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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..

A Palestinian Infant Dies at an Israeli Checkpoint International Press Center 9/20/2003 BETHLEHEM, Palestine, September 20, 2003, (IPC+Agencies)-- A Palestinian infant died Saturday afternoon at an Israeli checkpoint, near Bethlehem, as Israeli soldiers prevented his mother to reach a clinic while she was suffering the pain of parturition. The wife of Khaled al-Atrash, from the village of Alwalaja-adjacent to Bethlehem- was heading to a clinic when Israeli soldiers prevented her to access their military checkpoint. Mrs. Al-Atrash got birth at the checkpoint without any health care which lead to the death of the baby, Palestine News Agency, (WAFA) reported. Israeli Troops Wound Three Palestinians and Blow up Houses International Press Center 9/20/2003 KHAN YOUNIS, September 20, 2003 (IPC + Agencies)-- Israeli occupation forces (IOF) shot and wounded early on Saturday dawn a Palestinain woman in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, local medical sources said. Zarqa Alsieqaly, 42, of the Rabwat neighborhood, west of Khan Younis City, was wounded with a live bullet as Israeli troops, stationed at the nearby illegitimate Jewish settlement of "Gani Tal", opened their heavy machine gunfire indiscriminately on the area, hitting Alsieqaly’s house, medical sources at Nasser hospital reported....Eyewitnesses confirmed that such shooting is recurrent on daily basis, spreading fear and panic among the Palestinian inhabitants living in the Rabwat area, just close to the said settlement. Jenin under Curfew for 3rd Consecutive Day Palestine Media Center 9/20/2003 8-year and 12-year Old Girl and Boy Seriously Injured -- For the third consecutive day, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) imposed a curfew on the northern West Bank town of Jenin following a large-scale military incursion on Thursday, which has so far resulted in the serious injury of three Palestinians, including a 12-year-old boy and an 8-year-old girl, and the injury of three IOF soldiers, one of them seriously. Around 30 IOF tanks and jeeps rolled into Jenin and its refugee camp early Thursday at dawn where dozens of IOF soldiers took over several buildings as makeshift observation bases, Palestinian security sources said. Exchange of Fire, 4 Injuries in Riots in Gaza After Police Arrest Hamas Members International Middle East Media Center 9/19/2003 Hamas supporters took the streets of the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza city, throwing stones at the police station after 7 members of Hamas were arrested in relation to the kidnapping of a Palestinian Authority policeman. Eyewitnesses reported that after Palestinian security forces rounded up seven Hamas activists from the main square in downtown Gaza city, Hamas supporters gathered at Sheikh Radwan police station, threw stones and burned tiers. Local sources said that an exchange of fire between rioters and police resulted in four injuries. Israeli Troops, Palestinian Gunmen Clash in Jenin Reuters 9/19/2003 JENIN, West Bank (Reuters) - Israeli soldiers exchanged fire with Palestinian gunmen and demolished the family home of a Hamas suicide bomber on Friday during a house-by-house sweep for militants in a major West Bank city. A 12-year-old boy standing at the gate to his home and a man inside his house were wounded in the shooting in Jenin, on the second day of the Israeli operation, witnesses said. Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, effectively rejecting a call this week by Palestinian President Yasser Arafat for a cease-fire, pledged to keep up the pressure on militant groups spearheading a three-year-old uprising for statehood. Israeli troops destroy bombers' homes The Guardian 9/19/2003 Israeli troops today blew up the West Bank homes of two Hamas suicide bombers. They also searched one town for fugitives, with the moves coming as Yasser Arafat and leaders of his Fatah party started putting together a new cabinet. Early today, soldiers demolished the house of Shadi al-Tubasi, who blew himself up at a cafe in the Israeli port city of Haifa in March 2002, killing 15 Israelis. Troops also went into Rantis, a village north of Ramallah, and destroyed the home of Iyhad Abed al-Kader abu-Salim, a Hamas member who killed eight soldiers in a suicide bombing at a bus stop south of Tel Aviv on September 9. IDF returns to PA Ha'aretz 9/19/2003 Exactly a month after the hudna (cease-fire) collapsed in the rubble of the terror attack on Jerusalem's No. 2 bus, Israel Defense Forces soldiers have resumed activities in the territories that predated the truce. [???] Yesterday a Golani infantry unit entered Jenin, to carry out a major anti-terror operation, which security officials indicated could last for days. This entry into Jenin paid immediate dividends, when soldiers detonated a booby-trapped car in the center of the city, thereby thwarting plans to carry out a terror attack. And in the Gaza Strip yesterday, infantry soldiers from the Givati brigade carried out an hours-long operation aimed at capturing Hamas terror suspects.  In the Eve of the New School Year, Israeli Missiles Force a Little Girl to be Buried Near Her Father International Press Center 9/20/2003 After negotiating several Israeli military checkpoints on the Salahiddin main road in the Gaza Strip, we arrived in Khan-Younis and headed to the Al-Namsawi residential neighborhood. It was the home of nine-year-old Aya Fayyad. She died from shrapnel wounds from an Israeli tank fire that pierced her soft chest. Aya Fayyad was killed while she was riding her small toy bicycle like any other playful young girl. Her joy was cut short on August 31 when an Israeli tank had rumbled into the Al-Namsawi neighborhood from the adjacent illegal Jewish settlement of Niveh Dkalim. The battle tank fired three missiles into the neighborhood and Aya was an innocent victim in that attack along with six others, including two children. Massive Israeli army raid in Jenin Middle East Online 9/19/2003 Four Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers were wounded Friday during a massive army sweep for militants in this northern West Bank town that entered its consecutive second day, sources on both sides said. Ground troops surrounded a house in Jenin's eastern Wad Ezzedin neighborhood and exchanged heavy rounds of fire with Palestinian gunmen inside, a correspondent reported....Meanwhile, in another eastern Jenin neighborhood, Har Assarqia, a 23-year-old man was critically injured in the head during clashes between rock-throwing youths and Israeli troops. An eight-year-old girl was also moderately hurt in the same incident, Palestinian medical sources said. Zionist soldiers wreak havoc in house of former handicapped detainee Palestinian Information Center 9/20/2003 Al-Khalil - Zionist occupation troops last night broke into the house of the released handicapped detainee Anas Muslim Shreiteh in the village of Yatta in Al-Khalil district and wreaked havoc in his family’s house. Muslim Shreiteh, father of the former detainee, said that more than 40 Zionist soldiers stormed his house and aimed their guns at the head of his son Anas, who was only released a month and a half ago from Zionist Ramle prison hospital suffering 80% paralysis and amnesia. Zionist forces still demolishing houses in Rafah Palestinian Information Center 9/20/2003 Rafah - Zionist occupation tractors last night razed to the ground the house of Ramzi Abdul Aal in the Salam suburb adjacent to the Palestinian border strip with Egypt in southern Rafah. Eyewitnesses said that three Zionist tanks and a number of tractors advanced into the suburb amidst intensified and indiscriminate shooting at residential houses. The tractors then demolished Abdul Aal’s house and dug three deep holes alongside the border strip, the eyewitnesses added. Palestinian civilian murdered in Al-Khalil Palestinian Information Center 9/20/2003 Al-Khalil - Ahmed Mousa Fanashi, 42, was murdered in the West Bank city of Al-Khalil in yet ambiguous circumstances that point to Zionist fanatic settlers involvement in the crime. Well informed sources said that Fanashi was attending a wedding last night then he left at a late hour for his village Yatta but was found killed near one of the city’s main roads. Israel fears growing terror threat by settlers The Guardian 9/20/2003 Even Israel's pervasive intelligence services are uncertain whether the Infants Underground and its allies are fringe groups of extremist settlers or the stirrings of a Jewish-style Hamas. But the conviction on Wednesday of three settlers for trying to blow up a Palestinian girls' school in east Jerusalem last year reveals the lengths to which a marginalised, but apparently growing, band of militant settlers will go. Israeli settler charged with stealing military weapons USA Today 9/19/2003 JERUSALEM (AP) — A Jewish settler was charged Friday with stealing weapons from the Israeli military, and prosecutors said he was procuring arms for Jewish vigilantes suspected of killing eight Palestinians. Police also found a large weapons cache in a West Bank cave, including M-16 assault rifles, machine-guns, three anti-tank rockets, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and dozens of grenades — all stolen from the Israeli army. Hamas Leaders Escape Israeli Watchful Eye Islam Online 9/20/2003 GAZA, September 20 (IslamOnline.net) – After a series of successful and failed Israeli assassination attempts, the leaders and cadres of the Islamic resistance movement Hamas decided to escape Israel’s watchful eyes and avoid press statements and interviews. Israel has admitted such strategy has minimized its ability to locate and liquidate the resistance leaders and fighters.Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, for example, has left his humble house in Al-Sabra neighborhood in Gaza City and disappeared 10 days ago. News Briefs From the OPT International Middle East Media Center 9/20/2003 Pre-emptive Security in Gaza Release 7 Hamas Activists / Israel Demolishes Home of Tzrifin Attacker in Rantis / "Alaqsa Under Attack," Islamic movement Rally in Um Alfaham / Palestinian Killed in Ambiguous Circumstances Near Hebron / Israeli Soldiers Shot, wound a Woman in Khan Younis / More than 1000 residents held for investigation in a school yard near Ramallah... Zionist company acknowledge Palestinians could dig tunnels under fence Palestinian Information Center 9/20/2003 Occupied Jerusalem - A Zionist company installing advanced electronic equipment on the segregationist fence separating the West Bank from the Palestinian lands occupied in 1948 acknowledged that Palestinians could dig tunnels under that fence. The chairman of that company said that there was no solution yet to such a possibility but he claimed that people close to the fence could still live a normal life. Two explosive devices said found near Gaza settlement Ha'aretz 9/20/2003 Israel Defense Forces troops patrolling in the Gaza Strip found two explosive devices Saturday, Army Radio reported. The two devices - one weighing 40kg and the other a roadside bomb - were discovered close to the settlement of Netzarim in the northern Strip, the radio said. Also in Gaza, IDF soldiers from the Givati brigade arrested two Hamas activists overnight Friday, north of the Kissufim crossing between Israel and the Strip. The two were taken away for questioning by security officials. Israeli Troops in Jenin for the Second Day International Middle East Media Center 9/20/2003 Israeli troops continued operations inside the West Bank city of Jenin for the second day today. Soldiers searched homes and exchanged fire with resistance groups. 4 soldiers were wounded, one seriously, and 3 Palestinians, including a 12-year-old boy and an 8-years-old girl. Israel Praises Bush's Anti-Arafat Broadside, Raids Jenin Islam Online 9/19/2003 JENIN, West Bank, September 19 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - The Israeli army continued its massive incursion into this northern West Bank town for the second consecutive day Friday, September 19, as Yasser Arafat was under renewed pressure after U.S. President George W. Bush delighted Israel by saying he had "failed as a leader". Fierce armed clashes erupted in the eastern part of town where the Israeli occupation army was carrying out house-to-house searches....In the center of town and in its refugee camps, young Palestinians were hurling stones and Molotov cocktails at occupation army tanks and jeeps. A 12-year-old boy was seriously hurt by Israeli fire in his abdomen and a 38-year-old bystander was moderately injured on his house front porch, Palestinian medics said. Rumors on death of Sheikh Yassin to find out his whereabouts Palestinian Information Center 9/20/2003 Gaza - Unknown suspicious elements have spread a rumor on Thursday evening on the death of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, founder and spiritual leader of the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas. The rumor started in the West Bank city of Ramallah claiming that the Sheikh was hospitalized then died in hospital. It moved to the Gaza Strip through reporters inquiring about the truth of the report, which turned out to be a big lie when the Gazan reporters contacted family of the Sheikh. Palestinian sources said that the rumor aimed at revealing the whereabouts of the Hamas leaders who went into hiding after a series of Zionist assassination bids that targeted even their own homes and families.

Diplomacy..

U.S.: Won't back any Palestinian government run by Arafat Ha'aretz 9/20/2003 The United States has made it clear to the Palestinian Authority that Washington will not support any government controlled by Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat. The U.S. called for the new Palestinian prime minister to take direct control of the PA security forces, most of which are currently under Arafat's control. The message was passed to Palestinian officials in recentdays by John Wolf, the head of the American delegation to oversee the implementation of the road map. Wolf also informed the Palestinians that the new prime minister will not receive American support unless he takes on the terrorist organizations, and is not satisfied with a truce.  UN surges to Arafat's defence The Guardian 9/20/2003 The UN demanded that Israel drop its threat to remove the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, by an overwhelmingly majority yesterday, thus isolating Israel and the US. The general assembly voted 133-4 the day after President Bush blamed Mr Arafat for undermining the current round of peace negotiations, which have been stalled by renewed violence. The resolution condemned Israel for threatening to remove Mr Arafat, but also the Palestinian suicide bombings. Despite this even-handedness, the US and Israel voted against, supported by Micronesia and the Marshall Islands. PM bureau chief to U.S. with new route proposal for fence Ha'aretz 9/20/2003 The chief of the Prime Minister's bureau, Dov Weisglass, will set out for Washington on Saturday evening at the head of a high-level delegation dispatched to present the United States with a revised route proposal for the West Bank separation fence. Weisglass, who is also accompanied by Defense Ministry Director General Amos Yaron, will meet with U.S. national security advisor Condoleezza Rice to discuss the new route. Israel will tell U.S. officials that the section of the fence between the settlements Elkana and Alei Zahav will not be built, leaving a "break" opposite Ariel, one of the largest West Bank settlements. Israel dismisses UN vote demanding end to threat to Arafat Ha'aretz 9/20/2003 Israel on Saturday condemned a United Nations General Assembly vote to demanding that it drop the decision to "remove" Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat, as a miserable move that legitimizes a well-known terrorist. The cabinet decided to "remove" Arafat following two suicide bombings last week, but was vague about the time and manner in which it would carry outthis decision.  Arab States Fail to Pass Resolution Subjecting Israel to IAEA Inspection International Press Center 9/20/2003 VIENNA, September 20, 2003 (IPC + Agencies)-- The Arab states failed Friday to pass a resolution, subjecting Israel to nuclear weapons proliferation safeguards, because of not being able to amass enough support to back this resolution. For the twelfth consecutive year since 1991, Arab states have been trying to pass one resolution in the IAEA's week-long conference, but with no luck. However, they managed to get a consensus agreement on a call for a nuclear-free-weapon-zone. The Japanese representative, who heads this year's conference, said that Israel's nuclear program will be discussed in next year's conference. Palestinian Prime Minister-Designate Backs Arafat Washington Post 9/19/2003 JERUSALEM -- The incoming Palestinian prime minister issued his strongest defense yet of Yasser Arafat, saying Friday that the United States should treat him as a real partner and condemning President Bush's refusal to deal with the Palestinian leader as only hurting peace efforts. Arafat Has an Offer and a Warning for the Israelis Washington Post 9/19/2003 GAZA CITY, Sept. 18 -- Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said in remarks published today he wants to convince Israeli leaders that he remains their best partner for peace talks while warning against trying to harm or deport him. In an interview with the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, Arafat urged Israel to join the Palestinians in an open-ended halt to violence. At the same time, he said he was ready to fight back if Israel sought to carry out the vow it made last week to "remove" him. Nine Israelis face deportation FairUse/Ottawa Sun 9/19/2003 Spy agency suspects they may be foreign agents - The story of Israeli art students peddling paintings in foreign countries has been reported in the media and on the Internet in the past. -- NINE Israeli nationals -- who[m] CSIS suspects are possible foreign agents -- were arrested by Immigration and Ottawa police tactical officers last Friday, blocks from Parliament Hill. The nine have all been charged by Immigration for working in Canada illegally. All are in their 20s and were apparently selling art in Ottawa. The arrests follow similar takedowns of Israelis in Toronto and Calgary over the past few weeks. An Ottawa police source said police were told members of the group were possible agents from Mossad, Israel's spy agency, but given no further information by CSIS. Tricky balance of US-Jordan alliance BBC 9/19/2003 The summit was moved forward by a day thanks to Hurricane Isabel though the welcome was still warm at Camp David for King Abdullah of Jordan. But President George W Bush's comments, like his policies, have made life distinctly difficult for the leader of one of America's few Arab allies. At a joint press conference, President Bush used the opportunity to say that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat had "failed as a leader" and accused him of undermining efforts to stop the violence against Israelis. King Abdullah faces a complex political situation, one that has hung over the Hashemites since Britain installed them on the throne and created the nation of Jordan from a nearly empty desert. Ministers object to Hezbollah swap deal Ha'aretz 9/19/2003 Opposition is growing in the cabinet to the emerging prisoner exchange deal with Hezbollah, in which Israel has reportedly agreed to release Palestinian as well as Lebanese prisoners in exchange for the return of four Israelis kidnapped by Hezbollah, or their bodies. Ministers are also upset that the deal will apparently include the release of the two most senior Lebanese held byIsrael, Mustafa Dirani and Sheikh Abdel Karim Obeid, without Israel receiving in exchange any information about missing navigator Ron Arad. Hizbollah, Hamas discuss prisoner swap Jordan Times 9/19/2003 BEIRUT (Reuters) — The Palestinian movement Hamas said on Thursday it had met the head of Lebanon's Hizbollah to discuss negotiations on a swap of prisoners with Israel that appear to be nearing a conclusion. Hizbollah and Israel are negotiating via German mediators a possible swap of Hizbollah's Israeli captives for Lebanese, Palestinian and other Arab prisoners held by Israel. JD38 in Mishaal's account in a Jordanian bank Palestinian Information Center 9/20/2003 London - Thorough examination of financial accounts in Jordanian banks in the names of six Hamas Movement leaders three weeks ago revealed that Khaled Mishaal, political bureau chief of the Movement, had only 38 Jordanian Dinars in his account, according to an Arabic-language paper published in London....The sources told the newspaper that not a single penny was found in the name of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, founder and spiritual leader of Hamas, in Amman but only a transfer note of 200 dollars when he came for treatment in one of the Jordanian hospitals three years ago at the initiative of the late Jordanian monarch King Hussein. Lahoud receives rare phone call from Palestinian leader Daily Star 9/20/2003 President Emile Lahoud has received a rare call from Palestinian counterpart Yasser Arafat, who thanked him for being the first Arab head of state to reject Israel’s decision to expel him, officials said Friday. Israelis to Discuss Fence With U.S. Washington Post 9/20/2003 JERUSALEM, Sept. 19 -- The Israeli government has delayed any decision on the path of a sensitive portion of the fence separating Israel from the West Bank until after a high-level delegation to Washington has consulted with the Bush administration, a senior Israeli official said today. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's chief of staff, Dov Weisglass, and Maj. Gen. Amos Yaron, director general of the Defense Ministry, will leave for Washington by the beginning of next week, said the official, who spoke on condition that he not be identified. Sharon Backs Mofaz's Proposal to Delay the Separation Wall Route Around Ariel International Middle East Media Center 9/20/2003 In a meeting with Likud Ministers Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon backed the proposal of his Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz to delay the construction of a controversial section of the separation wall in the Ariel settlement area. Sharon told his Likud ministers that he prefers to postpone the construction of the separation wall around Ariel until the international political climate becomes more favorable. Video: "Israel has already described the resolution as meaningless" BBC 9/19/2003 The BBC's Greg Barrow - "Israel has already described the resolution as meaningless" IMF summit takes Israeli delegation to Dubai for first time Ha'aretz 9/20/2003 DUBAI - Although the United Arab Emirates does not recognize Israel, an Israeli delegation was welcomed to the annual conference of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in Dubai. The governor of the Bank of Israel, David Klein, and three other officials were seen Saturday, sitting behind a small Israeli flag at a meeting in one of the conference rooms. World Bank and IMF rules require hosts of their meetings to accept delegations from all members, including Israel. IAEA divided over Israeli WMDs Daily Star 9/20/2003 Member states differ on language of resolution -- Member states of the UN nuclear watchdog locked horns Friday over a draft resolution tabled by Arab states calling on Israel to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and allow international inspections of its nuclear program. Israel has neither signed the NPT and nor officially admitted to having nuclear weapons. But, nonproliferation experts estimate that Israel has between 100 and 200 nuclear bombs. “There is a sharp divide among International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) members on the issue of Israel, and some countries, like the US, don’t want to compromise with the Arabs,” a Western diplomat told Reuters. UN demands Israel end threat to Arafat BBC 9/19/2003 The United Nations General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly in favour of resolution calling on Israel to lift its threat to exile Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. The vote - 133 in favour, four against and 15 abstentions - follows Tuesday's Security Council debate after which the United States vetoed a similar draft. The resolution got huge support due to last-minute changes introduced by the European Union to condemn Palestinian suicide bombings as well as Israeli extrajudicial killings, says the BBC's UN correspondent Greg Barrow. In Defiance of US Veto, UN General Assembly Defends Arafat Palestine Media Center 9/20/2003 PNA Urges Bush to Respect the Will of the Palestinian People -- The Palestine National Authority (PNA) hailed the United Nations General Assembly resolution on Friday, which overwhelmingly demanded that Israel, the occupying power, not deport nor threaten the safety of elected Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, as “a slap for Israel and those who support it.” In defiance of the US veto last week, the UN General Assembly approved a resolution demanding that Israel halt threats to “remove” Arafat. Palestinian diplomats won unanimous support from the European Union and many African states after adding a condemnation of Palestinian suicide bombings to the resolution.

Human Rights..

Reserve pilots to refuse liquidations Ha'aretz 9/19/2003 group of reserve pilots in the Israel Air Force is planning to publicly announce their refusal to participate in attempts to assassinate senior wanted men in the Palestinian Authority. The group has been discussing the initiative for more than three months and members say that they have been badly torn. According to sources in the movement of soldiers who refuse to serve in the territories, the group is in the process of collecting the last signatures and is waiting for "the right moment" to issue its announcement. Islamic Movement looks to renew campaign for arrested leaders Ha'aretz 9/19/2003 The Islamic Movement-Northern Branch is hoping to fill the new Umm al-Fahm stadium to bursting tonight for its annual rally and to restart the public campaign against the criminal proceedings its leader, Sheikh Ra'ad Salah, and four senior members are currently facing. At the central event of "international solidarity day for Al Aqsa prisoners," the Islamic Movement is expected totry and gain the public support of Arabs in Israel and around the world, just a few days before the five go on trial for funneling funds to the militant Hamas organization. Poraz U-turn on local vote angers Druze Ha'aretz 9/19/2003 Interior Minister Avraham Poraz has reversed his decision to postpone local elections in a number of Druze local authorities slated for merger under the government's economic austerity plan, prompting a furious reaction from the community and threats of a vote boycott. Poraz made the decision after consulting the director-general of the Prime Minister's Office, Avigdor Yitzhaki, and a number of jurists and experts. Thousands of Palestinian Muslims in Israel Protest Israeli Judaizing Policy International Press Center 9/20/2003 OM ALFAHEM, Israel, September 20, 2003 (IPC + Agencies)-- Dozens of thousands of Muslim Palestinians living in Israel congregated yesterday afternoon in the town of Om Alfahem to hold the annual festival for the safeguard of Al-Aqsa mosque in the Occupied East Jerusalem, which is the second holiest place for Muslims worldwide. Aljazeera Satellite TV Channel reported yesterday that about 40,000 participants took part in the grand festival, named “Al-Aqsa in Danger”, held for showing support and defense of the holy mosque of Al-Aqsa, as well as for supporting the “Al-Aqsa prisoners”, in reference to the 1948-Palestinian activists in the Islamic movement who were jailed by Israel. PPS Advocates: Palestinian Prisoners in Kfar Etsion Israeli Prison Suffer Harsh Conditions International Press Center 9/20/2003 RAMALLAH, Palestine, September 20, 2003 (IPC + Agencies)-- Hussain Alshaikh and Mohammad Alshadfan, Advocates of the Ramallah-based Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS), called on all international human rights organizations, including the Red Cross, to start an inquiry into the conditions of Palestinian prisoners inside the Israeli prison of Kfar Etsion, south of the city of Bethlehem. Alshaikh compared the said prison with a “stable”, as it lacks all human facilities and run by soldiers who neither abide by humanitarian laws nor Israeli ones. Israeli Military Pilots Refuse To Take Part In Assassinations Al-Hayat 9/20/2003 A group of military reserve pilots is expected to launch a campaign within the coming days to officially oppose participating in the assassination attacks carried out by the Israeli Air Force over Palestinian territories. This step is part of the ones undertaken by other groups who refuse the military service in Palestinian territories, and is unique due to the special position of military pilots within the Israeli society. Ha'aretz pointed out that a group of an unknown number of reserve pilots is discussing the issue on a large scale with former pilots and main activists within a movement that has been opposing the "military service" in the occupied Palestinian territories for over three months and is planning to launch a public campaign "when the right time comes."

Economy..

G7 for more aid to Palestinians Al-Jazeera 9/20/2003 The Group of Seven most industrialised nations have called for increased financial assistance to Palestinians. In a statement issued on Saturday after a meeting in Dubai between its finance ministers and their Palestinian counterpart, the group said the international community should increase and accelerate their aid to the Palestinian Authority. "We will advocate that the World Bank replenish the Trust Fund for the West Bank and Gaza this fall. We urge other members of the international community to increase and accelerate their assistance provided to Palestinian Authority," the statement said....World Bank's representative for the West Bank and Gaza also concurred, saying the Palestinian Authority needed at least $ 1 billion a year from donors to keeps its economy going. IMF sees 0.7% growth for Israel in 2003 Globes 9/18/2003 The International Monetary Fund recommends that the Bank of Israel continue lowering the interest rate, and predicts 10.8% unemployment this year. -- “World Economic Outlook”, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) report for 2003, which was published today in Washington at the beginning of the 2003 Annual Meeting of the World Bank Group and the IMF in Abu Dhabi, predicts that growth in the Israeli economy will amount to 0.7% in 2003 and 2.1% in 2004, compared with negative 1% growth last year, and negative 0.9% growth in 2001. Lehman Brothers Israel chief: Foreigners will buy Israeli banks Globes 9/18/2003 Lehman Brothers Israel managing director Nir Epstein: No doubt groups in the US and Europe are interested. -- Nir Epstein, managing director of Lehman Brothers’ Israel office, said today there was no doubt a major foreign bank would buy an Israeli bank in the future. In his first remarks to the media, Epstein said, “Even today, despite the situation in Israel, large foreign groups remain interested in Israel’s banks. We are talking about strategic groups, for example large international banks and major financial groups.”       Chief Scientist: Most Israeli cos will transfer R&D overseas Globes 9/18/2003 Chief Scientist Dr. Eli Opper: In the absence of government support, R&D activity in Israel is simply not worthwhile. -- "The continuing cuts in the R&D budget will force most companies to reduce or close their R&D operations in Israel, and transfer them overseas. We can already see the results of the cuts on the ground, as R&D projects are cancelled, operations are closed, and employees laid off," said Chief Scientist Dr. Eli Opper last night. He was speaking at Israel Center for Management's (MIL) "High-Tech CEO Forum".

People..

Hebrew sources: 50,000 Arabs participated in “Aqsa in Danger” annual rally Palestinian Information Center 9/20/2003 Um Al-Fahm - Hebrew sources have estimated that more than 50,000 Arabs of the 1948 occupied Palestinian lands had taken part in the annual rally “The Aqsa in Danger” organized by the 1948 Islamic Movement in Um Al-Fahm city in support of the Aqsa Mosque....Participants in the rally raised Palestinian flags and photos of Sheikh Salah and other leaders of the Islamic Movement also detained in Zionist jails on similar charges. 10,000 show up for "Peace Now" march in Tel-Aviv Jerusalem Post 9/20/2003 About 10,000 people marched from Tel-Aviv's Rabin Square to the Defense Ministry headquarters in the 'Kiriya' complex Saturday evening as part of a peace demonstration organized by "Peace Now" and the "Peace Coalition" groups. The marchers demonstrated against Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and the IDF's presence in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Demonstrators carried placards reading "Get out of the territories save the nation", "Stop the occupation", and " No to an unnecessary war". Young theologians explore interfaith dialogue Jordan Times 9/19/2003 AQABA (JT) —- As part of the Ecumenical Forum for Young Theologians study tour that is being held in the region, HRH Princess Basma met with a group of scholars here Wednesday. The tour is intended as a place to examine sources of dialogue between Christians, Muslims and Jews, as well as to observe opportunities for dialogue between Palestinians and Israelis on a political level. The tour centres on grassroots discussions with varied interest groups. Hamas Popularity Increases Despite Hounding by Israel Palestine Chronicle 9/20/2003 OCCUPIED JERUSALEM - A Palestinian opinion survey released yesterday, Thursday, September 18, showed that Hamas popularity increased considerably lately following an Israeli campaign of assassinations targeting the movement’s political leaders and activists. The poll, conducted by the National Najha University in Nablus, showed that more than 26% of Palestinians supported Hamas. Both Hamas and its junior sister the Islamic Jihad group enjoyed the support of over 30% of Palestinians. Jews and Arabs to 'break the ice' in joint polar trek The Independent 9/21/2003 Six men and two women sailed out of the Tel Aviv marina yesterday on a trial run for an extraordinary joint Israeli-Palestinian expedition to Antarctica. On 1 January four Israelis and four Palestinians will set off on the real thing: a 35-day voyage from Patagonia in southern Chile to Antarctica, where they aim to scale and name an unclimbed peak. Named "Breaking the Ice", the expedition enjoys the blessing of Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General, the Dalai Lama and Shimon Peres, Israel's former prime minister who this weekend celebrates his 80th birthday. Crowds march for Arafat at Mieh Mieh Daily Star 9/20/2003 “Let the Earth burst into flames, we will maintain the intifada!” and “Despite the embargo, despite the fire, Abu Ammar will resist!” cried some 3,000 Palestinians during a demonstration held in protest against US President George W. Bush’s call on the Palestinians to oust Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. The demonstration, which started from the Mieh Mieh refugee camp’s mosque on Friday at the request of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, was preceded by top Palestinian officials, including the chairman of the board of directors of the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA), Ziad Abdel-Fattah. Palestinian journalist argues for one state Electronic Intifada/The Phoenix 9/19/2003 Students packed the Scheuer room on Monday to hear Palestinian journalist Ali Abunimah argue for a one-state solution to the beleaguered Middle East peace process. Abunimah said he regretted the current media focus on whether killing Arafat was legitimate rather than how to handle the “separation wall” proposed by many Israelis. He supplemented his presentation with slides from his Web site, The Electronic Intifada. Abunimah said he did not believe the conflict could be traced back to an individual or side. “If you take group A and group B and put them in one space, and group A has all the advantages — economic, military, social —and group B has none, there will be conflict. That is true everywhere in the world,” he said. UN to sponsor art competition with South Lebanon as theme Daily Star 9/20/2003 The personal representative of UN secretary-general in Southern Lebanon, Staffan de Mistura, started an initiative on Friday to develop and encourage introduction to the historical, cultural and environmental aspects of the South. Speaking during a joint press conference with Information Minister Michel Samaha on the occasion of Peace Day, De Mistura said that the UN will stage an art competition in October.

International..

Europeans fail to end Iranian nuclear crisis The Guardian 9/20/2003 Tehran rejects offer of technology cooperation -- Britain, France and Germany have made an unsuccessful attempt to encourage Iran to comply with the International Atomic Energy Agency rules and curb its nuclear ambitions by offering to share their nuclear technology. The incentive was intended to persuade Iran to accept tougher nuclear inspections and to halt its uranium enrichment programme. It was offered despite strong objections by the US, according to a Reuters news agency report yesterday. Iran's lukewarm reaction served to unite the US and European governments behind the IAEA's tough resolution last week, which requires Iran to prove that it has no-nuclear weapons programme by October 31. Israel A "Member," Iraq A "Guest" And Palestine An "Observer" In Dubai 2003 Al-Hayat 9/20/2003 Iraq is the main subject to be discussed by the "debate program" in Dubai today, announcing the opening of the activities of the Dubai 2003 conference in which 17.000 delegates from 184 countries will take part in order to discuss the international economy problems and the potential solutions until next Thursday. Three main officials in the World Bank will present in a press conference today an explanation of the estimation of Iraqi needs launched by the World Bank and a group of international donors.....The situation in the Palestinian territories will be discussed in a media session held by the Monetary Fund in the afternoon, to which the Palestinian delegation in its quality as representative of the Palestinian Authority will participate as an "observer". Berlusconi to receive ADL's Distinguished Statesman Award Jerusalem Post 9/18/2003 The Anti-Defamation League is giving Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi its Distinguished Statesman Award next week, despite controversy over the Italian leader's recent comment that Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini never killed anyone. Natan Sharansky Gets Pie in Face from JATO's Abe Greenhouse Miftah/Jews for a Free Palestine 9/20/2003 New Brunswick, September 18th: Last night, Natan Sharansky, Minister without Portfolio in the Israeli Government, was scheduled to speak at Rutgers University as part of Rutgers Hillel's "Israel Inspires" campaign. A member of the right-wing Likud party, Sharansky is known for his opposition to the internationally-backed Roadmap to Peace, and for approving the construction of more than 800 illegal settlement units in the West Bank, in violation of Israel's obligations under the Roadmap. Sharansky's appearance drew protests from a wide variety of individuals and organizations, and one Jewish student is accused of throwing a pie at the Minister before being tackled and assaulted by members of Sharansky's security team. Holocaust Insurance Claims Commission cost 60% more than it raised Globes 9/18/2003 The International Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance Claims has received 54,000 claims; only 2,600 claimants have received offers of payment. -- The International Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance Claims (ICHEIC) has cost $56 million to date, while only $35 million was paid out to heirs commission chairman Lawrence Eagleburger told a US House of Representatives hearing on Tuesday. U.S. official: Iran can arm missiles with bio-warheads Ha'aretz 9/19/2003 WASHINGTON - Iran has the capability of arming ballistic missiles with biological warheads, Paula DeSutter, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Verification and Compliance, told Congress on Wednesday. This is the first time that an official claim of Iran's ability to launch biological warheads has been made. Mideast countries told to liberalize economies IMF claims reform will spur growth Daily Star 9/20/2003 WASHINGTON: Countries in the Middle East need to adopt extensive free-market economic policies to liberalize their businesses and trade and to cut down on official expenditure if they want to spur growth and create jobs for their burgeoning populations, say the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. The new dose of liberal economic advice came in a series of reports and conferences on the region ahead of the annual meeting of the IMF and the World Bank in Dubai on Sept. 19-22, their first in an Arab state....But some independent analysts say the two institutions, often blamed for forcing liberal economic policies on unprepared developing markets across the globe, may be going too fast and giving too much advice in the area. Arab media should put Palestine 1st Daily Star 9/20/2003 Conference wants unified terms - Participants were invited to convene in Damascus for next year’s gathering -- The final statement of the Second Arab and Islamic Media National Conference to Support the Palestinian People called on the Arab and Islamic media to “make the Palestinian cause and the conflict with the Israeli enemy a top priority … even at the expense of other local and regional concerns.” The statement recommended the use of the term “resistance … as a description of the struggle” instead of the word “terrorism” used by the Israeli media. Aounists angered by treason accusation Daily Star 9/20/2003 But Congress debate upsets fringe support -- Leftist groups and supporters of General Michel Aoun expressed their discontent on Friday with what they said was the government’s attempt to defame the former army commander by accusing him of treason. For its part, the leftist opposition fell short of supporting “Aoun’s style,” saying that they knew beforehand that Aoun would commit such a blunder. “We respect his right to express his opinion and we agree on much of what he said, but we don’t think that the US Congress is the right place for such debates,” said Omar Harqous, from the Forces of Reform and Democracy, a group of dissidents expelled from the Lebanese Communist Party. FPM founder could face charges Comments may have gone too far Daily Star 9/20/2003 Former army commander General Michel Aoun’s testimony against Syria in Washington on Wednesday could prompt the authorities to initiate judicial measures against the exiled opposition leader and possibly issue an arrest warrant for him. Official sources said authorities will examine Aoun’s testimony in depth in the next few days to decide whether to issue an arrest warrant for him or possibly try him in absentia. Aoun, speaking before the US House of Representatives’ Sub-Committee on International Relations, denounced Syria’s “continuous occupation” of Lebanon. He said Syria was jeopardizing the democratic system in Lebanon, and described local politicians as Damascus’ “puppets.” Saudis dismiss 'nuke' report BBC 9/19/2003 Saudi Arabia has strongly denied a report in a British newspaper which said that it was considering acquiring nuclear weapons. "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is not considering acquiring a nuclear bomb or nuclear weapons of any kind," the Saudi Embassy in London said in a statement. "There is no atomic energy programme in any part of the kingdom and neither is one being considered," the statement said. Syrians tired of living in US crosshairs Daily Star 9/20/2003 DAMASCUS: Syrians could be forgiven for experiencing an alarming sense of deja vu in the past few days. Once again the administration of US President George W. Bush has been accusing an Arab country of developing weapons of mass destruction and promoting terrorism, backing the accusations with not-so-veiled threats of action....Joining Bolton and Aoun in the congressional debate were Daniel Pipes, a pro-Israel analyst whose recent appointment to the US Institute of Peace provoked an outcry, and Mark Ginsburg, a former American ambassador to Morocco whose brother Mike is the security coordinator of Misgav Am kibbutz on Israel’s border with Lebanon, and was a long-time supporter of Israel’s occupation of South Lebanon. New Syrian cabinet asked to implement clear plan of action Middle East Online 9/19/2003 Economists and businessmen Friday called on new Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Naji Otri to implement a "precise" action plan of administrative and economic reform to rescue the beleaguered state-run economy. A new cabinet was formed Thursday, but despite expectations that it will break new ground, many key posts remained firmly in the hands of veteran members of the ruling Baath party.

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