APRIL 2000
President Yasser Arafat's planned Gulf tour
Palestinian resources reported that President Arafat intends to visit Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
The Palestinian ambassador to Saudi Arabia said that Abu Mazen, Nabeel Sha'ath and Nabel Abu Rudaynah will accompany the President in his visit forthcoming visits.
During his visit to Saudi Arabia, President Arafat will brief Saudi officials on the outcome of his meetings with his American and French counterparts.
Israel limits the freedom of journalists
A legal report issued by the Independent Forum for the Citizen's Rights said, Israel continues its violations to the Palestinian freedom of speech, and imposes restrictions on Palestinian journalists hindering their ability to conduct their work.
Israeli restrictions against Palestinian journalists include denying them access to Jerusalem and freedom of movement between Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
The reports also said that Israel violates Palestinian right to the freedom of speech in violation of the IXX clause of the International Declaration of Human Rights concerning political and civilian human rights.
Palestine and Turkey sign cooperation protocol
The PNA and Turkey signed a tourism cooperation protocol. The protocol was signed by tourism minister Metri Abu Aita on the Palestinian side and by his Turkish counterpart Arkan Manjo. Abu Aita accompanied by a delegation from the ministry of tourism is on an official visit to Turkey.
The Palestinian leadership reject postponing or partitioning any of the final status issues
The Palestinian leadership renewed its opposition to postponing or partitioning any of the final status issues and called upon Israel to fully implement the third Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank as called for in the singed agreements.
The leadership said in a statement issued at the end of its weekly cabinet meeting held in Ramallah yesterday that the Palestinian formal position does not allow for postponing any of the final status issues.
During yesterday's session, President Arafat expressed his deep thanks and gratitude for the declared position of French President Jacques Chirac opposing Jewish settlement activities in the Palestinian occupied territories.
The statement said on settlement that the Israeli government is expanding its settlements despite its promises to freeze them. This will ultimately lead to undermining the Middle East peace process, the statment added.
Concerning Arab East Jerusalem occupied and annexed by Israel in June 1967, the Palestinian leadership vowed not to surrender one molecule of Jerusalem's soil.
It also rejected all projects and attempts talking about settling Palestinian refugee's abroad.
Barak unleashes unprecedented settlement campaign
The Israeli weekly newspaper "Kol Hair" reported that, the Israeli premier has given a green light to a wide unprecedented settlement campaign around Jerusalem. The newspaper stated that Barak's office authorized the housing minister Issac Levy to start carrying out the necessary steps for having Barak's decision implemented.
Palestinian prisoners threaten to go on a hunger strike
Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails expressed determination to observe an open hunger strike starting early next month.
A statement issued to this effect said the strike will be first observed by seventy prisoners to be followed by a second group after two weeks and will continue on this scale until over 2500 prisoners will be on strike.
The decision was taken to protest the Israeli government policy, which deals with Palestinian prisoners as bargaining chips to blackmail the Palestinian side.
For his part PNA Minister of State for prisoners' affairs Hisham Abdulrazeq called on Israel to release all Palestinian prisoners without discrimination.
He said we are about to reach a framework agreement with Israel and it is illogical to keep holding prisoners despite the terms of the peace accords.
Ahmad Abdulrahman calls for a systematic strategy to confront settlement
Presidential Secretary General Ahmed Abdulrahman called for confronting the Israeli settlement on the Palestinian land in a systematic way. Abdulrahman who was addressing a conference in Hebron called for a change in the way settlement is confronted so as to stop Israel from fragmenting the Palestinian land reducing it into isolated cantons as the Apartheid regime did in South Africa before the South Africans changed that in their favor with their strong will and determination.
The Palestinian - Jordanian summit recommends comprehensive settlement and rejects partial steps
On the eve of launching a new round of Palestinian - Israeli talks, described by all political observers as decisive And crucial, Jordan yesterday renewed its support for the establishment of a Palestinian state, over the land occupied by Israel in June 1967, with Jerusalem as its capital. Jordanian government officials reiterated that the Palestinian problem is the crux of the Arab - Israeli conflict. This was revealed during a visit by King Abdullah to Ramallah City during which he was received by President Arafat. The Jordanian support coincided with the Israeli government's call for a partial settlement excluding Jerusalem and the refugees, which was adamantly rejected by the Palestinians.
Jordanian Foreign Minister said the aim is to achieve comprehensive peace.
President Arafat held important talks with the Jordanian monarch on the peace process and the outcome of Arafat's talks in Washington last Thursday with US President Bill Clinton and with Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak in Cairo.
The Palestinian leader will be received in Paris today by French President Jacques Chirac within the framework of Palestinian diplomatic efforts to discuss the Palestinian position towards the peace process and to reactivate peace talks.
President Arafat will update president Chirac on his recent talks with US president Bill Clinton and the latest developments in the peace process.
Erekat: we are waiting for Israeli answers to nine questions posed by the Palestinian delegation.
The Palestinian Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat said the Palestinian side is still waiting for the Israeli response to nine questions posed by the PNA in relation to the interim period outstanding issues.
Erekat who was talking to media reporters in Jericho yesterday, hoped to receive the Israeli answers after the opening of the negotiations session in Eilat next week.
In the latest negotiation session held in Jericho yesterday, the main issue that was discussed was the issue of prisoners' release, in addition to constructing a new Palestinian airport in the West Bank.
Palestinian - Jordanian summit in Ramallah today
Presidential Secretary Tayib Abdul Raheem described the official visit by King Abdullah II and Queen Ranya to Palestine today as very important contending that it goes within the framework of joint coordination between the two sisterly states particularly at this delicate and crucial stage.
Abdul Raheem said the Jordanian monarch, who is expected to arrive in Ramallah City before noontime today, will be received by President Arafat. The two leaders will discuss the latest developments in the peace process and the outcome of Arafat's visit to Washington last Thursday in addition to King Abdulah's visit to Eilat early this week.
The Palestinian leader will leave late today to Paris for talks with French President Chirac.
According to Dr. Nabil Sha'th, Minster of Planning and International Cooperation, President Arafat will update President Chirac on the outcome of his talks in Washington last Thursday and the Palestinian position prior to commencing the third round of peace talks due to be held in Eilat late this month.
No for excluding major final status issues from the permanent settlement
Palestinian official sources confirmed the PNA's rejection to postpone any of the final status issues or its exclude them from the permanent settlement.
Head of the negotiating steering committee Dr. Saeb Erekat said the Palestinian side will not allow adjourning any of the final status issues or to partition any of these issues, stressing that Sept. 13, is the deadline set for the completion of the negotiations over final status issues.
For his part, the speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council Ahmed Qrei expressed pessimism with regard to reaching a framework deal within the set period.
Presidential Secretary Tayib Abdul Raheem also announced that the PNA is opposed to postponing or to partitioning any of the final status issues. He accused Israel of evading its commitments towards the peace process.
Paris will host tomorrow a conference on the issue of Palestinian refugees
UN organizers in conjunction with the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Conference will convene a conference on Palestinian refugees in Paris tomorrow. The participants will discuss the political, legal, economic and social dimension of the refugees' problem.
President Arafat announced yesterday that there will be no delay in timetables and the peace talks will be resumed in Eilat and Taba on April 30.
The two sides will discuss issues like borders, Jerusalem, refugees, and Jewish settlements illegally built in the occupied Palestinian territories.
President Arafat arrived in Gaza from Cairo yesterday after updating his Egyptian counterpart President Mubarak on the outcome of his talks with US President Clinton.
The Palestinian leadership confirmed in a statement yesterday that UN Security Council Resolutions 242, 338, and 425 are the sole basis for peace talks.
It said the implementation of these resolutions and both sides compliance to "land for peace" formula and to interim agreements will provide a good ground to achieve peace.
In a statement issued by the Palestinian leadership following its weekly cabinet meeting held in Ramallah City, it announced its full opposition to all attempts to partition or adjourn final status issues.
The statement said, any attempt by the Israeli side to bypass the Jerusalem issue will not lead to realizing the aspired peace in the area. It reiterated that Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine and is an inseparable part of the Palestinian land.
The statement blasted the Jewish settlement policy in the occupied territories as a destructive factor engulfing the peace process. It also confirmed the right of return for Palestinian refuges and displaced Palestinians in conformity with UN resolution 194. It also regarded the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails as a top priority.
President Arafat meets Mubarak in Cairo
President Arafat arrived in Cairo from Washington last night, and is scheduled to hold a meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak today before returning home.
Presidential advisor Nabil Abu Rudineh said President Arafat would update the Egyptian leader on the outcome of his talks with President Clinton and US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in Washington.
On the other hand Dr. Osama el-Baz, the political advisor of President Mubarak, denied Egypt is inciting the PNA against Israel. He said we do not provoke them nor we can take decision on their behalf, we are just rendering advice and providing them with alternatives to achieve their goals.
Additional Jewish groups settle in Hebron today
More Jewish groups are expected to arrive in Hebron today on the occasion of Jewish festivals.
The Israeli occupation authority took several measures to "facilitate" their flow into the city. Some of the measures included the closure of the famous Al-Shuhada street and the Ibrahinmi mosque before Palestinians.
Presently the Palestinians are not given access to their produce market, Al-Shuhada street and the Ibrahinmi mosque in addition to the confiscated quarters of the town.
Abdulrahman: The current impasse in the peace talks could lead to an "explosion".
PNA Secretary Ahmed Abdulrahman warned yesterday that the current impasse in the Palestinian - Israeli peace talks could lead to an explosion if Israel failed to carry out the third withdrawal from the West Bank and change its rigid positions in order to conclude a framework agreement.
Abdulrahman stressed the need for an active US involvement in the peace talks asking Washington to press Israel to implement singed agreement and adhere to the peace process.
He said the Palestinian State, with Jerusalem, as its capital will be declared next September over Palestinian territories occupied by Israel in June 1967 including Jerusalem.
He said the PNA will not accept less than the return of Arab east Jerusalem and insists on dismantling Jewish settlements illegally built in the occupied territories and the return of Palestinian refugees, rejecting all plans calling fore accommodating Palestinian refugees in Iraq or Lebanon or elsewhere.
Arafat-Clinton summit Positive and Beneficial
According to well-informed Palestinian political sources, the summit meeting held between Presidents Arafat and Clinton in Washington last Thursday night was "Positive and beneficial".
The sources said President Arafat updated his American counterpart on the Palestinian point of view on various controversial issues during their 3-hour long meeting at the White House.
Shortly before the summit, President Arafat's adviser Nabil Abu Rudineh said the meeting between the two leaders will advance the peace talks on the Palestinian track hinting that President Clinton pledged to do whatever possible to push the peace process forward.
On the other hand, the Palestinian-Israeli talks will resume in the Red Sea resort town of Eilat later this month with a direct US involvement.
According to Yasser Abed Rabbo, head of the Palestinian delegation to the final-status talks, the Clinton administration will be represented in the Eilat talks by US special peace envoy Dennis Ross.
He added, the Eilat session will decide on the next steps to be taken.
For his part, head of the Palestinian delegation to the Interim Talks Dr. Saeb Erekat said, the talks will be suspended for tow days on Friday and Saturday noting that there will be possibly another round of talks to reach a framework deal. It has also been learned that a meeting will be held tomorrow (Sunday) between Dr. Erekat and his Israeli counterpart Odid Eran to discuss the third Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank.
President Arafat, who was flanked by a high-level delegation to the Washington talks, met President Clinton for thirty minutes before the two leaders held a closed-door meeting.
This summit was preceded by a meeting between President Arafat and US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Minister of Information and Culture Yasser Abed Rabbo confirmed the meeting was positive and successful. He said the Palestinian position was conveyed to the US government.
During a press conference Dr. Erekat said the Palestinians insist on a Palestinian state in all the West Bank and Gaza i.e. to the borders that existed before June 5, 1967.
He said the Israeli government should understand that this is a historic reconciliation and is more than gestures of good faith. During his stay in Washington, the Palestinian leader conferred with the President of the World Bank. They discussed political and economic matters and signaled out the need for a worldwide support for the Palestinian people.
Two Palestinians Wounded by Israeli Soldiers
Israeli soldiers wounded two Palestinians from Biet Aula village near Hebron while staging sit-in protest strike over sites threatened by Israeli military confiscation.
The strike was decided when the Israeli government declared a large portion of the village fields a closed military zone for "training purposes."
The two civilians were wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets during clashes with soldiers after performing the Muslim Friday prayer over the site destined for confiscation.
The strike was organized by land owners and members of the Land Defense Committee after receiving military notices from Israel to vacate their fields preventing farmers and shepherds from entering an area of about 8,000 dunams owned by Beit Aula and Noba villages under the pretext of becoming a closed military zone to be used for training purposes.
BUILDING "NEW AISAWIYA
The inhabitants of the Palestinian town of Aisawiya announced the beginning of a new campaign to build their new Aisawiya over land threatened by Israeli military confiscation disregarding any Israeli reaction to this step.
Immediately after declaring this campaign, many landowners rushed to donate plots for building clinics, kindergartens, and other public services for those who will become the new tenants of Aisawya.
The head of the Land Defense Committee at Isawiya Omar Darwish said we will open a road to help farmers reach their fields estimated at over 12,000 dunams.
Presidents Arafat and Clinton meet today
President Yasser Arafat will be received in Washington today by US President Bill Clinton within the framework of efforts to reach a comprehensive peace deal in the Middle East.
President Clinton met last week PM Ehud Barak for the same purpose.
Before flying to Washington, president Arafat met with his Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak in Cairo within the context of continued coordination and consultation between the two sides.
Egyptian Foreign Minster Amr Musa told reporters at the end of Arafat - Mubarak's meeting, that the two leaders discussed the Palestinian trade and the summit due to be convened between Presidents Arafat and Clinton today.
Meanwhile, the head of the Palestinian delegation to the interim talks Dr. Saeb Erekat called for the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 338 which means an Israeli withdrawal to the 4th of June line coming Jerusalem and for the return of Palestinian refugees.
Dr. Erekat said the agenda of the Arafat - Clinton summit includes all peace issues and the anticipated US role in this peace process in addition to ongoing Israeli settlement activities against the Palestinian territories releasing all Palestinian prisoners and Israeli jails and bilateral relations.
For his part, Dr. Assad Abdul Rahman, member of the PLO Executive Committee and in charge of the refugees portfolio at the PNA, said the Clinton - Arafat summit is the last chance to approach a peaceful settlement in the region according to the agreed on timetables. He said the failure of this summit means that the Clinton Administration will enter into a new stage of political free for at least another year.
Arafat's advisor Nabil Abu Rudineh also confirmed that the Palestinian leader would offer new Palestinian idea as concerning all issues under negotiations either those pertinent to the third redeployment or to final status issues. He said President Arafat would inform President Clinton that the conclusion of permanent peace in the region requires the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
Arafat conveys to President Clinton the Palestinian vision to various issues of peace negotiations
Presidential advisor Nabil Abu Rudineh announced yesterday that President Yasser Arafat will update President Clinton during their meeting in Washington tomorrow with Palestinian ideas and vision concerning all controversial peace issues with Israel including those pertinent to the third redeployment or the final status solution.
He said the meeting will be very important clarifying that the Palestinian leader will inform President Clinton that a just and durable peace in the Middle East necessitates the establishment of a Palestinian state with Arab east Jerusalem occupied by Israel in June 1967 as its capital.
President Arafat arrived in Cairo last night for talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak . Abu Rudineh said the two leaders will discuss the outcome of the Bolling talks and make a full assessment to what is going to be done in the next few weeks which will be decisive in showing the seriousness of Israel to advance the peace talks or keeping this running in a vicious circle.
President Arafat is scheduled to arrive in Washington late today on a two-day official visit during which he will hold talks with President Clinton and Secretary of State Madeliene Albright as well as with the President of the World Bank.
On the other hand the deputy Foreign Minister of Venezuela George Valiro said President Arafat will pay an official visit to Caracas shortly. He said President Arafat received an invitation to visit Venezuela from his Venezuelan counterpart Shaviz during their meeting on the fringes of the G77 summit in Havana last Thursday.
The Venezuelan News Agency said President Shaviz expressed his country's support for the rights of the Palestinian people. The head of the PLO Political Department Farouk Qaddomi left for Caracas and met last Sunday with the Venezuelan Deputy Foreign Minister discussing the possibility of opening a Palestinian embassy in the Venezuelan capital before next September.
Abu Mazen: No secret channels for negotiations
Secretary General of the PLO's Executive Committee Mahmoud Abbas, known also as Abu Mazen" denied the existence of any secret channels of negotiations with the Israeli side. Abu Mazen also expressed his hope that the forthcoming Washington summit between Presidents Arafat and Clinton will lead to a breakthrough in the peace process. In response to a question about the new proposals the Palestinian side will lay out at the summit, Abu Mazin said "we haven't new proposals but we will stress on the need to implement the international legitimacy resolutions and the return of the refugees and holy Jerusalem.
Regarding the percentage of withdrawals reported in the Israeli media, Abu Mazen reiterated the Palestinian leadership's refusal to these percentages to concede any part of the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967 including Arab East Jerusalem. The Secretary General of the PLO's Executive Committee pointed out that the most important item of the Oslo Accord is that it will lead to the implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 338.
The Israeli occupation Authority demolishes three Palestinian homes
The Israeli so-called "Civil Administration" continued its aggression against the Palestinian houses, and this time the Palestinian houses at Jerusalem's Isawiya quarter were the latest targeted.
Last Monday's night, Israeli army bulldozers demolished three Palestinian homes in Isawiya, bringing the number of demolished homes in the town to 17 homes since 1967 , where 24 others are on Israel's demolition list.
The Head of the Land Defense Committee Omar Darwish noted that the demolished houses were built on a land that Israel wants to use for expanding its Maali Adumim settlement.
Another settlement aggression
The Israeli occupation authority announced its decision to confiscate more than 9,000 dunums at the town of Beit Ulla near Hebron in the remote southern parts of the West Bank. The mayor of Beit Ulla noted that the confiscated land is the only open space for the town's future expansion, and is planted with olive and fruitful trees.
Arafat: My next meeting with Clinton necessary for peace
President Yasser Arafat announced yesterday that his forthcoming meeting with US President Bill Clinto due to be convened in Washington next Thursday is imperative to advance the peace process on the Palestinian track.
He said in a joint press conference held in Gaza city yesterday with visiting Ommani Foreign Minister Yousef Ibn Alawai, that he regards his visit to Washington as a necessary and imperative step to advance the peace talks.
He added President Clinton keeps urging both sides to reach a framework agreement by May to pave the way before reaching a final deal by September this year.
He said President Clinton has asked PM Barak to come back to Washington to speed up the peace talks on all tracks. The Palestinian leader reiterated the Palestinian official position to declare an independent state this year. On the other hand President Arafat renewed his support to the Palestinian prisoners till their release from Israeli jails.
Violent Demonstrations on the eve of the Prisoner Day
Huge popular rallies were organized throughout the Palestinian territories yesterday to commemorate the Palestinian Prisoner Day, accompanied by clashes with Israeli soldiers near the entrance of Bethlehem city between university students and Israeli soldiers culminating in several casualties among students.
Israeli soldiers used metal-coated rubber bullets and tear gas bombs to disperse huge crowds who demonstrated for almost three hours near the junction of Rachel Tomb . According to press reports about 14 Palestinians were wounded in these clashes.
Within the same context, a huge popular rally was organized at Jerusalem's Bab el Amud neighborhood yesterday where political activists and parliament delegates called on Israel to release all Palestinian prisoners as a precondition for advancing peace. Similar demonstrations were launched in Nablus , Hebron, and Gaza.
The Palestinian Legislative Council issued a statement on this occasion warning Israel against using the prisoners issue a bargaining chip to yield more concessions from the Palestinian part.
The Presidential Secretary Tayeb Abdul Raheem also confirmed ; there will not be a framework deal as long as Israel continued to ignore the issue of Prisoners He said the framework agreement is not the reference for the peace process and there is an agreement between all parties to solve the prisoners issue.
For his part the Minister of State for Prisoners Affairs Hisham Abdul Razek called for naming this year the year of releasing all prisoners. According to PLC deputy Qaddora Farris, the prisoners are staging an Irish-style strike to protest their unbearable living conditions at Israeli jails since early this month.
Fattening Jewish Settlements
The Israeli government deposited a new plan with the so-called civil administration authority to establish a tourist recreation project at Beit Ein settlement built over plots confiscated from the Arab villages of Nahalin, Surif and Jaba in the Hebron district.
Army bulldozers were used levering 400 dunams at Talat Zeid near Khadr village to fatten Efrat settlement which is witnessing remarkable expansion during the past few weeks.
In Geneva a UN Human Rights Panel criticized the Israeli government's violations in the occupied territories and the expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and the Golan Heights.
The UN panel urged Israel to stop constructing settlements in the occupied territories.
The Palestinian leadership affirmed in a statement issued yesterday the paramount significance of the forthcoming meeting between Presidents Arafat and Clinton on April 20 in Washington.
It said this meeting was primarily motivated to advance the peace process and to put an end for the ongoing Jewish settlement campaign against the Palestinian land and to step further construction of settlements bypass roads in the West Bank.
The statement described the meeting very important and comes after continued breakdown in the Palestinian - Israeli talks due to Israel's non-compliance with the signed agreements and international resolutions.
Yesterday President Arafat headed the weekly cabinet meeting of the Palestinian leadership. President Arafat arrived in Gaza from Bethlehem after paying farewell to the Chinese president Jiang Zemin. Before Zemin's departure, the two leaders discussed the peace process and bilateral relations.
Arafat's advisor Nabil Abu Rudineh told reporters the Chinese government backs the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and recognizes the Palestinian state several years ago.
In Jerusalem Palestinian official described Zemin's visit to Al-Aqsa Mosque and the church of Sepulcher of a religious nature.
The Palestinian leadership confirmed during a weekly cabinet meeting held in Gaza city yesterday its rejection to PM Ehud Barak's attempts to integrate the third redeployment with final status issues. The statement said the conclusion of the second round of the Washington talks without scoring tangible progress is mainly attributed to Israel's attempts to bypass the international legitimacy resolutions particularly UN Security Council Resolution 242.
It said the Israeli government's attempts to evade from implementing UN Resolutions will impede reaching a framework deal and comes within the framework of Israeli attempts to partition the final status issues.
For his part presidential advisor Nabil Abu Rudineh emphasized that the Palestinians attain the absolute right to declare their state on September 13.
He described this date as a red line for the Palestinians.
Meanwhile Cabinet Secretary Ahmad Abdul rahman accused PM Barak with unseriousness in dealing with the Palestinians to approach genuine peace.
He described the Palestinian- Israeli negotiations as "Public Relations" meetings because the Israeli side is unwilling to discuss issues in a serious way nor it is willing to admit that there is a crisis.
He warned that this stand could lead to a wave of violence and a new uprising in the Palestinian areas .
The Palestinian masses throughout the homeland will observe sit-in strikes and marches to express solidarity with Palestinian prisoners staging a hunger strike at Israeli jails.
The marches will also be launched to commemorate the Palestinian Prisoner Day coinciding today April 17.
A Statement by the Palestinian Prisoner Club said the prisoners have started an open hunger strike under the slogan: Freedom of Death, and urged the world community to come to their rescue since Israel still is treating them as terrorists not prisoners despite the explicit terms of the Oslo Accords calling for their unconditional release.
Minister of State for Prisoners Affairs Hisham Abdul Razek said the PNA will not sign a Framework deal with Israel unless it contains a provision ensuring the rlease of all Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
Sunday April 16, 2000
Arafat denies accepting a state over 65% of the West Bank
President Yasser Arafat called for realizing a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East on the basis of "Land for Peace" principles and UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 338.
President Arafat also denied during a joint press conference held in Bethlehem city yesterday with visiting Chinese president Jiang Zemin, press reports circulated by the Israeli media about a Palestinian acceptance to the establishment of a Palestinian state over 65% of the West Bank. He also called for the implementation of UN resolution 194 on the return of Palestinian refugees. He stressed that the peace option is strategic for the Palestinian people.
For his part president Zemin voiced his country's support for the rights of the Palestinian people. He said we would continue to support the Palestinian rights despite the long distance between China and Palestine. During their talks the two leaders discussed the status of the peace talks and explored the possibility of promoting bilateral relations.
Abed Rabbo: Direct US involvement in the Washington talks
The head of the Palestinian delegation to the final status talks, Yasser Abed Rabbo, regards Israeli press reports talking about establishing a Palestinian state over parts of the Palestinian territories in return for adjourning some final status issues such as Jerusalem and the refugees, as a balloon test.
He said these proposals were rejected from the outset, and the Palestinians have received no such proposals from the Israeli side. Abed Rabbo also revealed that the Israeli side has verbally agreed during the second round of talks ending at Bolling Air Force Base south of Washington, on a Palestinian formula confirming that any agreement on a framework deal must be comprehensive and solving all permanent settlement issues leaving nothing for discussion except certain technical details on the mechanism of work.
The Minister of Information and Culture also confirmed that the third redeployment will become a focal point of discussion during the next few weeks indicating that the US involvement in the peace talks has started at the end of this round and is taking a new dimension through the US direct presence on the negotiation table. He said we believe that such step has a big significance.
Belien: No for a Palestinian state without an Israeli approval
The Israeli Minister of Justice said in an interview with Israel radio that giving the green light for establishing a Palestinian state by the Israeli government is necessary.
He elaborated unless the Israeli government accepts this officially there will be no Palestinian state.
He further said a unilateral declaration of the statehood by the Palestinians would not change our stand.
He also ruled out the possibility of approaching a framework deal.
Within the same context Barak's government asked the Palestinian National Authority yesterday to concede its demand for an Israeli military withdrawal from the West Bank to the 4th of June border. Reliable Israeli sources said if President Arafat agreed to a half-way solution, it would then be possible to reach a framework deal within a month.
The sources added if President Arafat dropped his demand that Israel should withdraw to the June 4 lines, Israel will then be prepared to recognize a disarmed Palestinian state over most of the West Bank.
Five Jewish settlers brutally attack a 71-year old Palestinian woman from Burin village, near Nablus
A group of Jewish settlers attempted to kill an old Palestinian woman near a settlement spot illegally established on the land of the village.
The 71-year old lady identified as Dahab Al-Najar said one settler put a knife on her throat threatening to slaughter her after being brutally attacked for more than two hours by five Jewish settlers.
She received several injuries and a finger fracture while torturing her because she was working in a field lying near the settlement. She said one settler pulled her from her hair for few yards while a second was kicking her until she lost consciousness. They have also tried to bury her alive in a hole.
The lady was hospitalized at critical condition in Rafideya hospital in Nablus.
Saturday April 15, 2000
The Israeli "Kol Hair" newspaper reported that, the Israeli government plans to dig a new tunnel in the Aqsa Mosque's courtyard. The Israeli plan, that will be carried out by the Israeli ministry of religious affairs, comes as part of the ongoing Israeli efforts to dig around the mosque in the southern and south-western sides. The new tunnel will be connected to the infamous tunnel dug in 1996.
President Arafat said that, the participant countries in the Havana summit have expressed their support to the establishment of a Palestinian state. President Arafat, who was responding to questions made by media reporters, upon his return from the summit added that, the support was overwhelming and there were positive resolutions in our favor. President Arafat who will receive the Chinese president in Bethlehem today, described the Israeli settlement onslaught against the Palestinian land around the city and in the West Bank as a destructive activity that sabotages the peace process.
Thursday April 13, 2000
The Palestinian National Authority confirmed in a statement issued yesterday that the Israeli government is burying the Mideast peace process with the same bulldozers used in building new Jewish settlements in the occupied territories.
The accusation labeled by Cabinet Secretary Ahmad Abdul Rahman said the continued expansion of Jewish settlements is a schematic blow up to the peace talks and considered the escalation of settlement building as an Israeli attempt to blackmail the Palestinian side in the talks.
Mr. Abdul Rahman charged the Jewish settlers with seeking to sabotage the peace process while Barak's government takes a passive stand, and still pretends a pro peace stand.
For its part, the Palestinian Legislative Council called for suspending the peace talks with Israel to protest the settlement offensive unleashed by the settlers throughout the occupied territories.
President Yasser Arafat said in Havana yesterday, this year will witness the declaration of a Palestinian state . According to the greements, September 13 is the deadline for reaching a final peace agreement and the declaration of statehood, he added. President Arafat asked the leaders of the G77 summit to back the Palestinian demands.
The correspondent of France Press reported that Jewish settlers began work yesterday to expand Har Gilo settlement just 24 hours after expanding Efrat settlement not far away from the new site.
The spokesperson of the so-called Council of Jewish Communities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip said the Council plans to construct over 200 housing units in Har Gilo. He said PM Barak wants the settlers to stop work because he wants to escape critics from Arafat. Within the same context, Jewish settlers are establishing a new settlement near kofer el Deik, west of Salfit.
The Canadian government denied a press report circulated by the Israeli media on the Canadian Prime Minister Jean chretein offering PM Barak to receive 15,000 Palestinian refugees in Canada and described it as inaccurate and untrue. The Canadian Representative to the PNA Tim Martin described the report as unfounded saying there was no offer by the Canadian government to accommodate refugees.
In Ottawa, the Canadian Minister of Immigration denied the report .
According to the Israeli version published in the Israeli press Canada has offered to take some 15,000 Palestinian refugees when a permanent status agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority is reached.
An Israeli official said the Canadian Prime Minister Chretain made this offer to PM Barak during his visit to Israel this week.
Wednesday April 12, 2000
The PNA: Barak's government only concerned with settlements expansion and not concerned with peace.
The Palestinian National Authority described the Israeli settlement activities in the occupied territories as an "unprecedented assault". Palestinian Cabinet Secretary Ahmed Abdul Rahman also described the settlement campaign as a schematic "blowing up" to negotiations on the third redeployment and the final status talks alike. He said settlement expansion also explains a lack of progress in the Washington talks.
Abdul Rahman added: "It is clearly evident that the present government led by PM Barak is only concerned with expanding Jewish settlements in the occupied territories and not concerned with the peace process".
According to well-informed sources, a strong debate was initiated between Palestinian and Israeli delegations in Washington over the feverish settlement activities in the occupied territories. The Palestinian delegation is raising this issue with the Israeli side on daily basis.
Abdul Rahman said the continued expansion of Jewish settlements proves that the peace talks are no more the right way to guarantee the rights of the Palestinian people but became a cover to accelerate settlement projects in our land.
The expansion of Efrat settlement and the opening of 21 bypass roads
Jewish settlers equipped with six heavy tractors commenced work yesterday to bulldoze a Palestinan hilltop south of Bethlehem for building 350 housing units.
The housing units will be annexed to Efrat settlement illegally built like all other Jewish settlements in the occupied territories. The so-called Council of Jewish communities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip proposed this plan just few hours before the Clinton- Barak summit in Washington.
A spokesperson for the Council told France Press:" We've commenced work to build 350 houses on this hill known as Zayton (olive) lying in the middle of Efrat.
Yesterday Ha'retz newspaper said in a report that Barak's government has given the green light for making 12 settlement bypass roads in the West Bank to be completed by the end of this years.
The roads are designated to serve Jewish settlers in the West Bank, the paper argued.
Palestinian and Israeli delegates exchange draft documents on the framework deal
An official source said yesterday the Palestinian and Israeli delegates to the Bolling Air Force Base talks outside Washington exchanged last Monday draft documents over the framework deal. He indicated the differences between both drafts are major in some issues and appeared to be minor in other parts.
The source did not expect reaching agreement during this round of talks indicating to the resumption of talks late this month in the region.
On the other hand, the Israeli daily newspaper Ma'ariv said in a report published yesterday that PM Barak intends to update US President Bill Clinton during their meeting in Washington on his government's approval to the establishment of a Palestinian state over 60% of the West Bank.
It said in a headline on its first page: Barak to tell Clinton "Yes" for a Palestinian state over 60% of the West Bank.
Israel decides to demolish eight Palestinian houses
The Israeli occupation authorities decided to demolish eight Palestinian houses in Beit Ummar town near Hebron. The houses are located near the Israeli settlement of "Karmi Tzur".
The Palestinian citizens condemned the Israeli decision and considered it as part of the Israeli ethnic cleansing policy directed at evacuating the Palestinian citizens from their homes and land.
Tuesday April 11, 2000
President Yasser Arafat announced in Gaza yesterday the Washington talks, now entering its second round between Palestinian and Israeli delegations, have produced nothing positive so far. He said he would discuss this issue with US President Bill Clinton during their next meeting in the American capital. The Palestinian leader asked for a more influential US, Canadian and European role to advance the peace talks.
Arafat's statement came at a press conference held jointly in Gaza yesterday with the Canadian PM Jean Chretien, currently on a visit to Palestine.
The Canadian premier said he hopes the concerned parties will unanimously agree on the declaration of the Palestinian state.
The head of the Palestinian delegation to the final status talks, Yasser Abed Rabbo conveyed to his Israeli counterpart Odid Eran five Palestinian demands to advance the peace talks. These are:
According to Israeli press reports, PM Barak is exploring the possibility of granting some sort of territorial contiguity to the PNA in addition to independent border stations.
The sources said these proposals were made by PM Barak during a cabinet meeting held yesterday.
The sources added PM Barak spoke about a Palestinian state without mentioning this in a direct way.
He asked whether there is anybody who could believe that a Palestinian entity would be established over 13 isolated tiny islands? If this is what is going to happen, the Palestinians have to pass through severed Israeli checkpoints and their leaders need our prior approval whenever they used to travel among such spots.
He also insisted that the Israeli army will not return to the June 1967 border, nor it will allow stationing an alien army west of the Jordan River in addition to keeping Jerusalem united, most of Jewish settlements in the occupied territories under Israeli jurisdiction, and holding no moral or legal responsibility towards the Palestinian refugees.
Presidential Secretary Tayib Abdul Raheem stressed yesterday that the Palestinian - Israeli negotiation should not go forever. He also said the Palestinians, would not continue it forever if a comprehensive deal was not reached by Sept. 13, 2000. Abdul Rahem's statement came during a symposium held in Ramallah yesterday by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. He hinted that the collapse of the peace talks threatens with another "South Lebanon" in Palestine.
PLO's Executive member in charge of Jerusalem's portfolio Faisal Husaini described the decision, taken by the Israeli premier to retain control over the settlements around Jerusalem, as rude and impolite, and expressed PLO's rejection to the decision.
Hussaini who was meeting a Canadian delegation pointed out that, Baraks decision was made amidst ongoing negotiations to implement the UN Security Council Resolution 242 which leads to the Israeli withdrawal from the settlements, yet Barak has already decided the fate of the negotiations, and by doing so he is trying to dictate on the Palestinians and not to negotiate with them.
Israeli settlers residing at the Avny Hefetz near Tulkarm uprooted olive trees belonging to the Palestinian citizen Hamdan Taher from Kufr Libad.
Mr. Taher is being a victim for the second time, as the Israeli occupation authorities confiscated 200 dunums belonging to him when the settlers decided to set up a new settlement out post near the already existing settlement of Avni Hefetz.
Monday April 10, 2000
President Yasser Arafat was quoted yesterday after a meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak as saying that the peace process is facing an unprecedented crisis even at the time of outgoing Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Arafat's statement was announced by Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Musa who attended Arafat's meting with President Mubarak. Musa told reporters that the Palestinian leader has told president Mubarak during their talks that the current deadlock on the Palestinian and Syrian tracks constitute a big crisis unprecedented even during Netanyahu's days.
He said President Arafat indicated to a retreat in the peace talks under the Barak's government and what is going on in Washington between the Israeli and the Palestinian delegations is just a "chatter".
The Egyptian Foreign Minister added the Palestinian leader spoke about the ongoing settlement policy in the West Bank stressing its serious implications on the entire peace process. President Arafat indicated to the construction of over 7,000 housing units at Jewish settlements in the West Bank during the nine past months of Barak's tenure in office in addition to commencing work on the construction of another 4,000 units.
The Middle East News Agency quoted President Yasser Arafat as saying yesterday that he rejects the idea of disarming Palestinian refugees in Lebanon in the aftermath of an Israeli withdrawal from South Lebanon.
The Agency said President Arafat ruled out the possibility of disarming Palestinian camp dwellers in Lebanon.
He added the Palestinian presence in Lebanon is codified by a decision reached by the 1970 Arab summit held in Cairo.
On the other hand President Arafat met in Gaza yesterday Terry Larsen, the special representative of UN Secretary General to the PNA. The Palestinian leader will fly to Havana today to attend the G77 summit due to be opened in the Cuban capital today.
Presidential Secretary General Tayib Abdul Raheem announced yesterday that the Palestinians are opposed to all attempts to accommodate Palestinian refugees in Lebanon or Iraq or Canada or Australia.
He said the Palestinian leadership and people reject such attempts since their absorption abroad contradicts with the Palestinian and the Arab demands.
He reiterated the Palestinian leadership's position calling for the return of refugees in accordance with UN resolution 194.
A senior Palestinian official announced yesterday that the Palestinian delegation to the Washington talks has rejected the partition of the framework agreement.
He said the Palestinian side totally rejects any partial agreements on the framework deal particularly not accepting Israeli proposals to trade some final status issues like Jerusalem and refugees in return for an Israeli recognition of a Palestinian state over parts of the Palestinian territories occupied in June 1967.
The sources added it seems that the Israeli delegation came to the talks without explicit mandate from PM Barak to reach a deal. The Washington talks will be held on daily basis on three different tracks up to April 16 discussing final status issues and the third redeployment from the West Bank.
Presidential Secretary Tayib Abdul Raheem categorically denied press reports circulated by the German News Agency about a Palestinian - Israeli deal on the return of 3,000 Palestinian refugees from Lebanon to the West Bank.
He described these reports as non-existent and unfounded and aims to distort facts on the official position of the Palestinian National Authority.
On the other hand, the official in charge of the refugees portfolio at the PNA, Assad Abdul Rahman, has warned Israel from attacking refugee camps in Lebanon by confirming that the Palestinian fighters are ready to defend themselves against any attack.
The Palestinian leadership warned yesterday against the seriousness of using the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon as a bargaining card by Barak's government on other peace tracks stressing it will not accept any threat to the safety and security of refugees there.
The leadership confirmed in a statement issued at the end of the weekly cabinet meeting held in Ramallah yesterday under the chairmanship of President Arafat, that the refugees of Lebanon are guests on the Lebanese people and government and their presence on the Lebanese soil is temporary . The statement said the Palestinian people was opposed during the past 50 years to all schemes to accommodate the refugees and only insist to be covered by UN Resolution 194 which ensured their right to return home or to compensate those unwilling to return.
On the other hand President Arafat signaled out the significance of scoring tangible progress during the second round of the Washington talks. He asked for a full fledge US participation in the ongoing peace talks.
The Israeli "Peace Now " group revealed in a statement issued yesterday that over 7,000 housing units are now under construction at Jewish settlements illegally built in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The statement said despite a freeze in new buildings, there are about 7120 new houses under construction in the occupied territories.
Most of these projects were initiated during the days of the outgoing Netanyahu government and continued during the first five months of Barak's new government which came to power last June.
The second round of the Washington talks resumed yesterday on two separate tracks the first to reach a framework agreement and the second to implement the third redeployment.
The representative of the PLO Office in Washington Hassan Abdul Rahman said the second round was inaugurated by a bilateral meeting before being joined by the US delegation.
He said it is still premature to say whether the two sides will succeed in narrowing the gaps still separating their positions though this will be more serious than the first one.
He added we hope that Barak's government has granted a mandate to its delegation to enter into serious talks to approach a deal.
President Yasser Arafat announced after his meeting with President Paiev of Khazachistan in Ramallah city yesterday that the Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations due to be resumed in Washington tomorrow, did not solve ,so far, any of the basic controversial issues.
He said, the talks are continuing and are still at their early stage with a US and Egyptian participation. President Arafat elaborated, the key issues under negotiations are Jerusalem, settlements, refugees, water , and borders. He recalled that the Palestinians accepted to go to Madrid peace conference only on the basis of implementing UN resolutions 242, 338 and 425.
He discussed with President Paiev the Middle East peace process and obstacles laid by Israel on the road to peace.
For his part president Paiev voiced his country's support for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
The Palestinian leader also met last night the Israeli Minister of Justice Yossi Beilin and Minister of Absorption Yuli Tamir. During the meeting, which was attended by Dr. Erekat and presidential adviser Abu Rudineh, the two sides discussed efforts to release Palestinian POWs in Israeli jails.
Dr. Erekat told reporters that the talks were intensive and covered the peace process
Head of the Palestinian delegation to the interim talks Dr. Saeb Erekat said in an interview with the Palestinian daily newspaper Al Ayyam that if the Israeli government continues to believe that it can make peace while keeping its settlements illegally built in the occupied territories and keeping its control on the borders, on occupying Jerusalem, and its opposition to the return of Palestinian refugees to their homes, Israel will be hallucinating.
He said, we are at a critical junction and hope that the policy makers in Israel will comprehend the prerequisites of peace . The Palestinian delegation is due to leave for Washington tomorrow morning to attend the second round of talks expected to last for ten days under American auspices.
The talks will run on two separate tracks the first dealing with the framework agreement to be headed by Yasser Abed Rabbo, and the second on the third redeployment to be led by Dr. Erekat.
Kissan village lying in the Bethlehem district is experiencing a new settlement assault by Maleh Amos settlers particularly at the northern side of the settlement to capture more Palestinian land.
The settlers erected ten mobile houses on Al Fawar mountain few days ago in an attempt to capture as much as possible from Kissan land for the expansion of their settlement.
The erection of these caravans is going on under the protection of the Israeli army. According to local sources the estimated area of Al Fawar is about 50 dunams.
Tuesday April 4, 2000
President Yasser Arafat announced in Bethlehem City yesterday that the PNA received no concrete proposals on the Palestinian statehood during the first round of the Washington talks.
Arafat's announcement to press reporters came after his meeting with Christopher Pattin, the EU's External Relations Commissioner. President Arafat updated Mr. Pattin on the latest developments in the peace process and the outcome of the first round of the Washington talks. President Arafat elaborated; the Washington talks did not yield anything substantial, since the Israeli delegates attending the talks did not have a mandate to take decisions.
President Arafat received last night the Dutch PM Williem Kok and his accompanying delegation. President Arafat conferred upon Kok the Bethlehem's 2000 order.
This was the second visit made by PM Kok to the self-ruled Palestinian areas. During this visit, the two sides discussed the sea port project, financed by Holland.
A Palestinian source revealed the presence of 80 Palestinian prisoners at Israel's Hadarim prison living very harsh conditions and denied family visits since seven months ago.
The prison authority will allow visit only from behind glass partitions or through talking to visitors via telephones, something totally rejected by the prisoners.
The source, working for the international human rights solidarity group said the prisoners will observe hunger strike to get their complaint heard by Israeli officials, adding, seventy prisoners need medical surgeries including Tayser Saleem from Beit Hanina, who is serving a life imprisonment in Ramla prison.
Israeli army tractors bulldozed hundreds of dunums planted with fruit trees in "Simya" area near Samo village. The land owned by Musa Abu Okeil and Fadel Abu Okeil.
The land was expropriated to open a 3-km long road to serve Jewish settlements in the area.
President Yaser Arafat told a big popular rally in Doheisha refugee camp near Bethlehem City yesterday that this year will witness the declaration of an independent Palestinian state.
President Arafat who was addressing over three thousand Palestinians in Doheisha camp club said, our main preoccupation is to ensure a steady return for all Palestinian refugees to their homeland in conjunction with UN resolution 194.
President Arafat said that 123 countries throughout the world recognize Palestine as a state.
On the other hand, President Arafat ordered the formation of a special committee from the cabinet and the PLC to discuss the low payments to public sector employees including teachers.
The committee will start its work as from today and will submit its recommendations to President Arafat on May 1st, 2000. The PLC will hold an extraordinary session to provide financial support for the enforcement of this decision.
The Presidential decree followed a meeting by President Arafat with the head of the PLC, heads of committees, and the minister of state for parliamentarian affairs.
Head of the Palestinian delegation to the final-status talks Yasser Abed Rabbo divulged in a press statement in Ramallah yesterday that most Israeli views proposed during the ongoing negotiations indicate Israel's intentions to maintain its control over major Israeli settlement blocks in the West Bank and granting the Palestinians a control over two cantons the first involving the northern and middle areas of the West Bank and the second the southern areas with a corridor. The two enclaves will be surrounded by areas controlled by Israel turning the Palestinian areas into two tiny islands in a big Israeli sea. He stressed that the Palestinian official position calls for an Israeli withdrawal to the June 4, 1967 lines.
He said the Israeli position calls for the annexation of most Jewish settlements to Israel.
Abed Rabbo, Palestinian Minster of Information and Culture, denied press reports circulated by Israeli sources that Barak offered to transfer 20% of the West Bank to Palestinian sovereignty in implementation of the third redeployment. He said we did not receive any offer of this kind from the Israeli delegation.
Minister of local Government, head of the Palestinian delegation to the interim Palestinian talks, Dr. Saeb Ereakt said that the Palestinian side is waiting for an Israeli reply within the next week on a Palestinian demand to release 230 Palestinian prisoners arrested before May 4, 1994.
He said after a meeting held in Jerusalem yesterday with his Israeli counterpart Odid Eran that differences between the two sides over the northern safe passage remain without a solution until now.
President Arafat receives the Tunisian Minister of Industry and the US Consul General to Jerusalem separately
President Yasser Arafat received at his office last night the Tunisian Minister of Industry Al-Monsif Ibn Abdullah and his accompanying delegation.
The meeting which was attended by Minister of Industry Dr. Sa'ad Al-Kronz and President Arafat's advisor Nabil Abu Rudineh focused on discussing means of promoting cooperation in various fields.
President Arafat also received US Consul General to Jerusalem John Herbst and updated him on the latest developments on the Palestinian peace track, and the obstacles laid by the Israeli government on the route of implementing signed agreements.
Earlier in the day, President Arafat met MK Ahmed Tibi and discussed with him political issues including the Middle East peace process.
Abed Rabbo: No change in the Israeli position
The head of the Palestinian delegation to the final status talks, Yasser Abed Rabbo, revealed in a press statement yesterday that the Washington talks did not offer any new Israeli proposals and that there were no changes from previous Israeli positions.
Abed Rabbo said, Barak's (No's) on the future of Jerusalem, borders, settlement, and refugees remained as before.
Abed Rabbo vehemently rejected Israeli offers "test balloons" granting Palestinian control over 50% of the Palestinian territories pending a final solution, adding, this will blow up pillars of establishing an independent Palestinian state since this offer dedicates the establishment of scattered cantons distributed throughout the Palestinian land.
On the other side, Saeb Erekat, head of the Palestinian delegation to the interim talks, updated the consuls and representatives of the EU, and the Japanese Ambassador on the latest developments in the peace process.
Walaje, Khader and Salfit hold large demonstrations to mark Land Day
Three massive rallies were organized yesterday at Walaje, Khader, and Salfit to commemorate Land Day.
In Bethlehem, the popular Land Defense Committee organized a march setting out from downtown Walaje to Ein Hewaza neighborhood threatened by Israeli confiscation.
In Al-Khader, Bethlehem University students organized a similar march and headed to a site near Goush Etsion settlement block. The site identified as Ismail Musa is estimated at 200 dunums and is threatened by confiscation for the expansion of Goush Etsion settlement.
In Salfit, another march was organized at Zawia village to protest the confiscation of Arab land for the construction of new Jewish settlements and to build new bypass roads for Jewish settlers illegally occupying lands in the West Bank.
President Arafat chaired the weekly cabinet meeting held in Ramallah City yesterday duly attended by members of the PLO Executive Committee and cabinet ministers.
President Arafat updated the participants on the political position of the PNA concentrating on Land Day and affirming the right of the Palestinian people to its land.
The Palestinian leader hailed the visit made by Pope John Paul II to the Palestinian territories, which strengthened the historic ties between the PNA and Vatican.
Concerning the Palestinian - Israeli negotiations held last week at a US airbase south of Washington, President Arafat said these talks are still in their initial stages.
He said, all peace agreements signed with Israel clearly stated the need to carry out the third redeployment by Israel from the West Bank.
The Palestinian leadership said in a statement that approaching a framework deal should be proceeded by an Israeli compliance with the principles of the Oslo Accords and with UN Security Resolutions 242, 338, and 425 in addition to the land for peace principle.
President Arafat affirmed that the Palestinian independence will not be completed without Jerusalem being the eternal capital of Palestine.
Arafat's statement was made during his inauguration in Ramallah yesterday of a conference for Fateh's Shabiba students. He also named this year as the year of the establishment of the independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. President Arafat also received his Cypriot counterpart Glafko Kleridis and discussed with him the Middle East peace process.
24-year old Murad Zaro from Shu'fat refuge camp north of Jerusalem was killed by an Israeli soldiers while driving to nearby Anata town around 11:30 p.m. last Thursday night. According to family sources Zaro was distributing invitation cards to his wedding party when he was killed.
The Israeli version said a special unit from the so-called border guard stormed into Anata looking for armed Palestinians. The patrol noticed a local car heading to the checkpoint and ran into two parking Israeli military jeeps. An Israeli soldier shot and killed Zaro believing that he was carrying arms.
The Israeli Ministry of Interior revoked 411 identifies cards from Palestinians living in East Jerusalem during 1999. The Ministry said, 121 Palestinians have decided to live in the West Bank and 290 held residence visas abroad. The policy of revoking Ids from the Palestinians of Jerusalem did not change since 1995 when the ministry revoked thousands of Ids from Palestinian Arabs.
The Israeli newspaper Ma'ariv reported that the Israeli PM Ehud Barak has sent a letter to the settlers in Hebron, who are ill-famed for being too fanatic and extremist, Barak congratulated the settlers on the 32nd anniversary of settlement in Hebron. He wrote in his letter, "Jews have the right to settle peacefully in Hebron." Baraks letter was highly appreciated by the settlers ,and was on the other hand harshly criticized by the Israeli left wing parties.
The Israeli Peace now Movement denounced Barak's letter and pointed out that, the settlers in Hebron have always rejected co-existence with the Palestinian citizens of Hebron.
Palestine and Tunisia are to sign a number of protocol agreements to carry out previously signed agreements in different areas. The two sides will sign another two agreements one for encouraging investments and the other for avoiding double tax in trade. The agreements include areas such as ,trade, industry, investment, agriculture, transportation, public works, infrastructure, environmet, tourism and others