At
least three Israelis killed in Palestinian attack on settlement near Hebron
Al-Bawaba, December 27, 2002
At least three Israelis were killed and four wounded Friday evening by an
armed Palestinian who infiltrated the West Bank settlement of Otniel. The
Palestinian opened fire at people who were inside the dining hall at the settlement,
which is located south of Hebron.
Israel
Initiates ‘Day After Christmas’ Killing - Scores Killed, Wounded,
Arrested
Palestine Chronicle, December 26, 2002
BETHLEHEM, West Bank - Israeli troops shot dead eight Palestinians in raids
across the West Bank and swept back into Bethlehem to reimpose a curfew yesterday,
ending a brief Christmas respite from occupation. Thirty Palestinians were
injured and 20 arrested by the Israeli forces.
Blair
renews call for Mid-East peace
BBC, December 27, 2002
Prime Minister Tony Blair has called on the international community to help
implement the plan for peace in the Middle East.
Report:
Mofaz orders more attacks on Palestinians
Al-Bawaba, December 27, 2002
Israel's Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz has told senior military and intelligence
officials to intensify anti-Palestinian attacks in the West Bank and Gaza
Strip. According to Israel Radio, he said every effort must be made to root
out the "terrorists," wherever they are.
77%
of Palestinians killed since December 1 are civilians - but for US media,
there is a "lull" in the violence!
Palestine Media Watch, December 23, 2002
PMWATCH -- December 23, 2002 -- As reported by the Israeli human rights group
B'tselem, between December 1 and December 17, 2002, at least 35 Palestinians
have been killed by Israeli fire. Of the 35 killed, 27 were civilians: elderly,
women, children, and non-fighters, while only 8 were known fighters. That
is, 77% of Palestinians killed by Israel were -- to use that awful phrase
-- "collateral damage"! (See details below).
Lieberman
wants Saudi peace plan restated
Arab News, December 27, 2002
RIYADH, 27 December 2002 — Likely presidential candidate Joseph Lieberman,
on a 10-day tour of the Middle East, stated here yesterday that he has appealed
to Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard,
to “find a way to restate his peace plan.”
Hamas
vows more attacks against Israel
Al-Bawaba, December 27, 2002
The leader of Hamas told 30,000 supporters Friday that the group would keep
carrying out suicide bombings and shootings in Israel, despite talks between
the group and Fatah (on suspending such attacks.
Sharon
in dialogue with Arafat
DEBKAfile, December 27, 2002
"..according to DEBKAfile’s American and Palestinian sources, a hush-hush,
informal discourse with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on the outline of
a peace accord for creating a Palestinian state and shaping Israel’s
final borders." --- When he launched the Likud campaign for the January 28
general election on Wednesday, December 25, prime minister Ariel Sharon said
cryptically: “I believe peace with the Palestinians is nearer than thought.”
He went on to promise “I won’t let any opportunities get away.”
Israel
Expels Belgians Heading for Palestinian Meeting
Islam Online, December 27, 2002
Peace seekers inside Israel are increasing, will that pay before it is too
late? --- BRUSSELS, December 27 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Eight
Belgians heading to a Palestinian social forum in Ramallah were expelled from
Israel Friday, December 27, the Belgian Foreign Ministry said.
Hear
Palestine, December 27, 2002
NEWS: Occupation Shells Khan Younis this Morning / Occupation
Soldiers Arrest Residents from Al-Tayba Village, Jenin / Hebron:
Child Wounded and Students Prevented from Reaching School /
International Delegates arriving for Palestinian Social Forum
Denied Entry to Country / Plan to Establish Isolated Areas Around
Settlements FEATURES: Occupation Soldiers Force Child
to Act Like Suicide Bomber for the Camera / Nablus. Death on
the Way to School / Jenin: Occupation Turns Jalbon Village into
Military Base
'We
are second-class people. It's our place to wait'
The Guardian, December 27, 2002
Nowhere in the Gaza strip are traffic lights respected as they are at Abu-Houli
junction. When the light turns red, Palestinian drivers show an unusual deference
by rapidly grinding to a halt at the edge of the narrow tarmac umbilical cord
linking the two parts of Gaza prised apart by Jewish settlements. No trying
to beat the system here because the system might put a bullet in your back.
Bloody
Thursday in Middle East: Israeli Troops Kill 9 Palestinians in Raids in West
Bank and Gaza
Washington Post, December 27, 2002
JERUSALEM, Dec. 26 -- Israeli soldiers and undercover commandos killed nine
Palestinians today in attacks and raids across the West Bank and Gaza Strip,
one of the bloodiest days of Israeli operations targeting wanted Palestinians,
Israeli and Palestinian officials said.
Israeli
Troops Kill Palestinian Child, Beat Activist to Death
Palestine Chronicle, December 26, 2002
GAZA CITY - Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) killed two Palestinian civilians
in the past twenty-four hours, one of whom was a teenage boy killed by Israeli
tank fire in the Gaza Strip and the other a resident of Nablus executed without
trial by IOF soldiers.
Israelis
kill 8 Palestinians
Arab News, December 27, 2002
BETHLEHEM, West Bank, 27 December 2002 — Israeli troops shot dead eight
Palestinians in raids across the West Bank and swept back into Bethlehem to
reimpose a curfew yesterday, ending a brief Christmas respite from occupation.
Thirty Palestinians were injured and 20 arrested by the Israeli forces.
Israeli
Clampdown on West Bank Continues
VOA, December 27, 2002
The Israeli military continues its clampdown on Palestinian towns and cities
across the West Bank. Israeli troops shot dead at least seven Palestinians
in a series of clashes Thursday in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and pushed
back into Bethlehem to reimpose a curfew that had been lifted for the Christmas
holidays.
Israeli
army told to 'turn up the heat'
iafrica.com, December 27, 2002
One of the most violent days of the intifada in recent weeks, with nine Palestinians
killed in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, came as the Israeli government ordered
the army to "turn up the heat" on the Palestinians.
Eight
killed as Israeli troops move back into Bethlehem
The Independent, December 27, 2002
The Israeli army went back into Bethlehem yesterday and reimposed a curfew
it had lifted before Christmas. In operations across the West Bank and the
Gaza Strip, Israeli troops earlier shot dead seven Palestinian fighters and
a teenage bystander. Five soldiers were wounded in gun battles, one seriously.
Interior
Ministry confirms expulsion of eight Belgians
Ha'aretz, December 27, 2002
The Interior Ministry confirmed Friday the expulsion of eight Belgians who
were planning to attend a conference in the West Bank town of Ramallah. Four
other foreigners, among them three Brazilians, were in custody Friday at Ben-Gurion
airport awaiting deportation.
Occupation
army establishing special 'buffer zones'
Jordan Times, December 27, 2002
TEL AVIV (AP) — The Israeli occupation army has begun establishing wide
“buffer zones” around Jewish settlements in the West Bank to keep
out Palestinians, a senior Israeli official said on Thursday.
IOF
Kill 8 Palestinians, 6 in Extra-judicial Killings
Palestine Media Center, December 27, 2002
PNA: Israel Reverts to Policy of Assassinations for Electoral Reasons ---
At least eight Palestinians were killed, 30 injured and 20 arrested Thursday
by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF), 6 of them assassinated in extra-judicial
killings by the IOF undercover units, across the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
CIA
accused of torture at Bagram base
The Guardian, December 27, 2002
Some captives handed to brutal foreign agencies --- The CIA has used "stress
and duress" techniques on al-Qaida suspects held at secret overseas detention
centres, as well as contracting out their interrogation to foreign intelligence
agencies known to routinely use torture, said a report published yesterday.
'Stress
and Duress' Tactics Used on Terrorism Suspects Held in Secret Overseas Facilities
Washington Post, December 26, 2002
"If you don't violate someone's human rights some of the time, you probably
aren't doing your job." --- Deep inside the forbidden zone at the U.S.-occupied
Bagram air base in Afghanistan, around the corner from the detention center
and beyond the segregated clandestine military units, sits a cluster of metal
shipping containers protected by a triple layer of concertina wire.
Human
Rights Watch Denounces U.S. Torture of Al-Qaeda Suspects
Islam Online, December 27, 2002
Direct involvement or complicity in torture may subject U.S. officials to
prosecution under international law, said HRW --- NEW YORK, December 27 (IslamOnline
& News Agencies) – The George W. Bush administration must promptly
investigate and address charges of torture of suspected Al-Qaeda detainees
or risk criminal prosecution, Human Rights Watch said Friday, December 27.
U.N.
Inspectors Visit Iraq Factories
The Guardian, December 27, 2002
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - U.N. arms inspectors on Friday visited a chemical-engineering
factory and a plant that produces alcohol, and a top U.N. official warned
that war with Iraq would cause a humanitarian disaster.
UN
Refugee Chief Says Iraq War Would Be Disaster
New York Times, December 27, 2002
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - War with Iraq, with biological or chemical agents possibly
unleashed, will be a human calamity, the U.N. refugee chief warned -- exactly
a month before a final arms inspectors' report might trigger a conflict.
Reports:
U.S. increases aid offer for use of Turkish bases
World Tribune, December 27, 2002
ANKARA — The United States has reportedly offered Turkey a long-term
aid package worth at least $5 billion in exchange for a long-term American
military presence in the NATO ally.
Iraq
Says It Will Deliver Scientist List
The Guardian, December 27, 2002
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Iraq will hand over to the United Nations in the next
few days a list of hundreds of Iraqi scientists who have worked on nuclear,
chemical, biological and missile programs, a senior Iraqi general said Thursday.
Iraq
scientists 'may refuse to talk to UN'
iafrica.com, December 27, 2002
Fresh tensions arose on Thursday over the nuts and bolts of UN weapons inspections
in Iraq, threatening to throw Baghdad and Washington into another confrontation
and raising the odds of war.
Church
leaders launch unified attack on plans for war on Iraq
The Independent, December 26, 2002
Tony Blair and George Bush came under sustained attack from the leaders of
the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches yesterday over their growing threats
to take military action against Iraq.
Turkish
Troops Set to Advance on N. Iraqi oil cities – Ahead of US Attack
DEBKAfile, December 25, 2002
The conference held in Turkey on Tuesday, December 24, between Israel’s
chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Moshe Yaalon and Turkish army chief Gen. Hilimi Ozkok,
wrapped up the arrangements made by the US, Israel and Turkey for concerted
action in the approaching war with Iraq.
Baghdad
agrees to hand over list of scientists; U.S.-British bombing kills three Iraqis
Al-Bawaba, December 27, 2002
Warplanes from the U.S.-British coalition bombed Iraqi military command and
communication targets Thursday near Talil in southern Iraq, the U.S. military
announced.
Iraq
says scientists can leave the country for U.N. interviews
Star Tribune, December 27, 2002
BAGHDAD, IRAQ -- Iraq agreed Thursday to allow its weapons scientists to leave
the country for interviews with a U.N. inspection team, but despite calling
it their "personal decision," the government seemed to signal the scientists
should refuse to go.
Iraqi
army holds exercises; NATO chief supports U.S. policy on Iraq
Al-Bawaba, December 26, 2002
The Iraqi army said Thursday it has been holding exercises in central Iraq
aimed at countering a U.S. attack.
Saddam
readies Iraq for total war
The Guardian, December 27, 2002
The Iraqi government disclosed yesterday that food distribution has been increased
so that civilians can stockpile supplies for a US-led war.
UN
to question Iraqi scientist abroad
BBC, December 27, 2002
Starting overseas interviews would be a turning point --- United Nations inspectors
in Iraq say they are preparing to take an Iraqi scientist outside the country
for questioning for the first time.
Tripoli
denies recruiting Iraqi scientists; Egyptian and Saudi efforts to keep Libya
in the AL
Arabic News, December 27, 2002
Libya has refused allegations and "lies" launched by the Israeli prime minister
Ariel Sharon, who claimed on Tuesday that Iraqi scientists are working in
the area of nuclear industry in Libya.
UK
sells chemical weapons to the world
Sunday Herald, December 23, 2002
Breaking international law, Britain exports lethal TCPs to Iran, Sudan, Libya
and Israel
BRITAIN is supplying chemical warfare technology to 26 countries including
Libya, Syria, Israel and Iran -- which was labelled part of the 'axis of evil'
by the United States.
Russia
and Iran boost nuclear pact
The Guardian, December 27, 2002
Russia and Iran are increasing their nuclear cooperation, the atomic power
ministry in Moscow said yesterday, despite mounting international fears that
Iran together with North Korea and Iraq are developing nuclear weapons.
Al-Jazeera
broadcasts in English
The Guardian, December 27, 2002
The Arabic satellite television station al-Jazeera, demonised in parts of
Washington for its coverage of Osama bin Laden and the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict, has begun experimental broadcasts using English subtitles in the
US to try to expand its influence and revenues.
US
Muslims' lawsuit suffers setback
BBC, December 27, 2002
The US Justice Department has declared that a massive lawsuit filed after
the detention of hundreds of Muslim men in the Los Angeles area can only be
heard by the Supreme Court.
Indigenous
Activist Expresses Solidarity With The Palestinian People
Palestine Chronicle, December 26, 2002
MONTREAL (PC) - On Wednesday evening on the downtown campus of Concordia University
in Montreal, long time indigenous activist Dacajeweiah "Splitting the Sky"
John Hill and Samer Elatrash, local Palestinian human rights activist, presented
a panel discussion entitled "Land and Dignity: Bridging the First Nations
and Palestinian resistance movements."
AG
against banning Tibi, Dehamshe from competing in elections
Ha'aretz, December 27, 2002
Attorney General Elyakim Rubinstein is to recommend that the Central Elections
Committee refrain from banning two Arab lists (Hadash-Ta'al and the United
Arab List) and two Knesset members (Ahmed Tibi and Abdulmalik Dehamshe) from
running in the elections – even if any of the 13 petitions against their
candidacy are accepted. Rubinstein is recommending, however, that MK Azmi
Bishara and his National Democratic Alliance (Balad) be banned.
Police
fear Blumenthal is hindering Likud corruption probe
Ha'aretz, December 27, 2002
Deputy Infrastructure Minister Naomi Blumenthal is refusing to cooperate with
a police investigation into alleged corruption in the Likud, and police fear
that she is interfering with their investigation.
IDF
nabs Tanzim man days before planned suicide attack
Ha'aretz, December 27, 2002
Officers from an intelligence unit, who found tens of thousands of Kalachnikov
bullets in his truck, arrested a 45-year-old Israeli Jew at the checkpoint.
They also found several weapons, but refused to divulge the type of weapon.
Likud
MK Haim Katz quizzed on vote buying
Ha'aretz, December 27, 2002
The police probe into alleged illegal activity during the Likud internal election
campaign expanded yesterday into allegations that MK Haim Katz, who jumped
ship from One Nation to the Likud, used funds from the Israel Aircrafts Industry
Union that he headed to help pay for his Likud campaign.
A-G
goes after Ginossar despite police doubts
Ha'aretz, December 27, 2002
Attorney-General Elyakim Rubinstein has ordered an investigation of businessman
Yossi Ginossar over the objection of the senior police officers.
Turkey
Allows Erdogan to Become PM, Rejects Unilateral War on Iraq
Islam Online, December 27, 2002
ANKARA, December 27 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – Turkish lawmakers
passed a law for the second time allowing Recep Tayyip Erdogan, leader of
Turkey's ruling party, to become prime minister, as the prospects of war against
Iraq got the cold shoulder from Turkey, which said it wanted U.N. approval
for war before any action.
Israel
Torpedoing Palestinian Ceasefire Efforts: Egypt
Islam Online, December 27, 2002
CAIRO, December 27 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Israel is torpedoing
Cairo's efforts to get Palestinian resistance groups to calm their 27-month
uprising, Egypt said Thursday, December 26, after the Israeli occupation army
killed 9 Palestinians in the occupied territories, as the Israeli defense
minister ordered his army to "turn up the heat" on the Palestinians.
Mitzna
camp says rivals put Ben-Eliezer before the party
Ha'aretz, December 27, 2002
There is growing tension between the camps of Labor Party chairman Amram Mitzna
and his predecessor, Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, ahead of a conference of his activists
called by Ben-Eliezer for Saturday night.
Melchior:
Mitzna's not anti-religious
Jerusalem Post, December 27, 2002
Responding to Orthodox MKs' attacks on Labor Party leader Amram Mitzna, Meimad
chairman Rabbi Michael Melchior said on Thursday that Mitzna would improve
relations between the religious and secular if he becomes prime minister.
Tulkarm
gunmen call cease-fire to allow search for missing girl
Jerusalem Post, December 26, 2002
Fatah and Hamas gunmen in Tulkarm have declared a temporary cease-fire with
the IDF as searches continue for an eight-year-old girl who disappeared earlier
this week.
Power
struggle over Jerusalem portfolio worries Arab residents
Jerusalem Post, December 27, 2002
Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat is expected to convene a meeting
next week in Ramallah to look into complaints by Arab residents of Jerusalem,
who say they are not sure who their representatives are.
Israel
'very concerned' about Russian nuclear aid to Iran
Jerusalem Post, December 27, 2002
Israel is "very concerned" about reports Russia had agreed to speed up construction
of a nuclear reactor at the Bushehr plant in Iran and is considering building
a second reactor there, diplomatic sources said Thursday.
Weekly
Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories 19-25 December , 2002
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
9 Palestinian civilians, including 8 civilians, were killed by Israeli forces
/ 3 Palestinian children were killed by Israeli shelling, including one killed
by a Flechette shell / Israeli forces conducted a series of incursions
into Palestinian areas, accompanied by indiscriminate shelling / Israeli Forces
continued retaliatory campaign against families of wanted Palestinians and
those who carried out armed attacks against Israeli targets /
Israeli forces used Palestinian civilians as human shields during military
operations / A number of Palestinians were arrested / Strict siege of
the OPTs continued and a number of Palestinians were arrested at Israeli military
checkpoints
Palestinians
worry about protection in case of new Gulf War
Jordan Times, December 27, 2002
BODROS, West Bank (AFP) — During the 1991 Gulf War Israel provided Palestinians
in the West Bank village of Bodros, a few kilometres east of Tel Aviv, with
gas masks to protect against an Iraqi biological weapon attack.
Greek
church denies offering land in exchange for confirmation
Jordan Times, December 27, 2002
Sharon refuses to comment on report --- OCCUPIED JERUSALEM — Israeli
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who has refused to recognise the Holy Land's
top Greek Orthodox clergyman, appears to have suddenly changed his mind —
the latest wrinkle in a controversy involving property, religion and politics.
Top
Arab TV network to hit US market
Christian Science Monitor, December 27, 2002
DOHA, QATAR – Coming to a screen near you: Al Jazeera in English.
The Arabic-language news network, notorious for broadcasting the statements
of Osama bin Laden and his Al Qaeda colleagues, plans to open an English-language
website in early 2003 and begin distributing English-language news programming
by satellite and cable late next year.
A
'silver bullet's' toxic legacy
Christian Science Monitor, December 20, 2002
If US fights Iraq, it would use a weapon that left a radioactive trail in
Gulf War. --- KHARANJ, IRAQ – The rusting tanks are gathered in Iraq's
southern desert like an open-air exhibit of the 1991 Gulf War. But these are
not just museum pieces. This still radioactive battlefield - and the severe
health problems many Iraqis and some US Gulf War veterans ascribe to it -
may also be an omen of an unsettled future.
Map
MAP:
US Military Buildup in The Middle East
BBC News
Audio
Christmas,
Dehaisha and occupation
Barabara Lubin and Penny Rosenwasser from Middle East Children's Alliance/Palestinian
Counselling Center
Palestine Chronicle/FlashPoints
Slide show
The
Face of Re-occupation
Middle East Children's Alliance
Graph
Killings
by Israeli Occupying Forces and Settlers in the OPT, 28 September 2000- 30
November 2002
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
