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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..

2 soldiers, Palestinian hurt in suicide attack in West Bank Ha'aretz 10/9/2003 Two Israel Defense Forces soldiers and a Palestinian were wounded Thursday when a female suicide bomber detonated her explosives at a military roadblock close to the West Bank city of Tul Karm. One of the soldiers sustained moderate to serious wounds and the second soldier and the Palestinian were lightly hurt in the blast at the checkpoint where Palestinians apply for humanitarian permits to cross roadblocks.The Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades,which is aligned to Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement, claimed responsibility in a phone call to the Associated Press. Israeli Troops Go Berserk In Jenin City and Its Refugee Camp International Press Center 10/9/2003 JENIN, Palestine, October9 ,2003, (IPC + Agencies)-- The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) remained imposing a strict curfew on Jenin City and its refugee camp for the fifth consecutive day, IPC Correspondent said.Within the last two days, the IOF arrested at least 60 Palestinians, mostly are below18 -year old, and led them to an unknown destination, Palestinian sources confirmed.Hundreds of the Israeli soldiers ran amok, storming the Palestinian houses allover Jenin City and its camp, forcing the civilians out in the open air, fully vetted them, oppressively humiliated and interrogated them.... IPC correspondent reported that the Israeli occupation forces bulldozed four dunums west of Hosan Village in Al Mashahed area of Bethlehem. The razed land was cultivated by olive trees, adjacent to the bypass settlement road No. 60 of the Jewish colony of “Bitar Elite”, built on the Palestinian lands of Hosan, Nahlin, and Foukeen villages. News Alert: Israeli Occupation Forces Close Ramallah-Birzeit Road Birzeit University 10/9/2003 Two students shot --- On Wednesday, October 8, 2003, Israeli occupation forces closed off the Ramallah-Birzeit road, prohibiting even pedestrians from crossing the kilometer-long checkpoint situated near the village of Surda. Since the majority of staff and students live in Ramallah, they were denied access to the University. The University was forced to cancel classes and all other activities. At the same time, the Israeli army placed a curfew on Birzeit town from the early hours of the morning until the afternoon, prohibiting all residents of the town from leaving their homes...In one incident, Israeli soldiers forced 15 students to clean up one of the streets from rocks and debris, taking their identification cards from them. After the students had completed the task, the Israeli soldiers returned their ID cards and as they were returning to their homes, a second group of soldiers arrived on the scene and began randomly shooting at the students in clear sight of the first group of soldiers. Unprecedented Closure over the Entire West Bank International Middle East Media Center 10/9/2003 Israel [imposed] a 4 days total closure of all West Bank areas, prohibiting vehicles with WB license plates to travel on West bank roads that is under Israeli security. Defense ministry is planning to call up four battalions of reservists to tighten security measures during the Sukkot holiday.The imposed closure would paralyze life and mobility in Palestinian areas and would confine residents to their towns and villages with no access to work or education.According to local sources dozens of extra military check posts were erected between West Bank cities and towns, prohibiting residents from moving out or arriving back to their home towns. Segregationist fence seizes 85% of Palestinian village lands Palestinian Information Center 10/9/2003 Nablus - Aqraba municipality has appealed for international intervention to save the village from the Zionist segregationist fence that would confiscate 85% of the village lands.Chairman of the municipal council of the West Bank’s village, Ghaleb Mayadma, has said that a few days ago one of the foreign volunteers presented the council with a map outlining the route of the Zionist segregationist fence south of Nablus.The route indicated that most of the village cultivated lands and property would be behind that racist fence, Mayadma explained, warning that colossal economic losses would befall the village and its inhabitants. Curfew imposed on refugee camp Palestinian Information Center 10/9/2003 Nablus - Zionist enemy forces clamped a curfew at dawn today on the Ein refugee camp near the West Bank city of Nablus and launched a combing operation.Zionist troops embarked on a house-to-house search in all areas of the refugee camp amidst intensified firing in all directions and sounds of explosions.Apache helicopters fired a number of missiles hitting the camp’s main roundabout spreading fear in lines of the children. Palestinian Water Losses Amounts to $ 17Million International Press Center 10/9/2003 Over three years since the Al Aqsa Intifada broke out from September29 , 2000 till August31 ,2003 , the Palestinian direct losses in the water sector due to Israeli violations amounted to nearly $16. 5million in Gaza Strip and nearly $800, 000in the West Bank. These results were revealed in a workshop organized by the State Information Service (SIS) in Gaza....Researchers revealed that the Israeli occupation, which consumes % 80of the Palestinian water resources and dominates the three main water basins in Palestine has tried, since the creation of Israel in1948 , to control water resources, in parallel with the security maps and borders it has drawn. Israel Launches Military Build-up Along Lebanon, Syria Border Middle East Newsline 10/9/2003 TEL AVIV [MENL] -- Israel's military has launched a build-up along the borders with Lebanon and Syria.Israel's military has sent an additional artillery battery and summoned three battalions for the build-up in the north. The build-up was said to have been the largest in the area since the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon in May 2000. Video: Palestinian olive farmers struggle in Israeli fence's shadow BBC 10/9/2003 Video: Palestinian olive farmers struggle in Israeli fence's shadow Occupation forces search village for wanted activists Palestinian Information Center 10/9/2003 Ramallah - Zionist occupation forces last night imposed house arrest on all villagers in Deir Abu Mishaal village to the west of Ramallah and started a house-to-house search for wanted activists. Local sources said that the occupation troops stormed the village from all directions and imposed a round-the-clock curfew. Israelis add insult to injury with overflights Daily Star 10/9/2003 Planes break sound barrier over beirut as condemnation continues -- Israel’s weekend air attack on an alleged Palestinian training camp near Damascus drew further condemnation Wednesday as Israeli warplanes flew over Lebanon, breaking the sound barrier in some areas, including the capital. The denunciation was coupled with calls for the international community to force Israel to abide by a just and comprehensive peace. Final Status in the Shape of a Wall By Catherine Cook, Middle East Report 9/3/2003 Around the city of Qalqilya, Israel's "security fence" is a 25-foot concrete wall crowned by watchtowers at regular intervals. In other areas, such as near the village of Falamiyya, it is a complex arrangement of structures that together form a formidable barrier. The "fence" begins in the east with a tangle of concertina wire in front of a trench between six and 13 feet deep. Behind the trench runs an unpaved military road, a chain link fence topped by barbed wire and then a paved military road. According to some reports, the fence is electrified in some places. Combined, these structures stretch across 200 to 330 feet. In some places, a second barbed wire fence bristles on the western side of the paved road. In others, the entirety of the barrier consists of one military road and a barbed wire fence. Thermal imaging cameras, radar-equipped observation towers and touch-sensitive pads have been installed, or soon will be, along much of the wall. Officially, Israel argues that the wall is being constructed for security reasons, but the structure's meandering path betrays underlying territorial ambitions. In places, the barrier dips over three miles into the West Bank, leaving on the "Israeli" side settlements, fertile Palestinian land and valuable water resources. While the form of the wall varies, everywhere its impact is to confiscate more Palestinian land, isolate Palestinian communities from one another and sap their social and economic viability. This much is well-documented. Less heavily covered are the links between the wall's humanitarian consequences and political developments. Though the wall is not mentioned in the US-sponsored "road map," it intrudes upon each of the main issues to be negotiated during the road map's final phase -- the status of settlements and Jerusalem, the borders between Israel and Palestine, and the fate of Palestinian refugees.0 Suicide Bomber Injures Two in West Bank The Guardian 10/9/2003 RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) - In a setback for the new Palestinian prime minister, legislators postponed a vote on his Cabinet amid bitter disputes Thursday over its composition and size. In the West Bank, a suicide bomber detonated explosives near an Israeli army office where Palestinians apply for permits to cross roadblocks, the army said.The explosion killed the attacker, seriously wounded one Israeli and slightly wounded another Israeli and one Palestinian, paramedics said. Israelis prepare to mobilize thousands of troops Daily Star 10/9/2003 Qorei optimistic about prospects for cease-fire -- Israel was set Wednesday to mobilize thousands of troops to be deployed to the West Bank and Gaza after a wave of alerts that Palestinian militants were planning new attacks, as the new Palestinian prime minister insisted he can work with the Israeli government and secure a cease-fire. “In view of the situation, Israel has reinforced its defensive positions (in the West Bank) to prevent attacks,” a source told AFP. IDF reserve batallions to boost seam line defenses Ha'aretz 10/9/2003 The Israel Defense Forces plans to call up four battalions of reservists after next week's Sukkot holiday in order to beef up the defense of the seam line between Israel and the West Bank. ...The reservists to be called up next week will replace the regular units whose training exercises were aborted this week so that they could be sent to the territories following a sharp rise in the number of warnings of terror attacks. Three of the battalions will be sent to the seam area in the Jenin, Tul Karm, Qalqilyah and Ramallah regions, while the fourth will be sent to Gaza. News Briefs: Two Medical Teams in Ramallah to Check on Arafat, Israel arrests claimed Hamas cell in Jerusalem International Middle East Media Center 10/9/2003 According to local sources, two medical teams from Jordan and Egypt arrived Wednesday evening to Ramallah to evaluate the health condition and supervise the treatment of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.... Israeli Military sources revealed the arrest of three Palestinians claimed to be Hamas activists accused by the Israeli security forces to be involved in series of bombing attacks inside Israel... Israeli Troops Pour into West Bank, Palestinian Territory Sealed off Palestine Media Center 10/9/2003 Israel Rebuffs PM Qurei’s Renewed Truce Offer -- Ahead of a Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) session scheduled to convene in the West Bank city of Ramallah at 12:00 Thursday for a vote of confidence on Prime Minister Ahmad Qurei’s cabinet, the Israeli government ruled out a truce proposal which the Palestinian premier renewed on Wednesday, sealed off Palestinian Territory and cordoned off and imposed curfews on Palestinian towns until October 22, while it sent more troops to the West Bank and Gaza Strip and issued orders to mobilize more reserve soldiers.Palestinian Prime Minister Qurei, who was sworn in with an 8-member emergency cabinet on Tuesday, renewed calls for progress on the US-backed peace “roadmap”. Zionist forces arrest wife of wanted activist Palestinian Information Center 10/9/2003 Jenin - Zionist occupation forces last night arrested Kamilya Al-Saadi wife of the wanted Islamic Jihad activist Majdi Obeidi in the West Bank city of Jenin.The Zionist troops took away Kamilya, a mother of three children, to the Salem military camp near Jenin. Her husband Obeidi is affiliated with the Quds Brigades the military wing of the Islamic Jihad Movement.In a nearby village, the soldiers imposed a curfew and asked all males above 16 years old to gather at the Arbona village school. Three Zionist soldiers wounded in resistance ambush Palestinian Information Center 10/9/2003 Nablus - Three Zionist soldiers were seriously wounded in a Palestinian resistance ambush in the town of Hawwara to the south of the West Bank city of Nablus last night.An army spokesman said that an unknown number of Palestinian armed men opened fire at the military patrol near the Beita crossing.He acknowledged that three soldiers were wounded in the ensuing exchange of fire two of them in critical condition and the third suffering medium wounds. Two Israeli Soldiers Injured In Palestinian Bombing Islam Online 10/9/2003 OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, October 9 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Few hours after Israeli occupation forces pushed into the West Bank and detained 15 Palestinians, a Palestinian blew himself up Thursday, October9 , near an Israeli military checkpoint in Tulkarem, wounding two Israeli soldiers, one seriously.Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an armed offshoot of Fatah, claimed responsibility for the bombing in a telephone call to Agence France-Presse (AFP) in the town of Jenin.

Diplomacy..

US set to tighten Syria sanctions BBC 10/9/2003 The United States has moved closer to imposing new sanctions on Syria, after a key congressional committee voted to punish Damascus for its allegedly supporting terrorism.The House of Representatives' International Relations Committee voted 33-2 in favour of adding further trade sanctions to those already in force against Syria. Syria Criticizes Proposed U.S. Sanctions The Guardian 10/9/2003 DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) - Syria through its official media Thursday criticized the United States' preliminary approval of a bill authorizing sanctions against it, saying the legislation was the work of ``ultra-extremists.''The House International Relations Committee approved the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act on Wednesday, which would give the president the right to impose a variety of sanctions on Syria. EU: Israel must stop building fence beyond Green Line border Ha'aretz 10/9/2003 BRUSSELS - The European Union said Thursday that Israel must respect international law in its response to Palestinian violence and stop building the separation fence on West Bank territory beyond its 1967 Green Line border. In a gloomy report to the European Parliament, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said there was a real danger the Israeli-Palestinian crisis could degenerate into a regional conflict after last weekend's Israeli air strike on Syria."The seriousness of the situation cannot be disguised, it's getting increasingly difficult," he said. Arabs, E.U. Blast U.S. Bill On Syria Sanctions Islam Online 10/9/2003 WASHINGTON, October 9 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - While Israel welcomed, the Arab League on Thursday, October9 , joined the E.U. in blasting a congressional bill to impose sanctions against Syria as a further escalation of the already volatile situation in the Middle East.Such a decision would "increase tension in the region, make chances for peace more remote and block any serious dialogue between the U.S. and Syria," reported Agence France-Presse (AFP) quoting a statement by the Arab League. Bush Stands Firmly Behind Sharon, EU Demands Measures Consistent With International Law International Middle East Media Center 10/9/2003 While U.S. president George Bush stood firmly backing Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in attacking Syria and in measures against Palestinians, saying that, in similar situations, America would have done the same. The EU demanded for measures to be taken to be consistent with International Law. Israeli minister calls for incinerating Damascus, Beirut Information Clearing House 10/8/2003 Jerusalem: 8 October, 2003 (IAP News) An Israeli cabinet minister said Wednesday that Israel should carry out devastating air strikes against Syria an Lebanon if Palestinian resistance groups continued to fight Israel's colonialist occupation. The minister, Avigdor Lieberman, said Israel should "incinerate Beirut and Damascus" in retaliation for resistance attacks in the West Bank. Jordan approves Hezbollah prisoner swap Ha'aretz 10/9/2003 Jordan has approved the prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hezbollah that includes the release of Jordanian prisoners held by Israel, according to a report quoting Hezbollah sources that appeared in Al Bayan, a United Arab Emirates newspaper. Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah's demand that the deal include Jordanians has become a headache for both Israel and Jordan. Freeing them would mean that Hezbollah is more effective than Jordan when it comes to dealing with Israel, with which Jordan has a peace agreement. Kingdom Urges UN to Rein in Israel Arab News 10/9/2003 JEDDAH, 9 October 2003 — Saudi Arabia yesterday urged the UN Security Council to take firm steps to stop Israel’s provocative acts in the region.“This has become a real test for the council to prove its credibility,” said Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal.Addressing a press conference in Riyadh, he urged the Quartet countries, which includes the United States, to take practical measures to implement the road map including deployment of international peacekeeping forces in occupied Palestinian territories. Lebanon frets new crisis as Israel flexes its muscles Daily Star 10/9/2003 Jewish state has green light from US to lean on Syria -- BEIRUT: Lebanon braced for another possible Arab-Israeli war by proxy on its soil Wednesday as Washington moved closer to imposing political and economic sanctions on Damascus for alleged ties to Lebanese and Palestinian factions blocking Middle East peace. Israel, buoyed by the mounting public support from the United States, sent troop reinforcements to the Lebanese border, and its fighter jets rattled Beirut and other cities with supersonic overflights. Video: "The bill is almost certain to pass into law" BBC 10/9/2003 The BBC's Peter Greste - "The [Syrian Accountability Act] is almost certain to pass into law" Larsen urges restraint in clashes across border Daily Star 10/9/2003 UN coordinator says all parties should use diplomatic means -- The UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process urged Wednesday all parties involved in a recent flare-up across the Lebanese-Israeli border and Israel’s air raid inside Syria to practice self-restraint to avoid further deterioration. Terje Roed-Larsen, after a meeting with President Emile Lahoud at Baabda Palace called on “all parties involved in the conflicts to abstain from any further action that would increase the already high level of tension in the region and to work exclusively through diplomatic means.” Syria, Israel and the US The Guardian 10/9/2003 Following Israel's air strike in Syrian territory last weekend, the Bush administration has given the green light for a new bill to impose economic sanctions on Syria. Simon Jeffery explains what lies behind the current conflict. Court rules that gag order must be lifted on Tennenbaum case Ha'aretz 10/9/2003 The Tel Aviv District Court ruled Thursday that the circumstances surrounding the Hezbollah kidnapping of businessman Elhanan Tennenbaum in Lebanon must be released to the public. The court was hearing a request by Haaretz and Channel 10 that a gag order on information about the incident be lifted. However, no information will be released before Monday, October 13 - the final date on which the Tennenbaum family can appeal the decision. Middle East nations must stop cycle of violence - UN envoy ReliefWeb 10/8/2003 The senior United Nations envoy for the Middle East, Terje Roed-Larsen, said today that the situation between Israel and its neighbours, Syria and Lebanon, has deteriorated sharply in the last few days and that the recent cycle of attacks would lead only to more violence.On Sunday Israeli forces crossed Lebanese airspace and struck an area that Israel said was a training-camp for militants deep inside Syria as retaliation for a suicide bombing in Israel on Saturday. An assault on Monday from Lebanese territory across the Blue Line marking the Israeli line of withdrawal killed an Israeli soldier. Hamas accounts freeze an 'administrative oversight' — Touqan Jordan Times 10/9/2003 AMMAN — Central Bank Governor Umaya Touqan's remarks to deputies describing the freeze of four Hamas officials' accounts as an “administrative and technical oversight,” were regarded as unconvincing by certain MPs, while others said it was a political decision.

Human Rights..

IDF to renew expulsion for terrorists' families, accomplices Ha'aretz 10/9/2003 As part of its war against Islamic terror groups, the Israel Defense Forces is reverting to an earlier tactic - the expulsion of terrorists' family members and accomplices from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip. According to security sources, there has been a discussion since the beginning of the week about expelling some 25 wanted men arrested by the IDF. Most of them are leaders of Islamic Jihad in the Jenin area. This organization took responsibility for last week's bombing in the Maxim restaurantin Haifa in which 19 Israelis lost their lives. Israel wants report on food situation in territories retracted Ha'aretz 10/9/2003 GENEVA - Israel on Thursday demanded the withdrawal of a United Nations report on the food situation in the Palestinian territories, claiming the author is politically biased. Yaakov Levy, Israel's ambassador in Geneva, wrote to the chairwoman of the U.N. Human Rights Commission demanding that Jean Ziegler's report be "deemed unfit for presentation" to the commission when it meets in the spring.The move follows an interviewwith Ziegler on French television channel LCI, in which he said he was a member of the board of directors of the Tel Aviv-based Alternative Information Center....Ziegler, a Swiss sociology professor and former lawmaker, is the UN's independent expert on the right to food. He visited Israel and the Palestinian territories in July and later told reporters that the Palestinians had been "reduced to begging" by Israeli security measures. IAF Brigadier: We Received Orders to Kill Palestinian Children International Press Center 10/9/2003 GAZA, October9 , 2003 (IPC + Agencies)-- Yiftah Sepctor, an Israeli air force reserve Brigadier General, has been laid off as a trainer in the air force, because he refused to participate in assassination operations inside the Palestinian territories. The Israeli radio reported on Wednesday that Sepctor was notified with such a decision during a meeting with the Israeli Air Force Commander, Dan Halutz.... ”The Israelis looked at the Palestinian people only via the muzzle of the rifles and the motion of power and the assassinating of the Palestinian activists. Sharon’s’ government would lead the Israelis nowhere,” Spector said. Israeli Authorities Holds Palestinian Child Suffering From Cancer International Press Center 10/9/2003 GAZA, October9 , 2003(IPC + PPS)-- Israeli occupation forces continue to imprison Mohammed Al Senawe,16 , from Al Eizaria Town in occupied east Jerusalem, a press release of the Palestinian Prisoner Society (PPS) said today. Al Senawe was arrested 35 days ago by the Israeli occupation forces. He suffers from lung cancer and blood intermixture.... Al Senawe complained of the lack of medical care offered to him as a patient with cancer. Ministers to weigh EU demands on settlement products Ha'aretz 10/9/2003 Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has called a special meeting this morning with ministers Benjamin Netanyahu, Ehud Olmert and Silvan Shalom over European Union demands that products manufactured in the settlements be labeled as such. The dispute over rules of origin has overshadowed Israel-EU relations for several years. The Europeans say the free trade agreement with them does not cover the settlements, which they say are not in Israel, so taxes must be collected on products from them....According to government sources in Jerusalem, exports from the settlements to EU countries now amount to more than $100 million a year, with the customs being sought by the EU countries in the $6-7 million range. Israel Stepped Up Administrative Detention, Consider Expulsions to Gaza International Middle East Media Center 10/9/2003 Israeli army is considering reverting back to the expulsion of family members and collaborators of West Bank resistance activists, who takes part in military attacks, to the Gaza Strip. At the same time, security stepped up the usage of administrative detention against Palestinian activists, whom security fails to establish enough evidence to bring them to a military court.According to security sources, military and security heads are discussing the expulsion of some 25 family members of resistance activists to Gaza, including the wife of a senior Hamas activist, who was arrested few days ago. MIFTAH to sign cooperation agreement with UNFPA regarding Advocacy for Reproductive Health Project Miftah 10/9/2003 The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of a Global dialogue and Democracy MIFTAH is to sign a cooperation agreement with United Nations Population Fund UNFPA regarding a project for “Advocacy for Reproductive Health”. The project builds on MIFTAH’s Program of Empowerment of Palestinian Leadership that aims at gender equity in Palestinian society.

Economy..

Dockworkers protest as MKs begin ports debate Ha'aretz 10/9/2003 The Knesset has begun debating Thursday the first reading of a government-backed proposal to privatize the port system, in the midst of a port workers' strike that began 10 days ago. The bill, on which Knesset members are set to vote later in the day, is aimed at turning Israel's three seaports into independent government corporations, and is being debated at a special recess meeting.Dockworkers' representativeswere meeting with members of the government Thursday afternoon to try to stop the privatization vote from taking place Thursday, Israel Radio reported. Sharon: No surrender in ports strike Globes 10/9/2003 Prime Minister Ariel Sharon: Governor of the Bank of Israel David Klein should cut the interest rate by 0.5% a month; it's important for the economy. -- ...Sharon directed his ire at Histadrut chairman MK Amir Perez over the ports strike protesting the structural change in the Ports Authority. "I consider the struggle waged by Amir Perez as a very serious matter in times like these." Sharon revealed that following reports about objections to using Port Said in Egypt and Aqaba in Jordan as alternatives to Israel's ports, he contacted the Jordanian government, which "gave immediate orders to allow the unlading and transport of goods from Aqaba. Savings still shrinking Globes 10/9/2003 The public withdrew NIS 4.4 billion from savings plans in January-September. -- The public is continuing to withdraw money from provident funds. The public withdrew NIS 196.8 million from savings instruments in September, including NIS 145.2 million from provident funds and NIS 51.6 million from severance funds. Advanced training funds recorded a net positive accumulation. Net deposits totaled NIS 59.1 million. Initial contacts with Turkey, Gazprom to buy Russian-Turkish piped gas Globes 10/9/2003 Infrastructure Minister Paritzky: We’ll consider laying gas and water pipelines between Israel and Turkey. -- During his visit to Turkey last week, Minister of Infrastructure Joseph Paritzky discussed a plan to import natural gas from Turkey to Israel. Russian gas giant Gazprom has proposed the sale of Russian natural gas, originally designated for Turkey, to Israel. Money laundering watchdog gives Israel all clear Globes 10/9/2003 The OECD Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF) will cease its money laundering monitoring of Israel, FATF's representative informed the Ministry of Justice. The move follows a decision taken at the FATF plenary meeting in Stockholm last week that Israel meets international standards for combating money laundering...FATF is currently preparing regulations to combat the financing of terrorism in cooperation with the IMF and World Bank.

People..

Palestinian-Born Playwright Offers Insight and Hope for the Peace in the Middle East Antiwar.com 10/9/2003 Salam, Shalom Opens in San Francisco -- In a tiny downstairs room in San Francisco, there is a play being performed that, in true theatrical (and San Franciscan) spirit, confronts not one but two hot-button socio-political issues facing the world community today. The somewhat ironically-named New Conservatory Theatre is already known nationally for the frank exploration of homosexual themes present in much of their work. With this new production of Salam, Shalom...A Tale of Passion, the theatre company takes on an entirely new explosive topic: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Ma'ariv journalist fired for using Hitler quotes in column Ha'aretz 10/9/2003 A journalist employed by the Ma'ariv daily was fired this week for publishing a satirical column composed mainly of quotes from Adolf Hitler, without mentioning the text's provenance. Ma'ariv editor Amnon Dankner dismissed Yehuda Nuriel on account of a column that ran in last weekend's edition of the Zman Tel Aviv local, which Ma'ariv owns.The column, which was meant to criticize critics of the pilots who recently announced theirrefusal to carry out targeted killings in the territories, was written in the form of a letter to the pilots in which most of the text consisted of quotes from Hitler...Nuriel even signed the letter A. Schickelgruber, which was Hitler's original name, and titled the column "A small country with a mustache," followed by the subtitle, "A brave and emotional letter of response to the refusenik pilots." Couple’s paintings evoke mythology of Palestine Daily Star 10/9/2003 Exhibition touched on all the visual cues of a well-worn narrative -- The olive tree, the Arabian horse, and the life-sustaining sea. Martyrs, brides, soldiers and stone-throwing children. The flight of refugees, the occupation of Palestine, the fall of the peace process and the rise of the resistance. The exhibition of nearly 20 large-scale paintings by Palestinian couple Ismail and Tamam Shammout, which ended its run yesterday at the Tourism Ministry’s Glass Hall in Hamra, touched on all the visual cues of a well-worn narrative.

International..

US says Iran will 'dupe' world on nukes Al-Jazeera 10/9/2003 A senior US official has predicted Iran will seek to "throw sand" in the world's eyes to prevent a showdown over a nuclear inspection deadline.Tehran has been given until 31 October by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to dispel international suspicion over its nuclear ambitions.But in remarks that will appear to some observers as displaying a remarkable lack of tact US Undersecretary of State John Bolton said:"I think what will happen prior to October 31st is the Iranians will cooperate a little bit and the issue will be, 'Did they cooperate enough?" Gephardt Backs 'Fence' Regardless of Path Forward 10/10/2003 Rep. Richard Gephardt of Missouri is offering a decidedly different position from President Bush on Israel's controversial West Bank security barrier.Gephardt told the Forward that he has strongly supported the fence — regardless of exactly where it runs — ever since it was first proposed by then-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. He said he does so because he has always viewed the barrier as "temporary." Jewish Groups Irked By Ashrawi’s Australia Peace Prize Islam Online 10/9/2003 SYDNEY, October 9 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Angry to see Palestinian lawmaker Hanan Ashrawi awarded Sydney Peace Foundation prize, Jewish groups are lobbying to press New South Wales Premier Bob Carr into boycotting the ceremony. Carr is to present the prize, worth 50 , 000dollars (34, 500U.S.), to Ashrawi at the state parliament in November6 , reported Agence France-Presse (AFP) Thursday, October9 . Turkey to deploy troops in defiance of Iraqi leaders Jordan Times 10/9/2003 BAGHDAD (AFP) — Ankara's decision to send troops to Iraq caused an uproar both here and in Turkey Wednesday, as the United States mulled shelving its bid for a UN resolution to pave the way for more outside assistance in the war-torn country.....Several members of Iraq's US-appointed Governing Council condemned Turkey's plan to send troops across the border into Iraq, whose ethnic Kurdish population is alarmed at the prospect."Sending these troops would delay our regaining sovereignty," said council member Nasseer Chaderchi, cautioning the deployment could affect relations between the two neighbours. UNRWA revamps northern Syrian refugee camp Daily Star 10/9/2003 ‘One of our biggest challenges has been convincing the community that it’s really going to happen’ -- ALEPPO: The Tamari family visits their new shelter in Ein al-Tal which has nearly been completed. They stand together in their backyard, breathing in the fresh air and looking forward to starting a new chapter of their lives as Palestinian refugees ­ in a real house. Some 300 Palestinian families will voluntarily relocate from Neirab refugee camp to neighboring Ein al-Tal as part of the multi-million dollar rehabilitation project. Protests rock Turkey over Iraq troop decision SpaceWar.com 10/8/2003 Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across Turkey Wednesday to denounce the government's controversial decision to send troops to Iraq, with police detaining some 60 Kurdish activists. In Istanbul, protestors chained themselves to the wire fencing of an American high school and shouted "We will not allow our soldiers to be killed" and "We will not be soldiers for the US." Anti-riot police detained six among the 100-strong group, Anatolia news agency reported. F.B.I. Agents Are Examined for Tactics With Hamas New York Times 10/8/2003 The Justice Department is examining the conduct of F.B.I. agents in Phoenix for possible improprieties related to their use of front companies to gather intelligence on China, the Middle East and the activities of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, an F.B.I. spokesman said Tuesday.The spokesman said the investigation was prompted by allegations about the front companies made by a former operative of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Harry Ellen. ‘Media Must Get Over Mutual Distrust’ Arab News 10/9/2003 DUBAI, 9 October 2003 — There is an obvious distrust between the Arab and Western media and it could be addressed only if the two sides interact with each other based on the clear understanding of the universal role of the media and their responsibilities.This was the net outcome of discussions in an interactive session held here yesterday as part of the Arab Media Summit2003 . Terror suspect tortured: dad claims Sydney Morning Herald 10/8/2003 Australian terrorist suspects David Hicks and Mamdouh Habib had likely been tortured while detained at Guantanamo Bay, a lawyer and Hicks' father said today.Australian lawyer Richard Bourke, who has been working with prisoners at Camp X-ray for the past two years, told ABC radio leaks from the American military and reports from former inmates revealed the detainees had been forced to kneel in the sun until they collapsed and were tied up and had rubber bullets fired at them.Mr Bourke said he believed Hicks had been tortured into making a confession. W.V. Anti-War Protest Suspensions Upheld Yahoo! News 10/1/2003 CHARLESTON, W.Va. -The school board refused to clear the records of two high school students who were suspended for 10 days in March after they left class to hold an anti-war protest. Emily Basile and Jessica Grubb said the punishments were excessive and should be removed from their Capital High School records."It appears these students wish to violate the rules, but are not willing to accept the punishment," Kanawha County schools attorney Jim Withrow said.

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