Arabic News Weekly Edition for Local, 12/29/1997
Weekly Edition, Local - Week of December 29, 1997
- Rocket attack on UN headquarters in Baghdad
News agencies, Last night two RBJ 7 rockets were fired at the headquarters of the UN in Baghdad. The rockets, apparently carrying unarmed grenades, entered the building through a window and hit the cafeteria. Iraq, Local, 1/3/1998 - Secret Israeli papers found their way to Hizbollah
Top secret documents and plans stolen from a secret naval base a year ago were believed to have found their way to Hizbullah in Lebanon and helped the party's commandos set up the ambush for the ill-fated Israeli naval raid on Ansaria in Lebanon last October. Israel, Military, 1/3/1998 - American attempt to support relations with Syria
US Senator Arlen Specter is likely to visit the Syrian capital on January 3, followed by two other congressional and Arab American delegations will visit Syria on January 7. Syria, International, 1/2/1998 - Israeli soldier wounded by Lebanese resistance
Israeli occupation forces continued aggressions against south Lebanon and the siege of Shabaa. Israeli artillery shelled the woods, valleys and Lebanese towns and villages adjacent to the occupied part of south Lebanon. Security reports from south Lebanon noted heavy material losses. Lebanon-Israel, Military, 1/2/1998 - Egyptian lawyer requests government pardon for Afghan Egyptians
The lawyer of the Islamic extremist groups in Egypt, Montaser Al Zayat, requested the that Egyptian political leadership reconsider the method with which it deals with religious groups and release detained members of those groups who are not involved in specific cases. Egypt, Judicial, 1/2/1998 - Women's rallies request release of detained Hamas members
Women and children demonstrated in the city of Nablus and requested the release of detained members of Hamas who are jailed in Palestinian prisons. Palestine, Local, 1/2/1998 - French defense minister in brief Lebanon visit
French Defense Minister Alain Richard arrived in Lebanon Thursday for a brief visit during which he inspected his country's peacekeeping troops in south Lebanon and met with officials in Beirut. Lebanon, Military, 1/2/1998 - Sudanese rebels surrender to government Sudan, Military, 1/2/1998
- 14 Turkish Hizbullah members arrested Turkey, Local, 1/2/1998
- Iraq - US Iraq, International, 1/2/1998
- Israel to renovate Turkish warplanes
Turkey on Wednesday offered a US $75 million contract to renovate 48 F-15 warplanes to Israel. Israel-Turkey, Military, 1/2/1998 - Christian communities in Syria celebrate the New Year
In his sermon at the Greek-Orthodox cathedral in Damascus bishop George Abu Zakhm extended his greetings to the country's people on the new year and on the fasting month of Ramadan. Syria, Religion, 1/2/1998 - Turkish captain referred to criminal court for kidnapping 8 Egyptians
The public prosecutor charged them with kidnapping 8 Egyptians on board the Turkish ship on October 23 and keeping them on the ship. Egypt, Judicial, 12/31/1997 - Jordanian diplomat's car attacked in Israel
It was the second time in three months that the diplomat's car was vandalized. The reason for the attacks was not known and that the diplomat was not in the car during the incidents. Jordan-Israel, Local, 12/31/1997 - Campaign combats drug cultivation
A week-long campaign to combat the cultivation of narcotics in Sinai led to the destruction of 75 feddans of cannabis and bungee in Sinai. Egypt, Local, 12/31/1997 - Lebanese resistance launches operations against Israeli troops
Lebanese national resistance forces on Tuesday attacked Israeli positions in Kassaret al-Arosh, Ali al-Taher and Dabdha. Lebanon-Israel, Military, 12/31/1997 - Al-Azhar academy approves of Islamic-Jewish meeting
An Islamic institution yesterday said it was religiously acceptable for the grand Imam of Al-Azhar to confer with clergymen from other religious. Regional, Religion, 12/31/1997 - Four Jordanians sentenced for planning attacks on Israel
At the sentencing, Judge Youssef Faouri of the state security court in Amman said, "The defendants possession of arms and explosives and their plotting attacks against Israelis is a threat to the national security of Jordan." Jordan, Judicial, 12/31/1997 - Ramadan: hopes but less hope
Fruits, vegetables, cheap electronic gadgets and simple clothes are on sale in this market which, in the month of Ramadan, becomes perhaps the busiest part of the Jerusalem markets. Palestine, Religion, 12/31/1997 - Qatar's Emir pardons prisoners Qatar, Local, 12/31/1997
- Newly enacted provision on antiquities Syria, Local, 12/31/1997
- Jordan called upon not to take part in maneuvers Jordan, Military, 12/31/1997
- $300 million from the World Bank to Toshki
The World Bank (WB) agreed to dedicate $300 million in the form of loans to private sector companies investing in agricultural development in the Toshki project in Egypt Egypt, Agriculture, 12/31/1997 - Committee discusses authority to monitor weapons treaty signatories
the technical committee concerned with drafting a treaty to rid the Middle East of weapons of mass destruction Regional, Military, 12/31/1997 - Updated: Israel's Mossad suffers a major blow by Hizbullah agent
The sources added that al-Zein was exposed to brutal interrogation, which made him pretend to collaborate with Israeli intelligence. He was later assigned security missions, during which he could contact Hizbullah cells. Lebanon-Israel, Military, 12/30/1997 - Egyptian cinematographers bring medicine to Iraqi children
Egyptian filmmaker Youssef Chahin and actor Khaled al- Nabawi arrived in Baghdad on Sunday leading an Egyptian delegation with humanitarian aid for Iraqi children. Iraq-Egypt, International, 12/30/1997 - Lockerbie lawyer calls on UN's Annan for help
The lawyer of the Libyan defendants in the Lockerbie case Ibrahim Al Ghawil called on the UN secretary general Kofi Annan to study a proposal which suggests holding their trial in Lahai according to Scottish law. Libya, Judicial, 12/30/1997 - Ramadan starts today
Muslims all over the world started today their annual fasting month, Ramadan Regional, Religion, 12/30/1997 - Palestinian writers kicked out, Egyptian writers back in
The AWU's chairman and conference's chairman Ali Oqla Orsan said that the "Palestinian seat is there and the Palestinians would occupy it effectively after legal elections enabling the Palestinians nominate their representatives to the AWU." Regional, Culture, 12/30/1997 - Moslems of the world, be united
The Supreme Islamic Council in Jerusalem issued a statement Tuesday to all Moslems and Arabs reminding them of their responsibilities towards the protection of the Aqsa Mosque and the city of Jerusalem from Israeli occupation and ultra right wing threats. Regional-Palestine, Religion, 12/30/1997 - Olive oil sales earn 106 million dinars a year for Tunisia
The intake from the olive oil harvest increased to 30% of total agricultural exports. Olive oil proceeds during the 5-year plan which ended last year reached 106 million dinars a year. Tunisia, Agriculture, 12/30/1997 - Bahrain arson Bahrain, Local, 12/30/1997
- Turkish incursion over Turkey-Iraq, Military, 12/30/1997
- Suszkin convicted Israel, Judicial, 12/30/1997
- Mohamed Shoeih: the Security Situation is not A Substantial Problem
Algerian director Mohamed Shoeih said that the security situation is not a substantial problem for Algerians working the cinema industry compared to the financial and structural chaos prevailing in their artistic life. Algeria, Entertainment, 12/30/1997 - Palestinian prisoner on hunger strike again
Elayan, held under administrative detention since last October, went on a hunger strike for 40 days ending December 2, when she was promised that she would be released during the month of Ramadan. Palestine-Israel, Local, 12/30/1997 - New Israeli police unit in Jerusalem
Israel has decided to deploy special police forces to accompany Jerusalem municipality employees and inspectors during their raids on shops and houses in East Jerusalem. Israel-Palestine, Local, 12/30/1997 - Food shortage in Arab countries is a major economic problem
the Arab countries will have to import more than one third of their food from foreign countries at high cost, increasing Arab debts and affecting other sectors in those countries. Regional, Agriculture, 12/29/1997 - The racist who wanted to throw a pig's head into Al Aqsa mosque
it is no wonder that he ends up planning not only to throw the pig's head into the Mosque but even to stir a religious war against Islam," the Palestinian official said. Al Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam, after Mecca and Medina. Palestine-Israel, Religion, 12/29/1997 - Egyptians united in denouncing Luxor attack
"There is a conspiracy being prepared against Egypt to hit the beating heart of the Arab and Muslim world. The terrorists seek to introduce sectarian conflict and civil war to Egypt," he continued. Egypt, Religion, 12/29/1997 - Israeli warplanes attack guerrillas in south Lebanon
Israeli war planes flew low over the Iqlim al-Tuffah province, where Hizbullah guerrillas maintain bases and often launch their attacks on the Israeli-occupied enclave in south Lebanon. Lebanon-Israel, Military, 12/29/1997 - The chase after a Hamas engineer?
Israel has so far failed to detain a prominent member of Hamas, the Islamic Resistance Movement, and has recently detained a relative of his to exert pressure on the rest of the family. Ahmad Awadallah is believed by Israel to be building explosive devices. Israel-Palestine, Judicial, 12/29/1997 - Turkey: 37,000 people lost their lives in Kurd conflict
President Suleyman Demirel, announcing this alarming number of deaths, vowed to continue the war. "We are determined to defend our territorial integrity until the end," Demirel told reporters. Turkey, Military, 12/29/1997 - MEA plane faces troubles over Cedars, 21 injured
MEA's acting chairman, Khattar Hadathi, said the pilot ran into what is commonly known as a "mountain wave" which causes the plane to drop sharply from a high altitude at high speed. Lebanon, Local, 12/29/1997 - Ramadan start Egypt-Iran, Religion, 12/29/1997
- Brush with danger at Dubai airport United Arab Emirates, Local, 12/29/1997
- Algerian massacre Algeria, Military, 12/29/1997
- Algeria security Algeria, Local, 12/29/1997
- Circumcision ban upheld Egypt, Judicial, 12/29/1997
- Algerian massacre claims 27 lives
Attackers brutally killed 27 villagers in southwestern Algeria, 48 hours after the killing of more than 80 civilians in the same region, an Algerian newspaper said yesterday. Algeria, Military, 12/29/1997 - UN's Annan hopes for a fast Iraqi solution
The United Nations hopes for a "quick solution" to the weapons inspection problem posed by Iraq, but will leave any action to the UN Security Council, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said yesterday. Iraq, International, 12/29/1997 - Tariq Aziz welcomes resumption of US-Iraqi negotiations
Iraqi Deputy Premier Tariq Aziz stated that Iraq is ready to resume negotiations with the US, as an important country like the United States cannot be ignored, but that Iraq rejects being subordinate to any country. Iraq, International, 12/29/1997 - Lebanon lodges complaint to understanding committee; Israelis arrest 12
Lebanon has presented a complaint to the five-nation April Understanding monitoring committee, protesting against Israel's Thursday shelling of inhabited districts in the Lebanese Kafra and Majdal Zoun towns. Lebanon-Israel, Military, 12/29/1997 - US fighter planes to UAE in near future
The UAE is expected to buy 80 fighter planes, most likely F-16's. Sources in the UAE expect that those planes will be bought from the US. United Arab Emirates, Military, 12/29/1997 - Northern Iraq, PUK accuse Turkish warplanes
Voice of Kurdistan People radio, run by Jalal Talbani's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan in northern Iraq, reported Sunday that four Turkish war planes flew over the PUK fighters positions. Iraq, Military, 12/29/1997