Israeli troops storm house, kill Palestinian
Arab News, December 14, 2002
BETHLEHEM, West Bank, 14 December 2002 — Israeli troops stormed a Palestinian house and shot dead an activist near Bethlehem yesterday. Israeli military sources said soldiers killed an armed Palestinian in an exchange of fire in Thabra village, south of Bethlehem in the West Bank, when he tried to evade capture.

A-G orders police probe into charges of vote-buying in Likud
Ha'aretz, December 14, 2002
Attorney General Elyakim Rubinstein said Saturday evening that he had ordered the police to open an investigation into alleged charges of vote-buying in last week's Likud primaries.

14 Palestinian militants arrested in West Bank
ABC News, December 14, 2002
Israeli troops arrested 14 Palestinian militants in West Bank sweeps overnight, including a wanted member of the radical Islamic group, Hamas, an army spokesman said.

Arafat: Palestinians Must Pick Leaders
The Guardian, December 14, 2002
JERUSALEM (AP) - Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said Saturday that only the Palestinian people could determine their leaders, in response to comments made by Secretary of State Colin Powell that the Palestinians needed ``a new and different leadership.''

Palestinians: IDF destroys two houses in Gaza
Ha'aretz, December 14, 2002
Palestinian security officials said Saturday that IDF bulldozers destroyed two buildings that housed 16 Palestinians near the settlement of Netzarim, in the Gaza Strip.

Mofaz to visit U.S. to discuss Iraq, Netanyahu to visit Europe
Ha'aretz, December 14, 2002
Shaul Mofaz is to meet with American officials on his first visit to the United States as Defense Minister, Israel Radio reported Saturday. The talks will center on the possible U.S. strike against Iraq and the security situation in the West Bank and Gaza.

Jordan Arrests Two in Diplomat's Murder
The Guardian, December 14, 2002
AMMAN, Jordan (AP) - Police have arrested alleged two al-Qaida members in the killing of an American diplomat in October, the information minister said Saturday.

Fisk criticizes U.S. media in interview
The Stanford Daily, December 4, 2002
On Nov. 21, Robert Fisk, Britain’s most highly decorated foreign correspondent, addressed the Stanford community in a talk entitled “War and Peace.” During his speech, Fisk, the longest-serving Western journalist in the Middle East, drew from his personal experiences in Afghanistan, Yugoslavia and the Middle East to argue that Westerners get a tainted picture of current events when they receive their news.

Hear Palestine, December 14, 2002
NEWS: Hebron: Palestinians Forced to Cut 170 Trees Under Threat of Weapons / Al-Mighraqa: Homes Demolished and Agricultural Land Bulldozed / Nablus: Israeli Army Carries Out Attacks and Oppressive Measures / Jenin: Tight Military Measures Around Toubas / Random Arrests by Occupation Military Forces   FEATURES:  Israeli Missiles Kill the Dream of Five Palestinian Workers

Egypt flays US Mideast democracy plan
Yahoo! News, December 14, 2002
Cairo, Dec 14 (ANI): Arab countries have offered a mixed response to Washington's 29 million dollar initiative to foster democracy in the Middle East, some saying the key to the region's problems is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Canada criticized over Hezbollah decision
Inter Press Service, December 14, 2002
BEIRUT, Dec. 14 (IPS) - Lebanon criticized Canada for declaring Hezbollah party as a terrorist organization, saying the Canadians should put Israel into that category.

Security Council condemns terrorist attacks in Kenya
Bradenton Herald, December 14, 2002
UNITED NATIONS - Over Syrian objections, the U.N. Security Council on Friday condemned last month's "acts of terror" against Israeli targets in Kenya and deplored the claims of responsibility by the al Qaida terror network.

Syria objects to Israel 'as victim'
BBC, December 14, 2002
Syria, the only Arab member of the UN Security Council, has voted against a resolution condemning the bomb attack in the Kenyan city of Mombasa last month.

IDF closes down Nablus university, clashes with students
Jerusalem Post, December 14, 2002   
In the West Bank town of Nablus on Saturday, Israeli troops clashed with students at An-Najah University after closing the institution down, Palestinians said.

EU Warns Israel against Settlement-Building
Palestine Media Center, December 14, 2002
The European Union on Friday issued its strongest warning to Israel, demanding that it stop illegal settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and warning they such activities inflaming “anti-Israel passions”.

Occupation Chronicle Events in Palestine, December 14, 2002
Palestine Media Center, December 14, 2002
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) killed five Palestinian workers who were trying to get into Israel in search for work. IOF also assassinated two Palestinian activists in the West Bank cities of Tulkarem and Bethlehem.

EU Report on Israeli Settlements
Palestine Media Center, December 14, 2002
The Settlements Watch is produced by the European Union Representative Offices in the Palestinian Territories and Consulate Generals in Jerusalem and agreed with the European Union Heads of Mission in Tel Aviv. It draws on official statements, reports from NGOs and the press (both Israeli and Palestinian) and local expertise aiming for the highest degree of accuracy possible.

Israel kills 34 and maims 50 Palestinian handicapped, says Human Rights Group
Inter Press Service, December 14, 2002
ABU DHABI, Dec.12 (IPS) - The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) has urged the international community and all human rights bodies to bring pressure on Israel to force the Jewish entity to end its barbaric and inhuman aggression against handicapped Palestinians and their educational and rehabilitation facilities.

Red Cross, Red Crescent launch $150 million 2003 appeal
Jordan Times, December 14, 2002
Iraq stands as MENA region's single largest allocation -- AMMAN — The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies launched its 2003 international appeal Thursday for $150 million, with Iraq standing as the federation's single largest Middle East and North African regional allocation (MENA) with $4.8 million.

Labor Party campaign to focus on Likud corruption
Jerusalem Post, December 14, 2002 
The Labor Party has decided to highlight the allegations of corruption and vote buying that emerged from the Likud primary as part of its campaign, Army Radio reported Saturday.

PM sets committee to change Likud primary election system amid portfolio reshuffle
Jerusalem Post, December 13, 2002
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon asked Justice Minister Meir Shitreet to set up a team that wopud come up with ways to change the Likud party's primary election system, in an attempt to rectify what he termed "irregularities" that took place in the party's primaries, Israel Radio reported.

Yassin: Hamas does not plan to replace Palestinian Authority
Ha'aretz, December 14, 2002
The leader and founder of the Hamas Islamic resistance, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Saturday denied Israeli reports that it planned to replace the Palestinian Authority if it collapsed.

Arafat: Only Palestinian people can change their leaders
Ha'aretz, December 14, 2002
Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat said Saturday that only the Palestinian people could determine their leaders, through elections, responding to comments by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell that the Palestinians needed new leadership.

UAE press warns against new US initiative
Inter Press Service, December 14, 2002
ABU DHABI, Dec. 14 (IPS) - The US-Middle East Partnership Initiative has received mixed reactions and concern from the Arab world at a time when Washington is building up for war against Iraq and Israel is going ahead with plans to block any way for peaceful settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) press said today.

Israel Nabs Palestinian Suspects, Peace Plan Lags
Macon Telegraph, December 14, 2002
JERUSALEM - Israeli forces detained at least 14 Palestinians in the West Bank on Saturday in a new sweep for militants as international peace efforts looked likely to be eclipsed by wider Middle East developments.

Two Palestinians killed in Bethlehem, Israel starts demolishing houses in Hebron
Arabic News, December 14, 2002
The Palestinian Abdullah Shawka ( 32 year old) from the Islamic Jihad movement, and Abed Abu Mousa were killed by Israeli bullets in Bethlehem yesterday morning, and a Palestinian was strongly wounded at Salah Eddine Gate near the Egyptian borders, while the Israeli forces arrested more than 13 citizens of various parts of the West Bank especially from Qalqilya, Nablus and Qalandia.

Jordan Ties al-Qaida to Diplomat's Death
The Guardian, December 14, 2002
AMMAN, Jordan (AP) - Police have arrested alleged two al-Qaida members in the killing of an American diplomat in October, the information minister said Saturday.

U.S. Praises Jordan's Arrest of Suspects
The Guardian, December 14, 2002
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration praised Jordan's capture of two suspects in the assassination of a U.S. diplomat outside his Amman home.

Report: Syria boosts defenses along border with Israel; Assad: Hamas, Islamic Jihad represent millions of Palestinians
Al-Bawaba, December 13, 2002
The Syrian army has recently made several changes in its deployment of troops along its border with Israel, Haaretz reported Friday.

Israel bombards South Lebanon, continues daily violations of international law in Lebanon's airspace
Arabic News, December 14, 2002
The Israeli forces yesterday fired 6 artillery shells against Saddanah mountain and Rebaa al-Teen to the east of Kafer Shouba town in the eastern sector of South Lebanon.

I do not want more widows, Bush tells TV
The Guardian, December 14, 2002
"And there's only one person who hugs the mothers and the widows, the wives and the kids on the death of their loved ones. Others hug, but having committed the troops, I've got an additional responsibility to hug, and that's me, and I know what it's like." -- President Bush appeared yesterday to tack a little towards the dovish side of the Iraq argument, invoking the image of the mothers and widows of dead US servicemen and pledging: "War is my last option, not my first option."

UN arms inspectors locked out
The Guardian, December 14, 2002
Officials brush off first obstacle but trouble looms over dossier -- UN weapons inspections in Iraq hit their first snag yesterday when the inspectors were temporarily locked out of rooms in a contagious diseases clinic in Baghdad.

UN demands Iraq scientists' names
BBC, December 14, 2002
Chief United Nations weapons inspector Hans Blix has asked the Iraqi authorities for a list of Iraqi scientists who have worked in programmes of weapons of mass destruction.

Acrimony clouds meeting of Iraqi opposition groups
The Guardian, December 14, 2002
The biggest-ever meeting of Iraqi opposition groups published a blueprint yesterday for a transitional Iraqi government in preparation for a US-led war to topple Saddam Hussein.

A Hollywood rebel flies into Baghdad
The Guardian, December 14, 2002
The Hollywood actor and director Sean Penn flew into Baghdad yesterday on a three-day visit to warn that a war with Iraq would be "frightening".

U.S. airplanes bomb Iraqi targets as opposition groups meet in London
Al-Bawaba, December 14, 2002
U.S. airplanes attacked three air defense installations Saturday south and east of Baghdad after Iraqi military jets violated the southern no-fly zone, the U.S. Central Command said.

Report: British troops to deploy in Gulf region next month
Al-Bawaba, December 14, 2002
Thousands of British troops are expected to start deploying to the Gulf region next month in an intensive build-up of forces in preparation for a war with Iraq as early as February.

Troops start countdown to war
Times of London, December 14, 2002
THOUSANDS of British troops are expected to begin deploying to the Gulf next month in an intensive build-up of forces in preparation for a war with Iraq as early as February.

British defense ministry says no plans to send troops to Gulf
Ha'aretz, December 14, 2002
The department dismissed newspaper reports that it was hurrying to send troops to the Persian Gulf in preparation for possible action against Iraq. --  LONDON - Britain has made no decisions about war with Iraq and has no immediate plans to send troops to the Persian Gulf, the Ministry of Defense said Saturday.

UK does flip-flop on UN resolution meaning regarding attacking Iraq
Arabic News, December 14, 2002
In a typical pattern of what the US and UK approach to abusing the UN Security Council and its resolutions, in gaining support for a resolution by saying one thing, and then saying the absolute opposite after the passage of the resolution, the UK just announced that there is no need for another UN resolution to authorize striking Iraq, British officials announced in Egypt.

Blix Asks Iraq For List of Scientists: U.N. Spokesman
Islam Online, December 14, 2002
Blix had given the Iraqis two weeks to provide the list -- BAGHDAD, December 14 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - U.N. chief arms inspector Hans Blix has requested Baghdad to provide a list of scientists involved in Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction program, a U.N. spokesman here said Saturday, December 14.

Egypt bans conference denouncing US policies on Iraq
Jerusalem Post, December 14, 2002
CAIRO, Egypt - Egyptian authorities canceled an international conference that aimed to voice opposition to US policy in the Middle East and plans to attack Iraq, a meeting organizer said Saturday.

US nuclear weapon could be close up to Arab borders, says UAE paper
Inter Press Service, December 14, 2002
ABU DHABI, Dec.13 (IPS) - A major United Arab Emirates (UAE) Arabic daily has slammed the United States for threatening to use nuclear deterrence against Iraq if it waged a non-conventional offensive on Israel.

Kuwaiti Al-Watan: Moussa says League not biased towards Iraq against Kuwait
Arabic News, December 14, 2002
Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa said he is currently considering the message of protest sent by the state of Kuwait to the League in response to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's recent letter of apology.

Kuwaiti paper: Iraq plans destruction acts against Kuwait
Arabic News, December 14, 2002
A Kuwaiti paper said well-informed intelligence sources concerning internal Iraq said that the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has issued a decree for reactivating field work of groups that are so called "the Kuwaiti right league," chaired by Shaalan al-Shummari, through preparing destruction plans inside Kuwait through the weapons-free area on the borders between the two states targeting the Kuwaiti infrastructures and the American forces in Kuwait.

Franco-German show of strength puts America and friends in their place
The Guardian, December 14, 2002
The EU decision to delay Turkey's membership talks is a clear rebuff to the US, which campaigned long and hard for an early date, and a sobering reminder to Britain of the irresistible strength of France and Germany when they work together.

Dismayed Turks vow to meet the test
The Guardian, December 14, 2002
Turkey was putting a brave face last night on its failure to win a firm date before Christmas 2004 to begin EU membership talks.

US accuses Iran of secret nuclear weapons plan
The Guardian, December 14, 2002
Washington edged closer to confrontation with all three members of President Bush's "axis of evil" yesterday when US officials accused Iran of secretly developing two nuclear plants which could be used to produce weapons.

IAEA CHIEF:All Nuclear Materials in Iran for Peaceful Purposes
Tehran Times, December 14, 2002
TEHRAN - "So far all nuclear materials declared by Teheran and placed under safeguard have been for peaceful purposes and we have not seen any effort to divert materials that have been declared and placed under safeguard," the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief announced at press conference in Vienna.

Bush angers Europe as Ankara is rebuffed
Times of London, December 14, 2002 
TURKEY accused Jacques Chirac of blackmail and Europe of prejudice yesterday after European Union leaders dashed its hopes of early talks on entry and rebuffed US interference in their decisions.  President Bush’s attempts to help Turkey because of its vital strategic role in the war against terrorism backfired when the country was given only a conditional date of the end of 2004 for the start of negotiations, with several countries accusing the American leader of strong-arm tactics.

Kingdom battling terrorism, Bush says
Arab News, December 14, 2002
WASHINGTON, 14 December 2002 — US President George W. Bush said in remarks released Thursday that Americans are skeptical of Saudi cooperation in the war on terrorism but he trusts Riyadh’s pledges to help.

Syrian Lawyers observe a solidarity sit-in with Palestinians
Arabic News, December 14, 2002
A delegation from the Syrian Arab Bar Association headed by its Chairman, Ahmed Eido, participated in Beirut yesterday at the 18th sit-in, which was staged in front of the International Red Cross Committee, for supporting al-Aqsa Intifada arrested and detained Palestinians.

Israel's eid gift
Al-Ahram Weekly On-line, 12 - 18 December 2002
The aftermath of an Israeli massacre in Gaza -- The second day of Eid Al-Fitr (the holiday that marks the end of Ramadan) started early in Gaza.

Hamas Marks 15th Anniversary
Newsday, December 14, 2002
Jerusalem - Hamas marked its 15th anniversary Friday with a rally led by armed militia and bombers-in-waiting threatening new attacks on Israel, while an Israeli official said troops likely will remain in Bethlehem during Christmas.

Israelis batten down the escape hatches
IOL, December 13, 2002
Jerusalem - It's a rite of passage of sorts. Young Israelis out of the army grab backpacks and head for deepest Asia or South America to clear their heads of the violence at home.

Divine secrets of the Basia sisterhood
Ha'aretz, December 14, 2002
The state of the Zionist youth movement in Israel -- Dressed in dark skirts and white blouses, 800 girls sit in a huge auditorium in Bnei Brak listening to Rabbi Hanan Kahane. They sit up straight, legs crossed, skirts covering their knees, and soak up his words.

IDF denies "massive" operation in Gaza Strip
Jerusalem Post, December 14, 2002 
The IDF on Saturday denied claims by Palestinian sources that the IDF had entered the Gaza Strip in large numbers, Army Radio reported.

Muslims Criticize "Insensitive" Portrayal of Jesus in TV Ad
Palestine Chronicle, December 12, 2002
WASHINGTON - A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group criticized Wednesday, December 11, as “tasteless and insensitive” a television commercial promoting professional wrestling that shows “Jesus” gambling with the devil in a sports bar.

Political climate in Middle East casts shadow on short-term growth prospects
MENA Report, December 13, 2002 
A sluggish global economic outlook, with slower growth in the next 12 to 18 months than previously anticipated, will impede poverty reduction in the Middle East, according to a new World Bank report. Action to remove barriers to trade and investment that hurt poor people in developing countries is becoming increasingly urgent.

Lebanon: UAE tree-for-landmine plan progressing well
Inter Press Service, December 14, 2002
BEIRUT, Dec.12 (IPS) - A senior UN official has said that a plan to plant a tree in place of every landmine in Southern Lebanon has made good progress. The plan, supported by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and a number of international agencies, is part of Operation Emirates Solidarity to demine Southern Lebanon following Israeli withdrawal from the region over two and half years ago.

Escalation continues on the uprise
Inter Press Service, December 14, 2002
ABU DHABI, Dec.12 (IPS) - Two major United Arab Emirates (UAE) English dailies today commented on two key issues in the Middle East: the escalation of violence in the Palestinian occupied territories by the Israeli militias as the Israeli political parties escalate their election campaigns and the escalation in the battle of wits between the United States and Iraq.

Palestinians Mourn Laborers in Search of Work Gunned Down by IOF
Palestine Media Center, December 14, 2002
On Friday, Palestinians mourned the death of five members of al-Astal family gunned down by Israeli occupation forces (IOF) as they were trying to get into Israel to search for work. In the meantime, IOF assassinated two senior Hamas activists in the West Bank, raising the number of Palestinians killed during the past twenty-four hours to seven.

US Yields to Israeli Agenda, Refuses to Endorse EU Call for Adoption of ‘Roadmap’
Palestine Media Center, December 14, 2002
The United States on Friday refused to endorse a European Union call for the adoption of a long-awaited ‘roadmap’ for Middle East peace next week, while an Israeli government source warned it could be delayed until the end of an eventual war in Iraq.