Israelis
'kill six Palestinians in Gaza'
BBC, December 12, 2002
Israeli soldiers shot dead six Palestinians in the Gaza Strip during Wednesday
night, military sources said. They said five unarmed men were killed near
the Karni crossing point into Israel, while the sixth was trying to infiltrate
an Israeli settlement.
Two
Killed in Shooting Attack in West Bank City of Hebron
Ha'aretz, December 12, 2002
Two Israelis - a man and a woman - were killed Thursday evening following
a shooting attack close to a Jewish holy site in the center of the West Bank
city of Hebron.
Palestinian
society teetering on edge of ruin, UNRWA warns
Jerusalem Post, December 12, 2002
UNRWA on Wednesday appealed for $94 million to carry out emergency relief
operations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip during the first half of next year.
Hansen
Accuses Israel of Hindering UNRWA’s Work
Palestine Media Center, December 12, 2002
The Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees
in the Near East (UNRWA) accused Israel on Wednesday of hindering the organization’s
work and not respecting its “humanitarian obligations,” amid an
already deteriorated relations between Israel and international humanitarian
organizations.
Sharon:
Iraq war will yield `momentum' for peace
Ha'aretz, December 12, 2002
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon believes that a successful American attack against
Iraq could create "new momentum" for the diplomatic process in the region.
In his view, the Arabs will be disposed to negotiate and compromise when they
are convinced that they lack a military option.
Palestinian
Man Says Mossad Sought to Induce Him to Set up Fake Qaeda Cell in Gaza
Palestine Chronicle, December 11, 2002
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM - A Palestinian citizen from Gaza has revealed how the
Israeli intelligence Service, the Mossad, had been trying to enlist him to
set up a terrorist cell in Palestine under the name of “al-Qaeda,”
the group headed by Osama bin Laden.
Pope
Urges Free Access to Bethlehem During Christmas
Islam Online, December 12, 2002
VATICAN CITY, December 12 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Pope John Paul
II on Thursday, December 12, appealed for Christians to be allowed free access
this Christmas to Bethlehem, revered as the birthplace of Christ, in talks
with visiting Israeli President Moshe Katsav.
TA
court: Israel has right to try Tanzim leader Barghouti
Ha'aretz, December 12, 2002
The Tel Aviv District Court decided Thursday that Israel does have the legal
right to arrest and try West Bank Tanzim leader Marwan Barghouti.
Likud
voters support separation
Ha'aretz, December 12, 2002
Likud voters are in favor of a unilateral separation from the Palestinians
and an agreement over Jerusalem, according to a poll conducted for Ha'aretz
this week.
IDF
kills PFLP man in Balata camp
Ha'aretz, December 12, 2002
Israel Defense Forces troops yesterday killed a Popular Front
for the Liberation of Palestine terror suspect at the Balata
refugee camp, near Nablus.
U.S.
liaison to Israel during Iraq war meets with officials
Ha'aretz, December 12, 2002
U.S. Undersecretary of Defense Douglas J. Feith met Thursday with Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon, Foreign Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Shaul
Mofaz and the heads of the defense establishment, including the army to discuss
Israeli security in the event of a war on Iraq.
Palestinian
witnesses: IDF raids Gaza refugee camp
Jerusalem Post, December 12, 2002
Israeli forces entered the Deir el-Balah refugee camp in the Gaza Strip early
Thursday and destroyed a road leading from an outlying neighborhood to the
town's center, Palestinian witnesses and officials said.
Robert
Fisk: Web of deceit lies behind death of a traitor to many masters
The Independent, December 11, 2002
To the rest of the world, the bomb that wounded two Israeli soldiers on the
Lebanese-Israeli border was just another example of Hizbollah "terrorism",
a provocation that showed Hizbollah had – in Israel's words –
"crossed a red line".
Egypt
Scorns Israeli Minister's Proposal for Palestinian State in Sinai
Palestine Chronicle, December 11, 2002
CAIRO - A right-wing Israeli minister's proposal for a Palestinian state in
Egypt's Sinai desert is "ridiculous," Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Maher
said in remarks published on Tuesday.
Palestinian
Elections 'Impossible' Unless Israeli Army Withdraws: Parliament Speaker
Palestine Chronicle, December 11, 2002
RAMALLAH - Palestinian parliament speaker Ahmed Qorei said Tuesday it will
be practically impossible for the Palestinian people to go ahead with the
scheduled January 20 presidential and legislative elections.
IDF
commanders to be discharged over Hebron gunbattle that left 12 dead
Jerusalem Post, December 12, 2002
OC Central Command, Maj.-Gen. Moshe Kaplinsky on Thursday announced that several
IDF commanders who oversaw a gunbattle between IDF troops and three Palestinian
gunmen in a November 16, that left nine soldiers dead, would face discharge
from the military, Israel Radio reported.
Hamas
terror suspect arrested in Nablus
Jerusalem Post, December 12, 2002
Undercover troops of the Duvdevan unit today arrested a Hamas terror suspect
in the West Bank city of Nablus, Army Radio reports.
Five
unarmed Palestinians killed in Gaza Strip
Jerusalem Post, December 12, 2002
Five Palestinians were killed overnight in the Gaza Strip by IDF troops, Israel
Radio reported.
Court
upholds Israeli right to try Barghouti
Jerusalem Post, December 12, 2002
In a sedate hearing devoid of the scuffles and shouting matches that characterized
previous sessions of Marwan Barghouti's trial for terrorism, Tel Aviv's District
Court decided Thursday that Israel does have jurisdiction to extend the Fatah
leader's incarceration through duration of the court proceedings against him.
US
consults, learns lessons from Israel before beginning smallpox inoculations
Jerusalem Post, December 12, 2002
The United States closely watched Israel's smallpox inoculation campaign before
going ahead with plans to protect some 1 million military and public health
workers against the fatal disease, an Israeli official said Thursday.
PA
seeks to unmask al-Qaida 'conspiracy'
Jerusalem Post, December 12, 2002
Representatives of the Palestinian Authority have asked to meet US security
officials to brief them on an alleged Israeli conspiracy to establish al-Qaida
terrorist cells in the Gaza Strip, a senior Palestinian security source said
Wednesday.
Sharon
vows to stop funds to PA if money is channeled to terror
Jerusalem Post, December 12, 2002
The NIS 130 million transferred to the Palestinian Authority Friday was for
taxes collected on the PA's behalf in October, and not part of some NIS 2.5
billion in frozen PA revenues that have accumulated over the last two years,
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Wednesday.
Israel
Kills 5 Unarmed Palestinians, Elections Undecided
Jerusalem Post, December 12, 2002
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, December 12 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) –
Israeli occupation forces killed five unarmed Palestinians Thursday, December
12, near the Karni crossing point between the Gaza Strip and Israel, Israeli
military sources said.
Six
Palestinians killed by IDF fire in Gaza in 24 hours
Ha'aretz, December 12, 2002
Five unarmed Palestinians were killed by IDF fire as they tried to cross the
security fence into Israel from the Gaza Strip overnight Wednesday. Hours
later, another Palestinian was shot dead by troops during an attempt to infiltrate
a Gaza settlement.
Israeli-Arab
filmmaker opposes 'Jenin, Jenin' ban
Jerusalem Post, December 12, 2002
Filmmaker Muhammad Bakri: "I thought we are living in a democracy in Israel,
and I found the contrary, so I feel very sad and sorry for the people."
-- For the first time in 10 years, the Film Censorship Board decided Tuesday
to ban a film, the 50-minute anti-IDF documentary Jenin, Jenin, from being
screened in local theaters and television.
U.S.
Missiles to Israel, Sharon to Discuss Iraq War With U.S.
Islam Online, December 12, 2002
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, December 12 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) –
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is to meet with the U.S. Under Secretary
of Defense Thursday, December 12, in a bid to discuss an upcoming attack on
Iraq, as Israel gets two Patriot missile batteries before joint U.S.-Israeli
exercise.
Middle
East: UN relief agency seeks $94 million to help West Bank and Gaza
United Nations News, December 12, 2002
10 December – The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) today appealed for $94 million to carry
out emergency relief operations in the occupied Palestinian territory during
the first half of next year.
Hear
Palestine, December 12, 2002
NEWS: Youth Killed in Armed Confrontations near Khan Younis Settlement / Wide-Scale
Bulldozing Activities in Gaza Strip / Strangling Siege Around Jenin; Invasion
of Refugee Camp and Residential Quarter / Occupation Authorities Set
Up Metal Gate at Beit Rima Entrance / Ongoing Curfew in Bethlehem and Hebron
/ 8 Arrests in Nablus; Isolation of Residential Areas through Metal Gates
FEATURES: Network of Ditches: Newest Form of Siege
MK
charges bribery in Likud Central Committee
Ha'aretz, December 12, 2002
MK Nehama Ronen, who failed to win a realistic slot in the Likud Knesset list,
said yesterday that during her campaign, four central committee members explicitly
asked her for payoffs of between NIS 1,000 to NIS 1,500 per head in return
for votes in her favor.
Iraq
denies providing nerve gas to al-Qaeda
USA Today, December 12, 2002
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) — A senior Iraqi general dismissed as "ridiculous"
a published report Thursday that Iraq may have provided nerve gas to Islamic
extremists affiliated with al-Qaeda.
U.S.
set to use mines in Iraq - Stockpiles certain to reopen debate
USA Today, December 12, 2002
WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon is preparing to use anti-personnel land mines in
a war with Iraq, despite U.S. policy that calls for the military to stop using
the mines everywhere in the world except Korea by 2003.
Iraq
Denies Giving al-Qaida Nerve Agent
The Guardian, December 12, 2002
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - A senior Iraqi general dismissed as ``ridiculous'' a
U.S. report that an Iraqi chemical weapon was delivered to an Islamic extremist
group affiliated with al-Qaida.
Glover,
Belafonte Join World Protesters, Criticize Iraq War
Islam Online, December 12, 2002
HAVANA, December 12 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – Amidst polls
indicating that negative views of the United States have increased in most
nations over the past two years, U.S. stars Danny Glover and Harry Belafonte
joined scores of actors and activists at home and millions of protesters worldwide
in criticizing their country’s unjust foreign policy, speaking out against
U.S. sanctions and threats of a U.S. war against Iraq.
Coalition
pushes for peace
The Guardian, December 12, 2002
An influential coalition of US civic, religious and environmental groups urged
the Bush administration yesterday not to attack Iraq.
US
defends Iraq dossier handling
BBC, December 12, 2002
The United States ambassador to the United Nations, John Negroponte, has defended
the handling of Iraq's weapons dossier since it arrived in New York on Sunday.
Fighting
Flares Up Between Kurdish Groups in Northern Iraq
Islam Online, December 12, 2002
SULEIMANIYA, Iraq, December 12 (IslamOnline) – Armed confrontations
have flared-up against between two Kurdish groups, ending a period of peace
enjoyed by the Kurdish population in northern Iraq.
Over
100 religious leaders and anti-war activists are arrested outside the UN
Democracy Now!, December 11, 2002
To mark International Human Rights Day, religious leaders and anti-war activists
from across the country staged over 150 vigils, acts of civil disobedience
and marches across some forty states, from Alaska to Florida. Click for audio
Iraq
severs oil contract with 3 Russian companies
Moscow Times, December 12, 2002
MOSCOW. Dec 12 (Interfax) - Iraq notified three Russian companies that it
is breaking a contract with them to develop an oil field in the Arab country,
one of the companies said on Thursday.
Both
sides fear attacks in north under cover of Iraq war
Ha'aretz, December 12, 2002
Many in Israel have worried recently that Hezbollah will exploit a United
States war on Iraq by launching strikes at Israeli targets in the north. And
it has become increasingly clear in recent weeks that this fear is mutual;
a series of declarations, leaks and media briefings in Israel have aroused
genuine worries among Lebanese about the prospect of an Israeli attack on
their country.
Turkey
Considers Iraq War Referendum, Lobbies for E.U. Talks
Islam Online, December 12, 2002
ANKARA, December 12 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - NATO member Turkey
might hold a referendum on whether to take part in a military strike against
Iraq, the leader of the ruling Justice and Development Party, Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, said Wednesday, December 11.
US
signs military pact with Qatar
BBC, December 12, 2002
The United States and Qatar have signed a military pact that formally allows
American forces to use military airbases in the Gulf state.
US
beefs up Horn anti-terror base
BBC, December 8, 2002
US defence officials have announced that they will be sending an extra 400
elite troops to the US base in the Horn of Africa to help in the hunt for
suspected terrorists.
Report:
International Committee of the Red Cross activities in Israel, the occupied
and the autonomous territories, 2-8 December
Alternative Information Center, December 12, 2002
Arabs
slammed for importing Israeli dates
Arab News, December 12, 2002
RIYADH, 12 December 2002 — Saudi farmers have criticized some Arab countries
including Egypt and Jordan for importing Israeli dates in place of their products.
Expats’
establish web forum to fight disinformation
Arab News, December 12, 2002
A group of Americans, from among the hundreds of thousands who lived and worked
in Saudi Arabia, have joined to launch an information service where they can
discuss the challenges to the Saudi-US relationship and work to dispel the
distortions and misperceptions about the Kingdom rampant since “Sept.
11.”
Opec
agrees to cut oil output
BBC, December 12, 2002
The Opec cartel has agreed to reduce the amount of oil it exports into the
global marketplace in order to shore up prices.
American
Embassy warns U.S. citizens in Kuwait
USA Today, December 12, 2002
KUWAIT CITY (AP) — The U.S. Embassy warned Americans to avoid apartment
buildings and public places in Kuwait where many U.S. citizens gather or live
because of recent threats.
Habash
calls for cling to resistance option
Arabic News, December 12, 2002
The founder of the People's Front for the Liberation of Palestine, George
Habash, has called for strengthening Palestinian national unity and to proceed
forward in the option of resistance in order to deter the occupation.
One
Palestinian was killed, 43 detained in Israeli incursion
Arabic News, December 12, 2002
Some 162 Palestinian women, 531 children were killed since the beginning of
the Intifada. The Israeli forces yesterday intensified acts of incursion and
detention in the towns and villages of the West Bank and Gaza and one Palestinian
was shot dead, three wounded and more than 40 were arrested.
Israeli
censors ban film about battle of Jenin
The Guardian, December 12, 2002
The Israeli board of censors was criticised by both Palestinians and Israelis
yesterday for banning a documentary about the battle in Jenin which took place
earlier this year.
British
academic boycott of Israel gathers pace
The Guardian, December 12, 2002
Evidence is growing that a British boycott of Israeli academics is gathering
pace.
'It's
water on stone - in the end the stone wears out'
The Guardian, December 12, 2002
This summer, a little-known Manchester academic caused an international storm
when she sacked two Israeli scholars from the editorial board of her journal.
But was it an isolated freelance protest - or the first skirmish in a wider
academic boycott?
Zionist
Delegation Visits Qatar: Report
Tehran Times, December 12, 2002
TEHRAN -- An Israeli delegation is currently in Doha to help Qatari officials
adopt security measures for 2006 Asian games, Al-Bayan newspaper reported.
Signs
of change in Syria
BBC, December 12, 2002
If the bombing starts in Iraq, Syria will be in a geographically pivotal position
for the western forces. But the political landscape at home is not entirely
smooth.
Hizbullah
slams Canada's decision to list it as a terrorist group
Jerusalem Post, December 12, 2002
BEIRUT, Lebanon - The Hizbullah guerrilla group said Thursday that Canada
was making a "grave mistake" in declaring it to be a terrorist organization.
Illegal
demonstration held outside home of police prosecutor who interrogated right-wing
activist
Jerusalem Post, December 12, 2002
Police dispersed an illegal demonstration held by several dozens of Jewish
residents of the West Bank town of Hebron in the Jerusalem neighborhood of
Katamon, Israel Radio reported.
Supreme
Court rejects appeals by Dirani, Obeid
Jerusalem Post, December 12, 2002
Supreme Court justices today rejected an appeal by Sheikh Obeid and Mustafa
Dirani, two captives from Lebanon, that they were being held by Israel against
international law.
China
donates $2.5m. to PA for rebuilding homes
Jerusalem Post, December 12, 2002
China has donated $2.5 million to the Palestinian Authority to repair houses
destroyed by the IDF, the official Xinhua News Agency reported Wednesday.
Uzi
Dayan warns of danger posed by social gap between Jews and Arabs
Jerusalem Post, December 12, 2002
The souring relations between Israeli Arab and Jewish citizens is the number
one social ill the country faces, former National Security Council chairman
Maj.-Gen. (res) Uzi Dayan said Wednesday evening.
Military
tribunal convicts three 'Santorini' crew members
Ha'aretz, December 12, 2002
An IDF tribunal at the Erez checkpoint in Gaza on Thursday convicted three
crew members of a ship seized while trying to smuggle weapons from Lebanon
into the Gaza Strip.
Camp
residents more accepting of 'shameful' jobs, study shows
Jordan Times, December 12, 2002
Third of a three-part series highlighting the FAFO report on living conditions
of the Palestinian camp population of Jordan: AMMAN — Confronted with
the hypothetical situation of suddenly being out of work, the majority of
Palestinian refugees in the country's camps indicated they were willing to
go to greater lengths to secure another job, a study of camp populations has
found.
Senior
UN envoy holds talks with top Lebanese officials on situation in Middle East
United Nations News, December 12, 2002
12 December – The senior United Nations envoy for the Middle East peace
process, Terje Roed-Larsen, met today with top Lebanese officials for talks
on a broad range of issues concerning the situation in the region, a UN spokesman
said in New York.
UN
relief agency confirms death of staffer in Tulkarem
United Nations News, December 12, 2002
11 December – The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) today confirmed the death of one of its
staffers during an Israeli undercover operation last week in Tulkarem.
Fighting
Terrorism Requires Addressing Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: New Zealand FM
Palestine Media Center, December 12, 2002
New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Phil Goff, who ended a visit to Iran
late Wednesday, called for renewed efforts to address the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict, which he argued was the root cause of regional instability.
Occupation
Chronicle Events in Palestine
Palestine Media Center, December 12, 2002
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) killed a Palestinian after opening fire at
him near the illegal settlement of “Gush Katif”, in the Gaza Strip.
IOF also raided several cities and towns in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
and detained at least five civilians.
Hamas
issues worldwide appeal for funds
World Tribune, December 10, 2002
GAZA CITY — The Islamic Hamas organization has appealed to Muslims around
the world for help. Hamas has urged Muslims to donate money to finance a holy
war against Israel, leading Israeli security sources to speculate that U.S.
efforts to stop the funding of terrorist organizations is succeeding.
IFRC
Newsletter 9, Dec 2002
Palestine Red Crescent Society
Newsletter of the regional delegation for the Middle East and North Africa
of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
