Sharon calls election
The Guardian, November 5, 2002
Six days after his government of national unity collapsed, the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, today accepted that he could not restore his parliamentary majority and called for elections within 90 days.

Suicide Bombing Brings to a Close Bloody Day in the Occupied Territories
Palestine Chronicle, November 4, 2002
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (PC) - Two Israelis were killed and over 15 others wounded when a Palestinian man blew himself up near a shopping center in Tel Aviv. Meanwhile in the occupied territories, eight Palestinians were shot dead.

Ex-PM Netanyahu to be sworn in Wed. as foreign minister
Ha'aretz, November 5, 2002 
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Benjamin Netanyahu agreed in a telephone call Tuesday afternoon that the former premier would be sworn in Wednesday as foreign minister.

Sharon says Iran should be next target after Iraqi War ends
Al-Bawaba, November 5, 2002
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has called on the international community to target Iran as soon as any war with Iraq is over. In an interview with The Times, published Tuesday, Sharon insisted that Tehran should be put under pressure "the day after" action against Baghdad ends.

Straw rejects Israeli call for attack on Iran
The Guardian, November 5, 2002
The foreign secretary, Jack Straw, today dismissed an Israeli call to attack Iran immediately following a strike on Iraq, and called a war on Iran "the gravest possible error".

Hear Palestine, Monday, November 5, 2002
NEWS: One Civilian Killed and 14 Wounded in Israeli Attack on Rafah, Israeli Army Attacks Areas in Khan Younis, Army Invades Tulkarem, Demolition Activities and Threats in Bethlehem, Settlers Attack Kufer Qalil Farmers and Steal Olives. FEATURES: Army Excuses State from Execution Punishment, Tulkarem Residents Prisoners in their Homes for over 2 Weeks, Thousands in Jenin Prevented from Ramadan Tradition.

IDF troops shoot dead one Palestinian, injure 16 in Rafah
Ha'aretz, November 5, 2002 
IDF troops came under fire and responded by shooting dead one Palestinian and injuring 16 in an operation Tuesday in the southern Gaza Strip, according to the army and Palestinian officials.

US Threatens its Firms against Joining Arab Ban of Israel
Palestine Media Center, November 5, 2002
In response to an 18-Arab-state pledge to reactivate a ban on trading with Israel, the US on Monday warned its firms not to take part in the commercial boycott, warning that joining the campaign would be punishable by heavy sanctions, including fines.

Ketziot military prison authorities endanger the lives of Palestinian detainees
Alternative Information Center, November 5, 2002 
Addameer Prisoners Support and Human Rights Association is deeply concerned with the escalating violation of detainees' rights within Israeli prisons and detention centers.

Israeli elections to be held in February, Netanyahu ready to join caretaker cabinet
Al-Bawaba, November 5, 2002
Israeli President Moshe Katsav announced Tuesday morning that he had accepted a request by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to dissolve the Knesset and call elections for ealry February, 2003.

Shrunken government survives no-confidence votes
Ha'aretz, November 5, 2002 
Shorn of its Labor ministers, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's pared down government still survived its first parliamentary challenge last night, defeating three no-confidence motions submitted by Meretz, Shinui, Hadash and the Arab parties.

Israeli offensive kills 8 Palestinians
Arab News, November 5, 2002
GAZA CITY, 5 November — After a period of relative calm, the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians flared again yesterday, with Israeli fire claiming eight Palestinian lives in 24 hours and a suicide bomber killing one person in Israel.

Sharon calls snap election
The Independent, November 5, 2002
Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon today called snap elections for early February after he failed to secure a parliamentary majority for his fragile coalition government.

Suicide bombing in Israel: At least two killed, Islamic Jihad claims attack; Mofaz sworn in
Al-Bawaba, November 4, 2002
At least two people were killed and 32 people injured, one seriously, when a suicide bomber blew himself up just after 18:15 (16:15 GMT) Monday at an open-air shopping mall in Kfar Sava.

Israel to hold crisis elections
BBC, November 5, 2002
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has called early elections after failing to rebuild his crippled coalition government.

S&P: Israel must avoid election economics
Globes, November 5, 2002
Standard & Poor’s sovereign ratings director Konrad Reuss: This morning’s events show the fragility of Israeli political reality: Standard & Poor’s sovereign ratings director Konrad Reuss warned that a flexible election budget could hurt Israel’s situation.

Sharon gets way in key Knesset vote
Chicago Tribune, November 5, 2002
JERUSALEM -- Prime Minister Ariel Sharon warded off challenges to his government in Israel's parliament on Monday as former army chief Shaul Mofaz, an architect of Israel's tough response to the Palestinian uprising, was approved handily as the new defense minister.

Q&A: Israel's early elections
BBC, November 5, 2002
Israel is heading for elections in the new year following the collapse of its national unity government. BBC News online looks at the issues surrounding the latest political crisis.

PM Sharon dissolves Knesset, election slated for Feb. 2003
Ha'aretz, November 5, 2002
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announced Tuesday that President Moshe Katsav had acquiesced to his request to dissolve the Knesset and call elections for early February, 2003.

Bomber kills two new immigrants, wounds nearly 40 others, at Kfar Saba mall
Jerusalem Post, November 5, 2002
Two people were killed and nearly 40 wounded when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside an electrical appliance store on the edge of the open Arim shopping mall in Kfar Saba Monday evening.

Kfar Sava bomber kills 2, injures 69
Ha'aretz, November 5, 2002 
Two people were killed and 69 injured in a suicide bombing yesterday evening at Kfar Sava's Arim shopping mall. Islamic Jihad last night claimed responsibility.

Hear Palestine, November 4, 2002
NEWS: Israeli Army Shells Metal Workshop, 2 Hamas Activists Assassinated, 6 Palestinians Killed, 5 Civilians Wounded in Random Attack, Home Demolitions in Jenin Villages, Occupation Army Demolishes Homes and Well, Demolition of Tourist Compound and Cement Factory in Jerusalem, Bulldozers Continue "Isolation Wall" Activities in Qalqilya, Storage and Vine Groves Demolished near Qalandya,
Israeli Soldiers Arrest Palestinians from West Bank. FEATURES: The Eretz Trap: Palestinian Worker Tells his Blackmail Story with the
'Shabak', Looted Valuables from Muqata'a Distributed in Official Israeli Army Celebration

Court convicts four members of Silwan terror cell
Ha'aretz, November 5, 2002 
The Jerusalem District Court on Tuesday convicted four members of the Silwan terror cell, responsible for eight major terror attacks, on 35 counts of murder and the injuring of hundreds of others.

Ben-Eliezer: Sharon has nothing to show for his time in office
Ha'aretz, November 5, 2002 
Labor Chairman Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, who exited the national unity government only five days ago, blasted Ariel Sharon on Tuesday, shortly after the prime minister precipitated an early election, saying the Likud leader had "no political, social or economic achievements" to show for his 20 months in office.

IDF rejects Amnesty's claim of war crimes
Jerusalem Post, November 4, 2002
The government reacted angrily Monday to the publication of an Amnesty International report which accuses the IDF of war crimes.

Amnesty report understates Israeli casualties
Jerusalem Post, November 5, 2002
Amnesty International's latest report on alleged IDF human rights violations in Jenin and Nablus during Operation Defensive Shield understates civilian deaths caused by terrorism in March by more than a factor of three.

PA and Hamas to begin talks in Cairo
Jerusalem Post, November 5, 2002
The Palestinian Authority and Hamas will begin talks in Cairo Wednesday under the auspices of the European Union, according to PA Interior Minister Hani al-Hassan. The aim of the meetings is to mend fences between the two parties, he said Monday.

Knesset rages over poverty report
Jerusalem Post, November 5, 2002
The poverty report triggered a wave of electioneering in the Knesset yesterday.

Labor slams gov't over poverty data
Ha'aretz, November 5, 2002 
The Labor Party, Meretz and One Nation yesterday filed no-confidence motions against the government, to be voted on next week, in response to the findings of a stark new report that shows one in five people live in poverty.

Citizen Mofaz goes to work
Ha'aretz, November 5, 2002
Citizen Shaul Mofaz arrived with his family at the Knesset to be sworn in as defense minister - just four months after his discharge as Israel Defense Forces chief of staff.

Gay Israeli MP faces new battle in knesset
The Guardian, November 5, 2002
It is a peculiarity of Israeli society that it is far easier to be gay in its army than in the parliament.

The Challenge of Ramadan Under Curfew
Palestine Chronicle, November 4, 2002 
NABLUS, West Bank (PC) - Ramadan, the holiest month of the year for millions of Muslims around the world, is just around the corner. Palestinian Muslims too are ready to embrace the special occasion. But this Ramadan is expected to be different.

PNA Reforms Become Captive of Early Israeli Elections
Palestine Media Center, November 5, 2002
The resignation of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Tuesday, Israel’s decision to go to general elections within 90 days-- on February 4-- and to dissolve parliament (Knesset), have raised Palestinian fears that the status quo of reoccupation of the West Bank has in practice been put on hold, captive of internal Israeli politics, thus threatening to obstruct Palestinian reforms, mainly presidential and parliamentary elections set for January 20, as well as further escalation of military aggressions against the Palestinian people.

Arafat Meets Foreign Envoys, Discuss Roadmap
Palestine Media Center, November 5, 2002
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat said Monday the Palestine National Authority (PNA) will give its final response to the American ‘roadmap’ peace plan, after the return of the Palestinian envoys, currently holding consultations with high ranking officials in a number of neighboring Arab countries.

UNRWA Closes offices in South Lebanon
Palestine Media Center, November 5, 2002
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has decided to close its Sidon and Tyre offices in south Lebanon, Palestinian officials said Monday.

Occupation Chronicle Events in Palestine
Palestine Media Center, November 5, 2002
IOF killed two Palestinian civilians during the past twenty-four hours, detained dozens of civilians in Jenin, and invaded several parts of the Gaza Strip.

Jewish activist attempts suicide
The Guardian, November 5, 2002
Irv Rubin, the leader of the Jewish Defence League, has tried to kill himself in jail while awaiting trial on charges of plotting to bomb Muslim targets in the US.

Second Arab Women's Summit sets stage for participatory strategy in advancing women's cause
Jordan Times, November 5, 2002   
AMMAN — Arab women on Monday wrapped up three days of spirited debate aimed at empowering females in the region through the adoption of a comprehensive strategy promoting their rights.

Summit sideline discussions focus on human rights, women in leadership roles
Jordan Times, November 5, 2002     
AMMAN — Arab women's aspirations for equality, greater freedom, improved access and participation in the moulding of their countries' futures should not be feared or seen as a threat to tradition but rather as a springboard for much needed sustainable development in the region.

International Artists Sing for Palestine
Palestine Chronicle, October 27, 2002
LONDON (PINA) - A growing number of musicians from various parts of the world have been focusing their attention on the Middle East, and the continuous violation of Palestinian human rights.

Saddam says Baghdad ready to cooperate with new U.N. resolution as U.S. plans to submit revised draft proposal
Al-Bawaba, November 5, 2002
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein said on Monday Baghdad would consider cooperating with a U.N. resolution on arms inspections if it was not just a pretext for a U.S. attack.

Saudi Group launches worldwide pro-Islamic media campaign
MENA Report, November 5, 2002
In a bid to offset anti-Arab exposure in the West, the Saudi Dallah Al-Baraka Group (DBG) is preparing to launch a $100 million media campaign across the US and Europe.

Iraq hints at compliance as US adjusts resolution
The Independent, November 5, 2002
President George Bush met senior officials last night to discuss changes to a new United Nations resolution on Iraq that could be put to the vote at the Security Council this week.

Hoon moves to call up reservists for Iraq war
The Independent, November 5, 2002
Geoff Hoon, the Secretary of State for Defence, confirmed yesterday that reserve troops could be called up in preparation for a possible war on Iraq.

Saudi team’s Iraq visit dubbed a grand success
Arab News, November 5, 2002
RIYADH, 5 November — A Saudi trade delegation’s recent landmark visit to Iraq was described as a “grand success” by the leader of the team that comprised 80 businessmen and scores of administrative staff.

Hariri confers with Powell; political American support for Paris II
Arabic News, November 5, 2002
The Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri has received an American support for the "Paris II" conference embodied in that the American side showing its readiness to take part in said conference but without giving any financial contribution.

Al-Raya: Saudi media war against al-Jazeera
Arabic News, November 5, 2002
In its yesterday's issue the Qatari daily al- Raya accused Saudi Arabia of running a "hidden war" against the Qatari satellite al-Jazeera TV station.

Washington apologizes over one US plane violation of the Syrian airspace
Arabic News, November 5, 2002
The US yesterday apologized over one of its plane's violation of the Syrian airspace while flying over the so-called "no fly zone" in northern Iraq.

Japanese musicians empathise with Palestinian plight
Jordan Times, November 5, 2002
AMMAN — To show their solidarity with the Palestinian cause, a group of Japanese nationals along with members of the National Music Conservatory (NMC) held an evening concert on Sunday to raise funds for Palestinian children under occupation.

UK Support for attack on Iraq falls to new low
The Guardian, November 5, 2002
Support for military action against Iraq has slumped to its lowest since Tony Blair first seriously raised the prospect of war in August, according to the results of this week's Guardian/ICM tracker poll.

Muslim Americans To Observe Ramadan on Wednesday
Islam Online, November 5, 2002
CHICAGO, November 4 (IslamOnline) - The majority of Muslim Americans will begin their first day of fasting on Wednesday, November 6, following their regional astronomical calculations.

US Jewish vote up for grabs
Jerusalem Post, November 5, 2002
With control of the House and the Senate at stake in Tuesday's midterm elections, the Jewish vote appears to be up for grabs in several key states, including New York and Florida, where Republican Governors George Pataki and Jeb Bush are making inroads among traditionally Democratic Jewish voters.

Lebanon by-election win scrapped in fresh blow for opposition
Jordan Times, November 5, 2002   
BEIRUT (AFP) — Lebanon's judiciary Monday annulled the June by-election victory of anti-Syrian Christian opposition MP Gabriel Murr, in a new move against critics of Damascus' dominant role in its smaller neighbour. 

Turkey's Islamist poll winner insists on pro-West stance
Jordan Times, November 5, 2002       
ANKARA (AFP) — Turkey's main Islamist party vowed to maintain the NATO country's pro-Western stance as it laid plans on Monday to form a new government after a landslide election victory.

Official PA newspaper slanders Condoleezza Rice again
Jerusalem Post, November 5, 2002
The Palestinian Authority's official daily newspaper Al-Hayat al-Jadeeda has resumed its attacks on US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, this time portraying her as a raven, mocking the color of her skin and her "flabby" way of sitting and dressing.

Mideast peace 'road map' inadequate — Egypt
Jordan Times, November 5, 2002       
CAIRO (AFP) — Proposals for an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict backed by the United States and other members of a diplomatic quartet are inadequate, Egypt's ambassador in Washington was quoted as saying Monday.