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lk
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News from Israel
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Jun 24 23:08 UTC 2003 |
To help keep people abreast of developments in this part of the world,
I often quote headlines from the Israeli paper Haaretz. Haaretz is an
affiliate of the International Herald Tribune and in 2002 was awarded
a prize by the Missouri School of Journalism for its excellent coverage
under difficult circumstances.
If anyone wishes to discuss a particular subject, such as the so-called
"right of return", or "Jerusalem", or historical aspects, that would
probably be better suited to its own item.
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| 169 responses total. |
lk
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response 1 of 169:
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Jun 24 23:12 UTC 2003 |
21:02 Three mortar shells land in Gush Katif settlement bloc in the
Gaza Strip; one person lightly wounded
17:14 Leon Uris, whose works included `Exodus,` tale of Holocaust
survivors struggling to found State of Israel, dies aged 78
17:33 Egyptian FM Maher: we expect militant Palestinian groups to
declare a cease-fire in next few days
16:37 Intelligence official: Hamas agrees in principle to 3-month
cease-fire both in territories and inside Israel
16:13 Sharon: Palestinians more forthright about willingness to fight
terror in closed talks than in public statements
15:49 Demolition notices issued for four caravans used as classrooms
in West Bank settlement of Talmon
15:32 Ibrahim Salame, wanted for role in several terror attacks, among
four Tanzim members who army says were planning to attack soldiers
in Nablus area and were arrested
13:51 Palestinian sources: PA urgently asks EU to pressure Hamas by
listing group as terror orgniazation; PA denies report but EU
sources confirm report
11:51 Four Kenyans charged with murder in November bombing of
Israeli-owned hotel in Mombasa
10:36 Four mortar shells land between Gaza Strip settlements of Atzmona
and Slav; Qassam rocket lands near security fence in northern Gaza
00:52 Israeli delegation to Special Olympics in Ireland protest Arab
teams boycotting competitions in which Israel taking part
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richard
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response 2 of 169:
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Jun 24 23:25 UTC 2003 |
Sharon should resign-- he is a bully and the Palestinians will never
accept peace talks so long as he is prime minister. Sharon has become
as much of an obstacle to the peace process as Arafat, never mind the
fact that he was popularly elected. He ought to resign for the good of
the people. Even if there is just a chance that his resignation will
speed the process, it is worth it and he should see that.
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polytarp
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response 3 of 169:
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Jun 25 00:02 UTC 2003 |
Dammit! I hoped Leer-on would start using the News from Illegally Occupied
Palestine item. Na ja.
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scott
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response 4 of 169:
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Jun 25 00:45 UTC 2003 |
No, and he hasn't yet mentioned Sharon's cabinet meeting declaration that
settlement expansion should continue, albeit quietly.
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keesan
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response 5 of 169:
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Jun 25 03:00 UTC 2003 |
Jim tells me that there have been so many border crossings due to bombings
that the Israeli farmers decided to stop using Palestinian agricultural
workers (they may not be able to show up for a week at a time) and have
imported Thai laborers at great expense (but they will work cheaper). Somehow
2/3 of the Thai people have arrived illegally. Should become an interesting
ethnic mix. The illegal Thai workers include sex workers.
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lk
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response 6 of 169:
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Jun 25 06:50 UTC 2003 |
Richard, it seems as if Sharon has no difficulty in engaging in peace
negotiations with PA PM Abbas. The problem Abbas has is that for weeks
he's been trying to negotiate with his extremists. Once or twice a week
we hear that an agreement is imminent within days, but then talks break
down. Throughout this process, the terrorists continue to attack innocent
Israelis and then cry foul when Israel attempts to defend itself from
these attacks.
Abbas is having problems not just with Hamas and Islamic Jihad, but with
Fatah's Al Aqsa Brigades, the armed wing of his own party which Arafat
continues to incite to violence.
I don't know about the 2/3 figure, but Jim is correct. Many Thai, Philipino
and other workers have come to Israel and taken away work from Arab workers
from the territories. As you note, allowing thousands of people to cross
the border when a small handful of them might be (and have been) suicide
bombers is very dangerous. A sad example where a few bad apples ruing the
barrel, and further proof that terrorism causes poverty (not vice versa):
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,893017,00.html
Two years ago Unrwa fed about 11,000 people in the Gaza Strip,
mostly widows and those with no means of support. Today it feeds
715,000: more than half the population.
The average income has fallen from about L1,250 a year to about L300.
The pass rate in school leaving exams has dropped from 71% to 38%
The article goes on to say:
These past two years are the worst for Gaza since the occupation [sic]
began in 1967.
Does this mean that things were actually even worse under Egyptian rule?
Lastly an odd complaint from UNRWA:
"We have asked the Israelis for a great many things, but apart
from a consignment of rice they have given nothing."
Those darn Israelis, refusing to fuel the intifadah against them. Heaven
forbid that the UNRWA should appeal to the local government, the PA, to end
the intifada for the good of its own people. Heck the PA is too busy stuffing
their pockets and Swiss accounts with international aid and squandering it
on weapons instead of building infrastructure and providing food....
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lk
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response 7 of 169:
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Jun 25 16:06 UTC 2003 |
14:32 17th victim of J`lem bombing that took place two weeks ago
identified as Haile Abraha Hawki, a foreign worker from Eritrea
17:27 Mortar shell explodes in Israeli settlement in southern Gaza Strip
17:28 Palestinian gunmen open fire on IDF patrol traveling the
Karni-Netzarim road in central Gaza Strip
18:14 Group representing Jewish refugees from Arab countries demands
compensation for property they left behind
http://www.iht.com/ihtsearch.php?id=98479&owner=(IHT)&date=20030207041018
"Muslims lament Israel's existence" (International Herald Tribune, June 4,
2003). "At a time when the Israeli government has accepted the right of
Palestinians to statehood, most Muslim populations surveyed in the Pew Global
Attitudes Project believe by wide margins that the needs of Palestinians
cannot be met so long as the state of Israel exists. The conviction is
strongest in Morocco (90 percent), followed by Jordan (85 percent), the
Palestinian Authority (80 percent), Kuwait (72 percent), Lebanon (65 percent),
Indonesia (58 percent) and Pakistan (57 percent). Former Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright, who chairs the Pew project, called these results 'very
disheartening, and very dangerous, frankly.'"
Anyone still think that Israel isn't facing an existential challenge?
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tod
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response 8 of 169:
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Jun 25 16:17 UTC 2003 |
This response has been erased.
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gull
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response 9 of 169:
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Jun 25 17:45 UTC 2003 |
I think it's more that most Palastinians currently believe they'll never
have a viable state while Israel exists. This editorial expresses the
problem well, I think:
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/columnists/6128349.htm
Excerpt:
"The only way to curb terrorism is to turn the Palestinian public
against the suicide bombers. That requires Bush to persuade the
Palestinians that a return to peaceful negotiations will lead to a
viable state.
"Look back in history, to 1996, when bus bombers threatened to blow up
the Oslo peace process. Back then, the Palestinian public repudiated the
militants and pressured a reluctant Yasir Arafat to crush the military
infrastructure of Hamas, leading to a long period of calm. Back then,
Palestinians (and Israelis) still believed in the peace process.
"Arafat bears much of the blame for its failure since then, deceiving
his public and tolerating terrorism. Abbas is very different. At the
recent Aqaba summit, he publicly repudiated all terrorism against
Israelis. But he has been undercut by Sharon and given insufficient
backing by Bush.
"Abbas comes to power at a time when Palestinians are literally penned
into their cities and towns by Israeli roadblocks. Access roads have
been bulldozed and blocked by earth berms; students must walk for miles
up and down rocky hills to get to university, and sick people trying to
reach hospitals get turned back at Israeli checkpoints.
"But Sharon spokesman Raanan Gissin rejects the road map requirement of
parallel steps to ease Palestinian conditions and build public support
for a new peace process.
"No, no, not parallel steps," Gissin told me. "First, they have to stop
terrorism before the road map is launched."
...
"Reuven Rivlin, a close friend of Sharon and speaker of the Israeli
parliament, insists Sharon "is ready to go far to get peace." Rivlin
says Sharon is a pragmatist who "wants to be remembered as one of the
greatest Israeli leaders," whose hero is Israel's founding father, David
Ben Gurion, a warrior who was also willing to compromise with the Arabs.
"Rivlin adds, however, that Sharon will not give up the Jordan Valley,
or any of Jerusalem, and would at most consider giving up between 42 and
70 percent of the West Bank.
"How would contiguity be preserved between disconnected chunks of West
Bank land, cut by settlements, settler roads, and fences? Rivlin says
Sharon might be willing to "isolate or evacuate about 17 settlements."
That would leave 128 settlements intact.
"Gissin says that disconnected Palestinian lands would be linked "in
some places by tunnels, in some by bridges, in some by territory." This
long-term vision of Bantustans linked by tunnels bears an uncomfortable
resemblance to the old South Africa. It won't push the Palestinian
public to challenge Hamas.
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lk
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response 10 of 169:
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Jun 25 21:48 UTC 2003 |
Bad analysis. This Palestinian Arab state would not only be on half or
two-thirds of the territory (South African Bantustans were on 14%), but
would be internationally recognized as an independent and sovereign state
(Bantustans were not).
Ironically, at Camp David and Taba, the Clinton compromise offered Arafat
a state on a net 97% of the territory (including the Arab neighborhoods of
eastern Jerusalem). Arafat rejected this without a counter-offer and Abu
Mazen (PA PM Abbas, who this article will have us believe is a leopard
without Arafat's spots) fully supported this. The PA newspaper Al-Ayyam
quoted him on 7/29/2001 saying:
Regarding the proposals which came up following Camp David, and
specifically with regard to what was termed the Clinton Proposal...
When they say: 'We offered you ninety-five percent,' I'm asking:
'Why not one hundred percent?' When they are saying, almost full
control over Jerusalem: [I'm asking] 'Why wouldn't the control be
full?'
Was the quibble here truly over 3% of territory which is mostly inhabited
by Jews? Or was the real issue an excuse not to settle the conflict in
such a way that would preclude later demands against Israel, ultimately
its destruction? Consider what Arafat did upon ditching Camp David. He
attempted to seek support for a unilateral declaration of independence.
In other words, he wanted to establish a state without making peace with
Israel. A state from which he could then fight to destroy Israel.
Thus rather than make a counter-offer to the Clinton compromise, the PA
made demands that were sure to preclude any deal. I've mentioned the petty
refusal to grant Israel commercial air flight space (so that passenger
planes could take off and land in Israel, which would be too narrow for
east/west approaches). And look what else Mazen/Abbas said:
We told them: 'We would not agree that you would have any kind of
presence in the Western Wall.
If the Jews wanted peace, they'd have to forego Judaism's holiest site!
Not in favor of Islam's [very distant] 3rd holiest site, but for a wall
where an Arab legend (invented in the early 20th century for political
reasons) says Mohammed parked his winged horse.
So here's the question: if everything is based upon a state, why was there
no pressure in the "Arab street" for Arafat to accept the Clinton plan?
Why, to the contrary, did Arafat tell Clinton that "I invite you to my
funeral" if he would accept such a compromise?
The problem with "parallel steps" is that Israeli steps are concrete and
tangible whereas Arab steps are nebulous and mythical. For example, I'm
still waiting for the PA to modify the PLO Covenant (which calls for the
destruction of Israel and rejects peaceful compromise. Arafat was supposed
to amend this in the mid-90s). Yet even if the document is rescinded in toto,
it can be reinstated in seconds and at no cost. If Hamas and other terrorists
are rounded up and put in jails, they can be released in seconds.
This time around the Arab terror organizations must be destroyed. You
can't have peace and terror simultaneously. Terrorism trumps peace.
It only takes 1 side to make war, but all sides to make peace.
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lk
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response 11 of 169:
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Jun 25 22:13 UTC 2003 |
20:06 Gaza hospital officials identify one of two people killed in IAF
strike at Hamas militant as Arkram Yousef Abu Farhana, 30
20:17 Blasts rock U.S. Embassy compound in Monrovia; injuries among
thousands of Liberians seeking protection there
23:25 Three people killed, 16 wounded when shells crashed into U.S.
embassy compound in Liberia`s capital Monrovia
20:30 Hamas leader Rantisi after IAF strike in Gaza: Every time we near
truce decision Israel `slaughters more of our people`
Perhaps they should stop pretending to get "near" and actually do it?!
20:39 At least eight killed in fighting between Yemeni government forces,
suspected Islamists in southern Yemen
20:42 U.S. President George W. Bush: `In order for there to be peace,
Hamas must be dismantled`
20:49 U.S. President Bush reacting to reported cease-fire by Palestinian
militants: `I`ll believe it when I see it`
21:30 Palestinian gunmen open fire on Israeli vehicle traveling near
Hawara, located south of Nablus; no reported injuries
23:04 Gazan Hamas leaders surprised, angry at reports of truce deal
agreed by group`s official in Syria, Khaled Mashal
Pretenders!
00:26 Data shows 82,600 tourists entered Israel in May 2003, 36 percent
more people than in May 2002
00:47 Following Bush call for EU to cut off Hamas funding, France insists
group remains necessary player in peace process
Can anything good be said about France?
If it didn't exist the devil would invent them.
01:00 Four mortar shells fired at settlement in Gush Katif bloc in Gaza
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tod
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response 12 of 169:
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Jun 25 22:27 UTC 2003 |
This response has been erased.
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lk
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response 13 of 169:
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Jun 26 07:37 UTC 2003 |
08:01 Front page of PA mouthpiece Al-Ayyam says Hamas, Islamic Jihad
and Fatah agree to 3-month cease-fire
09:04 Two Qassam rockets land Thursday morning near western Negev town
of Sderot [in Israel proper, not the disputed territories.]
09:49 Palestinian MP Fares confirms militant groups reach truce deal,
foresees formal announcement in coming hours
10:17 Popular Front for Liberation of Palestine says doesn`t accept
three-month cease-fire on attacks against Israel
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gull
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response 14 of 169:
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Jun 26 13:56 UTC 2003 |
It's pretty obvious Abbas is being set up for failure. He's expected to
do with what's left of the PA security force what Israel couldn't do
with total military superiority. Negotiating is his only option, since
he doesn't have the ability to defeat Hamas by force, but Sharon has
already said that negotiation won't be good enough.
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lk
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response 15 of 169:
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Jun 26 18:07 UTC 2003 |
The PA police is composed of 40,000-60,000 people. Hamas, IJ & PFLP
combined are less than 2000. This isn't an issue of force but of access
and will. Strangely, the PA doesn't use this excuse employed by its
apologists -- no one at that level would take it seriously. To the
contrary, the PA is preparing to establish security control in areas
from which Israel will vacate.
13:00 Al Aqsa Martyrs` Brigades claims Baka al-Garbiyeh shooting attack which
killed Israeli civilian [a 31-year old telephone technician at work]
17:38 Unconfirmed report: Police and Shin Bet intercept three Palestinians
with explosives belts near Baka al-Garbiyeh
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lk
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response 16 of 169:
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Jun 27 07:26 UTC 2003 |
19:37 Arab TV station: Ex-Iraqi information minister al-Sahaf
surrendered to U.S. troops, was questioned and released
19:57 IDF Lieutenant Colonel Geva Sagi convicted of behavior unbecoming
an officer for intifada-related transgression
21:41 Defense Minister Mofaz: I`m disappointed with slow pace of PA
implementation of the Aqaba summit agreements
22:51 Explosive device, two molotov cocktails thrown at IDF troops in
Balata refugee camp near Nablus
23:17 Initial report: Israeli in W. Bank settlement of Beitar Ilit
lightly hurt in shooting from El Hader, near Bethelehm
00:12 American playwright Arthur Miller awarded Jerusalem Prize;
U.S. ambassador Dan Kurtzer accepts prize on his behalf
01:13 Sappers safely neutralize bomb with 25 kg explosives near Gaza
Strip security fence, close to Kibbutz Nahal Oz
07:39 Bomb lightly wounds IDF soldier during attempt to arrest Hamas
leader near Netzarim in Gaza
09:02 Fourth Palestinian killed in exchange of fire in Gaza operation
10:11 IDF operation in Gaza follows intelligence warning of major
terror attack at Karni Crossing
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lk
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response 17 of 169:
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Jun 30 03:54 UTC 2003 |
18:55 Defense Minister Mofaz to Condoleezza Rice: Arafat still controls
PA power centers, is undermining PM Abbas
21:21 Fatah announces joining Hamas, Islamic Jihad cease-fire, doesn`t
specify for how long will halt attacks against Israelis
21:27 IDF begins withdrawal from Beit Hanun area in the Gaza Strip
21:48 Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf tells state television nation
must seriously consider recognition of Israel
22:04 One Israeli lightly wounded in shooting attack in Hebron
22:26 Radical PLO member Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
says won`t join truce declaration, but won`t violate it
23:14 IDF completes troop withdrawal from northern Gaza Strip; small force
to remain in one location overnight... control for northern Gaza town
handed over to PA forces
00:03 Democratic Front for Liberation of Palestine says it agrees to
halting attacks against Israelis for three months
00:07 Despite truce, Palestinians fire anti-tank rocket at IDF position
next to Neve Dekalim in Gaza
02:08 Several mortar shells fired at Gush Katif settlement bloc in the
Gaza Strip
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lk
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response 18 of 169:
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Jul 1 04:41 UTC 2003 |
16:04 Palestinians open fire on IDF outpost near Gaza settlement of
Netzarim, soldiers return fire
16:19 Negev police to start painting camels with luminous paint, as part
of effort to reduce number of accidents they cause
18:03 Palestinians open fire on workers building security fence in
Qalqilyah area
20:20 Poll taken on eve of cease-fire declaration showed that 80 percent
of Palestinians are in favor of truce
23:08 Popular Front for Liberation of Palestine - General Command, based
in Syria, rejects cease-fire
00:52 PA Security Minister Dahlan on Al-Jazeera: All Palestinian
factions should understand that there is one Palestinian gov`t
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lk
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response 19 of 169:
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Jul 2 06:08 UTC 2003 |
I missed it, but on Tuesday an Arab gunman was killed after opening fire
on Israeli soldiers.
PA security also claimed it had arrested 2 terrorists planning a suicide
attack.
And PMs Sharon & Abbas held a good meeting from which lots of positive
comments emerged.
Wednesday news so far:
00:44 Pleased with performance of Abbas and his new finance minister,
U.S. is considering resumption of direct aid to PA
06:40 U.S. official: U.S. to announce on Wed. a $30m. aid package for
Palestinians to repair roads, restore public services
06:56 Powell on Fox News: Abbas must act with heavy hand against Hamas,
others as long as they pursue terror
07:16 Dahlan tells Israelis during Tuesday talks: You won`t see any more
buses exploding, trust me
07:46 `Superman` actor Christopher Reeves to visit Israel this summer
08:06 IDF troops arrest six wanted Palestinians early Wednesday in the
West Bank
08:16 Survey finds that just 14% of Israelis believe that hudna
cease-fire agreement will hold for the full three months
08:30 Israeli security guard lightly injured in shooting attack on
security fence building site near Tul Karm
08:31 Bomb explodes near West Bank town of Qaliqilyah; no injuries reported
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lk
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response 20 of 169:
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Jul 4 00:12 UTC 2003 |
08:10 IDF closes Gush Katif junction in Gaza to Palestinian traffic
following anti-tank missile fire that wounded 4 Israelis
08:18 Security committee to meet Thursday on transferring more cities to
Palestinian control
08:26 Deputy Defense Min. Boim: Freeing prisoners is gesture that
strengthens Abu Mazen, which is is in our interest
09:02 Palestinian sources: Sharon and Abbas to meet again next Tuesday
09:35 Palestinians say their security services arrested two men
Wednesday in Gaza suspected of firing mortar shells
11:10 PA security affairs minister Dahlan: PA is looking for group
responsible for Wednesday rocket attack
11:28 Radio Palestine: Palestinian PM Mahmoud Abbas to meet with Hamas
and Islamic Jihad representatives in Gaza
14:09 Beit El East outpost residents withdraw High Court petition to
call off evacuation
14:12 Settlers remove seven caravans from Shavei Shomron West outpost
14:32 Shots fired at IDF outposts near Gaza settlements of Gadid and
Neve Dekalim
15:10 United Nations committee awards city of Tel Aviv-Jaffa world
heritage site status
15:53 Top Hamas official Rantisi says he sees truce failing, was only
declared to avoid internal Palestinian conflict
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lk
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response 21 of 169:
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Jul 5 13:45 UTC 2003 |
Yesterday's news:
18:18 Al-Aqsa Brigades: killing of activist by IDF negates truce, response
`will come quickly and will be like earthquake`
19:58 77-year-old man arrested near Detroit on suspicion of having served
as WWII concentration camp guard in Austria
20:46 Netherlands asks Germany to arrest 6 Dutchmen who served as Nazi
officers and were convicted of treason by Dutch court
21:29 Abbas to meet with Hamas, Jihad officials Thurs. night on
possibility of them joining PA gov`t in some framework
21:52 Dahlan: Palestinians will do everything it takes to convince the
Israeli population that we can live side by side
22:37 Soldier indicted at military court for allegedly killing elderly
Palestinian near Gaza settlement of Netzarim in March
23:07 2 Israelis lightly hurt near Tapuah junction south of Nablus after
their car overturns as a result of stone throwing
23:37 Masked men fire arms in air near home of Abbas, Dahlan`s office to
protest arrests of four Fatah militants
01:03 Palestinian security forces arrest five militants on charges of
firing mortar bombs at Gaza Strip settlements
04:04 U.S. federal judge rules that Hamas must pay more than $116
million for murdering two settlers near seven years ago
09:00 Palestinians fire at truck holding workers building separation
fence near Qalqilyah
09:05 Palestinians fire anti-tank rocket and throw grenades at IDF
troops near Rafah in Gaza overnight
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lk
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response 22 of 169:
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Jul 5 18:59 UTC 2003 |
00:02 Oxford University professor who refused to consider an Israeli
student`s application will face disciplinary panel
01:01 Two mortar shells, one anti-tank rocket fired at central Gaza
Strip settlement
08:00 Exchanges of shots between PA and Popular Resistance Committees
during Gaza crackdowns overnight Fri.
08:59 Palestinian killed and two others injured when explosive device
detonates near Sufa checkpoint in Gaza Strip
12:00 26 total anti-aircraft missiles shot at northern city of Kiryat
Shmona; only 2-3 actually land, cause damage
13:12 Altogether, Palestinian security forces arrest 12 Palestinians
in Gaza refugee camp for launching mortars
17:35 Israeli Kayak rowers win two silver medals, bronze medal in
world championship in Zagreb, Croatia
19:24 Israeli tennis player Andy Ram, Anastassia Rodionova from Russia
make finals of mixed doubles at Wimbledon
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klg
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response 23 of 169:
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Jul 5 20:17 UTC 2003 |
re: 12:00 26 total anti-aircraft missiles shot at northern city of
Kiryat Shmona; only 2-3 actually land, cause damage
lk: When did they acquire anti-gravity weaponry?
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mvpel
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response 24 of 169:
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Jul 6 18:02 UTC 2003 |
09:35 Palestinians say their security services arrested two men
Wednesday in Gaza suspected of firing mortar shells
11:10 PA security affairs minister Dahlan: PA is looking for group
responsible for Wednesday rocket attack
-----
http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=17504
--
Violating Roadmap: Revolving Door In Gaza -
Terrorists Released by PA After Talk
Aaron Lerner Date: 6 July, 2003
IDF Head of Military Intelligence Major General Aharon Zeevi Farkash told
Israel Radio in a live interview broadcast this morning that while the
Palestinian Authority (PA) detained some terrorists suspected of attacking
Israeli targets in the Gaza Strip since the PA took security responsibility
in the Gaza Strip that they released the terrorists after talking with them.
This is violates the Roadmap, that requires the PA not only to arrest, but
also to "restrain" such terrorists.
==
http://www.sundaytimes.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,7034,6712042%255E401
,00.html
--
THE radical Islamic movement Hamas said today that an agreement by the Israeli
government paving the way for the release of some 350 Palestinian prisoners
was "insufficient".
"We demand the liberation of all the detainees and in particular those from
Hamas and we are not prepared to accept discrimination in this regard," senior
Hamas official Ismail Hanyeh told AFP.
But the spokesman said that the move represented a "first step" as he
confirmed that the release of "all those in detention" remained a condition
of a ceasefire agreed by Hamas and three other major militant groups last
weekend.
==
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