Israelis
kill Hamas and Fatah men in cold blood
Arab News, December 24, 2002
JENIN, West Bank, 24 December 2002 — Two Palestinians were gunned down
yesterday by an undercover Israeli special forces unit in the northern West
Bank village of Burkin, near Jenin, Palestinian security sources said.
Israeli
Bulldozers Demolish 16 Palestinians’ homes
Palestine Media Center, December 24, 2002
IOF Execute Two Activists in Jenin in Cold Blood -- The Israeli Occupation
Forces (IOF)’s demolition spree persisted on Monday as Israeli bulldozers
flattened three homes and at least four shops in Hebron under the pretext
of having “no construction permit”, while Israeli occupation soldiers
broke into several homes in various parts of the city and the neighboring
towns of Yatta and Smou’.
Christmas
Carols A Security Threat
Palestine Chronicle, December 23, 2002
By Daoud Kuttab: "Covering the Latin Patriarch's parade was so important for
the local community .." -- Israeli soldiers decided on December 23 to take
over the building housing the station. The staff of the radio station and
the entire building was evacuated and the station had to go off the air. --
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM - Danny Qumsieh has been working hard this Christmas season
to raise money so that Bethlehem‘s only local radio station can continue
in its tradition of covering the holiday events.
Sen.
Lieberman supports Palestinian statehood; calls conditions desperate
Middletown Press, December 24, 2002
RAMALLAH, West Bank,-- Sen. Joseph Lieberman expressed support for Palestinian
statehood during a visit to Ramallah on Monday and called conditions in the
West Bank town "desperate." Lieberman, the Democratic candidate for
vice president in 2000, is considered a front-runner for the party’s
2004 presidential nomination. He has said he will make a decision about whether
to seek the nomination early next year.
Immanuel
to get more housing, despite its dropping population
Ha'aretz, December 24, 2002
The ultra-Orthodox town of Immanuel in the West Bank is to get 232 more housing
units according to a Housing Minister tender issued this week, even though
the town is losing residents at the rate of 5 percent a year.
Police:
Several on Likud list tied to scandal
Ha'aretz, December 24, 2002
Police investigating the Likud primary scandal now believe that several would-be
MKs, rather than a single candidate, gave money to arrested party activist
Michael Elnakaveh.
The
Passing of the Sick and Dying”
MIFTAH, December 23, 2002
"Why is that ambulance waiting?" I ask a young Israeli soldier
at Qalandia checkpoint, which is one of several checkpoints
on the road to Jerusalem, as I was heading into Jerusalem one
cold, dark and rainy evening. "They looked suspicious," he replies
curtly.
Bethlehem’s
Occupation Aimed at Building Segregation Wall: City Mayor
IOF Remain in Bethlehem Despite Israel Declared Redeployment
Palestine Media Center, December 24, 2002
The mayor of Bethlehem accused Israel on Tuesday of planning
to annex hundreds of acres (hectares) of land from the edge
of the West Bank town during its reoccupation, in order to build
a segregation wall, separating the city from Jerusalem.
Study
finds no attempt to 'Judaize Jerusalem'
Jerusalem Post, December 23, 200
The political calculations of the Palestinian Authority, coupled
with pure criminal greed and not alleged Israeli attempts to
stymie Arab growth are at the core of Arab illegal construction
in east Jerusalem, a study released Monday by the Jerusalem
Center for Public Affairs concludes.
Palestinian
killed in Gaza; Shin Bet seizes armed Hamas cell
Ha'aretz, December 24, 2002
A Palestinian teenager was killed by IDF troops in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday.
Palestinian hospital officials said soldiers fired a tank shell at a group
of Palestinians between the Karni and Erez crossings with Israel, killing
one young man and wounding three others.
President
Arafat: My Christmas Message is Call for ‘Love, Peace and Forgiveness’
Palestine Media Center, December 24, 2002
At the heart of the battered miniature city presidential headquarters, an
olive tree – the symbol of peace and love—stood tall, surrounded
by hundreds of Palestinian Christians and Muslims celebrating a humble Christmas
celebration with their leader Yasser Arafat on Monday.
Arafat:
Delay in Implementation of Roadmap Supports Israeli Occupation
Palestine Media Center, December 24, 2002
Quartet to Give Final Approval to Peace Plan in Early February: Ivanov --
President Yasser Arafat has slammed US delays on an internationally-backed
peace "roadmap" to solve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict but Washington underlined
the importance that Palestinians be given the time to prepare for elections,
while Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said that the Middle East Quartet
will give final approval to the so-called "roadmap" in early February.
Israel
Plans to Build New Housing Units in West Bank Settlement
Palestine Media Center, December 24, 2002
Israel’s construction ministry has invited tenders to build 232 new
housing units in an illegally built West Bank Jewish settlement, near Nablus
City, a ministry spokesman said Monday.
Bethlehem
Observes Subdued Christmas Eve
The Guardian, December 24, 2002
BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) - The Israeli army pulled its troops back to the
outskirts of Bethlehem on Tuesday, maintaining a low profile in the biblical
city to allow pilgrims to celebrate the Christmas holiday.
Email
The Guardian, December 24, 2002
Once again, there is no room at the Bethlehem Inn. Two thousand years on,
the hotel has been commandeered by Israeli soldiers, and just about every
other lodging in Christ's hometown will be closed on his birthday for lack
of business.
Israeli
troops pull back to the outskirts of Bethlehem
Al-Bawaba, December 24, 2002
Israel's army said Tuesday it had pulled back to the outskirts of Bethlehem
to allow Christmas celebrations to proceed in the town.
PNA
to postpone elections until after Israeli withdrawal to September 2000 lines
Alternative Information Center, December 23, 2002
The Palestinian Leadership decided to postpone the Presidential and Legislative
elections which were scheduled on January 20, 2003, until after the Israeli
withdrawal to the September 2000 lines.
Sen.
Lieberman: Solution here would serve as global model
Ha'aretz, December 24, 2002
At a meeting with journalists in Jerusalem yesterday, Democratic Senator Joseph
Lieberman recalled a trip he once took to Asia with his good friend, Republican
Senator John McCain.
Israel
kills two Hamas members near Jenin; Fatah, Hamas set to resume talks in Cairo
Al-Bawaba, December 23, 2002
Israeli soldiers shot dead two Hamas activists Monday as they rode a tractor
near the West Bank town of Jenin, Palestinian security officials said.
Christianity
at Risk in the Holy Land
Palestine Chronicle, December 24, 2002
"'In Jerusalem, the Christian population has shrunk from 30,000 to 2,000,
since 1944, slightly more than 1 % of the city’s population .." --
“Palestinian Christians are leaving the Holy Land at such an alarming
rate that there may be, in the near future, no Christian presence left to
speak of,” said Father Emil Salayta. He is a co-founder of the Holy
Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation (www.hcef.org).
Amnesty
Condemns Israel’s Mistreatment of Refuseniks
Palestine Chronicle, December 24, 2002
LONDON - The leading International human rights group Amnesty protested at
the treatment of Israeli conscientious objectors, mainly army reserve soldiers
and officers who refuse to serve in the occupied Palestinian territory, who
it said were being jailed while serving soldiers committed human rights violations
with impunity.
Arafat
Slams U.S. in Christmas Speech, Saudi Arabia Urges World to Restrain Israel
Palestine Chronicle, December 24, 2002
RAMALLAH - Palestinian President Yasser Arafat Monday, December 23, slammed
U.S. delays on an international peace “roadmap” to tackle the
conflict with Israel in a pre-Christmas speech.
Occupying
Time: Israeli Soldiers and Palestinian Youth
Palestine Chronicle, December 23, 2002
By Annie C. Higgins: "I am not going to shoot them; I didn’t come here
to shoot children,” the earnest young soldier with sensitive eyes told
me .." -- JENIN (PC) - Nicole Gaouette recently presented a view of soldiers
seeking healing after serving time in the occupied Palestinian territories
[Where Israeli soldiers go to heal, The Christian Science Monitor, December
17, 2002]. On very rare occasions, they make attempts to begin the healing
while they are on site with Palestinians, as happened in Jenin last month,
November 2002.
Israelis
pull out of central Bethlehem
BBC, December 24, 2002
Israel said troops would stay out for the festive period -- The Israeli
army says it has withdrawn to the outskirts of the West Bank town of Bethlehem
- the traditional birthplace of Jesus Christ - to allow Christmas prayer services
to go ahead.
Christmas
'stolen' from Bethlehem
BBC, December 21, 2002
Born and bred in Bethlehem, David Mansour has only one Christmas wish - a
way out.
Israel
kills two Palestinian militants
BBC, December 23, 2002
Palestinian officials say Israeli soldiers have killed two Palestinian militants
in a targeted attack near the West Bank town of Jenin.
Armored
Vehicles Replace Christmas Candles in Bethlehem
Palestine Chronicle, December 23, 2002
BETHLEHEM - Pain and misery are shared by Christian and Muslim families in
the West Bank and Gaza Strip, one day before Christmas night. Christians are
now facing what their Muslim brothers faced during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr.
Arafat
doubts new Mideast plan
Chicago Tribune, December 24, 2002
"Meanwhile, the Israeli government announced it has approved plans to build
232 more homes in the West Bank Jewish settlement of Emmanuel.." -- RAMALLAH,
West Bank -- Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat expressed reservations Monday
about a U.S.-backed Mideast peace plan, while a visiting U.S. senator and
key backer of Israel spoke out in favor of a Palestinian state.
Unrest
and Silent Nights in Bethlehem
Newsday, December 24, 2002
Bethlehem, West Bank - There was a time when crowds of Christmas visitors
surged through the cobblestone alleyways of Bethlehem's old city to converge
on Manger Square, where pilgrims were welcomed with holiday lights, choirs
and rows of souvenir shops.
Business
in Bethlehem lies in tatters
BBC, December 24, 2002
For the first time in living memory the West Bank city of Bethlehem has no
tree or decorations in Manger Square this Christmas.
Israel
asks for bids to build 232 new settlement houses
Jordan Times, December 24, 2002
TEL AVIV (AFP) — Israel's construction ministry has invited tenders
to build 232 new housing units in a West Bank Jewish settlement near Nablus,
a ministry spokesman said.
In
Rafah, the children have grown so used to the sound of gunfire they can't
sleep without it
The Independent, December 23, 2002
We were sitting in the Asfuls' front room. Suddenly the two tanks at the end
of the street opened up their machine-guns.
Palestinians
postpone elections as Sharon is hit by fraud blow
The Independent, December 23, 2002
Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Authority postponed presidential and parliamentary
elections scheduled for January 20 yesterday, claiming it could not run them.
Conflict
Will Only End with a Two-state Solution: Lieberman
Palestine Chronicle, December 24, 2002
"Lieberman said he took note of the ‘desperate humanitarian problems”
in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory.." -- RAMALLAH - US Presidential
hopeful Senator Joseph Lieberman said the Palestinian-Israeli conflict will
only end with a two-state solution, with a strong peaceful Israel living side-by-side
with a peaceful Palestine.
Gaza
Strip" director to return student Academy Award to protest exclusion of Palestine
The Electronic Intifada, December 20, 2002
James Longley, director of the 2001 feature documentary "Gaza Strip," will
return the prestigious Student Academy Award he received from the Academy
of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) unless the Academy explains why
it has deemed Palestine ineligible to enter the Oscars competition.
US
troops to join Israelis in Iraq war exercises
The Independent, December 23, 2002
American troops will begin joint exercises with Israel this week to help prepare
for possible Iraqi missile attacks, the latest signthat military manoeuvres
are being stepped up across the Middle East.
Military
Intelligence chief expects U.S. to attack Iraq in February
Ha'aretz, December 24, 2002
Military Intelligence chief Major General Aharon Ze'evi (Farkash) told the
Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Tuesday that he
expects the United States to attack Iraq in the beginning of February, shortly
after the American government reviews the United Nations inspectors' weapons
report expected to be presented by January 27.
Don't
bomb us, children tell Blair
Electronic Telegraph, December 24, 2002
A group of Iraqi youngsters have pleaded with Tony Blair not to go to war
with Iraq. They delivered giant Christmas cards to Downing Street and urged
the Prime Minister to consider the number of children in their home country
who would be killed by military strikes.
U.S.
Puzzled: How to Invade Iraq Without Destroying Treasures
Isalm Online, December 24, 2002
WASHINGTON, December 24 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - As Washington
prepares to invade Iraq, it stands puzzled by the possibility of waging war
and avoiding at once widespread devastation of Iraq's priceless antiquities
and archeological treasures.
Iraqi
scientists questioned as inspections enter new phase
The Guardian, December 24, 2002
UN inspectors yesterday opened a new phase in their operations inside Iraq,
questioning key scientists in the hope they will provide evidence of chemical,
biological and nuclear weapons which the Bush administration believes will
act as the trigger for military action.
Huge
U.S. Military Buildup in ME Not Only for Iraq: Aziz
Islam Online, December 24, 2002
BAGHDAD, December 24 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - The massive U.S.
military buildup in various Middle East bases is enough for a world war against
the entire Arab nation, not just against Iraq, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister
Tareq Aziz said Monday, December 24.
'If
God wants to take us, he will take us'
The Guardian, December 24, 2002
Baghdad's mosques are filling up as Saddam calls on religion to bolster his
regime -- There is a sense of urgency in the prayers being said five times
a day at the small Saadeia al-Omari mosque in an affluent suburb of Baghdad.
Germany
will not fund attack
The Guardian, December 24, 2002
Germany's finance minister said yesterday that the country would refuse to
pay anything towards an invasion of Iraq, a remark that will further strain
relations with the United States.
Iraq
turns to human shields
The Guardian, December 24, 2002
President boasts of volunteers in war of words with Washington -- The psychological
war games between America and Iraq moved up a notch yesterday when Baghdad
announced it was to welcome its first batch of volunteer human shields, ready
to fling themselves in front of US bombers in the event of a war.
Iraq
Willing to Talk to U.N. on Criticism
The Guardian, December 24, 2002
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Iraq is prepared to talk to top U.N. inspectors about
their criticism of Baghdad's 12,000-page arms declaration, but it has nothing
new to add, Iraq's chief representative to the U.N. mission said Tuesday.
Iraqi
scientists interviewed; U.S. says drone incident - not escalation
Al-Bawaba, December 23, 2002
Iraqi airplane shot down a U.S. unmanned surveillance drone over southern
Iraq Monday, American military officials admitted. The Predator drone was
conducting a reconnaissance mission, a senior official with U.S. Central Command
said, according to AP.
Report:
U.N. working on secret contingency plans for war; Iraq: CIA allowed to direct
inspectors
Al-Bawaba, December 23, 2002
Washington and London are rushing to judgment about Iraq's weapons report
and should wait for U.N. arms inspectors to do their job, Saddam Hussein's
chief scientific adviser said Sunday.
UN
prepares for Iraq war
BBC, December 24, 2002
UN inspectors will be working over Christmas -- The United Nations has confirmed
that it is stockpiling relief supplies in the Middle East in case of a war
in Iraq.
Iraqi
jet downs US spy plane
Arab News, December 24, 2002
BAGHDAD/NEW YORK, 24 December 2002 — Tensions intensified yesterday
after an Iraqi fighter plane penetrated the no-fly zone over the southern
tier of the country and successfully shot down an American unmanned surveillance
drone.
Jordan
slogan readies citizens for Iraq war
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, December 24, 2002
Israeli-Palestinian conflict also strains king's U.S. ties -- Amman --- The
same slogan appears over and over again on telephone poles, streetlights and
billboards across the Jordanian capital. ''Jordan First,'' it reads in Arabic,
next to an image of outstretched hands hoisting the national flag.
S&P:
Iraq war is negative for Middle East credit standings
Globes, December 23, 2002
If the US goes to war against Iraq, confidence will fall and the costs of
capital will increase, the ratings agency warns. -- A US invasion of Iraq
would tilt the risk to the Middle East region's credit standing to the downside,
ratings agency Standard & Poor’s said in a report dated December
19.
Iran
President's Pledge: No Nuclear Arms
The Guardian, December 24, 2002
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - Iranian President Mohammed Khatami pledged on Tuesday
to forge ahead with the construction of a nuclear power plant, but rejected
claims that it might be used to develop nuclear weapons.
Khatami:
Israeli nuclear weapons - threat to international peace
Al-Bawaba, December 24, 2002
Iranian President Mohammed Khatami pledged on Tuesday to forge ahead with
the construction of a nuclear power plant, but rejected claims that it might
be used to develop nuclear weapons.
Ukrainian,
Russian aerospace experts killed in plane crash south of Tehran
Al-Bawaba, December 23, 2002
A total of 46 people, most of them Ukrainian and Russian aerospace experts,
were killed Monday when an Antonov plane travelling from Turkey to Iran crashed
near the central Iranian city of Isfahan, state television reported.
Tehran:
Russia to conclude nuclear fuel deal with Iran on Wednesday
Al-Bawaba, December 24, 2002
Iran has consented to sending back all waste nuclear fuel from its new power
plant to Russia, paving the way for the signing of a fuel supply agreement.
Signing is expected to take place on Wednesday, December 25, Iranian officials
told Reuters.
Abdullah
seeks speedy end to Israeli aggression
Arab News, December 24, 2002
RIYADH, 24 December 2002 — Saudi Arabia yesterday appealed to the international
community to take immediate steps to put an end to the mounting Israeli atrocities
against Palestinians as the continued aggression would only confound the situation
in the region.
Israel's
economy on back burner in election campaign
Globes, December 23, 2002
Even though the economy hasn't been in such bad shape for two decades, the
politicians are ignoring it. -- Israel's economy hasn't been in such bad shape
in nearly two decades, but with elections just five weeks away it's a non-event
in the campaign despite a stream of bad news about jobs, tourism and investment.
"Ha’aretz”
cutting salaries 5-7%
Globes, December 24, 2002
Hebrew daily “Ha’aretz” will cut salaries 5-7% as of January
2003. Following an editorial meeting yesterday, the paper announced that salaries
over NIS 20,000 will be cut 7% and salaries between NIS 10,000-20,000 by 5%.
“Ha’aretz” is the last Israeli leading dailies to cut employee
salaries. Hebrew daily “Ma’ariv” laid off employees and
cut salaries by 10%; Hebrew daily “Yediot Ahronot” cut managers’
salaries by up to 10% and workers’ salaries by 4-8%; and “Globes”
cut salaries by 3-8%. “Ha’aretz” cut managers’ salaries
by up to 15% a year ago.
Suspect
in Hamas case released
UPI, December 23, 2002
DALLAS, Dec. 23 (UPI) -- One of four brothers accused of hiding financial
dealings with a leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas was released
Monday without bond.
Latin
Patriarch heads Christmas procession in Bethlehem
Ha'aretz, December 24, 2002
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Michel Sabah headed the traditional Christmas
procession Tuesday afternoon in Bethlehem. The procession was attended by
3,000 people.
Election
Committee to hear challenge to Mofaz's candidacy
Ha'aretz, December 24, 2002
National Election Committee head and High Court Justice Michael Cheshin is
to hear Tuesday the Labor Party's challenge to the candidacy of Defense Minister
Shaul Mofaz, whom Labor charges is ineligible to run because he has not yet
completed the "cooling-off period" required of senior IDF officers seeking
a Knesset seat.
Kadourie's
new party: Shas tried to bribe us to quit campaign
Ha'aretz, December 24, 2002
Rabbi David Kadourie, son of the influential Sephardi Rabbi Yitzhak Kadourie,
said Tuesday that Shas had offered him a bribe in a bid to convince the Kadourie
camp's new Ahavat Yisrael party - which broke away from the ultra-Orthodox
Shas and is viewed as a direct competitor - to quit the race for the Knesset.
Airports
Authority said probing charges against Likud's Oz
Ha'aretz, December 24, 2002
The Airports Authority is to probe charges that Shlomi Oz, a former racketeer
and current member of the Likud Central Committee, was the recipient of a
recent contract for security guard services at Israeli border crossings, Israel
Radio said Tuesday.
Budget
cut of NIS 5-10B needed in '03
Ha'aretz, December 24, 2002
The government and the Knesset will be forced to make a NIS 5-10 billion budget
cut in the 2003 budget already in the first quarter of the year, senior treasury
officials said last night. To implement the cut, civil service layoffs or
cuts in employee wages may be necessary, they said.
People
and Politics: Iraqi scientists, beware of the beginning of 2003
Ha'aretz, December 24, 2002
The message of Bush's call for Palestinians to adopt values of freedom is
he wants change in the Arab world. -- The only new clause U.S. President George
W. Bush insisted on adding to the joint statement issued at the end of Friday's
Quartet meeting called on the Palestinians to adopt the values of freedom
and democracy.
Hear
Palestine, December 23, 2002
NEWS: Jenin: Occupation Special Forces Execute 2 Palestinian Activists / 3
Homes and 4 Shops Demolished in Hebron / 3 Homes Demolished South Rafah /
Bethlehem: Curfew Lifted Amidst Heavy Israeli Military Presence / Qalqilya:
Curfew Continues for Second Day Running / Tulkarem: Tight Military Closure
and Curfew / Hundreds of Fruitful Trees Uprooted from Anin Village, Jenin
/ Salah al-Din Road Re-Closed; Occupation Soldiers Arrest Residents
FEATURES: Bethlehem: Christmas Festivities Limited to Setting Up Tree without
Decorations / Hebron: Reports of New Bone Breaking Methods Practiced by Occupation
/ Bethlehem: Sad City with Empty Streets / Jenin: Returning Home Requires
Occupation Permission
PM:
Israel is ready for any Iraqi threat
Ha'aretz, December 24, 2002
The danger of an Iraqi missile attack on Israel exists, but Israel's civilians
have nothing to worry about "because Israel has taken all necessary steps
to prevent this," Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said yesterday.
CIA:
Iraq planned to bomb Israel with bio-weapons in 1991
Ha'aretz, December 24, 2002
A declassified CIA document from 1992 says Saddam Hussein had a secret plan
to use biological weapons against Israel in the first stage of the 1991 Gulf
War, but was unable to carry out his intentions.
ACRI,
Arab lobby demand state spend budgets for Arab sector
Ha'aretz, December 24, 2002
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel, together with the Mussawa Arab
rights advocacy lobby and the national council of Arab local authorities,
yesterday petitioned the High Court of Justice to force the government to
spend its budget for 2002 on a five-year development plan for the Arab sector.
Mitzna:
`A vote for Likud is a vote for organized crime'
Ha'aretz, December 24, 2002
Labor Party Chairman Amram Mitzna yesterday accused his political rivals of
"spreading the clouds of war and fear," in an attempt to distract the public
debate away from the main issues facing Israel's crumbling society.
Meretz
tries to woo youth with legal pot
Ha'aretz, December 24, 2002
The new Meretz platform vows to adopt a European-style reform of the laws
regulating the use and possession of soft drugs.
Hizbollah
provides tapes to discredit Canadian blacklisting
Jordan Times, December 24, 2002
BEIRUT (AFP) — The Lebanese resistance movement Hizbollah gave the foreign
ministry here tapes on Monday to discredit the “allegations and pretexts”
used by Canada to justify a decision to blacklist the group.
Iraq's
Christians Celebrate Christmas Amidst War Threats
Isalm Online, December 24, 2002
BAGHDAD, December 24 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Iraq's Christians,
who feel no less threatened by the anticipated U.S. strike than its Muslims,
celebrate Christmas this year amidst U.S. war threats and continued U.N. inspections
of so-called suspected sites in the feverish hunt for Iraq's alleged weapons
arsenal.
Iran
Demands Same Nuclear Policy in Entire Middle East
Isalm Online, December 24, 2002
ISLAMABAD, December 24 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Atomic or nuclear
weapons are not going to bring security for any nation in the world, Iranian
President Mohammad Khatami said Tuesday, December 24, adding that "some countries
who may have exerted pressure on Pakistan to abandon the nuclear program"
should press Israel as well.
Security
Failure Behind U.S. Terror Accusations: Abu-Marzuk
Isalm Online, December 24, 2002
CAIRO, December 23 (IslamOnline) –Dr. Mussa Abu-Marzuk, vice president
of the political bureau of the Islamic movement Hamas, said that the United
States’ failing security policies and its worry about the positive Cairo
talks between Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement and Hamas
are the real reasons behind U.S. terror accusations against himself.
Occupation
Chronicle Events in Palestine, December 23, 2002
Palestine Media Center, December 23, 2002
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) wounded three Palestinian kids in the Gaza
Strip and raided dozens of civilian workshops in Jenin, north of the West
bank / IOF Re-impose Curfew on Tulkarem and Qalqilia / Israeli Bulldozers
Demolish Two Homes and Four Stores in Hebron / Israeli Occupation Troops Raid
Jenin
Factsheet
on the UNRWA Emergency 2003 Appeal for the West Bank and Gaza Strip
UNWRA
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees provides
education, health and relief and social services to four million registered
Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Israel
‘Politicizing’ Repair of Al-Aqsa Mosque: Jordanian Expert
Palestine Chronicle, December 24, 2002
AMMAN- A senior Jordanian engineer and former cabinet minister has accused
Israel of "politicizing” a bulge in the wall of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound
in Israeli-occupied Jerusalem.
Netanyahu
asks Russia to warn Syria, Iran on Hizbullah
Jerusalem Post, December 23, 200
Foreign Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has asked his Russian counterpart, Igor
Ivanov, to warn Syria and Iran against using Hizbullah to open up a front
in the North in the event of a US attack on Iraq.
Church
heads want to ban war in Bethlehem
Jerusalem Post, December 23, 2002
The heads of the the Christian churches in Jerusalem this year used their
joint Christmas message to urge an end to all fighting and military action
in Bethlehem.
