Israeli raid in Rafah: 23 Palestinians injured, buildings destroyed; Burns arrives for talks
Al-Bawaba, October 23, 2002
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip said early Wednesday that Israeli forces knocked down several empty buildings in Rafah, next to the Egyptian border.

IDF heading back into Jenin, Nablus
Ha'aretz, October 23, 2002
The "pendulum" of Israeli Defense Forces movement in the territories over the last two weeks will apparently now change direction once again, after evidence gathered from Monday's terror attack at the Karkur Junction confirmed suspicions that the bombers came from Jenin.

Attack a blow to Palestinian state: US
Arab News, October 23, 2002
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, 23 October — US Middle East envoy William Burns yesterday called a Palestinian attack in northern Israel that killed 14 people a blow to the goal of a Palestinian state as Israel held off retaliation.

Israeli retaliation is being delayed
Albuquerque Tribune, October 23, 2002
JERUSALEM - Israel held off on immediate retaliation today for a bus bombing that killed 14 Israelis, along with two attackers, and complicated a new U.S. effort to end two years of Israeli-Palestinian violence.

IDF troops to oversee Palestinians' olive picking
Jerusalem Post, October 22, 2002
The IDF has instructed its troops in the area to allow West Bank Palestinian farmers to work in their fields and harvest the olive crop. Security forces will patrol the areas to prevent clashes with Jewish residents.

Sharon blasts 'road map'
Ha'aretz, October 23, 2002
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon blasted the "road map" peace plan draft presented to him in Washington last week, in his first public reference to it, telling a group of American Jews visiting in Jerusalem, "It's not credible that Israel takes irreversible steps while the other side only makes statements. There is a danger Israel will face a timetable that only it is required to keep to."

Amnesty to monitor as High Court weighs refusal to serve
Ha'aretz, October 23, 2002
Amnesty International is to monitor a High Court of Justice session Wednesday in which the state is asking the panel to rule that refusing military service in the territories constitutes civil rebellion.

Arabs barred from drilling for water in the West Bank
Ha'aretz, October 23, 2002
National Infrastructure Minister Effie Eitam, head of the National Religious Party, yesterday ordered the Water Commissioner to stop all drilling for water by Palestinians in the West Bank, as well as a freeze on the issue of permits for future drillings.

President Arafat to declare the new government today
Jerusalem Media and Communication Centre, October 23, 2002
President Yasser Arafat informed the EU Peace Envoy Miguel Morathinos and the UN Envoy Terje Larsen yesterday evening that he intends to declare the new Palestinian government today, Wednesday, and that it will be presented to the PLC next Monday.

Abu Ala: Arafat to present cabinet next week
Ha'aretz, October 23, 2002
Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat has formed a new cabinet that will be presented to the Palestinian Legislative Council for approval next week, PLC Speaker Ahmed Qureia - better known as Abu Ala - said yesterday.

Palestinians say 23 injured in IDF Rafah operation
Ha'aretz, October 23, 2002
Twenty-three Palestinians were injured early Wednesday in an IDF operation to demolish the home of a Fatah militant in Rafah in the Gaza Strip, Palestinians sources reported.

Palestinians harvest olives despite Jewish settler attacks
Jordan Times, October 23, 2002
AQRABA — Thunder crashes like waves over mountains as Palestinian farmers pick olives in groves of gnarled trees, working quickly before the coming rains. But a greater danger threatens the once joyful harvest: Violent attacks from Jewish settlers. 

U.S. mediation proceeding in Israel
Ledger-Enquirer, October 23, 2002
JERUSALEM - Israel held off retaliating Tuesday for the deadliest Palestinian terror attack in three months, allowing a U.S. mediation effort to continue on a proposal to set up a provisional Palestinian state by next year.

'I couldn't believe I was doing this'
The Guardian, October 22, 2002
Last year Rami Kaplan was a loyal commander in the Israeli army. Now he is going to court to prove that the occupation of the Palestinian territories is illegal.

Burns arrives for talks; Peres: U.S. 'road map' is draft
Ha'aretz, October 23, 2002
As U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs William Burns arrived Wednesday for talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders - excluding Yasser Arafat - Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said that the special envoy's talks over the "road map" peace plan were unlikely to yield significant positive develepments.

Ben-Eliezer says military options running out
Ha'aretz, October 23, 2002
Defense Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer said Tuesday night that Israel was running out of military options to stop Palestinian suicide bombings and it was time to explore a return to peacemaking.

Troops taken off anti-terror duty to evacuate outpost, Ya'alon says
Ha'aretz, October 23, 2002
The massive forces needed to evacuate the Havat Gilad settlement outpost this weekend meant that many soldiers had to temporarily abandon their routine anti-terror operations, IDF Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee yesterday.

Rights groups: Israel is waging a campaign to silence Arab MKs
Ha'aretz, October 23, 2002
Israel is carrying out at a "campaign for silencing Arab members of Knesset," and has adopted a "strategy aimed at denying the [Arab] minority its voting rights, contrary to its international obligation," organizations representing Arab minority rights said in two ground-breaking reports presented to the Knesset yesterday.

Silencing Dissent: A Report on the Violation of Political Rights of the Arab Parties in Israel
The Arab Association for Human Rights

Court asked to ban use of flechettes in Gaza
Ha'aretz, October 23, 2002
Two human rights groups lodged a joint petition with the High Court yesterday, demanding that the Israel Defense Forces be barred from using flechette missiles in the Gaza Strip.

PA water chief to Eitam: `Leave water out of conflict'
Ha'aretz, October 23, 2002
The general manager of the Palestinian Water Authority, Fadel Kawash, responding yesterday to Infrastructure Minister Effi Eitam's decision to prohibit the PA from pumping water in areas under its control, said "the problem of water supply is very sensitive, and it must not be solved through confrontation, as this would do irreversible damage to both sides.

Excerpts from the US roadmap on a permanent solution between Israelis and Palestinian
Jerusalem Media and Communication Centre, October 23, 2002

Peres Faces Unsympathetic Audience During Europe Visit
Palestine Chronicle, October 23, 2002
BRUSSELS (PINA) - The rift between Israel and the European Union is growing, and even the Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres himself was not able to narrow the gap during a visit to Brussels.

Palestinians Accused of “Water Intifada”
Palestine Chronicle, October 22, 2002
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (PINA) - In a press conference in Jerusalem today, a top Israeli official announced an order to prohibit Palestinians from drilling for water in the West Bank. This came shortly after an earlier decision, which was later revoked, prohibiting Palestinian harvesters from picking their olives.

Israeli Officials Blame Their Security Arrangement, Palestinian Leadership for Bombing
Palestine Chronicle, October 22, 2002
TEL AVIV (PINA) - The timing and the magnitude of an expected Israeli reaction to a suicide bombing in Israel yesterday is yet to be determined. But Israel’s Chief of Staff is blaming his country’s own security arrangement, and the ‘periodic lifting’ of the closures in the West Bank for the attack.

Sharon objects to target-date focus of US peace 'road map'
Jerusalem Post, October 23, 2002
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is expected to raise some objections to the US "road map to Middle East peace" when he meets with Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs William Burns who is due in Israel on Wednesday.

Ben-Eliezer: Israel, not US, will determine response to bombing
Jerusalem Post, October 23, 2002
Israel will decide on an appropriate response to Monday's suicide car bombing at Karkur junction, Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said Tuesday of the attack which killed 13 Israelis and wounded 65.

Peres to EU: Be concerned with human rights of Israelis
Jerusalem Post, October 23, 2002
"The passengers aboard the bus yesterday had the basic human right to live and not be burned to death, and this was violated in the most shocking and horrific way," Foreign Minister Shimon Peres told a European member of parliament at a meeting of European Parliament faction heads in Brussels Tuesday.

PA to ask US to referee on roadmap compliance
Jerusalem Post, October 23, 2002
Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat has finalized the appointment of his new cabinet and is expected to announce it before US Assistant Secretary of State William Burns meets a Palestinian delegation on Thursday in Jericho, a PA official said Tuesdday.

Israeli retaliation targets olive harvest and waterholes
The Guardian, October 23, 2002
Israel signalled yesterday that in deference to Washington's campaign against Iraq it will hold back from its usual tough response following Monday's suicide bombing which killed 14 bus passengers.

Russia and France reject latest draft resolution
The Guardian, October 23, 2002
France and Russia dug their heels in over Iraq yesterday, vowing to resist a revised United Nations resolution proposed by the US which both Paris and Moscow suspect is designed as a stealthy means to pave the way for future military action.

Palestinians, Israelis Ready Replies
The Guardian, October 23, 2002
JERUSALEM (AP) - With a senior American official arriving for talks, Palestinians and Israelis were emphasizing different parts of a U.S. peace initiative.

Assad slams U.S. Middle East policy
Al-Bawaba, October 22, 2002
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told Tuesday US Middle East envoy William Burns that "the United States does not seem able to understand events in the Middle East," official Syrian radio reported.

US Defense official: Iran can't extend missile range
Al-Bawaba, October 23, 2002
An Iranian missile, modified in an attempt to extend its range, failed during a recent flight test, a U.S. defense official said on Tuesday.

Evangelical Christians back eviction
Arab News, October 23, 2002
WASHINGTON, 23 October — Throughout the world, criticism is growing against Israel’s hard-line tactics against Palestinians, but support for Zionism remains firm among America’s millions of evangelical Christians.

US to receive special report on Israeli economy
Globes, October 23, 2002
The Ministry of Finance is preparing a comprehensive and detailed report on the Israeli economy that will be submitted to the US Administration in order to obtain new loan guarantees.

Political activist likens apartheid to Palestinian conflict
Badger Herald, October 22, 2002
The current state of affairs between the Palestinians in Israel and the former situation of blacks in the apartheid state of South Africa are nearly identical, according to a speech given by Mongezi Sefika Wa Nkomo Monday night.

Shiri: Labor to renew demand that NRP's Eitam be sacked
Ha'aretz, October 23, 2002
Deputy Defense Minister Weizman Shiri said Wednesday that the Labor Party would renew its demand that hardline cabinet minister Effie Eitam be sacked over fierce criticism of Defense Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, saying that Labor could not sit in the same government with the National Religious Party chairman.

Sharon: Labor and Likud should plan next unity gov't now
Ha'aretz, October 23, 2002
Labor and Likud should agree now to continue the unity government after the next elections, and should even decide in advance on how to divvy up the portfolios, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon proposed at a meeting with Labor Party ministers yesterday.

Ministry favors giving smallpox shots to all - and now
Ha'aretz, October 23, 2002
The Health Ministry believes it would be preferable to vaccinate the population against smallpox now, but the political echelon - meaning the prime minister - has the final decision on the issue.

Knesset approves NIS 10M for Har Homa
Ha'aretz, October 23, 2002
"Raz complained that the government is continuing to prefer settlements over hungry children.": The Knesset Finance Committee yesterday approved the transfer of NIS 10 million to establish a sewage system in the Har Homa neighborhood of southeast Jerusalem.

PA must return to 'resistance option'
Jerusalem Post, October 23, 2002
The leader of the Islamic Jihad movement in Jenin Tuesday attacked Palestinians who have criticized suicide bombings, saying his group is determined to continue its attacks against Israel.

Histadrut extends strike respite
Jerusalem Post, October 22, 2002
The three-day reprieve in the Histadrut strike has been lengthened until next week, the labor federation announced Tuesday night.

Fitch leaves foreign currency debt rating unchanged
Jerusalem Post, October 23, 2002
International credit rating agency Fitch announced Tuesday that it affirms Israel's A- rating on its foreign currency debt, and also affirmed Israel's Negative Outlook. The agency said, however, it will lower Israel's long-term local currency credit rating from A+ to A.

Melee erupts at trial of accused Hamas bombers
Jerusalem Post, October 22, 2002
Pandemonium broke out at the Jerusalem District Court Tuesday, as bereaved family members protested a delay in the trial of four alleged members of an east Jerusalem-based Hamas terror cell.

Russia, France Oppose U.S. Draft Resolution On Iraq
Islam Online, October 23, 2002
UNITED NATIONS, October 22 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Russian and France reaffirmed Tuesday October 22, their opposition to the new U.S. draft resolution on Iraq.

We Have No Kuwaiti Prisoners To Release: Iraq
Islam Online, October 23, 2002
BAGHDAD, October 22 (IslamOnline) - Amid festivities across Iraq celebrating President Saddam Hussein’s general amnesty setting free all prisoners and prisoners of conscience, IslamOnline’s correspondent on Tuesday, October 22, asked Iraqi Information and Foreign Affairs officials about the fate of Kuwaiti prisoners and whether the pardon is applicable to them.

US administration of Iraq 'illegal', says UK
Muslim News, October 22, 2002
London,IRNA -- The British government is reportedly concerned about possible US plans for a long occupation of Iraq under military
rule.

US Faces Strong Opposition at UN Over Iraq Resolution
Palestine Chronicle, October 23, 2002
NEW YORK (PINA) - The American draft resolution on Iraq was rebuked, again by France and Russia. Russia said that the draft doesn’t even meet its minimum requirements.