PLC speaker: Arafat signs law on Jerusalem as future capital
Ha'aretz, October 6, 2002
RAMALLAH - Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat signed a law Saturday formally declaring Jerusalem to be the capital of a future independent Palestinian state, said the speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council Abu Ala (Ahmed Qureia) said.

Israeli Settlers Open Fire at Palestinians Harvesting Olive, Gaza Strip Sealed Off
Islam Online, October 6, 2002
JENIN, West Bank, October 6 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - A Palestinian taxi-driver, shot by Israeli troops for venturing out during a curfew in the northern West Bank town of Jenin, died of his wounds Sunday, October 6.

Settlers kill Palestinian in West Bank; Islamic Jihad activist shot dead in Jenin
Al-Bawaba, October 6, 2002
Palestinians reported Sunday that a Palestinian man was shot and killed by settlers in a dispute over an olive grove near the village of Akrabe in the West Bank.

Two W. Bank youths killed as protestors challenge curfews
Ha'aretz, October 6, 2002
Two Palestinian boys, both aged 15, were killed over the weekend and 10 others were injured in clashes involving demonstrators, armed gunmen and Israel Defense Forces troops trying to enforce curfews in the West Bank.

Arafat names Jerusalem as capital
BBC, October 6, 2002
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has signed into law a nearly two-year-old bill naming Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital.

Likud holds key poll tomorrow
Ha'aretz, October 6, 2002 
Some 305,000 Likud members will elect 2,500 delegates to the party convention and representatives for branch councils tomorrow, in the last round of election procedures before the leadership showdown between Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Benjamin Netanyahu. Both Sharon and Netanyahu consider tomorrow's elections extremely important since they are expected to reflect the balance of power between the two contenders.

Scramble to carve up Iraqi oil reserves lies behind US diplomacy
The Observer, Sunday October 6, 2002
Manoeuvres shaped by horsetrading between America, Russia and France over control of untapped oilfields: Oil is emerging as the key factor in US attempts to secure the support of Russia and France for military action against Iraq, according to an Observer investigation.

Holy deadlock
Ha'aretz, October 6, 2002
New studies hint the Temple Mount issue may prove more difficult to resolve than the refugee question: Last Friday, the 27th day in the month of Rajab, according to the Muslim calendar, was marked by the Islamic world as the day on which the Prophet Mohammed went on his miraculous Night Journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and then ascended to heaven - the events of al-isra al-miraj.

Children of Nablus defy deadly curfew to return to school
The Independent, October 5, 2002
Children on their way to school walked nervously past the gun-barrel of a tank. Schoolbags over their shoulders, they threaded their way around piles of rubble put up by the soldiers to block the road.

Palestinians killed in separate clashes with Israelis
ABC News, October 6, 2002
A Palestinian gunman was shot dead when clashes erupted between Israeli forces and armed Palestinians in the refugee camp of Jenin in the northern West Bank, Palestinian medics said.

Another clash, more maneuvering in Mideast
Miami Herald, October 6, 2002
NABLUS, West Bank - (AP) -- Israeli troops killed a Palestinian youth during clashes Saturday in the West Bank's most populous city, the fifth such death in two weeks. Israel's military intelligence chief, meanwhile, said Yasser Arafat's supporters are trying to prevent terror attacks inside Israel.

EU's Solana to meet Ben-Eliezer, Peres in fresh peace push
Ha'aretz, October 6, 2002
The European Union Security Chief Javier Solana will meet Sunday with Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Defense Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, Israel Radio reported.

Trial of Silwan terror cell to begin in Jerusalem
Ha'aretz, October 6, 2002
The trial of the four members of the Hamas terror cell from Silwan opens Sunday in the Jerusalem District Court.

MI Chief: No Iraqi missiles are deployed against Israel
Ha'aretz, October 6, 2002
The head of IDF Military Intelligence yesterday said Iraq has not deployed any missiles with a range to target Israel and it is unlikely it will do so any time soon. "To the best of our knowledge, there are no missiles in western Iraq nor are there plans to deploy them there in the near future," Farkash said.

African workers in Israel propose three-year moratorium on deportations
Ha'aretz, October 6, 2002
Leaders of the African workers community in Israel have formally requested a moratorium on deportations from the prime minister and interior minister in exchange for the orderly departure of all community members within three years.

Bush summons PM for talks on Iraq
Ha'aretz, October 6, 2002
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will meet U.S. President George Bush at the White House on October 16. In a meeting to be dominated by the planned U.S. attack to oust Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, Sharon will be told the Americans want Israel to keep a low profile and stay out of the war.

Peres to renew contacts with Palestinians under Quartet's baton
Ha'aretz, October 6, 2002
Under the shadow of the impending war in Iraq, diplomatic efforts are afoot to ease tensions between Israel and the Palestinians.

Bush aide: US will reunify Iraq
Jerusalem Post, October 6, 2002
In a possible preview of US President George W. Bush's pivotal Monday night address to the nation on Iraq, one of his senior advisers Saturday detailed a US strategy for liberating the Iraqi people from Saddam Hussein, saying the US will "reunify Iraq" and help establish a representative democracy there in the long term.

PLC to discuss reform, US legislation on Jerusalem
Jerusalem Post, October 6, 2002
The Palestinian Legislative Council will meet Sunday to discuss US legislation recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital, a move that has been strongly condemned by Palestinians.

Bush administration plans to prosecute Saddam for ''war crimes''; Experts: U.S. attack may lead to Iraqi coup
Al-Bawaba, October 6, 2002
The Bush administration is laying the groundwork for prosecuting Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and a "dirty dozen" other officials for genocide, "ethnic cleansing," mass executions, rape and other crimes against humanity, The LA Times reported on Sunday.

Sharon to ministers: Stop talking about U.S. attack on Iraq; Israel to use new missile shield in case of Scud attack
Al-Bawaba, October 6, 2002
At Sunday morning's cabinet meeting, Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told his ministers to stop talking about the possible upcoming U.S. attack on Iraq.

Kingdom, Morocco slam US move on Jerusalem
Arab News, October 6, 2002
RIYADH, 6 October — Saudi Arabia and Morocco yesterday reaffirmed their stand on the issue of occupied Jerusalem and expressed concern over a recent US bill that recognized the city as Israel’s capital.

Mecca Cola to finance Palestinian charity works
Arabic News, October 6, 2002
A new soft drink under the name Mecca Cola will be launched in France in November, with part of the profit to be used for financing the Palestinian charity (Purely Humanitarian), according to the owner of the project Tawfiq Mathlouthi.

Israel Set to Use New Missile Shield to Counter Scuds
New York Times, October 6, 2002
ALMACHIM AIR FORCE BASE, Israel — Israel has deployed an operational missile defense and is ready to use it to protect Tel Aviv and other major population centers if they come under fire from Iraq's arsenal of Scud missiles.

UK's Straw to tour Mideast to seek Iraq support
Macon Telegraph, October 6, 2002
LONDON - British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw will make a whistle-stop trip to Iran, Jordan, Kuwait and Egypt this week to try to gather support for possible action against Iraq, officials said Sunday.

Panel questions treatment of Palestinian children
Chicago Tribune, October 6, 2002
ISRAEL -- UN human-rights experts said Friday in Geneva that they were concerned about Israeli treatment of Palestinian children in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Officials hope Israel will eventually join JSF project
Globes, October 6, 2002
The Joint Strike Fighter is considered "a pillar of Israel's national security": Senior Israeli officials in Washington are optimistic about Israel's chances of joining the US Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program.

Even here, Saddam is good for a laugh
The Independent, October 6, 2002
[Baghdad] - The storyline is of hapless ordinary citizens having to pay endless bribes to a kleptocracy, while courtesans use high official connections to enjoy the good life. The inhabitants of this crumbling society are finally wiped away in a nuclear attack.

UMCE rejects Palestinian motion to oust Israel
Globes, October 6, 2002 
The Union of Mediterranean Confederations of Enterprises (UMCE) rejected a motion by the Palestinian Authority (PA) to oust Israel from the organization. Both Israel and the PA are members.

Beirut Stories
The Independent, October 6, 2002
Robert Fisk on a one-man attempt to bring rugby league to Lebanon and, years after the civil war, the blossoming of the capital's Corniche: Is rugby another form of war? Danny Kazandjian, special agent for the Rugby League International Federation, suspects that is what some Lebanese think.

American Nationwide “Pledge of Resistance” Against U.S. Government Aggressions
Islam Online, October 6, 2002
CENTRAL PARK, New York, October 6 (IslamOnline) - By 9:30 A.M. Sunday morning, thousands of civil rights supporters, anti-war activists and famous personalities had gathered on the East Meadow of New York’s famous Central Park to send a unified and clear message to U.S. President George W. Bush.

Iraq Opens Door to New UN Resolution Ahead of Arms Regime Debate
Islam Online, October 6, 2002
NEW YORK, October 6 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Iraq Sunday, October 6, opened the door to a new UN Security Council resolution on arms inspections, as the world body prepared for a week of bargaining after a U.S. warning that war may already be unavoidable.

Arafat Signs Law on Jerusalem As Future Capital of Palestine
Islam Online, October 6, 2002
OCCUPIED RAMALLAH, October 6 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Palestinian President Yasser Arafat signed Saturday, October 5, a law formally declaring Jerusalem to be the capital of a future independent Palestinian state, said Palestinian Legislative Council Speaker Ahmed Qorei (Abu Alaa).

Report: Israeli general sees war threat looming with Hizbullah, Syria
Jerusalem Post, October 6, 2002
Hizbullah operatives, with the help of Iranian diplomats, have been making surveillance tapes of diplomatic installations in Europe, South America, and Southeast Asia, according to an article in The New Yorker that hits newsstands Monday.

Former national security seeks 'unilateral disengagement' from Palestinians
Jerusalem Post, October 6, 2002
In his first public remarks since completing his term as Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's national security adviser, Uzi Dayan has called on Israel to come up with a diplomatic initiative and plan a defensible border.

Israelis, Palestinians meet at interfaith retreat
Jerusalem Post, October 6, 2002
Israelis and Palestinians got together and talked over the weekend at a three-day interfaith retreat in Tantur, on the border between Gilo and Bethlehem. Some 50 Muslims and Jews, in addition to a handful of Christians, participated in talks they described as hopeful but difficult.

Palestine Democratic Party unveils its vision for a secular state
Jerusalem Post, October 6, 2002
The new Palestine Democratic Party has begun its election campaign on a secular and pro-democracy platform, according to party founder Bassam Abu Sharif. Sharif serves as a special advisor to Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat.

PA embassy in Uzbekistan stealing cars, counterfeiting cash
Jerusalem Post, October 6, 2002
The Palestinian Authority's embassy in Uzbekistan is involved in criminal activities, including car thefts and counterfeiting, Dr. Nazih Khatatbeh, a senior official of the PA Culture Ministry, said.

Red Cross head here on humanitarian visit
Jerusalem Post, October 6, 2002
The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) arrived in Israel Saturday night, the first such visit in seven years. Jakob Kellenberger is here from Geneva to "remind all sides of their obligation to respect the provisions and principles of International Humanitarian Law," the ICRC said in a statement.

Mideast peacemaker memorialized at UN
Jerusalem Post, October 6, 2002
Seeds of Peace founder John Wallach, who died two months ago, was honored Thursday night at a ceremony held at UN headquarters that brought Arab and Israeli leaders and children together in a joint call for reconciliation.

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