Israelis Kill Palestinian Mother
Palestine Chronicle, December 8, 2002
GAZA CITY - Israeli troops killed a Palestinian mother yesterday and wounded three of her children as they walked through a refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian hospital officials and witnesses said.

Palestinians Expose Plot to Create Fake Al-Qaeda Cell in Gaza
Palestine Chronicle, December 8, 2002
GAZA CITY - Palestinian security forces accused Israeli intelligence agents Saturday, December 7, of trying to set up a mock Al-Qaeda cell in the Gaza Strip following the Jewish state’s accusations Osama bin Laden’s network was active in the fenced-in coastal area.

Israel blocks Arafat Bethlehem visit
BBC, December 8, 2002
Christmas celebrations could be curbed this year -- Israel has said Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat will be blocked from visiting the West Bank town of Bethlehem for the second Christmas in a row.

Israeli Opposition Leader Calls on Jews to Abandon Settlements
Palestine Chronicle, December 8, 2002
"Labor Party chief Amran Mitzna told the French News Agency Sunday Jews have to free themselves of the 'nightmare in the Gaza Strip' .." - TEL AVIV - Israel's opposition Labor Party candidate for prime minister is urging Jewish 'settlers' living in the Palestinian territories to abandon the settlements and come home to Israel.

Palestinians claim Israel kills, injures women
Houston Chronicle, December 8, 2002
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- Israeli soldiers killed a Palestinian woman and wounded her three children as well as a second woman in a refugee camp today, Palestinian witnesses said.

British ambassador calls for halting Israeli settlement
Arabic News, December 7, 2002
British ambassador in Israel has called on the Israeli government to halt rebuilding the Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza, saying that the Israeli government has to define its strategies.

IDF to High Court: We don't use 'human shields'
Jerusalem Post, December 8, 2002   
The IDF informed the High Court of Justice on Thursday it recently issued an order preventing soldiers from forcing Palestinian civilians to carry out any mission on their behalf.

Fatah leader rejects proposed referendum on Palestinian positions
Jerusalem Post, December 8, 2002   
Fatah on Thursday lashed out at Muhammad Rashid, adviser on economic affairs to Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat, for proposing a referendum on the issues of Jerusalem, refugees, and borders before the upcoming general election in Israel.

Film Excluded from Oscar Competition for Being Palestinian
Palestine Chronicle, December 8, 2002
WASHINGTON (PC) - On the grounds that “Palestine is not a nation”, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has refused the Palestinian entry “Divine Intervention”, for the nomination of “Best Foreign Film”.

Fatah-Hamas fighting intensifies in Gaza
Jerusalem Post, December 8, 2002 
For the second time in the past three days, Fatah gunmen in Gaza City fired on the home of a Hamas leader, Palestinian sources told The Jerusalem Post on Saturday.

Palestinian woman shot dead; Five Palestinians arrested; Israel places permanent iron roadblock in central Nablus
Al-Bawaba, December 8, 2002
A Palestinian woman was killed by Isreli tank fire Sunday evening, close to the southern Gaza settlement of Rafiah Yam.

Media voice outrage over Eid Al-Fitr massacre in Gaza
Arab News, December 8, 2002
DUBAI, 8 December 2002 — Newspapers in the Kingdom and rest of the Gulf region yesterday voiced outrage at the deaths of 10 Palestinians during Eid Al-Fitr and accused Israel of a massacre on the Gaza Strip as a “gift to the Palestinian people for the annual Islamic festival.”

Report: Israeli businessman managed $300 million Swiss accounts for PA officials
Al-Bawaba, December 8, 2002
An official investigation was opened Thursday, December 5, against Israeli businessman Yossi Ginossar for allegedly helped transfer $300 million in Palestinian funds through secret Swiss bank accounts and shell companies to an unknown destination on behalf of Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat.

Fake Al-Qaeda cell busted in Gaza
Arab News, December 8, 2002
GAZA CITY, 8 December 2002 — Palestinian security forces have arrested a group of Palestinians for collaborating with Israel and posing as operatives of Osama Bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda terrorist network, a senior official said yesterday.

Israeli Intelligence Tried to Create Fake Al-Qaeda Cell: Palestinians
Islam Online, December 8, 2002
Arafat called the claim “a big, big, big, big lie to cover (Sharon’s) attacks and his crimes against our people everywhere” -- GAZA CITY, December 8 (IslamOnline & New Agencies) - Palestinian security forces accused Israeli intelligence agents Saturday, December 7, of trying to set up a mock Al-Qaeda cell in the Gaza Strip following the Jewish state’s accusations Osama bin Laden’s network was active in the fenced-in coastal area.

PA: Mossad set up fake al Qaeda cell in Gaza Strip
Al-Bawaba, December 8, 2002
The Palestinian Authority accused Israel's Mossad spy agency on Saturday of setting up a fake al Qaeda cell in Gaza so that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon could justify Israeli attacks in Palestinian areas.

PA accuses Israel of 'staging' al-Qaida cells
Jerusalem Post, December 8, 2002   
The scope, extent, and depth of al-Qaida operations in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip is unclear, as is how much of a threat they pose to Israel, security sources said Saturday.

Israel 'faked al-Qaeda presence'
BBC, December 8, 2002
Officials from the Palestinian Authority have accused the Israeli spy agency Mossad of setting up a fake al-Qaeda terrorist cell in Gaza.

Palestinians: Woman killed, three children badly wounded in Gaza
Jerusalem Post, December 8, 2002   
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - A Palestinian women was killed and three of her children and another woman were badly wounded Sunday by Israeli gunfire in the Gaza Strip, Palestinians said, while the IDF said soldiers shot at armed Palestinians trying to infiltrate into a Jewish settlement.

Anti-war activist Philip Berrigan dies at 79
Houston Chronicle, December 7, 2002
BALTIMORE -- Philip Berrigan, the former priest whose fight against the Vietnam War and nuclear weapons helped ignite a generation of anti-war dissent, has died of cancer. He was 79.

America’s dissident-in-chief finds warm welcome in UK
Arab News, December 8, 2002
To many Professor Noam Chomsky is a dissident superstar, whose voice of reason has warned the United States of the dangers of imperial power and supreme overconfidence — from Vietnam to Afghanistan and now Iraq.

Israeli Soldiers Kill 1, Wound 4 in Gaza
Miami Herald, December 8, 2002
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Israeli soldiers killed a Palestinian woman and wounded her three children as well as a second woman in a refugee camp Sunday, Palestinian witnesses said.

Ya'alon: Most innocent Palestinians killed due to character of fighting
Jerusalem Post, December 8, 2002   
Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen Moshe Ya'alon on Sunday said there were few instances of innocent Palestinians killed by the IDF due to soldiers' lack of operating within regulations, Army Radio reported.

Ten percent of Israeli soldiers admit to using drugs: army survey
Jerusalem Post, December 8, 2002   
One in 10 Israeli soldiers admits using drugs during his military service, according to a survey published in an army weekly.

Palestinians: IDF demolished house in Gaza
Jerusalem Post, December 8, 2002   
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - IDF forces in the Gaza Strip demolished a two-story Palestinian house, a few hundred meters (yards) from the Jewish settlement of Netzarim, Palestinian residents said.

Arafat 'hints at election delays'
BBC, December 8, 2002
The Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, is reported to have said that a general election set for January will have to be delayed unless Israeli forces withdraw from Palestinian-administered towns in the West Bank and Gaza.

Hear Palestine, December 8, 2002
NEWS: Occupation Army Invades Village, South Jenin / Occupation Army Shells Western Refugee Camp, Khan Younis / Occupation Army Advance Towards Breij and Maghazi Refugee Camps / Demolition Activities in Deir al-Balah / Details of Al-Breij Refugee Camp Massacre  FEATURES: Jenin: Woman Gives Birth at Occupation Roadblock. Infant Dies / Family of Haj Atiya Rimawi Live 'Id' According to the Occupation

International Solidarity Movement, December 8, 2002
From:  Huwaida Arraf:  "Friends, It's been a number of days since we've sent out updates.  First a few announcements then some backlogged reports from Palestine. 1) A few of our lists have been hacked and deleted, including our media list and our ISM activists list..." Equality In Martyrdom / The End of Ramadan  / Eid at Huwwara Checkpoint

‘Christian Zionist Embassy‘ Vilifies Christian Leader for Criticizing Israel
Palestine Chronicle, December 8, 2002
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM - The so-called “Christian Embassy,” in West Jerusalem, run by a group of European and North American Jews, has sent a threatening letter to the Christian Orthodox Patriarchy headquarters in East Jerusalem, demanding the dismissal of an outspoken Orthodox leader for criticizing ‘Israeli state terror’ against Palestinians.

ACRI marks civil rights week
Ha'aretz, December 8, 2002 
Civil rights will be celebrated internationally this week, and the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) plans to hold a variety of activities to increase public awareness for civil and human rights.

On the defense
Jerusalem Post, December 8, 2002 
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz addresses a political rally at Netanya's Park Hotel on Saturday night, where he hinted that former prime minister Ehud Barak is to blame for the current Palestinian uprising.

Unknown group claims blast that injured two Israeli soldiers on Lebanese border; Israel blames Hizbullah
Al-Bawaba, December 8, 2002
Two Israeli troops were seriously injured Sunday morning, when the armored personnel carrier they were travelling in hit a roadside mine close to the border with Lebanon.

Al Qaeda spokesman threatens to launch harder strikes against U.S., Israel
Al-Bawaba, December 8, 2002
Al-Qaeda threatens faster, harder strikes against the United States and Israel "on land, air and sea" in a new statement attributed to Osama bin Laden's network on an Islamic website Sunday.

Abu Ghaith: Crusader-Jewish Alliance No Longer Immune
Palestine Chronicle, December 8, 2002
KUWAIT CITY - Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, a leading Al-Qaeda spokesman who has been stripped of his Kuwaiti nationality, resurfaced Sunday, December 8, threatening more attacks.

Israel says 10 killed in Gaza raid were armed, PA says they were civilians
Ha'aretz, December 8, 2002
Israel and the Palestinian Authority dispute the identity of ten Palestinians killed in an IDF raid on Al-Bureij refugee camp in the early hours of Friday morning. Israel says most of the dead were armed militants, while the PA says they were mostly civilians.

Report on Israeli Settlement in the Occupied Territories: November-December 2002
Foundation for Middle East Peace
Quartet's "Roadmap" Irrelevant to Dramatic Changes on the Ground

'There are times when a nation has to go to war. This is not the time'
The Independent, December 8, 2002
Chief weapons inspector seeks to deny Bush chance of using Iraqi report as excuse for war -- Some time after dusk this evening, a light van will pull up at the New York headquarters of the United Nations to deliver a document that could determine whether the world will see peace or war in the new year.

US seeks one excuse for war in 12,000 pages of denial
The Observer, December 8, 2002
As Iraq insists it has no weapons of mass destruction, Washington is losing patience with anyone who wants to prevent another conflict.

U.N. Begins Analyzing Iraq Declaration
The Guardian, December 8, 2002
VIENNA, Austria (AP) - The U.N. nuclear agency received Iraq's arms declaration Sunday and began a painstaking analysis to check Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's claims that he has no atomic weapons or programs to develop them.

Kuwait rebuffs Saddam's weighted apology
The Times, December 8, 2002
SADDAM HUSSEIN has offered a qualified apology for invading Kuwait 12 years ago. However, the Iraqi President urged Kuwaitis to expel their Government for colluding with American “infidels” who were preparing to attack Iraq.

UN chief: We can get to the truth
The Independent, December 8, 2002
The arms inspectors in Iraq are in an unprecedentedly strong position to "get to the truth", according to Dimitri Perricos, the head of Unmovic (the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission).

Buildup Leaves U.S. Military Nearly Set to Start Attack
New York Times, December 7, 2002
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 — The United States will soon have enough heavy tanks, warships, aircraft, bombs and troops in the Persian Gulf region to enable it to begin an attack against Iraq sometime in January, senior military officials say.

We have no weapons of mass destruction. Your move, Mr Bush
The Independent, December 8, 2002
27 files, 11,807 pages, 352 appendices, 529 megabytes on CD-Roms and one message from Iraq ..

Blix not convinced by US claims
Arab News, December 8, 2002
STOCKHOLM, 8 December 2002 — Chief UN arms inspector Hans Blix, who is to examine Iraq’s arms declaration in the coming days, said yesterday he had yet to see convincing evidence presented by the United States that Iraq possessed banned weapons.

Saddam risks war over arms dossier
The Observer, December 8, 2002
Bush and Blair are sceptical of Iraqi weapons claim as US hunts for arms breach -- Saddam Hussein risked a devastating US-led war yesterday when he delivered a 12,000-page declaration on Iraq's arms capability, which he insists proves his regime 'retains no weapons of mass destruction'.

Opposition will meet in Britain
The Independent, December 8, 2002
With the overthrow of their common enemy, Saddam Hussein, an ever-growing possibility, Iraqi opposition groups will meet in London this week for a long-delayed gathering designed as a show of unity.

Kuwait rejects Saddam apology; U.S. reacts cautiously to Iraq weapons declaration
Al-Bawaba, December 8, 2002
Iraq handed on Saturday the United Nations a huge dossier on its military programs, denying that it has any banned weapons. also on Saturday, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein apologized to Kuwait for his 1990 invasion.

Focus: All eyes on the top
Ha'aretz, December 8, 2002
The Likud party's top figures see today's balloting as more than a stepping stone toward ministerial portfolios in the next government. The ranking of Likud candidates, they believe, could decide who will have a shot at inheriting Ariel Sharon's place as leader of the country's now dominant political party.

Health ministry to investigate hunger situation among the poor
Ha'aretz, December 8, 2002
The Health Ministry will make a special survey to examine whether hunger caused by economic difficulties exists, and to identify the true proportions of malnourishment in poor communities.

IDF nabs 3 bombers on way to attacks
Ha'aretz, December 8, 2002 
The IDF intercepted three would-be suicide bombers in the West Bank over the weekend before they managed to cross the Green Line.

Missile defense for civilian planes by '04
Ha'aretz, December 8, 2002 
The Rafael Armaments Development Authority says it will complete a new defense system for civil aircraft by January 2004.

Germany won't give APCs for combat use
Ha'aretz, December 8, 2002 
Germany is willing to provide Israel with Fuchs type Armored Personnel Carriers (APC) equipped to detect chemical and biological weapons but not for fighting in urban areas, a senior defense source says.

Israel blamed for car bomb death of Lebanon drug dealer
Ha'aretz, December 8, 2002 
Lebanese sources are blaming Israel for a car bombing on Thursday that killed Ramzi Nahara, 45, a convicted drug dealer, who had worked for Hezbollah, and his nephew, Elie Issa, 30, a member of the Lebanese security forces.

Labor MKs rushed out of Arab village
Ha'aretz, December 8, 2002 
MKs Benjamin Ben Eliezer and Sofa Landver had to be rushed out of Sha'ab village in the Western Galilee during a visit on Friday to mark the Muslim festival of Id al-Fitr and the Labor party primaries, because police and Shin Bet security feared they could be attacked by demonstrators.

Up to 20 new faces could make Likud Knesset list today
Ha'aretz, December 8, 2002 
The Likud Party's central committee members will vote in Tel Aviv today to place their candidates on January Knesset election list. Given opinion poll results that suggest Likud is likely to double its representation in the next Knesset, the party's line up of MKs could feature 15 to 20 new faces.

Saudi Free trade accord with Syria comes into force next month
Arab News, December 8, 2002
RIYADH, 8 December 2002 — Saudi Arabia and Syria are set to open a new era in trade relations by implementing a free trade zone agreement between the two countries in January. The move will eliminate customs duties and other tariffs in addition to ensuring free movement of goods between the two countries.

US abstains from UN voting over Jerusalem
Arabic News, December 7, 2002
The US has abstained from voting at the UN General Assembly on resolution on Tuesday concerning the rights of the Palestinians in East Jerusalem.

Frenkel: Consider linking shekel to euro
Globes, December 8, 2002
Former Governor of the Bank of Israel Jacob Frenkel predicts the US government won't allow loan guarantees to be used to finance the budget deficit.

French novel glorifies suicide bomber
WorldNetDaily, December 8, 2002
Best-seller geared for teens blames 'bloodthirsty Jews' -- A new, best-selling French novel geared for teens holds up a young Arab suicide bomber as a role model and blames the ''bloodthirsty Jews'' for bringing on Jihad, or ''holy war.''

Hackers fight totalitarian governments
WorldNetDaily.com, December 7, 2002
New software license offers legal recourse for human-rights violations -- An international hacker organization has issued a software license that allows the group or its licensees to take governments to court if officials attempt to misuse the software to violate human rights or if they insert surveillance or "spyware" code into the programs.

Israeli president warns Germans against anti-Semitism, expresses hope for peace
Jerusalem Post, December 8, 2002 
WUPPERTAL, Germany - Israeli President Moshe Katsav said Sunday he was convinced his country could reach peace with the Palestinians and apologized for the killing of innocent civilians, calling such acts "accidents."

Germany Warned to Fight Anti-Semitism
Miami Herald, December 8, 2002
WUPPERTAL, Germany - Israeli President Moshe Katsav on Sunday urged Germans to fight anti-Semitism, warning that the influence of racist fringe groups cannot be underestimated.

Sharon, Mitzna square off in contest to lead Israel
Miami Herald, December 8, 2002
JERUSALEM - The Israeli-Palestinian bloodshed continues, employment is widespread, the economy is devoid of tourism or foreign investment, and everyone is concerned about a possible U.S.-led war with Iraq. By most estimates, the Jewish state has never been in sadder shape.

Israel - Ethiopia in civil aviation row
Jerusalem Post, December 8, 2002   
Commercial flights between Israel and Ethiopia were suspended Sunday after both nations could not agree on ending the current rift.

New Jersey congressmen press for anti-Semitic state poet's dismissal
Jerusalem Post, December 8, 2002   
When New Jersey's poet laureate, Amiri Baraka, alleged that Israelis knew in advance of the September attacks in his poem, "Somebody Blew Up America," state law prevented Gov. James McGreevey from firing him.

IDF foils attempted infiltration of Gaza Strip community
Jerusalem Post, December 8, 2002   
The IDF spoiled an attempt to infiltrate a Jewish community in the Gaza Strip Sunday evening, Israel Radio reported.

Concordia University Hillel banned by Student Union
Jerusalem Post, December 8, 2002 
The campus Hillel at Concordia University is threatening to file a lawsuit against the university's student union after its status as a campus organization and funding were revoked last week. The late-night, hastily-called vote lacked due process, say Hillel officials.

Likud election Sunday to seal MKs' fates
Jerusalem Post, December 8, 2002   
The 2,940 members of the powerful Likud central committee will converge on the Tel Aviv Fairgrounds Sunday to select the party's list to the 16th Knesset.

U.S. Pushing E.U. to Admit Turkey For Objectives in Muslim World
Islam Online, December 8, 2002
Wolfowitz: “It really is impossible to overstate how decisive this period is” -- WASHINGTON, December 8 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Beyond bolstering its immediate and short-term aims in Iraq and Cyprus, the United States is pressing a reluctant European Union to admit Turkey to promote its greater foreign policy goals in the Muslim and Arab world, according to U.S. officials.