." The paper also reported that Nasrallah said: "There is a great brotherly bond connecting the Lebanese and the Saudi people." It also said that Nasrallah will be visiting Saudi Arabia and meeting with Saudi officials, including the King Abdullah bin Abdel-Aziz. But Hizbullah denied the "false report," adding that Nasrallah had never given an interview to the paper and would not be traveling to Saudi Arabia.... US counterterrorism officials on Thursday said that Hizbullah's... fighters continue to threaten.... US interests around the world. more.. Jewish state sees 'different momentum' at work after war The Daily Star 9/29/2006 Israel said Thursday the recent war on Lebanon has created new momentum in relations with moderate Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, with the Israeli premier leaving it understood that he had met with a Royal Saudi member. Pushing ahead with efforts to revive the peace process, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will leave Washington on Sunday and plans to visit Israel, the Palestinian Territories, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. In lengthy interviews with the two main local radio stations, Olmert ruled out peace talks with Syria and said he hoped to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the coming days. Olmert was evasive when asked about Israeli media reports that he had met secretly in recent days with a senior Saudi official in Jordan. more.. Peres says Israel will continue building and expanding the illegal West Bank settlements Ma'an News 9/28/2006 Bethlehem -- Israeli deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres announced on Thursday that he supports building new settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories and enlarging those which are already built. He said his stance comes in light of the continued launching of projectiles towards Israel from the Gaza Strip. He said, "It is not acceptable to punish Israel twice; once by firing projectiles and another by punishing the settlers. We can't also prevent the settlers' children from building their own houses." Peres added that the experience of evacuation in Gaza has caused the public opinion in Israel to not take the peace process seriously. Peres also stated that the conditions for an expected Abbas-Olmert are that the meeting is held one day after the Israeli soldier captured in Gaza, Gilad Shalit, is released. [end] Rabbi Weiss: No more disengagement Jerusalem Post 9/28/2006 Outgoing OC Chaplaincy Corps Brig. -Gen. Yisrael Weiss said that there must never be another disengagement, Radio Kol Hai reported Thursday. During a farewell party at the College for Civil Administration in Glilot, the rabbi said, "Our future existence depends on an eternal pledge to never again conduct a disengagement or convergence." More than 200 hundred people attended Weiss's farewell ceremony, including Chief of General Staff Lt. -Gen. Dan Halutz and other members of the General Staff. Many cabinet ministers and MKs were also present - including opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu. The rabbi's speech came moments after Halutz had left the event. Weiss said, "The good of our future existence requires an eternal oath of 'never again'..." more.. UN agency pleads for end to Gaza, West Bank blockades ReliefWeb 9/27/2006 AMMAN, Sept 27, 2006 (AFP) - The UN commissioner for Palestinian refugees on Wednesday urged the world to put pressure on Israel to end its blockades of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, saying conditions there going from bad to worse." Without access neither people nor goods can move and refugees cannot reach the services they need," in the Palestinian territories," United Nations Relief and Works Agency chief Karen Koning Abu Zayd told reporters in Amman." Access problems make our operations ever more cumbersome, inefficient and costly. We are very concerned about the human impact of the closure regime," Abu Zayd said. She appealed to donor countries that finance UNRWA humanitarian activities across the Palestinian territories to pressure Israel to ease its blockades. more.. Peretz threatens to up ante in Gaza if Kassams continue Jerusalem Post 9/28/2006 If Palestinian terrorists continue to fire Kassam rockets, Israel might decide to escalate its operations against terror infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, including a possible massive incursion deep inside the Palestinian territory, Defense Minister Amir Peretz told The Jerusalem Post Wednesday in an exclusive interview." We intend to stop the Kassams at any price," the defense minister said. "Hamas knows that they will pay a heavy price with every Kassam fired at Israel and if they don't stop them they know we will consider harsher and deeper operations into Gaza." Peretz said the defense establishment hoped the current pressure being placed on the Palestinians would have the right effect and succeed in "bringing all of the [terror] organizations to the realization that they have to stop the rocket attacks." more.. Jewish state presses bid to dictate UNIFIL's rules of engagement The Daily Star 9/28/2006 Disputes over how the Lebanese Army and UN peacekeepers will deal with Hizbullah are holding up the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon, Israel's military chief of staff said on Wednesday. "Yesterday we met with UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army," a government official quoted Lieutenant General Dan Halutz as telling a Cabinet meeting, in reference to a discussion held in the border town of Naqoura." The issues of rules of engagement and enforcement of [UN Security Council] Resolution 1701 have not all been agreed upon. At this stage we are delaying the transfer of the territory until we reach agreement," Halutz said. Halutz said Wednesday that Israel considered "any use of military equipment, including intelligence-gathering means which are not of the Lebanese Army or UNIFIL, are violations" of Resolution 1701..." more.. Siniora urges EU to pressure US AlJazeera 9/28/2006 Siniora demanded an immediate Israeli withdrawal -- Fouad Siniora, the Lebanese prime minister, called on the EU to pressure the US to play a more constructive role in achieving peace in the Middle East in his address to the European parliament on Wednesday. Siniora told the parliament that the Arab and Muslim worlds were at a crossroads that could either lead to peace or further extremism. He said: "Delay in finding solutions is not going to keep things as is. "The situation is going to get more and more complicated. The way to deal with it is to go to the root causes." He said that a fair implementation of the UN Security Council resolution which ended the Israel-Hezbollah war and a resumption of talks to create a viable Palestinian state were needed. more.. Siniora: End occupation or cease-fire may be in peril The Daily Star 9/28/2006 Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora on Wednesday called on Israel to pull its troops out of his country immediately or risk jeopardizing the cease-fire. "In order for the current cessation of hostilities to be sustained, Israel must withdraw without further delay from the position it still occupies within Lebanon and must stop its violation of Lebanese territory," Siniora told the European Parliament in Strasbourg." There is also a need for concrete steps toward putting an end to the Israeli occupation of the Shebaa Farms," Siniora told the assembled European deputies. The disputed territory, located at the junction of Lebanon, Syria and Israel, was captured by Israel along with the Golan Heights during the 1967 war." We expect our friends, particularly members of the [UN] Security Council, will play an active role in helping resolve the Shebaa Farms issue..." more.. Berri mocks Rice for suggesting split between his party and Hizbullah The Daily Star 9/28/2006 BEIRUT: Speaker Nabih Berri says US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's wager of a split among the Shiite community is baseless since the alliance between Lebanon's two mainstream Shiite parties is now stronger than ever. Rice had said in an interview with the New York Times published Tuesday that there was a split within the Shiite block." The first time Amal had split from Hizbullah six months ago when the Shiite ministers walked out of Prime Minister's Fouad Siniora's Cabinet and they couldn't hold a meeting, this is a fairly remarkable thing, that you actually now have a split in that Shiite block," Rice said. This "is why I think you see Nasrallah out in the streets first saying, 'Well, if I had known, I wouldn't have done what I did..." she added. -- See also: Rice IV With the New York Times Editorial Board more.. EU monitors to close Rafah crossing due to continued alleged smuggling Ma'an News 9/27/2006 Exclusive -- The European monitors stationed at the Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt have informed the Palestinian presidency of their intention to close the crossing and not resume their work due to continued violations by Palestinians of the Crossings' agreements, Palestinian reliable sources have declared. According to the source, the observers from the European Union have complained about Palestinian Legislative Council (Hamas) member, Marwan Abu Ras, who they say 'smuggled' US $1 million into the Strip in the last 48 hours against the monitors' wishes. The Palestinian presidency has placed the blame directly on all those who continue to 'smuggle' money through the crossings and not respect the agreed agreements. The presidency said that these people are taking the Palestinians "hostage to this illegal behaviour." more.. Israeli official: Egypt doesn't endevour to stop the smuggling of weapons through its borders Ma'an News 9/27/2006 Bethlehem -- Chief of the Israeli interior security service, Yoval Diskin, has on Wednesday accused Egypt of not doing enough to stop the smuggling of weapons from the Sinai Peninsula into the Gaza Strip. During the Israeli Cabinet session, he stated that around 4. 5 tonnes of explosives had been smuggled through that border in the last 45 days. As a result, he called for asserting more pressure on the Egyptian leadership in order to push them to stop the smuggling through the Philadelphia crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. He didn't exclude the probability of a complaint to the UN Security Council over the issue. The Israeli premier, Ehud Olmert, said he intends to raise the issue during his meeting with the American Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, when she arrives in the region next week. [end] Marwan Barghouti: Had Israel released Palestinian detainees, their soldiers wouldn't have been kidnapped Ma'an News 9/27/2006 Bethlehem -- The secretary of the Fatah movement in the West Bank, Marwan Barghouti has said, from his Israeli prison cell, that the war in Lebanon has changed the state of affairs in the region, revealing the limits of Israeli power and the importance of resisting the occupation. Barghouti, who was speaking during a visit to his Nafha prison by the Palestinian Knesset member Talab Al-Sani, added, "Israel's biggest fault was the rejection of the release of Palestinian and Lebanese prisoners." Upon being asked about the possibility of releasing him personally as a part of the prisoners' swap, Barghouti said "The freedom of the Palestinian people in general is more important than my own." Barghouti also criticized the Israeli position towards the "prisoners' document", which he depicted as a revolutionary change. more.. Hizbullah stone-throwers fair game Jerusalem Post 9/27/2006 "IDF troops currently stationed in Lebanon have permission to open fire on stone-throwing Hizbullah supporters," IDF Chief of General Staff Lt. - Gen. Dan Halutz said at Wednesday's cabinet meeting. The chief of staff told cabinet ministers that according to the IDF directive, troops were permitted to fire in the air and then at the legs of those hurling rocks in their direction. In addition, in the event that the troops sensed that they were in real danger they were granted permission to shoot to kill. For a Jerusalem Online video of events click hereMeanwhile, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said at the meeting that the dramatic increase in arms smuggling along the Gaza-Egyptian border would force Israel to reopen last November's US-brokered Rafah understandings that led to the full IDF pullout from the area. more.. Ministry of Foreign Affairs warns that Palestinian Cabinet could soon be hand-picked by US Palestine News Network 9/27/2006 The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the media to expose the intentions of the United States administration. The patronage of the US to Israel is well known, but the Ministry said Wednesday that the common blockade has taken the siege to another level. Today’s Ministry statement read, “The United States has once again opened its interventions in internal Palestinian relations. ”The document continued, “Their desire is to cause a devastating impact on Palestinian reality, destroying sustainability. The attempts to undermine efforts to form a unity government based on the National Accord Document are glaring. ”The United States began an immediate political and economic boycott when the Hamas party took office after being democratically elected early this year. more.. MK Taleb A-Sanaa calls for Marwan Barghouti's release Jerusalem Post 9/27/2006 MK Taleb a-Sanaa didn't have to hold visits with Arab leaders in Damascus and Beirut to cause controversy, like other Arab MKs have done this summer. He only had to travel to Nafha Prison in the Negev in order to conduct his Wednesday meeting with Fatah-Tanzim leader Marwan Barghouti. At the meeting, a-Sanaa said, he and Barghouti - who is serving five life sentences for his role in terrorist activity - discussed topics of local and global political importance, including the potential for a unity government in the Palestinian Authority, the practice of exchanging prisoners for captured IDF soldiers and the peace process between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The two met for 90 minutes in the head warden's office at the prison. more.. Israeli Minister of Industry calls for total destruction of all villages in northern Gaza Strip Ma'an News 9/27/2006 Jerusalem -- The Israeli Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor, Eli Yishai, has called for the total destruction of Palestinian villages in the Gaza Strip in order to stop Palestinians from launching projectiles against Israeli town. The minister, who is from the religious 'Shas' party, told an Israeli radio station that ''what is needed is to evacuate the Palestinian villages where the projectiles are launched from". He added, "These should be evacuated one by one until the projectiles stop." [end] Rice planning Arab summit in Middle East Ha'aretz 9/28/2006 WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to embark on a tour of the Middle East next week, according to sources in the American capital. Details of her visit have yet to be finalized; however, the State Department will hold meetings in the coming days in order to set the final agenda of the trip. One possibility is that Rice will hold a conference with moderate Arab leaders in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where the secretary of state will seek to reach understandings on efforts to block the Iranian nuclear program along with ways of possibly moving forward on the Palestinian issue. In the wake of talks between Arab leaders and U.S. officials in recent weeks, the view in the Bush administration is that the war in Lebanon has led to growing concern in Arab capitals over the threat posed by Iran to the stability in the region. more.. Peres: Assad Sr. missed chance on Golan YNet News 9/27/2006 Vice premier says if Bashar Assad's father, former Syrian president Hafez Assad, came to Camp David, ‘I can promise you the Golan Heights would have been in Syrian hands for years now’ -- LONDON - If Hafez Assad, predecessor and father of Syrian President Bashar Assad, had come to Camp David with Egyptian President Anwar Sadaat, “the Golan Heights would have already been in his hands,” Vice Premier Shimon Peres purported Wednesday night at a conference of Jewish organizations in London. “The Syrians are refusers of peace,” Peres said. According to Peres, the current Syrian president is hosting in his home a known terrorist – Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal. He added that Mashaal was preventing diplomatic advances between Israel and the Palestinians... more.. Spain floats idea of Madrid peace summit YNet News 9/27/2006 Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos offers to host another peace summit in Madrid, similar to 1991 conference there which lead to Oslo accords, peace with Jordan. ‘Perhaps it's time for interested parties to meet again, to reaffirm their commitment to a comprehensive solution,’ Moratinos says -- Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos offered to host another peace summit in Madrid, similar to the conference held there in 1991 which lead to the Oslo accords and peace with Jordan. Moratinos suggested that contrary to the original Madrid conference, the Quartet of Middle East mediators be expanded to include new countries.... Moratinos said the war between Israel and Hizbullah this summer showed the futility of seeking military solutions to the Arab-Israeli conflict or of trying to impose solutions unilaterally. more.. Little pressure on Hezbollah to disarm Yahoo! News Middle East 9/27/2006 MARJAYOUN, Lebanon - Six weeks after the end of the Lebanon war, the militant Hezbollah group is facing little on-the-ground pressure to give up its weapons and disarm — despite a U. N. cease-fire resolution demanding just that. The leaders of a U. N. peacekeeping force in south Lebanon say the job is not theirs. And Lebanon's ill-equipped army, some of whose soldiers wear tin-pot helmets and carry outdated M-16 rifles, shows no signs of diving into a confrontation with battle-hardened Hezbollah fighters. For now, all sides say it's likely full disarmament will happen only in the future as part of a political solution — despite the U. N. resolution that ended the 34-day war on Aug. 14 and required disarmament.... The U. N. forces and the Lebanese army are likely to have more teeth when it comes to preventing new weapons shipments. more.. U.N. Force Is Treading Lightly on Lebanese Soil New York Times 9/25/2006 TIBNIN, Lebanon, Sept. 24 — One month after a United Nations Security Council resolution ended a 34-day war between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia, members of the international force sent to help keep the peace say their mission is defined more by what they cannot do than by what they can. They say they cannot set up checkpoints, search cars, homes or businesses or detain suspects. If they see a truck transporting missiles, for example, they say they can not stop it. They cannot do any of this, they say, because under their interpretation of the Security Council resolution that deployed them, they must first be authorized to take such action by the Lebanese Army. The job of the United Nations force, and commanders in the field repeat this like a mantra, is to respect Lebanese sovereignty by supporting the Lebanese Army. They will only do what the Lebanese authorities ask. more.. IDF, UNIFIL meeting goes up in smoke Jerusalem Post 9/26/2006 "We told UNIFIL that we plan to pull our troops out of Lebanon by Yom Kippur, although we haven't committed to a specific year," a high-ranking IDF officer said after the meeting. -- While Israel had hoped to pull its last troops out of Lebanon by the end of the week, talks between IDF officers, representatives of the Lebanese Armed Forces and UNIFIL broke down Tuesday, threatening to delay a complete withdrawal indefinitely. A source in Northern Command said the talks at UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura, north of Rosh Hanikra, had failed, adding that the IDF had told the other parties it would stay in Lebanon until UNIFIL "took its job seriously.... The talks broke down when the Israelis demanded that UNIFIL adopt more aggressive rules of engagement. more.. Israel says 'snags' may delay withdrawal a few more days The Daily Star 9/27/2006 Peretz: 'we are prepared for the exit' -- Israel said Tuesday that snags could further delay its South Lebanon pullout until next week, as Lebanese and Israeli army officers met with UN peacekeepers on the border to nail down a schedule. The coordination meeting to finalize the schedule for the last few hundred Israeli troops to pull out was held in a villa at a secret location in Naqoura on the border, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said. But a UN official said following the meeting that it was "inconclusive." Asked about the possibility of holding another meeting, he said: "Nothing is planned this week." Earlier, Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz had said he expected the troops to be out "during this week, or at the latest several days later." more.. Disagreements remain between Israel, UNIFIL on Israeli withdrawal People's Daily 9/27/2006 A meeting, among Israel, Lebanese army and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on the withdrawal of Israeli troops from south Lebanon, ended in disagreement Tuesday evening, Israeli Ynet news reported on its website edition. The disagreement came as there is still uncertainty about the schedule of a complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, though the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had initially planned to pull out its remaining several hundred troops by the end of the week, said the report." The talks didn't fall apart, but there are still some disagreements regarding coordination and the authorities that should be exercised by the UNIFIL and the Lebanese army," an Israeli army official was quoted as saying. A source from the Israeli army said that the meeting, which took place at the UNIFIL headquarters in the Lebanese town of Naqoura was a "failure".... more.. Abbas turns to Egypt to salvage unity Jerusalem Post 9/27/2006 Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is expected to hold talks in Cairo on Wednesday with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on the ongoing crisis with Hamas over the formation of a Palestinian unity government, PA officials here said Tuesday. Abbas's surprise visit to Cairo comes amid increased tensions between his Fatah party and Hamas over the proposed coalition and its political program. Earlier this week, Abbas called off a planned meeting in Gaza City with Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas. The two were supposed to try formulating a political program that would win the backing of the international community and ensure a resumption of aid to the PA. Sources close to Abbas said he might meet with Haniyeh after he returns from Egypt later this week. more.. Egypt demands Hamas free Israeli soldier Yahoo! News Middle East 9/26/2006 CAIRO, Egypt - Egypt has demanded that Hamas immediately release a captured Israeli soldier to avoid a worsening crisis in the violence-battered Gaza Strip, Palestinian officials and Arab diplomats said Tuesday. The Egyptian demand came in a "strongly worded letter" from Egypt's powerful intelligence chief Omar Suleiman to the Syrian-based Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, they said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the letter. The letter also demanded Hamas cooperate fully with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in forming a national unity government, a step that has been stalled by the militant group's refusal to form an administration that recognizes Israel. The message reflected increasing impatience with Hamas by Egypt... more.. Peretz: We have no partner for peace Jerusalem Post 9/26/2006 Defense Minister Amir Peretz, who was one of the early leaders of the Left's "peace camp," rejected one of its most basic tenants on Tuesday when he told a gathering of activists, "It's not the case that Israel has rejected partners for peace. It's more correct to understand that every time Israel sought a partner over the past year, there wasn't one available." The audience, which represented about half of the 100 organizations that compose the Palestinian-Israeli Peace NGO Forum, sat quietly through his half-hour speech in Tel Aviv. It was his first meeting with activists from the left-wing "peace camp" since he took office last spring. Only at the end did they express their anger when they discovered that there would be no dialogue between him and them. more.. Hamad: 'We haven't hit a dead end' Jerusalem Post 9/26/2006 PA government spokesman Ghazi Hamad said Tuesday that a meeting between PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and PA Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh was cancelled due to "difficulties and differences of opinions" but he expressed confidence that negotiations would continue. "We will overcome the problems. We haven't hit a dead end," he said." I think we have a political agenda that is acceptable to the chairman and would be acceptable to Europe and the Arab states," Hamad expounded. "There is a problem accepting the Saudi initiative, but we will not prevent the chairman from formulating an agreement with Israel. We don't want to stand in his way," he added. Hamad refused to answer when asked whether a situation may arise in which Hamas would reject an agreement between Abbas and Israel... more.. Former PMs offer formula for Hizbullah to disarm The Daily Star 9/27/2006 BEIRUT: A gathering of former prime ministers said on Tuesday that Hizbullah would disarm when all occupied Lebanese territory was liberated and all detainees were freed. Former Premiers Salim Hoss, Amin Hafez, Rashid Solh, Omar Karami and Najib Mikati signed a memorandum of accord on Tuesday, which said the issue of the Shebaa Farms and the detainees should be resolved through UN Security Council Resolution 1701." Then there won't be a need for the resistance's weapons," the document said. Gathered at Hoss' Beirut residence, the quintet warned that internal bickering would only "widen sectarian divisions and increase tension." The country's leading politicians should "agree on common views about crucial issues," they added. more.. Damascus warns diplomatic impasse means more conflict The Daily Star 9/27/2006 Syria's foreign minister said Tuesday the "logjam" in peace efforts meant further confrontation was likely, as Premier Ehud Olmert called the Golan Heights an integral part of Israel that would never be handed back. Speaking before the UN General Assembly, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem also said that the "war on terror" has failed and that US policies were behind the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States. Moallem spoke hours after US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced in a newspaper interview that the US hoped to persuade its allies to back new sanctions against Syria over its purported role in destabilizing Lebanon and Iraq and supporting Hamas. In the interview published Tuesday, Rice told the Wall Street Journal: "We're going to have to look at tougher measures if Syria continues to be on the path that it's on." more.. Saudis deny secret Israel contact BBC 9/26/2006 Saudi Arabia has denied holding talks with Israelis, including a meeting with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. The official news agency quoted a foreign ministry official saying the story was "utterly false". It would be the first official meeting between Saudi Arabia and Israel, which do not have diplomatic relations. On Monday, Israeli reports quoted unnamed officials as saying that Mr Olmert had met King Abdullah or another senior Saudi royal on 13 September. Later Israeli officials, including the prime minister, publicly denied any direct contact with the king himself, but not with lower level Saudis. Saudi Arabia is the author of a plan which offers Israel diplomatic recognition from all Arab states in return for a complete withdrawal from the territory it occupied by Israel in 1967 and a negotiated solution to the 58-year Palestinian refugee issue. more.. Monetary Authority to sue Israeli forces for bank robberies Palestine News Network 9/26/2006 The Palestinian Monetary Authority is going to court on behalf of the Jordan National Bank, one of those that Israeli forces stole from in Nablus last week. On Wednesday Israeli forces broke into banks and currency exchange shops in Nablus, Jenin, Tulkarem and Ramallah, stealing billions of shekels and dinars, confiscating computers and files, and starting several shops ablaze. The Monetary Authority will go to the courts to prosecute at least one case in Nablus out of many. Director Dr. George Abed said Tuesday, “The Authority will expend all efforts to follow-up this case in the courts in order to put an end to such Israeli actions. ”Dr. Abed described the Israeli break-ins in Nablus as, “a criminal act of destruction and piracy. There is no relation to combating money laundering or financing so-called terrorism is these criminal Israeli acts." more.. Norway reprimands Israel envoy for bashing royals YNet News 9/26/2006 Ambassador to Norway Miryam Shomrat criticizes royal family for failing to express sympathy with Jewish community over Oslo synagogue shooting; country’s foreign minister: Comments unsuitable -- Norway reprimanded Israel's ambassador to Oslo on Tuesday after she criticised Norway's royal family for failing to express sympathy with the Jewish community over a shooting at Oslo's synagogue. Norway's foreign minister called the comments "unsuitable" and even the country's Jewish community distanced itself from them. The royal family in this democratic Scandinavian country is rarely criticised, even by Norwegians. In an interview with public television aired late on Monday, Ambassador Miryam Shomrat said: "I think a gesture from the royal household to the Jewish community on the eve of the (Jewish) New Year would have been in place anyway..." -- See also: Israeli envoy to Norway says media twisted her remarks about monarchy more.. Christian Politicians Show Solidarity With Israel International Middle East Media Center 9/26/2006 Christian politicians from different countries will meet with Israeli Members of Knesset Wednesday to show their support for Israel. The Knesset’s Christian Allies Caucus will host 50 Christian politicians from Europe, South America, Asia and Africa in the Knesset Members’ Lunchroom as part of their program to develop ties with the international Christian community. The Christian Government Luncheon is sponsored by “All Nations Convocation” and is in its third year. The Israeli newspaper online YnetNews said the focus of Wednesday’s convention will be how to form a strong opposition against, what they described as radical Islam. “Leaders from both faiths will discuss ways in which Christians and Jews can together face the ominous challenge of radical Islam and extremism in the 21st century,” the organization said... more.. Shikaki: Palestinians support Hamas, but most favor negotiated peace with Israe ReliefWeb/Council on Foreign Relations 9/25/2006 Khalil Shikaki, a leading Palestinian political expert, says recent polling among Palestinians shows most support Hamas' refusal to recognize Israel in advance of negotiations, but a great majority indicate they would back a peace agreement setting up a two-state situation. He said polling of Israelis shows many are interested in negotiating even with Hamas in the government. Shikaki, who is the director of the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research in Ramallah, said he did not think a unity government between Hamas and the former ruling Fatah party could be formed unless Hamas put a lesser figure at the head of the government and allowed President Mahmoud Abbas to negotiate with Israel. more.. COSATU: 9th Congress Resolution on the Middle East Palestine Chronicle/COSATU 9/26/2006 We should step up the campaign for the release of Palestinians, Iraqis and other nations across the globe held by the U.S. and Israel. -- The 1. 8 million strong Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) ended its 9th Congress in Johannesburg, 21st September. A resolution on the Middle East sponsored by the National Union of Metalworkers (NUMSA), the Witwatersrand and Eastern Cape regions was unanimously adopted. The resolution appears below. Willie Madisha was re-elected as president. It is significant that Madisha's first international engagement will be at the Canadian Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid's conference to be held in Toronto between the 6th and 8th of October. -- Details: Conference in Toronto more.. Palestinian PM meets with Brazilian Representative to the PA Ma'an News 9/26/2006 Ma'an - Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh met the Brazilian representative to the Palestinian Authority, Arnaldo Kahilio, in Gaza on Tuesday. In a statement, Haniyeh expressed his pride of the pioneering role which Brazil plays in supporting the peoples that are under occupation, as well as in the Brazilian government's stance towards the Palestinian problem. For his part, the Brazilian representative said that his country supports the Palestinian government and he expressed his country's wish to enhance Palestinian-Brazilian ties. The Palestinian minister of interior, Dr Mahmoud Az-Zahhar, also attended the meeting. [end] Hamas and Hizbullah would ruin Arab peace plan, says Peres The Guardian 9/26/2006 Hamas and Hizbullah would ruin Arab peace plan, says Peres -- · Israeli vice-premier casts doubt on latest initiative · Public opinion 'stopping plan to close settlements' -- Israel's vice-premier, Shimon Peres, cast doubt on a new Arab peace initiative yesterday by saying militant groups such as Hamas and Hizbullah were a "basic obstacle" to progress. Mr Peres was speaking after an Israeli newspaper reported that the prime minister, Ehud Olmert, had held secret talks with Saudi officials during the past 10 days to discuss a peace plan.... In an interview with the Guardian, Mr Peres said that as long as Arab governments struggled to rein in armed groups a regional peace initiative would falter. It was the first warning from Israel that the Arab attempts to restart peace talks to establish a Palestinian state would fail. more.. Olmert denies talking with Saudi king Jerusalem Post 9/25/2006 Both Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and a senior Saudi government official denied in interviews with The Jerusalem Post on Monday reports that Olmert met recently with a senior member of the Saudi family, perhaps even the Saudi king himself. Olmert characterized the reports as "speculation, imagination, things that are beyond the limits." Nevertheless, he did praise the Saudis for the positive role they have played in the region recently. "When you examine their performance over the last couple of months, you see something that you haven't seen in the past," Olmert said. "More sense of responsibility, and a greater degree of readiness to stand up and speak up against Shi'ite extremists like Hizbullah." Olmert said it was no small thing that Saudi Arabia spoke out in the early days of the war against Hizbullah. more.. Authors, generals press PM on peace Jerusalem Post 9/25/2006 A group of 68 well-known Israeli authors, academics and retired generals has called on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to open peace negotiations with the Palestinians' Hamas rulers, Syria and Lebanon. The petition - signed by internationally known novelists Amoz Oz and A. B. Yehoshua, and Nobel Chemistry Prize laureate Aaron Ciechanover - is the first sign of an organized effort to prod Olmert into negotiations since a monthlong war against the Hizbullah militia in Lebanon ended last month." We strongly recommend that he make all efforts to reach an arrangement with Syria and Lebanon and the Palestinians," another signatory, former Tel Aviv Mayor Shlomo Lahat, said Monday. Asked how Israel could negotiate with Hamas when it does not recognize Israel, Lahat replied, "We'll talk to them and then they will recognize us." more.. Tamir: Israel must talk to Syria, Hamas YNet News 9/25/2006 Despite group's refusal to recognize Israel, education minister says dialogue with Ismail Haniyeh's government should not be rejected. Addressing option of resuming peace process with Damascus, she says 'Syria is a key axis among Middle Eastern countries and we must launch immediate negotiations with Syria' -- Contradicting the Israeli government's stance that no talks must be held with the Hamas government, Education Minister Yuli Tamir told Ynet on Monday that a dialogue with Ismail Haniyeh's government must not be rejected. According to Tamir, "there is no harm in a dialogue also in this area and we must try and reach an understanding. I am ready to sit with whoever is willing to reach a peace agreement." more.. Tibi: Olmert not interested in peace YNet News 9/25/2006 Arab MK: 'Olmert is continuing his refusal. Israel is losing a chance for negotiations' -- Knesset Member Mohammad Barakeh has accused Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of "trying to close every window of opportunity for negotiations leading to peace in the area. During an interview with Ynet, Olmert explained that the "Syrians … continue to sponsor terrorists, including Palestinian terror groups working against us in the territories. I don't see in their behavior a sign that could encourage Israel to start a process." Earlier, Education Minister Yuli Tamir expressed a contrary view, claiming that there should be dialogue with the Hamas government and with the Syrians, in order to advance a solution for the regional crisis. more.. PM says Bush won't allow nuclear Iran Jerusalem Post 9/26/2006 Olmert's comments come amid a debate raging in Jerusalem about whether the US will eventually take military action to stop the Iranian march to nuclear capability, whether Israel might have to act on its own, and whether Jerusalem should reconcile itself to a nuclear Iran. Asked whether he felt that Bush would, one way or another, stop Iran from going nuclear, Olmert replied succinctly, "I believe so." Olmert said Bush was very determined on this issue. "First of all I think President Bush has the courage," he said during the interview in his Jerusalem office. "This is something that is very important. There is no one in the world today who has greater courage and determination, and a sense of mission about these issues, than President Bush, and I admire his determination and sense of mission." more.. Bush weighing Mideast tour after mid-term elections Ha'aretz 9/26/2006 U.S. President George W. Bush is planning a possible visit to the Middle East after the mid-term elections in November to discuss with leaders in the region ways to move the Israeli-Palestinian peace process forward. An alternative to a Bush tour of the Middle East, senior political sources in Jerusalem say, would be an invitation to leaders in the region to a summit with the president in the United States. According to reports from Washington, Bush is "serious" about his intentions to promote a diplomatic initiative in the region in the wake of the war in Lebanon, and in view of rising concerns among moderate Arab states over Iran's growing strength and influence. The message Arab governments are relaying to the United States is that public opinion in their countries is being affected by the anti-Israeli rhetoric of Iranian President... Ahmedinejad... more.. EU BAM: Rafah Crossing Closed after Three Days' Opening WAFA - Palestine News Agency 9/25/2006 RAFAH, September 25, 2006 (WAFA)- The Rafah Crossing Point on the Egypt - Gaza border was open from 22 till 24 September for Palestinian passengers. This facilitated the exit from the Gaza Strip for pilgrims, sick people and students as well as other passengers and the return to the Gaza for thousands of passengers who had been waiting for several weeks the crossing to be reopened, European Union Border Assistance Mission Rafah (EU BAM Rafah) said in a press release. Up to 8. 039 passengers used RCP during the three days. Friday and Saturday were rather busy days whilst Sunday was very calm with only 327 passengers crossing." There is no information when the crossing will open again," the press release said. "EU BAM remains fully operational and ready to return to its normal monitoring." more.. Israel dismisses Assad's 'peace' talk Jerusalem Post 9/23/2006 Syrian President Bashar Assad's actions belie his words, Israeli officials said Sunday night in reaction to an interview Assad gave the German Der Spiegel magazine saying that he was interested in peace and had no desire to wipe Israel off the map." Israel has always said that it would be more than happy to extend its hand in peace toward Syria, but this is impossible with the present government in Damascus that openly gives a safe haven to terrorist organizations and backs Hizbullah," said a senior government official. The Syrians have to prove themselves with deeds, not just words, the official said, and the deeds that Israel sees is support for Hizbullah and terrorism against Israel.... Assad said he did not believe in war, but "in the principle of deterrence... I don't say that Israel should be wiped off the map. We want to make peace - peace with Israel." more.. Peretz: Talks with Hamas possible Jerusalem Post 9/23/2006 Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Saturday that if Hamas were to recognize Israel and agree to abide by agreements previously accepted by the Palestinian Authority, he would urge the government to negotiate directly with Hamas. Speaking in a Rosh Hashana interview with Israel Radio Saturday, Peretz said that if Hamas met these conditions, a Palestinian unity government was not needed as a prerequisite to talks. Peretz added that it was necessary to "wait and see what the unity government's basic priniciples and orientation will be." "What difference does it make what the government is called? If Hamas were to recognize Israel's right to exist, I would recommend direct talks with Hamas," Peretz said. more.. West blocks Arab bid to rap Israel over nuclear issue at IAEA meeting Ha'aretz 9/24/2006 VIENNA - Western nations foiled a bid by Arab and Islamic states on Friday to declare Israel's reputed nuclear arsenal a threat that must be removed in a politically charged vote at a UN atomic watchdog meeting. Canada sponsored a 45-29 "no-action" ballot that prevented International Atomic Energy Agency member states from voting on a motion demanding Israel use atomic energy only for peaceful purposes and help set up a Middle East nuclear arms-free zone. But the gathering voted 89-2 for a milder resolution on Israel, also initiated by Arab states, "affirming the urgent need for all states in the Middle East to accept full-scope IAEA safeguards on all their nuclear activities".... Nineteen nations, including India and Russia, abstained over the "threat" measure, and three in the safeguards vote. more.. Concern over Middle East nuclear plans BBC 9/25/2006 Plans announced recently by Egypt and Turkey that they hope to build nuclear power plants are raising a ripple of concern about the long-term prospect of a nuclear arms race in the Middle East." It is easy to exaggerate and it is true that these countries have a right to seek all sources of energy but it is indisputable that there is also a strategic element to this," said Mark Fitzpatrick, senior fellow in non-proliferation at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London. "Having a nuclear infrastructure is the step which a country needs to accomplish if it decides to embark on the path of nuclear weapons. Pakistan took that route," he said. According to this theory, Egypt and Turkey are worried at the failure of the United Nations to stop Iran from enriching uranium.... Israel's possession of nuclear weapons has often prompted similar fears of a nuclear arms race. more.. Karni and Nahal Oz crossings opened to allow fuel into Gaza Ma'an News 9/25/2006 Bethlehem -- The Israeli authorities have partly lifted the total closure on the occupied Palestinian territories since Friday due to the Jewish New Year, Israeli sources have said. The sources added that it was decided to reopen the Karni and Nahal Oz commercial crossings between the northern Gaza Strip and Israel in order that fuel may be brought into the Gaza Strip. [end] EU giving relief to 40,000 PA families Jerusalem Post 9/25/2006 The European Union said Monday it has begun paying social allowances to 40,000 needy Palestinian families through a temporary funding program overseen by the World Bank that bypasses the Hamas-led Palestinian government. The funding, at the outset of Ramadan, comes on top of spending for 11,500 health workers who are no longer paid and pensioners, the European Commission said in a statement. It added the needy families - identified from those who received social welfare from the previous Palestinian government - will receive US $346 each. Regular welfare payments stopped in February because the current Hamas-led government has scared off direct international aid payments because it does not recognize Israel or is ready to renounce violence. more.. Sheikh Salah warns of Israeli plans to divide Muslim holy site as Judaization of Jerusalem continues Ma'an News 9/25/2006 Sheikh Ra’ed Salah, President of the Islamic Movement inside the Green Line, commented on Monday’s Reuters News Agency report that the Islamic holy site, Al Aqsa Mosque, is under more threat than previously thought. The Israeli government intends to further overtake the Mosque and give it to the Jews on a semi -- ImageSheikh Ra’ed Salah, President of the Islamic Movement inside the Green Line, commented on Monday’s Reuters News Agency report that the Islamic holy site, Al Aqsa Mosque, is under more threat than previously thought. The Israeli government intends to further overtake the Mosque and give it to the Jews on a semi-permanent basis. Israeli forces in the southern West Bank's Hebron City are doing the same with Ibrahimi Mosque, closing it yesterday to Muslims and opening it to Jews. more.. Lebanon: We need missiles against IAF aircraft YNet News 9/25/2006 Lebanese Defense Minister Elias Murr says his country's army will respond if Israel violates ceasefire after IDF's withdrawal. Murr meets with his Belgian counterpart, asks to equip Lebanese army with antiaircraft missiles in order to hit Israeli aircraft -- Lebanese Defense Minister Elias Murr said that the Lebanese army was in need of antiaircraft missiles and antitank missiles in order to defend his country "against the Israeli aggressiveness." He also asked for helicopters in order to transfer infantry corps to different areas, as well as armored vehicles.... The Lebanese minister referred to the speech delivered Friday by Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, who said that his organization was running out of patience in light of the Israeli violations in southern Lebanon. more.. Lebanon official: Hezbollah fighters should join army Ha'aretz 9/25/2006 Lebanese Defense Minister Elias Murr on Monday called on Hezbollah fighters to be incorporated into the Lebanese army. In a joint press conference held with his Belgian counterpart, Murr suggested the guerillas could remain a separate unit under the army's central command." It would be an honor for the army to have them operating as a division, an honor for the army and for resistance," He said. Murr also announced the Lebanese army had placed an order for new anti-tank and surface-to-air missiles scheduled to arrive by next year. He said the arms would help the army defend the country's borders." When the Israeli enemy retreats and the Lebanese army deploys its troops along the border they will be able to react to every territorial infringement," Murr said. more.. Norwegian Minister of Finance declares wish to re-open its diplomatic office in Gaza Ma'an News 9/24/2006 Gaza -- The electronic website of the Palestinian community in Norway "As Safsaf" has quoted the Norwegian Minister of Finance, Kristin Kristin Halvorsen, as saying that the her government has decided to re-open its representative office in the Gaza Strip. The site stated that Ms Halvorsen is the leader of the Norwegian Socialist Left Party that supports the Palestinian cause. The minister considers it is essential that there be a Norwegian presence in Gaza for contacts with the Palestinians. Other sources report that the re-opening of this office, after a couple of years closure, is due to campaigning by Palestinian solidarity groups in Norway. [end] Allenby Bridge to be closed 2 October for Yom Kippur Ma'an News 9/25/2006 Jericho -- The Israeli authorities announced that the Allenby Bridge crossing between the occupied Palestinian territories and Jordan will be closed on Monday 2nd of October because of the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. Sources in Jericho told our correspondent in Jericho that the crossing will be closed in both directions on Monday and will be open on Tuesday as normal. [end] Israel Police admitted into Interpol YNet News 9/25/2006 Israel to enjoy increased cooperation with European police forces following Interpol general assembly decision -- Following five years of diplomatic persuasion on the part of the Foreign Ministry and the Israel Police, Israel has convinced Interpol to accept it as a full member of its European branch. The decision was reached with a two thirds majority vote during Interpol’s general assembly last weekend in Rio de Janeiro. Interpol is usually divided into regions according to continents. A significant number of police operations and information exchange occur within the regions. Israel has thus far belonged to the Asian region of Interpol, making it difficult to carry out actual police collaborations in things such as joint investigations, legal requests, extraditions, and information exchange... more.. Poll: Europeans view extremism as cause of Middle East tension Ha'aretz 9/25/2006 A new poll has found that public opinion in the major European countries is prepared to view the conflict between extremists and moderates as the cause of tension and wars in the Middle East, instead of seeing Israel's policy as the cause of problems in the region. The Washington-based organization The Israel Project conducted the survey this month among the elites and general public in Germany, Britain and France. According to the survey, the tendency to view Islamic extremists as responsible for instability in the region is especially high in Germany. The elites in France and Britain tend to divide the responsibility between Israeli policy and Islamic extremism, while the general public in France is more open to blaming radical Islam for the problems in the Middle East. more.. Rafah Crossing opened Friday morning; 1,000 cross in 3 hours Ma'an News 9/22/2006 Gaza -- Rafah Crossing between southern Gaza Strip and Egypt was opened on Friday morning after it has been closed almost continuously for two months. Approximately 1,000 Palestinians crossed in just 3 hours. Hundreds of Palestinian citizens waited since the early hours on Friday to cross. Buses lined up on the Palestinian side waiting to leave the Gaza Strip. Once the crossing was opened, hundreds of Palestinians who had been stuck in Egypt crossed. Many had travelled from other Arab and foreign countries. Eyewitnesses reported that the Egyptian and Palestinian sides provided great facilities for arrivals and departures. It was reported that in the first three hours of Friday, about 1,000 Palestinians crossed. The crossing is scheduled to remain open for 42 hours... more.. Rafah Crossing opened Friday morning; 1,000 cross in 3 hours Ma'an News 9/22/2006 Gaza -- Rafah Crossing between southern Gaza Strip and Egypt was opened on Friday morning after it has been closed almost continuously for two months. Approximately 1,000 Palestinians crossed in just 3 hours. Hundreds of Palestinian citizens waited since the early hours on Friday to cross. Buses lined up on the Palestinian side waiting to leave the Gaza Strip. Once the crossing was opened, hundreds of Palestinians who had been stuck in Egypt crossed. Many had travelled from other Arab and foreign countries. Eyewitnesses reported that the Egyptian and Palestinian sides provided great facilities for arrivals and departures. It was reported that in the first three hours of Friday, about 1,000 Palestinians crossed. The crossing is scheduled to remain open for 42 hours... more.. Peres lays down conditions before a meeting between Abbas and Olmert can take place Ma'an News 9/22/2006 Bethlehem -- Israeli deputy prime minister Shimon Peres has presented many conditions in order for a meeting to take place between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Peres' statements came after he met President Abbas in New York on the margins of the UN General Assembly meetings, which are currently discussing the Middle East and the Palestinian issue. Peres said that the condition for such a meeting to take place include releasing the Israeli soldier captured in Gaza and stopping the launching of projectiles at Israeli towns and cities. The deputy prime minister attacked the Arab League, saying that it has no right to present any initiative to solve the Arab-Israeli conflict since it has failed to "contain" Hezbollah. -- See also: JPost: Peres presents preconditions to Abbas more.. Peres lays down conditions before a meeting between Abbas and Olmert can take place Ma'an News 9/22/2006 Bethlehem -- Israeli deputy prime minister Shimon Peres has presented many conditions in order for a meeting to take place between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Peres' statements came after he met President Abbas in New York on the margins of the UN General Assembly meetings, which are currently discussing the Middle East and the Palestinian issue. Peres said that the condition for such a meeting to take place include releasing the Israeli soldier captured in Gaza and stopping the launching of projectiles at Israeli towns and cities. The deputy prime minister attacked the Arab League, saying that it has no right to present any initiative to solve the Arab-Israeli conflict since it has failed to "contain" Hezbollah. -- See also: JPost: Peres presents preconditions to Abbas more.. PM Haniyeh: We will accept a Palestinian state on the '67 borders and call a truce Ma'an News 9/22/2006 Gaza -- Palestinian Prime Minister Ismael Haniyeh has announced that his government will accept the creation of a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders in exchange for the Palestinian refugees' right of return and a 'hudna' or truce with Israel, not a recognition. In press statements after Friday prayers, Haniyeh said that the formation of any government will be based on the National Accord Document which was generated form the Prisoners' Document. In this way, Haniyeh has said that his government will call a ceasefire with Israel and work towards the creation of a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, but his Hamas-led government will not recognise the State of Israel's right to exist. Haniyeh also said that there is no discussion at present about dissolving the government. The discussions will resume after President Abbas has returned from his trip abroad. more.. PM Haniyeh: We will accept a Palestinian state on the '67 borders and call a truce Ma'an News 9/22/2006 Gaza -- Palestinian Prime Minister Ismael Haniyeh has announced that his government will accept the creation of a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders in exchange for the Palestinian refugees' right of return and a 'hudna' or truce with Israel, not a recognition. In press statements after Friday prayers, Haniyeh said that the formation of any government will be based on the National Accord Document which was generated form the Prisoners' Document. In this way, Haniyeh has said that his government will call a ceasefire with Israel and work towards the creation of a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, but his Hamas-led government will not recognise the State of Israel's right to exist. Haniyeh also said that there is no discussion at present about dissolving the government. The discussions will resume after President Abbas has returned from his trip abroad. more.. We still have 20,000 rockets, says Nasrallah The Guardian 9/23/2006 Hizbullah leader emerges for first time since war · Hundreds of thousands in Beirut for speech -- In a defiant "victory" speech in a bombed-out suburb of Beirut, the Hizbullah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, said yesterday his organisation had recovered from its month-long war with Israel and now possessed more than 20,000 rockets. "Within days, and [despite] emerging from a ferocious war, [Hizbullah] has recovered all its organisational and military capabilities... it is stronger than it was before July 12," he told a cheering crowd of several hundred thousand people. Under intense security amid fears of an assassination attempt, Mr Nasrallah was making his first public appearance since the war started more than 10 weeks ago. more.. We still have 20,000 rockets, says Nasrallah The Guardian 9/23/2006 Hizbullah leader emerges for first time since war · Hundreds of thousands in Beirut for speech -- In a defiant "victory" speech in a bombed-out suburb of Beirut, the Hizbullah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, said yesterday his organisation had recovered from its month-long war with Israel and now possessed more than 20,000 rockets. "Within days, and [despite] emerging from a ferocious war, [Hizbullah] has recovered all its organisational and military capabilities... it is stronger than it was before July 12," he told a cheering crowd of several hundred thousand people. Under intense security amid fears of an assassination attempt, Mr Nasrallah was making his first public appearance since the war started more than 10 weeks ago. more.. Ambassador Ayalon criticizes CFR for hosting Ahmadinejad Ha'aretz 9/23/2006 Israeli Ambassador Daniel Ayalon criticized the Council on Foreign Relations on Friday for providing a forum for Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his "abhorrent views." In a letter to Richard Haass, a former high-ranked State Department official who now heads the think tank, Ayalon said, "The very fact that an organization like the council convened to listen to his ranting provided Ahmadinejad legitimacy." The ambassador called the decision to host the Iranian leader a "terrible mistake," even though Ayalon said he was sure neither Haass nor any member of the council endorsed Ahmadinejad's views. In New York mostly to address the special session of the UN General Assembly, the Iranian leader met with 19 council members Wednesday. He also gave several media interviews. more.. Ambassador Ayalon criticizes CFR for hosting Ahmadinejad Ha'aretz 9/23/2006 Israeli Ambassador Daniel Ayalon criticized the Council on Foreign Relations on Friday for providing a forum for Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his "abhorrent views." In a letter to Richard Haass, a former high-ranked State Department official who now heads the think tank, Ayalon said, "The very fact that an organization like the council convened to listen to his ranting provided Ahmadinejad legitimacy." The ambassador called the decision to host the Iranian leader a "terrible mistake," even though Ayalon said he was sure neither Haass nor any member of the council endorsed Ahmadinejad's views. In New York mostly to address the special session of the UN General Assembly, the Iranian leader met with 19 council members Wednesday. He also gave several media interviews. more.. 'No action' on Israel's nuclear activities AlJazeera 9/23/2006 Nations pushing for a resolution labelling Israel's nuclear capabilities a threat on the final day of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) annual meeting have been defeated. The draft resolution, which also called upon Israel to join the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, was backed by 15 Arab countries, along with Cuba, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia and Venezuela. But Canada sponsored a 45-29 "no action" ballot on Friday that prevented member states from voting on the motion. Among those supporting the effort to block the vote were the United States, Israel, France, Germany, Britain and Finland, which was at the conference on behalf of the European Union. Nineteen countries, including Russia and India, abstained. more.. 'No action' on Israel's nuclear activities AlJazeera 9/23/2006 Nations pushing for a resolution labelling Israel's nuclear capabilities a threat on the final day of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) annual meeting have been defeated. The draft resolution, which also called upon Israel to join the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, was backed by 15 Arab countries, along with Cuba, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia and Venezuela. But Canada sponsored a 45-29 "no action" ballot on Friday that prevented member states from voting on the motion. Among those supporting the effort to block the vote were the United States, Israel, France, Germany, Britain and Finland, which was at the conference on behalf of the European Union. Nineteen countries, including Russia and India, abstained. more.. Peres: Israel will not release PA tax money even if there is a unity government Ma'an News 9/22/2006 Ma'an - The Deputy Israeli Prime Minister, Shimon Peres, declared on Friday that Israel will not release the customs money that belongs to the Palestinian Authority (PA) but is currently being held in Israel, despite the possible formation of a Palestinian national unity government. Peres, in an interview by an American radio station, said: "The release of the Palestinian money isn't dependent on the release of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit … we are afraid that the money will be used to fund terrorism instead of its alleged goals". He justified his position by the fact that the national unity government will include the current ruling party, Hamas. more.. Peres: Israel will not release PA tax money even if there is a unity government Ma'an News 9/22/2006 Ma'an - The Deputy Israeli Prime Minister, Shimon Peres, declared on Friday that Israel will not release the customs money that belongs to the Palestinian Authority (PA) but is currently being held in Israel, despite the possible formation of a Palestinian national unity government. Peres, in an interview by an American radio station, said: "The release of the Palestinian money isn't dependent on the release of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit … we are afraid that the money will be used to fund terrorism instead of its alleged goals". He justified his position by the fact that the national unity government will include the current ruling party, Hamas. more.. Swedish parliamentarians urge the international community to lift the crippling siege Ma'an News 9/22/2006 Gaza -- Swedish parliamentarians have called on the international community and the Quartet to work on ending the siege imposed on Palestinians in order that they may live like people in the rest of the world. In a letter sent to the Palestinian Minister of Refugee Affairs, Atif Adwan, on Friday, the parliamentarians stressed that it is necessary to end the inhumane conditions experienced by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip as a result of the Israeli siege. They said that it is very important to break the siege as all areas of Palestinian life are on the verge of collapse. They said that they have prepared an appeal in this regard. They will urge European parliamentarians to sign this appeal so as to put pressure on the Israeli government to solve the issue of the captured Israeli soldier in a political and diplomatic way, and not in a military way. more.. Swedish parliamentarians urge the international community to lift the crippling siege Ma'an News 9/22/2006 Gaza -- Swedish parliamentarians have called on the international community and the Quartet to work on ending the siege imposed on Palestinians in order that they may live like people in the rest of the world. In a letter sent to the Palestinian Minister of Refugee Affairs, Atif Adwan, on Friday, the parliamentarians stressed that it is necessary to end the inhumane conditions experienced by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip as a result of the Israeli siege. They said that it is very important to break the siege as all areas of Palestinian life are on the verge of collapse. They said that they have prepared an appeal in this regard. They will urge European parliamentarians to sign this appeal so as to put pressure on the Israeli government to solve the issue of the captured Israeli soldier in a political and diplomatic way, and not in a military way. more.. President Abbas to the UN: I want tomorrow to be better than today Palestine News Network 9/22/2006 In front of the United Nations President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the unsolved problem that some have refereed to for decades as, “The question of Palestine. ” Offensive terminology aside, the words "conflict" or "war" are just as cut-off from reality. Many hearken back to simpler times, as it were, when at least on a local level one did not need argue whether to use the term “occupation” to describe the “problem. ”Regardless, the issue remains as it has since the 1967 occupation of Palestinian and Arab territories began, and that factor alone has led to explosive tension that may ebb at times but always flows again. President Abbas is recalling the late President Arafat. He was much more than any president, prime minister, or leader since. more.. President Abbas to the UN: I want tomorrow to be better than today Palestine News Network 9/22/2006 In front of the United Nations President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the unsolved problem that some have refereed to for decades as, “The question of Palestine. ” Offensive terminology aside, the words "conflict" or "war" are just as cut-off from reality. Many hearken back to simpler times, as it were, when at least on a local level one did not need argue whether to use the term “occupation” to describe the “problem. ”Regardless, the issue remains as it has since the 1967 occupation of Palestinian and Arab territories began, and that factor alone has led to explosive tension that may ebb at times but always flows again. President Abbas is recalling the late President Arafat. He was much more than any president, prime minister, or leader since. more.. Rice planning visit to Middle East ReliefWeb/United States Department of State 9/22/2006 Secretary intends to work with moderate leaders on advancing peace process -- United Nations – U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said September 21 that she plans to visit the Middle East “fairly soon” to work with moderate leaders in the region to advance the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, but did not release a specific date for the visit." We really want to see the conditions created where we can have acceleration of work on the road map, where we can return to the access and movement agreement that was negotiated so that economic life can return to the Palestinians Territories," she told journalists after a ministerial Security Council meeting on the Middle East." We hope that there will be an effort to release the captured Israeli soldiers so that the atmosphere can be created"... more.. Rice planning visit to Middle East ReliefWeb/United States Department of State 9/22/2006 Secretary intends to work with moderate leaders on advancing peace process -- United Nations – U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said September 21 that she plans to visit the Middle East “fairly soon” to work with moderate leaders in the region to advance the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, but did not release a specific date for the visit." We really want to see the conditions created where we can have acceleration of work on the road map, where we can return to the access and movement agreement that was negotiated so that economic life can return to the Palestinians Territories," she told journalists after a ministerial Security Council meeting on the Middle East." We hope that there will be an effort to release the captured Israeli soldiers so that the atmosphere can be created"... more.. Arab leaders urge Arab-Israeli talks AlJazeera 9/22/2006 Arab leaders and the UN secretary-general have urged the UN Security Council to get involved in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying the war in Lebanon showed the danger of leaving the core Middle East dispute unresolved. Israel objected, saying there were enough forums outside the council dealing with the issue. The United States agreed and prevented the Security Council from issuing a closing statement, diplomats said. Still, the Arab League and Greece, which holds the council presidency, managed to gather foreign ministers, including Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, for a debate on reviving the peace process and ending all Arab-Israeli conflicts. Kofi Annan, the UN secretary-general, said: "Like no other conflict, the Arab-Israeli conflict carries a powerful symbolic and emotional charge for people throughout the world." more.. Arab leaders urge Arab-Israeli talks AlJazeera 9/22/2006 Arab leaders and the UN secretary-general have urged the UN Security Council to get involved in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying the war in Lebanon showed the danger of leaving the core Middle East dispute unresolved. Israel objected, saying there were enough forums outside the council dealing with the issue. The United States agreed and prevented the Security Council from issuing a closing statement, diplomats said. Still, the Arab League and Greece, which holds the council presidency, managed to gather foreign ministers, including Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, for a debate on reviving the peace process and ending all Arab-Israeli conflicts. Kofi Annan, the UN secretary-general, said: "Like no other conflict, the Arab-Israeli conflict carries a powerful symbolic and emotional charge for people throughout the world." more.. Saudi FM: 'Significant' Arab consensus to renew stalled ME peace process Ha'aretz 9/22/2006 Arab countries have reached a "very significant" consensus after the recent war in Lebanon that there must be a new start with fresh ideas to the Middle East peace process, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said Thursday. Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal of Saudi Arabia and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in separate interviews with The Associated Press around the meeting of the UN General Assembly, spoke of the urgency for an "end game" in the Middle East to resurrect the process which has been bogged down for three years. At a Security Council meeting later Thursday, Bahrain's Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa called for initial negotiation between the two sides, with a concrete timeframe, as well as a report from UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the best way to hold those negotiations. more.. Saudi FM: 'Significant' Arab consensus to renew stalled ME peace process Ha'aretz 9/22/2006 Arab countries have reached a "very significant" consensus after the recent war in Lebanon that there must be a new start with fresh ideas to the Middle East peace process, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said Thursday. Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal of Saudi Arabia and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in separate interviews with The Associated Press around the meeting of the UN General Assembly, spoke of the urgency for an "end game" in the Middle East to resurrect the process which has been bogged down for three years. At a Security Council meeting later Thursday, Bahrain's Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa called for initial negotiation between the two sides, with a concrete timeframe, as well as a report from UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the best way to hold those negotiations. more.. Chirac, Olmert discuss on phone proposal for Mideast conference Ha'aretz 9/22/2006 French President Jacques Chirac pressed the case for an international conference to restart the stalled Mideast peace process in a phone conversation Friday with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Chirac and Ehud Olmert also discussed the situation in Lebanon and agreed to stay in close contact over the matter, presidential spokesman Jerome Bonnafont said. The French leader urged "full implementation" of a new U. N. resolution aiming to cement a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah fighters after 34 days of deadly clashes earlier this year. Its provisions include a call for Israel to pull its troops out of southern Lebanon. At the United Nations this week, Chirac discussed the French proposal for the conference with U. N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, U.S. President George W. Bush and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. more.. Chirac, Olmert discuss on phone proposal for Mideast conference Ha'aretz 9/22/2006 French President Jacques Chirac pressed the case for an international conference to restart the stalled Mideast peace process in a phone conversation Friday with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Chirac and Ehud Olmert also discussed the situation in Lebanon and agreed to stay in close contact over the matter, presidential spokesman Jerome Bonnafont said. The French leader urged "full implementation" of a new U. N. resolution aiming to cement a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah fighters after 34 days of deadly clashes earlier this year. Its provisions include a call for Israel to pull its troops out of southern Lebanon. At the United Nations this week, Chirac discussed the French proposal for the conference with U. N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, U.S. President George W. Bush and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. more.. Lahoud: It is time for Israel to abide by all UN resolutions Ha'aretz 9/22/2006 It is time for Israel to take responsibility and abide by United Nations resolutions, Lebanese President Emile Lahoud said Thursday in his address to the UN General Assembly. Lahoud called the Israel Defense Forces' 34-day operation on southern Lebanon a "barbaric aggression," and said "this savagery did not weaken our people's resolve." "It is time to ask Israel to finally abide by past and current UN resolutions," Lahoud said. The president also called on the international community to "safeguard" resolution 1701, which led to the cease-fire between IDF troops and Hezbollah guerillas, though he accused the United Nations of having been "powerless to stop slaughter of the war." .... Lahoud also accused Israel of holding hostage Lebanese citizens, and asked the world to stand by Lebanon. more.. Lahoud: It is time for Israel to abide by all UN resolutions Ha'aretz 9/22/2006 It is time for Israel to take responsibility and abide by United Nations resolutions, Lebanese President Emile Lahoud said Thursday in his address to the UN General Assembly. Lahoud called the Israel Defense Forces' 34-day operation on southern Lebanon a "barbaric aggression," and said "this savagery did not weaken our people's resolve." "It is time to ask Israel to finally abide by past and current UN resolutions," Lahoud said. The president also called on the international community to "safeguard" resolution 1701, which led to the cease-fire between IDF troops and Hezbollah guerillas, though he accused the United Nations of having been "powerless to stop slaughter of the war." .... Lahoud also accused Israel of holding hostage Lebanese citizens, and asked the world to stand by Lebanon. more.. Saudi, Russian see consensus for peace Yahoo! News Middle East 9/21/2006 UNITED NATIONS - Arab countries have reached a "very significant" consensus after the recent war in Lebanon that there must be a new start with fresh ideas to the Middle East peace process, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said Thursday. Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal of Saudi Arabia and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in separate interviews with The Associated Press around the meeting of the U. N. General Assembly, spoke of the urgency for an "end game" that could give a glimmer of hope to both sides in the Middle East by resurrecting a process bogged down for three years. At a Security Council meeting later Thursday, Bahrain's Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa called for initial negotiations between Israel and the Arabs with a concrete timeframe... more.. Saudi, Russian see consensus for peace Yahoo! News Middle East 9/21/2006 UNITED NATIONS - Arab countries have reached a "very significant" consensus after the recent war in Lebanon that there must be a new start with fresh ideas to the Middle East peace process, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said Thursday. Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal of Saudi Arabia and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in separate interviews with The Associated Press around the meeting of the U. N. General Assembly, spoke of the urgency for an "end game" that could give a glimmer of hope to both sides in the Middle East by resurrecting a process bogged down for three years. At a Security Council meeting later Thursday, Bahrain's Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa called for initial negotiations between Israel and the Arabs with a concrete timeframe... more.. Assad: War with Israel a possibility Jerusalem Post 9/21/2006 Syrian President Bashar Assad said Thursday that the possibility of a new war in the Middle East could not be ruled out. Assad said he believed Israel could decide to attack Syria, because it was "looking for a way out of the crisis it is in through a new [military] operation." Israel might attack Syria under the pretense that the country was aiding Iran, Assad said. In this case, "Syria will resist, stand strong and never give in," Assad told Lebanon's As-Safir newspaper on Thursday. Since the end of the war between Israel and Lebanon, there has been increased discussion in political circles over the relationship between Israel and Syria. On August 21 Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter (Kadima) surprised the political establishment by announcing that he was in favor of a withdrawing from the Golan Heights... more.. Assad: War with Israel a possibility Jerusalem Post 9/21/2006 Syrian President Bashar Assad said Thursday that the possibility of a new war in the Middle East could not be ruled out. Assad said he believed Israel could decide to attack Syria, because it was "looking for a way out of the crisis it is in through a new [military] operation." Israel might attack Syria under the pretense that the country was aiding Iran, Assad said. In this case, "Syria will resist, stand strong and never give in," Assad told Lebanon's As-Safir newspaper on Thursday. Since the end of the war between Israel and Lebanon, there has been increased discussion in political circles over the relationship between Israel and Syria. On August 21 Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter (Kadima) surprised the political establishment by announcing that he was in favor of a withdrawing from the Golan Heights... more.. Israeli, Palestinian women talk peace Jerusalem Post 9/21/2006 The recent war in Lebanon has given the International Women's Commission new purpose and a new opportunity. The conflict showed, the commission said, that what some considered a narrow conflict has the ability to destabilize the entire region and demands an international solution. The IWC spoke with Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Finnish President Tarja Halonen and other female leaders from European Union countries, asking them to join their initiative. The Finnish president, who currently holds the rotating EU presidency, pledged support for the group and said she would look into developing a task force to address their proposals. After the war in Lebanon, the commission realized "that this was a time when the international community has become once again involved and would be debating our issue..." -- See also: Prominent Israeli and Palestinian women leaders to hold unprecedented meeting at UN with women Heads of State to initiate new Middle East peace negotiations more.. Israeli, Palestinian women talk peace Jerusalem Post 9/21/2006 The recent war in Lebanon has given the International Women's Commission new purpose and a new opportunity. The conflict showed, the commission said, that what some considered a narrow conflict has the ability to destabilize the entire region and demands an international solution. The IWC spoke with Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Finnish President Tarja Halonen and other female leaders from European Union countries, asking them to join their initiative. The Finnish president, who currently holds the rotating EU presidency, pledged support for the group and said she would look into developing a task force to address their proposals. After the war in Lebanon, the commission realized "that this was a time when the international community has become once again involved and would be debating our issue..." -- See also: Prominent Israeli and Palestinian women leaders to hold unprecedented meeting at UN with women Heads of State to initiate new Middle East peace negotiations more.. President Abbas' Statement to the UN General Assembly ReliefWeb/PNA 9/21/2006 Statement by H. E. President Mahmoud Abbas, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, President of the Palestinian National Authority before the 61st session of the United Nations General Assembly -- (unofficial translation).... I would like to start by congratulating you on your election to preside over this session, and to wish you success in achieving the objectives of the United Nations, which are accepted by all nations of the world.... I need not to reconfirm the fact that without resolving the question of Palestine, and the continuation of the occupation of Palestinian and Arab lands since 1967, the elements of tension and conflagration, will kep the conflict alive, and will keep the door wide open to all forms of violence, terrorism, regional confrontations and global crisis. more.. President Abbas' Statement to the UN General Assembly ReliefWeb/PNA 9/21/2006 Statement by H. E. President Mahmoud Abbas, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, President of the Palestinian National Authority before the 61st session of the United Nations General Assembly -- (unofficial translation).... I would like to start by congratulating you on your election to preside over this session, and to wish you success in achieving the objectives of the United Nations, which are accepted by all nations of the world.... I need not to reconfirm the fact that without resolving the question of Palestine, and the continuation of the occupation of Palestinian and Arab lands since 1967, the elements of tension and conflagration, will kep the conflict alive, and will keep the door wide open to all forms of violence, terrorism, regional confrontations and global crisis. more.. Secretary-General, opening Middle East debate, says failure to resolve conflict calls Security Council's legitimacy, effectiveness into question ReliefWeb/United Nations Security Council 9/21/2006 Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s opening statement for the Security Council debate on the situation in the Middle East, 21 September: Like no other conflict, the Arab-Israeli conflict carries a powerful symbolic and emotional charge for people throughout the world. The narratives of the two sides -- dispossession, prolonged occupation and denial of Statehood on one side; terrorism and existential threats on the other -- stir the fears and passions of people of many nations. And our continued failure to resolve this conflict calls into question the legitimacy and the effectiveness of this Council itself. The events of this summer have reminded us all how dangerous it is to leave the broader Arab-Israeli conflict unresolved, and how interconnected the region’s problems are. more.. Secretary-General, opening Middle East debate, says failure to resolve conflict calls Security Council's legitimacy, effectiveness into question ReliefWeb/United Nations Security Council 9/21/2006 Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s opening statement for the Security Council debate on the situation in the Middle East, 21 September: Like no other conflict, the Arab-Israeli conflict carries a powerful symbolic and emotional charge for people throughout the world. The narratives of the two sides -- dispossession, prolonged occupation and denial of Statehood on one side; terrorism and existential threats on the other -- stir the fears and passions of people of many nations. And our continued failure to resolve this conflict calls into question the legitimacy and the effectiveness of this Council itself. The events of this summer have reminded us all how dangerous it is to leave the broader Arab-Israeli conflict unresolved, and how interconnected the region’s problems are. more.. Hamas hopes Quartet backing for unity gov't will ease embargo Ha'aretz 9/21/2006 Hamas said Thursday that a statement by the Quartet of Middle East peace mediators backing effort to form a Palestinian unity government was an encouraging sign that could lead to the easing of a Western aid embargo. The Quartet on Wednesday welcomed efforts to create a unity government, despite the fact that its platform regarding Israel remains unclear." The decision by the Quartet... is a progressive position, and we hope that this position will contribute to stopping all forms of political and economic siege," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said. Ahmed Youssef, political adviser to Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, said the Quartet statement showed new "political flexibility and understanding." more.. Hamas hopes Quartet backing for unity gov't will ease embargo Ha'aretz 9/21/2006 Hamas said Thursday that a statement by the Quartet of Middle East peace mediators backing effort to form a Palestinian unity government was an encouraging sign that could lead to the easing of a Western aid embargo. The Quartet on Wednesday welcomed efforts to create a unity government, despite the fact that its platform regarding Israel remains unclear." The decision by the Quartet... is a progressive position, and we hope that this position will contribute to stopping all forms of political and economic siege," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said. Ahmed Youssef, political adviser to Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, said the Quartet statement showed new "political flexibility and understanding." more.. Israel: Pullout unlikely before weekend Yahoo! News Middle East 9/20/2006 JERUSALEM - Israel's army chief said Wednesday his nation's troops were unlikely to withdraw from Lebanon by the weekend, as he initially predicted, because final details remained to be worked out with the U. N. peacekeepers taking their place. The delay came even as the international peacekeeping mission grew to 5,000 troops, the number Israel said was needed before it could pull out of southern Lebanon. The force, known as UNIFIL, will eventually number 15,000. Israel's troop presence in southern Lebanon had been as large as 30,000 during the fighting against Hezbollah guerrillas. But the army has slowly withdrawn the soldiers since a cease-fire took effect on Aug. 14, and international peacekeepers and the Lebanese army began deploying in the area. There are currently about 9,000 Lebanese soldiers there. more.. Israel: Pullout unlikely before weekend Yahoo! News Middle East 9/20/2006 JERUSALEM - Israel's army chief said Wednesday his nation's troops were unlikely to withdraw from Lebanon by the weekend, as he initially predicted, because final details remained to be worked out with the U. N. peacekeepers taking their place. The delay came even as the international peacekeeping mission grew to 5,000 troops, the number Israel said was needed before it could pull out of southern Lebanon. The force, known as UNIFIL, will eventually number 15,000. Israel's troop presence in southern Lebanon had been as large as 30,000 during the fighting against Hezbollah guerrillas. But the army has slowly withdrawn the soldiers since a cease-fire took effect on Aug. 14, and international peacekeepers and the Lebanese army began deploying in the area. There are currently about 9,000 Lebanese soldiers there. more.. Israelis 'trains Kurdish forces' BBC 9/20/2006 The BBC has obtained evidence that Israelis have been giving military training to Kurds in northern Iraq. A report on the BBC TV programme Newsnight showed Israeli experts in northern Iraq, drilling Kurdish militias in shooting techniques. Kurdish officials have refused to comment on the report and Israel has denied it knows of any involvement. The revelation is set to cause enormous problems for the Kurds, not only in Iraq but also in the wider region. Israel is seen as an enemy of Arabs and Muslims, both inside Iraq and elsewhere in Arab and Muslim countries. 'Against Israeli law'Kurdish politicians will most likely come under pressure to explain what their semi-autonomous government has been up to. Israeli security experts who spoke to the BBC said they could not have worked inside Kurdistan without the knowledge of the Kurdish authorities. -- See also: Report: Former IDF commandos secretly trained Kurdish soldiers and A clean break for Israel more.. Israelis 'trains Kurdish forces' BBC 9/20/2006 The BBC has obtained evidence that Israelis have been giving military training to Kurds in northern Iraq. A report on the BBC TV programme Newsnight showed Israeli experts in northern Iraq, drilling Kurdish militias in shooting techniques. Kurdish officials have refused to comment on the report and Israel has denied it knows of any involvement. The revelation is set to cause enormous problems for the Kurds, not only in Iraq but also in the wider region. Israel is seen as an enemy of Arabs and Muslims, both inside Iraq and elsewhere in Arab and Muslim countries. 'Against Israeli law'Kurdish politicians will most likely come under pressure to explain what their semi-autonomous government has been up to. Israeli security experts who spoke to the BBC said they could not have worked inside Kurdistan without the knowledge of the Kurdish authorities. -- See also: Report: Former IDF commandos secretly trained Kurdish soldiers and A clean break for Israel more.. Dr. Barghouthi: The battle for the borders of the Palestinian state has already begun Ma'an News 9/22/2006 Ramallah -- Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's statements to the UN General Assembly about a return to the 1967 borders shows that "Israel will fail in Palestine, like in Lebanon", Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) member and Secretary-General of the Palestinian National Initiative, Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, declared in a press release on Thursday. Dr. Barghouthi also declared that Livni's statement shows that the battle for the borders of the Palestinian state has already begun. Dr. Barghouthi said, "We are now witnessing a political interpretation or political conflict to translate the results of the Intifada." He called for the "liberation of the occupied territories and the establishment of an independent and fully sovereign state", warning that, otherwise, "the situation will return to one of partial and transitional solutions." more.. Dr. Barghouthi: The battle for the borders of the Palestinian state has already begun Ma'an News 9/22/2006 Ramallah -- Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's statements to the UN General Assembly about a return to the 1967 borders shows that "Israel will fail in Palestine, like in Lebanon", Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) member and Secretary-General of the Palestinian National Initiative, Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, declared in a press release on Thursday. Dr. Barghouthi also declared that Livni's statement shows that the battle for the borders of the Palestinian state has already begun. Dr. Barghouthi said, "We are now witnessing a political interpretation or political conflict to translate the results of the Intifada." He called for the "liberation of the occupied territories and the establishment of an independent and fully sovereign state", warning that, otherwise, "the situation will return to one of partial and transitional solutions." more.. Peretz: Full-scale war was not planned Jerusalem Post 9/22/2006 Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Friday that Israel did not plan for a comprehensive war in Lebanon." The missions presented by the IDF at the start the war were most certainly limited," Peretz told Army Radio. "It indicates that there was no intention for a full-scale war," he continued. In addition, Peretz rejected that IDF operations during the final three days of the war were unnecessary, claiming that this period had a major influence on the final ceasefire agreement. The defense minister said that the political echelons would not have agreed to going to war in Lebanon if the IDF leadership would have said that it did not have the necessary means for the task. "IDF commanders were certain they were prepared for war," he said. more.. Peretz: Full-scale war was not planned Jerusalem Post 9/22/2006 Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Friday that Israel did not plan for a comprehensive war in Lebanon." The missions presented by the IDF at the start the war were most certainly limited," Peretz told Army Radio. "It indicates that there was no intention for a full-scale war," he continued. In addition, Peretz rejected that IDF operations during the final three days of the war were unnecessary, claiming that this period had a major influence on the final ceasefire agreement. The defense minister said that the political echelons would not have agreed to going to war in Lebanon if the IDF leadership would have said that it did not have the necessary means for the task. "IDF commanders were certain they were prepared for war," he said. more.. Kidnapped soldier's brother: Speak to Hizbullah YNet News 9/22/2006 Benny Regev, Eldad's brother, says families of kidnapped soldiers will spend sorrowful New Year's evening -- With tears in his eyes, Benny Regev, brother of Eldad Regev, who was kidnapped by Hizbullah in a cross-border attack on July 12, delivered a message to Israeli citizens for the New Year: "I hope that in the future we will sit together, but during our holiday, that of the Goldwasser and Shalit families, a very dear person will be missing." Regev, who returned home from a round of meetings with world leaders at the United Nations, called on the Israeli government to hold talks with Hizbullah, citing that the Lebanese government is too weak. "I hope that Israeli families will feel our sorrow on this holiday and express empathy, will and prayers," he said. more.. Kidnapped soldier's brother: Speak to Hizbullah YNet News 9/22/2006 Benny Regev, Eldad's brother, says families of kidnapped soldiers will spend sorrowful New Year's evening -- With tears in his eyes, Benny Regev, brother of Eldad Regev, who was kidnapped by Hizbullah in a cross-border attack on July 12, delivered a message to Israeli citizens for the New Year: "I hope that in the future we will sit together, but during our holiday, that of the Goldwasser and Shalit families, a very dear person will be missing." Regev, who returned home from a round of meetings with world leaders at the United Nations, called on the Israeli government to hold talks with Hizbullah, citing that the Lebanese government is too weak. "I hope that Israeli families will feel our sorrow on this holiday and express empathy, will and prayers," he said. more.. UNIFIL won't actively disarm Hizbullah Jerusalem Post 9/22/2006 Pellegrini criticized the IAF for its daily flights over Lebanon -- Contrary to Israeli hopes that the new multinational force in Lebanon will engage and disarm Hizbullah, the beefed up UNIFIL will not immediately open fire on Hizbullah guerrillas if they are on their way to an attack or even in the midst of an attack on Israel, the commander of the UN peacekeeping force, Maj. -Gen. Alain Pellegrini, told The Jerusalem Post Thursday in an exclusive interview. In his first interview to an Israeli paper since the war in Lebanon, Pellegrini revealed that last week a Syrian weapons convoy on its way to Hizbullah was intercepted by the Lebanese army near the Lebanese-Syrian border. While the new rules of engagement set by the UN allowed the new UNIFIL force to open fire in order to implement resolution 1701, Pellegrini said he would not automatically order his troops to open fire... more.. UNIFIL won't actively disarm Hizbullah Jerusalem Post 9/22/2006 Pellegrini criticized the IAF for its daily flights over Lebanon -- Contrary to Israeli hopes that the new multinational force in Lebanon will engage and disarm Hizbullah, the beefed up UNIFIL will not immediately open fire on Hizbullah guerrillas if they are on their way to an attack or even in the midst of an attack on Israel, the commander of the UN peacekeeping force, Maj. -Gen. Alain Pellegrini, told The Jerusalem Post Thursday in an exclusive interview. In his first interview to an Israeli paper since the war in Lebanon, Pellegrini revealed that last week a Syrian weapons convoy on its way to Hizbullah was intercepted by the Lebanese army near the Lebanese-Syrian border. While the new rules of engagement set by the UN allowed the new UNIFIL force to open fire in order to implement resolution 1701, Pellegrini said he would not automatically order his troops to open fire... more.. UN mulls procurement from Israeli cos Globes 9/21/2006 The annual procurement by the UN is estimated at $4 billion. -- The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor Foreign Trade Administration and the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute will arrange meetings at the end of this month between Israeli companies and visiting UN officials who will be in Israel to look at options for UN procurement from Israel. The annual procurement by the UN is estimated at $4 billion. During the UN officials’ visit, a seminar will be held on the ways of promoting Israeli capabilities in the fields that are of interest to the UN. Israeli companies participating will also be encouraged to try and obtain admission to the UN’s list of authorized suppliers, and bid in its massive tenders for equipment needed in the UN’s aid packages to countries devastated by natural disasters or political conflicts. more.. UN mulls procurement from Israeli cos Globes 9/21/2006 The annual procurement by the UN is estimated at $4 billion. -- The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor Foreign Trade Administration and the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute will arrange meetings at the end of this month between Israeli companies and visiting UN officials who will be in Israel to look at options for UN procurement from Israel. The annual procurement by the UN is estimated at $4 billion. During the UN officials’ visit, a seminar will be held on the ways of promoting Israeli capabilities in the fields that are of interest to the UN. Israeli companies participating will also be encouraged to try and obtain admission to the UN’s list of authorized suppliers, and bid in its massive tenders for equipment needed in the UN’s aid packages to countries devastated by natural disasters or political conflicts. more.. Arab MK: Pope contributing to culture war YNet News 9/22/2006 Week after pope's comments, members of Islamic movement demonstrate outside Vatican embassy in Jaffa -- Dozens of demonstrators, members of the Islamic movement, gathered Friday afternoon opposite the Vatican embassy in Old Jaffa, in order to protest remarks by Pope Benedict XVI on Islam last week. Demonstrators called out "Allahhuakhbar" and waved green flags, as well as carrying signs which read: "Freedom of expression is not freedom to slander," "don't curse our prophet," "no to crusades and no to bringing back crusade wars," and "no to racism." The demonstrators were headed by the Islamic Movement's southern branch Knesset Member Sheikh Ibrahim Sarsur. The protest was quiet overall and there were no police in attendance. Members of the embassy were not seen in the vicinity. more.. Arab MK: Pope contributing to culture war YNet News 9/22/2006 Week after pope's comments, members of Islamic movement demonstrate outside Vatican embassy in Jaffa -- Dozens of demonstrators, members of the Islamic movement, gathered Friday afternoon opposite the Vatican embassy in Old Jaffa, in order to protest remarks by Pope Benedict XVI on Islam last week. Demonstrators called out "Allahhuakhbar" and waved green flags, as well as carrying signs which read: "Freedom of expression is not freedom to slander," "don't curse our prophet," "no to crusades and no to bringing back crusade wars," and "no to racism." The demonstrators were headed by the Islamic Movement's southern branch Knesset Member Sheikh Ibrahim Sarsur. The protest was quiet overall and there were no police in attendance. Members of the embassy were not seen in the vicinity. more.. Palestinian premier rejects terms for unity government ReliefWeb 9/20/2006 Gaza_(dpa) _ Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Hainya rejected Wednesday international conditions for cooperating with a mooted Palestinian national unity cabinet, saying such a government would not be formed at any price." There will be no price that a national unity government will pay," he told health ministry employees demonstrating in support of the hardline stance of his Hamas party." This government will be formed in order to reinforce our legitimate rights and national principles," he added. The international Quartet - The United States, Russia, the United Nations and the European Union - have demanded Hamas recognise Israel, honour prior Israeli-Palestinian agreements and suspend violence, as a condition for cooperating with the Hamas-led Palestinian government. more.. Hamas PM rejects quartet conditions for aid ReliefWeb 9/20/2006 GAZA CITY, Sept 20, 2006 (AFP) - Palestinian prime minister Ismail Haniya on Wednesday rejected "conditions" imposed by the so-called Middle East quartet for resuming direct financial aid to the Palestinian administration." Conditions are being imposed on the Palestinian people. They want us to condemn the resistance and that we recognise (international) agreements," he told hundreds of Palestinians rallying in support of his Hamas-led government." We are sticking by the national reconciliation document which does not recognise the legality of the occupation and reaffirms the legality of the resistance" that will "continue," Haniya added...." We do not want to damage the interests of the Palestinian people," added Haniya, making clear that in his eyes, that meant not capitulating. more.. Bush calls Abbas 'man of peace' Jerusalem Post 9/20/2006 In his first meeting with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas since Hamas came to power, US President George W. Bush praised the Palestinian leader, calling him "a man of peace." In the meeting, which was held in New York, Bush repeated his commitment to promote a two-state solution and lead to an independent Palestinian state, making clear that he sees Abbas as a partner for this mission." I fully understand that in order to achieve this vision, there must be leaders willing to speak out and act on behalf of people who yearn for peace, and you are such a leader, Mr. President," Bush said, while standing next to Abbas at the Waldorf Astoria hotel. "I can't thank you enough for the courage you have shown." more.. Quartet backs Abbas efforts for Palestinian unity govt ReliefWeb 9/20/2006 UNITED NATIONS, Sept 20, 2006 (AFP) - The diplomatic Quartet on the Middle East voiced its strong support Wednesday for efforts by Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas to form a national unity government with the militant Hamas group. A meeting of top officials from the Quartet -- the United States, European Union, Russian and United Nations -- also renewed temporary emergency financial aid for the Palestinian territories for three months." The Quartet welcomed the efforts of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas to form a government of national unity, in the hope that the platform of such a government would reflect Quartet principles and allow for early engagement," the group said in a statement. more.. At UN meeting, Quartet hopes new Palestinian government leads to renewed engagement ReliefWeb/United Nations News 9/20/2006 A high-level meeting at the United Nations of key international partners in the Middle East peace process today welcomed efforts to form a Palestinian national unity government in the hope that it would commit to non-violence and recognize Israel’s right to exist, thus allowing for renewed engagement. The so-called diplomatic Quartet on the Middle East, comprising the United Nations, United States, European Union (EU) and Russia, called for such a government to reflect Quartet principles. Ever since Hamas, which is committed to Israel’s destruction, won parliamentary elections in January, the Quartet has called on it to commit to non-violence, recognize Israel and accept agreements already signed between Israel and the Palestinians. more.. Halutz: Despite predictions, IDF won't be out of Lebanon by Friday Ha'aretz 9/21/2006 Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Dan Halutz said Wednesday that despite predictions, the army would not complete its withdrawal from Lebanon by the start of the New Year holiday, which begins at sundown Friday." We very much hoped it would happen by Friday, but in the dialogue we have been holding with the United Nations and the Lebanese army there are a few issues to be wrapped up," Lieutenant-General Halutz told Israel Radio." I hope it will take place in the next few days, but it looks likely to be after the holiday," he said. The comments contradicted remarks Halutz made Tuesday, that barring any hitches, the troop withdrawal would be complete by Friday. more.. Germany: Israel ready for Shebaa Farms talks YNet News 9/20/2006 In special interview with Ynet, German Defense Minister Jung says ‘We have received signals from Israel that it would be willing to enter negotiations on the Shebaa Farms, and the Lebanese Prime minister is also relaying positive messages regarding the possibility of stability in the region’; adds: German naval force will begin to operate in two weeks, ‘as soon as we go in, Israeli vessels will leave Lebanese territorial waters’ -- BERLIN - German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung said during a special interview with Ynet Wednesday, “We are under the impression that Israel is willing to enter negotiations on the future of the Shebaa Farms. ” Germany is currently playing a major role in the efforts to release kidnapped Israeli soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev... more.. Hamas: Theft in financial institutions part of Israeli policy of siege and starvation Palestine News Network 9/20/2006 Hamas leadership member Khalid Al Haj told PNN Wednesday that this morning’s assault on West Bank financial institutions is part of the “rabid Israeli occupation army’s campaign and government policy of starving the Palestinian people. ”Al Haj equated the raids with “obtaining free concessions by blackmailing starving people,” while commenting on the ongoing political and financial blockade that has left the Palestinian economy in shambles. The Hamas leader continued to say that destroying the economy piece by piece “reveals how the arrogant occupiers are trying to starve the Palestinian people, stop all hope of economic independence and sustainability, and put an end to the steadfastness that the Palestinian people have shown in protecting their land." more.. Livni blasts Iran at United Nations General Assembly Jerusalem Post 9/21/2006 The world's "moment of truth" regarding Iran has arrived, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni told the United Nations General Assembly Wednesday night, adding that the international community knows well the "lessons of the past" and the "consequences of appeasement and indifference." Iran doesn't deserve a seat in the United Nations or among the family of nations, she said, telling the world leaders gathered in New York that there was "no greater challenge" today to the values of the democratic world "than that posed by the leaders of Iran." "They deny and mock the Holocaust," she said. "They speak proudly and openly of their desire to wipe Israel off the map." more.. Woman leaders at UN call for renewed Israeli-Palestinian talks Ha'aretz 9/21/2006 UNITED NATIONS - Israeli and Palestinian women met Wednesday with female heads of state and foreign ministers in their continuing efforts to work toward a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The recent war in Lebanon has given the International Women's Commission new purpose and a new opportunity. The conflict showed, the commission said, that what some considered a narrow conflict has the ability to destabilize the entire region and demands an international solution. The IWC spoke with Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Finnish President Tarja Halonen and other female leaders from European Union countries, asking them to join their initiative. -- See also: Prominent Israeli and Palestinian women leaders to hold unprecedented meeting at UN with women Heads of State to initiate new Middle East peace negotiations more.. At UN, Qatari leader urges comprehensive Mideast peace through Israeli withdrawal ReliefWeb/United Nations News 9/20/2006 Israel’s withdrawal from all occupied territories is essential to achieving comprehensive peace in the Middle East, a top official from Qatar told the United Nations General Assembly today. Declaring that the Arab-Israeli conflict and the Palestinian question must be “accorded top priority,” Sheikh Tamim bin hamad Al-Thani, the Heir Apparent of Qatar, noted that the issue has been on the agenda of the Security Council and the General Assembly for more than 50 years. “The international community must revisit its position towards a fundamental issue that it has left unresolved for over half a century, which has compounded the tragedy of the Palestinian people,” he said. The world has a collective duty to oblige Israel to implement UN resolutions, he said... more.. The Jenin governor meets with the German representative to the PA Ma'an News 9/20/2006 Jenin -- The governor of Jenin, Qaddoura Musa, held a meeting on Wednesday with the German representative to the Palestinian Authority (PA), Jorg Ranau. The meeting was aimed at updating the German official with the political and security situation in the governorate. The governor called on the German republic and the EU to support the PA and help it get out of the current crisis. The German official, for his part, said that his country has always been supportive to the Palestinians and will continue to be so. Jenin is in the north of the occupied West Bank. [end] Merkel: Naval mission to Lebanon sign of trust in Germany YNet News 9/20/2006 Lawmakers vote by large majority to send warships to UN Peacekeeping force in Lebanon with mandate to stop arms shipments to Hizbullah; Merkel says prior to vote 'Israel's approval of mission signal of trust in Germany, the country in whose name the destruction of the Jews and World War II began' -- German lawmakers voted by a large majority Wednesday to send warships to the UN Peacekeeping force in Lebanon with a mandate to stop arms shipments to Hizbullah guerrillas. The measure passed by a vote of 442 to 152 with five abstentions. Germany will send up to 2,400 service personnel and lead a multinational naval force patrolling Lebanon’s coast to reinforce the cease-fire that ended Hizbullah’s month long war with Israel. more.. Arab states urge IAEA to slam Israel for atomic arsenal Ha'aretz 9/20/2006 Arab states on Wednesday relaunched a campaign to have the United Nations nuclear watchdog condemn Israel's reputed atomic arsenal. Israel again rebuffed two resolutions in what has become an annual Arab effort to get the International Atomic Energy Agency to press it to join the Non-Proliferation Treaty arms-control pact and help set up a nuclear weapons-free zone in the Middle East. This year's campaign was prompted by the security threats posed by the Israel Defense Forces' operation in Lebanon this past summer, Ibrahim Othman, Syria's atomic energy commission chief said." This criminal aggression against Lebanon and Palestine must prompt us today to look at these two [resolutions] seriously, credibly," Othman said in a speech to the IAEA gathering in Vienna. more.. Second Committee approves work programme considering development financing, strengthening disaster relief efforts, impact of commodity prices ReliefWeb/UNGA 9/20/2006 Sixty-first General Assembly Second Committee 1st Meeting (AM) -- Financing for development, strengthening disaster relief efforts and the impact of commodity prices on developing economies are among the topics the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) will consider during the sixty-first session of the General Assembly. The Committee approved its work programme in a meeting led by Committee Chairperson Tiina Intelmann ( Estonia) this morning. She welcomed the other members of the new Bureau, including Vice-Chairpersons Benedicto Fonseca Filho (Brazil), Prayono Atiyanto (Indonesia) and Aboubacar Sadikh Barry (Senegal), as well as Rapporteur Vanessa Gomes (Portugal), elected on 8 June. more.. New book reveals FBI didn't suspect Pollard ties to Israel Ha'aretz 9/21/2006 Prior to Jonathan Pollard's failed attempt to seek refuge in the Israeli Embassy in Washington on November 21, 1985, the Federal Bureau of Investigation did not suspect that he may have been spying for Israel. In fact, even though he was a civilian analyst for U.S. Naval Intelligence, the FBI did not even know that Pollard was Jewish. This, according to a new book, "Capturing Jonathan Pollard" (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 2006) by Ronald J. Olive, the retired officer from the Naval Investigative Service, a branch of Naval Intelligence, who interrogated Pollard. According to Olive, up until the moment Pollard approached the Israeli Embassy, he was suspected of spying for another country, possibly several countries, among them Pakistan, South Africa, Saudi Arabia and others. more.. 20,000 rally for 'kidnapped' soldiers in New York Ha'aretz 9/21/2006 NEW YORK - More than 20,000 Jews and non-Jews took part in a demonstration of solidarity for Israel near UN headquarters in Manhattan yesterday. According to Jewish leaders, the rally, to show support for an immediate release of Israel's kidnapped soldiers, was one of the biggest since the 1970s-era mass demonstrations for the Jews of the Soviet Union. The scene of the rally, on 47th Street between Second and Third Avenues, was a sea of people, many of whom held signs with pictures of the soldiers. According to the organizers, some 150 buses brought the demonstrators, some of whom had traveled from as far away as California and Nebraska, to the event. Many participants were members of Christian organizations from across the United States that support Israel. more.. Hamas retracts support for Arab League peace initiative Ha'aretz 9/20/2006 Hamas says will accept past deals -- Efforts to establish a Palestinian national unity government have come to a standstill, and Fatah officials yesterday accused Hamas of causing the suspension by rescinding its agreement to include the 2002 Arab peace initiative in the unity government's guidelines. However, national unity talks are expected to resume when Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas - who supports a unity government, in contrast to most other Fatah leaders - returns to the region. Hamas officials confirmed that the organization wants to change the clause of the agreement that deals with the Arab peace plan. Hamas does not want the government platform to make an explicit reference to the plan." You can't mention the Arab initiative only," Salah Bardawil, head of Hamas's parliamentary faction, told Haaretz yesterday. more.. US, Israel Press Abbas to Shun Hamas Palestine Chronicle 9/19/2006 The Israeli foreign minister confirmed that Israel wanted to maintain a dialogue with Abbas in order to get Hamas to moderate its anti-Israeli views. -- NEW YORK - The US and Israel have pressed the Palestinian president to reject any deal with a Hamas government that refuses to renounce violence, recognise past agreements with Israel and acknowledge its right to exist. Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, and Tzipi Livni, Israel's foreign minister, told Mahmoud Abbas in separate talks in New York on Monday that there could be no compromise on the three principles that had been set by the quartet of Middle East mediating states in January. Saeb Erikat, a close associate of the Palestinian leader, said: "Secretary Rice was very clear about the need to see the three quartet principles without anything else." more.. Report: Former IDF commandos secretly trained Kurdish soldiers Ha'aretz 9/20/2006 Former Israel Defense Forces commandos secretly trained Kurdish soldiers in Northern Iraq to protect a new international airport and in counter-terrorism operations, the BBC reported on Tuesday. Former Israeli special forces soldiers crossed into Iraq from Turkey in 2004 to train two sets of Kurdish troops, one of the former Israeli trainers told the BBC's Newsnight program. The former trainer, whose name was not disclosed, said IDF soldiers trained Kurds to act as a security force for the new airport in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil. They also trained more than 100 Peshmerga or Kurdish fighters for "special assignments" that included how to use rifles and how to shoot militants in a crowd, he said. The former soldier said he believed Kurdish officials knew the trainers were Israelis although the troops did not. more.. UN: Israel cluster bomb use in Lebanon ‘outrageous’ YNet News 9/19/2006 Organization’s humanitarian coordinator in Lebanon says ‘most bomblets were fired by the time the conflict had been largely resolved in the form of Resolution 1701’; adds: it seems to me extraordinary that they were fired off in the last hours of the war into areas where civilian populations were known to be going -- A UN official said on Tuesday that Israel dropped at least 350,000 cluster bomblets on south Lebanon in its war with Hizbullah guerrillas, mostly when the conflict was all but over, leaving a deadly legacy for civilians,. “The outrageous fact is that nearly all of these munitions were fired in the last three to four days of the war,” David Shearer, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator in Lebanon, told a news conference in Beirut. more.. Last of Israeli troops to leave Lebanon AlJazeera 9/19/2006 Israeli forces will leave southern Lebanon by Friday, according to the chief of Israel’s army. Dan Halutz, Lieutenant-General of the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) said the last of the troops will leave Lebanon by the Jewish new year. Halutz told parliament's foreign affairs and defence committee "he hoped the last troops will leave southern Lebanon by the eve of Rosh Hashana [which takes place on Saturday]," according to a member of the panel. Israeli forces have remained in southern Lebanon for more than a month after an August 14 ceasef-ire ended the 34-day deadly war between the Jewish state and Shia guerrillas Hezbollah. Troops have gradually redeployed south of the volatile border as French-led international forces, under a UN mandate, and the Lebanese army assume control in southern Lebanon - the latter for the first time. more.. Israel outraged by Non-Aligned Mov't Jerusalem Post 9/20/2006 A Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) "final document" praising Lebanon for its "heroic resistance to the Israeli aggression" has irked government officials in Jerusalem because some countries with close bilateral ties with Israel are a part of the movement and, as such, ostensibly signed off on the resolution. According to the 143rd clause of the 280-clause final document, "The Heads of State or Government expressed solidarity with and support for the Government and people of Lebanon, hailed their heroic resistance to the Israeli aggression, and emphasized the primordial importance of Lebanon's national unity and stability." Among the NAM members are India, Thailand, Ethiopia, Kenya, the Philippines, Honduras and Guatemala, all countries with which Israel has strong relations. more.. Annan: UN must end mideast conflict Jerusalem Post 9/20/2006 Addressing world leaders for the last time as secretary-general, Kofi Annan painted a grim picture Tuesday of an unjust world economy, global disorder and widespread contempt for human rights, and appealed for nations and peoples to truly unite. He said the Arab-Israeli conflict was the most potent and emotionally charged conflict in the world today." As long as the Palestinians live under occupation, exposed to daily frustration and humiliation, and as long as Israelis are blown up in buses or in dance halls, passions everywhere will be inflamed," Annan said. The secretary-general warned that as long as the UN Security Council was unable to end the conflict and Israel's 40-year occupation by bringing both sides to accept and implement its resolutions, "respect for the United Nations will continue to decline." more.. Israel confirms: Letter received from Shalit YNet News 9/20/2006 Letter from kidnapped soldier reaches Israel as part of negotiations for prisoner swap deal opposite Palestinians -- Israel on Wednesday night confirmed for the first time that a letter has been received from Gilad Shalit. Channel 2 reported that the letter, which was reported by Arab media in recent days, indeed exists and was received by Israel. Egyptian Foreign Minister Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit expressed his optimism on Monday regarding the chances that Shalit would be released. In a meeting with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni at the UN headquarters in New York, he said that he was very optimistic that it would happen within days. "We will bring him," he said. more.. Israel blames map error for UN deaths in bombing The Guardian 9/15/2006 The UN post had been there since 1948 and had clear markings. UN staff said they had contacted the Israelis at least 14 times that day asking them to stop bombing the area. -- The Israeli military yesterday blamed "human error" made during the duplication of maps for the bombing of a UN post in southern Lebanon in July, in which four unarmed international observers were killed during the conflict with Hizbullah. The UN post, a white building on a hilltop in Khiyam, was wrongly identified as a Hizbullah position, the military concluded in a confidential report, according to Mark Regev, Israel's foreign ministry spokesman. In the report Israel expressed "deepest condolences and sincere regret", he said. more.. Livni: Ahmadinejad at UN a 'scandal' Jerusalem Post 9/20/2006 While Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni labeled as scandalous the UN's willingness to provide a platform at the UN General Assembly to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a diplomatic official in Jerusalem said his appearance in New York was actually an Israeli public relations boon. The official said that as a result of the protests against his appearance Tuesday night, the Iranian president and his extremism were being spotlighted." It is difficult to demonize a nation like Iran, but it is easier to demonize a man," the official said. "When people see him, when they see the demonstrations surrounding his visit, when they hear about his pronouncements and hear him called the 'new Hitler,' they will see that this is not someone they want with his finger on the nuclear button." more.. Solution to Middle East conflict requires new global strategy, French President tells UN ReliefWeb/United Nations News 9/19/2006 Voicing dismay that the conflict in the Middle East has become “the epicentre of global instability,” French President Jacques Chirac told world leaders who gathered today for the General Assembly that it was time to “tread off the beaten track of habit” and devise a global strategy for an Israeli-Palestinian settlement. “The status quo has become unbearable. Because the conflict in the Middle East is a threat to global peace and security, the world has no option but to be the guarantor of peace,” Mr. Chirac said in a speech to the general debate of the Assembly’s 61st session. He said it was time for leaders to take back the issue from the hands of extremists on both sides and work to restore confidence between Israelis and Palestinians. “By endlessly deferring its settlement, this confrontation has become the epicentre of global instability..." more.. Clinton sees new Mideast peace plan in two months Yahoo! News Middle East 9/19/2006 LONDON (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Bill Clinton believes a new initiative to bring peace to the Middle East could emerge in the next two months. In an interview with the Financial Times, published on Wednesday, Clinton said unrest inIraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon had set the scene for "some kind of positive movement to take place." He stressed, however, that he had no insider knowledge on the situation. Clinton told the British newspaper: "All these bad news stories have created a sense that if we don't want further disintegration to occur then we had better come up with a strategy that goes forward in creating a new sense of order that enables everybody to live together. I'm not sure you won't see some positive things come out of the Middle East in the next 60 days." more.. Prominent Israeli and Palestinian women leaders to hold unprecedented meeting at UN with women Heads of State to initiate new Middle East peace negotiations ReliefWeb/UNIFEM 9/18/2006 Delegation of Israeli, Palestinian and international women leaders achieve historic agreement on principles for Middle East peace and urge international support. United Nations, New York - A delegation of top Israeli, Palestinian and international women leaders arrive at the United Nations on September 20th to meet with President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen, at a time when Finland holds the Presidency of the European Union, in an effort to marshal high-level political pressure to restart negotiations in the region.... It is hoped that together these leaders, representing both the North and the South, can begin to focus international attention on the need to resolve the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict so as to prevent broader conflict in the r egion. more.. Visit to the Palestinian territories: Press briefing given by M. Philippe Douste-Blazy, Minister of Foreign Affairs ReliefWeb/Government of France 9/18/2006 (EXCERPTS - Ramallah, 14 September 2006) THE MINISTER – I've come here to tell the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, how much we support him in the efforts he's making to get a national unity government established in the very near future. If such a government were to be formed, and take the international community's demands on board, I think it important to state formally that the international community's attitude on our contacts with it would then have to be reassessed, as would the help we could provide it. Let's not forget that nearly a million people depend on the civil servants who haven't been paid for nearly six months. People need to know that the humanitarian situation is very difficult and that the temporary international aid mechanism has, regrettably, not been completely put in place. more.. Israeli 'art students', pedophile diplmat, and Atlanta consulate, 'hub of Israeli intelligence' Wayne Madsen Report 9/8/2006 According to a source who knew the late FBI John O'Neill, the head of the Joint Terrorism Task Force in New York and the man who fought bureaucratic meddling in his investigation of the October 2000 USS Cole bombing and the Saudi connection to the funding of Al Qaeda, was also investigating Israeli "art students" and "movers" engaged in suspicious activity around sensitive facilities prior to the 911 attacks..... Israeli Consulate General in Atlanta a hub of Israeli intelligence activity: Deputy Counsel Aviv Ezra is reportedly a key liaison to jailed spy Jonathan Pollard and "fixer" for other Israelis detained for espionage and false flag operations in the southeast United States..... Israeli spies caught in the United States are routinely permitted to return to Israel without any protests from the United States. It is a situation that irritates rank-and-file CIA, FBI, and local law enforcement officials. more.. White House to Palestinians: First recognize Israel YNet News 9/19/2006 American president set to meet with Abbas Wednesday, will stress that Washington will not recognize unity government if Hamas does not recognize Israel and its agreement with it. Another condition – renouncing terrorism -- WASHINGTON – United States President George W. Bush is planning to tell Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that that his country will not recognize any government which will not officially recognize the State of Israel, honor past agreements, and renounce violence and terrorism. National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley told reporters on Air Force One on Monday that this is the "USD 64,000 question." Bush will meet Abbas on Wednesday at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York, where the American delegation is staying for the UN General Assembly meetings. more.. Abbas to tell Livni: Israel must welcome new government Ha'aretz 9/19/2006 Palestinian Authority sources said Monday that PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas was to tell Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Monday night that Israel must welcome the new PA unity government, which would be bound to previously signed agreements and would promote the peace process. Abbas and Livni met Monday night at the United Nations headquarters in New York. During the meeting, Abbas was also to tell Livni that once the government, which will include his Fatah party and the ruling Hamas movement, is established, he will be responsible for diplomatic contacts with Israel. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said after talks with Livni in New York earlier Monday that there no was link between American policy on Iran and its policy on the Palestinians. more.. State Dept. adviser: U.S. tying Iran policy to Palestinian issue Ha'aretz 9/19/2006 WASHINGTON - The United States is making a connection between efforts to block Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, and progress in the diplomatic front between Israel and the Arab world - especially along the Palestinian track. This was one of the messages in a speech given by Philip Zelikow, a senior adviser to Secretary State Condoleezza Rice, at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy on Friday. In an address that opened the institute's annual conference, Zelikow said that American policy was undergoing changes that have not been sufficiently acknowledged by the international community. A special adviser to Rice and a consultant on major foreign policy issues, Zelikow gave his address at a time when America is making efforts to convince UN Security Council members of the need to impose sanctions against Iran... -- See also: Abbas, Livni meet in NY; Hadley: US will support Abbas more.. Abbas, Livni meet in NY; Hadley: US will support Abbas Jerusalem Post 9/18/2006 Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas was meeting with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni in New York on Monday evening. Abbas arrived in New York a few hours earlier and and almost immediately sat down for talks with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley said Monday that the US government backs "moderate" voices, of which Abbas is one, Israel Radio reported. "He supports peace, and the US will continue to work with him," Hadley told reporters. Earlier Monday, Rice told Livni in New York Monday that Washington is not linking Israeli progress on the Palestinian track with forming an international coalition against Iran. During their meeting.... Rice said the US continued to view the Palestinian issue and the Iranian problem as separate. -- See also: State Dept. adviser: U.S. tying Iran policy to Palestinian issue more.. U.N. commander: Won't disarm Hezbollah Yahoo! News Middle East 9/18/2006 BEIRUT, Lebanon - The French general commanding U. N. peacekeeping forces in Lebanon said Monday his troops would not intervene to disarm Hezbollah, even as French President Jacques Chirac said the militant group should not keep a military wing. Maj. Gen. Alain Pelligrini told reporters the main task of his U. N. force is to ensure southern Lebanon cannot be used as a base for attacks on Israel. "The disarmament of Hezbollah is not the business of UNIFIL. This is a strictly Lebanese affair, which should be resolved at a national level," he said. Pelligrini's assessment underscored the constraints facing the beefed-up U. N. mission despite a tougher mandate and far greater manpower. more.. UNIFIL head restates: Group won't disarm Hizbullah Jerusalem Post 9/18/2006 Commander of UNIFIL (United Nations Interim force in Lebanon) Major-General Alain Pelligrini reiterated on Monday that his force would not be responsible for the dismantling of Hizbullah. Their main task, he said, was to ensure t