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Today in Palestine! ~ Headlines ~ |
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West Bank (ILLEGAL) settlers destroy Palestinian olive trees
The trees had been destroyed by youths living in an unauthorised settlement outpost close to the major city of Nablus over the last few days but there had been no arrests, the head of the local regional council said. "The settlers uprooted 128 olive trees on Friday and we were shocked this morning to discover the loss of an additional 40 trees,"
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20051219/wl_mideast_afp/mideastunrestsettlers_051219180052
MIDDLE EAST: EU WON'T PUBLISH REPORT SLAMMING ISRAEL'S JERUSALEM POLICY
A British government commissioned report, said to accuse Israel of a land-grab policy in Arab East Jerusalem, has been considered "inopportune" by European Union leaders and wil not be published, Italian foreign minister Gianfranco Fini said on Monday. "On my initiative we discussed the politicial appropriateness of publishing the document on the situation in East Jerusalem," Fini said speaking on the sidelines of EU General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting in Brussels.
http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level.php?cat=Politics&loid=8.0.238989641&par=0
School gets distinguished award despite wall hindrances
Only last year, a doctor was forced to treat a child through the iron grids in the gate because the soldiers would not allow him to cross to the other side. The doctor was forced to give the child an injection through the gate's bars as the (JEWISH) soldiers looked on.
http://www.palestinenet.org/english/archive2005/dec/week3/191205/report1.htm
Israeli ministry of housing submit tenders for 137 new housing units in the West Bank settlements
Israeli Ministry of Housing issued tenders on Monday for 137 new housing units in the settlements of Ariel and Karni Shamron, near the West Bank city of Nablus. Israeli Peace Now movement accused Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of continuing the expansion of settlements built on Palestinian land occupied in 1967, violating all of the commitments to the Road Map
http://www.imemc.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15572&Itemid=1
Gaza evictees settle in West Bank
"We lived in caravans for 13 years," she said, recalling her time as a pioneer of Jewish settlement in the Israeli-occupied Gaza Strip. "The next stage of the disengagement is going to be Judea and Samaria," she said. "We're not intending to give up because it is land which belongs to the Jews.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4480072.stm
Israel fires rockets at northern Gaza
Israeli aircraft fired 11 rockets at the northern Gaza Strip overnight, wounding a Palestinian doctor and a paramedic, Palestinian security sources and medics said on Monday.
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/EVOD-6K8GZK?OpenDocument&rc=3&emid=ACOS-635PFR
Air Strikes on the Gaza Strip: A Number of Civilian Facilities Destroyed and 6 Palestinian Civilians Injured
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 23:30 on Sunday, 18 December 2005, IOF started to launch a series of air strikes, which continued until Monday morning. IOF war planes launched at least 13 air strikes on a number of roads in the northern Gaza Strip towns of Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia.
http://pchrgaza.org/files/PressR/English/2005/156-2005.htm
Israeli occupation closes entrance to Huwarra school
Students and teachers were forced to climb over the barricades, which had become a muddy mess from the rainfall over the past two days. Huwwara mayor Mansour Dmeidi says Israeli occupation authorities intentionally took this action to further plague Huwarra residents.
http://www.palestinenet.org/english/archive2005/dec/week3/191205/report2.htm
Three students arrested in Al khader village
Troops stopped the students after school and gathered them in the soccer field in the village. Soldiers searched the students and spot-interrogated them. Hamdi Salah 17, Rami Mossa,17, and Mohamed Salah,16, were arrested and taken to an unknown destination, eyewitnesses reported.
http://www.imemc.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15575&Itemid=1
EU should support elections instead of imposing conditions: Erekat
Erekat's remarks came in response to comments by E U foreign policy chief Javier Solana on Sunday that the EU will halt aids to the Palestinians if Hamas wins in the Jan. 25 parliamentary elections without renouncing violence and recognizing Israel.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-12/19/content_3942761.htm
IDF to ease W. Bank restrictions for pilgrims during Christmas
Checkpoints erected around West Bank towns and cities frequently cause a logjam of passengers and vehicles, and Palestinians often endure humiliating security checks. Palestinian officials complain that the checkpoints and a separation barrier Israel is building in the West Bank - cutting Bethlehem off from Jerusalem - will hinder tourists from visiting Bethlehem.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/659837.html
Jihad vows not to participate in elections, nor to renew truce
Al-Hindi also accused the Palestinian National Authority (PNA)of bowing to US and Israeli pressures by carrying out arrest campaigns, during which several Jihad members were detained.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-12/19/content_3943226.htm
Abbas approves two lists for legislative elections
A senior Fatah member said on Monday that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has decided to approve Fatah's main list and the Future list headed by Jailed leader Marwan Barghouti to run in the legislative elections due on Jan. 25, 2006.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-12/19/content_3942609.htm
Sharon jokes after stroke, but questions remain
Ariel Sharon, Israel's 77-year-old prime minister, will undergo further tests today and remain in hospital for several days after suffering a minor stroke last night. Mr Sharon was rushed to Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem after feeling faint, confusing words and briefly losing consciousness, according to reports.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,251-1943283,00.html
Sharon Will Leave Hospital Tomorrow After Mild Stroke
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who plans to seek a third term next year at age 78, suffered no lasting damage from a minor stroke and will be released from a Jerusalem hospital tomorrow, his doctors said.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=a1yAtqVDXsEU&refer=top_world_news
More Swedish Aid to Palestine
The Swedish government has decided to contribute ten election observers... Sweden is also providing 2.5 million dollars to support EU action to transform and modernize the Palestinian police, and 5 million dollars for economic development in Gaza.
http://www.sr.se/cgi-bin/International/nyhetssidor/artikel.asp?ProgramID=2054&Nyheter=&artikel=757437
Israel: ‘robbery of century', says MK
"Why does one of the Arab countries provide a home for (Foreign Minister) Silvan Shalom, while the army destroys homes in Palestine on a daily basis?" the MK said, referring to the foreign minister's recent visit to his birth county of Tunisia. And directing his speech to the Israelis, Bishara said, "Return Palestine to us and take your democracy with you. We Arabs are not interested in it." He moreover slammed corrupted Arab leaders who retain their ties with Israel like Qatar.
http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=10333
Turnout in Likud vote only 35% - could help FM Silvan Shalom
Analysts have said that a very low voter turnout, of some 30 percent, or a very high turnout, approaching 75-80 percent, would tend to favor Shalom in his bid to overtake front-runner Netanyahu. Netanyahu is said to be looking for a moderate turnout of 50-60 percent.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/659518.html
Sympathy for PM rises; concern for age casts doubt
Kadima members are trying to convey a message of "business as usual" and are confident that sympathy towards Sharon will grow. However, they are also concerned that the prime minister's age (78 years) will influence the political establishment and voters.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3186684,00.html
Israel's Likud votes to elect leader
Likud has led Israel for all but 10 years since it was first elected in 1977, but it is now battling for third place in opinion polls behind Sharon's new centrist Kadima party and leftist Labour. A general election is due on March 28.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2005/12/19/worldupdates/2005-12-19T161649Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_-228645-1&sec=Worldupdates
Olmert would replace Sharon as PM if needed
Olmert, who is also the finance minister, is allowed to serve as acting prime minister for up to 100 days. In that time period, the acting premier is given all the authority invested in the prime minister
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/659357.html
Jerusalem is in danger
The government's aspirations to create a city with a uni-national character, with a Jewish majority of 90 percent, have not been fulfilled... The second goal was territorial - control, by means of building Jewish neighborhoods, over an area of about 70 square kilometers encompassing the eastern part of the city, thus severing it from the Arab metropolis. This goal was not achieved either
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/659380.html
From Oslo to Red Cross
"Another 'victory' like this and we've had it," wrote the Wall Street Journal – the most influential newspaper in the United States – about Magen David Adom's admission to the International Red Cross, in exchange for relinquishing the red Star of David in favor of a red crystal. The paper's stance, which is a staunch supporter of Israel
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3186011,00.html
The Israeli diplomat linked to the AIPAC affair is back in Washington
Naor Gilon came to Washington three weeks ago as part of the Israeli delegation to the Strategic Dialog with the U.S, strengthening the case that no serious allegations concerning Israel's involvement in the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) affair still exist.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/rosnerBlog.jhtml?itemNo=659792
Russia to transport natural gas to Israel
The gas pipe from Russia to Turkey will be extended to reach Israel, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced last week while inaugurating the pipe's final stop in Turkey, according to Israel's leading newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3186761,00.html
Bush warns of more sacrifice to come in Iraq
He then outlined the history of the decision to invade Iraq, spoke about the challenges of fighting a desert war, the losses, and touched on questions surrounding the value of the war in Iraq. He also spent considerable time describing the victories that have been accomplished so far.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20051218/bush_iraq_051218/20051218?hub=World
25 Saddam's top officials released in Iraq
US authorities in Iraq released 25 Saddam Hussein's former top officials from prisons and prepared to transfer them to the neighboring Jordan, an Iraqi lawyer defending one of Saddam's former top aides told Xinhua on Monday.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-12/19/content_3942597.htm
Saddam recounts his capture to British tabloid
"I came out of the house where I was hiding by this hole. I went through the trap door. I went through the hole, through the tunnel then lost consciousness," Saddam said, adding: "I believe I was betrayed. I have been set up." Clark said Saddam "thinks he was gassed in the tunnel".
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20051219/wl_mideast_afp/iraqsaddambritain_051219063331 |
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