Arabic News Weekly Edition for Palestine, 4/15/2002
Weekly Edition, Palestine - Week of April 15, 2002
- Moussa presses for neutral mediator in Middle East
"The Arabs will not spend another ten years trapped inside a vicious circle giving Israel time to build more settlements and impose a status quo," Moussa stressed. Palestine-Regional, Politics, 4/20/2002 - Morocco welcomes Annan's proposal to deploy multinational force, protect Palestinians
Morocco welcomed the UN secretary General's initiative to dispatch a multinational force to the occupied Palestinian territories, and stressed the need to rescue the people in Palestine and called for an investigation into the Jenine mass slaughters. Morocco-Palestine, Politics, 4/20/2002 - Yemeni president for continued support to the Palestinians
The Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has called on the Yemeni citizens to continue their support for the Palestinian people until they restore back their complete rights and establish their own independent state with Jerusalem as a capital. Yemen-Palestine, Politics, 4/20/2002 - Security Council votes to send fact-finding team to Jenin
The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously late Friday to dispatch a fact-finding team to investigate events in the Palestinian refugee camp in Jenin during the recent Israeli military invasion in the West Bank. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 4/20/2002 - Solana: The Palestinians, Israelis will agree on sending UN observers to the region, shortly
The official in charge of the foreign policy and security in the European Union Javier Solana on Friday expressed his conviction that the Palestinian and Israeli sides will reach an agreement concerning sending UN observers to the region, shortly. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 4/20/2002 - Some 12 Palestinians killed Friday; Some 400 Jenin victims
in Beitonia village the Palestinian child Mahmoud Abu Khadra ( 9 year old) died of a bullet in the head. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 4/20/2002 - Multinational force can help restore trust between Israelis, Palestinians, UN envoy says
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan's proposal for a multinational force in the Middle East would help restore trust between the Israelis and Palestinians that is essential for ensuring the security goals of both sides and restarting the political process, Annan's top envoy to the region said Friday. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 4/20/2002 - Six nominees to succeed Arafat
Palestinian sources in Ramullah have talked about the appointment of Yasser Arafat, the chairman of the Palestinian Authority of six Palestinians as successors for him in case of his sudden absence. Palestine, Politics, 4/20/2002 - UK parliamentarian: Sharon is a 'war criminal' Palestine-Israel, Politics, 4/19/2002
- US continues obstruction of effective international law; multinational force concept made meaningless
US Ambassador John Negroponte said yesterday that any peacekeeping force must have the consent of Israel -- effectively making Annan's idea meaningless. Worth noting that Israel continues to violate UN resolutions with the US vetoing all efforts that have any true effect of forcing Israel to comply with international law. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 4/19/2002 - Two UN envoys tell of 'horrific' devastation in Jenin camp
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan yesterday said he was deeply disturbed by the report of "horrific" devastation he received from two top UN officials in the Middle East who had visited parts of the Jenin refugee camp earlier on Thursday. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 4/19/2002 - Amnesty International reiterates calls for international inquiry of Israel
Amnesty International delegates in Jenin said "There is strong evidence that human rights and international humanitarian law were breached in Jenin by the Israeli Defence Forces." Palestine-Israel, Politics, 4/19/2002 - Bush commends Sharon's war, redescribing him as 'a man of peace'
Bush commended the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon and once again described him as "a man of peace," but the chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Oreikat strongly rejected Bush's description of Sharon, saying that this title is "an award for the state terrorism and the war crimes practiced by Sharon against the Palestinian people." UK Parliament member Gerald Kaufman had denounced Ariel Sharon as a "war criminal" the UK daily the Guardian reported. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 4/19/2002 - Arab states call for trying Sharon, Ben Eliezer Palestine-Israel, Politics, 4/18/2002
- No conference before Israeli withdrawal
"Israeli demands are well-known and they violate legitimacy, logic, right, justice and can not be accepted," said Maher. Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 4/18/2002 - Prayers in Moroccan mosques friday for Palestinian martyrs
At the instruction of King Mohammed VI, prayers of the absent will be performed Friday in the memory of the martyrs of occupied Palestine immediately after the Friday prayers Morocco-Palestine, Politics, 4/18/2002 - It would take three years for Palestinian economy to recover
Representatives from the World Bank and the United Nations say Israel's offensive into Palestinian territories destroyed the Palestinian economy. Palestine, Economics, 4/18/2002 - Powell fails, conditions worse, Israel breaks to new Palestinians areas, Sharon stresses US understanding
Oreikat questioned that if the US administration will not force Sharon to abide by withdrawal from Ramullah and Bethlehem, how can the American administration convince the Arab states and the world that the US will force Sharon to withdraw until June 4, 1967 border lines in a future peace "through this conference or that." Palestine-Israel, Politics, 4/18/2002 - Powell's remarks about his trip and the Palestinian situation Palestine-USA, Politics, 4/18/2002
- Robinson urges Israel to permit her fact finding commission to the Palestinian territories Palestine-Israel, Politics, 4/18/2002
- One Egyptian killed trying to sneak into Gaza
Egyptian medical and security sources said on Wednesday that one Egyptian youth was killed on Tuesday upon trying to sneak into Gaza through Salah Eddine Gate at the Egyptian borders, noting that he was carrying explosives. Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 4/18/2002 - Norway wants to know what happened in the Palestinian Jenin Camp
Norway's prime minister said on Wednesday that his country is intending to know what had happened in the Jenin camp of the Palestinian refugees to the north of the West Bank which was invaded by the Israeli forces, but he linked making an investigation to what he called cease fire between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Palestine-Norway, Politics, 4/18/2002 - Egyptian woman dies from scenes of Israeli attacks against the Palestinians Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 4/18/2002
- Amnesty urges immediate humanitarian assistance for Jenin
"It is shocking that the authorities have not asked for help and that the international community is not offering it. Let this be the wake-up call that help is needed now to save what life there is left," the London-Based Human-Rights Organization said. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 4/18/2002 - Arafat and the Israeli peace conference
The spokesman for the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon said that Israel will permit the chairman of the Palestinian authority Yasser Arafat to attend the peace conference under the auspices of the US if he can prove "actual commitment to peace." Palestine-Israel, Politics, 4/18/2002 - Washington threatens Arafat to ban the PLO; renews exemption
The US administration has warned the PLO of the possibility of acting according to the law of 1987 which imposes sanctions on the Palestine Liberation Organization PLO in its being a terrorist state. Palestine-USA, Politics, 4/18/2002 - UNESCO reveals Israeli crimes against Palestinian antiquities
The Executive Committee of UNESCO International Heritage Center approved referring the draft resolution of condemning Israeli forces aggressions against historic and archeological locations in the Palestinian town to the general conference due to be held in Budapest in June next year. Palestine-Israel, Military, 4/18/2002 - Five Arab finance institutions give 10% of 2001 profits to Palestinian people
Five Arab finance institutions, which are meeting in Algiers, have decided to give 10% of their 2001 profits to support the Palestinian people, said Moroccan finance, economy, privatization and tourism minister, Fathallah Oualalou, who is leading the Moroccan delegation to the annual conference. Palestine-Regional, Economics, 4/17/2002 - Maher pursues contacts on situation in Middle East
He added that the massacres, killing operations and shelling of Palestinian cities and villages as well as denying the Palestinians their right to live in dignity, would not stand in the way of Palestinians to attain freedom and independence. Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 4/17/2002 - Israel terror cannot defer Palestinian rights
Egypt's Permanent Delegate to the UN, ambassador Ahmad Abul Gheit said that the Palestinians were exposed to aggression, degradation and mass murder, which are all condemned by international law. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 4/17/2002 - Sharon renews rejection to all international resolutions
Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon renewed his rejection to all international resolutions relating to the region's question. He said that Israel will not accept the implementation of UN resolution 194 provided for the return back of the Palestinian refugees, noting that he wants those Palestinians to be settled in the areas where they do exist. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 4/17/2002 - World calls to put Sharon to trial
Amnesty International has called for an investigation to reveal all the circumstances surrounding the murder of hundreds of Palestinians in the West Bank which has been recently swept by the Israeli forces. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 4/17/2002 - Moroccan speaker calls inter-parliamentary union to intervene for liberation of Palestinian leader
Speaker of the Moroccan House of Representatives, Abdelouahed Radi, called the inter-parliamentary union to urgently intervene for the liberation of Marwane Barghouti, member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, arrested on Monday by the Israeli occupation forces. Morocco-Palestine, Politics, 4/17/2002 - Pope John Paul II telephones Bethlehem
Pope John Paul II in a telephone call on Monday with Ibrahim Faltas, who is responsible for Franciscan Clergies in the Nativity church in Bethlehem has expressed his great concern over the war and violence taking place in the holy lands and his support for the Palestinians. Palestine-Vatican, Politics, 4/17/2002 - Moroccan planes conveying assistance to Palestinian people land in Jordan
Two Moroccan planes, loaded with humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people, landed in the Airport of Amman (Jordan) on Tuesday. Morocco-Palestine, Economics, 4/17/2002 - Israeli forces incurred into Toulkarem, continue detention campaigns
The Israeli aggression against the Palestinians continued on Tuesday. The Israeli forces continued storming into the Palestinian cities and towns and assassinated national cadres, while the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon renewed his rejection to the UN resolutions relating to the Arab- Israeli conflict. Palestine-Israel, Military, 4/17/2002 - Two western painters give receipts of paintings sale to Palestine
Two western painters, France's Najia Mehadjia and Italy's Ruggero Giangiacomi have decided to give receipts of their paintings sale to the Palestinian people, who are facing occupation and aggressions by the Israeli army. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 4/17/2002 - Al-Barghouti's wife appeals for his release Palestine-Israel, Politics, 4/17/2002
- Football: World Stars Play Gala Match in Solidarity with Palestinian People
Arab, African and world stars will play a gala match to show solidarity with the Palestinian people, prey to a savage Israeli invasion. Palestine-Regional, Sports, 4/17/2002 - Saudi Arabia confirmed arresting Abdul Hameed al-Mubarak following demonstration
The Saudi deputy minister of the interior prince Ahmad Bin Abdul Aziz unveiled that the Saudi authorities arrested Abdul Hameed Mubarak after he had organized a demonstration of support for the Palestinian people and in denunciation of the Israeli aggression, in al-Khuber city to the Eastern part of Saudi Arabia ten days ago. Saudi Arabia-Palestine, Politics, 4/16/2002 - King Fahd: Israel violates human rights principles
King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia has stressed upon presiding over Monday's meeting of the Saudi Cabinet that "Israel's continued daily massacres and aggressions in the occupied Palestinian territories, killing of innocents, hiding corpses and demolishing the Palestinian camps reveal its unwillingness to abide by the will of the international community and its persistence to exterminate the Palestinian people in a flagrant defiance of the simplest human rights principles and international legitimacy resolutions." Saudi Arabia-Palestine, Politics, 4/16/2002 - Arafat accepts the convening of a peace conference
The chairman of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat announced his readiness to accept the Israeli proposal to convene a regional conference for peace under the condition it will be under the auspices of the UN. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 4/16/2002 - UN rights body condemns Israel for 'mass killings'
The United Nations top human rights body condemned Israel on Monday for "mass killings" of Palestinians and demanded it to end its military offensive in the occupied territories. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 4/16/2002 - Arabs group for probes into Israeli abuses
The Egyptian diplomat demanded prompt investigations into the Israeli abuses and the dispatch of monitoring peacekeeping forces Palestine-Israel, Politics, 4/16/2002 - Powell to meet Sharon today , Arafat tomorrow Palestine-USA, Politics, 4/16/2002
- Egypt's stance is effective and influential
During a meeting at the leaders' promotion institute, Osama El-Baz, Political Advisor of President Mubarak asserted that the Egyptian stance towards the Palestinian cause is effective and influential, and is based on deeds not words. Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 4/16/2002 - Israeli forces continue incursions, corpses in Ramullah, evidences of Sharon's crimes
As for the tour of the US secretary of state Collin Powel into the region, observers in Washington said that the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon through launching the trial balloon of convening a regional conference including Israel and certain Arab states, is considered a maneuver in order to appear as if he is carrying a peace initiative. Palestine-Israel, Military, 4/16/2002 - Commissioner on Human Rights Submits Status report on planned mission to Middle East
High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson this afternoon presented to the Commission on Human Rights a status report on her planned visiting mission to the occupied Palestinian territories. She said that since the resolution was adopted, violence had escalated even further and there had been more suicide-bombings and further destruction and loss of life in the territories. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 4/16/2002 - Moufaz: Israeli army operations in the West Bank continue Palestine-Israel, Military, 4/16/2002
- ISESCO Extends Financial Assistance to Palestinian Monuments Department
The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO/based in Rabat) has extended a financial assistance to the Palestinian department in charge of monuments. Regional-Palestine, Culture, 4/16/2002 - Arafat- Powell meeting positive
Egyptian Foreign Minister Maher described Sunday's meeting between Arafat and the US. Secretary of State Colin Powell as positive despite the hesitation prior to it. Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 4/15/2002 - Israel violates human rights, derails peace process Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 4/15/2002
- Morocco extends emergency humanitarian assistance to Palestinian people Morocco-Palestine, Local, 4/15/2002
- EU Foreign Ministers to discuss measures for pressurizing Israel
The Foreign Ministers of European Union will discuss in Luxembourg today a wide array of measures for pressurizing Israel withdraw its troops from the Palestinian territories. Palestine-European Union, Politics, 4/15/2002 - Moussa discusses providing protection for Palestinians
Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa starts on Monday a our-day visit to Switzerland and Britain during which he is scheduled to hold talks with the UN Human Rights Commissioner and the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as well as with British Foreign Minister Jack Straw. Regional-Palestine, Politics, 4/15/2002 - Israeli army buries killed Palestinians in the occupies Golan Palestine-Israel, Politics, 4/15/2002
- Amnesty international, human right groups slam Israeli practices
If a state's army committed what Israel's have done, it should immediately be put on trial; Palestine-Israel, Politics, 4/15/2002 - Moussa updated on outcome of Arafat Powell meeting
Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa met late Sunday with Palestinian Planning and International Cooperation Minister Nabil Shaath. Palestine-Regional, Politics, 4/15/2002 - Vatican launches war against Israeli crimes
The Vatican launched a semi-official warfare against Israel terming its re-occupation of Palestinian territories as genocide against the Palestinian people, due to which the international community must intervene. Palestine-Vatican, Politics, 4/15/2002 - Powell describes his talks with Arafat as constructive
The US secretary of state Collin Powell described his talks with the chairman of the Palestinian authority Yasser Arafat which lasted more than three hours at his besieged headquarters in Ramullah as "useful and constructive." Palestine-USA, Politics, 4/15/2002 - Annan calls for middle east force
In a brief press encounter with reporters in Geneva Sunday, Secretary-General Kofi Annan was asked about the situation in the Middle East, and he discussed his concern about the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian refugee camps, saying, "Once we get access to the camps, I think we are all going to have a lot of work to do." Palestine-Israel, Politics, 4/15/2002 - Saudi Arabia donations to the Palestinians Saudi Arabia-Palestine, Economics, 4/15/2002
- Maher phones Arafat on situation in Palestinian territories
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher phoned Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in Ramallah late Sunday. Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 4/15/2002 - Saudi donation campaign for Palestinians is not a provocation to violence: US
The White House has stated that the donation campaigns organized by the Saudi TV for the interests of the Palestinian people doe not fall in the context of provoking violence. Saudi Arabia-Palestine, Politics, 4/15/2002 - Khatami confers with al-Qaddoumi
The Iranian radio said on Sunday that the Iranian President Muhammad Khatami on Saturday evening received the chairman of the PLO political department Farouk al-Qaddoumi, currently visiting Tehran. Palestine-Iran, Politics, 4/15/2002 - Palestinians are serious in observing their commitments of Israelis withdraw from West Bank
Amidst indications that US diplomacy could succeed in putting an end to the current dilemma in the Palestinian territories, Secretary of State Colin Powell wound up his meeting at noon yesterday with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat at his besieged headquarters in Ram Allah with encouraging statements. Palestine-USA, Politics, 4/15/2002 - Abul Gheit stresses need to dispatch international troops to protect Palestinians
Egypt's permanent delegate to the United Nations Ambassador Ahmed Abul Gheit urged the international community to take swifter steps to send international troops to the region to protect Palestinians from "the barbaric Israeli aggression." Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 4/15/2002 - Hamas vows to continue resistance
The Palestinian resistance movement ( Hamas ) on Sunday stressed that it will continue resistance as far as the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories continues. Palestine-USA, Politics, 4/15/2002 - Trucks laden with relief aid arrive at Rafah checkpoint
Four trucks laden with dairy products and mineral water arrived Sunday at Rafah checkpoint on their way to the Palestinian self-rule areas. Egypt-Palestine, Local, 4/15/2002 - Israel: imprisonment or expulsion for persons besieged in Nativity church
Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon has put two options before the 200 Palestinians who are besieged In the Nativity Church either to be jailed or exiled for ever. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 4/15/2002 - Israeli economy paralyzed, amid increasing Arab calls for boycotting Israel
Studies are under way to find out means of dealing with the pro-Israeli economies, Abu Ismail noted. Palestine-Regional, Politics, 4/15/2002