December 31, 2004

Best Wishes for Year 2005 to all the readers, and especially to those inside Palestine

Now you can access these daily headlines on www.TheHeadlines.org

TA-Jerusalem railway to pass through tunnels in W. Bank
Transportation Minister Meir Sheetrit decided last week to approve plans for an express railway from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, two sections of which will pass through the West Bank. With the approval, the plan will move into the operational phase. ( With US+EU+UN+Russia silence, and two-state-solution vanishing )
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/521452.html


Hundreds Join Anti-Wall Protest in Jayyous
The protestors came from both sides of the wall and met at one of the gates in Jayyous. "The Israeli protestors handed a small olive tree to the Palestinians as a sign of rejection to the wall and an oath of cooperation to dismantle the wall" Sameh, one of the organizers said.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week4/123104/anti-wall.htm


Threnody for Jerusalem
At the last government meeting, Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposed the addition of the common mantra about united Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty for all eternity to the decision concerning the arrangements for the elections of a new Palestinian Authority leader. His proposal was accepted.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/521421.html


Film review: "Edward Said: The Last Interview"
This no-frills documentary does not include archival footage to contextualize the speaker and his life; it simply records the casual conversation between Said and British journalist Charles Glass that weaves in and out of Said's childhood, writing, life as an academic, involvement with Yasser Arafat, and his strong opinions on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article3470.shtml


Palestinians Worry About Cost of Peace
"I have not one inch of land inside the village." He has five sons and two daughters. "How can my sons think of peace when they've paid such a heavy price?" When his checkpoint permit expired on Nov. 28, he said, he applied at a nearby Israeli settlement for a renewal. It was denied, he said, so now he cannot visit his land.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/29/international/middleeast/29mideast.html?oref=log


Israel, Palestinians in talks over Abbas visit to Temple Mount
Senior Fatah sources in the Jerusalem area told Haaretz about the talks and confirmed that the two sides discussed a possible Abbas visit to the Temple Mount, known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/521608.html


Israel Steps Up Military Raids as Palestinian Candidates Campaign for Upcoming Election
Israel has been stepping up its military raids in the Gaza Strip with its troops killing 12 Palestinians in the past two days. The action comes as Palestinian presidential contenders campaign for the January 9 elections.
http://www.voanews.com/english/2004-12-31-voa9.cfm


Via Cells, Palestinian Detainees Find a Way
Many detainees use camera mobile phones to have a virtual contact with their families and create a network to maintain internal solidarity among them.
http://www.islamonline.org/English/News/2004-12/31/article01.shtml


Panel to examine IDF policy of home demolitions
The army has destroyed about 270 houses, mostly in the West Bank, between the summer of 2002 - when the government decided to renew home demolitions in the territories - and the summer of 2004, according to the IDF.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=521588&contrassID=1&subContrassID=5&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Army Officer Denies 'Confirming the Kill' Charges
Iman Al-Hamas was killed in early October near the Girit army outpost in Rafah. According to testimonies of a soldier eyewitness, Al-Hamas was shot wounded and then the charged army officer approached her and fired rounds of machine gun bullets to confirm the killing.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week4/123104/army%20officer%20denies%20charges.htm


Two killed in Gaza missile strike
That takes to 12 the number of Palestinians killed since the Israeli army entered the camp on Wednesday. Also on Friday a 16-year-old Palestinian boy died after being shot in Rafah, near the border with Egypt.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4136631.stm


PCHR: “Palestinian Civilians Pay the Price as the International Community fails to stop the continuous Israeli attacks”
The center stated that the Israeli army leveled and occupied dozens of homes in Khan Younis refugee camp, and Al-Amal neighborhood, west of Khan Younis. At least 16 homes were completely damaged; dozens were partially damaged by military bulldozers or shells.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week4/123104/pchr.htm


Small town in southeastern Brazil to honor Yasser Arafat
The 5-foot, 7-inch bronze statue will be part of an open-air memorial that includes a marble map of Palestine and a replica of the Palestinian flag, also in marble, Paraiba do Sul Mayor Rogerio Onofre said. "It is the first time a memorial in Arafat's honor has been built in the Western world," Onofre said.
http://www.wkrc.com/news/world/story.aspx?content_id=8BB13B9D-9B46-4B50-A501-D9BF14DC5EBD


'My nomination was just a tactic'
Barghouti said he wanted to highlight the plight of the some 7,000 Palestinians currently in Israeli jails... Also, Barghouti said he knew that if he were elected it would block chances for peace talks. "I didn't wish to be used as an excuse by the United States and Israel to topple the peace process in the area," he said.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1104465700439


EU official: Poll shows Palestinians eager to vote
The head of a European Union delegation of observers to Palestinian elections said Friday that voter registration ahead of a scheduled Jan. 9 Palestinian elections poll shows that Palestinians are eager for democracy.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=521713&contrassID=1&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Abbas Courts the Gunmen
His appearances, including an encounter with a prominent West Bank gunman on Thursday, prompted questions about whether Abbas is playing campaign politics or identifying with violent groups.
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3947704


Less than 50% of immigrants were from FSU in 2004
The number of newcomers from the former Soviet Union represented less than 50 percent of all immigrants in 2004, for the first time since the enormous influx of immigration from the former Soviet Union began in 1989, according to a Central Bureau of Statistics
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/521613.html


IDF Chief of Staff signals support for chief rabbi
The IDF rabbi, Brigadier General Israel Weiss, had said in a television interview with Channel 1 that if Rabbi Avraham Shapira told him to resign, he would.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/521707.html


Defense official: Cease support of radical right-wing colleges
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz has received a recommendation from a senior ministry official to cease the sponsorship of two pre-military colleges, due to radical right-wing political messages delivered to their students.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=521377&contrassID=1&subContrassID=5&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Jordanian, Chinese officials hold talks on bilateral relations, Middle East peace process
During a meeting with Lu Guozeng, China's Assistant Foreign Minister, Mulki said he values China's sustained stand of supporting for permanent peace in the region. He said the Palestinian issue is the core of Mideast conflicts,stressing that it should be solved as soon as possible.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/31/content_2399336.htm


Jordanian team to monitor Palestinian election
A Jordanian team, led by Senator Abdul Salam Majali, will travel to the Palestinian territories to monitor the Jan. 9 presidential elections, the state-run television reported Friday.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/31/content_2403008.htm


Election elation
While many candidates talk about continuing the legacy of Yasser Arafat, Abu Mazen is the only one with photos with the late president and the subheadline talking about their lifetime comradeship.
http://www.amin.org/eng/daoud_kuttab/2004/dec30.html


Forty years after its creation, Fatah faces challenge in run-up to election
An attempt in the mid-1990s by Marwan Barghuti, Fatah's general secretary in the West Bank who is currently in Israeli detention, to inject new blood into Fatah by holding elections failed amid pressure from the old guard.
http://www.turkishpress.com/world/news.asp?id=041231020624.7z1csupb.xml


Citigroup managed funds linked to Arafat
PCSC is owned by the Palestinian Authority, of which Arafat was president before he died in November. The investment funds were valued at $6.8 million on Jan. 1, 2003, according to a valuation of the account by Standard & Poor's, which the Palestinian Authority hired to value the investments.
http://www.nwherald.com/BusinessSection/322010240017917.php


Disabled Palestinian-American comic builds bridges with laughter
One of her favorite bits involves her fear of racial profiling at the Newark, N.J., airport, and ends with a wisecrack about being shipped to the U.S. prison camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. "Which is not a bad thing," Zayid says, "because I hear there's a lot of single Arab men."
http://www.wisinfo.com/newsherald/mnhlifestyle/282265588326898.shtml


Arab free trade zone to kick off in New Year
The objective of the zone is to increase inter-Arab trade as well as Arab and foreign investment in the region, which will increase growth rates and "the standard of living of Arab citizens, "Mussa said.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=5&u=/afp/20041231/wl_mideast_afp/arabeconomytrade_041231195227


Radical Iraqi groups threaten elections as US detains rebel suspects
Radical Islamist groups in Iraq warned they would strike against the country's landmark elections next month as US soldiers detained 49 suspects in a pre-dawn raid on an insurgent stronghold.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=13&u=/afp/20041231/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_041231181314


The Duplicity of the Media: Iraq vs. Tsunami
Where was this "free press" in Iraq when the death toll was skyrocketing towards 100,000? So far, we we,ve seen nothing of the devastation in Falluja where more than 6,000 were killed and where corpses were lined along the city's streets for weeks on end. Is death less photogenic in Iraq? Or, are there political motives behind the coverage?
http://www.counterpunch.com/whitney12312004.html


Rage of Fallujah residents boils over
"We take our direction from the Iraqi interim government of Iyad Allawi, we were instructed to let residents in even though some neighbourhoods are unsafe and we continue to combat insurgents," said Major Naomi Hawkins, a civil affairs officer with the Marines. She said troops find weapons caches and defuse roadside bombs daily.
http://www.jordantimes.com/fri/news/news14.htm

December 30, 2004

Cabinet to see new fence route after PA vote
The route's approval could spark conflict between Israel and the new Palestinian leadership, as the fence will penetrate deeply into the West Bank in order to encompass the Gush Etzion settlements. The revised route will encompass 10 Israeli settlements with some 50,000 residents, and four Palestinian villages with some 18,000 residents.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/520869.html


Friday - planting trees in Jayyous
On december 10, bulldozers of the "Ge'ulat Ha'aretz" firm uprooted some 300 olive trees on the property of Toufik Hassan Salim of Jayyous. Last Sunday (19.12), Jayyous villagers courageously blocked the bulldozers that entered their lands. Once the construction is complete, the people of Jayyous will have lost the remainder of their lands outside the Fence...
http://www.geocities.com/keller_adam/Gush_Shalom_Jayyous_Dec31.htm


Revised fence route to encompass 18,000 Palestinians
The revised route of the West Bank separation fence in the Gush Etzion region will penetrate deeply into the West Bank in order to encompass 10 Israeli settlements with some 50,000 residents, and four Palestinian villages with some 18,000 residents. A sizable amount of Palestinian land in the Bethlehem area will also end up on the Israeli side of the fence.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=521162&contrassID=1&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Palestinian wounded in anti-fence rally near Jenin
One Palestinian suffered a gunshot to the legs and three others were arrested on Wednesday during clashes between soldiers and Palestinians demonstrating against the construction of the West Bank "security" barrier.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1104291022350


Israel stops Palestinians voting in Jerusalem
Ariel Sharon, has admitted that the arrangements are designed to show that Israel has sole sovereignty in East Jerusalem. The government has told the Palestinian Election Commission that it will not allow privacy screens in the voting booths in East Jerusalem post offices, nor will election officials be allowed to mark voters with indelible ink to prevent fraud
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1380831,00.html


Two homes leveled, 13 residents arrested near Ramallah
Israeli soldiers arrested thirteen residents, mainly family members, after invading three villages, north of Ramallah during military searches of homes conducted in the villages. Also on Thursday, Israeli soldiers leveled two homes which belong to Fahed Arar and Majed Rabbi, after breaking into them and forcing the families out.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week4/123004/Qarawa.htm


Ramat Gan forbids posters denouncing deputy chief of staff
Large posters calling for the dismissal of Israel Defense Forces Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Dan Halutz were displayed in Jerusalem on Thursday in the kick-off to a campaign headed by the Yesh Gvul organization and the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/521352.html


Seven killed in military raid in Khan Younis
Four Palestinians were killed in the southern Gaza strip as Israeli army raided the area raising the death toll to seven overnight, Palestinian medical sources reported. Israeli aircraft fired two missiles into the camp, while troops and tanks raided the area.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week4/123004/3%20pal%20killed%20in%20khan%20younis.htm


Israeli Troops Kill Nine Palestinians in Gaza Raid
Israeli troops killed nine Palestinians on Thursday, including two teenagers, as tanks pushed into the southern Gaza Strip in what the army called a raid to stop mortar and rocket attacks on Jewish settlements.
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7209992


IDF arrests brother of Al-Aqsa leader; 4 dead in Khan Yunis
Israel Defense Forces troops operating in Jenin on Thursday arrested the brother of Zakariya Zubeidi, the commander of Fatah's military wing in the West Bank city. Jibril Zubeidi was responsible for shooting attacks on Israelis in the Jenin area and has long been wanted by security forces.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/520846.html


Number of Muslim, Christian Arab volunteers in IDF growing
Nevertheless, partial figures given to Haaretz by the IDF indicate a renewed increase in the enlistment of Muslim and Christian youth over the past two years. The number of Muslim volunteers in 2003 was 64.5 percent higher than in 2000, while the enlistment of Christians increased by 16 percent over the same period.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=520911&contrassID=1&subContrassID=5&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


?Palestinian attack Israeli settlers in Gaza
The Martyr Abu Ali Mustapha Brigades, military arm þof the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine claimed on Thursday responsibility for shelling two Israeli settlements with Al-Mustapha model rockets.
http://www.kuna.net.kw/English/Story.asp?DSNO=692912


B'Tselem: “Army killed 182 minors in 2004”
The B’Tselem report also revealed that during 2004, Israeli soldiers demolished 1,538 homes, among them 181 homes demolished as a means of collective punishment, and 1,357 for security reasons, according to the military claims. The demolitions left some 11,500 Palestinian residents homeless in 2004.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week4/123004/BTselem.htm


Israel Only Accepts Jews Who Support Illegal Settlements
The December 28 court decision came on Raphael Bender's 15th day of incarceration. She was detained during a non-violent protest against Israel's Apartheid Wall in the West Bank village of Bil'in. Raphael Bender, a San Francisco-based activist, has spent twelve of the last sixteen months in the Occupied Palestinian Territories
http://www.palsolidarity.org/DesktopModules/Articles/ArticlesView.aspx?tabID=0&alias=Rainbow&lang=en-US&ItemID=710&mid=10400


Palestinian militants embrace candidate Abbas
Palestinian gunmen carried Mahmoud Abbas on their shoulders on Thursday in a West Bank refugee camp where the front-running presidential candidate was welcomed by a leading militant on Israel's most-wanted list. "This is a strong show of support for Abu Mazen," Zakaria Zubeidi, commander of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades in the camp, said
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L30246243.htm


PFLP Declares Support for Presidential Candidate Dr. Barghouthi
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine called Wednesday its members and supporters to vote for presidential Candidate Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi in the slated January 9 elections.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week4/123004/pflp%20to%20support%20barghouthi.htm


Where's our $6.5 billion, asks candidate Mustafa Barghouti
"The Palestinian people have the right to ask what happened to the $6.5 billion that we received in foreign aid over the past 10 years," Barghouti told the crowd. "I'm not saying that no schools were built, but there has been a lot of mismanagement and wrongdoing. The choice on January 9 is between those who committed all these mistakes and a new approach."
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1104291022839


Most MKs reject 'second disengagement'
However, Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman Yuval Steintiz (Likud) said more unilateral disengagement could not be carried out because of the geo-strategic difference between Gaza and the West Bank.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1104376736085


Peres waives demand to serve as deputy prime minister
The compromise solves one of the main problems that had threatened to delay the establishment of the new government next week. It appears that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will present his new coalition for Knesset approval on Monday.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/520844.html


PM's office rejects Olmert remarks on wider West Bank pullout
The Prime Minister's Office Thursday rejected published remarks by Vice Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who said in a newspaper interview that Israel would withdraw from the West Bank beyond the areas outlined in the disengagement plan.
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/521175.html


China raises Mideast peace proposal
Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan has presented a four-point proposal aimed at achieving peace in the Middle East, to Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom. He commented that the roadmap peace plan, which envisions a full Palestinian state by 2005, is a practical and feasible solution to the problems
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/30/content_2395392.htm


Palestinian leader calls on Israel to remove wall
Interim Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas made a campaign run Wednesday through West Bank towns living in the shadow of Israel's separation barrier, urging Israel to tear down the huge structure that he said would never help peace.
http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-meast30.html


PCHR Calls upon the Central Election Commission to Amend Procedures of Counting Votes to Conform to the Law
On Thursday, 30 December 2004, PCHR sent a letter to Dr. Hanna Nasser, Head of the Palestinian Central Election Commission (CEC), calling for reconsidering procedures of counting the votes accredited by the CEC to conform to Law 13 of 1995 Relating to Elections, according to which the presidential election will be held.
http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/PressR/English/2004/163-2004.htm


Israeli Nasser set to coach Palestine national team
The Palestinian Football Association is set to appoint Israeli Arab Azmi Nasser as their new national team coach next week after he was allowed free access to the Gaza Strip by the army.
http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=reu-palestinecoach&prov=reuters&type=lgns


Abbas Statements on Militants Monitored
Abbas won Zubeidi's ringing endorsement. After Abbas left the stage, Zubeidi, with gunmen firing in the air, warned that he would deal with anyone who tried to challenge the elected Palestinian leadership. Then Zubeidi escorted Abbas' car out of the camp.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=540&e=1&u=/ap/20041230/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_palestinians


How the covenants collapsed
Over the last few years, various forums have been established in an effort to close the widening rift between right and left. One of the leading ones was the Forum for National Responsibility, which succeeded, with great effort, in drafting the Kinneret Covenant.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/520882.html


Moussa calls for "strong" Arab-US relations
Secretary General of the Arab League(AL) Amr Moussa on Wednesday asked both the Americans and the Arabs to undertake measures to achieve "strong" bilateral relations, Egypt's official MENA news agency reported.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/30/content_2392732.htm


Palestinian attacks killed 118 in 2004, down 445 from 2003
One hundred and eighteen Israelis were killed in the war with the Palestinians in 2004, 445 fewer than in the previous year, according to figures released Wednesday by the Israel Defense Forces.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=520913&contrassID=1&subContrassID=5&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


A Mire of Death, Lies and Atrocities - By Robert Fisk
We were lied to about weapons of mass destruction. We were lied to about the links between Saddam Hussein and September 11, 2001. We were lied to about the insurgents--remember how they were just "dead-enders" and "remnants"?--and we were lied to about the improvements in Iraq when the entire country was steadily falling outside the hands of the occupying powers...
http://www.counterpunch.com/fisk12302004.html

December 29, 2004

In Jordan: Unions and Political Groups Stage a Campaign against the Apartheid Wall and Denounce Normalization with the Occupation
In early December, a group of Jordanian political parties, unions, and civil groups joined together in a campaign to pressure the government to scrap its 10-year-old peace treaty with Apartheid Israel. The demand is part of the group's campaign against the Apartheid Wall.
http://stopthewall.org/worldwideactivism/836.shtml


Apartheid Wall Kills Far'on Villages' Hopes
According to citizens from Far'on village, Israeli occupation has been building an industrial zone on their stolen land. They also affirmed that Israeli troops have been digging a tunnel in their land, linking Tulkarem to al-Kafriat villages.
http://english.wafa.ps/body.asp?field=tech_news&id=1995


Palestinians Worry About Cost of Peace
The barrier, in the form of an electrified fence here, cuts off Jayyous from 74 percent of its farmland and much of its well water, he said. The people of Jayyous can only reach their land through two Israeli checkpoints that are open for about an hour twice a day. Each requires different permits...
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/29/international/middleeast/29mideast.html


The Writing on the Wall: Hania Batar
Suddenly this wall of concrete cement became very scary. I try to be and present myself as a courageous woman, but to tell you the truth: sometimes when I am driving and it is evening, this Wall really looks cold, long and winding, like a snake. When I am driving alongside it, it is an endless road.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article3464.shtml


Release of children should be a priority
Children remain the most vulnerable group affected by the policies of occupation and nowhere is this more so that within the Israeli military judicial system. We demand the unconditional and immediate release of all Palestinian child prisoners from Israeli detention.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article3465.shtml


Elections without Democracy
During the 1970's, the apartheid government of South Africa sought to bolster its claims to legitimacy by allowing elections in the Bantustans - the equivalent to today's walled in Palestinian communities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article3459.shtml


Three children wounded by an explosive left by Israeli army
A medical source at Khaleel Suleiman hospital in Jenin said that Mahmoud Abu Al-Rob, 15 years old, sustained critical injuries, while Hasan Hatim Irshiyyed, 11, and Hosney Hashim Irshiyyed, 11, were moderately injured.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week4/291204/three.htm


Five Palestinians Wounded In Nablus
Five Palestinians were reportedly wounded today noon at Sufian street and Al Dewar area in Nablus city of the West Bank during an incursion by the Israeli occupation forces under a volley of heavy firing
http://www.ipc.gov.ps/ipc_new/english/details.asp?name=1730


?Israeli troops arrest 3 Palestinians including a female in Ramallah, Dora
The troops broke into the house and arrested its owner and another young þman named, Mohammad Al-Hindi, added the eyewitnesses. Meanwhile, Israeli troops also arrested a Palestinian female named, Safa þAmro, spouse of the prisoner at the Israeli jails Abdulaziz Amro in Dora town þnear Al-Khalil.
http://www.kuna.net.kw/English/Story.asp?DSNO=692650


Jihad develops new homemade rocket
"The engineering unit developed a new rocket called Quds 2, with a length of 2.2 meters and a capacity of carrying 6 kilograms of explosives, and it can hit targets 18 kilometers away," said the leaflet.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/29/content_2392333.htm


Foreign worker lightly hurt in Gaza mortar attack
A foreign worker sustained light wounds Wednesday afternoon when three mortar shells landed in the central Gaza Strip settlement of Kfar Darom. The woman, 25, suffered shrapnel wounds...
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/520663.html


Two Israeli soldiers wounded in militant attack
Israel Radio reported that the two Israeli soldiers were lightly wounded in the West Bank village of Baka al-Sharkiya when a gunman opened fire on their convoy.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/29/content_2392328.htm


Palestinian couple rescue Israeli honeymooners
A pair of Israeli newlyweds described on Wednesday how a Palestinian couple came to their rescue during Thailand's tidal wave disaster, paying for them to fly back home after they had lost all their cash.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1174855,0005.htm


PFLP endorses independent candidate Mustafa Barghuti in Palestinian election
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) called on supporters Wednesday to vote for the independent candidate Mustafa Barghuti in next month's Palestinian presidential election.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2004/December/middleeast_December791.xml&section=middleeast&col=


Dahlan in Egypt in efforts to release Bargouthi
Dahlan arrived in Cairo Wednesday to meet with Egyptian officials to debrief them on his latest meeting with Bargouthi in Beer Sheva prison. Egypt is going to mediate with Israel to release Bargouthi. Bargouthi is jailed in Israel serving five life terms sentence.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week4/122904/dahlan-egypt.htm


Abbas continues election campaigns
He also insisted that Israel must respect Palestinian refugees' right of return in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolution 194 and free all Palestinian prisoners. He stressed the rule of the law and everyone is equal before the law. Abbas also called for national unity and an end to internal fighting over political differences.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/29/content_2392346.htm


Palestinian election observer chief arrives in Gaza
Rocard's visit to Gaza focused on inspecting the situation inthe Gaza Strip, especially Israeli troops' continuous incursionsinto the region and checkpoints that block the Palestinians' freemovement.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/29/content_2389535.htm


Tunisia to ease travel restrictions on Israelis
There are at present no diplomatic relations between Israel and Tunisia, and no direct air links between the two countries. Therefore, Israelis interested in travel to Tunisia must apply for a visa in an embassy in a third country.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/520801.html


Sharon rejects European role in Mideast peace
But he told Israeli ambassadors posted to EU capitals that Europe could play a "positive role" in pressing the Palestinians for political reform and an end to armed resistance. Sharon's comments followed the announcement here last week by British Prime Minister Tony Blair that he intended to host a Middle East conference in London in the new year.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20041228/wl_mideast_afp/mideastisraeleu_041228202525


Sharon to visit China
An Israeli military official said last week that the United States has demanded that Israel confiscate the drones, fearing that they could upset the military balance between China and Taiwan.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=520377&contrassID=1&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


China reiterates support for roadmap plan
During meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Tang Jiaxuan said the Israelis and Palestinians should seize the opportunity to resume peace talks and resolve bilateral disputes according to relative UN resolutions and the principle of "land for peace."
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/29/content_2390151.htm


Pullout compensation bill stalled at Israeli Knesset committee
The bill can not be put for vote in the Knesset before it isapproved by the committee, while Israeli Prime Minister ArielSharon hopes to bring the bill to final readings in the Knesset byearly 2005, the report said.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/29/content_2389533.htm


Sharon gives army carte blanche to stop Gaza attacks, warns refuseniks
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon gave the army free rein to respond to repeated attacks by Palestinian militants in Gaza and warned he would not tolerate dissent in the ranks during the pullout from the territory.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=2&u=/afp/20041229/wl_mideast_afp/mideast_041229174806


Knesset panel debate on 'Peres bill' continues
The Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice is to continue debate Wednesday over the "Peres Law" - the proposed amendment to the Basic Law on The Government aimed at allowing Shimon Peres to be appointed a second vice premier alongside Ehud Olmert...
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/520358.html


REPORTER: Israeli army may not go back after Palestinian elections
The Israeli defense establishment is considering using the run-up to the Palestinian presidential elections on January 9 to help put a new security regime in place in the Palestinian areas, The Jerusalem Report has learned. The idea is to reduce the Israeli military presence in those areas to a minimum
http://www.jrep.com/Reporter/Article-0.html


Arabic literature finds an audience in Europe
Iraqi novelist Alia Mamdouh has a message for the West: "How can you expect me, an Iraqi, whose country is being subjected to destruction, to trust Westerners - Americans - and to accept that they're the only ones on Earth and in the universe to possess the truth, when they don't take a step toward my culture, my existence, my language?"
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1229/p06s01-woeu.htm


A parade of charlatans
But if this has occurred, others, far beyond the region have also found the conflict a useful tool for their own selfish purposes. UK Prime Minister Tony Blair is the latest leader to brazenly exploit this tragedy.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article3463.shtml


Palestinian Democracy and the forty thieves
Always asking the Palestinians to carry out their promises and their tasks, to make concessions and further concessions, but not to speak about their rights like any other people, not to mention Israeli promises or what steps Israel must take to give peace a chance.
http://www.amin.org/eng/uncat/2004/dec/dec28.html


Israel's Culture of Martyrdom
the remembrance of martyrs--Jews who, in Zionist ideology, had to die so that the state might be born. The central chapter in the construction of Israeli martyrology was, of course, the Holocaust, but it began well before, according to Zertal, who traces it to the cult surrounding Joseph Trumpeldor, the first hero of the Jews who settled in Palestine."
http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20050110&s=kimmerling


Majority of East Jerusalem residents to vote outside city in election
Only 5,376 East Jerusalem residents will be allowed to vote in the polling stations set up at the post offices inside the city while the rest 200,000 will have to go to stations outside the city, Barco said.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/29/content_2392331.htm


Financial expert: Poverty rate in Israel higher than NII says
The poverty rate in Israel is at least 30 percent higher than the measurement by the National Insurance Institute, according to Dr. Daniel Gotlieb, a senior adviser to Bank of Israel Governor David Klein.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=520376&contrassID=1&subContrassID=4&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Attacks target Iraqi police
It brought the total number of Iraqis killed yesterday to 54, more than half of whom were policemen. The US military said in a statement that between 770kg and 820kg of explosives were used in the ambush. Soldiers and policemen "worked throughout the night" pulling the dead and injured from the rubble.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1380582,00.html

December 28, 2004

Palestinians, Israelis and Internationals to Replant Bulldozed Olive Trees in Jayyous Friday
Israeli contractors have bulldozed 600 olive trees on Jayyous'farmland which is isolated between the Apartheid Wall and the Green Line. Though Palestinian farmers from Jayyous say they retain ownership of this land, the land is being prepared for the expansion of the illegal Israeli settlement of Zufim.
http://www.palsolidarity.org/DesktopModules/Articles/ArticlesView.aspx?tabID=0&alias=Rainbow&lang=en-US&ItemID=703&mid=10400


Israel accused of obstructing Palestinian election in east Jerusalem
Palestinian election workers say they are being obstructed and harassed in east Jerusalem by the Israeli security forces. East Jerusalem was annexed by Israel in 1967. It has said it will allow east Jerusalemites to vote in the January 9 election, but is disturbed by anything that it sees as manifestations of Palestinian sovereignty.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1380177,00.html


PICTURES DON'T LIE
The total area involved in this expansion is about 808,000 square meters, a 60 percent increase from a June survey, and includes new and continuing land development for settlement, new infrastructure, new and continuing construction, internal road works, and the placement of new caravans.
http://www.fmep.org/reports/2004/Nov-Dec/v14n6.html#6


Gush Shalom: “New settlements in the West Bank”
Gush Shalom reported that “settlement activities are ongoing while the Israeli governments in distracting the world with the disengagement plan from the Gaza Strip; construction of settlements resumed in the West Bank, especially in the areas near the 1967 borders”.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week4/122804/Gush%20Shalom.htm


Bring End to Suffering of Palestinian Child Prisoners
"Some 350 Palestinian children currently remain in Israeli jails, detention and interrogation centers. Under international law, their release should be a priority. As it is, not one child has been named on the list of prisoners to be released as part of this initiative
http://english.wafa.ps/body.asp?field=tech_news&id=1989


Two firebombs thrown at Tel Aviv mosque
"If this had happened at a synagogue, half of Jaffa would be under arrest," city councilman Rifaat Tourk said. He warned the residents of Jaffa against taking the law into their own hands.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/519311.html


Detainees in critical health conditions, still deprived of medication
Fawwaz Al-Shalloudy, lawyer of the Palestinian Prisoners Society reported after visiting Be'er Shiva – Ohaly Qidar section that the detainees are suffering of bad health conditions and deprived from medical treatment and medication.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week4/122804/detainees.htm


Why Marwan Did Not Run
Mahmoud Abbas's home in Ramallah is a palatial villa spread on a hillside. Marwan Barghouti's is a second-floor flat in a six-story apartment block overhanging a gorge. It is not the only contrast between the two men, who until Barghouti's recent withdrawal from the race for the Palestinian presidential elections on January 9 were seen by Palestinians as the only real heirs to Yasir Arafat.
http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20050110&s=usher


Israeli Police Arrest Palestinian Presidential Candidate
Israeli police detained Palestinian presidential candidate Mustafa Barghouti as he campaigned Monday in east Jerusalem. The arrest came a day after the Israeli cabinet approved measures allowing Palestinian candidates to campaign in east Jerusalem
http://www.voanews.com/english/2004-12-27-voa24.cfm


Israeli missile hits car in south Gaza--witnesses
An Israeli drone aircraft fired a missile into a car in Gaza on Tuesday but several Palestinian militants who were inside escaped without serious injury, witnesses said.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L28292612.htm


Israel shells Palestinian refugee camp
Israeli occupation forces have fired tank shells into the heavily populated Khan Yunus refugee camp in southern Gaza, wounding at least 10 Palestinians. A 13-year-old boy and a girl aged about 10 were among those injured by the shelling on Tuesday, which the Israeli military said was aimed at the source of mortar fire on the illegal Gush Khatif settlement.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/C797A584-FC28-44B8-A827-C847341BC565.htm


Arafat's Death Spurs Militant Rocket Race
Islamic Jihad has the Al-Quds 3, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine fires off al-Mustafas and the Popular Resistance Committees has its Nasser-3 rocket. The Arafat is designed to be the most powerful of all, with a range of 11 miles and a 33-pound warhead.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=572&ncid=572&e=3&u=/nm/20041227/lf_nm/mideast_rockets_dc_1


Palestinian Minister Calls for US Election Observers
A senior Palestinian minister is calling for American monitors to observe the January 9 presidential election. The appeal comes as one of the candidates ran into trouble with Israeli authorities as he tried to get his message out.
http://www.voanews.com/english/2004-12-28voa4.cfm


Palestinian legislative elections to be held in May
He told a commemorative meeting in Gaza in honour of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat that Palestinians need a powerful lawmaking body to ensure the success of reforms and anti-corruption efforts.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/28/content_2388209.htm


Arab League: No Palestine soon
Arab League chief Amr Musa has played down talk of the creation of a Palestinian state, dismissing the idea that the peace process is on the verge of recovery. Heading the 22-nation body, Musa said on Tuesday there was not a "glimmer of hope" because political positions in Israel and the US had not changed.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/C9CA2E3B-C41A-4684-B023-806142B01310.htm


Turkish FM Gul's First Official Visit to Israel
Gul will go to Israel and Palestine just prior to the presidential elections following the death of Yasser Arafat. Gul is expected to visit Arafat's grave and then meet with Israel Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom on January 4th. He will be received by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and President Moshe Katzav.
http://www.turkishweekly.net/news.php?id=1095


Abstention by Arab MK helps stall disengagement bill
Right-wing Knesset members and an Arab MK on Tuesday thwarted the approval of the Evacuation Compensation Bill, which details the financial recompense to be offered to settlers who evacuate their homes in the Gaza Strip and part of the northern West Bank under the disengagement plan.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/520246.html


Gaza police chief bars gunmen from wearing police uniforms
"This is one of many steps the Palestinian police is taking to enforce the rule of law and bring security and organization to the streets," police chief Saeb al-Ajez said in a statement. With Palestinian police increasingly weakened by the fighting, gunmen often fill the void, settling personal scores by force or dispensing vigilante justice. (NOT by IOF Destroying it)
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/520293.html


Abbas vows peace push at post-Arafat election rally
Emergent Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas drew cheers at his first election rally on Tuesday by vowing to follow in Yasser Arafat's footsteps while stressing he would seek a state via peace talks with Israel.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L28623125.htm


PCHR Condemns Intervention by Israeli Occupation Forces into the Election Process
On Monday, 27 December 2004, IOF arrested Dr. Mustafa al-Barghouthi, a candidate for the Palestinian election, while he was campaigning in occupied Jerusalem. These measures by IOF constitute a flagrant intervention into the Palestinian elections.
http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/PressR/English/2004/160-2004.htm


Knesset committee considers alternatives to 'Peres bill'
The Knesset Constitution Law and Justice Committee decided Tuesday to weigh several alternatives to a proposed bill that would enable the appointment of Labor leader Shimon Peres to the post of deputy prime minister, without amending the Basic Law on Government.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/520358.html


Students protest plan to appoint IDF officers to high schools
"We are declaring our opposition to the placing of military figures inside schools, a factor which would contribute to the dissolution of civil society and its total militarization," the students said.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=520281&contrassID=1&subContrassID=7&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


U.S. immigration hits 20-year high, but overall aliyah down 13%
The number of immigrants from the U.S. to Israel is due to rise to a 20-year hight of 2,850 by the end of the year, even as the latest immigration figures for 2004 show that aliyah has dropped by 13 percent since last year.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=520236&contrassID=1&subContrassID=7&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Israeli cabinet to vote on pullout
However, Attorney General Menachem Mazuz advised him to speed up ratification on the reason that the government should give settlers at least six months' notice before evacuating them.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/28/content_2387439.htm


US hands over 20 million dollars in vote of confidence to Palestinians
The decision to make the transfer was announced back in December by US Assistant Secretary of State William Burns who said it reflected "our confidence in the direction of the PA's reform program, and our expectation that reform will continue to be implemented energetically."
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=6&u=/afp/20041228/wl_mideast_afp/mideastisraelusaid_041228171506


Palestinian Women Win Big In Elections
Palestinian women won 51 seats in Thursday's elections, 32 of them winning their place outright without having to claim a seat reserved for women by Palestinian law. Maisoun Badarneh, a 44-year-old teacher elected as an independent candidate to the council in the town of Yabed, said she faced intense opposition from relatives and neighbors...
http://cbsnewyork.com/mideast/mideast_story_363064247.html


Violence is unavoidable for as long as the occupation continues
On the one hand, Palestinians were thirsty for some peace and calm and for getting the occupation off their backs. On the other hand, people witnessed that even during times of negotiations, settlement building continued, indeed skyrocketed; Palestinian land continued to be confiscated; checkpoints, meant to hamper Palestinian lives and livelihoods, were erected;
http://www.bitterlemons.org/issue/pal2.php


Syrian FM blames Israel for peace impasse
"At a time when Syria is clinging fast to the requirements of a just peace and does not put forth any conditions to achieve peace, the Israeli side is putting conditions on Syria that have nothing to do with peace," al-Sharaa said.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/520305.html


Israeli intelligence: Hamas won't halt attacks
Intelligence officials believe Hamas is making its utmost to increase the range of its homemade Qassam rockets, which can currently strike at targets some 10 kilometers away, and their accuracy.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/28/content_2389193.htm


IMI wins tender for 5 chemical plants in India
The plants, which will go up in the north Indian state of Bihar, will develop explosive materials and are due to be fully equipped within two years. The factories will resemble the ones that exist in Ramat Hasharon, near Tel Aviv.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/520287.html


43 killed as Iraq insurgents deal pre-election blow to security forces
At least 43 people were killed as insurgents launched a string of attacks on the Iraqi security forces raising questions about their readiness to secure landmark elections next month.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=1&u=/afp/20041228/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_041228200244


Disappearing Act - Fallujah and the Media
If anything, the siege has only emboldened the resistance and broadened its sphere of influence. Violence has now spread throughout the Sunni triangle; ending last week with a devastating mortar attack that killed 22 in a mess tent outside Mosul. Now, the occupation forces are in a defensive mode; having to spend much of their energy simply trying to protect supply lines and oil facilities.
http://uruknet.info/?s1=2&p=8464&s2=28

December 27, 2004

Israel arrests Palestinian candidate in E. Jerusalem
"The police told him, 'We have an arrest warrant for you', and dragged him away," Ihad al-Jariri, campaign manager for the independent candidate, told Reuters. Earlier this month, Barghouti said Israeli troops beat and briefly detained him at a checkpoint outside the West Bank city of Jenin.
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/519735.html


Israeli Police Arrest Palestinian Presidential Candidate
The arrest came a day after the Israeli Cabinet approved a series of measures meant to facilitate the January 9 election, including allowing candidates to campaign in disputed east Jerusalem.
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3932232


Universal jurisdiction: Reflections on the 'Case of Ariel Sharon'
The 1982 massacre at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in Beirut, most of whose victims were stateless Palestinians, was slowly entering the deep sleep that characterizes losers in this competition when, on June 18, 2001, a criminal complaint on behalf of 28 witnesses and survivors was brought before a court in Belgium.
http://dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=5&article_id=11287


Case of Israeli soldier charged with killing girl seen as complex
So egregious was the Oct. 5 killing that Capt. R is the first Israeli soldier to face such charges, says the military prosecutor. The case prompted Israeli soul-searching unparalleled since a 12-year-old Palestinian boy was filmed dying in the arms of his anguished father during a firefight between soldiers and demonstrators four years ago.
http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/10499593.htm


Israeli army invades Abu Haddaf area
Monday evening, Israeli soldiers invaded Abu Haddaf area, east of Al-Qarara in the north of Kahn Younis and called the residents out of their homes using load speakers. Residents of Al-Qarara, an area repeatedly invaded and lost most of its homes, fear additional escalation and further demolishing of homes.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week4/122704/Abu%20Haddaf.htm


Aged Woman Wounded, 6 Arrested, Including Girl in GS and WB
An aged woman was wounded early Monday by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) in Khanyounis city, southern Gaza Strip (GS), witnesses and medics said. In Nablus city of the West Bank (WB), Israeli soldiers arrested five citizens, including a girl as they stormed several areas in the city
http://english.wafa.ps/body.asp?field=tech_news&id=1986


Citizen Murdered, another Kidnapped in Nablus
Meanwhile, Israeli soldiers assaulted today three children from Jayyous village of Qalqilya City, witnesses said. Israeli soldiers, guarding the Apartheid Wall being built in the village, beat up three children and held them up at an Israeli military jeep for several hours, before releasing them.
http://english.wafa.ps/body.asp?field=tech_news&id=1987


Students used as human shields
Israeli soldiers forced dozens of students to lineup in front of military jeeps and bulldozers as human shields while the army invaded Betunia, near Ramallah, in the northern part of the West Bank.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week4/122704/students.htm


Release of children should be a priority
Some 350 Palestinian children currently remain in Israeli jails, detention centers, and interrogation centers. Under international law, their release should be a priority. As it is, not one child has been named on the list of prisoners to be released as part of this initiative.
http://www.amin.org/eng/uncat/2004/dec/dec27.html


Zobeidi: “Our response will be painful”
In an Interview with the Israeli news Website ArabYnet, leader of Al-Aqsa Brigades, the military wing of Fatah said that the brigades' response to the assassination of his assistant Taher Abu Kamel will be painful, and within the Israeli areas.
http://www.imemc.org/interviews/2004/december/zubeidi.htm


PLO Chairman Meets Chinese Deputy PM: We Can Achieve Peace when Israel Believes in it
"I am sure, in the time the Israeli side believes in peace, it is possible to achieve it," Abu Mazen said in a joint press conference, held in Ramallah, with the Chinese State Councilor, deputy Prime Minister Tang Jiaxuan.
http://english.wafa.ps/body.asp?field=tech_news&id=1988


Palestinians: Inmate release a PR ploy
"These liberations can be seen as a public relations operation," Abd al-Razzaq said. "It is the fruit of an understanding between Egypt and Israel which has no effect on our relations with Israel or the peace process."
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/52268FF4-E6C3-412C-8B00-DE91466352B6.htm


Israel starts Palestinian prisoner release
"I respect every prisoner that is released but we need a serious release process," Abbas told reporters. A list provided by the Israel Prisons Authority showed that most of the prisoners going free on Monday were nearing the end of their terms.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L27262468.htm


Israel takes hand in Palestinian poll
The Israeli government was to approve Sunday a range of measures meant to ensure a smooth Palestinian presidential election, including granting Palestinians freedom of movement and allowing candidates to campaign in predominantly Arab east Jerusalem, officials said.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/12/27/2003216918


Sharon Moves Up Gaza Withdrawl Date
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Monday he will seek final Cabinet approval for a Gaza withdrawal in February, four months earlier than planned, and he threatened harsh retaliation if Palestinian militants try to disrupt the pullback
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=540&e=2&u=/ap/20041227/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_palestinians


Knesset approves opposition's no-confidence motion
Labor MKs abstained in protest over the fact that a special amendment to the Basic Law on the Government to enable party chairman Shimon Peres to be appointed deputy premier has still not been approved, thus delaying the signing of a coalition agreement.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=519658&contrassID=1&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Arab MKs demand National Union's Eldad resigns
Knesset members from the Arab factions are demanding the resignation of MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union) as chairman of the Knesset Ethics Committee, due to his lack of objectivity in handling complaints filed with the committee against Arab MKs.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=519725&contrassID=1&subContrassID=7&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


PM: Cabinet to vote on start date for pullout next month
MK Yossi Sarid (Yahad) said during the meeting that instead of staging a drama before and during the evacuation, the government should announce a final date for evacuation. Following that date any person remaining will not enjoy the provision of water and electricity, education, health services and supply of goods.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/519209.html


Egyptian observers head for Palestinian territories
Fourteen Egyptian diplomats on Sundayheaded for the Palestinians territories as observers in thepresidential elections slated for Jan. 9, the official MENA newsagency reported.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/27/content_2383509.htm


Hamas scores at the ballot box in challenge to Fatah
Both Hamas and the late Yasser Arafat's Fatah party claimed victory. Hanan Yousef, a West Bank Hamas leader, said: "This election has proved that we have a strong presence here. This means the Hamas programme of resistance has many supporters."
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=596146


Gazan students' fugitive lives
In 2000, 370 Gaza students enrolled at Birzeit University. Enrollment of Gaza students in 2005 is down to 39. Those who began their degrees in 2000 have been left with two stark choices: They can either drop out or stay and risk all that this entails.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article3460.shtml


1st Gaza settlers OK move
Residents of an Israeli settlement in the Gaza Strip have agreed to move to a community inside Israel and will begin the evacuation in March, an official in charge of the relocation said Sunday.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2027&ncid=2027&e=1&u=/chitribts/20041227/ts_chicagotrib/1stgazasettlersokmove


Israeli settlers and Law makers to discuss protest legalities
Israeli members of Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee will meet with the Yesha Council of Settlements representatives to discuss the boundaries of the legitimate protests by the settlers against the unilateral disengagement plan.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week4/122704/settlers.htm


Figures show new low in immigration to Israel
By the end of 2004, 21,744 immigrants are expected to arrive, 13 percent down from last year's 25,009 immigrants. There was a dramatic 70 percent drop in immigration from Argentina.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/519760.html


No Jordan observers to Palestine poll
Government spokeswoman Asma Khoder told journalists her country "insists any Arab participation in the Palestinian elections should take place through the Arab League."
http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20041227-084529-3785r.htm


One-sided pressure from Bush
The message of most of the world to President Bush about Middle East peacemaking does not appear to be getting through: It's the occupation. It's the occupation. It's the occupation. Somehow, Bush still is laboring under the misguided belief that the major issue is Palestinian democracy.
http://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/story/1966156p-8335799c.html


Background/ The Gaza exit as Holocaust, the settler as victim
The activists reluctantly suspended the campaign after survivors of the Nazi annihilation campaign, some of them residents of the Gaza Strip, voiced outrage and profound pain over the use of the Holocaust in opposing the disengagement.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=519244&contrassID=1&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Too safe
On the face of it, Abu Mazen didn't have to make much of an effort. His election is assured. His main opponent in the election, Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, trails far behind him in the polls. So are the other candidates, including Bassam Al-Salhi, the representative of the People's party
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/519327.html


Palestinian factions slam Blair conference as interference
Reports say Blair had wanted to host a wide-ranging peace conference but was forced to scale back the meeting's remit in the face of Israeli pressure. The conference is now to focus on Palestinian political and economic reforms, and Israel has made clear it will stay away.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=6&u=/afp/20041227/wl_mideast_afp/mideastpalestinianbritain_041227095411


World watch
Yasser Arafat's death and replacement by the pragmatic Mahmoud Abbas is one reason things could improve - not because Abbas will bend on the tough issues of borders, settlements and Jerusalem, but because he is likely to curb violence, embrace reform and win international backing to force Israel to accept a fair deal.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/comment/0,10551,1379983,00.html


Israel army chief says professional failures behind Egyptians' deaths
"These failures relate on the one hand to professional failure of the IDF force regarding the method of operating tanks in that area, and failure in the control and command of the forces."
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=5&u=/afp/20041227/wl_mideast_afp/mideastisraelegypt_041227201855


Iraqi Official: Vote May Be Delayed in Some Areas
IRAQI Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said in an interview with Chinese state media today that landmark elections planned for next month could be delayed in some parts of Iraq due to fragile security.
http://uruknet.info/?s1=2&p=8454&s2=27

December 26, 2004

Israel Plans Turning Separation Wall into De Facto Borders
The Israeli security establishment revealed plans to hand crossings between Palestinian Territories and Israel, as marked by the separation wall, to civil authorities; a strategic move that creates de facto borders along the separation wall. the guarded gates of the separation wall are planned to serve as crossing passages between Israel and the Palestinian territories.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week4/261204/israel%20plans%20defacto%20borders.htm


ISRAEL TARGETS INTERNATIONAL ACTIVISTS
Yesterday was the deadline for the state to respond to Kate Raphael Bender's appeal of deportation, but she has heard nothing. In the coming days she expects to find out if and when there will be a hearing.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/palsolidarity/message/1105


The Changing Face of Bethlehem
Michael runs a car repair garage in the Rachel’s Tomb area. Already, the constructed parts of the Barrier pass by Michael’s home and garage. He had hoped that when the intifada ends, he would resume operations from his garage. He does not know whether he will follow his customers to Bethlehem or stay in his property with his garage behind the Barrier.
http://www.hic-opt.org/public/Bethlehem_Report_Dec04/eng%20beth%20rep%20web.pdf


Where the homeland ends
In discussions that took place last week in the chambers of Minister Tzipi Livni, the acting justice minister, it became apparent that the state views the establishment of each settlement in the territories as an ad-hoc act that got carried out with the permission of the military commander in charge of the area.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/518932.html


WAFA: Palestinians Stuck at Rafah Terminal Crossing Fear Catastrophe
Under harsh humanitarian conditions, especially in such winter cold days, scores of patient, elderly, women and children, have found no room for proper sleeping, food and medication, thus they are going through possible serious health complications, it pointed out.
http://www.ipc.gov.ps/ipc_new/english/details.asp?name=1678


IDF kills two Hamas men crawling near Gaza border
A statement issued by Hamas said the two men were killed while approaching an IDF outpost in order to plant a bomb. Later Sunday morning, Palestinians fired a Qassam rocket at a town next to Sderot in the western Negev. There were no reported casualties.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/519161.html


Child Dies of Wounds, 18 Arrested in OPT
Tasahil al-Hassant 7, died today of wounds she sustained in last October in Gaza City when a tank shell targeted her house in al-Mughraka area, south of Gaza City.
http://english.wafa.ps/body.asp?field=tech_news&id=1985


?Three Palestinians wounded in Rafah
?Israeli occupation troops stationed near the border with Egypt opened ?artillery fire at houses in the town of Rafah.? Palestinian medical sources said Bashir Qadhi, 14, was hit in the abdomen when artillery fire targeted Hay Al-Salam area, east of Rafah.?
http://www.kuna.net.kw/English/Story.asp?DSNO=691285


US Female Preacher Victim of Hate Crime: Family
An autopsy showed Iman, who was six months pregnant with a girl, was stabbed 33 times in the upper body, and that some of those wounds were defensive. Iman graduated from the faculty of Islamic studies in the Islamic University in Gaza and was noted for her academic excellence.
http://www.islamonline.org/English/News/2004-12/26/article04.shtml


Israeli woman Tali Fahima charged with assisting enemy
According to the indictment, Fahima, an Israeli Jewish woman, entered the West Bank city of Jenin roughly seven months ago and joined company with Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade activists. The maximum possible sentence that Fahima may receive if she is convicted is life imprisonment.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/519220.html


Abbas' rival strikes confident note
Al-Barghuthi added: "We don't need a leader who will control us, because we are all languishing under the Israeli occupation. We need a leader who will lead us to freedom and liberation." He said he was not running against Fatah per se, saying the movement had in its ranks "many good and patriotic people".
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article3458.shtml


7 Palestinian candidates begin race to succeed Arafat
Barghouti, 50, a physician and human rights activist, suggested that he and his Palestinian National Initiative party offered voters an alternative to Abbas and Fatah, calling for "new leadership that is capable of understanding the people's needs." Palestinians have not voted for president of their ruling authority since 1996.
http://www.indystar.com/articles/0/204837-9680-010.html


Hamas makes gains in Palestinian poll
The tally, announced by the Palestinian Authority's supreme council for local elections on Sunday, showed Hamas scored victories in nine councils against 16 for Fatah, with the two factions tied for control of one municipality. The election, the first contested by Hamas, was held in 26 districts with scores more to follow next year.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/65B6F115-E240-48B5-9BC6-0368343534BF.htm


Vote leaves women flushed with success
"I haven't slept for two days. I'm happy but we need to think about our responsibilities to other women," said the 26-year-old mother of two, after clinching electoral victory in the West Bank town of Dahiriyeh.
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3&art_id=qw1104048547406M323


'Peace is key to independence'
Presidential election frontrunner Mahmud Abbas urged Palestinians to abandon the armed intifada on Sunday, saying that independence could only be achieved through peaceful means.
http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_1640237,00.html


Israeli and Palestinian officials to cooperate on elections
They say the Israeli army would gradually withdraw from some areas of the occupied territories, with the aim of aiding a smooth election. The two sides have also agreed to set up three liaison offices at checkpoints to solve any problems that emerge.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/26/content_2382125.htm


Israel to allow East Jerusalem Palestinians to vote in election
The Israeli government will soonissue a statement to allow Palestinian residents in East Jerusalemto vote in the Jan. 9 presidential election, chief Palestiniannegotiator Saeb Erekat said on Sunday.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/27/content_2383511.htm


Egyptian observers head for Palestinian territories
Three former ambassadors are expected to join the team on Jan.2. All the Egyptian observers are divided into two groups to observe the elections in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, during which seven candidates are running for the Palestinian presidency.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/27/content_2383509.htm


Sharon vows to help free and fair Palestinian election
"It is very important that it is clear to the whole world that Israel permits free, honest and efficient elections," Sharon said at the start of a cabinet meeting where ministers were expected to approve arrangements for the January 9 ballot in the occupied territories. (Not stating if massacres are to stop)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1512&ncid=1512&e=17&u=/afp/20041226/wl_afp/mideastpalestinianvoteisrael_041226085515


Gaza Settlement Breaks Ranks, Accepts Israel Move
The announcement that residents of small, secular Pe'at Sadeh would go voluntarily came days after the top settler council raised the specter of civil strife by vowing to resist Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to evacuate Gaza next year.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=574&ncid=574&e=3&u=/nm/20041226/wl_nm/mideast_settlers_dc_6


Likud, UTJ to renew coalition talks
Labor, meanwhile, has completed all preparations for joining the government. Members of the Labor negotiating team say the government can be presented in the next few days if Olmert is forced to give up his deputy premiership for a week. Sharon's bureau said this was not an option.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=519106&contrassID=1&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


A UN Resolution on Permanent Sovereignty of Palestinians in OPT over their Natural Resources
The resolution, adopted by a recorded vote of 156 in favour to 5 against, with 11 abstentions, called on Israel not to exploit, damage, cause loss, deplete or endanger natural resources in those territories.
http://english.wafa.ps/body.asp?field=tech_news&id=1982


Analysis / Lessons from the local elections
The first and foremost conclusion that can be drawn from these elections is the fact that they were orderly, with hardly any untoward incidents reported. The Palestinian leadership was very pleased with the orderly process in which the elections were held and is hoping that this will be repeated in the coming days...
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/518919.html


Arafat ally backs 'negotiations'
Abbas, the interim Palestinian leader, also pledged to fulfil Palestinian dreams of statehood, calling on Israel to withdraw from all territories occupied after the 1967 war and to release political prisoners. He told cheering crowds of supporters in the West Bank city of Ramallah that 'we must end the occupation. We cannot compromise on Jerusalem'.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1379818,00.html


Abbas calls for end to violence
"He will not be judged on what he says now, but on what he does after the election, especially with the war against terrorism and how he handles the armed groups," he said. While Mr Sharon boycotted Mr Arafat completely, he met Mr Abbas on a number of occasions during the Palestinian's brief tenure as prime minister last year.
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,11790523%255E1702,00.html


Christians made up 2.1% of Israel's population in 2003
A total of 144,000 Christians live in Israel, of whom 117,000 are Arab and 27,000 are new immigrants... The birth rate among Christians has been in continuous decline over the years, along with their proportion in the general population. Their proportion in the Arab population has declined precipitously from 20 percent in 1949 to 15 percent in 1972 to 9 percent at present.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/518447.html


Assad's about-turn?
Jumblatt could not have been clearer on this point when he said last week in an interview with the American-Iraqi television channel Al-Hura: "Lebanon's relations with Syria suffer from an illness that should be cured ... and I say to Syrian intellectuals and workers that the time has come to reexamine the relations with Syria."
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/518944.html


U.S. forces kill Sunni scholar in Iraq, clerics say
The Muslim Clerics' Association said the killing on Friday of Sheikh Mowaffak al-Douri, preacher of Baghdad's Abi Bakr al-Siddiq Mosque and a member of the group, was the latest in a series of attacks on Iraqi mosques and clerics.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/NUE542718.htm


US may strike at Ba'athists in Syria
The official said that fresh sanctions are likely to be implemented, but added that the US needs to be more "aggressive" after Tuesday's deadly attack on a US base in Mosul. The comment suggested that the US believes the attack on the mess tent, in which 22 people were killed, may have been coordinated from inside Syrian territory.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1103776324314


1,400 Fallujah refugees return home
Much of Fallujah remains uninhabitable. Homes are destroyed, unexploded ordinance lies about in the streets, and there's a lack of water and basic supplies. Repatriating the tens of thousands of people who fled the city before the US-led assault is seen as an important step in the attempt to restore stability in the city ahead of January 30 elections.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/26/content_2382131.htm


Analysis: Iraq's new war
The rebels' new hit-and-run strategy "could pose new problems for U.S.-led forces," a Pentagon official said. "By not standing their ground and fighting, but retreating only to return to attack select targets, the rebels have put us on the defensive." "We now lack the initiative at a time when we need it very badly," he added, saying the aim of U.S. operations was to bring stability to the Sunni triangle.
http://uruknet.info/?s1=2&p=84

December 25, 2004

Another Christmas Under Occupation - By Francis A. Boyle
Last Sunday I attended Church Services here with my Family. When it came time for prayers from the congregation, I got up and asked everyone to help the Palestinians along the following lines: Bethlehem is cut-off and surrounded by the Israeli army--the Church of the Nativity too. The Israelis are inflicting ethnic cleansing upon all the Palestinian, both Muslims and Christians.
http://www.counterpunch.org/boyle12242004.html


The Little Town of Bethlehem
Odetalla notes it is "Ringed off by settlements for Jews only, walled off and separated, Bethlehem today is virtually cut off from the rest of Palestine: choked by settlements that surrounds her. Its land and water and other resources expropriated by the Israelis in a relentless effort to make life even more unbearable for the Palestinian natives and refugees who call the village home."
http://www.imemc.org/opinion/2004/december/bethlehem.htm


The Third Intifada: 'Yes to Peace, No to the Wall', by Ran HaCohen
“The Third Intifada is on: in villages like Budrus, the whole village marches to demonstrate against Israeli bulldozers. Footage taken in several such protests shows the utter embarrassment of Israeli soldiers, heavily armed against unarmed men, women, and children..”
http://www.unobserver.com/layout4.php?id=2054&blz=1


Sweets and good will in Bethlehem
During more than four years of fighting, Christmas in the traditional birthplace of Jesus was marked by gloom, military curfews and violence. The town is ringed by Israeli checkpoints and a massive separation barrier.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1379678,00.html


Palestinian fighter buried alive
troops in more than 20 military vehicles entered the town in the early hours of Saturday... An exchange of gunfire was heard between al-Kamil and the troops before bulldozers arrived and demolished the building. Al-Kamil was trapped inside and buried alive. It took more than an hour for his body to be retrieved.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/4AA60F34-87ED-4D9E-BD87-7A1FDB153AB6.htm


IDF kills senior Fatah militant in Jenin
After Abu kamal refused calls to turn himself in, the troops proceeded to fire anti-tank missiles at the building and demolished it with a bulldozer. Abu Kamal's body was later found in the debris. No shots were fired during the operation.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/518738.html


Bedouin battalion to leave Philadelphi
The move, which came after five of its members were killed, is significant since it has been one of the only units to have seen nearly continuous deployment on the same small patch of border for years.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1103963958698


Mortar shell fired into north Gaza settlement
Some 25 mortars were fired into north Gaza settlements in the past two days. On Friday Jewish residents of the area responded to the persistent shell attacks by raiding and taking control of a Palestinian house near Kfar Darom.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1103963958462


Saudi Al-Jazira: Palestinian presidential nominee stresses Intifada need
Palestinian Nominee for Presidential elections of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Taysir Khaled, on Friday, accentuated the need to continue the Palestinian Intifada and said the Palestinian people has been resisting the Israeli occupation like any resistance against occupation in the world.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/041225/2004122509.html


Abbas in campaign: Israel must free all prisoners
Abbas, the front-runner in the Jan. 9 election, called on Israel to end its occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem - areas that Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast War. He said he favors a negotiated settlement and promised to respect the rights of Palestinian refugees
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/518854.html


Israelis, Palestinians to sign deals to facilitate elections
Israeli and Palestinian officials are set to sign agreements on Sunday to facilitate holding Palestinian presidential elections in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, official Palestinian sources said Saturday.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/26/content_2380752.htm


Unoffical results: Hamas strong in local W. Bank elections
Hamas is boycotting a January 9 election for a successor to Yasser Arafat. But the Islamists' showing in the council poll was certain to send a message of their strength to Mahmoud Abbas, who is almost certain to win the poll.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=518353&contrassID=1&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Barghouti expresses support for Abbas in elections
Jailed Fatah leader MarwanBarghouti announced Saturday his full support for Fatah candidateand the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) chief Mahmoud Abbas to run in the upcoming Palestinian presidential elections.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/26/content_2380710.htm


Mahmoud Abbas marks Christmas in Bethlehem
It was the first time a Palestinian leader has spent the holiday in Jesus' traditional birthplace in four years. Beginning in 2001, Israel barred Yasser Arafat from celebrating Christmas in Bethlehem. Since then, a seat in the front row of St. Catherine's Church on Manger Square was left symbolically empty
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=518768&contrassID=1&subContrassID=7&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Peace needs Israel's full readiness: Abbas
"We send a message to the whole world that we are demanders forpeace, and if the other side (Israel) is ready for peace, we are ready for peace that is based on the international legitimacy,"said Abbas.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/25/content_2378472.htm


Vanunu released after attempting to reach Bethlehem
"A few days ago he was warned not to go to Bethlehem but he told us during our investigation that even though he knew he was prohibited, he still tried to cross in order to come to pray," said police spokesman Shmulik Ben-Ruby on Friday.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/518855.html


Pines-Paz announces he wants to head Interior Ministry
Labor's Benjamin Ben-Eliezer decide on the National Infrastructure Ministry, Dalia Itzik will apparently choose the communications portfolio, leaving Shalom Simhon with the Environment Ministry. Matan Vilnai and Haim Ramon will be ministers without portfolio.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/518428.html


Christmas Pilgrims in Bethlehem Voice Hope
Several thousand pilgrims celebrated Christmas Eve in the traditional birthplace of Jesus on Friday, welcoming the new thaw in Israeli-Palestinian relations and voicing hopes for peace in the Middle East.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=4&u=/ap/20041224/ap_on_re_mi_ea/bethlehem_christmas_4


Bethlehem celebrates Christmas amid sadness, besiege
The occupied city of Bethlehem in the West Bank has been witnessing an atmosphere overwhelmed by sadness while celebrating Christmas because of the continued Israeli occupation, the besiege and building the wall of separation.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/041225/2004122505.html


Boycott as Moral Resistance: The Case for Boycotting Israel
Bar Ilan University not only operates a campus on the illegal colony of Ariel near Nablus, but has also awarded Ariel Sharon an honorary doctorate for his role in the March 2002 reoccupation of Palestinian cities, which witnessed atrocities in Jenin and Nablus as well as wanton destruction and indiscriminate killings in all the major Palestinian cities and refugee camps in the West bank.
http://www.palestinechronicle.com/story.php?sid=20041222072023388


Gifts to Israeli defense charity called unfair
The donations give the appearance of a double standard, said Imad Hamad, regional director of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, who is convinced the same institutions wouldn't donate to groups associated with Arab defense forces.
http://www.freep.com/money/business/banks24e_20041224.htm


Living into Hope: Christmas in Zababdeh, Palestine
Our years living in the West Bank have made Advent a season that resonates deeply with us. People there know waiting: waiting at the checkpoint, waiting for military closures to lift, waiting for peace. They know preparing: stocking up for curfew, anticipating loss, fearing for the worst. They also know hoping: hoping to arrive at their destination, hoping to survive, hoping for the future of their children.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article3457.shtml


Corridors of Power / Rebel-rousers
Wallerstein had been thinking of writing the letter for three weeks. He says he felt that the evacuation-compensation bill passed by the Knesset is a dastardly law that does a terrible injustice to the settlers slated for evacuation and is the most blatant demonstration of the prime minister's arrogant conduct.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/518440.html


Palestine-Israel dispute: Can Britain break the logjam?
The Road Map is an outcome of British insistence. President Bush tilted so heavily towards Israel of Ariel Sharon, the Prime Minister, that the Road Map never got off the ground. Bush gave carte blanche to Sharon to quench his thirst of Palestinian blood for nearly three years.
http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/12/26/d41226020323.htm


US Historian: US May Lose the Iraqi War
Wilson said that after being at war in Iraq for 21 months, the US has still been unable to plan the provision of stability through occupation in the country and has failed to understand what this war means to the Iraqi public.
http://www.zaman.com/?bl=hotnews&alt=&trh=20041225&hn=15030


4 US troops among 12 killed in Iraq
Four US soldiers and eight Iraqis — four security personnel, three civilians and an insurgent — died in violence over the past 24 hours, police and the military said on Thursday. Three US Marines were killed in action in Fallujah, the military said.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_24-12-2004_pg7_1


Iran vows to defend nuclear facilities from ?flying objects?
Iran's air force has been ordered to shoot down any unknown or suspicious flying objects in Iran's airspace, an air force spokesman said Saturday, amid state-media reports of sightings of flying objects near Iran's nuclear installations.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=518864&contrassID=1&subContrassID=8&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y

December 24, 2004

Merry Christmas
http://uruknet.info/?s1=1&p=90001&s2=24


`Checkpoint violinist' thrilled to attend Galilee music seminar
"I came here because I wanted to study music and to become a professional violinist, not because of politics. But if my violin serves as another bridge to peace, then naturally I don't object," said Wissam Tayam, the Palestinian music student forced to play his violin at the Beit Iba checkpoint near Nablus on November 9.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=518506&contrassID=1&subContrassID=7&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Lara Croft actress visits Palestinian orphans in Lebanon
Jolie, an ambassador for the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, has already visited crisis-torn Darfur in Sudan and refugee camps in Thailand. Checked into an exclusive Beirut hotel under a false name in a bid to shun the parapazzi, Jolie refused to talk to the press.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=10&u=/afp/20041224/wl_mideast_afp/lebanonunpeople_041224142141


Three Citizens Murdered by IOF in Tulkarem
Three Palestinian citizens were killed Friday by Israeli Occupation Forces in the West Bank refugee camp of Tulkarem, witnesses and medics said. Medical sources said that Jamal Azem 16, Kamel Sabarini 23 and Iyad Ghannam 21, were instantly killed after being shot with live gunshots from a short distance.
http://english.wafa.ps/body.asp?field=tech_news&id=1980


11 mortars hit Gaza
Eleven mortar shells hit Gaza on Friday alone, causing damage but no injuries. To protest the ongoing mortar fire, several dozen Gaza settlers blocked major junctions in the Strip on Friday and set tires alight. (With Green Light from IOF, as requested by Govt. of "Jewish - Democratic" State)
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/518738.html


Israel Targets Humanitarian Workers
With the arrests of Kate Raphael Bender and Kelly Minio-Paleullo, Israel continues it's policy of restricting humanitarian workers in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Both women sit in the Hadera detention center awaiting deportation.
http://www.palsolidarity.org/DesktopModules/Articles/ArticlesView.aspx?tabID=0&alias=Rainbow&lang=en-US&ItemID=699&mid=10564


No arms for militants after pullout
"There will be only one gun, the gun of the Palestinian security forces that will be used to bring security and safety to the Palestinians and will be used in imposing discipline and law," he said. ( Secure Whom from Whom, and by What? )
http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20041224-095728-5900r.htm


Mahmoud Abbas marks Christmas in Bethlehem
It was the first time a Palestinian leader has spent the holiday in Jesus' traditional birthplace in four years. Beginning in 2001, Israel barred Yasser Arafat from celebrating Christmas in Bethlehem. Some 1,000 people accompanied Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah on Friday afternoon
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/518768.html


PA police to secure Bethlehem over Xmas
In preparation for Christmas celebrations in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Israel handed over the security control to the Palestinians until the end of celebrations in the city on January 19. Palestinian policemen will also be permitted to retain their arms until then.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1103602490572


5,000 people to visit Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas
Although the city was turned over to the Palestinians under the1995 Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement, it is actually controlled by Israel since the Israeli army put up checkpoints around it.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/24/content_2378193.htm


PA advised to deliver or face chaos
The new Palestinian president will have to deliver in his first three months in office or risk the prospect of chaos and conflict, a new report has said. The International Crisis Group (ICG), a conflict-resolution organisation, said on Thursday that although the political transition after the death of Yasir Arafat has got off to a healthy start, this may not last long.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/DF32DFC7-52B2-43BD-A45D-F592B71E69DD.htm


Pro-Palestinian activist Fahima to be indicted for terror ties
According to the indictment, to be submitted in Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court, Fahima is to be charged with aiding the enemy during wartime, transmitting information to the enemy, possession of a firearm without a license, contact with a foreign agent, and support of a terror organization.
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/518406.html


"Blair Must Condemn Occupation": British Nationals Under Curfew in West Bank
It is not enough for Tony Blair to support Palestinian elections,” say two British nationals spending the last nights under curfew in the West Bank village of Asira al Shamaliya . “He must back the International Court of Justice in entirely condemning the Israeli occupation of Palestine and demanding its immediate end.”
http://www.palsolidarity.org/DesktopModules/Articles/ArticlesView.aspx?tabID=0&alias=Rainbow&lang=en-US&ItemID=696&mid=10400


Unoffical results: Hamas strong in local W. Bank elections
Long lines formed outside the polling stations, which were open between 7 A.M. and 7 P.M. Initial reports from across the West Bank indicated a very high voting percentage that surpassed the 70-percent mark, according to Palestinian sources.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/518353.html


Pines-Paz wins top Labor spot, dithers over Interior Min.
the central committee voted in the party's young guard Thursday night, alloting the two top spots to Pines-Paz, 43 - who won 1,236 votes - and MK Isaac Herzog, 44, who garnered 1,047 votes. Neither has ever served as a minister before.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/518428.html


Revolution in Labor, Young Leaders Won over Veterans
"The era of the generals had ended," said labor central committee member following the announcement of the results of the vote to choose labor ministers in the coming Likud-Labor cabinet. The method used allows candidates with most votes to have the first choice of available portfolios; the second is then left with six choices, and so on.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week4/241204/revolution%20in%20labor.htm


Israel may seek extra security funds
Israel, which receives about $3 billion (1.5 billion pounds) a year in U.S. aid, may seek extra funding next year to bolster border security and overhaul checkpoints as part of a plan to pull out of Gaza and parts of the West Bank, sources familiar with the talks have said.
http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/Swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=5426577


IDF to oust troops who obey rabbis rather than officers
Ya'alon said that only soldiers whose families live in the settlements slated for evacuation would be exempted from participating in their removal. According to Ya'alon, soldiers should heed only one authority - that of their commanders, and not their rabbis.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=518502&contrassID=1&subContrassID=5&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


UK cardinal laments wasted billions of M.East wars
"How is it that there is war in Iraq, violence in the Holy Land and the horror of pain and death amongst the poor and deprived who suffer from injustice and thus do not find peace?" asked Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L2413093.htm


Israel should pay more for peace: US congressman
Republican Congressman James Kolbeon Thursday called on Israel to pay more efforts to push forward the peace process. Kolbe said at a press conference here that the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip is a positive step but it should lead to more steps and give life to the Israeli-Palestinian dialogue.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/24/content_2374304.htm


How About Mustafa Barghouti as an Alternative?
Israel is resorting to its usual tactics of coercing other candidates who dare to challenge the man who seems more interested in Israel’s security than the security and rights of his own people. Dr. Mustafa Barghouti is one. One of the most eloquent and dedicated Palestinians alive, Dr. Barghouti was beaten by Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint during a campaign trip.
http://www.amin.org/eng/uncat/2004/dec/dec231.html


First glimpse of democracy in Palestine comes from municipal elections
In the first municipal election since Arafat came to power in 1976, Palestinians yesterday voted to elect members of the local councils in 26 towns and settlements. "We need democracy and this is just the beginning," said Amjad Jaber, official scrutineer at a polling station in Jericho.
http://www.financegates.com/news/world_news/2004-12-24/palestina_24122004.html


NYCLU Defends Academic Freedom At Columbia University
“Faculty members must retain broad latitude to think as they will and to write as they think,” said Arthur N. Eisenberg, Legal Director of the NYCLU. “They should suffer no recriminations from outside the academy for the content of their scholarship.”
http://www.nyclu.org/bollinger_pr_122004.html


Twighlight zone / Pictures at an exhibition
A second photograph shows them kneeling around the two bodies. A soldier in a black woolen hat leans forward to make sure he is in the picture. Their commanding officer leans back, also to make sure he's in the frame. The dead men lie on stretchers next to each other, head to foot.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/518399.html


Israel Museum: Touted Artifact a Forgery
A team of experts found the thumb-sized pomegranate dates to the Bronze period, or about 3,400 years ago, meaning it is considerably older than the first Jewish Temple, and the inscription was added recently, the museum said in a statement.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=540&e=8&u=/ap/20041224/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_antiquities_fraud


Mosul will be Fallujah-ized
It appears the residents of Mosul will be made to pay for the suicide bombing at Camp Ghazlaani. “U.S. forces have sealed off entire districts of the Iraqi city of Mosul and raided homes in a hunt for suspects following a guerrilla attack that killed 18 Americans and four Iraqis,” writes Maher al-Thanoon for Reuters.
http://uruknet.info/?s1=1&p=8381&s2=24


Blair bowed to Israel, say Palestinians
They claimed the prime minister had proposed a peace conference but had scaled it back when Israel objected. Ahmed Qureia, the Palestinian prime minister, said: "We ... have the means and expertise for peace and negotiations. We are in need of a peace conference and not a meeting."
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foreignaffairs/story/0,11538,1379491,00.html


Rumsfeld aims to lift Iraq morale
The first three stops of Mr Rumsfeld's visit took him to the frontline in the struggle - Mosul, Tikrit and Falluja, once Saddam Hussein's top strongholds. Recent clashes in Falluja have proved the bloodiest since the invasion, while an attack in Mosul this week killed 22.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4122847.stm


Falluja Returnees Angry, 'City Unfit for Animals'
"Even animals who have no human sense and feelings can not live here," he said, crying. "What do they want from Falluja? This is the crime of the century. They want to destroy Islam and Muslims. But our anger and resistance will increase."
http://uruknet.info/?s1=1&p=8388&s2=24


Analysts: Bin Laden Seeks Transformation
Osama bin Laden appears to be trying to transform himself from terrorist to political leader, the conclusion reached by some Middle Eastern experts from watching recent messages attributed to the al-Qaida leader.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=540&e=13&u=/ap/20041224/ap_on_re_mi_ea/bin_laden_s_strategy

December 23, 2004

Palestinian Students Need Army Escort
The walk to school for five Palestinian children has become so dangerous they require an escort from Israeli soldiers and police. Jewish settlers living along the path have repeatedly ambushed the young students, setting dogs on them, throwing stones and beating one 7-year-old girl with a stick until she bled, according to the children, their parents, their principal and human rights workers.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=540&e=15&u=/ap/20041222/ap_on_re_mi_ea/palestinian_children


In Egypt: Palestine Solidarity and Anti-Globalization Activists Stage a Solidarity March to Gaza and Protest against Normalization with the Occupation
Palestine Solidarity and Anti-Globalization Activists Stage a Solidarity March to Gaza and Protest against Normalization with the Occupation. Two separate sets of protests last week by Palestine solidarity activists showed the strength of the grassroots movement against Israeli Occupation and Apartheid in Egypt.
http://stopthewall.org/worldwideactivism/833.shtml


Activist set to be deported
Journalist and community activist Kelly Minio-Paluello, 23, is being held at the Hadera Deportation Centre. She has not been charged but has been told she will be deported soon. She was arrested on Tuesday, December 14, while she filmed a peaceful protest against the construction of the Israeli Apartheid Wall.
http://w3.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/story.asp?StoryID=66766


Gov't panel okays funding of 100 projects in settlements
A special government committee has approved the funding of some 100 projects in settlements slated for evacuation under the disengagement plan, the Prime Minister's Office announced Wednesday.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/517956.html


Israel's war on the milieu
For much of the rest of the world, however, the importance of defending trees is self-evident, for it is a matter of life and death. Palestinians know this as well as anyone. Since the advent of the Israeli occupation in 1967, Palestinians have seen Israeli machines uproot hundreds of thousands of olive trees, each one a tangible source of livelihood and identity for a family, a village, a nation.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article3449.shtml


IOF Kills 3 Citizens in Gaza Strip
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) killed Wednesday three citizens, wounded six in the Gaza Strip, while three others were wounded and eight were arrested in the West Bank, Palestinian medical sources said.
http://english.wafa.ps/body.asp?field=tech_news&id=1973


Israeli killed in shooting attack west of Hebron
An Israeli security guard was killed Wednesday afternoon when two Palestinian gunmen fired on the civilian, who was guarding parked bulldozers near a section of the separation fence west of the West Bank city of Hebron.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/517548.html


IPS publishes names of Palestinians to be released
Under the recommendation of Shin Ben security service chief Avi Dichter, the government decided against releasing 32 jailed Hamas and Islamic Jihad members. Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said their release would have sent a wrong message while Israel was attempting to strengthen a moderate Palestinian leadership.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/517930.html


List of Jews-only businesses goes offline in wake of petition
The Avoda Ivrit ("Hebrew Work") Web site on Wednesday removed from the Internet its list of businesses that hire only Jewish workers, after two groups petitioned the Jerusalem District Court to instruct the site to shut down.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/517951.html


Refugee families flee Israeli tanks
The military said that during the raid on the refugee camp, which would last about two days, buildings used as cover by Palestinian gunmen would be destroyed. The military said more than 15 mortars and rockets had been fired from the camp at nearby Israeli settlements in the past few days.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,11765303%255E2703,00.html


Blair arrives in Ramallah, visits Arafat's grave
Blair passed by Arafat's grave in the yard and stopped for two seconds, showing his respect to the late Palestinian leader.But the British premier didn't place a wreath of flowers on Arafat's grave before he went into the building to hold talks with the Palestinian officials.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/22/content_2369798.htm


Palestinian TV airs Geneva Accord ad campaign
On the one-year anniversary of the signing of the Geneva Accord, an advertising campaign is being aired on Palestinian television, featuring Israeli and Palestinian statesmen voicing their support for the venture.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=517553&contrassID=1&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Abbas condemns Israeli incursion into Khan Younis
It was the second Israeli incursion into the area within the last five days, and during the first raid on Friday and Saturday, 11 Palestinians were killed and 39 houses destroyed. Palestinian officials expressed concerns that the Israeli incursions into towns and refugee camps would have a negative effect on the upcoming Palestinian elections
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/23/content_2370002.htm


Blair meets Sharon in new peace bid
Blair praised Sharon for sticking to his plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip, saying it was vital that the plan be incorporated into the US-backed plan for peace in the region, known as the road map. Blair said all efforts will have to lead to the implementation of the road map.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/A4CF4F90-5D27-4011-AFA3-647A4AB51B64.htm


Abbas calls planned London meeting a step to peace
Abbas was speaking after a meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who plans the meeting after Jan. 9 Palestinian elections to assist Palestinians with security, democratic and economic reforms. "We believe this conference will be the first step to achieving and consolidating the peace process," Abbas said.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/TOS251715.htm


Abbas stresses Israeli withdrawal from Gaza
Abbas demands the Israeli government coordinate the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip with the Palestinian National Authority. He says the Palestinian dialogue in the Gaza Strip will continue to prepare for the post-withdrawal period.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/22/content_2366728.htm


PNA ready to confront troubles in Thursday's local elections
The Palestinian National Authority(PNA) said Wednesday it is ready to confront any trouble when elections open in 26 West Bank towns and villages on Thursday. It will be the first time in more than three years that uniformed Palestinian police are deployed in public in the West Bank.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/22/content_2369956.htm


Canada to send monitors for Palestine election
The Canadian contingent at the Jan. 9 election will be part of a European Union monitoring force expected to include 260 members. Ottawa will also contribute $1.7-million to Palestinian election funds run by the United Nations and local authorities, The Canadian Press learned Wednesday.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20041222.wpalevote1222/BNStory/National/


Abbas, Suleiman discuss renewal of Cairo dialogue
Palestinian sources said Wednesday that Egyptian intelligence chief Omer Suleiman met Palestinian officials over prospects for the renewal of an inter-Palestinian dialogue in Cairo.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/22/content_2369021.htm


UN Arab report 'won't be issued'
Nader Fergani, leading a team writing the latest Arab Human Development Report, said the UN Development Program was not expected to print the report under its own name due to US threats to cut a chunk of its $US100 million ($130.8 million) funding to the UNDP.
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,11767051%255E1702,00.html


Israel's Unsettling Settlers
Israeli Radio reported that a few West Bank settlers disconnected the water supply to an Israel Defense Forces outpost on Monday and punctured the tires of a military jeep. And no Israeli can forget the 1995 assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin by an ultranationalist Jew.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1222/p08s03-comv.html


Rights before service
Many of the articles written this week about the casualties of the unit also adopted this line and even expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that the state is not fulfilling its part of the deal: Here are Arabs who joined the IDF, and in spite the famous "blood bond," they continue to suffer discrimination in and out of the army.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/517521.html


Now come the true feelings
Given the unquestioned authority - formal and informal - that Yasser Arafat possessed, many expected that the chances of peace between Israel and the Palestinians would end with Arafat's death, since only he had the authority to achieve peace based on a compromise that would be acceptable to his people.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/517544.html


Christmas cheer revives in Bethlehem
"We don't think Arafat was an obstacle to peace, as Israel claimed, but we hope for better times with Abu Mazen in charge," said souvenir vendor Epiphany Tabash, using the pseudonym of Mahmoud Abbas, the veteran conciliator tipped to win a January 9 election. "We've had enough of war, destruction and isolation."
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=642351&src=eDialog/GetContent&section=news


Archaeologists said to have found site of Jesus' first miracle
The shards were found during a salvage dig in modern-day Cana, between Nazareth and Capernaum. Israeli archaeologist Yardena Alexander believes the Arab town was built near the ancient village. The jar pieces date to the Roman period, when Jesus traveled in the Galilee.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=517551&contrassID=1&subContrassID=7&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Patriarch of Jerusalem Invites the Israelis to Stop Construction of the "Separation Wall"
"For its part, the wall of separation will really never separate or protect Quite to the contrary, it will only increase hate, ignorance of the other, and, therefore, hostility toward the other and, as a further consequence, violence and insecurity," said Sabbah in the Christmas message 2004, yesterday in Jerusalem.
http://english.wafa.ps/body.asp?field=tech_news&id=1972


Syria urges Israel to return rights to original owner
Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Otri on Wednesday urged Israel to return the rights, including the occupied lands, to its original owner. Otri made the remarks at a joint press conference with his visiting Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyeb Erdogan.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/23/content_2369965.htm


'A Tree Instead of a Mine' campaign kicks off in the South
"The project that we are currently working on in the UN aims to de-mine the South and to plant a tree instead of each mine," said de Mistura while planting the first tree in the southern village of Sarad al-Omra.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=1&article_id=11206


Don't return drones to China, U.S. tells Israel
However, American sources say Israel will have no choice but to comply with the U.S. demand. The powerful pro-Taiwan lobby is warning that advanced Israeli weapons technologies could be used against U.S. soldiers defending the island state off the coast of China.
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/517550.html


Grand jury query of AIPAC officials postponed until new year
The four are slated to testify before a grand jury investigation into the Pentagon mole affair, and to answer questions that will focus, according to sources following the case, on AIPAC's modus operandi and the type of ties it maintains with U.S. and Israeli government officials.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/517500.html


Over 10 nuclear spies arrested in Iran since March
Iranian Minister of Information Ali Younesi was quoted as saying that among them, three used to work at Iran's Atomic Energy Organization. Younesi said the arrested, believed to be agents of Israeli Mossad and US CIA, were seized in Tehran and the southern province of Hormozgan.
http://news3.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/22/content_2368508.htm


US troops hunt insurgents in Mosul after attack on Iraq base kills 22
The US military swept Mosul for insurgents after a brazen attack by Islamic militants on an army mess tent that killed 22 people, mostly Americans, in the bloodiest strike on US forces in Iraq since the war.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=3&u=/afp/20041222/wl_mideast_afp/iraqunrestblastmosul_041222180540

December 21, 2004

Heroism in the Holy Land: Americans Beaten for Walking Children to School
It is unlikely that non-Israeli Americans will ever learn the names of the attackers, since Israel rarely shares this kind of information with its “ally.” We do know, however, the type of people who attacked Chris, Kim and the children. And we do know why.
http://wrmea.com/archives/December_2004/0412013.html


The 'olive branch' that ought to cross the wall
The autumn olive harvest used to be a time of celebration in this West Bank village. Entire families would spend days together in the groves. Even Israelis would make special trips here at this time of year to buy our olive oil. But with new Israeli restrictions on access to the fields, Palestinian farmers now have to leave their families at home, and may never even get to their olive grove. Today, picking olives is no celebration.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1221/p09s02-coop.html


West Bank barrier has made Bethlehem a 'giant prison': Jerusalem patriarch
"The wall makes Bethlehem a giant prison," Michel Sabbah said Tuesday in his annual Christmas message at the patriarchate in Jerusalem's Old City. Sabbah, who is to attend the midnight mass at Saint Catherine's Church in Bethlehem on Friday, slammed the so-called separation barrier, saying it would not protect the Jewish state or provide secure borders.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=18&u=/afp/20041221/wl_mideast_afp/mideastbethlehemchristmas_041221112954


Costs of conflict: The changing face of Bethlehem
The glory of Bethlehem, a city of historical and religious importance for those of the Christian, Muslim and Jewish faiths alike is vanishing. Surrounded by Israel's Barrier on two sides and restricted roads and roadblocks on the other, urban Bethlehem 1 has become isolated from the rest of the West Bank and most importantly, from Jerusalem.
http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/9ca65951ee22658ec125663300408599/630ae405ec59173685256f7000699422?OpenDocument


Medical neglect in Israeli prisons, execution without Guillotine
A report published by the Palestinian Prisoners' society revealed that there are at least 950 political prisoners in Israeli detention camps and prisons, suffering of serious medical diseases while prison authorities are not providing them with the needed medication or treatment.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week3/122104/report.htm


UN school shelters 600 Gaza families displaced by Israeli offensive
Following a two-day offensive by Israeli forces into the Khan Younis refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, the main United Nations agency helping Palestinian refugees has opened one of its schools to provide temporary accommodation to 600 families displaced by the fighting.
http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8ad5/13da15dfad4d30b085256f7000726283?OpenDocument


Army to Hand Megiddo Detention Center to Prison Service
As a step towards handing over all military detention camps to the Israeli Prison service authority, army is planning to hand over Megiddo prison, with its 1,200 Palestinian prisoners soon. Israeli sources estimate the number of Palestinian detainees under army custody to be around 3,500.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week3/122104/Majeddo.htm


Israel imposes closure on Gaza coastal road
Several Israeli bulldozers rushed in the morning from the settlement of Netsarim in southern Gaza city and bulldozed parts of the coastal road, forming hills of sands, the sources said. The closure was imposed without an advance announcement, which prevented residents from passing through the road from the Gaza city to the southern Gaza Strip and vice versa
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/21/content_2364008.htm


PCHR Calls on the International Community to Generate Pressure in Order that an Appropriate Atmosphere for Free and Impartial Election Can Be Created
The OPT has witnessed increasing tensions as IOF have escalated attacks against Palestinian civilians and property.  Since 14 November 2004, when 9 January 2005 was assigned as the date on which Palestinian presidential elections would be held, IOF have killed at least 40 Palestinians, and have launched a series of aerial attacks on Palestinian towns.
http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/PressR/English/2004/152-2004.htm


World Bank president: Palestinians must be given hope
"What we did in the paper that we prepared was to simply say, look, if you are trying to withdraw [from Gaza], that's a wonderful thing, but if you don't give hope at the same time ... you're not really achieving very much," he said.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=517343&contrassID=1&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Photographer for French TV denied press card for `security considerations'
The Government Press Office (GPO) has refused to issue a press card to a photographer for the French television station FT1 because of "security considerations." The photographer, Jamil Kadamani, is an Israeli citizen and a resident of East Jerusalem who has had a press card for the past three years.
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/516499.html


Light a Candle for the National Unity
The Palestinian Centre for Rapprochement Between People invites you to join the Annual Candle Procession entitled "Light a Candle for the Palestinian National Unity" that will be held on Saturday, December 25, 2004.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/palsolidarity/message/1102


`A death sentence for Israeli Arab artistic circles'
Egyptian publicist Ahmed Muataz lambasted the decision not to allow films by Israeli Arabs to participate in the international film festival held earlier this month in the Egyptian capital and called the decision no less than a "death sentence for zIsraeli Arab artistic circles."
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/517094.html


Abbas vows to follow in Arafat's footsteps
Marking the end of mourning for Yasser Arafat, his emerging successor said Tuesday that he remains committed to a peace deal with Israel that would produce a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as a capital.
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/517447.html


Shalom 'discouraged' by Abbas
"But unfortunately Abu Mazen (Abbas) made a statement a few days ago that he will not do it by force, that 'We will have to talk to our people and our brothers,' and convince them not to carry out their attacks."
http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_1638661,00.html


Chinese state councilor to visit Palestine, Israel
Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan will pay official visits to Palestine and Israel from Dec.25 to 31, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao here Tuesday.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/21/content_2363382.htm


Settlers slammed for orange stars to protest pullout
Settlers protesting the disengagement plan were condemned on Tuesday for their new tactic - orange Star of David badges, reminiscent to the yellow stars Jews were forced to wear during World War II.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/517455.html


Police chief: Disengagement will be 'tougher than Yamit'
Mazuz ordered an examination of the leaflet Wallerstein distributed to determine if it is incitement, and if the state believes the leaflet's rhetoric poses a clear and present danger to cause public disorder, they could decide to prosecute Wallerstein.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=517035&contrassID=1&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Egyptian intelligence chief visits Israel, Palestinians
Suleiman will discuss with Amos Gilad, the security official of Israeli Defence Ministry on the deployment of guards at the Egyptian side of borders with the Gaza Strip and the implementation of Israeli plan of withdrawing from Gaza.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/21/content_2363993.htm


Italian police to train Palestinian security forces
The training is part of an accelerating European Union effort to support the Palestinian leadership ahead of presidential elections on Jan. 9. Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini told a news conference that Italian carabinieri - paramilitary police - will begin training Palestinian security forces in January.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=517442&contrassID=1&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


UN's Annan sees 'brighter' hopes for Middle East peace
"In an interesting sort of way, perhaps it's going to be one of the best prepared elections because we have been working with them and on it for about a year," he said. "I'm hopeful that they will have very successful elections, and it will cap very smooth transition arrangements that the Palestinians have embarked on since the death of president Arafat," Annan said.
http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?ID=35189


Jihad accuses Pentagon of shutting down its websites
The movement's media office condemned the American action, saying "several similar actions were pursued against the movement's websites as to keep the Palestinian voice silent."
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/21/content_2364163.htm


The Children of Palestine: A Generation of Hope and Despair
Not only are they in a crucial stage of physical and mental development, but they are a direct target of Israeli military violence. As the fourth generation of Palestinian trauma, moreover, they are the bearers of the accumulated heavy inheritance of national loss. No wonder, then, that the current four-year-old crisis is raising grave concerns about the present and future of the children of Palestine.
http://wrmea.com/archives/December_2004/0412018.html


A rare, hopeful calm
It is now nearly 60 years since Britain shed the thankless burden of ruling the Holy Land - and rarely since then have hopes been so high that the former mandatory power can do something useful to help to bring Arabs and Jews closer to peace.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/elsewhere/journalist/story/0,7792,1378132,00.html


Don't give him a blank check
In the new coalition to be formed this week, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will not only be the tenor, he will be the conductor of the orchestra. All the rest will be rank and file players, with the exception of Shimon Peres, who will be first violin at best. He won't get to be conductor.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/517074.html


'Political arrests' in Iraq condemned
The Forum issued a statement received by Aljazeera.net in which it condemned the arrest of notable Iraqi politician Abd Al-Jabbar al-Kubaisi. Al-Kubaisi, who is a leader of the Iraqi National Alliance, was arrested in a Saturday pre-dawn raid by US troops backed by armoured vehicles and helicopters.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/3D099420-1DF9-4A85-91C9-FB77DE99999C.htm


Two French hostages in Iraq are freed
Thierry Chesnot, Chesnot's brother, told Reuters he had been informed by the government that the two men were in Amman, the capital of Jordan, and would return to France on Wednesday.
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/c83fd46c-536f-11d9-b6e4-00000e2511c8.html


More than 20 killed in attack on US base in Iraq, Blair visits Iraq
More than 60 people were also wounded in the lunchtime strike on the base in the northern city of Mosul, said US Brigadier General Carter Ham, the US-led coalition commander for the Mosul area. "The killed include US military personnel, US contractors, foreign national contractors and Iraqi army," he told CNN.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=1&u=/afp/20041221/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_041221193544


FBI Email Refers to Presidential Order Authorizing Torture
“These documents raise grave questions about where the blame for widespread detainee abuse ultimately rests,” said ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero. “Top government officials can no longer hide from public scrutiny by pointing the finger at a few low-ranking soldiers.”
http://uruknet.info/?s1=1&p=8286&s2=21


Bush admits Iraq bombers are having effect
President George W. Bush on Monday acknowledged with unusual candour the obstacles to progress in Iraq, noting the toll that car bombs are taking on morale and the desertions from Iraqi security forces under fire. But Mr Bush insisted that “the terrorists will fail, the elections will go forward and Iraq will be a democracy”.
http://uruknet.info/?s1=1&p=8281&s2=21

December 20, 2004

HDIP introduces its 2004 Calendar - Available now
The Health Development Information & Policy Institute (HDIP) is indeed pleased to present you its calendar that shows the effects of the Segregation Wall on human rights- in pictures as well as facts. It is a stunning assembly of a photo gallery
http://www.palestinemonitor.org/calander/index.htm


Khan Younis families stranded and scattered after weekend's assault
The Israeli assault on Khan Younis refugee camp in southern Gaza Friday and Saturday has left hundreds homeless, searching through the rubble for their belongings, and trying to set up temporary shelter to protect them from the cold of winter.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week3/122004/Families.htm


Israeli peace overture follows Gaza destruction
"This is my house," says Qais Nofal, pointing to twisted metal rods and concrete, the remains of one of an estimated 40 houses destroyed by the Israeli army during a two-day operation that ended Saturday night. After the operation, the Israeli army said in a press release that Palestinians ordered to leave their houses for their own safety were now free to return home.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1220/p07s02-wome.htm


Al Burghothi: Sharon's Remark Is an Obstacle In The Face Of Peace
In a press briefing in Gaza Mr. Burghothi pointed out that the Israeli occupation tries by all means to obstruct the proceeding of the Palestinian elections in the occupied territories, assuring that the occupation plays the key role in the recession of the Palestinian economy and the low-standard health, educational and civil services provided to the Palestinian people
http://www.ipc.gov.ps/ipc_new/english/details.asp?name=1568


IOF Wounds Youth, Assaults Child, Dynamites 2 Houses
Meanwhile, a number of Israeli combating helicopters have been hovering over Gaza Strip refugee camp of Jabalya and the northern parts, spreading a state of panic and horror among the residents, mostly children and women.
http://english.wafa.ps/body.asp?field=tech_news&id=1953


3000 Palestinians disabled in the Intifada
Dr. Jarrar stated more than half of the residents who have become disabled were under the age of eighteen. The Israeli army repeatedly attack rehabilitation centers, claiming that the attacks are carried out for security reasons.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week3/122004/3000.htm


An entire village in the balance
On Thursday, 10 days ago, the building inspectors from the Ministry of the Interior came to Al-Sidr, an unrecognized Bedouin village that is located next to the Be'er Sheva-Dimona highway. They circulated among the 70 tin shacks in the village and pasted court demolition orders on each of them bearing the heading: "The State of Israel versus Unknown."
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/516503.html


Israel Proposes Palestinian Refugee Plan
The Foreign Ministry is putting together a new diplomatic initiative aimed at finding a permanent solution to the Palestinian refugees problem in the West Bank and Gaza and in neighboring Arab countries, the Jerusalem Post reported. Israel intends to ask countries that support the Palestinian Authority financially to invest capital in finding a permanent housing solution for Palestinians living in the refugee camps ( AND KEEP THEIR LAND FOR ILLEGAL JEWISH SETTLERS )
http://nyjtimes.com/cover/12-20-04/Israel'sPalestineRefugeePlan.htm


It's back to business in post-Arafat Ramallah
The owners of the City Inn, at the northern entrance to Ramallah, recently asked Israel Defense Forces commanders in the region whether there would be a problem if they reopened the hotel. The officers responded that they had no objections.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/516500.html


Al Aqsa Brigades calls for mobilization
Al Aqsa Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian mainstream Fatah movement, on Monday called for urgent mobilization to respond to the Israeli military incursion in the souther Gaza town of Khan Younis.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/20/content_2359537.htm


MKs okay preliminary reading of bill to make Peres deputy PM
The Knesset on Monday passed the preliminary reading of a bill aimed at allowing Shimon Peres to become a second deputy prime minister, thereby meeting Labor's demands for joining a coalition government under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/516470.html


Egypt's Suleiman to visit Israel for Gaza security talks
Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman is slated to visit Israel on Tuesday to conclude talks on deploying Egyptian troops along the Gaza-Egypt border to prevent weapons from being smuggled into the Gaza Strip.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/516913.html


Poll shows Abbas to get most of votes
Palestinian mainstream Fatah's candidate Mahmoud Abbas will gain 61.8 percent of votes in all the Palestinian governorates, a Palestinian public opinion poll for the expected presidential elections showed on Saturday.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/18/content_2352009.htm


Suitable atmosphere needed before Palestinian elections: minister
Rayess told the Cairo-based Voice of the Arabs radio that he was concerned about the ongoing Israeli military operations in southern Gaza. The offensive would not help create the atmosphere needed for holding the Palestinian elections, the minister said.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/20/content_2359393.htm


?Japan to provide USD 60 million to Palestine for the Middle East peace
Japan decided Monday to provide USD 60 million to Palestine, in light of the recent development towards the resumption of the Middle East peace process, the Foreign Ministry said. The aid will be extended to promote the Middle East peace process through supporting the economic and social development in Palestine
http://www.kuna.net.kw/English/Story.asp?DSNO=690141


Settlers adopt calls for civil disobedience to fight pullout
The Yesha Council of Settlements decided Monday to back statements made a day earlier by the head of the Binyamin Regional Council, Pinhas Wallerstein, who called on the public to break the disengagement law, even if it meant jail.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/516481.html


Palestinian minister accuses Israel's releasing prisoners as superficial move
Palestinian minister for prisoners affairs Hisham Abdel Razeq said Monday that the Israeli decision to release 170 Palestinian prisoners was a unilateral step and only for "public relations"
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/20/content_2359540.htm


Abbas says Palestinians ready to assume responsibilities after Israeli pullout
The Palestine Liberation OrganizationChairman Mahmoud Abbas said here Monday the Palestinians were ready to assume their responsibilities after the Israeli pullout from the Gaza Strip but stressed final status talks must be part of the roadmap peace plan.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/21/content_2360248.htm


Lutherans Urged to Pray and Fast for the Middle East
“We believe that the babe of the manger in Bethlehem will hear the yearnings of every suffering person and will transform the hearts and minds of peoples and politicians toward justice, peace, forgiveness and reconciliation for Christ is our only hope in our troubled Middle East,”
http://www.christianpost.com/article/church/1767/section/lutherans.urged.to.pray.and.fast.for.the.middle.east/1.htm


Bush 'realistic' about prospects for Palestinian democracy
U.S. President George Bush took a cautious stance on Monday, saying that despite the upcoming Palestinian election he is "realistic" about achieving democracy among the Palestinians.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=516359&contrassID=1&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Thai laborers flee Gaza farms
The ministerial committee for foreign workers rejected Monday a request from Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz (Likud) to bring an additional 1,200 Thai laborers into the country, Israel Radio reported.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=516492&contrassID=1&subContrassID=7&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Hamas blasts arrest of municipal candidates
The Shin Bet security service's arrest of four Hamas candidates in the upcoming municipal elections in the West Bank town of Dahariyeh is a "political targeted killing," according to a senior Hamas leader in the town.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=516553&contrassID=1&subContrassID=5&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


I'll bring peace to Middle East
"I want you to know that I am going to invest a lot of time and a lot of creative thinking so that there will finally be peace between Israel and the Palestinians," Mr Bush said in an interview with the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Aharonoth. Mr Bush backs the plan by Ariel Sharon
http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1449682004


U.N. envoy engages critical Israelis
"If the Palestinians and us will go to a peace process, I don't think the U.N. will disturb," Peres said cynically. "In Israel there is an obsession with the U.N.," Larsen protested. Relations have "long and often been troubled, very troubled.... If it (the United Nations) is so 'terrible' why does Israel continue to be a member?"
http://www.wpherald.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20041220-103557-3816r


Christmas peace messages taken to Bethlehem
A delegation from the British Section of the catholic peace organisation Pax Christi will take more than 600 peace messages from schools, churches and religious communities in England, Wales Ireland and Scotland when it travels to Bethlehem this Christmas. Thee visit is part of a larger Pax Christi delegation, including people from the Netherlands and Germany.
http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/content/news_syndication/article_041220pmes.shtml


Why Boycott Israel
“Where is the world? Is it dead?” exclaimed the bereaved mother in Rafah on Al-Jazeera. Before her, lied the lifeless body of her little child. Faced with overwhelming Israeli oppression, Palestinians under occupation, in refugee camps and in the heart of Israel’s distinct form of apartheid have increasingly reached out to the world for understanding, for compassion, and, more importantly, for solidarity.
http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=107&ItemID=6898


The ever-cautious Abu Mazen
During his tour of the Gulf states - this time in the Qatari capital Doha - Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) declared that when the time comes to decide on a permanent solution to the conflict with Israel, he would bring the proposal to a vote via a referendum in which all Palestinians would have a say and would decide to accept or reject it.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/516535.html


The other 9/11 in Gaza
While the threat of punitive sanctions were hanging over Sudan despite scores of international humanitarian campaigns to help and protect the refugees from Darfur and Khartoum was accused of 'state terror' and 'genocide', across the Red Sea, in the neighbouring Gaza Strip, an estimated one million Palestinian refugees were bombarded from land, air and sea...
http://nation.ittefaq.com/artman/publish/article_14711.shtml


Sharon the Con Man - By Uri Avnery
This (in my own free translation) is what he said: America is in our pocket. President Bush supports all of Sharon's positions, including those that are diametrically opposed to Bush's own former positions. Europe has resigned itself to him. The Great of the World are standing in line to visit us, starting with Tony Blair.
http://www.counterpunch.org/avnery12202004.html


Young, restless and not very democratic
During the year of the 50th anniversary of that historic decision - an echo of which resonates in the recent ruling by Israel's Supreme Court, stating that there is to be no discrimination between Jews and Arabs in the allocation of lands by the Jewish Agency - a distressing and worrisome picture is revealed here.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/516532.html


Enlightened but exasperating Europe
There is also no need to recount the persecution of Jews in the Christian world, which is at the basis of the history that every Israeli child studies. There is a more recent example: the European countries' refusal to allow landings by planes in the American airlift during the Yom Kippur War, on their way to providing vital aid to the Israel Defense Forces.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/516536.html


Democracy in the Middle East, but only on America's terms
It has always been only a matter of time until the United States' professed desire to promote reform and democracy throughout the Arab world rubbed against the reality that free Arabs would probably express strong criticisms of Israel and of America's Middle East policy.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=11146

December 19, 2004

UN: 39 Gaza homes destroyed; 3 hurt in Qassam fire on Sderot
Palestinians began trickling back to their homes in the southern Gaza Strip refugee camp of Khan Yunis on Sunday, in the wake of an Israel Defense Forces operation in the area that left 11 Palestinians dead and, according to the United Nations, 39 houses in ruins.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/516138.html


Travel limits on PA candidates lifted
Still, Barghouti complained that he had been delayed for two hours at Gaza's Erez checkpoint for nearly two hours and that the IDF did not allow some of his aides to accompany him into the Gaza Strip. He also criticized the PA leadership for failing to seek assurances from Israel regarding the freedom of movement for all the candidates.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1103429251819


Khanyounis: Child Wounded, Death Toll Mounts to 11
A child was wounded early Sunday by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) in Khanyounis city, southern Gaza Strip (GS), Palestinian medics said. Mohammed Abu Shab 14, was shot with a live bullet in the belly and the right hand when Israeli soldiers, stationed at vicinity of Israeli colony of "Naveh Dikalem"
http://english.wafa.ps/body.asp?field=tech_news&id=1952


Israel to release 170 Palestinian prisoners
The panel, headed by Sharon, agreed to release 120 Fatah activists and 50 Palestinians arrested in Israel without legal entry permits. The prime minister also spoke Sunday of his "deep friendship" for Mubarak. Sharon's office said the prisoners would be released within days.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/516359.html


Israeli aircraft fires missiles at northern Gaza
unmanned Israeli aircraft fired at least three missiles at a group of Palestinians in Jabalya refugee camp in northern Gaza on early Sunday, Palestinian officials said. The airstrike came hours after Palestinian militants fired three rockets into the southern Israeli city of Sderot.
http://news3.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/19/content_2355393.htm


UN employees to return to Gaza
The UNRWA decided to pull out its international staff from the Gaza Strip five months ago after they faced difficulties in having a free access to and from Gaza, as well as moving freely inside the area. The Israeli army incursions and roadblocks have prevented them from reaching areas that need humanitarian aids.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/19/content_2355537.htm


Expert: Philadelphi route pullout ends occupation in int'l law
According to Matias, "When we quit Philadelphi, even if the Palestinians don't yet have a port or airport, the responsibility will no longer be ours. The area will not be considered occupied territory. When the Palestinians have a crossing to Egypt and additional options for transferring merchandise, even if there is no port yet, we have no responsibility."
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=516344&contrassID=1&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Islamic Movement leader, followers end hunger strike
Northern Islamic Movement leader Sheikh Raed Salah and 12 of his followers ended their hunger strike on Sunday after nine days. The five jailed men joined the hunger strike apparently to force an amendment to the indictment against them or at least to allow their release on bail.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=516402&contrassID=1&subContrassID=7&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Israeli Arab leaders call for refusal to serve in IDF
In wake of the killing of five Israel Defense Forces soldiers from the Bedouin reconnaissance battalion last Sunday, the Israeli Arab political leadership published a manifesto Saturday calling on all Arab youths, including Druze and Bedouins, to refuse to serve in the IDF.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=516345&contrassID=1&subContrassID=5&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Seven candidates to run in Palestinian elections
The campaign for the presidential elections is scheduled to start on Dec. 25 and finish on Jan. 7. Meanwhile, the first 42 international observers have arrived in the Palestinian territories to monitor the election.
http://news3.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/19/content_2355505.htm


Blair pursues Mid-East mission
Such a conference - probably to be held in London in February following Palestinian elections on 9 January - would not herald the resumption of peace talks but would perhaps be a building block towards that end.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4108859.stm


Israelis warn Blair not to 'interfere' in Palestinian process
Tony Blair's attempt to stage a Middle East conference in London could "interfere" with Israel's planned timetable for withdrawal from the Gaza strip, Ehud Olmert, the country's deputy prime minister, said yesterday.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/12/19/wmid19.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/12/19/ixnewstop.html


Former Israeli minister arrives at Cairo to discuss Palestinian elections
Beilin, one of the chief Israeli designers of the 1993 Oslo peace accords with the Palestinians and the leader of Israeli left-wing Yahad party, will discuss the current Palestinian situation and the elections slated for Jan. 9 with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit and other officials
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/20/content_2356038.htm


Parties unite as Israel strikes Gaza
Negotiators from the opposition centre-left Labour and Mr Sharon's right-wing Likud were applying the finishing touches to the confirmed coalition deal before the official signing overnight, Israeli radio said.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,11737877%255E2703,00.html


Labor won't approve coalition deal until Tuesday
The two sides reached an agreement Saturday, after late-night talks led to a solution to a crisis in negotiations. Labor sources said that the decision to delay the central committee meeting is a matter of logistics, in order to ensure a high turnout of MKs.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/516137.html


Coalition in new crisis over Peres' appointment as deputy PM
According to the agreement reached Saturday night, Labor Chairman Shimon Peres is to become the second deputy prime minister, along with Trade Minister Ehud Olmert, who already holds the title. But the Basic Law: The Government provides for just one deputy prime minister
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/516470.html


PNA hopes Israeli coalition to help resume peace talks
However, he stressed that whatever the type of Israeli government is "won't interest us. What interests us is to have an Israeli peace partner that would be able to implement the agreements and the roadmap peace plan."
http://news3.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/19/content_2355667.htm


Jordanian government slams Sharon's statements
The Jordanian government condemned Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's statements that Israel would keep large settlements in the occupied territories and block the return of Palestinian refugees to their homeland
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/19/content_2355454.htm


UAE president reiterates support to Palestinians
The president made the remarks while receiving Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization,Mahmoud Abbas, who arrived here earlier in the afternoon with his entourage for a visit to the UAE as part of his tour of Arab countries.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/20/content_2356221.htm


World Bank president to tour Israel, territories
International aid already covers more than half of the annual Palestinian budget. The bank, which works closely with the donor community and runs aid programs in the Palestinian areas, has said further aid won't significantly help the Palestinian economy without structural changes on the ground. (Occupier enjoys Free Occupation)
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=516417&contrassID=1&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Nobel laureate compares Israeli nuclear arms to gas chambers
"When I think about nuclear weapons, I've been to Auschwitz concentration camp," Maguire said during a joint press conference with Vanunu in Jerusalem. "Nuclear weapons are only gas chambers perfected... and for a people who know what gas chambers are, how can you even think of building perfect gas chambers?"
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/516461.html


Military school
it may be better to expose young people to the IDF at a young age, to prepare them properly for service in the army of occupation. Through the officers who will be sent to the schools - although it is to be assumed that these will not be the best of the lot, since those are busy fighting terror and occupying - young people will be exposed to the character of their future commanders.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/516124.html


Bush Confident of Israeli-Palestinian Peace
"I want you to know that I am going to invest a lot of time and a lot of creative thinking so that there will finally be peace between Israel and the Palestinians," Bush told the leading Israeli newspaper Yedioth Aharonoth. "I am convinced that, during this term, I will manage to bring peace," he said in remarks published in Hebrew.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=574&ncid=1312&e=6&u=/nm/20041219/wl_nm/mideast_bush_dc_1


Look for a future Palestine in the past Two generations later
Six decades ago, my family celebrated Christmas in its Jerusalem home, as did the families of other Palestinian Christians in Bethlehem, Nazareth and throughout the Holy Land. Then, in 1948, Palestinian society was destroyed. More than 700,000 Palestinians -- many, like us, Christians, but even more Muslims -- fled or were forced into exile by Israeli troops.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/12/19/INGOPABFSR1.DTL


Follow me to the promised land
Target pinpointed to a yard within seconds. Ready to intercept intruder. The giggling 18-year-old Israeli girl soldiers are relaxed: it’s only the mechanical sweeper that removes stones thrown by the Palestinians. We’re on the green line that divides the Jewish state from the occupied territory of the West Bank.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2092-1408414,00.html


Egyptian FM calls on Palestinians to stop armed uprising
He said if the Palestinians stop the armed uprising, which was also called for by Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) chief Mahmoud Abbas, the Israeli side should also stop military operations and "acts of provocation".
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/19/content_2352849.htm


Syria must wait until after Israel-Palestinian agreement: Bush
“Now Assad needs to wait: first peace between Israel and Palestine, and then we'll see what to do with Syria,” Bush told a correspondent from the Yediot Aharonot daily during a White House reception.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2004/December/middleeast_December504.xml&section=middleeast


Report: Iran says it has uncovered spy ring for Israel
Iran said Sunday its intelligence services have uncovered a spy ring that collected intelligence information for Israel, according to a report by Israel Radio's Persian language program.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=516450&contrassID=1&subContrassID=5&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


George W. Bush named Time's Person of the Year
U.S. President George W. Bush for the second time was chosen as Time magazine's Person of the Year, after winning re-election and "reshaping the rules of politics to fit his 10-gallon-hat leadership style" - a reference to his cowboy image.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=516467&contrassID=1&subContrassID=8&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Saddam Tells Iraqis to Unite Against U.S.
From his prison cell, Saddam Hussein urged his compatriots to remain united against the U.S. occupation and warned that upcoming elections could divide the country, his lawyers said Sunday after the legal team's first meeting with the ousted Iraqi leader since his capture.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=540&e=2&u=/ap/20041219/ap_on_re_mi_ea/jordan_saddam_hussein

December 18, 2004

In Jayyus, Destruction of Land and Uprooting of Trees Lays the Foundation for a New Settlement on Village Land Isolated by the Wall
The new settlement, “Nofei Zufim” (“North Zufin”), has begun to be constructed by Occupation Forces on the western part of Jayyus’ lands. It lies three kilometers to the north and east of Zufin settlement, which was established on land expropriated from the village in 1993. The Wall has already isolated approximately 8600 dunums of land – some 72% of Jayyus’ lands – in addition to destroying another 550 dunums in its path.
http://stopthewall.org/latestnews/832.shtml


The Writing on the Wall: Terry Boullata
But in August 2002, we suddenly woke up to see that the army had shifted the Jerusalem checkpoint towards the entrance of Abu Dis. And they brought cement blocks one meter high. So we started to have quarrels with the soldiers because they sometimes denied us access to Jerusalem and sometimes to the West Bank. Bit by bit the Wall became more tangible.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article3443.shtml


International documents beating of Palestinian is then arrested afterwards
http://www.palsolidarity.org/DesktopModules/Pictures/PictureView.aspx?tabID=0&alias=Rainbow&lang=en-US&ItemID=331&mid=10439&wversion=Staging


PA says will never give up right of return
The Palestinian Authority will never give up the right of return for all refugees to their original homes inside Israel, Zakariya al-Agha, head of the PLO's Refugees Department, said on Saturday.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1103356912960


Lieberman: Transfer Arab areas of J'lem to Palestinians
Speaking at the Herzliya conference, Lieberman for the first time publicly expressed support for transfer of areas within Jerusalem's municipal boundaries to the Palestinians. Israel's primary problem, Lieberman said, is not the Palestinians but rather the country's Arab citizens.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=515600&contrassID=1&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


More victims in deadly Israeli assault
Muhammad Gharghun, a 23-year-old Palestinian, was ripped apart by an Israeli tank shell hours after Ibrahim al-Farra, 19, was killed by a shot to the stomach, medical sources said on Saturday. Nine others Palestinians, including at least four resistance fighters, were killed on Friday after tanks supported by helicopter gunships stormed into Khan Yunus camp.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/F4757861-FBCC-442B-A0A5-C1BFE5DD5F4A.htm


Palestinians rescued after Gaza tunnel collapse
Witnesses said Palestinians in the town rescued the men, including a militant, by pulling them out of shaft dug under a house that connected to the tunnel. They were greeted by cheers and many Palestinians fired guns into the air in celebration.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200412/s1268235.htm


Bedouins urged not to join Israeli army
The group said it was shocked to learn a number of Bedouin soldiers were serving in the "occupation army, especially on the borderline between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, and obey the orders of their commanders to kill our innocent children and women and demolish their homes."
http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20041218-095500-3899r.htm


Arab-Israeli leaders call for refusal to serve in IDF
In wake of the killing of five Israel Defense Forces soldiers from the Bedouin reconnaissance battalion last Sunday, the Arab-Israelis political leadership published a manifesto Saturday calling on all Arab youths, including Druze and Bedouins, to refuse to serve in the IDF.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/516087.html


Israeli Apache helicopters strike on Gaza
The helicopters hovered on northern Gaza Strip and fired atleast six missiles, said the witnesses, adding that two explosions were heard. Fire fighters and ambulances rushed to the targeted place.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/18/content_2349793.htm


Sharon aides to meet Palestinians to coordinate elections
The talks between aides to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, including former bureau chief Dov Weisglass and political advisor Shalom Turgeman, and senior Palestinians were called despite a new spasm of violence that has shattered a brief period of calm in the Palestinian territories after Yasser Arafat died on Nov. 11.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/516051.html


Court extends remand of left-wing activist Tali Fahima
The Shin Bet and police asked Justice Doron Hisdai to extend Fahima's remand by 10 days to continue investigating allegations that she divulged information and aided an enemy at time of war, made contact with a foreign agent and was involved in weapons-related crimes.
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/515634.html


Deputy AG: Leaving Philadelphi Route will be seen as end of Gaza occupation
"There is a high likelihood that the international community will be willing to declare, if we withdraw from the Philadelphi Route, that the Israeli occupation is over. Withdrawal from the Philadelphi Route will be a crossroad," Matias said. (Ignoring Air & Sea... and their Right of Return...)
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=516081&contrassID=1&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


PLO slams Sharon's speech on Palestinian refugees
The Palestine Liberation Organization on Saturday rejected Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's denial of the Palestinian refugees' right to return. The Israeli proposal to resettle them in Arab countries is rejected, said Zakareya al-Agha, head of PLO refugees department.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/18/content_2351484.htm


Report: Germany to stop accepting all ex-Soviet Jews
But the fact the number of ex-Soviet Jews coming to Germany has in recent years been higher than the number going to Israel had led to a policy rethink, the newspapers said. Berliner Zeitung reported around 9,400 ex-Soviet Jews were expected to come to Germany this year, exceeding the number settling in Israel by more than 1,000 for the first time.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/516070.html


Abbas briefs Omani ruler on preparations for Palestinian polls
But Abbas, who has criticized the "militarization" of the struggle against Israeli occupation, voiced optimism on Wednesday that hardliners would eventually heed his truce calls. "There has been progress in the negotiations with Palestinian factions about ending the militarization of the intifada,"... "I hope we will reach an agreement before, or perhaps after, the elections."
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=4&u=/afp/20041218/wl_mideast_afp/mideastabbasomanqatar_041218191417


Likud, Labor to convene to draft coalition agreement
Representatives from the Likud and Labor parties will convene Saturday night to draft a coalition agreement. The coalition, of which United Torah Judaism will also be a member, will be presented to the Knesset next week.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/515725.html


Likud-Labour wind up Israel coalition deal as toll rises in Gaza
The exact composition of the new government -- to be the fifth time that Likud and Labour have shared power -- would not be known until next Thursday, the report said Saturday. Labour's central committee will meet from Monday to Wednesday to decide which of their 19 MPs will be handed the agreed eight ministerial posts, which include two without portfolios.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1503&ncid=1503&e=4&u=/afp/20041218/ts_afp/mideast_041218160425


Mubarak urges U.S. to advance peace process
"We would like the Americans to concentrate on solving this problem," he said, adding that he remains confident a Palestinian state will be created in the coming years. "I see the year 2008, when the second term of U.S. President George W. Bush ends, as the probable time frame," he said.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/516063.html


Report: Secret Israel-Syria talks expected in Amman in Jan.
Sources in Jerusalem denied the report, and Jordanian sources said that the reason for the report is likely the expected visit of Syrian President Bashar Assad in Amman later this month. The Jordanian sources also stressed that Jordan is not interested in mediating between Israel and Syria.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/516077.html


Egyptian FM calls on Palestinians to stop armed uprising
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit Saturday called on the Palestinians to stop the "militarization" of their anti-Israel Intifada The foreign minister was quoted as saying that the Palestinians should shift towards a new phase of Intifada which would involve "active negotiations that would help achieve the Palestinian demands."
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/19/content_2352849.htm


Adalah: JNF lands come from state, not Jewish contributors
According to an agreement between the JNF and ILA at the beginning of the 1960s, JNF funds will be managed by the ILA, and in exchange, about half of the the ILA council members will be appointed by the fund. "We are dealing with a policy that discriminates on the basis of ethnicity," Adalah wrote to the High Court.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=515857&contrassID=1&subContrassID=7&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Shalom calls Annan to voice support
"He said he knows he is going through a hard time and that Israel appreciates what he is doing for Israel since he is in office," said Anat Friedman, spokeswoman for Israel's UN mission of Shalom's telephone call to Annan.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=516023&contrassID=1&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


WANTED: Middle East Mediator
What is urgently needed is a restructuring of the international mediation addressing the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Shuttle diplomacy by world powers unable or unwilling to commit to international and humanitarian law as a foundation for Palestinian and Israeli reconciliation is a waste of time, money, and Palestinian and Israeli lives.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article3442.shtml


How to Integrate 'Disengagement' into the Road Map
Even with the leadership change on the Palestinian front, US President George Bush last week reiterated his assurances to Israel. It is safe to assume that the Israeli and American understanding of how to integrate 'disengagement' with the road map requires integration in both procedures and principles.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week3/121804/road-map-diseng.htm


US threatens UN agency funds over report - writer
The lead writer of a U.N. report on freedom and governance in the Arab world said on Saturday the United States was threatening to cut off funds to a U.N. agency if the United Nations releases it. Fergani said the United States had already penalised UNDP by $12 million because it did not like the previous report.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L18687253.htm


Poll: Many want US Muslims' rights clamped
The survey found 44 percent favoured at least some restrictions on the civil liberties of Muslim Americans. Forty-eight percent said liberties should not be restricted in any way. The survey showed that 27 percent of respondents supported requiring all Muslim Americans to register where they lived with the federal government.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/FFB44CD0-7CFA-4D50-B4BF-D404AA073923.htm


Lebanon mulls reprisals against French, US media for Hezbollah TV ban
Lebanon warned that it was considering reprisals against French and US media after the pro-Hezbollah television station Al-Manar was declared a "terrorist organization" by Washington and its broadcasts on two satellites halted. "This is an attempt to shut all voices that oppose Israel and describe it as a terrorist state."
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=9&u=/afp/20041218/wl_mideast_afp/usmideastlebanonmedia_041218190624


Syrian troops to redeploy in parts of Lebanon
Syrian troops will start redeploying in parts of Lebanon, including moving away from the area of Beirut Airport, on orders from the leadership of both countries, the Lebanese Defense Ministry said Saturday.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=516068&contrassID=1&subContrassID=8&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


US marines do not recommend return of residents to Fallujah
"At some point we'll make a recommendation, we haven't reached that point," Lieutenant Colonel Dan Wilson, a deputy commander of the First Marine Expeditionary Force, told reporters in a military base near Fallujah late on Friday. Thousands fled Fallujah last month ahead of a massive US-led onslaught...
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=12&u=/afp/20041218/wl_mideast_afp/iraqfallujahusmilitary_041218125117


Turkish Embassy Guards Killed in Mosul, Turks Say
Several Turkish embassy guards were killed in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul by unidentified assailants while on their way from Turkey to the Iraqi capital Baghdad, Turkey's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
http://uruknet.info/?s1=2&p=8201&s2=18


Blasts pepper Iraq oil network after Al-Qaeda sabotage call
Iraq's oil infrastructure suffered five attacks in 24 hours after a voice identified as Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden ordered followers to sabotage the West's key supplies. There were two blasts on pipelines Saturday and three late Friday, all of them in restive Sunni Arab areas around the capital or in north-central Iraq, officials said.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=20&u=/afp/20041218/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_041218161942


CIA Agent Says Bosses Ordered Him To Falsify WMD Reports
Although the word "Iraq" does not appear in the heavily redacted version of the suit, the Washington Post reports that "the remaining language and context make clear that the officer's work related to prewar intelligence on Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction."
http://uruknet.info/?s1=2&p=8195&s2=18

December 17, 2004

25 Houses Demolished in Khan Younis
Witnesses said that the Israeli invading troops have also devastated completely 25 houses as medical crews including ambulances came under fire. As well, the Israeli troops stormed the Al-Farra residential houses of the Khan Younis city.
http://www.ipc.gov.ps/ipc_new/english/details.asp?name=1537


JNF not required to act for good of all, court told
The petitioners are asking the court to annul an ILA policy that prevents Arabs from participating in bids to purchase land owned by the JNF. The petitioners say the policy is not in keeping with the Basic Law on Human Dignity and Liberty.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/515073.html


Adalah: JNF lands come from state, not Jewish contributors
The JNF holds some 2.6 million dunams, comprising 13 percent of the land in Israel. Adalah says the state gave the JNF close to two million dunams, including lands formerly owned by Arabs that were confiscated or seized. "The first million dunams were given to the JNF in 1949, and a second million were given in 1953," Adalah attorney Suhad Bishara said.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=515857&contrassID=1&subContrassID=7&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Guardian Discloses Israeli Expansion of Illegal Settlements Close To "Apartheid Wall"
Like other building work along the route of the barrier, it seems to be an attempt to ensure that the land between the fence and the 1967 border remains in Israeli hands in any final agreement with the Palestinians." "At least five other sites along the barrier have settlement work in progress, "Guardian reported
http://www.ipc.gov.ps/ipc_new/english/details.asp?name=1521


Israel Unveils New Unit to Run Checkpoints
But the Palestinians say they are a form of collective punishment meant to crush their spirit and ruin their economy. The checkpoint unit is to be stationed at 11 new high-tech terminals being built into the separation barrier going up between the West Bank and Israel, Bar El said.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=1312&e=8&u=/ap/20041217/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_checkpoint_unit_1


Not one single settlement
These words are being written in the wake of the state's reply to the community of Nirit's petition to the High Court of Justice against the establishment of a new Jewish settlement with 1,200 housing units to be called Nof Hasharon, adjacent to Nirit but on the other side of the Green Line, in the West Bank.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/515683.html


Five Palestinians killed, 15 wounded in Israeli Gaza raid
Islam Al-Nabrisi and another unnamed Palestinian were the latest two victims during a day of violence in the Khan Yunis camp after an Israeli incursion began shortly before midnight. Nabrisi was shot in the head and the other man was killed by a tank shell, Palestinian security sources said.
http://www.turkishpress.com/world/news.asp?id=041217122440.91w87ct9.xml


Sixth Palestinian killed in Israeli Gaza raid
Jihad Abu Omar, 19, was killed by a bullet to the head, medical sources said, adding that 15 Palestinians had been wounded during the incursion. The latest death brings to 4,628 the overall toll since the September 2000 outbreak of the Palestinian uprising, including 3,585 Palestinians and 968 Israelis
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=20&u=/afp/20041217/wl_mideast_afp/mideastunrestgazatoll_041217164433


Five Palestinians buried under tunnel "still alive": witnesses
The witnesses said residents got in touch with one of the buried who had a cellular phone and were told they were all alive.Earlier reports said the five people were killed when a 14-meter tunnel collapsed Thursday night in the town linking Gaza and Egypt.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/18/content_2349409.htm


Dear soldier
What the system instills is that we are the lords of the land and the Palestinians are an inferior people who under no circumstances are entitled to what we are entitled to; that the occupation is just, obligatory in the situation, that terrorism sprang up in a vacuum, that the Palestinians were born to kill, that the terrorist attacks stem solely from their bloodthirsty character.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArtVty.jhtml?sw=Gideon+Levy&itemNo=515441


11 new families settle in Gaza's Nissanit
Eleven families have recently moved into the northern Gaza Strip settlement of Nissanit with the assistance of the settlers' movement Amana. "We heard that there were empty homes, and we wanted to show God that we loved the Land of Israel. God willing, more families will join soon," (No one there to stop them, IOF busy in Khan Yunis!)
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=515696&contrassID=1&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Peace Now activists released after being detained at outpost
The activists were arrested during a trip organized by the movement for 200 of its members to three outposts in the territories - Nofei Nehemia, Givat Assaf, and Migron. Once the members arrived to the outskirts of Nofei Nehemia, they were detained by an unusually large number of soldiers and police who declared the area a closed military zone.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/516021.html


Life stops at coastal road block
Thousands of Palestinian students, merchants, patients and drivers were forced to take cover behind trucks, vehicles and carts on the blocked Gaza coastal road when Israeli soldiers stationed at the watchtowers of Nitzarim colony opened fired on them as they were passing.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article3440.shtml


`Historic breakthrough' possible, Sharon says
"The biggest and most genuine opportunity to build a new and different relationship with the Palestinians was created with the passing of Yasser Arafat, who was the main obstacle to peace," Sharon said in an address to the annual Herzliya Conference on security and strategy.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2027&ncid=1312&e=3&u=/chitribts/20041217/ts_chicagotrib/historicbreakthroughpossiblesharonsays


EU praises Palestinians' peaceful transition
In the draft of a statement to be issued after a two-day EU summit, the Europeans urged Palestinians and Israelis to "maintain their current positive and cooperative attitude" in the wake of the death of the former Palestinian leader.
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/515902.html


British PM visit region, meet Abbas, Sharon
Blair, who wants to hold a Middle East conference in London early next year to help revive Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking after Arafat's death last month, will also meet Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on his 24-hour midweek trip.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/515878.html


Sharon expects breakthrough with Palestinians
"To achieve big breakthroughs, one needs to make concessions. Israel's biggest concession is the disengagement plan and the withdrawal from Gaza," he said, adding that "it is clear to everyone that we will not be in Gaza after a final status agreement."
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/17/content_2344990.htm


Sharon could doom peace talks, Abbas says
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's hope of annexing West Bank settlements and keeping all of Jerusalem under a final peace deal is a disaster that could torpedo efforts to restart peace talks, interim Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said Friday.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20041217.wpale1217/BNStory/International/


?Abu Rdainah warns of dangerous Israeli military operations in Gaza Strip
He warned of "escalation of aggression and the wide-scale military operations in Gaza Strip", that include targeting Palestinian civilians, þassassination attempts, and the destruction of homes, which could negatively þaffect the preparations for running the Palestinian presidential elections.
http://www.kuna.net.kw/English/Story.asp?DSNO=689306


Sharon suspends coalition talks with Labor
Sharon allowed the resumption of talks to take place Friday only on condition that Itzik would not be present. According to the report, Labor will receive eight portfolios in the new government. An official agreement is expected to be signed on Sunday.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/515725.html


FM thanks Annan for efforts to hold UN Holocaust session
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom thanked United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan early Friday for his efforts to dedicate a special commemorative session in the General Assembly to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Nazi concentration camps. (And for Annan's silence while Palestinians are killed)
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/516023.html


Settlers split over anti-Sharon campaign
A crisis appears to be brewing at the Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip as settler leaders said they were split over whether to call on the public to escalate the struggle against Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Gaza Strip disengagement plan.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1103170793007


'Easy access' to boost tourism in Holy Land
The Israeli and Palestinian tourism ministers announced in a meeting last month - their first since fighting broke out in 2000 - that they intended to guarantee easy access for visitors traveling between Jerusalem and nearby Bethlehem, simplifying security checks. ( & The Apartheid Wall)
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=3&article_id=11064


More groups reject Abbas call to demilitarize intifada
The proposal by Abbas to demilitarize the intifada has not only been snubbed by radical groups but is also unpopular with the Palestinian public, according to a poll that was published Thursday. Over 65 percent of those surveyed by Bir Zeit university in the West Bank said they were opposed to the disarmament
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=11078


"Message received": Hatem Abdel Qader on Barghouti's presidential election withdrawal
I think Marwan wanted to make a point about democracy in Fateh, that it's not only Abu Mazen, that the door should be open to more people to run in Fateh. I think he feels that inside Fateh we should hold a conference and at this conference people should nominate themselves, in a kind of primary, before we agree on one [candidate].
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article3438.shtml


Israel's Holocaust victims are bilked by their own
But another, yet more embarrassing, Holocaust banking scandal is belatedly playing itself out today in Israel, even if no one - not even the reparation funds or the Israeli government - is drawing attention to it. But rather than settle accounts with the Holocaust families, the banks, led by Leumi, are trying to silence the inquiry... (Can't be called Anti-Semite, COOL)
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=5&article_id=11068


Palestinian textbooks: Where is all that 'incitement'?
No country's textbooks have been subjected to as much close scrutiny as the Palestinian. The findings? It turns out that the original allegations were based on Egyptian or Jordanian textbooks and incorrect translations. Time and again, independently of each other, researchers find no incitement to hatred in the Palestinian textbooks.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/12/17/opinion/edavenstrup.html


Living on burrowed time
Hamas, the senior rejectionist organization, is indeed wrestling with this dilemma. The organization decided to refrain from launching Qassam rockets at the Negev town of Sderot when it discovered that Israel was reacting more sharply than the Palestinian public was willing to absorb (about 130 Palestinians were killed in Operation "Days of Penitence" in the northern Gaza Strip).
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/515618.html


Sharon backs Blair's London summit plan
Mr Sharon's support is a boost for Mr Blair's plan. The Israeli government is normally suspicious of Middle East conferences, fearful of the international community dictating a settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Mr Blair and Mr Sharon are trying to keep details of the conference under wraps so that they will have something to announce after their meeting...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1375672,00.html


U.S. Designates Al-Manar TV as 'Terrorist'
A designation by the State Department may only be the first step against al-Manar. The Treasury could decide to include al-Manar on its terrorism blacklist, blocking its assets and making any financial dealings with the channel illegal.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=564&ncid=564&e=20&u=/nm/20041217/ts_nm/security_usa_manar_dc_1


Four Iraqis killed in US airstrike near Fallujah
Inside Fallujah, clashes raged in the southern districts.The resistance forces accused in a statement that the US-Iraqi forces used internationally prohibited weapons in its last attack.US and Iraqi forces started a major offensive on Nov. 8 to crush insurgents...
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/18/content_2349693.htm

December 16, 2004

Israeli academic prejudice
The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel has called upon their colleagues in the international community to "comprehensively and consistently boycott all Israeli academic and cultural institutions" as exemplified in the struggle to abolish apartheid in South Africa through diverse forms of boycott.
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2004/721/in2.htm


"It Was Like Abu Ghraib": Israeli Abuse of Birzeit University's Gazan Students
They hit us with their rifle butts us as we lay on the ground and swore at us in Arabic, kicking and punching us in the face, chest, and head. One soldier had a camera. After this first beating, they took pictures of each other standing by us as we lay on the floor. One soldier posed with his boot on my friends head. It was like the pictures from Abu Ghraib.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article3433.shtml


Soldier who shot Briton admits lying
The Israeli soldier on trial for killing the British peace activist Tom Hurndall in the Gaza Strip has admitted he was lying when he said his victim was carrying a gun, but said he was under orders to open fire even on unarmed people.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1374851,00.html


Palestinian candidates decry lack of freedom of movement
One of the main requirements for an election campaign is that the candidates be able to present their message to the voters, at rallies and through the media. But some of the candidates in the current Palestinian presidential election campaign are complaining that they are being denied that right because the IDF is blocking them at checkpoints
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/514455.html


CEC Calls for Urgent Intervention against Israeli Measures that Impede Elections
Palestinian Central Election Commission (CEC) called Wednesday on the international organizations to urgently intervene so as to urge Israel takes the appropriate steps to enable it perform its duties.
http://english.wafa.ps/body.asp?field=tech_news&id=1943


PNA urges Israel to release detained candidates
Erekat said the Israeli troops arrested four candidates at a checkpoint in the West Bank town of Al Dahereya and a fifth in Jericho two days ago. Palestinian sources said Israel was still holding the five Palestinian candidates.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/16/content_2343738.htm


UN gives new homes to Jenin refugee camp families
Peter Hansen, who participated in the ceremony, said the efforts to assist Jenin residents were "the largest humanitarian project in the territories in the past four years." The project was funded by a grant of $27 million from the United Arab Emirates. According to UN statistics, 2,000 Palestinians were left homeless following Operation Defensive Shield. ( Jenin Massacre )
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/515576.html


Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories
This week, Israeli troops conducted 5 incursions into Palestinian areas in the Gaza Strip, during which they destroyed 13 houses, razed at least 115 donums of agricultural land, and injured 7 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli troops killed 4 Palestinian civilians, including an 8-year-old child and an elderly man.
http://pchrgaza.org/files/W_report/English/2004/16-12-2004.htm


Court asks gov't to reflect on impact of law on Palestinians
Under a temporary amendment to the Citizenship Law, requests for family reunification submitted by Israeli-Palestinian couples or requests for permanent residency submitted by Palestinians married to Israeli citizens after May 2002, the date of the order's first enactment, must be rejected.
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/515424.html


IOF Kills 3 Citizens in Gaza
Medical sources in Gaza said that Israeli troops killed Hassan al-Banna 20, and Ashraf Ba'lousha 19 in Dier al-Balah City. The sources added that Israeli forces handed over the body of al-Banna but still keeping the body of Ba'lousha.
http://english.wafa.ps/body.asp?field=tech_news&id=1944


11 IDF soldiers wounded in Gaza mortar attack
Eleven Israel Defense Forces soldiers were lightly wounded on Thursday evening when Palestinians fired four mortar shells at an outpost near the Atzmona settlement in the southern Gaza Strip.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=515342&contrassID=1&subContrassID=5&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Abbas rejects Sharon's offer to coordinate disengagement
The disengagement plan has improved Israel's international image, Sharon said in his annual keynote at the Herzliya Conference on Thursday evening, adding that "it is clear to everyone that we will not be in Gaza after a final status agreement."
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/515113.html


PM orders halt to talks after Itzik's comments
Earlier in the evening, Likud negotiators offered Labor eight ministerial posts Thursday, including a special deputy prime minister position for party chairman Shimon Peres, putting the two sides closer than ever to reaching an agreement to bring Labor into a national unity government.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/515341.html


Blair to visit Palestinian territories next week
"Besides the possibility to hold an international conference aimed at re-launching the peace process in the region, the two sides will also discuss mechanisms of cooperation between Britain and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), which will help the PNA perform its duties in the future with different challenges,"
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/16/content_2343782.htm


Italian FM to spend Christmas in Bethlehem
Official Palestinian sources said Thursday that Italian Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini will visit Israel and the Palestinian territories next week and spend Christmas in Bethlehem.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/16/content_2344139.htm


Key militants reject Abbas' call to end armed attacks
Key Palestinian militant groups on Thursday rejected a call by moderate leader Mahmoud Abbas to end their armed fight against Israel, saying they were not bound by his authority and attacks would continue.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/515557.html


Palestinian official denies cabinet to be reshuffled
Lebda told reporters that the reports were unfounded and surprising as the Jan. 9 presidential election draws near. On Wednesday, Palestinian official sources were quoted by local media as saying six cabinet ministers were to replaced in a new government.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/16/content_2343765.htm


Window of opportunity opens up again to advance Israeli-Palestinian peace - UN
"There exists at present a real opportunity to implement the Road Map's provisions and to make a huge leap forward towards a settlement of the conflict," he added in reference to plan calling for parallel and reciprocal steps by both sides leading to two States living in peace by the end of 2005.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=12836&Cr=middle&Cr1=east


Egypt postpones Rafah troop deployment
Egypt has postponed until April 2005 its increased deployment of soldiers along the Egyptian side of Philadelphi route on the Sinai-Gaza Strip border in the Rafah area. Egypt had previously offered to deploy 750 soldiers from its Border Guard, equipped with armored personnel carriers and side-arms, as early as January.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=515114&contrassID=1&subContrassID=5&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Talking up trade
On Tuesday Egypt signed an agreement, which it had long resisted, with Israel and the US allowing Qualified Industrial Zones (QIZ) to be established. Goods produced in these zones will enjoy unhampered access to the US market provided they have an 11.7 per cent Israeli input.
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2004/721/fr1.htm


Hamas urges foreign workers to leave Jewish settlements
Following the incident, a Thai diplomatic delegation arrived in Israel to evacuate dozens of Thai workers from Jewish settlements. Hamas welcomed the Thai government's decision, calling upon other foreign countries to evacuate their workers in the Jewish settlements too.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/16/content_2343420.htm


Bethlehem's Paradise Hotel opens doors for first Christmas since 2000
The floors are polished, a Christmas tree glitters near the bar and the dining room is ready for hundreds of guests: The luxury Paradise Hotel is open for business for the first time since the latest Palestinian uprising erupted in 2000.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20041216-1042-bethlehem-roomattheinn.html


Analysis / Confident Abbas can afford to be anti-weapons
Mahmoud Abbas is a confident man, certain of a landslide victory on January 9 in the Palestinian Authority's presidential elections. That is the conclusion that can be drawn from the clear statement he made in his interview with Asharq Al-Awsat against the use of weapons in the intifada.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/514454.html


The non-event
The feeling that "a window of opportunity" has opened is prevalent in most of the public: Not only did Arafat's departure open a new chapter in relations with the Palestinians and a chance "to disengage with an agreement," but the "Arab world" led by President Mubarak is changing its attitude toward Israel "regardless of the Palestinian problem."
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/515085.html


Lieberman: Transfer Arab areas of J'lem to Palestinians
Israel's primary problem, Lieberman said, is not the Palestinians but rather the country's Arab citizens. He said this problem must be taken care of before the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can be resolved. "The linkage that has been created between the Palestinian problem and the Israeli Arab problem will destroy us," Lieberman said.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/515568.html


Pentagon official wants Yaron fired
According to Israeli sources, as a result of the crisis that broke out some months ago, U.S. Undersecretary of Defense Douglas Feith cut off ties with Defense Ministry Director General Amos Yaron. Feith is one of the ideological neoconservative Jews in the American administration and is considered one of the architects of the war in Iraq.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/515075.html


Israelis, Palestinians have contradictory expectations of proposed London peace conference
Israel wants to focus on ending violence, while Palestinian officials want to take up issues like the status of Jerusalem that have snagged previous negotiations.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/12/16/international1453EST0592.DTL


2 Israelis said held in Jordan on suspicion of arms-smuggling
According to the report in A-Sharq-al-Awsat, and which relies on anonymous Jordanian sources, the unnamed Israeli suspects told investigators that they had connections to various Israeli companies and entities, and mentioned the names of arms dealers Amos Golan and Shimon Naor, among others.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=515423&contrassID=1&subContrassID=5&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


EU justice commissioner to push law against anti-Semitism
Haaretz editor David Landau described the anguish he feels when his paper reports Israeli abuses against Palestinians, knowing that such information could end up fueling anti-Semitism. But the duty of a free press in a democracy to provide the facts and reality to its audience must prevail, Landau said.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/515565.html


U.S. man admits role in smuggling arms to Israel
Leib Kohn pleaded guilty to conspiracy, admitting only that he knew the weapons parts were bound for Israel. Investigators allege an Israeli arms dealer may have been relaying the equipment to Iran.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=515326&contrassID=1&subContrassID=8&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y

December 15, 2004

IOF Arrests US Peace Activist, Assaults others
Peace activist, Ridwana, from south Africa, told WAFA that Israeli soldiers arrested US activist Kate Bender-Raphael, while she was filming the Israeli attack. Kate has been taken to the Israeli Ministry of Interior in Jerusalem. She now faces deportation. Ridwana said that Kate is detained now (Wednesday) at the detention department of the Israeli airport.
http://english.wafa.ps/body.asp?field=tech_news&id=1942


Israeli army razes W. Bank village in preparation for barrier construction
The Israeli army on Tuesday razed the village of Bal'ein in the West Bank in preparation for the resumption of the separation wall construction in the area. Palestinian residents said Israeli bulldozers, guarded by jeeps and armored vehicles, razed large areas of Palestinian farming lands.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/14/content_2334637.htm


Documentary film review: "Israeli Wall in Palestinian Lands"
While one of the interviewees holds the extreme belief that the wall's purpose is to ultimately limit a Palestinian state to the Gaza Strip, most of them think that the long-term intention of the wall is to make the lives of Palestinians so miserable that they will leave voluntarily, allowing Israel to further colonize the West Bank.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article3430.shtml


Two Years in Jayyus
During the first stage of the construction of the Wall, 72% of Jayyus' lands, some 8,600 dunums, were confiscated and now fall behind Wall. The Wall now totally separates the people of the village from their livelihood (70% of the 3,000 inhabitants of Jayyus have been totally dependent on agriculture). Tens of thousands of trees have been uprooted, and valuable water resources, olive and citrus groves, and greenhouses are isolated behind the Wall.
http://stopthewall.org/photos/828.shtml


Sanctions against apartheid South Africa should inspire the Palestinian people
It took almost 20 years of lobbying before strong punitive measures against South Africa were taken. The developing countries played a crucial role, being the first to impose sanctions against South Africa in the 1960s. The United States and the United Kingdom continued their friendly relations with South Africa for a long time, but ultimately also decided to participate in boycott measures.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article3429.shtml


Witnesses: Palestinian killed by IDF troops in central Gaza
Another Palestinian man was seriously wounded in a second shooting incident at the same spot soon afterwards, witnesses said. The sister of Mustafa al-Sawarka said he was killed by IDF tank fire on the taxi in which he was traveling, Israel Radio reported.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/514884.html


Fatah commander killed by Israeli troops
The Israeli soldiers prohibited the medical staff from reaching the body and kept the journalists away from the scene, the witnesses added. They said the Israeli army unit had exploded a fake explosive device in order to attract the attention of Ghanam and shot him dead the moment he stepped out of his house.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/15/content_2334901.htm


Israeli Soldier Admits Killing British Peace Activist Tom Hurndall
Hurndall was killed by an Israeli sniper in Rafah City as he was trying to save some children who were under fire. After nine long months in what the doctors call a "vegetative state," his body breathing but his mind and brain destroyed, he died in mid-January 2004.
http://english.wafa.ps/body.asp?field=tech_news&id=1941


Hamas rejects claim that use of weapons 'has got to stop'
Khaled Mashal, head of the Hamas politburo based in Damascus, said Hamas is not yet ready to accept a cease-fire with Israel. Mashal did say that a pan-Palestinian agreement for a cease-fire remains an option.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/514306.html


Abbas denies seeking end to armed struggle
"I don't want my comment on the demilitarization of the uprising to be misunderstood ... All I meant is that we are in a phase that does not necessitate arms because we want to negotiate," Abbas said in Riyadh where he ended an official visit Wednesday.
http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20041215-083516-2665r.htm


Latest SIS Poll: Abu Mazen's Support Increasing Fast
Geographically speaking, 58.3 percent of those polled in West Bank provinces supported Abu Mazen, compared to 68.1 percent in Gaza provinces. As for Mustafa Barghouti, he received the support of 17 percent in the West Bank and 11.2 in Gaza Strip. With margin of error of ±4 percent, the SIS poll showed that 80.1 percent of the polled will actually vote...
http://www.ipc.gov.ps/ipc_new/english/details.asp?name=1510


Labor's Itzik cancels meeting with Likud representative
Labor MK Dalia Itzik called off a meeting with attorney Yoram Raved, who heads the Likud team in coalition talks, saying that the ruling party's offers were not enough to end a crisis in the negotiations, Israel Radio said early Wednesday.
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/513889.html


Israeli PM offers Labor interior, communication portfolios
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has offered the opposition Labor Party both the interior and communication portfolios after the breakdown of coalition talks between both sides, Israel Radio reported Wednesday.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/15/content_2339104.htm


Italy's FM to visit Israel, Palestinian territories next week
Later Tuesday, Fini will go to Ramallah for meetings with Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath and Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia. He is scheduled to meet interim PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas and Parliament Speaker Rawhi Fattuh on Wednesday.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=515015&contrassID=1&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Israel forging closer ties with EU but membership not on horizon
The European Union's Middle East peace envoy Marc Otte said the onus was also on European countries to improve their relations with the Jewish state. "I think it is the duty of Europe to get Israel out of its isolation from international institutions and to make Israel a true and full partner in the world," he told the conference.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=4&u=/afp/20041215/wl_mideast_afp/israeleu_041215183339


Egypt sees angry U.S. angering Middle East
Egypt sees an angry United States provoking more anger -- and adding to instability -- in the Middle East, and thinks its own role is to try to calm everyone down, Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said on Wednesday. The United States could solve half its problems with "terrorism" if it brought about a just settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict...
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L1587404.htm


Egypt, U.S. disagree on Mideast peace process
Egypt, he said, is a regional power that can influence world events. Egypt's status as the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel, in 1979, and its close ties with the United States make it a key mediator between other Arabs and Israel.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/515024.html


Report: Qureia to replace Arafat associates in new cabinet
The current foreign minister, Nabil Sha'ath, will be replaced by the present Palestine Liberation Organization envoy to the United Nations and Arafat's nephew, Nasser al-Kidwa... The report also names the secretary-general of the Fatah Central Committee, Tayeb Abdel Rahim, as a possible deputy to Qureia and former security chief Mohammed Dahlan as national security adviser.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/514898.html


White House welcomes Abbas appeal
"We remain focused on working toward a strategy that will put in place the institutions necessary for a viable state to emerge, but fighting terrorism and putting in a unified security force are key to those efforts," he said.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20041214/pl_afp/mideastuswhouse_041214202847


Russian Monitors to Control Elections in Palestine
A Russian MID envoy will go to the Middle East on December 16 in order to make contacts with regional heads and international mediators and negotiate the preparation for the election in Palestine.
http://www.kommersant.com/page.asp?id=-3728


Leading Hamas preacher warns of clash with Islamic Jihad
For years they worked side by side, more or less in harmony. During the intifada they even began cooperating militarily and claimed joint responsibility for many attacks in Gaza. But Hamad is now hinting that Islamic Jihad wants to take Hamas' place, and is citing Iraq as an example.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=514836&contrassID=1&subContrassID=5&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Israeli tanks shell southern Gaza
The sources said Israeli tanks stationed around the settlement of Neveh Dekalim in the west of the neighborhood fired several tank shells at some residential houses, causing severe damage. Meanwhile, sources reported that Israeli troops asked for army reinforcement...
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/15/content_2338531.htm


MK Lapid warns of potential riots in Israeli Arab sector
Barakeh said the subcommittee will not protest the budget in the near future, but will rather focus on the return of balancing grants to the poorer Arab municipalities. Earlier Tuesday, heads of Arab municipalities demonstrated outside the Finance Ministry in Jerusalem to protests cuts to balancing grants.
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/514420.html


Take Syrian Gestures Seriously--Israel's Shalom
Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said on Wednesday peace signals from Syria should be taken seriously, not ignored, but reiterated a precondition that Damascus stop harboring Palestinian militants first.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20041215/wl_nm/israel_syria_dc_1


Hariri: Oslo has led to a dead end
"It's wrong to look at the creation of a Palestinian state as a consolation prize if they behave themselves," he added. "A Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital is the Palestinian people's right." Hariri said that Palestinians were "ready for a comprehensive peace, based on international resolutions."
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=11019


French foreign minister praises decision to ban Al-Manar TV
The committee endorsed a decision by the government to "re-assess the facilities given to French audio-visual stations broadcasting to Lebanon." A meeting of Lebanese and Arab satellite-broadcasting media, attended by Information Minister Elie Ferzli, urged Lebanon to retaliate in kind to the French ban by banning French broadcasts to Lebanon.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=11020


Lawsuit Against Rumsfeld Threatens US-German Relations
The Pentagon expressed concern Monday over a criminal complaint filed in Germany against US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and other officials over the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, warning that "frivolous lawsuits" could affect the broader US-German relationship.
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1427743,00.html


Three Polish soldiers dead, four injured in Iraq helicopter accident
The incident brings to 20 the number of Poles killed in Iraq since the country deployed troops in the war-torn country in August 2003. Of the casualties, 16 were soldiers and four were civilians. Polish Defense Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski announced Tuesday that his country planned to cut the size of its force in the US-led coalition in Iraq from 2,400 troops to 1,700 in mid-February.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=14&u=/afp/20041215/wl_mideast_afp/iraquspolandtoll_041215125929


Saddam loyalists more of a threat than Zarqawi: Myers
"The predominant threat are the former Baathists, the Iraqi intelligence service, former Republican Guards and leaders in the former regime of Saddam Hussein," Myers told reporters during a visit to Bahrain. "Zarqawi is the leader of mostly foreign fighters and some Iraqis, he is also very ruthless," added Myers, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=5&u=/afp/20041215/wl_mideast_afp/iraqusmyersbahrain_041215191742

December 14, 2004

Four injured, seven arrested in protest against W. Bank "fence"
Four Palestinians were injured Tuesday in clashes with the IDF while protesting against the West Bank separation "fence" near the village Bil'in, east of Modi'in. Seven protestors, five of them Israeli, were also arrested.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/514028.html


Israeli army razes W. Bank village in preparation for barrier construction
The Israeli army on Tuesday razed the village of Bal'ein in the West Bank in preparation for the resumption of the separation wall construction in the area. Palestinian residents said Israeli bulldozers, guarded by jeeps and armored vehicles, razed large areas of Palestinian farming lands.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/14/content_2334637.htm


Israelis hasten land grab in shadow of wall
Sharif Omar has been waiting two years for the bulldozers, ever since Israel's steel and barbed wire "security fence" carved its way between his village and its land. Last week the excavators and diggers finally arrived on the outskirts of Jayyous to lay the foundations for an expansion of the nearby Jewish settlement of Zufim, fulfilling the fears and warnings of its Palestinian neighbours.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1372963,00.html


In Bid to Include All Settlements, Sharon Delays Wall Approval in Hebron Area
Sharon wants the new plan to include all the settlements in the area west of the separation wall; a move that would fully encircle and isolate many Palestinian villages. The original route of the wall in Gush Etzion, approved by the cabinet in October 2003, enclaves four Palestinian villages with a total of 17,000 residents.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week2/121404/bid-settlements.htm


Knesset Committee Approves NIS 2m for Tourism Projects in Settlements
The Knesset's Finance Committee approved Tuesday the transfer of NIS 2 million to various tourism projects in the Palestinian territories, including at Gaza settlements scheduled to be evacuated under the disengagement plan.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week2/121404/money%20to%20settlements.htm


Palestinians warn of plan to demolish Islamic landmark
Al Aqsa Institute Renovating the Islamic Sites warned on Tuesday of Israeli intentions to remove or demolish the wall leads to al Magharba gate next to the western wall of the Aqsa Mosque. Ali Abu Shikkha expressed to reporters his complete rejection to the Israeli plans aiming at destroying the Islamic landmarks.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/14/content_2333765.htm


A one-time Hanukkah miracle
According to Sholev, somebody mentioned the halakhic (Jewish law) ruling by a number of West Bank and Gaza rabbis that settlers may harvest the Palestinian olives. According to those rabbis, the land of Israel belongs only to Israel, and therefore so does its fruit. Most of the members, however, supported the kibbutz rabbi, Eitan Tzuker, who ruled that the act constituted theft and it was prohibited to enjoy its fruit.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/512422.html


Palestinian policeman killed
Samir Khafaja, 29, a member of the national security forces, was killed in the shooting near Gaza airport, which has been closed for several years. His two colleagues were in a critical condition.
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,11696828%255E1702,00.html


Abbas: Palestinians should stop violence
Abbas, near certain to win a 9 January election to succeed Arafat, made the comments in an interview published on Tuesday, two days after resistance fighters showed their muscle with the deadliest attack on Israeli troops since May.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/BB3ECC6F-30DB-48AC-A13C-00CD6AB1B312.htm


Israeli army destroys Palestinian homes in Gaza incursion
The Israeli army destroyed ten Palestinian houses during a dawn incursion into the refugee camp at Khan Yunes, in southern Gaza Strip, a source at the UN agency aiding Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) said.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1514&ncid=1312&e=7&u=/afp/20041214/wl_mideast_afp/mideastunrestgaza2ndlead_041214071508


Thai worker killed in mortar strike on Gaza settlement
A foreign worker from Thailand was killed Tuesday when a pair of mortar shells struck the hothouse of a settlement of the Gush Katif bloc in the Gaza Strip where she was working.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/514263.html


ISM activist asks court to order police probe of his shooting
Brian Avery's petition claims that "operational investigations by the IDF are not reliable and cannot replace police criminal investigations." The petition quotes eyewitnesses to allege that he was wounded by IDF gunfire, while an army probe says there was no evidence that it was soldiers who fired the bullets that struck Avery.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=514287&contrassID=1&subContrassID=5&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


ISM Election Campaign Call to Action! and Reports
We need to inform you of events and we need you to distribute the documented reports and mobilize people to put pressure on the Israeli government, the press and your political representatives to ensure Palestinian right to campaign and vote in the upcoming elections.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/palsolidarity/message/1100


Mayor of Bethlehem criticizes the "silence" of the Christian world
“For more than four years, army continuously invaded the city, destroyed confiscated lands, while the Christian world stood helpless in spite that Bethlehem has a unique importance for the Christians, and non Christians, all over the world”.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week2/121404/silence.htm


Abbas election campaign to focus on ending occupation
Issues like refugees' right to return, release of Palestinian prisoners and an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders would also be addressed, the official said. He added that granting Palestinian women their due rights and reforming the Palestinian society would also be touched on.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/14/content_2334511.htm


Erekat rejects Israeli conditions to facilitate Palestinian elections
Erekat demanded that Israel must ensure the freedom of movement for the Palestinians to conduct voter registration, campaigning and voting. The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) urged the Israeli government to stop obstructing the elections by erecting checkpoints and arresting people, he said.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/14/content_2333936.htm


Israel to allow voting in Jerusalem
A Palestinian official said the sides agreed to have polling stations in post offices in East Jerusalem, as they did in a 1996 vote. The official added that Palestinians would have at least five polling stations in East Jerusalem, which they want as capital of a future state, and that ballots would be tallied outside the municipal borders.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/84E50CA7-E622-496A-99A4-D1723FE21153.htm


Egypt and Israel seal trade deal
The protocol, signed in Cairo, will establish what are called "qualified industrial zones" in Egypt. Products from these zones will enjoy duty free access to the US, provided that 35% of their components are the product of Israeli-Egyptian cooperation.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4095011.stm


Egyptian Police stops Palestine Solidarity
The Palestine Solidarity Committee in Egypt is a diverse group including leftists, globalization critics and islamists, which formed in 2000 after the outbreak of the intifada. One of its practices is to collect food and money from ordinary people to distibute it to people in Palestine.
http://www.infoshop.org/inews/stories.php?story=04/12/13/0862607


Labor may join coalition solely for disengagement period
Labor MK Ophir Pines-Paz said Tuesday that the Labor party is weighing the option of entering the government for a limited period of time, and without receiving cabinet portfolios, for the sole purpose of implementing the disengagement plan.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/513889.html


France to push implementing Mideast Roadmap Plan
Barnier said that, beyond the disengagement of Gaza, France suggests speeding up the agenda scheduled by the roadmap, by immediately starting discussions on final status and limiting the transition periods.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/14/content_2331826.htm


French Jews' immigration at highest level in 30 years
The Jewish Agency, a quasi-governmental organization, said 2,236 French Jews immigrated between January and the end of October 2004, up from 1,860 during the same period in 2003 and higher than the full-year figure for any year since 1972 when 2,356 French immigrants arrived.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/514388.html


U.S. Jewish Immigration to Israel on Rise
After years of stagnation, American Jewish immigration to Israel is on the rise again, with the number of people arriving this year expected to approach a 20-year-high, immigration officials said Tuesday.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=540&e=1&u=/ap/20041214/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_immigration


Hezbollah TV goes off air in France following ban
Hezbollah said earlier Tuesday that France's decision to ban the channel on grounds of anti-Semitism was politically motivated and promised to pursue its case to get back on air. Al-Manar said the decision was made under pressure from Israel and Jewish lobbies.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=514302&contrassID=1&subContrassID=9&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Lebanese PM threatens retaliation over French Al-Manar ban
"If the (French) decision is enforced, we will apply the principle of reciprocity," toward French media which are beamed to Lebanon, he told a news conference in Doha. "Certain French officials have admitted Israeli pressure was exerted on them ... Al-Manar did not make a mistake," he added.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=18&u=/afp/20041214/wl_mideast_afp/lebanonfrancehezbollah_041214171955


UN sponsors health magazine as peace bridge between Israelis and Palestinians
The magazine covers public health topics of importance to both populations, seeks to analyze the impact of the conflict on the health and well being of both societies, and provides a forum where locally significant research, programmes, activities and cooperative ventures can be published and made available.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=12798&Cr=Palestin&Cr1=


Abbas: Armed intifada was a mistake, 'has got to stop'
Abbas said that Palestinians should resist the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza without resorting to violence. It is important to "keep the uprising away from arms because the uprising is a legitimate right of the people to express their rejection of the occupation by popular and social means," Abbas said.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/514306.html


More corpses surface in Mosul
More bodies, mainly of the Iraqi national guards, have surfaced in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. Twenty guardsmen were found lying dead on Tuesday in an area northwest of the Iraqi city of Mosul, Aljazeera has learned. A Reuters correspondent in Iraq's third largest city on Tuesday said he saw the bodies of six young men, all shot in the head as if executed.
http://uruknet.info/?s1=2&p=8120&s2=14


Assailants Set Fire to Iraq Oil Pipeline
He said the fire, in an area about 43 miles southwest of Kirkuk, could cause nearby pipelines to explode. They include the line leading from the northern oil fields to the Turkish port of Ceyhan, a principal export route. Kirkuk is about 180 miles north of Baghdad.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=540&e=3&u=/ap/20041214/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_oil


Saddam being held in Camp Cropper: Iraqi minister
"Yes it is Camp Cropper," Amin told reporters, referring to the heavily fortified compound that forms part of a vast US army complex called Camp Victory, about 16 kilometres (10 miles) from the centre of the Iraqi capital. Speaking the day after the first anniversary of Saddam's capture, Amin said the former dictator was eating well and had gained weight.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=17&u=/afp/20041214/wl_mideast_afp/usiraqsaddam_041214153813

December 13, 2004

PCBS Survey: 87.8% of Health Care Centers Suffer Decrease of Water Consumed due to Israeli Destruction of Palestinian Infrastructure
Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) said Monday that Health care centers have been facing many problems due to the Israeli destruction of Palestinian infrastructure during the Al– Aqsa Intifada.
http://english.wafa.ps/body.asp?field=tech_news&id=1934


Israel to Renovate Crumbling Entrance to Disputed Holy Site in Jerusalem's Old City
The work will repair a stone ramp leading to a mosque compound. The ramp enables tourists and Jewish worshippers to enter the compound, which is known as Haram a Sharif to Muslims and the Temple Mount to Jews.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=540&e=9&u=/ap/20041213/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_holy_site


Divest from distruction
One of the major companies the church is targeting, one central to many other divestment campaigns, is Caterpillar Inc. It makes the bulldozers that the Israel Defense Forces have used to demolish thousands of Palestinian homes since the country's purchase of them. It is also a recipient of worldwide criticism for its complacency and negligent sales of these machines to the state of Israel.
http://www.dailycollegian.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/12/13/41bce49e50c3e


IOF Extra-Judicially Slaughters Citizen in Nablus
According to witnesses, Israeli soldiers arrested Shawahneh, of Qalqilyia, after storming al-Jabal al-Shamali area, led him to a nearby location and then shot him with several bullets in the head from a close range, leaving him lifeless.
http://english.wafa.ps/body.asp?field=tech_news&id=1935


Yaron accuses top reporter of fixing 'confirmed-kill' tape
Spokesman Brigadier General Ruth Yaron on Monday accused the host of Channel 2's "Fact" program, of "cooking" a tape aired by the channel containing an IDF communication recorded during the alleged "confirmed killing" of a 13-year-old Gaza girl by an IDF officer.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/513846.html


IAF gunships strike Gaza after 5 troops die in tunnel blast
In the pre-dawn hours, loud explosions from IAF missiles woke residents from their sleep. Gaza City was plunged into darkness when one of the missiles hit a generator, cutting off electricity. Progress in peace efforts, Sharon said, "depends on the Palestinians, if they will act against terror."
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/513460.html


Tunnels latest weapon in Palestinian arsenal
For four months, Palestinian militants dug around the clock to get beneath an Israeli army post on the border between Gaza and Egypt. Then they loaded in more than a tonne of explosives and blew it up.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L13627102.htm


Israeli army cuts Gaza into 3 isolated areas
The Israeli army divided the Gaza Strip into three isolated areas on Monday, one day after a tunnel bombing attack on the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt which killed six Israeli soldiers.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/13/content_2329233.htm


Barghouti withdraws from the race to succeed Arafat
Mr Barghouti's Fatah colleague, Ahmed Ghanem, who read out the letter, said Mr Barghouti had wanted to draw the international community's attention to the "fact" that "the election is conducted under occupation and not under normal conditions". Mr Ghanem added: "He wants to expose the falseness of the idea that this election is conducted in a sovereign state."
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=592536


Israel to Leave Palestinian Cities During Election
It was the first promise of specific Israeli help to ensure that the election goes smoothly. "We will do our best not to interfere with orderly procedure of the election," he said in the town of Herzliya. He added that troops would stay out of cities in the Palestinian territories for 72 hours.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=574&ncid=1312&e=7&u=/nm/20041213/wl_nm/mideast_troops_dc_2


Israel army to withdraw for polls
Palestinian leaders, however, want Israel to remove its army immediately to allow candidates to campaign freely. Top Palestinian official Saeb Erekat said the Israeli government must "take the high ground" "and "open the cities and towns from today".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4092447.stm


Israel, PA teams will monitor preparations for elections
Both sides agreed to appoint committees. The Israeli committee will be headed by Dov Weisglass, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's senior advisor, while the Palestinians team will be headed by current PA Finance Minister Salem Fayed.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/513876.html


Palestinian leader visits Saudi Arabia, Saudi official pessimistic about prospects for peace
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas visited Saudi Arabia on Monday at time when many in the region are hopeful that Israelis and Arabs can make a new start on peace in the wake of Yasser Arafat's death.
http://cbsnewyork.com/international/Saudi-Palestinians-ai/resources_news_html


Mofaz: PA may receive security responsibility before pullout
"We will leave the Palestinian cities for a period of about 72 hours, that is the day before, the day of and the day after the election," Mofaz said. "We will do our best not to interfere with orderly procedure of the election," he added.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/513837.html


EU signs new neighborhood treaty with Israel
The EU has signed a new agreement with Israel, enhancing and upgrading its relations with Israel in a wide sphere of matters. It provides for increased political, economic, legal, infrastructure and environmental cooperation between Jerusalem and Brussels.
http://www.maarivintl.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&articleID=11991


Third candidate quits Palestinian presidential election race
Abdel Sattar Qassem, a Palestinian professor and independent candidate from the West Bank city of Nablus announced on Monday that he has decided to quit the presidential election due on Jan. 9, 2005.
http://news3.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/13/content_2330008.htm


Syria accuses Israel of attempted assassination of Hamas man
Syria on Monday accused Israel of being behind a car bomb that targeted a Palestinian member of Hamas in the Mazzah neighborhood of the Syrian capital. A passer-by was wounded in the explosion, but the Hamas member and his wife, who left the car minutes before the blast, were unhurt.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/513856.html


Kuwaiti parliament speaker welcomes Abbas' apology
The Kuwaiti people appreciate the apology of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) chief Mahmoud Abbas regarding the PLO's stance over the 1990 Iraqi invasion, Kuwaiti Parliament Speaker Jasem al-Kharafi said Monday."
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/13/content_2330361.htm


Bush has 50-50 chance of pulling off Mideast peace: Clinton
US president Bill Clinton said he believed his successor George W. Bush would work more actively to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and gave him a "50-50" chance of success.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1521&ncid=1312&e=1&u=/afp/20041213/pl_afp/uaearabforummideast_041213152903


British, Egyptian security experts in Gaza: sources
According to the sources, there are 70 Egyptian and British security experts who arrived several days ago, and a place for them has been set up on the beach of Gaza city amid heavy and secret security protection.
http://news3.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/14/content_2330559.htm


Shas Might Join Gov't Despite Opposition to Disengagement
Yishai said he was prepared to enter the government without cabinet portfolios, providing that the coalition changed its economic policies. Yishai spoke as negotiating teams from Shas and the Likud prepared for a second day of unity government talks on Monday.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week2/121304/shas.htm


Barghuti backs down after heavy pressure, judgement called into question
Abedlrahman Shomali, a member of the Fatah higher committee which is led by Barghuti, said the pressure tactics had left a nasty taste in the mouth. "Marwan's withdrawal was the result of intellectual terrorism from the Fatah leadership," he told AFP.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1514&ncid=1312&e=4&u=/afp/20041213/wl_mideast_afp/mideastpalestinianvote_041213144044


Analysis / Abbas could not denounce the attack
Such attacks are considered legitimate by all Palestinian factions, even though the cease-fire (hudna) talks Abbas held recently with representatives of Hamas discuss the suspension of all military actions until the January 9 PA elections.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/513430.html


Israel Can't Detect Palestinian Tunnels
Israel's mighty military acknowledged Monday that it has no high-tech answers to the latest crude method of warfare used by Palestinian militants _ explosives-packed tunnels dug under heavily fortified army outposts.
http://www.620ktar.com/?nid=46&sid=10786


Analysis: Rafah attack exceeds Hamas' wildest expectations
While Egypt is trying to arrange a cease-fire that will impose restrictions on the actions of all Palestinian factions, and Israel is preparing to disengage from Gaza in coordination with the Palestinian Authority, Hamas signaled that as far as it is concerned, the struggle continues. As long as a truce has not actually been declared, it is important for Hamas to demonstrate who is really evicting Israel from Gaza.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=513461&contrassID=1&subContrassID=5&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Hamas Considers Joining PLO
“We will first hold bilateral talks about the presented paper. If we agree on that charter, we will move to the comprehensive reference gathering all Palestinians, inside and outside (Palestine),” Al-Zahhar said.
http://www.palestinechronicle.com/story.php?sid=20041208040036543


Abbas set for victory in Palestinian vote but violence bodes ill
Jailed intifada leader Marwan Barghuti's decision late Sunday to drop out of the contest cleared the path for Abbas who should now romp home in the January 9 contest to succeed Yasser Arafat as head of the Palestinian Authority.
http://www.turkishpress.com/world/news.asp?id=041213164358.3wj7e5jh.xml


France's highest civil court orders end to Hezbollah TV broadcasts
The bans on the broadcasts within the European Union (news - web sites) had to be implemented with 48 hours, the court said after ruling that the channel had violated laws against inciting racial hatred. Al-Manar is broadcast in Europe via Paris-based Eutelsat as part of a package of nine channels put out by Saudi-based Arabsat.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=12&u=/afp/20041213/wl_mideast_afp/francelebanonmedia_041213184539


Seven U.S. Marines Killed in W. Iraq -Military
It said they were killed in Anbar province, a region which includes the violent towns of Falluja and Ramadi, but it gave no further details of the heaviest daily death toll for U.S. troops since their all-out offensive on Falluja a month ago.
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7068481


US warplanes strike Fallujah after eight US marines killed
US forces launched air strikes on Fallujah after eight US marines were killed in weekend clashes with Iraqi rebels in Al-Anbar province despite claims that the insurgency was being defeated.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=3&u=/afp/20041213/wl_mideast_afp/iraqunrestusfallujah_041213165245


8 Hussein Henchmen Refuse Meals in Jail
Eight of Saddam Hussein's 11 top lieutenants went on hunger strikes over the weekend to demand visits in jail from the International Committee of the Red Cross, but they were eating again by Monday, a U.S. military spokesman said.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=540&e=8&u=/ap/20041213/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_detainees

December 12, 2004

US citizen shot by Israeli forces petitions Supreme
On 5th April 2003 Brian, along with another ISM activist, was standing under a street lamp on a quiet empty street wearing a high visibility medic vest with his hands in the air, clearly indicating he was an unarmed international when an APC approached at under 30kmph and without warning open heavy fire from a range of just tens of meters. After shooting Brian the perpetrators carried on driving. This was witnessed by four other activists from Sweden and Denmark who were in the vicinity.
http://www.palsolidarity.org/DesktopModules/Articles/ArticlesView.aspx?tabID=0&alias=Rainbow&lang=en-US&ItemID=679&mid=10400


Uprooting of olive trees near Jayyous on Thursday, 9th December 2004
EA Gocke stays there alone among two armed settlers, who pretend to be from the Jordan Valley, while the hydraulic excavator CAT 330B uproots one olive tree after the other. A guard from the quarry company tells the EA that they will build on the whole site a new settlement of “700 units” within four years. The driver tells the EA that he will bring the trees to the Tel Aviv area, to be sold there.
http://www.chris-on-the-bike.de/eappi_uprooting01.htm


Israeli tank injures Palestinian children
The Israeli army has fired tank shells into the Khan Yunus refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip wounding up to eight Palestinian schoolchildren. The children, all under the age of seven, suffered shrapnel wounds when one of the shells exploded in the yard behind their school in the al-Namsawi neighborhood
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/179F83B4-C93F-4473-85FE-4EF0E04829B7.htm


Israeli soldiers "killed in Gaza blast"
After setting off a 1,500 kg bomb, militants lobbed mortar bombs and opened fire at Israeli troops evacuating the wounded, sparking a fierce gun battle that lasted for over an hour. A spokesman for the Fatah Hawks said the attack was in revenge for the "assassination" of Arafat, who died on November 11 of an undisclosed illness at a French hospital.
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=637306


Man dies in crossfire in own home
Sabeer Shaloof, aged 36, was shot in the neck while in his home in the town of Rafah, near the Gaza border with Egypt, the sources said. Fierce fighting broke out between Israeli troops and Palestinian militants after at least four Israelis were killed in an explosion inside a tunnel close to the Israeli checkpoint on the volatile border.
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,11673523%255E1702,00.html


Israel closes Rafah terminal on borderline with Egypt
Israeli Army Radio reported that the army decided to close down the crossing, the only exit for Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to the world, until a further notice. One Palestinian militant was killed and other managed to run away from the area after he had stolen a heavy Israeli army machinegun
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/13/content_2326228.htm


Badly Beaten Settler Found Near Nablus
Earlier on Saturday, Palestinians had alerted Israeli police to a settler who attempted to steal sheep owned by a local herder and attacked him in the process. The injured settler later told police that the Palestinians had beaten him and stolen his weapon. Israeli Security forces have detained a number of Palestinians for questioning. (Armed near Nablus, for peace?)
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week2/121204/badly%20beaten%20settler.htm


Add your signature to the open letter
Britain and France have been involved with this part of the world since the end of the 19th century. Since 1945 you have supported the forces of peace and cooperation in Europe and all over the world. We ask you to use your influence and do the same in the Middle East!
http://www.petitions.medicks.net/


Cabinet Approves Release of Some Palestinian Prisoner
While Israeli media reports mentioned the names of few jailed Palestinian leaders, including Husam Khader (Fatah) and Abdul-Rahim Malouh (PFLP) as likely to be released, Palestinian official sources described the expected release as "only symbolic", adding that it would only include prisoners who will end their imprisonment terms in a short period of time.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week2/121204/israel%20to%20release.htm


Palestinian official calls for unconditioned release of prisoners
Israel announced earlier that it will begin the process of releasing 100 to 200 Palestinian prisoners on Sunday as part of a prisoner swap, during which a convicted Israeli spy was released from an Egyptian prison last week.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/12/content_2326165.htm


Jailed Fatah leader Barghouti ends run for PA chairman
His wife, Fadwa, and his associates, Ahmed Ranem and Ziad Abu Ein, called a news conference in Ramallah on Sunday to read a letter from Barghouti, which was harshly critical of the Fatah leadership, but implied that he would pull out of the race.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/513386.html


PA to get $600m. of Arafat's funds
Farouk Kaddoumi, told members of the Palestine National Council during a meeting in Jordan last week that the money had already been delivered to PA Finance Minister Salaam Fayad. But Fayad, who is visiting Morocco, denied in an interview with the Jerusalem-based Al-Quds newspaper that he had received any money
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1102752565664


PLO chairman apologizes to Kuwait over stand on Iraq invasion
"We apologize to Kuwait and the Kuwaiti people for what we did," Abbas told reporters... Abbas spoke at Kuwait airport shortly after landing at the head of a large delegation on the first visit by a Palestinian leader since ties were frozen 14 years ago over the late Yasser Arafat's backing of the invasion by Saddam Hussein's troops.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1512&e=7&u=/afp/20041212/wl_afp/kuwaitpalestinian_041212141503


Kuwaiti PM vows to continue support for Palestinian cause
The Palestinian delegation has visited Jordan, the first leg of a its Arab-Gulf tour aiming at restoring and boosting Palestinian relations with the Arab states. The delegation will head to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman after visiting Kuwait.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/12/content_2326175.htm


Likud, Shas hold first coalition contacts, more talks planned
It is widely believed that Sharon is not interested in Shas' joining the coalition, but was merely fulfilling his promise to negotiate with the party in order to ensure the Likud Central Committee's approval of negotiations with Labor.
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/513359.html


Israel's Labour opens way for alliance
Israel's opposition Labour party says it has no preconditions for joining with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, paving the way for a broad new government to push through his Gaza withdrawal plan.
http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=5399233


Sharon accuses media of 'sick passion' for critiquing IDF
Sharon said the media has a "sick passion" for publishing reports that are liable to be proven incorrect eventually and warned that such actions could damage Israel's image in the eyes of the world. Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said such attacks coming from the Israeli media are erroneous, damaging and weaken Israel's international standing.
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/513336.html


Fatah rejects Hamas call for unified leadership
"Forming a unified leadership means canceling Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people," said Ifranji, who is also the Palestinian Ambassador to Germany.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/12/content_2324449.htm


Labor Central Committee approves primaries compromise
The compromise was reached last week between party chairman Shimon Peres and former prime minister Ehud Barak. Labor faction whip MK Dalia Itzik played a key role in bridging the gap between the two sides.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/513378.html


Presbyterians urge reversal of decision to divest from Israel
The group, Presbyterians Concerned for Jewish & Christian Relations (PCJCR), issued a statement in reaction to a July resolution issued by PCUSA's governing body, the General Assembly Council, to "initiate a process of phased selective divestment in multinational corporations doing business in Israel."
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=513001&contrassID=1&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Palestinian director shows co-Israeli produced film in Gulf emirate
The 47-year-old film-maker said he was not invited to film festivals in Tunisia and Spain since making "The Olive Harvest" last year, when it won two awards in Cairo. "Organisers don't know what to do with me, they think it's a risk (inviting me). But I would love to take that risk. I want to teach them democracy," Elias said.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=12&u=/afp/20041212/wl_mideast_afp/afplifestyleuaedubaifilmfestivalmideast_041212182507


Israeli Democracy
By assassinating Rabin the Israeli right not only seized political power —including inside the Labor Party—but also drove the last nail in the coffin of a certain kind of Israel. That Israel gave way to a new kind of country, with its own particular values and, in the end, a new constitutional framework and set of institutions. How was the transformation to this new Israel accomplished?
http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=22&ItemID=6851


Analysis / Never-ending rocket attacks are taking a toll on two fronts
Some 100 houses have been hit directly; about 300 indirectly. Dozens have been wounded. Two people have been killed. A lot of property has been damaged - hothouses, roads, sidewalks, trees, electricity poles and lampposts, public structures and private homes.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/513048.html


No one changed the rules
The message has always been unequivocal: liquidate. The person who issued the first liquidation order, in Bethlehem, is responsible as well for the "confirmation of killing" in the village of Raba'a, near Jenin; the person who set up a checkpoint between Beit Iba and Nablus is responsible for all the acts of abuse against the residents who get stuck there - with or without a violin.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/513059.html


The Arabs are coming! The Arabs are coming!
Egypt, for example, plans to send back its ambassador to Israel after the Palestinian Authority elections because it wants to post representatives at some level in the PA as well. Jordan is waiting for the conclusion of the discussions on the release of the four Jordanian security prisoners whom Israel is holding in order to return its ambassador, too.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/513058.html


U.S. Soldier Jailed for Murdering Iraqi
A U.S. soldier was sentenced to three years in jail for the murder of a wounded Iraqi teenager... During the proceedings his action was described as a "mercy killing." He shot a youth who had survived an attack by U.S. troops on a garbage truck which they suspected of being used by guerrillas during a Shi'ite uprising in Baghdad in August.
http://english.daralhayat.com/arab_news/12-2004/20041212-Reu_MDF03738.TXT/story.html


Sadr attacks parliamentary politics
"The elections aim to separate the Iraqi from his religion. When people vote for politicians, secularists, those who co-operate with the occupation - they will not think of God," said Mr Sadr in a letter read out by one of his deputies in north Baghdad's al-Muhsin mosque.
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/5db7acf6-4adb-11d9-a0ca-00000e2511c8.html


U.S. Soldiers Detain More Than 50 Iraqis
Two raids were conducted on Saturday in Hib Hib, a town about 40 miles northeast of Baghdad, in a "search for known insurgents," according to a statement released by the 1st Infantry Division. Soldiers also seized a range of firearms and other weapons in the raids, the military said.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=540&e=13&u=/ap/20041212/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_arrests


Some Detainees in Iraq Refusing Meals
Badee Izzat Aref, an Iraqi lawyer appointed by the family of former Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz, said another lawyer told him that some detainees once on the U.S. list of Iraq's 55 most wanted had refused meals since Friday. "They don't acknowledge the legality of their trials or their detention," Aref said.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=540&e=7&u=/ap/20041212/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_detainees


US spying on head of UN atom agency, seeking to oust him: report
"The intercepted calls have not produced any evidence of nefarious conduct by ElBaradei," the Post said, quoting three unnamed US officials who had read the transcripts. "Some people think he sounds way too soft on the Iranians, but that's about it," one official was quoted as saying.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=6&u=/afp/20041212/wl_mideast_afp/usirannucleariaea_041212191402

December 11, 2004

Israeli troops reoccupy Gaza camp
Another report quoted the girl's father, Umar Siam, 50, as saying: "We were having lunch when suddenly there were some explosions and automatic gunfire." "I felt a pain in my leg, but I was only lightly injured, thank God. Our meal was splashed in blood. We then realised that Rania had been killed by a bullet to the head," he added.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/8E7F48A8-2EEC-47FC-B44C-4DAED8EE9114.htm


Probe: No ethical flaw in commando killing of militant
An IDF investigation into an incident involving the commandos has concluded that its actions suffered from operational, not moral, flaws. The suspension of operations by the Shayetet 13, as the unit is know in Hebrew, followed the fatal shooting of Mohammed Kamil, a member of Islamic Jihad, when he was unarmed and injured.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=512567&contrassID=1&subContrassID=5&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


?Young Palestinian dies in Khan Younis
A young Palestinian died Saturday in Khan Younis of serious wounds he has suffered from since a month ago during an Israeli incursion into the town of Khan Younis, Palestinian medical sources reported.
http://www.kuna.net.kw/English/Story.asp?DSNO=687438


Army to conduct a wide scale operation in Khan Younis
According to Haaretz, Golani 51 infantry division will launch the raid under commandment of Yaneef Ashour. “This is a signal to the Palestinians that we cannot tolerate the shelling of Qassams, this is only the beginning of the operation”, a military source said.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week2/121104/wide%20scaled.htm


IOF Wound Child, Arrest Another in WB and GS
A child was wounded Saturday by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) in the refugee camp of al-Far'a in the West Bank (WB), Palestinian security sources said. Meanwhile, IOF imposed a tight curfew on the city villages of Tallooza, al-Bathan, al-Far'a and Tamoun, installing a number of military checkpoints.
http://english.wafa.ps/body.asp?field=tech_news&id=1930


Jailed Barghouti to Rescind Candidacy
Jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti is expected to officially announce rescinding candidacy for PA chairmen on Saturday, Palestinian source. The same source said that Barghouti's wife, Fadwa, would speak on his behalf.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week2/121104/barghouthi%20to%20rescind.htm


150 Prisoners Extra-judicially Executed by IOF
The PPS statement said that the Israeli soldiers, specially the Units of Killing in the IOF, carried out the execution of the prisoners through several methods, gunshot after arrest, torture till death, not accessing medical treatment for the wounded or shot the "wanted" while they can arrest him.
http://english.wafa.ps/body.asp?field=tech_news&id=1931


Two Qassams land in western Negev
Two Qassam rockets landed in the western Negev on Saturday morning, causing damage to a home. No injuries were reported. The rocket fire originated from the northern Gaza Strip.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/512988.html


Settlers uproot Palestinian olive grove
The villagers called on the security forces for help, but police and troops only arrived in the afternoon. The settlers had by then destroyed trees. Attacks on Palestinians by Israeli settlers in the West Bank have continued during the course of the olive harvest.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=512917&contrassID=1&subContrassID=5&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Israel hints at Palestinian control for Gaza
Three days after PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas said the Palestinian Authority "is not ready, security-wise, to take control of Gaza," Israeli security officials said Friday that Israel is prepared to turn over security in the northern Gaza Strip to Palestinians.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=10914


Palestinian elections committee accuses Israel of interference
Jamal al-Shoubaki, chief of the committee, told reporters "this is a clear breaking to what Israel promised the international society." The Israeli army arrested on Friday night Bassam al-Salhi, the candidate of the People's Party for the Jan. 9 election
http://news3.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/11/content_2322077.htm


PA welcomes Israeli coalition government
Chief negotiator Saeb Erekat expressed his hope Saturday that forming a government of coalition between the Labor party and the Likud, headed by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, will revive the peace process and lead to an end of the occupation.
http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20041211-104732-9130r.htm


US seeks UN session marking Auschwitz anniversary
An assembly session on the Holocaust would mark a change in focus for the assembly which typically meets several days a year to discuss and vote on issues relating to Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N10496016.htm


Powell: Road map must be carried out after Palestinian elections
But a senior Israeli official said Sharon would be willing to consider such a meeting if Israel and Washington's favored candidate, moderate former Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, won the Palestinian presidency, and other key conditions were met.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=512987&contrassID=1&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Kuwait welcomes key visit by PLO chief Abbas
Kuwait's prime minister said on Saturday he welcomed a visit by Palestine Liberation Organization chief Mahmoud Abbas, the first official trip by a top Palestinian official to the Gulf state since the 1990-91 Gulf War soured Kuwaiti-Palestinian ties.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/513017.html


EU says to send 2600 international observers for Palestinian elections
The EU envoy said that holding the Palestinian presidential elections "is part of a central and major process of political reforms." "It could create a new opportunity to reinforce progress of peace on the region," he stressed.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/11/content_2322913.htm


US-promoted Mideast reform talks open with call from Powell
"Countries with active political participation by all people tend to enjoy greater investment, economic growth and educational excellence," said Powell. "Now is not the time to argue about the pace of democratic reform or whether economic reform must precede political reform," he urged.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1503&ncid=1503&e=7&u=/afp/20041211/ts_afp/mideastusreformpowell_041211114048


Arabs rebuff US calls for speedy reforms
Speaker after speaker at the "Forum for the Future" conference here said progress would be difficult, if not impossible, without a resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict and lambasted the perceived US bias toward Israel.
http://www.turkishpress.com/world/news.asp?id=041211165238.l4vrb3qe.xml


PA officials receive Arafat's medical records from nephew
Yasser Arafat's nephew handed over the late- Palestinian leader's medical records Saturday to Palestinian Authority officials, but did not reveal any new information on what led to his demise.
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/512991.html


UN General Assembly Adopts 8 Resolutions on Palestine
Taking up draft resolutions on Israeli practices, the Assembly reaffirmed that settlements in occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan, were illegal and an obstacle to peace, economic and social development.
http://english.wafa.ps/body.asp?field=tech_news&id=1929


Labor Central Committee convening to okay coalition talks
The Labor Party Central Committee convened at 8 P.M. Saturday to authorize the party leadership to begin coalition talks on forming a unity coalition with the Likud. If the talks are okayed, Labor and Likud teams will meet on Saturday night.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/512992.html


Israel Attempts to Derail Mustafa Barghouthi's Candidacy for President of Palestine
The vision Dr. Barghouthi shared with Edward Said for a just peace was through the establishment of a democratic Palestinian state on all of the territories occupied by Israel in 1967, with Jerusalem as its capital. “It would also be the first Arab democracy in the Middle East,” Barghouthi said.
http://www.amin.org/eng/uncat/2004/dec/dec101.html


Is Dimona's reactor suffering from old age?
Our neighbors Egypt and Jordan have also voiced such contentions. Others argue that because Israel is not a signatory to the international Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), it cannot receive assistance from other countries in renovating the reactor in Dimona.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/512465.html


French envoy accuses Israelis of Francophobia
"Until 1967, the relationship was close and it was a love story," said Araud. "In 1967, Israel felt betrayed by the French embargo [on arms sales to Israel] and since that trauma, Israel has continued to build the case against France. It is possible to find new reasons for the hatred, but in essence we are talking about the same pathology."
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/512528.html


Bush Lets Sharon Run Loose - By Uri Avnery
In many places, Bush is seen as a crazy cowboy, the kind who rides into town shooting in all directions. He has attacked Afghanistan. He has attacked Iraq. His neo-con handlers want to attack Syria and Iran in the next phase. They want to establish subservient regimes everywhere ("promoting democracy in the Middle East"), station permanent American garrisons in the region and control the world's oil market, and - last but not least - help Ariel Sharon to fulfil his plans.
http://www.counterpunch.com/avnery12112004.html


Powell says too soon for Middle East final settlement talks
"We have had so many false starts with the peace process over the years that I think it's important for us to wait" until after the Palestinian elections and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's planned pullout from the Gaza Strip.
http://www.eubusiness.com/afp/041210185731.hljmnms9


What they said about
This was the "sweetest victory" for Mr Sharon, said Nadav Eyal in Maariv , because Likud had previously "dealt him a series of defeats - in the vote on a Palestinian state" and a "heavy blow when they rejected the [Gaza] disengagement plan". Now, though, Mr Sharon has won "the most important battle: the battle for the unity of government".
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/comment/0,10551,1371576,00.html


ICRC concerned about bodies, sewage in Falluja
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Friday expressed concern about civilians in Falluja, where sewage is flowing in the streets and hundreds of bodies apparently lie in a warehouse since a U.S. assault.
http://www.uruknet.info/?s1=1&p=8009&s2=11


CIA official sacked for not faking reports on Iraq WMD
A sacked CIA official is suing the agency for allegedly retaliating against him for refusing to falsify his reports on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction to support the White House's pre-war position, The Washington Post said Thursday.
http://www.uruknet.info/?s1=1&p=7997&s2=11


US soldier jailed for murdering unarmed, wounded Iraqi
A US soldier was sentenced to three years in prison for shooting dead an unarmed and wounded Iraqi civilian in Baghdad's Sadr City, as Iraqi security forces were again targeted in attacks that killed 10 around the country.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=2&u=/afp/20041211/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_041211181344

December 10, 2004

In Norway, Protestors Demand: No Money for Apartheid, Boycott Israel Now
The protestors were expressing their outrage against the fact that the Israeli government was seeking $200 million from donor countries to pay for a series of roads in the West Bank designed to cement the Apartheid system imposed by the Israeli Occupation. The World Bank recently denied a similar Israeli request. Protestors braved the cold to display signs declaring “No Money for Apartheid” and “Boycott Israel Now.”
http://stopthewall.org/worldwideactivism/825.shtml


What does the wall mean?
Now I understood why this man had been crying when I met him two days earlier. The District Commanding Officer had refused to issue him a permit to cross the wall, even though he is 65 and a threat to no one. They had given him a permit earlier in the year, when the fruit was still growing. But they had not given him one to let him harvest it. When the fruit is ripe, if no one picks it, it will fall to the ground immediately, like tears.
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2004/720/fe4.htm


The Slow Creep of Israel's Annexation
Then they told the Palestinian farmers on whose land the wall rests that they would have unlimited access to their lands……after which gates were erected along the wall – gates which would be opened only three times a day. …. Then the Palestinian farmers were told that if they wanted to work their land – now on the Israeli side of the wall – they would have to get special Israeli work permits in order to pass through the gates which only opened three times per day.
http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=107&ItemID=6828


Child girl shot killed in Khan Younis
A medical source at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip, said, on Friday evening, that soldiers shot killed a 10 years old child, and critically wounded a youth after shelling a residential area in the city. The source said that Rania Siam, 10 year old, sustained a gunshot injury to her head causing instant death
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week2/121004/child%20girl.htm


Armed Settlers Uproot Palestinian Olive Grove
Villagers said dozens of settlers, some of them armed, entered the olive grove owned by village resident Mohammed Salim at 8 A.M. and started uprooting trees using a bulldozer. Villagers reported that they requested the help of army from early morning hours, but police and troops only arrived late in the afternoon. The settlers had by then destroyed the trees.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week2/121004/armed%20settlers%20destroy%20olive.htm


Presidential Candidate Attacked by Israeli Forces
Lu'ai Arafat received several blows to the head with the butt of a rifle. As soldiers began to beat Dr. Allam Jarrar, Dr. Barghouthi stepped in to intervene and received a severe beating to his back during which he fell to the ground. The other staff were also forced to the ground and all six were made to remain face down for more than an hour.
http://www.palestinemonitor.org/new_web/december_update_archive.htm#mustafa


Court releases on bail PA election candidate after checkpoint scuffle
Witnesses said Border Police officers stopped Bassam al-Salhi, handcuffed him and took him away as he tried to cross A-Ram checkpoint into Jerusalem. Police scuffled with Salhi's aides when they tried to pull him free. This marks a second incident to mar the campaign to elect a successor to Yasser Arafat.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/512958.html


Call for Israel to readmit deported Palestinian students
Walid Muhanna, Bashar Abu Salim, Mohammad Matar and Bashar Abu Shahala were arrested during the night of November 18 at the apartment they shared in Birzeit and deported to Gaza, where they come from, on November 21. They claim they have been given no reason for their deportation.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1371071,00.html


Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories
This week, 8 Palestinians were killed and a number of others were injured by Israeli troops.  Human rights violations perpetrated by Israeli occupying troops included willful killings, incursions into Palestinian areas, indiscriminate shelling, land leveling and total closure imposed on Palestinian communities.
http://pchrgaza.org/files/W_report/English/2004/09-12-2004.htm


Four Israelis Hurt by Mortars in Gaza Settlement
Palestinian militants launched a mortar attack on a Jewish settlement in Gaza on Friday, wounding four people, a day after the Israeli army carried out two missile strikes in the coastal territory, officials said.
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7050915


Feature: "Checkpoints; different shapes, locations, same suffering"
Looking at the situation on the ground, Israel increased the number of checkpoints separating the Palestinian areas from each other, closed the entrances of the Palestinian cities, villages and refugee camps, and broke the geographical unity of the Palestinian areas.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week2/121004/Feature-shapes.htm


IDF re-deploys near Khan Yunis refugee camp in Gaza
IDF troops on Friday evening were taking up positions in an area west of the Khan Yunis refugee camp in central Gaza Strip hours after Palestinians fired a volley of eight mortar shells at the Neveh Dekalim settlement, wounding four, two of them seriously.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/512952.html


Egyptian police block solidarity group accompanying aid to Palestinians
"We are returning. Negotiations with the police to go to Rafah have failed," Alima Bouomediene, a French senator from the Green Party, told AFP. "I am disappointed that Arab states are not in harmony with the Arab street. Israelis can sleep soundly," she said. The Arab world needs more "democracy, freedon and freedom of expression."
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1514&ncid=723&e=4&u=/afp/20041210/wl_mideast_afp/egyptpalestiniansaid


Palestinians start campaign for first municipal vote since '76
The December 23 vote for some West Bank councils is also expected to be a test of strength between the dominant Fatah movement and Islamic militant groups. The last municipal vote was held in 1976.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=512866&contrassID=1&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Jailed Israeli Arabs start hunger strike
The five men, who include the group's head Shaikh Rayd Salah and a former mayor of Um al-Fahm town, were indicted by an Israeli court in July 2003 for allegedly channelling money from charities in Europe and the Middle East to the Islamic Movement in Israel and thereafter to Hamas in the occupied Palestinian territories.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/98AED400-F87D-4053-B151-E25EDB6DE7FF.htm


EU observers for Palestinian elections begin their work
The EU is deploying more than 260 observers in total, including a 13-member core team, who had arrived in the West Bank and Gaza, said the EC in a press release. The EU's executive arm said some 40 long-term observers would arrive around Dec. 15
http://news3.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/10/content_2320001.htm


Palestinian Authority to follow in Arafat's footsteps
Speaking during a visit to the Rashidieh refugee camp in Tyre, where they were welcomed by the commander of Fatah in Lebanon, Sultan Abul-Ainayn, Qorei stressed: "We cannot fill the void left behind by Abu Ammar [Arafat], but we will try to follow in his footsteps and continue the mission and fulfill the trust.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=10874


Sharon invites Peres to begin talks on Labor joining coalition
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon telephoned Labor Party leader Shimon Peres, Shas leader Eli Yishai and United Torah Judaism leader Yaakov Litzman on Friday morning and invited the three to hold coalition talks, Israel Radio reported.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/512905.html


Palestinians hope new Sharon government will revive peace process: Erakat
Palestinian negotiations minister Saeb Erakat says his people hope Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's next coalition government will breathe fresh life into the Middle East peace process. "We hope the formation of a new Israeli government will lead to the reviving of a meaningful peace process,"
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1514&ncid=1312&e=7&u=/afp/20041210/wl_mideast_afp/mideastisraelpoliticspalestinian_041210085000


The Writing on the Wall: Jizelle Salman
Generally, what keeps me going on, it's hope. You have the hope of being able to make changes. The feeling that you're still young, that you can do so much here. You see foreigners staying here for solidarity purposes; they give. So you ask yourself: What about you, Palestinian youngsters, why don't we give? In fact I do believe that we give a lot. And we still have the energy to give more
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article3423.shtml


UN appeals for resettlement of stranded Kurd refugees 18 months after Iraq war
The agency also asked many Arab countries to grant shelter, even on a temporary basis, to the Palestinians stuck at the Jordanian border. Last year, Jordan itself granted temporary asylum to 386 Palestinians with Jordanian spouses while 250 Palestinians chose to leave Ruweished to go back to Iraq.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=12772&Cr=Kurds&Cr1=


FBI steps up AIPAC probe
An FBI investigation into alleged Israeli espionage against the United States and the possibility a pro-Israel lobby group was involved in passing classified U.S data to Tel Aviv has intensified because a confessed Pentagon spy has stopped cooperating with federal law enforcement officials, U.S. government sources said.
http://www.washtimes.com/upi-breaking/20041208-045115-7516r.htm


Background / Anti-disengagement strategy collapses
The anti-disengagement activists are still pinning their hopes on the Likud rebels, but it is hard to believe that they would vote no confidence in Sharon, and force elections, after the party convention rejected this option.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/512524.html


Sharon victory boosts Gaza withdrawal plan
The prime minister's victory appears to assure his plans to close Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip and part of the West Bank next year. But the ultimate price of Labour joining the government and keeping the "disengagement plan" alive may be that it results in surrendering more territory than Mr Sharon has in mind.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1370884,00.html


'An unfair swap'
It was on the eve of 25 August when Mustafa and his friends got lost while traversing from one village to another in search of a piece of land. "That night was particularly dark and misty, and we could hardly see a few centimetres away," Mustafa said. "We suddenly found ourselves standing in front of a wire fence which was only half-a-metre high."
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2004/720/eg1.htm


US endorses Annan's work and refutes push for his resignation
The United States Government gave unambiguous support today to United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan after several days of attacks on him by a US senator and sections of the US news media over the UN's supervision of the Iraq Oil-for-Food programme.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=12766&Cr=annan&Cr1=


Lebanon mobilizes Arab help to stave off French ban on Hezbollah TV
In a solidarity meeting with Al-Manar in Beirut on Friday, the country's Higher Audiovisual Council threatened to cancel privileges granted to French media outlets in Lebanon should Paris take measures against the channel.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=10&u=/afp/20041210/wl_mideast_afp/francelebanonmedia_041210182507


Moqtada followers omitted as Shia finalise polls list
Shia politicians said on Thursday they had finalised an electoral alliance of Iraq's main Shia parties, but that it excluded the followers of Moqtada al-Sadr, the former insurgent leader. The United Iraqi Alliance, backed by Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the senior Shia cleric, includes figures from the al-Dawa party and the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq (Sciri).
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/02134e00-4a0e-11d9-b065-00000e2511c8.html


Red Cross Returns After Fallujah Offensive
"We couldn't reach the warehouse because of the time limitations," said Ahmed Rawi, a spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross who went on the trip. "The ICRC will follow up this issue with the concerned authorities in terms of documenting and then burying the bodies."
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=540&e=3&u=/ap/20041210/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_red_cross


Stop Destroying the Mosques of Iraq - By Ralph Nader
The city of mosques -- Fallujah -- now lies mostly in ruins. So do many of its mosques. You believe this was unavoidable because mosques are being used as locations of arms caches or resistance to the advancing U.S. troops. It is their fault if these insurgents bring down their mosques on themselves, not that of the policies initiated by you as commander-in-chief, you would say.
http://www.counterpunch.com/nader12102004.html

December 09, 2004

Mustafa Barghouti says IDF soldiers beat him at gunpoint
"I identified myself as a politician, but was struck with rifles and pinned to the ground," Barghouti said, adding that he was detained for more than an hour and later treated for bruises. "This is deliberate sabotage against the elections."
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/511860.html


Israel Builds a New Settlement in Qalqilia, Plans to Divide Hebron
The Israeli occupation authorities have already commenced building a new settlement on Palestinian-owned lands in the West Bank City of Qalqilia as media reports confirmed a new dismemberment scheme is being prepared for the Hebron City.
http://www.ipc.gov.ps/ipc_new/english/details.asp?name=1385


Israeli soldiers 'shoot boy for fun'
According to the report, an undisclosed number of Givati brigade soldiers shot and killed Khalid Sulaiman Mahdi while he was working with his father on their farm. "Seven bullets pierced my son's head, so you can't talk here about a mistake or random gunfire. This was an act of direct and clear sharp shooting," he said.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/A4BD8038-8970-4542-9E9C-E4FD18C11051.htm


Action Needed for Jailed Non-Violent Resister ! Update on Ahmed Awadb
Ahmed Awad has been sentenced to two months in Ketziot prison. His sentence can be renewed repeatedly after that for up to 18 months. Then he can be released and then re-arrested... Ahmed has no idea what his accusers, judges and sentencers are claiming that he did. Neither does his lawyer.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/palsolidarity/message/1098


Nafha detainees demand to be top priority
Lawyer Fawwaz Al-Shalloudi, from the Palestinian Prisoners Society, said that he visited Nafha detention in the Negev desert and met with several detainees, mostly leaders of political factions who informed him of increased violations and procedures conducted against them.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week2/120904/Nafha.htm


Ain el Hilweh in the heart of Montreal
For many Palestinian refugees living underground in Montreal, the Ayoub family is a local symbol of the larger Palestinian refugee struggle, representing the fate of the forgotten majority of Palestinians in the world who live in diaspora, denied the right to return to their own country.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article3411.shtml


Jury awards USD 156 mn to parents of slain US teen in Israel
The parents of an American teenager killed by gunmen in the West Bank won USD 156 millions from three Islamic groups and an alleged Hamas fund-raiser, one of the first jury awards against institutions based in the United States accused of supporting terrorism. (Rachel Corrie is still for free under US law, wonder why?)
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/003200412092201.htm


Fourth Palestinian killed by Israeli troops in Rafah
A fourth Palestinian was killed by Israeli troops in the Rafah region of the southern Gaza Strip overnight, Palestinian hospital officials said. Three Palestinians had been killed around midnight while the body of the fourth was recovered at daybreak, the sources said.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1514&ncid=1312&e=8&u=/afp/20041209/wl_mideast_afp/mideastunrestgazatoll_041209095723


Militants vow revenge for failed assassination attempt
An Israeli attempt to assassinate the leader of the Popular Resistance Committees, Jamal Abu Samhadana, failed Thursday when he and his two bodyguards jumped from their car seconds it was targeted by an Israel Air Force missile.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/511920.html


Palestine: Military Training Exercises in South Hebron Hills
the Israeli military engaged in military training exercises in the hills around At-Tuwani, Tuba and, Al-Mufaquara. According to a Palestinian from At-Tuwani this was the first time that the military has trained this close to the village. The exercises began without warning, leaving Palestinian residents scared and endangered.
http://www.infoshop.org/inews/stories.php?story=04/12/09/9890685


Poll in PA: Majority of Palestinians oppose "terror" attacks
According to the poll, 52% of Palestinians oppose attacks on Israeli targets, and believe that they are counterproductive to the Palestinian national interest. This figure rose significantly since the previous poll in June, when those opposed to attacks on Israeli targets stood at only 27%.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=511909&contrassID=1&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


EU allocates $13m for Palestinian elections
In addition to the financial support, around 2,000 international observers will arrive in the Palestinian lands to monitor the Palestinian presidential elections due to be held on Jan. 9, 2005, Najjar said.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/09/content_2314570.htm


MKs, Peace Now blocked from protesting
The IDF said the delegation, which included Labor MK Amram Mitzna and Yahad MKs Haim Oron and Ran Cohen, entered Area A, which Israelis are forbidden to enter, and bypassed a roadblock. Peace Now secretary general Yariv Oppenheimer said there was no reason to invest hundreds of millions of shekels in the road.
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/511394.html


Lebanon to improve living conditions of Palestinian refugees
They said the decision was made following talks between a Palestinian delegation led by PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas and Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, Prime Minister Omar Karameh on Wednesday. It is the first step of its kind to improve the living conditions of about 400,000 Palestinian refugees in Lebanon
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/09/content_2315063.htm


Abbas says armed struggle is over
His comments came as he warned that the Palestinian Authority "would not able to take control of Gaza if Israel withdraws" adding "it would lead to a civil war ... we are not ready - security wise - to take over."
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=10838


City Debates Israeli Holdings
A resolution drafted by Somerville Divestment Project, a volunteer group formed in early 2003, urged the city to divest its retirement fund from an Israeli bond worth $250,000 and withdraw investments in companies holding defense contracts with the Israeli army.
http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=504937


Sharon almost certain of backing to invite Labour into government: TV
Around 70 percent of the 3,000 members of the right-wing Likud's central committee had cast their ballot on a motion put forward by the premier to reshape his government in order to implement next year's planned pullout from the Gaza Strip, media reports said after the 10 pm
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=3&u=/afp/20041209/wl_mideast_afp/mideastisraelpolitics_041209203418


Compensation amount for Jewish settlers reasonable: official
In recent weeks, some settlers have protested that the evacuation compensation paid by the government is not enough for them to pay for a new house. On Nov. 3, the Knesset approved the first reading of the compensation bill, which stipulates that settlers are to receive an average compensation of 300,000 dollars. (FOR ILLEGAL SETTLERS)
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/09/content_2315038.htm


The birth of modern Arab politics?
Something important, even historic in terms of modern Arab history, is happening there these days: a real, contested election for the presidency is taking place, whose results are not known ahead of time. Multiple candidates for the presidency of the Palestinian Authority offer ordinary citizens a genuine choice among different policy approaches and governance styles.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=5&article_id=10778


Denmark reiterates support for UN Palestinian agency
"Denmark is deeply worried that living conditions for the most vulnerable Palestinians - the refugees and the children - have steadily worsened on the West Bank and Gaza Strip. We regret that UNRWA has been forced to suspend many of its normal operations," said the ambassador.
http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8ad5/c63fc78c9aadbca485256f63006f301b?OpenDocument


Election fever - By Azmi Bishara
Palestinian forces opposed to the Oslo accords boycotted the only Palestinian legislative elections that have been held until now on the grounds that these elections were "a product of Oslo". Opposing Oslo myself, I fail to understand this logical leap. It is perfectly possible to take a political stand against Oslo and to continue to oppose it within the framework of the electoral process.
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2004/720/op2.htm


Is it Possible to Run Elections under Occupation?
The Israeli soldier’s assault on Dr. Mustafa Bargouthi, a candidate for Palestinian presidential elections, raises doubts that it is possible to run free and democratic elections under occupation. To physically attack and knockdown to ground a possible future Palestinian President is a clear manifestation that occupation and democracy can’t coexist.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week2/120904/possible-elections.htm


French ambassador: Israelis suffer from 'anti-Frenchism'
"I think there is a neurosis that causes anti-Frenchism," the ambassador, Gerard Araud, told Army Radio. "This anti-French neurosis has led to France being so hated in Israel. The relationship between the two countries is very difficult. You simply love to hate us."
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/512362.html


Israeli banks profit from Holocaust
Investigations by the Israeli parliament have dug up disturbing evidence that Israel has been profiting for decades from vast sums invested in local banks by European Jews who died in the Nazi death camps. And even now the banks are delaying returning the money to their heirs.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/85B434CF-0BF0-475D-B9E6-2652F75BF30E.htm


Four Reasons Why Israel Should Disengage from East Jerusalem
It was probably convenient for Sharon to have Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom depict Sharon's granting of permission to the residents of Anata to participate in the Palestinian Authority elections as a danger to Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem. The world will see how generous Sharon is.
http://www.miftah.org/Display.cfm?DocId=5858&CategoryId=5


Malaysian Parliament Calls for Road Map Implementation
Speaking to reporters, Malaysian Foreign Minister Albar said that the motion and the resolutions would be sent to the United Nations, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and Asian Parliamentary Association to turn the Palestinian cause into a main agenda of the world.
http://english.wafa.ps/body.asp?field=tech_news&id=1922


Israel's President Asks Assad to Return Body of Spy
But an aide to Katsav said the request for the body of Egyptian-born spy Eli Cohen was for humanitarian reasons only and was not a request for a goodwill gesture by Syria that might lead to renewing talks over the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=574&ncid=574&e=14&u=/nm/20041209/wl_nm/mideast_assad_dc_1


Weiss: U.S must change Israel-Palestine policy
Take the most recent change in decades of policy, when the Bush administration recognized Israeli settlements built in the West Bank. The elder Bush as president denied Israel loans for the same behavior because land grabs violate the Geneva Convention, which forbids a foreign power from moving its nationals onto occupied lands.
http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041209/OPINION01/412090373/1035/OPINION


Turnout in Likud vote on coalition talks with Labor hits 50%
The turnout for Likud Central Committee vote on whether to hold unity government talks with the Labor Party was causing concern for associates of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Thursday evening, as just 50 percent of the delegates had cast a ballot two hours before the polls closed.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/511991.html


Abuse 'continued after Abu Ghraib'
US military officials witnessed the mistreatment of Iraqi detainees at a second Baghdad prison at the height of the Abu Ghraib scandal and were threatened and harassed when they attempted to report the abuse, official memos released by the Pentagon have shown.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1369658,00.html

December 08, 2004

Do the Wall's Roots Start to Reveal Themselves?
If these are the roots of the Wall, then surely it will not bloom with flowers, but with settlements. The olive groves will be replaced by concrete houses, and the citrus farms by new roads, and Jayyous will become a new refugee camp. A new Nakba is awaiting a solution, while we are still living the previous one.
http://stopthewall.org/communityvoices/823.shtml


Israeli Troops Destroy House in Jerusalem
They destroyed the house under the pretext not acquiring building permission, according to witnesses. Since the occupation of Jerusalem (1967), Israeli troops prevent Palestinians from building or reconstructing their houses while allow Israeli colonizers.
http://english.wafa.ps/body.asp?field=tech_news&id=1921


Sexual abuse and humiliation of female detainees
The Palestinian Prisoners Society issued a report today claiming that soldiers and interrogators in Israeli detention camps conduct continuous violations and abuse against female detainees and use interrogation and torture methods which are considered illegal by the International law.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week2/120804/cells.htm


IDF "probes" death of Palestinian teen during soldiers' hike
The boy's father, Suleiman Mahdi, claims the gunfire was not accidental. "Seven bullets pierced Khaled's head, so you can't talk here about a mistake or random gunfire. This was an act of direct and clear sharpshooting."
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=511736&contrassID=1&subContrassID=5&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Israel censured over Palestinian poll
Mustafa al-Barghuthi, a prominent independent candidate, at a press conference on Wednesday in Ram Allah said Israel was not allowing candidates freedom of movement within the West Bank and between the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/0136AEF0-6673-458C-9FF0-11E912E0A799.htm


Barghouti to quit Palestinian race if demands met
Jailed leader Marwan Barghouti will quit the Palestinian presidential race if his political demands are met by his main election rival, former prime minister Mahmoud Abbas, a Fatah official said on Wednesday.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/511860.html


Israel shuts down two Hebron charities
The Israeli army has closed two charities in the Hebron area which locals say give food and money to poor and orphaned Palestinians.Locals said Israeli soldiers, equipped with huge welding machines, sealed the premises of the two committees without informing their officials.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/1DCC97C6-F3C9-4BBE-80CD-4722F542AA45.htm


Settlers attempt to kidnap a student in Huwwara
After the failed attempt, settlers stepped out of their car and attempted to kidnap Husam Mazin Odeh, who fought fist fought, along with his friends, with the settlers who threatened to shoot them; the youths managed to escape. “The Israeli police came later on, and requested the settlers to leave without arresting any of them as if nothing happened, or no crime done”, Odeh said.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week2/120804/Huwwara.htm


Israel says 148 unarmed Palestinians killed by army in West Bank in 2004
Israel has killed 148 unarmed Palestinians in the West Bank since the start of the year, the army said Wednesday. The Israeli army is currently hunting 560 Palestinian activists in the West Bank suspected of involvement in anti-Israeli attacks, while some 3,000 others are behind bars, the unnamed officer said.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2004/December/middleeast_December208.xml&section=middleeast&col=


Is Marwan Barghouti right to run?
Barghouti may not be able to run on the Fatah ticket after the movement picked Mahmoud Abbas as its sole candidate in an opaque process. However, Barghouti has the right to run as an individual and as one of a handful of Palestinians widely-known enough in the occupied territories to make the election a serious contest, his candidacy can only benefit democracy.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article3408.shtml


Palestinian leaders kick off ice-breaking visit to Lebanon
The Palestinian delegation held talks with Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, Prime Minister Omar Karameh and National Assembly President Nabih Berri over issues of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, bilateral relations and the Middle East peace process.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/09/content_2311048.htm


Abbas: Refugees Status in Lebanon to Improve Soon
“We heard positive statements concerning refugees conditions, few measures are already in place; other measures will be implemented soon” Abbas told reporters, but refrained from explaining further.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week2/120804/abbas%20refugees%20status%20to%20improve.htm


Palestinians in Jerusalem should participate in elections: Erekat
Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said Wednesday that there won't be any elections unless the Palestinians in Jerusalem participate, alike the 1996 elections arrangements.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/08/content_2310189.htm


Bush gives Palestinians $20 million
The Bush administration on Wednesday announced it was giving $20 million in direct aid to the Palestinian Authority to help it through a financial crisis.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N08171754.htm


Mubarak pushes regional peace initiative during Kuwait visit
Mubarak is trying to persuade Kuwaiti ruler Prince Jabber Ahmed al Sabah to open negotiations with Israel for diplomatic ties, and to pressure Syria to demonstrate more daring political moves that will persuade Israel of Damascus' seriousness about renewing the political process with Israel.
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/511432.html


Egypt TV airs interview with Israeli embassy official
In this frosty climate, the invitation to appear on Egyptian television's premier channel is an unprecedented gesture toward Israel, and one that comes weeks before Tikochinsky ends his stint as embassy spokesman and returns to Israel.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/511799.html


European Parliament to monitor Palestinian elections
The MEPs will be on the ground in the Middle East from the 6 to 10 January. They will hold meetings with the candidates and with election officials, before monitoring election day in five key areas: Gaza, East Jerusalem, Hebron, Nablus/Jenin and Ramallah.
http://www2.europarl.eu.int/omk/sipade2?PUBREF=-//EP//TEXT+PRESS+NR-20041208-1+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&L=EN&LEVEL=2&NAV=X&LSTDOC=N#SECTION1


Abbas tries to woo hardliners during Damascus visit
"Syria backs the struggle of the Palestinian people to recover their rights, liberate their land, [secure] the return [of refugees] and set up an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital," Otri told Abbas.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=10799


NATO chief: We'll only send troops to Mideast if peace deal reached
Speaking at a press conference in Brussels, Scheffer said that the role NATO plays in the Israel-Palestinian conflict must be conditioned on a peace treaty, and on a request filed by both sides calling on the organization's involvement in the region. ( As it was conditioned in Kosovo? Or as US wants? )
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/511890.html


Palestinians seek 4.5 billion dollars in aid, peace talks in sight
Palestinian foreign minister Nabil Shaath urged the world community to provide 4.5 billion dollars in reconstruction aid to help the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority lay the foundation for an independent state.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=5&u=/afp/20041208/wl_mideast_afp/mideast_palestinian_041208161442


Refugees not optimistic about new PA visit
Mahmoud Salameh, listening to the radio near a mosque while awaiting noon prayers, said he feared the visit might lead to abandoning the refugees and settling them permanently in Lebanon. "I smell permanent settlement in the visit ... nothing more," Salameh said.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=10795


What does Marwan Barghouti want?
Is the only problem standing between Barghouti and the Palestinian presidency the fact that he is in jail? Or, is Barghouti’s run for president just an effort to get concessions from Abbas and he will withdrawal his name ahead of the election?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6678141/


Blair's peace initiative dismays Israel
Although Ariel Sharon will embrace Mr Blair as a "great friend" of Israel when Mr Blair arrives for the two-day visit on December 21, concern is increasing in Jerusalem at Britain's attempts to force a greater role for Europe in ending the conflict.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1368631,00.html


Rights group calls for appropriate mechanism to ensure impartiality counting Palestinian votes
In general, the process of registration was slow and the number of citizens wishing to register was relatively low; this can be attributed to two main factors: the Palestinian internal security situation and the public feeling that the PNA was not serious in holding elections, especially as the aforementioned presidential decree did not specify a date for holding elections;
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article3410.shtml


Noam Chomsky: Reshaping History
By then, a two-state settlement in these terms had become a very broad international consensus, blocked only by the US (and rejected by Israel). So matters continued, not only in the Security Council but also in the General Assembly, which passed similar resolutions regularly by votes like 150-2 (with the US sometimes picking up another client state).
http://www.palestinechronicle.com/story.php?sid=20041208042723578


France seeks penalties against Hezbollah-linked network
Such comments could also point to a "lack in the requirement of honesty of information," the CSA said, adding that "Israel has never been declared guilty of crimes against humanity before an international criminal court."
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=511491&contrassID=1&subContrassID=8&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Report: Mideast populations not benefiting from oil boom
Youth unemployment - 25.6 percent in 2003, the highest in the world - is a major challenge, particularly as the region has a very young population. Some 37 percent of people in 2000 were younger than 15, and 58 percent were younger than 25.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=3&article_id=10790


AIPAC Probe Intensifies
FBI agents searched AIPAC's headquarters here Wednesday, seizing files associated with two senior staffers who were interviewed in August amid allegations that a classified Pentagon document was leaked and passed on to Israel.
http://www.jewishtimes.com/News/4374.stm


Arab NGOs call for boost to human rights, democracy in Arab world
Participants deplored the absence of Syrian human rights activist Aktam Issatoun, who was barred by his government from leaving to attend the Rabat meeting, according to Driss Yazami, secretary general of the International Federation of Human Rights (IFHR).
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=10&u=/afp/20041208/wl_mideast_afp/mideastusreform_041208190019


US Marine claims unit killed Iraqi civilians
Former Marine Sergeant Jimmy Massey appeared as a witness to bolster claims by fugitive paratrooper Jeremy Hinzman that he walked out on the 82nd Airborne Division to avoid being ordered to commit war crimes in Iraq.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200412/s1260377.htm


Fallujah Did Not Break the Back of the Insurgency
The New York Times published a classified memo from the CIA station chief in Baghdad, who said the situation was deteriorating and was likely to get worse, with more violence and sectarian clashes, unless there was a considerable improvement in the efforts of the interim Iraqi government to assert authority and build the economy.
http://www.counterpunch.com/cockburn12082004.html

December 07, 2004

At least 40 Israelis arrested in Anti-Wall Protest
constructing the wall as planned will consume more agricultural land which might force the villagers to leave their land, as it is their only source of income. Mansour asserted that the villagers will not leave their land no matter what cost was. "We do not want a third catastrophe, like what happened in 1948 and 1967
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week1/120704/budrus.htm


Continued Targeting of Citizens in the Jerusalem Region: In Anata, Occupation Forces Demolish 3 Houses and 25 Animal Shelters
Occupation Forces' military vehicles and bulldozers demolished three homes in the southwest section of the village of Anata, located northeast of Jerusalem. The house demolitions made 25 people homeless. At the same time, the Occupation Forces destroyed 25 Bedouin homes, together with their livestock shelters, in the southeast part of the village.
http://stopthewall.org/latestnews/824.shtml


Christians to visit suffering church in Bethlehem for Christmas
In 2004 Pax Christi launched its "People of the Holy Land need Bridges not Walls " campaign to raise awareness of the impact of the separation wall, called by some the "Apartheid Wall", on the Palestinian community. Pax Christi has a history of supporting peacemaking initiatives in the region.
http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/content/news_syndication/article_04126bet.shtml


A rude awakening is in the offing
The Palestinians are guided by a permanent fear of "the mu'amra," the plot, which Israel is devising in order to imprison them once and for all in "bantustans" in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, separated and surrounded by a network of settlements, checkpoints and the separation fence.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/510960.html


Report: Israel biased against non-Jews
"For a long time now, we have been witness to the distress of many thousands of people whose dignity has been trampled upon, whose possibility of personal or family stability has been wrested from them," the report read. "The Population Authority has done everything possible to make the life of thousands of inhabitants miserable," it added.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/78E9FD35-D047-47FC-A0D1-A12D7A6E8BD2.htm


This isn't security - it's cruelty
During the last four years Israel has demolished houses in the Occupied Territories on an unprecedented scale. All have one result - tens of thouthands of civilans, mostly children, made homeless. "Video Clip"
http://80.179.108.02/betzelem/heb/movie_eng.html


Health Action in Crises Monthly Report
WHO held a coordination meeting in Ramallah, West Bank, during which Maram/USAID presented findings of a survey on the prevalence of Vitamin A deficiency among children in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Findings reveal that 22% of children aged 12-59 months suffer from vitamin A deficiency, and 54% of these have vitamin A levels indicating borderline deficiency.
http://domino.un.org/unispal.nsf/47d4e277b48d9d3685256ddc00612265/441674944d21d62385256f62006e192f!OpenDocument


Child Wounded, Scores Arrested in WB
Medics at Thabet Hosoital, in Tulkarem, said that the 14-year-old Rami Hamad, of Deir al-Ghassoun village south of Tulkarem, was shot in the right leg when an Israeli patrol rolled into the village and opened random fire at houses.
http://english.wafa.ps/body.asp?field=tech_news&id=1917


Israeli army arrests 21 Palestinians in West Bank
The Israeli army arrested at least 21 Palestinians in the West Bank cities of Ramallah, Qalqilya, Nablus and Bethlehem... Israeli troops backed by tanks and armored vehicles intruded into Qalqilya before dawn Tuesday and stormed Kfar Saba and Nazzal neighborhood in the city.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/07/content_2305936.htm


Israeli jailed for role in terror group that attacked Arab schools
An extreme right Jewish settler convicted under counter-terrorism legislation for membership of an organisation that killed eight Palestinian civilians was jailed for eight years yesterday. ( Isn't it ironic, Don't you think? )
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=590435


Gaza chicken coop booby-trapped with explosives kills Israeli soldier
Israeli aircraft fired two missiles on separate groups of armed men. Islamic Jihad said two gunmen were killed in the air strikes. Palestinian hospital officials said seven other people, including boys aged 14 and 16, were wounded. A large group of youths had gathered to watch the standoff, occasionally throwing stones at Israeli tanks and bulldozers in the area.
http://www.mytelus.com/news/article.do?pageID=world_home&articleID=1786361


Arab MK: Barghouti may pull out of Palestinian election
MK Talab al-Sana said Barghouti told him he would withdraw from the race if his candidacy caused turmoil within Fatah. Barghouti's candidacy could undermine Abbas, seen by Israel and the United States as a potential peacemaker after four years of Israeli-Palestinian violence.
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/511343.html


Galloway declares support for Barghouti in PA election
George Galloway threw his weight behind Fatah firebrand Marwan Barghouti in next month's Palestinian elections and said he may visit Palestine to campaign on his behalf. Speaking at a conference organized by Lebanese supporters in Beirut, Galloway also called on the people of Lebanon to reject UN Security Council Resolution 1559
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=10758


U.S. Assures PA on EJ Palestinians Right to Vote
Palestinian Minister Saeb Erikat told reporters Tuesday afternoon that the U.S. administration assured the PA that Palestinians of East Jerusalem will take part in the slated for January 9 presidential elections.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week1/120704/us%20assures%20pa.htm


?EUs executive allocates 7 million euros for vulnerable Palestinians
The European commission (EC) has Tuesday allocated seven million euros in relief supplies for vulnerable Palestinians who are victims of the Middle East crisis. The aid will provide access to food, clean water and sanitation for the þpoorest Palestinians living on the west bank and the Gaza strip.
http://www.kuna.net.kw/English/Story.asp?DSNO=686275


Egypt heralds Mideast peace 'breakthrough', eyes return of ambassador
Egypt raised the prospect of a framework for a Middle East peace deal and said it could soon return an ambassador to Israel, a move that would revive full diplomatic ties after a four-year break.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=2&u=/afp/20041207/wl_mideast_afp/mideast_egypt_israel_041207183837


EIGHTEEN DONORS PLEDGE NEARLY $90 MILLION FOR UN PALESTINE REFUGEE AGENCY
Eighteen donor countries pledged approximately $90 million for the 2005 budget of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), during this morning’s meeting of the General Assembly’s Ad Hoc Committee for Voluntary Contributions.
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2004/ga10312.doc.htm


Palestinian leaders mend ties with Syria, woo opposition
ON Monday evening he met Hamas supremo Khaled Meshaal, the leader of Islamic Jihad, Ramadan Shalah, and Ahmad Jibril of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC).
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1514&ncid=1312&e=1&u=/afp/20041207/wl_mideast_afp/mideast_palestinian_041207140947


Palestinian leaders due in Beirut after fence-mending Syria trip
Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) chief Mahmud Abbas and Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei are set to meet Wednesday with President Emile Lahoud, parliament speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Omar Karameh.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=14&u=/afp/20041207/wl_mideast_afp/mideast_palestinian_041207172038


UNRWA chief says aid group suffers deficit
UNRWA's director-general in Lebanon, Richard Cook, said Monday that the agency was striving to improve its limited financial resources in order to meet the increasing needs of Palestinian refugees in camps across Lebanon.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=10751


Israeli unit banned over killing
The army had said the man had been shot whilst fleeing from his hiding place. This was contradicted by an Israeli human rights group's inquiry that found the man had been killed whilst lying injured and unarmed on the ground.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4075673.stm


Israel, PA said to have agreed on basis of peace deal
There was no immediate official comment from Israel or from Egypt, which has tried to play the role of mediator in previous efforts to ease Israeli-Palestinian violence. Palestinian sources said reports of an Israeli-PA truce agreement were inexact, but gave no further details
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/511355.html


Israel, U.S. Concerned Over Blair's Call for Peace Conference
Israel prefers to limit ME peace efforts to Israel and Palestinians with the U.S., its main ally, sanding as the only international broker.U.K. proposal to hold an international peace conference on the Middle East in coming January or February, after the Palestinian Presidential elections, stirred concerns in Israel and the U.S. Administration.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/December/week1/120704/israel%20us%20concerned.htm


Israel Says It Would Respond Positively to Truce
"There are a few correct elements but it's a little premature to say there's an agreement," a senior official in Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office said. "We will respond positively if on the other side there will be arrangements for a cease-fire, a cessation of hostilities."
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7019663


WMD non-proliferation clause delays EU-Israeli deal
According to diplomatic sources, the relatively minor and semantic disagreement deals with one word. However, this one word appears within a very sensitive context: the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The EU has already complete negotiations with the Palestinian Authority and five other states.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/511237.html


Netanyahu to back Sharon's plan for coalition with Labor
Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave his support Tuesday to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to invite the opposition Labor Party into a unity government, a Sharon aide said.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/510985.html


Israel And The Nightmare Of Occupation
As a post-Holocaust Jew I feel the tug of loyalty to my people. Yet precisely because of what the Jews have experienced at the hands of other people, the brutish behaviour of the Israeli state towards the Palestinians in recent years has seemed to me particularly shameful.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/Robert-Manne/Israel-and-the-nightmare-of-occupation/2004/12/05/1102182152001.html?oneclick=true


From churches, a challenge to Israeli policies
A vote by the Presbyterian Church (USA) to use economic sanctions against certain companies doing business with Israel - namely those that profit from the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza - has set off a quiet firestorm within the American religious community.
http://csmonitor.com/2004/1206/p11s02-lire.html


PLO lawyer, adviser advocates for one-nation state
Tarazi, a Harvard Law graduate from Colorado who advises the Negotiations Affairs Department of the PLO, discussed the difficulties in dividing the region between Palestine and Israel, as well as the problems caused by Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
http://thedaily.washington.edu/news.lasso?-database=DailyWebSQL&-table=Articles&-response=newspage.lasso&-keyField=__Record_ID__&-keyValue=11171&-search


Miyasar's fear: The Aftermath
Although the house is still standing, the engineers have declared it was too fragile and dangerous, as its foundation has severely been damaged in the explosion by the Israeli army last week.  Impact of the bombs left its fatal marks everywhere; cracks run through every surface, windows and doorframes are blown out, walls are crumbling.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article3405.shtml


Gilad Sharon silent during interrogation over business deal
The focus of the interrogation was a business deal between the Israel Land Development Corporation (ILDC), which is under control of the prominent Nimrodi family, and the Sycamore Ranch, which is owned by the prime minister's sons.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/511332.html


U.S. Slows Bid to Advance Democracy in Arab World
When Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and other senior American officials arrive at a summit meeting in Morocco next week that is intended to promote democracy across the Arab world, they have no plans to introduce any political initiatives to encourage democratic change.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/05/politics/05powell.html


Dutchman held for 'Iraq genocide'
The United Nations suspects the man was a major chemical supplier to the former Iraqi regime, having made 36 separate shipments, including mustard gas and nerve gas originating from the United States and Japan.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4074803.stm

December 06, 2004

In Irtah and Far'un: Demolitions, Ghettoization, Settlement Industrial Zones and Environmental Devastation
In the two villages of Irtah and Far'un, south of the city of Tulkarem, the Occupation Forces have continued their ongoing confiscation and demolition policies. In these villages, the most recent implementation of these policies show the Occupation plans for the total ghettoization of communities isolated by the Wall. They also reveal the intended fate of these ghettos...
http://stopthewall.org/latestnews/819.shtml


In Tulkarem: A Buffer Zone for the Wall on the Eastern Side 300 Meters Wide, New Confiscations, and New Demolitions
These military orders emphasize the step-by-step policy pursued by the Occupation in order to impose a new reality on the ground. The completion of the Apartheid Wall in the northern part of the West Bank did not end the targeting of Palestinians living in the Tulkarem area by the Occupation Forces.
http://stopthewall.org/latestnews/815.shtml


Israel's new road plans condemned as 'apartheid'
It has been repeated by Ariel Sharon and by ministers, yet now government papers suggest that Israel intends to bypass the peace plan, creating a Palestinian state of enclaves, surrounded by walls and linked by tunnels and special roads. Israel has released plans for the upgrade of roads and construction of 16 tunnels which would create an 'apartheid' road network for Palestinians in the West Bank.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1366855,00.html


Israeli army razes Palestinian lands in S. Gaza
The sources said the Israeli troops backed by bulldozers and tanks stormed the area before dawn. Hundreds of olive and palm trees were destroyed, they added. Meanwhile, the Israeli army continued its attack in the southern Gaza Strip towns of Rafah and Khan Younis, injuring six Palestinians.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/06/content_2301594.htm


International Human Rights Activist Jailed for Participating in Non-violent Protest Against the Illegal Israeli Wall
A week ago the Israeli Army brutally attacked a non-violent protest by the villagers who were protesting the theft and destruction of their land by the construction of the Wall. 20 Palestinians were injured by live fire and rubber-coated bullets from the Israeli army, one seriously.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/palsolidarity/message/1096


Female prisoners in Telmond start hunger strike protest
In a deliberate effort to make the miserable living conditions even worse, guards sprayed cold water all over the prisoners' belongings, soaking their mattresses and clothes. Given that it is winter, the women were not able to dry the bedding, so were forced to sleep in cold damp beds. The prison administration cut the prisoners' electricity and water supplies, and the smell of the tear gas continues to cling to the walls of the cells.
http://www.dci-pal.org/english/Display.cfm?DocId=315&CategoryId=1


Barghouti offers Palestinians real choice
He and they were angered by Fatah's response, say friends. Once members of the old guard got what they wanted they didn't show appreciation for his backing. In particular, Mr Abbas made no statement demanding his release from prison ahead of any return to negotiations with Israel. The feeling, say friends, is that Barghouti played his only card and got nothing in return.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4066591.stm


Security forces, settlers face off at West Bank outpost
Israel Radio reported that the settlers had brought two housing units to the outpost, which connects the West Bank settlement of Ofra - located just north of Ramallah - to Jerusalem and nearby settlements Kokhav Yaakov and Psagot.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/510880.html


Four Birzeit University Students Illegally Deported to Gaza
The four students - Walid Muhanna, Bashar Abu Salim, Mohammad Matar and Bashar Abu Shahala – are all students of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at Birzeit University and are all due to graduate by the end of this academic year. Israeli soldiers forcibly entered the students’ apartment building in Birzeit at 2a.m. last Thursday night and arrested the four students.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article3396.shtml


General: 1 in 5 troops behave badly at roadblocks
Some 20 percent of IDF soldiers join the army with the preconception that Arab lives are worth less than Jewish lives - and subsequently behave improperly at roadblocks, the head of the Israel Defense Forces personnel branch, Major General Elazar Stern, said Monday. ( I really wish they are as few! )
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/510815.html


IDF probing charge that troops killed wounded suspect
The Israel Defense Forces is investigating a claim by the B'Tselem human rights group, which said Monday there was "serious suspicion" that IDF troops who killed a wanted Islamic Jihad man in the West Bank over the weekend shot him to death while he was lying on the ground, wounded and unarmed.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=510895&contrassID=1&subContrassID=5&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Palestinian militants kill suspected collaborator
An Al Aqsa spokesman said al-Hindi helped Israeli undercover agents track down and kill three of its members in Ramallah on Nov. 21. A neighbor, Salam Yacob, said Al-Hindi watched the fugitives and informed on them to Israeli intelligence when the men were killed.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=510676&contrassID=1&subContrassID=5&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y


Member of Jewish terrorist organization jailed for 8 years
Zeliger was tried in September of this year for belonging to a terrorist organization under an counter-terrorism order - the first time that this has been used since indictments were brought against members of the "Jewish underground" in the 1980s.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/510862.html


Court extends Fahima's remand
"I request that while the investigation continues they allow me to sleep, that they not deny me food and that I not be sexually harassed as a means of pressure. I was interrogated and went through that nightmare. I request that this time the level of abuse be lower."
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/510369.html


Israel, Egypt and US to set up free-trade link
Israel, Egypt and the United States are to set up four free-trade zones under an agreement to be signed on December 14, which will give certain goods duty-free entry to the American market, according to the office of Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1506&ncid=1312&e=3&u=/afp/20041206/ts_alt_afp/israel_egypt_us_041206134704


Barghouti candidacy means out of Fatah
"Whoever resists deliberately the decisions of Fatah's Central Committee is considered to be resigning regardless of his post and rank and his membership will be eventually eliminated by the committee," Kaddoumi told a press conference late Sunday.
http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20041206-072750-4724r.htm


Israel boycott row hits college
London University School of Oriental and African Studies has come under fire for agreeing to host a conference tomorrow at which academics begin a campaign to break links with Israeli universities, significantly increasing an academic boycott of Israel.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1366190,00.html