Sharon Wins Elections - Seven Killed in Attack on Likud Office
Palestine Chronicle, November 28, 2002
Sharon's challenger, Netanyahu, conceded defeat after loosing by at least 20-percent.  - OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (PC) - Elections took place Thursday in Israel to decide whether Prime Minister Ariel Sharon or Foreign Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will lead the hard-line right-wing Likud party into national elections.

Three Palestinians killed by IDF in Gaza, West Bank
Ha'aretz, November 28, 2002
Three Palestinians were killed in three separate incidents yesterday in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Palestinian Ambulance Targeted By IOF, Riddled With 104 Bullets
Palestine Media Center, November 27, 2002
According to Palestinian health officials, an ambulance driver was critically wounded and his vehicle riddled by 104 Israeli bullets during an Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) invasion of the Gaza Strip town of Deir Al-Balah, early Tuesday.

Yishai revokes citizenship of Israeli Arab
Jerusalem Post, November 28, 2002         
Interior Minister Eli Yishai on Wednesday revoked the citizenship of an Israeli Arab alleged to be involved in terrorist activities.

Arafat cancels Bethlehem Christmas celebrations
Jerusalem Post, November 28, 2002       
Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat on Wednesday ordered Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem canceled, to protest the IDF presence in the city.

Al-Aqsa Brigades Claim Beit Shean Attack, Israel Threatens Reprisal
Islam Online, November 28, 2002
JENIN, West Bank, November 28 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility Thursday, November 28, for the shooting attack in the northern Israeli town of Beit Shean in which six people were killed, including four Israelis, with Israel threatening tough response.

PM rejects Jordan's request to rule out `transfer' in Iraq war
Ha'aretz, November 28, 2002
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has rejected Jordan's request that Israel issue a public declaration opposing the "transfer" of Palestinians from the West Bank.

Fact-Finding Peace Activists Banned from Reaching Settlements in Hebron
Palestine Chronicle, November 28, 2002
HEBRON, West Bank - Israeli Occupation Forces prevented Wednesday a group from the Israeli anti-settlement movement Peace Now from visiting an area in the West Bank city of Hebron where Jewish settlers are building new outposts in violation of international law.

Israelis Commit Another Extra-Judicial Assassination
Palestine Chronicle, November 27, 2002 
At least 176 Palestinians have so far been killed in extra-judicial executions committed by Israel, including 64 Palestinian bystanders.

Government questions UNRWA neutrality
Jerusalem Post, November 28, 2002           
NEW YORK Israeli officials are calling UNRWA's official neutrality into question following accusations that the IDF shot a British aid worker "in the back" and mistreated an UNRWA employee's spouse.

PA says it has no connection with Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades
Ha'aretz, November 28, 2002 
For the first time since the start of the intifada, the Palestinian Authority issued a vehement statement denying any connection "between the Fatah movement and its institutions" and the armed wing of Fatah, the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.

Burg and Qurei agree that both sides made mistakes
Jerusalem Post, November 28, 2002           
Knesset Speaker Abraham Burg and Palestinian Legislative Council Speaker Ahmed Qurei met Wednesday and agreed that both sides made mistakes that contributed to the current violence and that it is necessary to renew talks.

Car bomber misses soldiers in Gaza attack
Jerusalem Post, November 28, 2002             
A car bomb blew up on the Palestinian side of the District Coordinating Office near Nisanit in the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday morning, killing the driver and setting fire to a caravan, but failing to damage a nearby IDF position that seemed its likely target.

Abbas: Palestinian use of arms made Sharon popular
Jerusalem Post, November 28, 2002               
In the past two years the Palestinians have destroyed all that they had built since the establishment of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, the PLO's No. 2 man, was quoted as saying Wednesday.

Blair wants to convene Mideast peace conference in London
Al-Bawaba, November 28, 2002 
British Prime Minister Tony Blair intends to bring Israelis and Palestinians together for a Middle East peace conference, the chairman of the ruling Labor Party said Thursday.

PA condemns shooting attack in northern Israel: At least six people killed, two attackers shot dead
Al-Bawaba, November 28, 2002
Two Palestinians opened fire Thursday on passengers at the northern Israeli town of Beit She'an Central bus station and at a nearby Likud Party office, where members were voting in a leadership primary. At least six people were killed.

Fact-finding Peace Activists Banned from reaching Settlements in Hebron
Palestine Media Center, November 28, 2002
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) prevented Wednesday a group from the Israeli anti-settlement movement Peace Now from visiting an area in the West Bank city of Hebron where Jewish settlers are building new outposts in violation of international law.

Three Israelis killed in dual attacks in Mombasa; Israel, Kenya blame al Qaeda
Al-Bawaba, November 28, 2002
At least 11 people, including three Israelis died when a car-bomb ripped through an Israeli-owned hotel near the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa, as an Israeli plane leaving the local airport narrowly avoided a missile attack.

Israel vows revenge on Kenya attackers
BBC, November 28, 2002
Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz has vowed to hunt down the perpetrators of two attacks on Israeli citizens in Kenya.

Al-Qaeda suspected in Kenya attacks
BBC, November 28, 2002
The initial suspicion must be that al-Qaeda was behind the Kenya attacks, but a final judgement should be withheld.

Palestinian Students’ Suffering Increases
Palestine Media Center, November 27, 2002
Increases in the number of martyrs school students in Rafah since the beginning of the new scholastic year / Siege, Closure, and tight curfews in major Palestinian cities; Nablus, Hebron, and Tulkarem / Israeli Army in Birzeit, and An-Najah Universities targets Palestinian University students. / Educational process in some Palestinian Universities is completely paralyzed. / Israeli incursion results in the imprisonment of Palestinian University students.

Israelis Kill Palestinian Ramadan Drummer
Palestine Chronicle, November 28, 2002
NABLUS, West Bank - Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian Ramadan drummer, or mesaharati, early Wednesday, November 28, near the autonomous Palestinian city of Nablus as he was waking up Muslims for their pre-dawn meals.

Sharon Rejects Voicing Opposition to Transfer
Palestine Media Center, November 28, 2002
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has rejected a Jordanian request that Israel issue a public declaration opposing the ‘transfer’ of Palestinians from the West Bank in case of a US-led war on Iraq, the Israeli daily newspaper Ha’aretz reported Thursday.

No Evidence of al-Qaida Involvement in Kenya Attacks, Says Britain
Palestine Chronicle, November 28, 2002 
LONDON - Britain says there is no immediate evidence of al-Qaida involvement in the deadly attacks in Kenya Thursday.

EU Parliamentarians Call for Israeli Cooperation Agreement Suspension
Palestine Chronicle, November 28, 2002
BRUSSELS - Representatives of all the French political parties and European Parliament (EP) members urged Wednesday for the suspension of the association agreement between the European Union and Israel to force Israel to respect human rights and implement international resolutions.

President Arafat: Occupation of Bethlehem Renders Christmas Celebrations Off
Palestine Media Center, November 28, 2002
Palestinian fears that Bethlehem celebrations would be canceled because of the continuing Israeli occupation of the city materialized after the Palestinian President announced that they would be called off in protest of the IOF occupation.

Mombasa Attacks Indicate Israeli Interests in Africa At Stake
Palestine Chronicle, November 28, 2002
CAIRO - The Mombasa operation sends a strong message to the Israeli entity that its interests in the African continent are at stake, said an Egyptian expert in African affairs.

It was Only Aid to a Needy Person: Saudi Princess Haifa
Palestine Chronicle, November 28, 2002 
WASHINGTON - Saudi Princess Haifa Al-Faisal said she was outraged that her donation to a needy woman was linked to the Sept. 11 terrorists.

Saudi Interior Minister Says Muslim Brotherhood Cause of Most Arab Problems
Palestine Chronicle, November 28, 2002 
RIYADH - Saudi Interior Minister Prince Naif has stated that the Muslim Brotherhood organization was the cause of most problems in the Arab world. "The Brotherhood has done great damage to Saudi Arabia," he said.

Xmas Festivities Called off in Bethlehem Due to Occupation: Arafat
Islam Online, November 28, 2002
RAMALLAH, West Bank, November 27 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - This year's Christmas celebrations have been cancelled in Bethlehem, where Jesus (Peace be upon him) is believed to have been born, because of Israel's military closure of the holy town, Palestinian President Yasser Arafat announced Wednesday, November 27.

PA may cancel Christmas celebrations; Report: Sharon refuses to declare he will not expel Palestinians to Jordan
Al-Bawaba, November 28, 2002  
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat expressed Wednesday his outrage at Israel's military operations in Bethlehem and announced Christmas celebrations in the holy southern West Bank city were cancelled.

Sharon, 52% of Likudists Support a Palestinian State, PNA not Impressed
Palestine Media Center, November 28, 2002
Ahead of today’s Likud convention to decide who will lead the right-wing party into general elections and become the clear favorite to lead Israel, PM Ariel Sharon and 52% of 305,000 members voiced their support for the creation of a Palestinian state, amid Palestinian warnings against optimism since Sharon is still committed to dictating conditions on the Palestinian people by military means.

EU Parliamentarians Call for Israeli Cooperation Agreement Suspension
Palestine Media Center, November 28, 2002
Representatives of all the French political parties and European Parliament (EP) members urged Wednesday for the suspension of the association agreement between the European Union and Israel to force Israel to respect human rights and implement international resolutions.

Nusseibeh: Halting terror will help Israeli peace camp
Ha'aretz, November 28, 2002
"Helping to ensure the success of a peace government in Israel's coming elections is a major Palestinian interest," said Sari Nusseibeh, the Palestinian Authority's minister for Jerusalem affairs, on Wednesday.

Netanyahu and supporters slam media, say will beat polls
Ha'aretz, November 28, 2002
In spite of polls that predict failure in his bid for the Likud chairmanship, Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that, "The real poll will be on the day of the primaries, and not beforehand."

e-Jihad campaign to launch Friday, claims Jewish organization
Al-Bawaba, November 28, 2002 
An online Jihad campaign directed against Jewish and Israeli websites is set to launch this Friday, November 29, according to the Los Angeles-based Simon Wiesenthal Center, which regularly monitors Arab and Islamic websites for anti-Jewish activity on the Internet.

Arab organization asks bush to reject more military aid to Israel
Arabic News, November 28, 2002
The Anti-Discrimination Committee has asked US president Bush to refuse an Israeli request of an additional $14 billion in U.S. military assistance and U.S. loan guarantees.

Relieved passengers back in Israel
BBC, November 28, 2002
Passengers on the Israeli aircraft targeted in a failed missile attack above Kenya have expressed their relief at landing safely in Tel Aviv.

Scene at the Paradise Hotel
BBC, November 28, 2002
I am at the Mombasa Paradise Hotel now. It has been completely destroyed.

6 killed in shooting attack on Likud branch in Beit She'an
Ha'aretz, November 28, 2002 
At least six Israelis were killed and some 43 injured in an attack by two terrorists Thursday afternoon who opened fire on people voting in the Likud leadership primary at the party branch in the northern town of Beit She'an.

Ha'aretz poll puts right-wing-religious bloc firmly in driving seat
Ha'aretz, November 28, 2002  
Exactly two months before the Knesset elections, the right-wing and religious bloc of parties is gaining strength.

Sharon Rejects Voicing Opposition to Transfer
Palestine Chronicle, November 28, 2002
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has rejected a Jordanian request that Israel issue a public declaration opposing the ‘transfer’ of Palestinians from the West Bank in case of a US-led war on Iraq, the Israeli daily newspaper Ha’aretz reported Thursday.

S turns screw on Iraq
BBC, November 28, 2002
The US will act fast if Saddam refuses to co-operate: The United States is stepping up diplomatic and military pressure on Iraq as the pace of United Nations weapons inspections starts to quicken.

Iraq Official Surprised by Visit
The Guardian, November 27, 2002
AL-AMIRIYAH, Iraq (AP) - On Day 1 of the new U.N. weapons inspection program, a 40-vehicle convoy led by a team of inspectors meandered for 80 miles down highways and side roads, with Iraqi officials and a horde of journalists wondering what the first target would be.

Weapons inspectors fear their HQ may be bugged
The Guardian, November 28, 2002
On the second day of the hunt for illicit weapons in Iraq, UN inspectors again found Iraqi officials well-prepared for their "surprise" visits.

US Prepares for Iraqi Invasion, Trains Opposition in Hungary
Palestine Chronicle, November 28, 2002
BERLIN - The United States plans to train Iraqi opposition forces at one of its military bases in Hungary for a likely invasion of Iraq, DPA said Thursday.

Moscow, Annan talks about lifting Iraq sanctions within months; first day of inspections 'typical'
Arabic News, November 28, 2002
The first day of inspection for the Iraqi weapons passed peacefully without obstacles and the inspectors got what they want, hoping that this day will be "typical" for future cooperation between the Iraqi government and the UN.

Barazani: US had decided what to do, we were not informed
Arabic News, November 28, 2002
The chairman of the Kurdistani Democratic Party, Masoud al-Barazani, has announced that the US administration "had drawn plans concerning Iraq and did not brief the Iraqi opposition groups on them," stressing the refusal of these groups for any American military rule of Iraq after toppling the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

Iraqi opposition conference in London on January 13
Arabic News, November 28, 2002
Officials in the main opposition Iraqi groups said that the plenary conference for the Iraqi opposition will be held in London on January 13 through 15 after the completion of preliminary meetings in Washington and the last of these meetings will be held on January 2md and 3rd.

CIA Reports May Be Used in U.N. Inspections: Blix
Islam Online, November 28, 2002
WASHINGTON, November 28 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – Chief U.N. arms inspector Hans Blix said his teams could use U.S. intelligence reports to verify a full accounting of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs that Iraq is bound to complete by December 8.

Founder of Sadomasochistic Sex Clubs Among U.N. Inspectors: Paper
WASHINGTON, November 28 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - The United Nations launched its weapons inspections in Iraq with a team that includes “a 53-year-old Virginia man with no specialized scientific degree and a leadership role in sadomasochistic sex clubs”, a U.S. daily reported Thursday, November 28.

Environmentalists Concerned About Impacts of Iraq War
Islam Online, November 28, 2002
PANCEVO, Yugoslavia, November 27 (IslamOnline & News Agencies ) - As the United States prepares for another possible war on sanction-hit Iraq, environmentalists have raised new concerns about the consequences of precision bombing designed to cripple military-industrial infrastructure.

Tanks Fitted Out For Iraq War: Hoon
Islam Online, November 28, 2002
LONDON, November 26 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - British Army tanks are being prepared for a possible desert war against Iraq, Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon told the House of Commons late on Monday, November 25.

U.N. Inspections Start With Former Iraqi Women’s Prison Site
Islam Online, November 28, 2002
BAGHDAD, November 27 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – U.N. arms experts on Wednesday, November 27, launched the first disarmament mission in Iraq in nearly four years, inspecting a suspect site in the suburbs of Baghdad.

Washington seeks to train 5,000 Iraqi opposition in Hungary
Arabic News, November 28, 2002
The spokesman for the Hungarian government said yesterday that Washington asked permission to use a military base to the south of Budapest to train American soldiers and employees in preparation for war against Iraq.

Arms inspectors scour 'anthrax plant'
The Independent, November 28, 2002
International arms inspectors revisited one of the "hot zones" of Iraq's biological weapons programme today, peering into holding tanks, and checking the ground and outbuildings to see whether military research had resumed.

UN teams fan out for first day of inspections – with Iraqi officials and the media in hot pursuit
The Independent, November 28, 2002
The United Nations began its much-heralded search for Saddam Hussein's supposed weapons of mass destruction yesterday amid massive international publicity, and a degree of confusion and pathos.

Yemen and cooperation with the USA
Arabic News, November 28, 2002
Abdul Karim al-Eryani, the advisor of the Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, indicated that the Arab states will minimize their cooperation with the US in the war against terrorism if the latter launches a war against Iraq.

Saudis react with fury to American accusations of funding al-Qaida
The Guardian, November 28, 2002
A row between the US and Saudi Arabia over the funding of terrorism turned into a no-holds-barred battle yesterday, when the kingdom unleashed the fury of its normally state-restrained media against Washington.

Greens vow to fight Eitam's plans for new Negev nuclear plant
Ha'aretz, November 28, 2002
Green groups are vowing to fight Infrastructure Minister Effi Eitam's plan, revealed Wednesday, to build a nuclear power station in the Negev, with one group, Life and Environment, saying "Eitam is turning his brief term in the ministry into a production line for national disasters."

Arab group denies claims it stoked 'mini-intifada' on streets of Antwerp
The Guardian, November 28, 2002
Police in Antwerp were still holding 20 suspects yesterday after clashes that began on Tuesday when a young teacher of Moroccan origin was murdered by a white neighbour.

Hear Palestine, November 28, 2002
NEWS: Israeli Military Attacks Target Deir al-Balah Residential Areas at Dawn / Occupation Soldiers Shell Agricultural Fields in Beit Lahya at Dawn / Occupation Army Sinks 7 Fishing Boats in Deir al-Balah Last Night / Raids and Arrests in al-Qarara, Gaza Strip / Ongoing Military Operation in Bethlehem / Tightened Military Measures in Nablus / Military Invasion and Attack in Jenin Last Night   FEATURES: In Askar Refugee Camp. They Killed the 'Musaharati' / Bethlehem: Resident shot Dead in Al-Ubeidiya for No Reason

Arab-American tycoon refutes charges of funding terrorist groups
Al-Bawaba, November 27, 2002
Palestinian-American multimillionaire Jesse Maali pleaded not guilty Wednesday, November 27, to charges of money laundering and violating US immigration laws. The businessman, who owns souvenir shops and restaurant chains in Orlando, was released from jail after posting a $10 million bail.

Jewish lobby takes “Faris Bila Jawad” to the next level: The US Congress!
Al-Bawaba, November 28, 2002  
Jewish lobbyists are once again trying to rekindle the sparks of uproar the Egyptian drama “Faris Bila Jawad” (Knight Without a Horse) caused at the beginning of Ramadan.

Canadian government outlaws Hamas, not Hizbullah
Al-Bawaba, November 28, 2002   
The Canadian government made it illegal Wednesday for Canadians to assist the Palestinian group Hamas, naming it “an outlawed terror group.”

Jweili for revitalizing joint Arab work
Arabic News, November 28, 2002
The secretary general of the Arab economic unity council Ahmad Jweli has called for the need to revitalize joint Arab work in all fields especially in the economic areas and to move towards the foundation of the joint Arab market and increasing the volume of inter- Arab trade.

Al-Rai al-Aam: Kuwait denies American pressures behind changing educational curricula
Arabic News, November 28, 2002
The Kuwaiti foreign minister Sheikh Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah yesterday stressed that Kuwait will proceed to changing its educational curricula and developing them, and he denied that this pursue was made at a request or pressure from the USA.

Mubarak to Israeli president: A Knight Without A Horse not against Judaism or Israel
Arabic News, November 28, 2002
The Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot disclosed the latest message by President Mubarak to Israeli President Moshe Katzav, where Mubarak voiced difference in opinion with Katzav on the TV series, as the latter considered it anti-Semitic.

More Syrian relief aids to the Palestinians
Arabic News, November 28, 2002
The fourth convoy carrying relief aid from Syrian citizens to Palestinians in occupied Palestine departed yesterday morning. The convoy is comprised of 16 trucks with a load of more than 300 tones of basic food stuff.

Iranian student activists face charges
BBC, November 27, 2002
Iranian student leaders arrested on Tuesday face charges of acting against national security.

Bear hugs and flak jackets
Ha'aretz, November 28, 2002  
The general election campaign got underway on Monday at the Likud branch in Or Akiva. Amram Mitzna has now joined the distinguished club of those who are vociferously booed and hectored by the Likud activists.

German Group Accuses Chancellor Schroeder of Supporting Sharon
Palestine Chronicle, November 28, 2002 
BERLIN - A German peace group here Thursday accused Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder of supporting "the military policy" of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, following Berlin's compliance with Tel Aviv's request for German Patriot missile systems to be used in a likely Iraqi missile attack.

Occupation Chronicle Events in Palestine, November 28, 2002
Palestine Media Center, November 28, 2002
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) killed a Palestinian civilian near Bethlehem City on Wednesday. IOF also shelled several neighborhoods located in the Gaza strip, damaging a number of citizens’ homes.

Watchdog group calls for supervision of the media
Jerusalem Post, November 27, 2002 
The head of a private watchdog organization that monitors government activity Wednesday called for the establishment of a statutory body to supervise the media.

US synagogues donate Torahs to IDF
Jerusalem Post, November 27, 2002   
Over 30 rabbis from Young Israel in the US presented eight Torah scrolls to the IDF in a ceremony at the Central Command headquarters in Jerusalem on Wednesday.

Israel remembers Latin America's diplomatic contributions
Jerusalem Post, November 27, 2002     
Diplomats from Latin America, Spain, and Portugal, members of the Israel-Latin America Chamber of Commerce, cultural figures, and a 34-member delegation of journalists from 18 Latin American countries gathered at Beit Hanassi on Wednesday to mark the 55th anniversary of United Nations Resolution 181 that called for the partition of Palestine and paved the way for the declaration of the sovereign state of Israel.

Mitzna may draw twice as many Arab votes for Labor
Jerusalem Post, November 27, 2002       
Labor headed by its newly-elected leader Haifa Mayor Amram Mitzna is likely to receive twice as many votes from the Arab electorate than it did in the 1999 elections, according to political pundits in the Arab sector.

Campaign Watch 2003: Short and sweet the key this time in campaign slogans
Jerusalem Post, November 27, 2002         
Politicians, or at least their highly paid PR firms, are apparently more in tune with the public than readily apparent. The campaign slogans that have been unveiled thus far have been very understanding of the ailment affecting most of the nation: election fatigue.

video
"Another developing country counts its dead alongside its tourists"
BBC News, November 28, 2002