Troops, settlers clash during evacuation of illegal outpost
Ha'aretz, October 19, 2002
Seven police officers and ten settlers were wounded Saturday night in clashes that erupted when security forces began the evacuation of an illegal outpost near the West Bank city of Nablus.

Settlers attack Palestinian olive pickers in West Bank
Ha'aretz, October 19, 2002
Dozens of settlers prevented the residents of the West Bank villages of Akrabeh, Inabus near Nablus from picking olives Saturday, firing in the air and demanding that the Palestinians leave the area.

Palestinians Abandon Village
The Guardian, October 19, 2002
YANUN, West Bank (AP) - Sobbing as they filled a truck with furniture and piled themselves into dusty cars, six Palestinian families set out from this tiny village of old stone houses, leaving it completely abandoned.

Hamas Initiates Retaliatory Attacks - Fighter Killed, Two Soldiers Wounded
Palestione Chronicle, October 18, 2002
GAZA CITY (PC) - A Palestinian fighter was shot dead Friday while trying to infiltrate a militant post (Jewish settlement) in the Gaza Strip. The fighter, apparently a Hamas member was reportedly on a mission to avenge the killing of 8 Palestinian civilians in Rafah yesterday.

Israel studies US peace plan
BBC, October 18, 2002
Bush presented the plan to Sharon at the White House: Israel says it is studying a United States plan to settle the conflict with the Palestinians by 2006.

U.S. Roadmap Without Guarantees Not Credible: Palestinians
Islam Online, October 19, 2002
GAZA CITY, October 18 (IslamOnline & News agencies) - A U.S.-backed roadmap for ending the Middle East conflict is not "credible" unless it comes with guarantees, including an Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Palestinian territories, the Palestinians said Friday, October 18.

U.S. Considers Israeli Iraq Plan
The Guardian, October 19, 2002
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration is weighing an Israel proposal for a joint operation in Iraq's western desert to disarm Iraqi missiles before they could be launched against Israel.

Israel denies plan for joint operation to disarm Iraqi missiles
Ha'aretz, October 19, 2002
Israel vehemently denied reports that the Bush administration is weighing an Israeli proposal for a joint operation in the western Iraqi desert to disarm missiles before they could be launched against Israel.

U.S. wants Israeli investigation into Rafah deaths
Ha'aretz, October 19, 2002
The United States on Friday called for an Israeli investigation into the killing of six Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip on Thursday.

Israel Condemned for Rafah Carnage as Sharon Lands in Tel Aviv
Palestione Chronicle, October 18, 2002
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (PC) - Following a successful mission to Washington, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon landed in Tel Aviv today, amid strong criticism of the Israeli army killing and wounding of many Palestinians in the impoverished Gaza Strip.

Israel delays pullout from Hebron
Arab News, October 19, 2002
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, 19 October — Israel has decided to postpone troop withdrawal from the southern West Bank city of Hebron as tensions heightened following the deaths of eight Palestinians on Thursday when Israeli forces shelled houses in a refugee camp.

Burns will not meet with Arafat; Boucher says
Arabic News, October 19, 2002
The spokesman for the US state department Richard Boucher said on Friday that the US special envoy for the Middle East, William Burns, does not intend to meet with the chairman of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat during his visit in the region which started on Friday.

Army Digs Trench Around Jenin
Palestione Chronicle, October 18, 2002
JENIN (PC) - The Israeli army has dug a two-meter trench around parts of the West Bank town of Jenin, before moving back its troops to the city’s outskirts, Israeli and Palestinian sources said Friday.

U.S. envoy Burns: U.S. committed to Mideast peace despite Iraq
Ha'aretz, October 19, 2002
Washington's determination to deal with Iraq has not distracted it from trying to resolve the conflict between Israeli and the Palestinians, U.S. Undersecretary of State William Burns said Saturday.

US envoy Burns won't meet Arafat during visit
Jerusalem Post, October 19, 2002
US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs William Burns is slated to arrive here Wednesday to press forward with Palestinian Authority reforms and encourage the lifting of restrictions on Palestinians, diplomatic officials said yesterday. During the visit, expected to last three or four days, Burns will not meet PA Chairman Yasser Arafat.

Israel Arrests Militants Ahead of U.S. Envoy Visit
Macon Telegraph, October 19, 2002
NABLUS, West Bank - Israeli troops raided houses in the West Bank on Saturday and arrested at least eight suspected militants, continuing their crackdown on a Palestinian uprising despite calls for calm from Washington.

PA may boycott U.S. envoy to region; Israeli forces leave Jenin
Al-Bawaba, October 18, 2002
The Palestinian Authority is threatening to boycott U.S. Undersecretary of State William Burns' mission to the region, if the envoy does not hold talks with PA Chairman Yasser Arafat.

Israeli Troops Wounded by Own Blast
The Guardian, October 19, 2002
JERUSALEM (AP) - Four Israeli soldiers were wounded Saturday when a bomb they were using to blow open the door of a Palestinian's home exploded prematurely.

4 soldiers hurt in W. Bank; Ben-Eliezer orders Hebron pullout
Ha'aretz, October 19, 2002
Four IDF troops were injured early Saturday morning, one moderately and three lightly, while carrying out arrests in the Balata refugee camp, east of the West Bank city of Nablus.

Palestinians Abandon Yanun Village, Citing Attacks By Israeli Settlers
Islam Online, October 19, 2002
RAMALLAH, October 19 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Six Palestinian families set out Friday October 18, from the West Bank village of Hirbat Yanun, leaving it completely abandoned.

Burns Starts Mideast Tour, U.S. Lashes Israel Over Killing Palestinian Civilians
Islam Online, October 19, 2002
CAIRO, October 19 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – U.S. Assistant Secretary of State William Burns held talks Saturday October 19, with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on ending Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as the U.S. stepped up pressure on Israel over the deaths of Palestinian civilians.

Focus: Why are children dying, U.S. wants to know
Ha'aretz, October 19, 2002
Among the list of charges against Israel presented by the Americans to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's entourage in Washington was one relating to the recent killings of numerous Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip as a result of excessive fire power used by the Israel Defense Forces.

Hundreds of settlers clash with IDF over evacuation of illegal outpost
Jerusalem Post, October 19, 2002
Security forces were forcibly evacuating settlers from the illegal outpost of Havat Gilad near Nablus Saturday evening, after the settlers, who had not opposed the dismantling of the outpost by IDF Wednesday, returned to the site Thursday evening.

One person wounded in shootout in Palestinian refugee camp
Jerusalem Post, October 19, 2002
BEIRUT, Lebanon - One person was wounded Saturday in a shootout between rival factions at the Ein El-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in south Lebanon, Lebanese security officials said.

IDF removes curfew on West Bank cities of Nablus, Tulkarm, and Ramallah
Jerusalem Post, October 19, 2002
On Saturday morning, the Israeli Army removed the curfews on Western Nablus, Tulkarm, and Ramallah in the West Bank.

Ex-aide condemns Arafat's handling of intifada
The Guardian, October 19, 2002
Yasser Arafat has been criticised by his former security chief for failing to grasp the chance to establish an independent state, even on unfavourable terms, and for the attacks on Israeli civilians.

Straw threat to bypass UN over attack on Iraq
The Guardian, October 19, 2002
Britain and the US yesterday signalled their readiness to attack Iraq without a UN mandate if the security council fails to agree on a common course of action.

Mecca Cola rallies Palestinian aid in France
Dubia 2002/MENA Report. October 19, 2002
Arab entrepreneur, Tawfiq Mathlouthi will launch his new product, Mecca Cola into the French market in November during the Ramadam season. Some 10 percent of profits earned will be dedicated to Palestinian charities aiding children, supporting education and preserving heritage.

Israel hopes to become oil corridor to Asian markets
Dubia 2002/MENA Report, October 19, 2002
Israel’s energy storage and transport firm, the Eilat-Ashkelon Pipeline Company (EAPC), has initiated a plan to transport crude oil from Russia and Central Asia to Asian markets.

Four Israeli soldiers injured near Nablus; U.S. ''roadmap'' calls for interim Palestinian state by end of 2003
Al-Bawaba, October 19, 2002
Four Israeli soldiers were wounded early Saturday morning, one of them moderately and three lightly, while carrying out arrests in the Balata refugee camp near the West Bank city of Nablus.

Francophone summit starts in Lebanese capital with calls to avoid war in Iraq
Al-Bawaba, October 18, 2002
Forty-one heads of French-speaking countries started a three-day summit chaired by Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, who condemned any attack on Iraq in his opening words.

Venezuela says no to Arab oil blockade
BBC, October 19, 2002
Venezuela, the world's fifth biggest oil producer and major supplier to the US, will not support an Arab oil blockade in response to military action against Iraq.

Report: U.S. to start combat training for 5,000 opponents of Saddam Hussein
Al-Bawaba, October 19, 2002
President Bush has authorized U.S. combat training for Iraqi opponents of Saddam Hussein, and the Pentagon has identified as many as 5,000 recruits for an initial training phase to begin next month.

French scrutiny delays Iraq debate
BBC, October 19, 2002
French diplomats are scrutinising a crucial draft United Nations resolution on Iraq to see if they can reach an agreement with the United States.

Simpson berates 'hysterical' US networks
The Guardian, October 19, 2002
John Simpson, the BBC correspondent who "liberated" Kabul, has attacked "gonzo" journalists who are cheerleading the world to war.

Lahoud: Israel is professional in terrorism in its ugliest forms; Chirac: we reject use of force
Arabic News, October 19, 2002
The Lebanese President Emil Lahoud yesterday opened the 9th summit of the Francophonic states in the presence of heads of states and governments and the representatives of more than 55 countries and 2500 invitees and crowded number of Arab and foreign media.

Kuwaiti- Iraqi meeting on the borders today
Arabic News, October 19, 2002
A Kuwaiti- Iraqi meeting will be held on the borders between the two states, under an Arab and international auspices, as the Iraqis are to hand over officially thousands of documents which were taken during the Iraqi invasion and known are known as "the Kuwaiti archive."

One Palestinian killed in an attack against an Israeli patrol
Arabic News, October 19, 2002
A young Palestinian was killed on Friday following clashes with an Israeli patrol near Toughit settlement to the north of Gaza.

Israeli Families Say Peace is Revenge
Alter.net, October 17, 2002
[Interview with Yitzhak Frankenthal, founder of the Bereaved Families Forum (a.k.a. Parent's Circle), an organization of 190 bereaved Israeli parents, Palestinian and Jews, who lost their children during army service or in an act of terrorism.]

Histadrut, Treasury meet Saturday night on ending strike
Ha'aretz, October 19, 2002
Representatives of the Histadrut labor federation and the Treasury were meeting Saturday night for fresh talks aimed at ending the week-long public sector strike.

U.S. study Says Indo-Israeli Invasion of Pakistan Probable
Islam Online, October 19, 2002
NEW DELHI, October 19 (IslamOnline) - A new U.S. study says India could invade Pakistan (possibly with Israeli help) if Islamists gained ascendancy there. This would be to forestall Islamist control of nuclear weapons, the study said.

Kuwaiti FM: Return of POWs More Important Than National Archives
Islam Online, October 19, 2002
ABDALI, Kuwait-Iraq border, October 19 (News Agencies) - Kuwait prepared on Saturday to receive national archives looted by Iraq during its occupation of the emirate but reminded Baghdad it was still awaiting the return of some 600 Kuwaitis missing since the 1991 Gulf War.

U.S. Actor Warns Bush Against Legacy of “Shame, Horror”
Islam Online, October 19, 2002
Penn to Bush: “Don't destroy our children's future. We will support you”: WASHINGTON, October 19 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - In an open letter published on Page A8 of Friday’s Washington Post, U.S. actor Sean Penn called on U.S. president George W. Bush to “re-introduce inspection teams".

Sheikh Yassin was involved in arms supply to Hamas, prosecution claims
Ha'aretz, October 19, 2002  
The spiritual leader of the Hamas movement, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, was personally involved in an attempt to supply arms to a unit of Hamas' military wing, according to the military prosecution.

`Where would Israel be had he lived?' Rabin's daughter asks at memorial
Ha'aretz, October 19, 2002   
A sad nostalgia for better times marked the memorial ceremonies held yesterday for Yitzhak Rabin, assassinated seven years ago in an attempt to abort the political path he pursued.

`Oslo' center of debate at Knesset
Ha'aretz, October 19, 2002   
Only about half of the 120 members of Knesset showed up yesterday for the special session of parliament to mark the anniversary of Yitzhak Rabin's assassination, and there were plenty of political sparks ignited by those who did attend.

Praise for shaheed draws police scrutiny
Ha'aretz, October 19, 2002    
While the Justice Ministry is reviewing the legal status of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement, led by Sheikh Raed Salah, the police has begun investigating whether an article published in the movement's Saut al-Haq Wal-Horia weekly constitutes incitement to violence.

PA seeking execution of several suspected collaborators
Jerusalem Post, October 19, 2002
Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat was asked last night to authorize the execution of a Palestinian who confessed that he had helped Israel assassinate a number of Hamas activists in the Gaza Strip.

Mohamed al-Durra’s Mother is Pregnant with a Baby Boy
Palestione Chronicle, October 18, 2002
BUREIJ CAMP, Gaza Strip (Reuters) - Amal al-Durra, whose 12-year-old son became an icon of the Palestinian uprising when he was shot dead while cowering from gunfire two years ago, said on Thursday she was expecting a baby boy.

Qatar minister defends decision on US presence   
Jordan Times, October 19, 2002
DUBAI (R) — Qatar on Wednesday defended its policies against what it described as a “paid” offensive by some Arab media, mainly after permitting a US military presence on its soil as Washington prepared for a possible war against Iraq.

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