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Palestine Diaries

courtesy The Electronic Intifada

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

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Video Archives
Audio Archives

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Video Archives

Conflict..

Hamas exacts revenge as suicide bombs kill 14 in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv The Independent 9/10/2003 Up to 14 people were killed in two separate suicide bombs in Israel last night when Hamas fulfilled its threat to exact revenge for the assassination of militants. In the first attack a Palestinian suicide bomber killed at least six Israelis ­ mainly soldiers ­ at 6pm local time as they waited at a bus stop on a main highway near Tel Aviv. In the second, nearly five hours hours later, another Palestinian bomber struck at the Café Hillel, a new and popular venue in the heart of Jerusalem's German Colony. Hamas claimed responsibility for both bombings. Israel Fails To Assassinate Hamas Leader, Kills Two Islam Online 9/10/2003 OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, September 10 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – A physician by profession, active academician and writer, senior Hamas political leader Mahmoud Al-Zahar narrowly escaped an Israeli assassination attack Wednesday, September 10, that left two people dead, including his eldest son. The Israeli F-16s dropped a several-ton bomb at Zahar’s house in a densely-populated Gaza City neighborhood of Rimal leveling the building and sending huge plumes of smoke into the air. Israeli army denies it caused death of Palestinian newborn at checkpoint ProLog.net 9/10/2003 JERUSALEM, Sept 8 (AFP) - The Israeli army denied Monday it was responsible for the death of a Palestinian baby whose mother was forced to give birth at a checkpoint because soldiers refused to allow her to go to hospital. The incident took place in the last week of August near the West Bank town of Nablus, where the army has blockaded Palestinian towns in a bid to prevent militants from carrying out anti-Israeli attacks. Rula Shtayyeh was in labour and trying to get to hospital when soldiers detained her at a roadblock, her husband told Israeli public radio. An ambulance, which had been due to collect her on the other side of the checkpoint, failed to turn up. "I begged the soldiers to let her pass in an ambulance but they paid no attention," her husband said. {See related story: 'Mira'.. Latest Victim Of Israeli Barriers On Palestinian Land] Video: "There is fury and pain on both sides" BBC 9/10/2003 Video: The BBC's David Chazan - "There is fury and pain on both sides" Arafat may not survive next 24 hours Al-Jazeera 9/10/2003 The future of Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat is hanging by a thread, according to senior diplomats. Israeli health minister Danny Narveh told a number of UN and other officials during an informal chat on Wednesday that Arafat must be physically removed from his Ramallah base. In a stark warning amid increasing tension, one of the western diplomats at the Narveh briefing described the next 24 hours as critical ... and he made it clear his express concern focussed on Arafat's personal safety. Confused Cafe Hillel waiters in aprons, searching for one another Ha'aretz 9/10/2003 "My daughter's dead, she's dead," a woman screams in the face of a Magen David Adom rescue worker." A very young woman in a blue dress lies bleeding on a stretcher, her summer dress stained in blood. A uniformed Border Policewoman breaks down andweeps, refusing to be comforted in the arms of a colleague. A body is strewn in the road, covered by a shiny white plastic bag. Shocked, confused waiters, still in their aprons, search for one another. Invasion and destruction: Nablus clinic Electronic Intifada 9/10/2003 During the recent Israeli invasion of Nablus on August 23, a number of shops, homes and public property were destroyed. Israeli forces killed two young Palestinians and a number of others were wounded and arrested. Israeli forces imposed a curfew and restricted movement of people and goods. When the curfew was lifted for three hours, the Health Work Committees (HWC) witnessed the amount of destruction that was left behind. The continuous destruction of the Old City of Nablus is more than sad. The HWC clinic in the old City of Nablus was not spared. Israeli official: Response to bombings will be 'harsh and swift' Ha'aretz 9/10/2003 NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will convene his security cabinet for an emergency meeting on Thursday afternoon, to weigh Israel's response to Tuesday's suicide bombings near Tzrifin and in Jerusalem that left 15 people dead and dozens wounded. Sources who accompanied Sharon on his curtailed visit to India said before leaving New Delhi on Wednesday that Israel's response to the bombings would be harsh and swift. The source said that a response was expected during the course of the coming weekend. Israeli Settlers, Protected by Soldiers, Uproot Trees Near Ramallah International Middle East Media Center 9/10/2003 Dozens of Israeli settlers, accompanied by soldiers entered the fields of Almughair village east of Ramallah and uprooted dozens of olive trees using bulldozers. Local sources reported that villagers who gathered to protest against settlers attack and attempt to prevent the uprooting of their trees were tear gassed, young Palestinians responded with stone throwing. Israeli Troops infiltrate into the old city of Nablus, search homes, and arrest 3 Palestinians International Middle East Media Center 9/10/2003 Israeli troops infiltrated Tuesday morning into the old city of Nablus. Soldiers surrounded and broke into Kalboni family home and arrested three Palestinians, whom Israeli security described as Hamas operatives. IMEMC correspondent talked to Zuhair's wife who said that soldiers destroyed the homes main door, and moved family members out of the building. The wife, who was discharged from the hospital two days ago, was carried out by her children. Qassam Brigades to target Zionist residential complexes Palestinian Information Center 9/10/2003 Gaza - The Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas Movement, today declared that Zionist residential complexes would be targeted in retaliation to the Zionist crimes against houses of Hamas leaders....The Qassam statement said that Zionist targeting of residential houses had crossed all red lines and hence the Zionist enemy would shoulder the responsibility for targeting their own houses and towers in all areas of occupied Palestine. URGENT ALERT: Palestinian Medical Relief Ambulance Attacked by the Israeli Occupying Forces Palestine Monitor 9/10/2003 This has been the third attack on a Palestinian Medical Relief ambulance in the last two days. -- At 4 pm on Wednesday the 10th of September, twelve Israeli occupying forces’ jeeps entered the center of Ramallah. A Palestinian Medical Relief ambulance, transporting two male patients from Ramallah Hospital to Qalqilia, happened to be driving through this area at the same time. The patients were Luay Awartani (33), suffering from Heart Disease; and Ashraf Kamal (29), recovering from very recent surgery. As the ambulance passed the area, an Israeli military truck drove into the side of the ambulance and pushed it into a parked car. This action caused severe distress to the patients, who were already in poor health. The ambulance was slightly damaged and the motor of the parked car was completely destroyed. BREAKING NEWS: IOF Escalates Actions Throughout the OPT International Press Center 9/10/2003 17:00-- Israeli occupation forces, supported by helicopters, invaded the city of Deir El-Balah, in the middle of the Gaza Strip, (IPC) / 16:05--Tens of Israeli tanks and armored vehicles invaded the down town of Ramallah, (IPC) / 15:00-- At least 40 Palestinian citizens were arrested by IOF in the under-curfew village of Rantees, near Ramallah, (IPC) / 14:55-- IOF re-dynamited the eight-storey building in the Abu Ktaila neighborhood of Hebron and arrested four citizens, (IPC)... Israeli Army Deploys more Troops, Expropriate Private Cars in Jenin International Middle East Media Center 9/10/2003 Israeli army deployed Tuesday more troops around the Palestinian West Bank City of Jenin. Eyewitnesses reported that hundreds of soldiers accompanied with army vehicles and police dogs were seen all along the green line near the city. Army sources said that the deployment of more forces came after receiving alerts on intended infiltrations to conduct military attacks inside Israel. As well soldiers surrounded most the villages in the Jenin area and prevented farmers from arriving to their land. At the same time, local residents of Tamoun Village south of the city, expressed fears that soldiers might use their private cars, which were expropriated at the Militray check post near the village, in special operations to arrest "wanted Palestinians". Two more suspects in Jewish terror cell released Ha'aretz 9/10/2003 A Jerusalem court on Wednesday released two of the Jewish settlers arrested by police on suspicion of involvement in terror attacks against Palestinian targets. The two men, David Libman and Gilad Tor, were released after police were unable to establish a connection between them and others suspected of shooting attacks against Palestinians. Four other suspects quizzed by police on suspicions of involvement in an alleged Jewish terror cell were released over the past week. High alert in Jerusalem and along seam line Ha'aretz 9/10/2003 The death toll in Tuesday's twin bombings rose to 15 Wednesday, after two of those critically injured in the attacks in Jerusalem and near Tel Aviv succumbed to their wounds overnight. Police and security services were on high alert in Jerusalem and along the seam line on Wednesday evening for more terror attacks, after intelligence reports suggested that more bombers were tryingto enter Israel.  Eyewitness: Weariness and anger BBC 9/10/2003 Cafe Hillel, which only opened a matter of months ago, has been destroyed by the force of Tuesday evening's blast. The bomber tried to enter the cafe, but was prevented by a security guard and the bomb went off in the doorway. When I arrived shortly after the blast, I saw the glass frontage blown out and black awnings hanging down, shredded by the explosion. In 2 Bombings, Arab Attackers Kill 13 in Israel New York Times 9/10/2003 JERUSALEM, Sept. 9 — Two Palestinian suicide bombers killed at least 13 people in separate attacks today, striking a popular cafe in Jerusalem's most left-leaning neighborhood and a bus stop crowded with soldiers southeast of Tel Aviv. The bombings, which were not immediately claimed by any group, came at a time of rising anger and despair on both sides, as the Bush administration's Middle East peace plan founders. The bombings followed by three days a botched Israeli attempt to kill a founder and spiritual leader of Hamas. Hamas leader's son killed in Israeli attack The Guardian 9/10/2003 Israeli warplanes today bombed the home of a senior Hamas leader, Mahmoud Zahar, wounding him and his wife and killing two others, including his son. The bomb hit Mr Zahar's home in Gaza City's Rimal area, levelling the building and sending huge plumes of smoke into the air. Witnesses said about 25 people were hurt. Bombers hit back at Israel The Guardian 9/10/2003 Fifteen die in suicide attacks on troops and nightspot -- Two Hamas suicide bombers killed at least 15 people in attacks yesterday on a busy Jerusalem cafe and on soldiers at a crowded bus stop near Tel Aviv. The blasts came just days after the Islamic organisation had said that the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, had "opened the gates of hell" by targeting its leader for assassination. Members of Israel's security cabinet were meeting last night to decide how to respond to the attacks, with one official saying that some form of military strike was inevitable. Terror as innocents die in Israeli raid Al-Jazeera 9/10/2003 Three Palestinians were killed in a blundering assassination attempt by Israel as an F-16 fighter jet tried to take out a senior Hamas political leader. The missile destroyed Mahmud al-Zahhar’s home in Gaza City, killing his son Khalid and bodyguard, Shuhda al-Duhairi. The third victim was too disfigured as to be identified immediately, according to Aljazeera’s correspondent on Wednesday. Thirty Palestinian civilians were injured in the city’s Rimal neighbourhood when the missile damaged adjacent homes as well. Israel strikes at Palestinian militant BBC 9/10/2003 Israel has carried out a missile attack on a Palestinian militant in Gaza City, a day after two suicide bombings in Israel. Israeli missiles targeted the home of Mahmoud Zahar - a senior member of Hamas - killing his son and bodyguard and leaving about 25 people injured. Mr Zahar himself escaped with minor injuries. The military wing of Hamas later threatened to attack "houses and tower blocks" in Israel in retaliation for the air strike. In pictures: Mid-East violence BBC 9/10/2003 1 of 9: An Israeli war plane drops a powerful bomb on the Gaza home of a prominent Hamas leader Suicide bombers rock Israel BBC 9/10/2003 Suicide bombers have struck in west Jerusalem and outside Tel Aviv, leaving at least 14 victims dead and scores injured. Hours after a bomber set off explosives at a crowded bus stop outside Tsrifin army base near Tel Aviv, another bomber detonated a device outside the Hillel cafe in Jerusalem. "It was a fiery explosion, a great boom. I couldn't hear for a while and I saw people fleeing in all directions," said witness Gideon Cohen, who was working in a nearby restaurant. Violence trumping words in Mideast Christian Science Monitor 9/11/2003 Israel attacked Hamas leader Wednesday in response to two suicide bombings Tuesday. -- JERUSALEM – Wisam Srag grabbed his coffee and loped out of the cafe, crossing the street to join friends. That's why he's alive today. Mr. Srag had just reached the sidewalk when shouting erupted behind him. He turned to see the cafe guard grab a man and fall back inside the popular hangout. The cafe lit up, glass flew like buckshot, and bodies suddenly littered the ground. "It's the first time in my life I felt really afraid," says Srag, who completed army service five years ago. Will Arafat be expelled? BBC 9/10/2003 Two big decisions will face the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, when he returns early from his visit to India. Will he agree to the increasing demands from within his own cabinet for the expulsion of Yasser Arafat and will Israel invade Gaza to hunt for the Hamas leaders against whom it has declared war? The word from Mr Sharon's officials in India is that Mr Arafat will be kept "on a short leash", but that he will not be expelled immediately. Another option is under examination - putting him into "solitary confinement." Two University Students from Rantis near Ramallah, Launched the Twin Attacks in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem International Middle East Media Center 9/10/2003 Palestinian official sources reported that the two Hamas operatives who launched Tel Aviv and Jerusalem bombings came from the village of Rantis near Ramallah. The two were identified to be; Ihab Abu Sleem, 19, a student of Arts at Bir Zeit University, recently released from a 3 months administrative detention; And Ramiz Abu Sleem, 23, a student at Al-Quds Open University. Israeli troops raided Thursday morning the village of Rantis and arrested more than 40 Palestinians. Israeli F-16 shells a Gaza City home, Apparently Targeting a Hammas Leader International Middle East Media Center 9/10/2003 Israeli F-16 jet fighters fired several air-to-land missiles at the house of Dr. Mahmoud Al-Zahar, one of the prominent political leaders of Hamas. Initial reports say that Apparently, Al-Zahar survived this assassination attempt, and suffered minor wounds wounds in the leg; however three of those who were in the house were killed in the attack among them his older son Khaled, 24, and his personal companion Yousif Al-Deiri, 30. Al-Zahar's wife was seriously injured and moved to the hospital in a critical condition. At Least Two Civilians Killed, Dozens Others Wounded as Israeli Warplanes Strike a Home in Gaza International Press Center 9/10/2003 GAZA, Palestine, September 10, 2003 (IPC)-- Israeli warplanes raided Wednesday morning a Palestinian home in the Gaza City neighborhood of Remal, killing at least two civilians and wounding dozens others. Khaled Mahmoud Al-Zahar, 24, and another civilian, 30, were killed after sustaining severe injuries out of shrapnel in different parts of their bodies, local Palestinian medical sources said....The sources told IPC correspondent that the Israeli air strike has caused a complete destruction of the Alzahar’s house, and grave damages to several other nearby houses as well as a devastation of a local mosque.  Two Bombing Explosions in Israel Leave 15 Killed, Including Eight Soldiers International Press Center 9/10/2003 RAMALLAH, Palestine, September 10, 2003, (IPC + Agencies)-- Two bombings killed fifteen Israelis, including eight soldiers, and several others wounded on Tuesday. The first near an army base outside Tel Aviv, and the second in a café in Jerusalem, according to Israeli reports. Settlement Expands As Road Map Ends Forward 9/5/2003 KEDUMIM — A new neighborhood in this northern West Bank settlement was dedicated in a festive ceremony this week, in what Peace Now activists said was a deliberate display by the government to show that the road map is dead. "They know exactly what is the meaning of this ceremony," said Mossi Raz, a former Meretz Knesset member and a long-time Peace Now leader. "It is to say, 'I don't care about the road map — I violate the road map, and I show you that I violate the road map.' I was very pessimistic about this government, but even I did not expect such a ceremony."...The Mitzpeh Yishai project is only one of a number of new building initiatives in the territories, including the Tourism Ministry's recently announced plans for $2.8 million worth of projects. Occupation Chronicle Events in Palestine September 10, 2003 Palestine Media Center 9/10/2003 Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) have extra-judicially killed 8 Palestinians since 8 September 2003, including a 13-year child and an elderly, and wounded at least 33 others. The IOF also demolished 7-storey and 3-storey buildings in Hebron and Tulkarem respectively in the West Bank. Chief Judge Detained. Ten Palestinians Detained in West Bank. Palestinian Shelled Dead in Gaza.

Diplomacy..

Pressure on Quraya to take control Al-Jazeera 9/10/2003 In its first official response to the appointment of Ahmad Quraya, Israel has insisted the new Palestinian prime minister must stand up to Yasir Arafat and dismantle all resistance groups. "His first step must be to make the strategic decision to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism," said Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom on Tuesday. "We will judge any Palestinian prime minister by his actions. He will have to decide whether he stands with Arafat or whether he stands against terrorism," Shalom said. U.S. official postpones Mideast visit plans Ha'aretz 9/10/2003 WASHINGTON - U.S. Deputy Secretary Richard Armitage has postponed plans to visit the Middle East this month despite the surge in violence and changes in the Palestinian government, U.S. officials said on Wednesday. Armitage said last month he wasplanning a trip to Arab capitals some time in September. "It's been quite a while since I've been out there and I need to touch base with our friends," he told the Arab television channel Al-Jazeera...."We were looking at the first weeks of Septemberbut for a variety of reasons, mostly to do with scheduling and timing, it wasn't practical," said one State Department official. "We'll look at it again down the road," added the official, who asked not to be named. Analysis / Officials still split on expelling Arafat Ha'aretz 9/10/2003 The prevailing assessment in Israel's defense establishment yesterday afternoon was that the Tzrifin attack was perpetrated by a Tanzim cell from Nablus. If true, the attack could have been the tririgger to change Israel's policy toward Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat, since Tanzim is affiliated with Arafat's Fatah movement. But around midnight, the Hamas took responsibility for the attack both in Tsrigin and Jerusalem. As Sheikh Ahmed Yassin said last night, "the attacks could be by all the Palestinian groups, they are all fighting for vengeance." PA, U.S. condemn Tzrifin attack; Rantisi defends it Ha'aretz 9/10/2003 Palestinian Prime Minister-designate Ahmed Qureia (Abu Ala) yesterday condemned the Tzrifin bombing and said that leaders on both sides must work to end the cycle of killing. "We condemn all acts of killing that target innocents, whether they be Palestinians ... or the Israelis who were victims of today's explosion," he said in a statement. "Such incidents confirm the necessity for both the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships to ... examine the most effective ways to put an end to the killing."  U.S. rebuffs Abu Ala's request for guarantees on peace efforts Ha'aretz 9/10/2003 WASHINGTON - The United States yesterday rebuffed an appeal for guarantees from the Palestinian politician nominated to be prime minister. Parliamentary speaker Ahmed Qureia, also known as Abu Ala, has declined to take on the job unless Israel and the United States give him assurances that Israel will carry out its obligations under the road map, and ease restrictions on Arafat. But the United States says it is interested mainly in whether Palestinian President Yasser Arafat will give the new prime minister control over all security forces so that he can crack down on Palestinian militant groups. Mofaz indicates he'd boycott Abu Ala as an `Arafat lackey' Ha'aretz 9/10/2003 Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz hinted yesterday that Israel might refuse to conduct diplomatic negotiations with Palestinian PrimeMinister-designate Ahmed Qureia (Abu Ala) because he is so closely tied to Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat. Mofaz, though he did not mention Qureia by name, told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that "we will not cooperate with an Arafat lackey. We expect an independent government that is not umbilically tied to Arafat, which will dismantle the terrorist infrastructure, continue to implement reforms and end incitement against Israel." Palestinian Leadership Condemns Killing Civilians, Calls for International Intervention International Press Center 9/10/2003 RAMALLAH, Palestine, September 10, 2003 (IPC+WAFA)-- The Palestinian leadership condemned yesterday the bombings in both Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem, that claimed lives of a number of Israelis and wounded dozens others. “We reject and condemn all killing acts that target civilians either Israelis or Palestinians, as the security situation has become very dangerous, threatening peace and security in the region”, a leadership’s statement said. “Such a crucial situation requires an international intervention to end the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories by dispatching international forces immediately to stop bloodshed of civilians from both peoples as well as the Israeli offensives against our Palestinian people”, the statement added. Sharon's passage to India rings alarm bells in Pakistan Sydney Morning Herald 9/10/2003 The Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, is in India on a four-day trip designed to boost defence co-operation, provoking alarm in Pakistan, which said the visit to its nuclear rival could destabilise the region. Mr Sharon's is the highest-level Israeli visit to India since ties were established 11 years ago and underscores a mutual struggle with Muslim militancy. Noting the trip coincides with the second anniversary of the September 11 attacks in the United States, Mr Sharon's spokesman, Raanan Gissin, said: "Our contacts with India are definitely a triangular strategic relationship, in line with the US stance on world terror." India, Israel vow to fight terrorism together Jang Group 9/10/2003 Sign six pacts; Phalcon deal likely within weeks; thousands take to streets against Jewish leader’s visit -- NEW DELHI: India and Israel vowed on Tuesday to fight the common threat of "terrorism" together during Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s first visit to New Delhi. "We need to be determined to act against terror. We know that India is also fighting terrorism. In our area we want peace. There has to be a full cessation of terror," Sharon told a banquet hosted by his Indian counterpart Atal Behari Vajpayee. Paritzky, Evans discuss US investment in Israel gas pipeline Globes 9/10/2003 The World Bank gave the Palestinian Authority sovereign status in a document concerning the Red-Dead Sea Canal. -- Minister of National Infrastructures Joseph Paritzky told "Globes" yesterday that renewing use of the oil pipeline from Kirkuk, Iraq, to Haifa, was an "unhatched egg." Paritzky, currently in the US, said the subject had not been raised in talks in New York and Washington. "This project is quite unrealistic, to put it mildly. I wish the idea could be realized," he said.....Paritzky said, "I gave Evans detailed information about the pipeline's planned route, the potential gas fields, and the necessary investment. He was supportive, and may visit Israel soon." Russian foreign minister calls for direct int'l intervention in Mideast conflict Interfax Information Agency 9/10/2003 SARAJEVO. Sept 10 (Interfax) - The world community must take resolute action to avoid worst-case scenario in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov has said. "The time has probably come for the world community, acting through the 'quartet' of mediators [the UN, the EU, the U.S., and Russia] or the UN Security Council, to impose tough terms on the conflicting parties so they comply with all provisions of the Road Map peace plan, which could require an international presence in the conflict area," Ivanov told the press in Sarajevo on Wednesday. Israel talks of axis with India Al-Jazeera 9/10/2003 Israeli deputy prime minister Yosef Lapid today said his country had forged an "axis" of friendship with India and the United States in a bid to combat terrorism and bolster international security. "There is a mutual interest for the three countries in making the world a more secure place," deputy prime minister Lapid told reporters in New Delhi at the end of Israeli leader Ariel Sharon's controversial visit to India. It was the first ever by an Israeli Prime Minister and was dramatically cut short by Sharon because of growing domestic problems. Hamas: Qorei should seek support from Palestinians before US or EU Daily Star 9/10/2003 Militant group fears waiting for American or European approval could lead to government collapse -- House Speaker Ahmed Qorei’s decision to wait for American and European approval of his appointment as prime minister by Palestinian President Yasser Arafat could lead to his government’s collapse, Lebanon’s Hamas representative said Monday. Osama Hamdan told The Daily Star in an interview that Qorei, the head of the Palestinian Legislative Council, could make his government “end up like its predecessor even if he has no conflict with Arafat.” Suicide Attacks In Israel Resume And Arafat Gives Qureih Prerogatives Al-Hayat 9/10/2003 Security and political developments stepped up on the Palestinian and Israeli scenes, when a suicide attack targeting an Israeli army base in Ramla city around Tel Aviv killed six Israelis, in addition to the perpetrator, and injuring 25 others, most believed to be in a serious condition. Israel's Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz previously confirmed that he had given orders to the Israeli occupation army to get ready for a possible military escalation with the Palestinians, adding that he sees no difference between the candidate for Palestinian Prime Minister, Ahmad Qureih, and the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. Hamas leader escapes air strike as Qureia becomes Palestinian PM The Independent 9/10/2003 Israeli warplanes today attacked the Gaza City home of a Hamas leader today, as Ahmed Qureia accepted the post of Palestinian prime minister and said he will select a crisis Cabinet within 24 hours. Mahmoud Zahar survived the Israeli attack, in retaliation for the twin suicide bombings that killed 14 Israelis yesterday. but his son and a bodyguard were killed. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon today cut short a visit to India, and is due to hold security consultations immediately on his return. Two strategic decisions - whether to expel Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat or order a large-scale invasion of the Gaza Strip - are likely to be be on the aganda.

Human Rights..

Petition against racist land distribution Electronic Intifada/Association for Civil Rights in Israel 9/9/2003 The Association for Civil Rights in Israel submitted a petition yesterday to the Supreme Court against the Israel Lands Authority (ILA), The Jewish Agency, and the community of Katzir as a result of those agencies’ persistent refusal to implement the original ruling of the Supreme Court prohibiting discrimination between Arabs and Jews in the distribution of land. The petition was submitted on the 8th of March 2000 in the name of Iman and Adal Ka’adan, whose request to purchase a plot of land in Katzir was refused by the afore-mentioned bodies. Cry to help Palestinian Prisoners in Magedo International Middle East Media Center 9/10/2003 Prisoners' Friends Society in Nazareth received an urgent request from Palestinian prisoners in Magedo detention center to provide them with cloths and blankets, after all of their belongings were burned out by the detention camp authority in clashes that erupted in Majido last month. The head of the Prisoners' Friends society reported that as the detention center guards broke into section 5 they burned out all prisoners' belongings and have not yet provided them with the basics to be able to live and sleep. 27 Palestinian prisoners start hunger strike Palestinian Information Center 9/10/2003 Bethlehem - The Palestinian prisoner’s club has said that 27 Palestinian captives locked up in the Qadomim army base near Tulkarm had started an open-ended hunger strike to protest their Zionist jailers repressive measures. The club’s lawyer, Jamal Ebtala, who recently visited a number of those detainees, said that the hunger strike was launched to protest the continued Zionist jailers’ beatings of the internees. Surete Generale signs pact with UN refugee agency Daily Star 9/10/2003 The Surete Generale and the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday aimed at finding permanent solutions to the many problems encountered by refugees here....Lebanon, which was not a signatory to the 1951 international treaty on political refugees and its protocol issued on Jan. 31, 1967, does not considered itself suitable for the resettlement of refugees. The authorities believe that best solution for the refugees living in Lebanon is to repatriate those who are recognized by the UNHCR. But in a bid to reach some humanitarian agreements on the problems of Palestinian refugees who have illegally entered the country, and who are hoping to be regarded as refugees as a prelude for their repatriation, the two organizations reached the memorandum of understanding. Senior Hamas leader, Mahmoud al-Zahhar is injured in Israeli assassination attempt, which left dead 2 Palestinians and wounded more than 20 others Palestinian Centre for Human Rights 9/10/2003 Dr. Mahmoud al-Zahhar, a prominent leader of the Hamas movement, survived an Israeli assassination attempt carried out this morning in Gaza City by Israeli occupying forces. Al-Zahhar’s son and one of his bodyguards were killed in the aerial attack that targeted al-Zahhar’s house in central Gaza City. 20 Palestinian civilians, including al-Zahhar's wife and daughter were wounded. Today’s attack is the latest in a series of extra-judicial assassinations perpetrated by Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians. PCHR strongly condemns this crime and calls upon the international community to immediately intervene to stop the continuous deterioration in the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).

Economy..

Welcome: this way for cluster bombs The Guardian 9/10/2003 Arms fair fails to stop promotion of controversial weapons -- Cluster weapons were on show yesterday at the opening of Europe's largest arms fair in London Docklands despite an appeal from the organisers to hide them away. The controversial weapons, which pose a potential threat to civilians because they contain many bomblets which can fail to explode in the initial attack, were on offer at the stand of an Israeli arms company, Israel Military Industries Ltd....The company has manufactured tens of millions of the bomblets for Nato, central and eastern European, and Asian countries. Yitzhaki: Israel-India trade could double in five years Globes 9/10/2003 Senior source: Progress has been made over Phalcon airborne early warning system deal. -- “India is pulling out all the stops to make Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s visit pleasant and successful,” a senior source in Sharon’s entourage said yesterday. He added that bilateral cooperation had been discussed, including R&D. Bilateral trade currently amounts to $1.3 billion annually, and the source said the goal was to reach $2 billion within a short time. BDI: Israeli black market world’s 6th largest; 22% of GDP Globes 9/10/2003 The black market cost the state NIS 34 billion in uncollected taxes, which would cover the entire projected 2003 budget deficit. -- Business Data Israel (BDI) today quoted World Bank figures showing that black market activity in Israel totaled $20 billion, 22% of total GDP, among the highest ratios in the developed world. Israel’s black market problem is among the worst in the world, with Italy and Greece being the worst in this respect, and the US and Switzerland the best. Senior economic sources: Outlook poor for achieving 2004 4% of GDP budget deficit target Globes 9/10/2003 The officials criticized Minister of Finance Benjamin Netanyahu’s economic plan, saying he was trying to square the circle by both raising the deficit target and preserving fiscal discipline. -- “You can’t square the circle. You can’t cut only NIS 10 billion from the budget, raise the budget deficit target, and preserve fiscal discipline. It’s simply impossible. At this rate, the 4% budget deficit target for 2004 won’t be achieved,” senior economic sources in Jerusalem told “Globes” today. Budget Director: No retreat from 2004 budget cuts Globes 9/10/2003 Ministry of Finance Budget Director Uri Yogev: The NIS 10 billion cut will be implemented no matter what happens. -- "There will no retreat from the cuts in the 2004 budget. The NIS 10 billion cut will be implemented no matter what happens," declared Ministry of Finance Budget Director Uri Yogev today. Israeli, Indian manufacturers sign cooperation agreement Globes 9/10/2003 The aim is to strengthen relations between small and medium-sized Israeli and Indian companies. -- The Manufacturers Association of Israel and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) have signed an economic and manufacturing cooperation agreement. The aim is to strengthen relations between small and medium-sized Israeli and Indian companies, especially in high-tech sectors. Sharon: Indian rocket will launch Israeli telescope Globes 9/10/2003 Prime Minister Ariel Sharon cut short his visit to India, due to yesterday's terrorist attacks, returns to Israel tonight. -- "We must overcome the Israeli and Indian bureaucracies, in order to deepen the commercial relations between the two countries," said Prime Minister Ariel Sharon today. He was speaking at a joint lunch in New Delhi with India Minister of Finance Jaswant Singh and Israeli and Indian businesspeople. Mexico to support Israel OECD membership Globes 9/10/2003 Minister of the Economy Canales made the promise to Minister of Industry Trade and Labor Olmert at the World Trade Organization conference in Cancun. -- Mexico's Minister of the Economy Fernando Canales made the pledge to Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor Ehud Olmert at the Fifth World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference in Cancun. Israeli membership will be on the agenda at the next OECD meeting....Olmert said he raised Israel's request to allow Israeli companies to use distribution centers in the US to export goods to Mexico, without affecting the customs discounts granted to Israeli companies under the bilateral trade agreement. Canales promised to study the subject. He noted the Mexican government's concern about customs fraud by transporting goods through third countries.

People..

The Tabboun: Arab Community Insider - Eye-Opening Films About Palestine By Ray Hanania, Palestine Chronicle 9/8/2003 1st PALESTINIAN FILM FESTIVAL: A series of eye-opening films about Palestine were featured at this first-ever event in Dallas, Texas Sept. 5 - 7. The films were amazing and must see. One of the most provocative was "Jeremy Hardy vs the Israeli Army" produced byJeremy Hardy, a dark comedic narrative gives you a front row seat to the Israel invasion and brutality that took place in the Spring of 2002, including the devastation of Bethlehem and the "Christian Triangle." / MORE PALESTINIAN FILMS SHOWCASED: "Checkpoint: The Palestinians after Oslo" which provides a profile of Palestinian lives after the Oslo Accords were signed in 1993. Although it was intended to bring about a peace, the Oslo Accords were sabotaged by fanatic Israeli extremists mainly of Ariel Sharon's Likud Party, and also by extremists in the Palestinian movement who reject peace but offer no alternatives. / PALESTINIANS HAVE A JUST CAUSE: "People and the Land" also takes the viewer into the daily lives of the Palestinians under occupation, directed by Ohio University Associate Professor of Post Production Film Tom Hayes (1997). / MORE GREAT FILMS: "In the Name of Security" pierces the Israeli myth and explores Israel's brutal invasion of Palestinian towns in April 2002, a period of the most vicious killings to occur..... Public backs military strikes, more targeted hits Ha'aretz 9/10/2003 Almost a third of Israelis (31 percent) believes that Israel should launch a broad military operation in the territories, according to a survey for Haaretz carried out by the Dialogue Institute on Monday evening. In addition, 35 percent of respondents believe that Israel should only negotiate with Palestinian officials who are not linked to Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat in light of Mahmoud Abbas's resignation as prime minister. Furthermore, 18 percent are in favor of Israel assassinating Arafat. Israeli exhibit tackles a complicated icon: Arafat Christian Science Monitor 9/10/2003 JERUSALEM – Israel's obsession with Yasser Arafat is roaring back to life. It never really disappeared, despite Israeli declarations that the Palestinian Authority (PA) president was "irrelevant." Indeed, after effectively unseating his US-backed prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, and tapping his loyal ally Ahmed Qureia to replace him, Mr. Arafat has shown himself to be anything but insignificant...."Part of his impact is his performance, he's a performer," says Tel Aviv curator Ory Dessau, organizer of an exhibit that looks at the way Israelis demonize, mythologize, and use Arafat. A Veteran of Exile Life: Ahmed Ali Sulieman Qurei New York Times 9/9/2003 JERUSALEM, Sept. 8 — Ahmed Qurei achieved his greatest acclaim exactly a decade ago, leading a Palestinian team in secret negotiations that produced the breakthrough Israeli-Palestinian peace accord in September 1993. Mr. Qurei, 65, will return as a central figure in any negotiations this time in the full public glare — if he accepts the nomination to serve as the Palestinian prime minister. But, given the Middle East turmoil, he has said he will not take the job without strong international support for the current peace plan and an easing of Israel's military crackdown against the Palestinians. Archive story: Journal axes gene research on Jews and Palestinians The Observer 11/25/2001 A keynote research paper showing that Middle Eastern Jews and Palestinians are genetically almost identical has been pulled from a leading journal. Academics who have already received copies of Human Immunology have been urged to rip out the offending pages and throw them away. Such a drastic act of self-censorship is unprecedented in research publishing and has created widespread disquiet, generating fears that it may involve the suppression of scientific work that questions Biblical dogma. 'I have authored several hundred scientific papers, some for Nature and Science, and this has never happened to me before,' said the article's lead author, Spanish geneticist Professor Antonio Arnaiz-Villena, of Complutense University in Madrid. 'I am stunned.'

International..

Lieberman and Dean Spar Over Israel Forward 9/9/2003 Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman is hammering former Vermont governor Howard Dean over remarks he made recently about the Middle East conflict. But Dean maintains that he hasn’t retreated from the strongly pro-Israel positions he articulated early in his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. The squabble produced fireworks Tuesday at a Democratic primary debate sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus, with Dean accusing Lieberman of demagoguery....The dustup brings up issues larger than the Dean, Lieberman and Kerry campaigns, however. The anti-war Democrats who are driving the primary and who have been fueling Dean’s ascendancy represent the segment of the electorate least likely to support the strongly pro-Israel positions that are the consensus of most Jewish communal organizations. “Clearly that’s going to be a tension for Dean,” said Kenneth Goldstein, a political scientist at the University of Wisconsin. “Many of his core supporters are clearly not of the Aipac position.” Syria gets new Prime Minister Al-Jazeera 9/10/2003 Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has named parliament speaker Muhammed Naji al-Otri as the country's next prime minister.State news agency, SANA said Otri's appointment came after President Bashar accepted the resignation of the cabinet of Prime Minister Muhammed Mustafa Miro....The president had hinted at the change of guard last month, stating that pushing through reforms would be the main task of the new cabinet he planned to form. American professor says arrest is unlawful The Independent 9/10/2003 A Palestinian university professor being held in solitary confinement on terrorism charges in Florida has urged a federal judge to throw out his case, saying it amounted to a "thoughtless slaughter of First Amendment rights" and sought to criminalise him solely for his political beliefs. The motion, filed by Sami al-Arian, is the latest twist in a tormented case that has pitted free-speech advocates and fellow academics against pro-Israeli terrorism experts and the local media on Florida's Gulf Coast, who have waged a campaign against Mr al-Arian for years. Arab League Welcomes 'New Iraq' On Temporary Basis Al-Hayat 9/10/2003 The 'new Iraq' asserted yesterday that it wants to turn a new page in its relations with the Arab countries, which have agreed to welcome the representatives of the transitional ruling council in the Arab League on a temporary basis, asking it to set a time schedule for the end of the U.S.-British occupation, draft a constitution and hold elections that would lead to the formation of an internationally recognized government. The Arab League also asked the council to present its schedule at the next Arab ministerial conference, in view of applying the required procedures. Syrian economy minister sees EU deal by year’s end Daily Star 9/10/2003 Numerous issues make deadline unclear -- BEIRUT: Syrian Economy and Foreign Trade Minister Ghassan Rifai said this week his country will sign an economic and political association agreement with the 15-member European Union by the end of 2003. Rifai told Beirut-based business magazine Al-Iqtissad Wal Amal that there were no political obstacles to the signing, and that Europe wanted to conclude talks as soon as possible. However, economists say many issues have yet to be finalized, casting doubt over the possibility of reaching a deal by year’s end. World Bank report shows MENA countries lagging Daily Star 9/10/2003 BEIRUT: Oil wealth, real or imagined threat of conflict and aversion to transparency are some of the reasons why the Middle East and North Africa region lags behind other developing countries when in comes to governance, a World Bank report said Monday. “The MENA region ranks at the bottom in terms of overall governance when compared with countries with similar characteristics in East Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America as well as other developing countries,” said the report, titled Better Governance for Development in the Middle East and North Africa, unveiled Monday. Survey estimates US Jewish population at 5.2 million Globes 9/10/2003 In the National Jewish Population Survey 2000-01, 63% of US Jews describe themselves as emotionally attached to Israel. -- The National Jewish Population Survey 2000-01, conducted by the US umbrella Jewish organization United Jewish Communities (UJC), estimates the US Jewish population at 5.2 million. The results of the survey were released today. Saudi religious police say Barbie is a moral threat Ha'aretz 9/10/2003 DUBAI, UAE - Saudi Arabia's religious police have declared Barbie dolls a threat to morality, complaining that the revealing clothes of the "Jewish" toy - already banned in the kingdom - are offensive to Islam. The Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, as the religious police are officially known, lists the dolls on a section of its Web site devoted to items deemed offensive to the conservative Saudi interpretation of Islam. Italian PM promotes $5 billion aid plan for Middle East Ha'aretz 9/10/2003 ROME - Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi yesterday promoted a proposal to gather $5 billion for the economic reconstruction of areas damaged by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Berlusconi, speaking after a meeting with Danish counterpart Anders Fogh Rasmussen, said the plan had been discussed at several recent European Union meetings as well as the June Group of Eight summit in Evian, France. He did not specify which countries had agreed to participate. Egyptian Opposition Party Asks PM To Resign Islam Online 9/10/2003 CAIRO, September 10 (IslamOnline.net) - Members of the leftist Egyptian opposition Tagamu Party demonstrated Wednesday, September 10, in front of the People’s Assembly (parliament) in downtown Cairo, protesting hiking prices and carrying banners calling for the government to cater for the poor. At Debate, Democrats Clash Over Mideast New York Times 9/10/2003 BALTIMORE, Sept. 9 — ....In a debate sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus, two of the Democrats, Senator Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut and Dr. Howard Dean, a former governor of Vermont, also clashed heatedly over a statement Dr. Dean made last week that "it's not our place to take sides" in the Middle East. "Howard Dean's statements break a 50-year record in which presidents — Republicans and Democrats, members of Congress — have supported our relationship with Israel," Mr. Lieberman said. He added, "We do not gain strength as negotiators if we compromise our support of Israel." Dr. Dean responded, "I'm disappointed in Joe — my position is exactly the same as President Clinton's." World's poor take on the west The Guardian 9/10/2003 Little hope of help for developing countries as trade talks begin -- Crucial global trade talks open in the luxury holiday resort of Cancun today with 146 countries squaring up for a bruising five days of negotiations amid little expectation that much headway will be made to bridge yawning gaps between rich and poor. With security at an almost paranoid level - a third Mexican warship anchored off the Caribbean beach yesterday - the two big power blocks, the EU and the US, were playing their negotiating cards close to their chest. But there was a new militancy among developing countries, led by China, Brazil and India, which are determined not to be bulldozed in the horse-trading.

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