Arabic News Weekly Edition for Palestine, 3/22/1999
Weekly Edition, Palestine - Week of March 22, 1999
- Israel criticizes EU support for Palestinian state
Israel yesterday criticized the statement of support from the European Union for the establishment of a Palestinian state. Palestine-Israel-European Union, Politics, 3/26/1999 - US mulls aid package for peace process
US Undersecretary of State Indyk indicated a strong link between US economic and political goals in the Middle East, saying, "With a GNP approaching $100 billion and a standard of living equal to much of Western Europe, Israel is now able to stand on its own feet economically and this has enabled the Congress to begin the phase-out of economic assistance to Israel. On the other side, Israel's Arab partners in the peace process face daunting economic challenges Regional-Palestine-USA, Economics, 3/26/1999 - Japan grants Palestine $ 7.45 mln for road maintenance and sanitation improvement
The Japanese government has granted Palestine an aid of U.S.$ 7.45 million (879 million yen) for a project to maintain and improve roads in the West Bank and improve the sanitation system in Khan Yunis. Palestine-Japan, Economics, 3/25/1999 - Arafat asks for implementing agreements signed at the White House
Following his meeting with Annan, Arafat reminded the world that "the UN resolution which calls for the establishment of the state of Israel was no 181, which at the very beginning indicated the state of Palestine and then a Jewish state," which was called later Israel, "as well as UN resolution 194." Palestine, Politics, 3/24/1999 - US wants an extension of Palestinian-Israeli talks beyond May 4th Palestine-USA, Politics, 3/24/1999
- Regular air flights between Gaza and the UAE shortly
Palestine's Consul in Dubai, Salim Abu Sultan, on Tuesday said that the Palestinian air line company will as of next Friday start flights to Dubai airport in the United Arab Emirates. United Arab Emirates-Palestine, Politics, 3/24/1999 - Palestine unemployment rate at 20% Palestine, Economics, 3/24/1999
- PLO central council to meet on the issue of declaring the Palestinian state Palestine, Politics, 3/24/1999
- Pope John Paul II to visit Jerusalem Palestine-Israel-Vatican, Culture, 3/23/1999
- Vatican envoy in the Palestinian territories
Vatican envoy Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, who is also the chairman of the millennium committee, on Monday started a four-day visit to the holy lands in order to prepare for celebration to mark the second millennium since the birth of the Christ. Palestine-Israel-Vatican, Politics, 3/23/1999 - Palestinian milling company ceases work
the general manager of the company, Shaker Alafa, said that the company's mills, which are supposed to produce 210 tonnes of fine flour daily in addition to 40 tonnes of other derivatives, were paralyzed because some Palestinian merchants whose interests are connected to Israel have flooded Gaza markets with Israeli flour. Palestine, Business, 3/23/1999 - On Chirac - Arafat meeting in Paris
Arafat said, "The Oslo agreement was signed at the White House under the supervision of Clinton. It was signed by Russia, the US, Norway, Egypt, and Jordan, in the presence of the Japanese foreign minister and the representative of the UN secretary general," adding, "On this ground this decision (of establishing the Palestinian state) is not a Palestinian - Israeli decision, rather an international decision." Palestine-France, Politics, 3/23/1999 - Albright - Arafat Palestine-USA, Politics, 3/23/1999
- Hamas expects new Israeli raids against its members Palestine, Politics, 3/23/1999
- Sheikh Yassin denies agreement with Palestinian Authority
Sheikh Yassin said: "We have to see first what sort of state we will get and what sort of state we can talk about, while the Israelis control our borders, entrances, economy and life," adding the Hamas will never agree to the establishment of a state under occupation. Palestine, Politics, 3/22/1999 - Russian ambassador: Russia calls for delaying declaration of Palestinian state Palestine-Russia, Politics, 3/22/1999
- Palestinian groups boycott Palestinian Democratic Front festival
The Monte Carlo correspondent in Damascus said that all Palestinian factions opposing the Oslo agreement on Friday boycotted the Democratic Front Festival which was held in Damascus on Friday on the occasion of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine's 30th anniversary. Palestine, Politics, 3/22/1999