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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..

7 Palestinians killed in Rafah; IDF: raid to last a few more days Ha'aretz 10/10/2003 Seven Palestinians, among them children aged 12 and eight, were reportedly killed during an Israel Defense Forces advanced deep into the Rafah refugee camp in the sourthern Gaza Strip on Friday. Israeli forces on Friday uncovered two tunnels in the area used to smuggle weapons from Egypt into Palestinian areas of the Strip. The operaton, which began around midnight Thursday, was meant to expose and seal such tunnels....At least 50 Palestinians were reported injured in the ongoing operation, most of them when a helicopter fired a missile at a crowd. IOF Wounds Child Critically, Blows Up House in West Bank International Press Center 10/10/2003 JENIN, Palestine, October10 , 2003 (IPC + Agencies) - - Israeli occupying forces (IOF) shot and wounded a Palestinian child in the city of Jenin today, medical sources said. Eyewitnesses and medical sources at Al Razi hospital in Jenin told IPC correspondent that14 -year old Rashed Abu Serreya was shot with a heavy-caliber bullet in his leg, when an IOF tank opened fire at a group of children he was standing amongst. Doctors said that Abu Serreya's condition was critical, as the bullet ruptured several of his leg's arteries, which caused severe hemorrhage....sources in the governorate of Jenin affirmed that Jenin suffers from a serious shortage of food supplies, caused by the continuous lockdown of the governorate by IOF. Five Palestinians, Two Children Killed and 57 Wounded as IOF Invades Rafah International Press Center 10/10/2003 RAFAH, Palestine, October 10, 2003 (IPC + Agencies) - - About Seven Palestinian citizens were killed, including two children and more than 57 others were wounded, when large forces of the Israeli occupation army invaded the city of Rafah early this morning, south of the Gaza Strip. IPC correspondent reported that dozens of tanks backed by several military helicopters invaded the city of Rafah from several directions, amidst heavy and indiscriminate gunfire and tank shells.... Dr. Ali Mousa, director of the hospital, said they did not have enough medicine and other supplies for the victims, and seriously wounded patients could not be transferred to other hospitals because of the Israeli travel restrictions and partitioning of the Gaza Strip to four isolated parts. Dr. Mousa also added that IOF opened fire at ambulances trying to evacuate the wounded, and that some wounded citizens are still laying in the streets waiting to be evacuated. IOF Invades Tulkarem, Demolishes a House in Rafah and Isolates Thousands In Qalqilia International Press Center 10/9/2003 TULKAREM, Palestine, October9 , 2003 (IPC + Agencies) - - Israeli occupying forces (IOF) invaded the city of Tulkarem and its surrounding, and imposed curfew on the entire city. Eyewitnesses told IPC correspondent that a large number of IOF jeeps and military vehicles invaded afternoon today the city of Tulkarem and its suburbs. IOF troops declared curfew through loudspeakers, warning any curfew-breakers of severe punishments....Eyewitnesses told WAFA that IOF troops stationed on checkpoints on the eastern and only entrance of the city continued banning citizens from either entering or leaving the city of Qalqilia for any reason.... The occupation aggression reached also the surrounding villages, as occupation forces prevented hundreds of Palestinian farmers from reaching their lands, which are located behind the Israeli separation barrier. Video: "There is a 15 year old boy and an 8 year old boy among the dead" BBC 10/10/2003 The BBC's James Rodgers - "There is a 15 year old boy and an 8 year old boy among the dead" Israeli tanks storm Gaza camp BBC 10/10/2003 Six Palestinians are reported to have been killed in a fierce gun battle which broke out after dozens of Israeli tanks, backed by helicopter gunships, raided a Gaza Strip refugee camp.Two boys aged eight and 15 were among those killed in the fighting in the Rafah camp, which lies on the Gaza Strip's border with Egypt, Palestinian medical sources said.The Israeli army say that their troops went in to uncover and destroy tunnels used for smuggling weapons from across the nearby Egyptian border. Many killed in Israeli invasion Al-Jazeera 10/10/2003 An eight-year-old boy, shot in the head, is the latest casualty in an ongoing Israeli army raid targeting Rafah refugee camp in the occupied Gaza Strip.Six Palestinians are now dead, including a 12-year-old girl, after elite troops backed by heavy armour stormed the camp overnight.At least 50 people have so far been wounded.Fighting erupted as Israel sent dozens of tanks into the Rafah refugee camp early on Friday on a mission, it said, aimed at destroying tunnels Palestinians used to smuggle weapons. 6 Killed in Israeli Sweep of Refugee Camp The Guardian 10/10/2003 RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) - Israeli forces trying to demolish smuggling tunnels fought gunmen for hours Friday in the largest raid in half a year in the Rafah refugee camp, a frequent battlefield in the Gaza Strip. Six Palestinians were killed and 50 wounded, and an Israeli soldier was also hurt. 3 Killed, 12 wounded, 3 Homes Razed, As Army Steps up Attacks in Gaza International Middle East Media Center 10/10/2003 Three Rafah residents, including 12-years-old child were killed, at least 12 others were wounded, and three homes were destroyed, as army stormed Friday morning Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza strip.Army claims that the military action deep inside Rafah, which was named "operation root canal" aimed at destroying smuggling tunnels after security received information that "weapons with strategic impact" would be smuggled from the Egyptian side....Army spokesperson said that the military operation is expected to last for few more days.

Diplomacy..

Sharon warns he may block Palestinian state plans Sydney Morning Herald 10/10/2003 Israel will send troop reinforcements into Palestinian areas and has cleared the way for a call-up of army reservists amid fears of a new wave of suicide bombings.Citing the continued tensions, the Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, told members of his right-wing Likud party he would block the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip if the Palestinian Authority did not rein in militants. Sec. Council postpones separation fence hearing to Tuesday Ha'aretz 10/10/2003 The UN Security Council on Friday agreed to a U.S. request to postpone to next Tuesday an open discussion on the separation fence Israel is building in the West Bank and around Jerusalem. The decision was reached during a closed dicussion of Security Council members on the fence, which marked the first time the UN has addressed the issue.All UN member states will have the right to speak at Wednesday's hearing....Most members feel the wall "is illegal, and they want to say something about it," Chinese Ambassador Wang Guangya said. But U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte suggested Washington would use its veto to kill the measure. Palestinian, Israeli politicians meet in Jordan for talks Ha'aretz 10/10/2003 Amman - Prominent Palestinian and Israeli politicians are to meet in Jordan in an attempt to work out a compromise on outstanding issues and prove "there is an alternative to violence", a senior Palestinian diplomat said Friday. "Between 20 and 25 Palestinian figures have arrived in Amman and they are due to meet prominent Israeli politicians, mainly from the Labor Party and the Peace Now Movement," the diplomat said. The Palestinian team included former information ministerYasser Abed Rabbo, other ex-ministers and a number of intellectuals. US hawk warns Iran threat must be eliminated The Guardian 10/10/2003 An American official warned yesterday that the potential threat posed by Iran's nuclear programme had to be "eliminated" and predicted Tehran would try to "throw sand" in the eyes of the world to avoid a confrontation at the UN. John Bolton, deputy under secretary of state for arms control, who is regarded as the state department's chief hawk, was speaking to journalists in London where he reaffirmed the Bush administration's notion of "rogue states" which threatened US interests. EU Criticizes Israel, Demands it to Cease Constructing the Separation Wall International Press Center 10/10/2003 BRUSSELS, October10 , 2003 (IPC + Agencies) - - The European Union demanded Israel on Thursday to respect the international laws and cease the construction of its separation wall. This statements came during a report presented the EU Council by Mr. Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, in which he outlined the drastic situation in the Middle East caused by the latest Israeli offensive steps against the Palestinian people and neighboring countries. Arabs seek UN action on barrier BBC 10/9/2003 Arab diplomats at the United Nations say they have requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the Israeli Government's construction of a security barrier between Israel and the West Bank. A draft resolution obtained by the BBC declares that the structure is illegal under international law and must be halted.Arab diplomats have been threatening for some time to request action from the UN Security Council in relation to construction of the "wall" PM, ministers discuss prisoner swap with Hezbollah Ha'aretz 10/10/2003 Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met Friday with memebrs of his "Committee of Five," a ministerial panel of senior cabinet members, for an update on the state of the prisoner-exchange negotiations with Hezbollah. After the meeting, the Prime Minister's Office announced that the talks would continue, and that the Knesset would be asked to approved any future deal. EU says won't follow US sanctions move on Syria EU Business 10/10/2003 The European Union has no plans to follow the United States in moving to impose wide-ranging sanctions on Syria, the European Commission said Thursday."It is obviously not our position, we are in the process of negotiating an association agreement with Syria," said Emma Udwin, spokeswoman for External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten."The policy of isolating Syria is not the most productive," she added. 'No room for retaliation' Al-Ahram Weekly on-line 9 - 15 October 2003 Israel's air raid on an alleged Palestinian Islamic Jihad camp near Damascus shifted Lebanese attention away from a prisoner exchange deal between Hizbullah and Israel. --An Israeli missile slammed into a house in the South Lebanon village of Houla early on Tuesday, killing a child and injuring his brother, hours after Israel said one of its soldiers was killed in cross-border clashes. The violence followed a warning by Hizbullah, which urged the Lebanese to brace for a possible confrontation with Israel after an Israeli air raid on an alleged Palestinian Islamic Jihad camp near Damascus on Sunday. King of Jordan Says U.S. Foreign Policy Naive Excite.com 10/10/2003 STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - U.S. ally the King of Jordan said on Wednesday that Washington's foreign policy was naive and lacked cultural sensitivity though President Bush was committed to Middle East peace."American politics aside, the president is committed to the peace process," said King Abdullah. "Unfortunately the United States is still somewhat naive or lacks the cultural sensitivity they would need to have, not only in our part of the world." Assad: Israeli government needs war Al-Jazeera 10/10/2003 Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Thursday Israel's government could not continue without war, after Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon hinted at further strikes on Syria.Buoyed by US support, a belligerent Sharon said on Tuesday that Israel "will hit its enemies in any place and in any way" having struck what it called a "terrorist camp" in Syria on Sunday a day after a Palestinian bomber killed herself and 19 others in Israel. Israel welcomes US sanctions move against "terrorist state" Syria ProLog.net 10/9/2003 JERUSALEM, Oct 9 (AFP) - Israel welcomed Thursday key steps by Washington towards imposing sanctions on Syria, as an Israeli general threatened more military action against the "terrorist state".The Republican-led House of Representatives International Relations Committee voted 33-2 Wednesday in favor of diplomatic and economic sanctions, accusing Syria of supporting terrorism and developing weapons of mass destruction.The White House said it would not oppose the bill when it comes before the full house."It's a positive decision which proves the Americans are aware of the extent of Syrian involvement in terrorism, and in facilitating the passage of terrorists into Iraq to commit anti-American attacks," a high-level Israeli official told AFP. Syria calls U.S. sanctions bill the work of ``extremists'' San Francisco Chronicle 10/9/2003 (10-09) 01:55 PDT DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) --Syria through its official media on Thursday criticized the United States' preliminary approval of a bill authorizing sanctions against it, saying the legislation was the work of extremists in Washington.Accusing Syria of sponsoring terrorists, occupying Lebanon and seeking weapons of mass destruction, the House International Relations Committee on Wednesday approved the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act. The act would give the president the right to impose sanctions on Syria. Lebanon slams progress of Syria Accountability Act Daily Star 10/10/2003 Beirut calls decision work of extremistsMaurice Kaldawi Daily Star staffLebanon joined Syria Thursday in criticizing the US preliminary approval of a bill authorizing sanctions against Damascus, describing the legislation as the work of extremists and calling for mobilizing Arab resources to “confront the American-Zionist onslaught.” The bill, known as the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act, was passed Wednesday by the US House of Representatives’ International Relations Committee. Arab League Warning on Syria Sanctions Arab News 10/10/2003 CAIRO, 10 October 2003 — The Arab League warned yesterday that an eventual US decision to impose sanctions on Syria would “increase tension in the region.”Such a decision would “make chances for peace more remote and block any serious dialogue between the United States and Syria,” the Arab League said in a statement.The White House lifted its opposition to a resolution, adopted Wednesday by a US congressional committee, which calls for sanctions against Syria based on accusations it supports terrorism, making it likely to pass in the House of Representatives. EU firm on Palestinian state by 2005 EU Observer 10/10/2003 EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Despite failing to meet any deadlines on the Road Map to Peace, the EU's foreign policy chief has said he still thinks a Palestinian state should be created by 2005.Speaking before the European Parliament on Thursday (9 October), in a speech entirely devoted to the Middle East, Javier Solana said that although having a Palestinian state would be "ambitious" and would require more engagement from the international community it should still be done.

Human Rights..

Palestinian food report upsets Israel Al-Jazeera 10/10/2003 Israel has demanded that the United Nations reject a report which blames Israeli military measures for hunger among Palestinians.Israel's ambassador to the UN in Geneva accused the report's author, a UN special rapporteur on the right to food, of abusing his office, saying that he had not declared membership of a non-governmental organisation (NGO) critical of Israeli policy.In his report, drawn up after a visit in the summer authorised by Israel, Swiss professor Jean Ziegler warned that Israeli security measures were creating hunger and malnutrition in Palestinian areas. 6 Palestinians Killed, 38 Wounded in Large Scale Israeli Incursion into Rafah Refugee Camp Palestinian Centre for Human Rights 10/10/2003 Early this morning, Friday October 10, 2003, Israeli occupying forces conducted a large scale incursion into the Rafah refugee camp, adjacent to the Egyptian border in the southern Gaza Strip. Under cover of intense shelling and gunfire from tanks and helicopters, Israeli forces invaded the area which is one of the most densely populated in the Gaza Strip. At the time of writing, 6 people have been killed, including 2 children, and 38 civilians have been injured, including women, children and elderly people. Approximately 10 houses were destroyed in the attack, some completely and some partially, and there has been widespread destruction to buildings, roads and other aspects of the civilian infrastructure. Israeli occupying forces have imposed a strict curfew on the area. Israel jails Canadian `refusenik' Toronto Star 10/9/2003 Reserve medic won't serve in West Bank, Gaza `We simply have to break the circle of violence' -- JERUSALEM—A Canadian-born Israeli reserve soldier has been jailed for refusing to serve in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, citing "reasons of conscience."Dan Goldenblatt, 33, a Montreal native, declined the order to deploy to the territories Tuesday morning after returning from a funeral for a friend killed in last weekend's Palestinian suicide bombing in the Israeli port city of Haifa, in which 19 civilians died.Officers at the Israeli Defence Forces base at Yokneam immediately tried Goldenblatt, a paratrooper battle medic, sentencing him to 28 days. His detention began yesterday at an Israeli military prison near the northern Israeli town of Atlit. International day of solidarity with the Palestinian people Electronic Intifada/United Nations 10/8/2003 The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is observed by the United Nations on 29 November each year, in accordance with mandates given by the General Assembly in its resolutions 32/40 B of 2 December 1977, 34/65 D of 12 December 1979, 56/34 of 3 December 2001, and other relevant resolutions.Special commemorative activities are organized by the Division for Palestinian Rights of the United Nations Secretariat, in consultation with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories 2 - 8 Oct. 2003 Palestinian Centre for Human Rights 10/9/2003 *6 Palestinians, including 1 child and 1 elderly man killed by Israeli forces *2 of the victims killed in extra-judicial assassination in Tulkarm *Israeli forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip *Israeli forces moved into Jenin and carried out retaliatory attacks against Palestinian civilian and property *Hundreds of donums[1] of Palestinian agricultural land were razed in the Gaza Strip *5 houses were demolished in Rafah *Houses were raided and a number of Palestinian civilians were arrested *Indiscriminate shelling of Palestinian residential areas continued and a house and civilian facility in Gaza City and al-Boreij refugee camp were attacked by missiles *3 houses were destroyed by Israeli forces as part of the continued campaign of retaliation against the families of wanted Palestinians and those who allegedly carried out armed attacks against Israeli targets * Continued use of Palestinian civilians as human shields in Israeli military operations *The Israeli Minister of Defense decided to intensify the construction of the “separation wall” *The Gaza Strip was portioned into 4 isolated zones *Palestinian communities in the West Bank were separated from one another *Palestinian vehicles were prohibited from traveling on the main roads in the West Bank

Economy..

Labor court orders port laborers to return to work Ha'aretz 10/10/2003 Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Histadrut labor federtion chairman, MK Amir Peretz, met Friday for talks aimed at finding a solution to the stand off the crippled the country's ports last week. The sides have formulated a document whereby the union has undertaken to refrain from strike action for 100 days, and the government will freeze legislation aimed at paving the way to the privatization of the ports. India buys radar systems from Israel Al-Jazeera 10/10/2003 India and Israel agreed their biggest ever weapons deal on Friday, with New Delhi signing up to buy strategic airborne radar systems which it hopes will boost its military edge over nuclear neighbour Pakistan.The Israeli-made Phalcon radars will be mounted on Russian IL-76 aircraft in a deal estimated to be more than $1 billion. Israel inks deal with Russia, India for early-warning aircraft Ha'aretz 10/10/2003 A historic agreement on cooperation in the production of early-warning aircraft for the Indian Air Force was signed Friday in New Delhi between India, Russia and Israel. The value of the deal is estimated at $ 1 billion and involves the incorporation of Israeli radar technology into Russian-made transport aircraft...."We believe that such defense deals will upset the conventional military balance," Pakistan's Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told the AP in Islamabad, the Pakistani capital.

People..

64 Israeli Movie Makers Sign Petition of Pilots Refusing Assassination Operations International Press Center 10/9/2003 TEL AVIV, October9 , 2003 (IPC + Agencies) - - Sixty four Israeli movie directors and producersjoined today the Israeli pilots who refused to carry out assassination operations in the Palestinian territories, by signing their petition, saying that Israel exceeded all the red lines.In their petition, they said that the refusenik pilots forced the Israeli society to deal with itself as on occupying force and deal with the immoral orders, as well, those pilots have set the limits of human and moral values. The art of lost battles Al-Ahram Weekly on-line 9 - 15 October 2003 The defeat of 1967 gave rise to several powerful films. The victory of 1973 spawned only the mediocre. --The October celebrations are replete with rituals, one of which is the perennial mention, whenever the anniversary of the 1973 War approaches, of the possibility of a big-budget film about the war being made, one in which the armed forces would take part and into which producers would happily pour vast amounts of money. The idea may or may not be wishful thinking though it does have a point for in contrast to the 1967 War, which gave rise to several distinguished films, with generous quantities of self-criticism and soul searching... Sherman Irby: Another master jazz man follows the trail to Beirut Daily Star 10/10/2003 Blue Note hosts saxophonist from Alabama who mixes blues with southern Soul -- Word is getting through. What began as a whisper has grown into a shout. Among jazz musicians in New York, word on the street is that Lebanon is the place to be, and Beirut is its pumping heart. The country and its scarred capital is becoming the key stop in the relatively young international touring circuit that is the Middle East. Art review: Mind, Body and Soul of Palestine - A Photo Journal Exhibit Electronic Intifada 10/9/2003 In Mind, Body and Soul of Palestine: A Photo Journal Exhibit, time, imagery, and stereotype are challenged and contradicted. Indeed, some of the imagery in the photographs contradict each other, causing the viewer to reconsider what they know about this country called Palestine that is constantly being reported but seldom understood. The show is presented by al-PHAN (which stands for Palestinian Humanities and Arts Now), a Chicago-based not-for-profit organization, and will be traveling around the U.S through next spring.

International..

Iranian human rights activist wins Nobel Al-Jazeera 10/10/2003 Iranian lawyer Shirin Ebadi has won the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in defending human rights and promoting democracy.The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the award on Friday and praised Ebadi, Iran's first woman judge before the Islamic revolution forced her to step down, for work focused on the rights of women and children.She won from a record field of 165 candidates including Pope John Paul II and former Czech President Vaclav Havel. Red Cross: Status of Guantanamo prisoners is 'unacceptable' Ha'aretz 10/10/2003 WASHINGTON - The International Red Cross said on Friday it was unacceptable that the United States continues to detain more than 600 people at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba without charges or prospect of a timely trial...."After more than 18 months of captivity, the internees have no idea about their fate, no means of recourse through any legal mechanism. They have been placed in a legal vacuum, a legal black hole. This, for the ICRC, is unacceptable," Williamson told Reuters. Call to restructure Arab economies Al-Jazeera 10/10/2003 The Union of Arab Banks (UAB) has called for a radical overhaul of the Arab world's economy.Addressing its two-day annual conference in Beirut on Thursday, UAB President Joseph Torbey underlined the need for restructuring the Arab world's global economic ties.He said the Arab world must face up to the challenge with "a global restructuring of our economies and closer links with the major economic blocs, such as the European Union and United States." One death a minute: toll of the booming arms trade The Independent 10/10/2003 In Somalia, babies are named "Uzi" and "AK" after their fathers' favourite assault rifles. In Georgia, arms are so common that English teachers have been paid in hand grenades. In Yemen, the birth of a boy is greeted by tribal leaders with shouts of: "We have increased by one gun." Armed with these and a battery of other alarming facts, a coalition of human rights campaigners and aid groups warned yesterday that the spread of lethal weaponry was "out of control" and the war on terrorism was fuelling a rapid acceleration in the global arms trade, which is worth £17bn a year. India building nuclear attack platform in space Pakistan Daily Times 10/10/2003 NEW DELHI: India has started building an aerospace command station to have nuclear weapons platforms in space to provide an edge to its retaliatory capability in case of a nuclear attack, Indian Air Chief S Krishnaswamy said on Monday.“Any country on the fringe of space technology like India has to work towards such a command station because advanced countries are already moving towards laser weapon platforms in space and killer satellites,” Mr Krishnaswamy said. U.S. satellites watching Syria, Israel CNN 10/10/2003 WASHINGTON (CNN) -- After Israel bombed the Ein Saheb camp in Syria on Sunday, U.S. military satellites and other reconnaissance assets are taking a "broader look" at the two nations, an intelligence community official said Thursday.The purpose of the increased attention is to get an early warning of any future potentially destabilizing military moves by either side, the source said.More intelligence analysts with specific expertise about Israel military capabilities and operations will look at the data collected, the official said. Patriarch Demands France's Help to End Syria's Hegemony in Lebanon An Nahar 10/10/2003 Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir has urged France to help make Syria terminate its military presence and political hegemony in Lebanon, asserting at the same time that Lebanon should never be turned into a hotbed for anti-Syria groupings that pose threats to Syria's security, the Beirut media reported on Friday. U.S. Sanctions Won't Include Lebanon, Nor Really Harm Syria An Nahar 10/10/2003 The so-called Syria Accountability and Lebanon's Sovereignty Restoration Act that is currently before Congress and would slap political and economic sanctions against Damascus will be largely symbolic and would have no impact on Lebanon, An Nahar reported Friday from Washington. Iranian Activist Wins Nobel Peace Prize The Guardian 10/10/2003 OSLO, Norway (AP) - Iranian human rights activist Shirin Ebadi, one of the Islamic country's first female judges, won the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for her work fighting for democracy and the rights of women and children. Ebadi, 56, has worked actively to promote peaceful, democratic solutions in the struggle for human rights and is well-known and admired by Iranians for her defense in court of victims of attacks by hard-liners on freedom of speech and political freedom, the Norwegian Nobel Committee said.

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