
DECEMBER 2000
Sunday
December 31 2000
Main Headlines
- Hebron: Israeli occupation soldiers entrenched in
military posts at Kiryat Arba settlement shelled with
artillery and machine-gun fire a number of residential
areas at the city while clashes were going on between
Palestinians and Israeli soldiers at Shallala street .
The skirmishes culminated in ten Palestinian casualties
one listed in serious condition.
- Nablus: Many residential areas came under heavy
artillery fire from an Israeli military post located over
Garzim mountain. According to Palestinian sources the
bombardment inflicted material damage to a number of
apartments at Al Daheyya neighborhood.
- In a separate incident, Palestinian gunmen and Israeli
occupation soldiers exchanged fire near Ebal camp for
almost two hours.
- Bethlehem: Aidya and Azza refugee camps came under
artillery fire from Israeli occupation forces causing
extensive material damage to a number of houses.
- Beit Jala: Palestinian gunmen opened fire on an
Israeli vehicle near Al Anfak area and against an Israeli
military position near Al Khadr village. The Israeli
occupation forces responded by opening a hail of bullets
and canon rounds.
- Ramallah: Palestinian gunmen opened fire against an
Israeli military vehicle near the so-called civil
administration junction north of Ramallah city. No
casualties were reported. In a separate incident a Jewish
settler was seriously wounded by Palestinian gunmen near
Hizma village.
- Rafeh: A Palestinian gunman hurled a hand
grenade against an Israeli military patrol near Rafeh
city . In a second incident, an Israeli military convoy
came under fire near Doghit settlement north of Gaza
city. The Israeli occupation soldiers responded by
rocketing Brazil residential neighborhood in Rafeh
wounding about ten Palestinian civilians. Unidentified
gunmen threw two bombs against two Israeli military
positions lying near the border.
- Khan Younes: The Austrian housing project was
shelled by Israeli military forces stationed at Gush
Katif settlement bloc and Neveh Dakmim.
- Netanya: A booby-trapped car exploded north of
Tel Aviv wounding 54 Israelis one reported in critical
condition.
- The Minister of Information and Culture, Yasser Abed
Rabbo, revealed yesterday that President Yasser Arafats
meeting with President Clinton at the White House, on
Tuesday was initiated by the American leader to discuss
Palestinian reservations and clarifications about Clintons
peace plan.
- The Palestinian National Authority said the explosion
of a booby-trapped car in Natanya yesterday, was the
direct result of what it termed the whirl of violence
orchestrated by the Israeli government against innocent
Palestinian civilians.
- The Secretary-General of Arafats office, Tayeb
Abdulraheem, reaffirmed yesterday that no security or
stability will prevail in the Middle East without the
realization of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian
people based on UN Security Council Resolutions 242, 338,
and the land-for-peace principle as well as the return of
the Palestinian refugees to their homes.
Thursday
and Friday December 21-22 2000
Main Headlines
- Hebron: Approximately 13 Palestinians were wounded by
Israeli occupation soldiers at a number of residential
areas in the city. Israeli tanks and artillery shelled
also some Arab houses in the city.
- Qalkilya: Two Palestinian were wounded one receiving a
head injury during clashes flaring up with Israeli
occupation soldiers on the southern entrance of the city.
Similar clashes broke out in Salfit town and at Deirsteya
and kofel Hareth villages, north-west of Salfit. No
casualties were reported in these confrontations.
- Al Bireh: About 38 Palestinians were wounded yesterday
during violent clashes with Israeli occupation forces at
the northern entrance of Al Bireh city, Ram junction
north of Jerusalem, Deir Netham, west of Ramallah and
Qalandya refugee camp. Five people were listed in serious
to critical condition. Israeli tanks entrenched at nearby
Jewish settlements shelled a number of buildings under
construction in Al Bireh causing extensive material
damage.
- Gaza: Palestinian gunmen and Israeli soldiers exchanged
fire at Nitsarim settlement after Israeli security forces
killed a Palestinian near the settlement.
- Deir Baleh: Seven Palestinians sustained light to
moderate wounds during skirmishes with Israeli occupation
forces around the city.
- Khan Younes: Israeli tanks and artillery shelled Khan
Younes refugee camp three times yesterday inflicting
extensive material damage to a number of apartments and
institutions.
- The Palestinian leadership reiterated during its weekly
session held in Gaza yesterday its commitment to the
Palestinian position and all international legitimacy
resolutions pertinent to the Palestinian problem.
- A statement issued at the end of the meeting asked the
Israeli government to stop its military aggression
against the Palestinian people .
Wednesday
December 20, 2000
Main Headlines
- Rafeh: One Palestinian was killed and a second seriously
wounded by Israeli occupation soldiers who opened
automatic fire against their car near Rafeh city
yesterday.
- In another attack a Palestinian boy identified as Hani el
Sufi was killed by a bomb shrapnel and Salman Zogrob was
killed by a bullet in the chest during the breakout of
fighting south of Rafeh.
- Khan Younes: Israeli occupation soldiers, entrenched at
Toffah checkpoint west of Khan Younes refugee camp,
opened heavy machine-gun fire against Palestinian
apartments at Qatatwa camp.
- Salfit: Al Abrar mosque was attacked by Israeli
occupation forces causing material damage to the building
and the electric network.
- President Yasser Arafat said the assassination of three
Palestinians by Israeli occupation soldiers is a serious
military escalation which aims at sabotaging the Middle
East peace process.
- The Minister of Information and Culture, Yasser Abed
Rabbo, declared in Washington yesterday at the end of a
round of talks that any agreement lacking guarantees from
the UN Security Council will be useless and signing such
accord in the absence of UN guarantees will constitute a
historic crime. He attributed the failure of the Oslo
accords to the absence of an international mechanism to
ensure and follow up its application.
- Chief Palestinian negotiator Dr. Saeb Erekat announced in
Washington yesterday the Palestinian side is conducting
very serious talks. He also admitted facing major
difficulties and serious differences.
Tuesday
December 19, 2000
Main Headlines
- Rafeh: Israeli occupation soldiers fired artillery rounds
against Arab apartments in Hayye Sultan area causing
severe damage to buildings in Rafeh city yesterday.
Another Israeli military squad demolished without prior
notice a home in Deir el Baleh town.
- Jerusalem: An Israeli military vehicle came under fire
from Palestinian gunmen while passing on the Hizma-Anata
road . Israeli patrols combed the area to hunt the
gunmen.
- Gaza: Two Palestinian laborers were wounded at Erez
industrial city yesterday when Israeli soldiers opened
fire against them.
- Al Bireh: Israeli tanks entrenched at Pisgot settlement
shelled Satah Marhba neighborhood and the eastern quarter
of the city yesterday. Simultaneously, clashes renewed at
the northern sector of the city yesterday . A number of
Palestinians were wounded and admitted to Ramallh
Hospital for treatment.
- Hebron: Five Palestinians received light to moderate
wounds during confrontations with Israeli occupation
forces at the contact points in Hebron especially at
Shallala street. The wounded were transported to Alia
Hospital . Palestinian gunmen opened fire against Deboya
quarter inhabited by Jewish settlers.
Monday
December 18, 2000
Main Headlines
- Al Bireh: Israeli tanks entrenched inside Pisgot
settlement opened fire against Palestinian residential
areas at Marhaba neighborhood and Kofer Akab village.
Three Palestinians received moderate wounds as a direct
result of these attacksm whcih trigerred spoardic clashes
between Palestinians and Israelis until early hours
today.
- Beit Lahya: Israeli occupation soldiers fired rocket
missiles and heavy gunfire against some military
positions affilated to Palestinian security forces at
Sudaneyeh area west of Beit Lahya town in the Gaza strip.
Israeli gun boats were used in the attack against Beit
Lahya.
- Bethlehem: Firece clashes flared up in Husan village east
of Bethelehm between Palestinian gunmen and Israeli
occupation soldiers who imposed a curfew around the
village. About fifteen Palestinians were admitted to
hospitals during the skirmishes during which gas bombs
were fired against Muslim worshippers and Arab
apartments.
- Qalkilya: Two Palestinian children were wounded during
clahses with Israeli occupation forces at southern
entrance of the city. The clashes began when Palestinian
demonstrators started throwing stones and embty bottles
against soldiers who responded by firing live ammunition
and gas bombs towards the crowd.
- Rafeh: Israeli occupation soldiers entrenched inside a
military position overlooking Salaheddin street in Rafeh
fired a number of rocket missiles against nearby Arab
buildings adjoining the border line between Gaza strip
and Egypt.
- Jericho: Palestinian gunmen opened fire against an
Israeli bus while travelling on a bypass road near
Jericho wounding two passangers . The road bween
Jerusalem and north of Israeli was closed after the
attack.
- Khan Younes: Israeli occupation forces resumed shelling
Palestinian residential areas in Khanyounes city with
mortar and machine gun fire. The intermittent shelling
lasted for one hour casuing extensive damage to a number
of buildings.
- Hebron: Israeli soldiers opened fire against Palestinian
demonstrators at Shallala street in Hebron's old city .
Sheikh Taher Qawasmi was hit in the leg while leaving Bab
Zawya mosque lying at Shallala.
- Nablus: A Palestinian youth was hit in the abdomen during
violent clashes between Palestinian demonstrators and
Israeli occupation soldiers near Tapuh junction south of
Nablus. Another Palestinian youth was seriously wounded
when a Jewish settler shot him.
Sunday
December 17, 2000
Main Headlines
- Rafeh: Violent clashes broke out between Palestinian
gunmen and Israeli occupation soldiers south of Rafeh .
The skirmishes occurred when Israeli tanks tried to enter
Arab apartments near Yebna refugee camp. Scores of
missiles were also fired at Palestinian dwellings causing
severe damage to a number of homes.
- Hebron: Several Arab neighborhoods came under heavy
bombardment by Israeli occupation forces at the center
and the south-western areas of Hebron. About 12
Palestinians were hurt either by rubber bullets or gas
bombs . Eideh village lying south of Hebron also was hit
by artillery rounds as many Arab vehicles were attacked
by Jewish settlers in the area.
- Khan Younes: Israeli occupation soldiers bombed Al Rabwat
western area near Khan Younes by artillery rounds and
automatic machine-gun fire. Eyewitnesses said an Israeli
tank, stationing at Janet Tal settlement, fired its
rounds against Arab homes in Al Rabwat area.
- Bethlehem: Three half-armored Israeli military vehicles
stormed into Za'atra village east of Bethlehem city
yesterday causing extensive damage to streets and
retaining walls of some homes as well as to electric
bars. The invading Israeli soldiers received stiff
resistance from Palestinian youth at the site and at al
Khadr village.
- Al-Bireh Sporadic clashes renewed between Palestinian
demonstrators and Israeli occupation soldiers near the
northern entrance of the city culminating into wounding
three citizens one listed in serious condition. An
Israeli military bus came under fire near Ofra settlement
illegally built over confiscated Arab land conquered by
Israel in the June 1967 Arab-Israeli war.
- Gaza A big size bomb went off north of Gaza and an
Israeli patrol came under fire near Doghit settlement in
two separate incidents.
- President Yasser Arafat announced yesterday the departure
of two Palestinian and Israeli delegations for Washington
within the next two day to discuss with the Clinton
administration means of supporting and preserving the
peace process and carrying out what has been agreed upon.
President Arafat simultaneously described the
assassination of key Palestinian activist at the hands of
special Israeli squads as tragic and injures the peace
process.
- Chief Palestinian negotiator Dr. Saeb Erekat said a
Palestinian delegation will be heading to Washington at
the invitation of the American administration. He said
there will be separate meetings with the Americans for
consultation to explore the possibility of reaching final
agreement. He said we are still unaware of the next
American step though it might be conducive to the
resumption of peace talks.
- The Minister of Information and culture, Yasser Abed
rabbo, stressed the need for a complete Israeli
withdrawal from Arab east Jerusalem occupied by Israel in
June 1967 including the Muslim and Christian holy sites.
He spelled out Israeli position to maintain the current
status quo in Jerusalem unchanged.
Saturday
December 16, 2000
Main Headlines
- Beit Sahor: Israeli occupation soldiers used artillery
rounds and automatic fire in shelling a number of
residential neighborhoods in Beit Sahor town, east of
Bethlehem city. Many apartments were directly hit by the
bombardment.
- Beit Lahya: The city came under heavy artillery fire from
Israeli occupation forces causing extensive material
damage to a number of buildings . Palestinian gunmen
returned fire against Israeli positions in the area.
- Hebron: Israeli snipers opened fire against an ambulance
car owned by the Palestinian Red Crescent Organization in
Hebron yesterday . Ten Palestinian civilians were wounded
by Israeli occupation soldiers during clashes at Shallala
street in Hebron's old city and at Halhol town .
- Qalkilya: Violent confrontations flared up in Qalkilya
city culminating in wounding three Palestinians by
rubber-coated metal bullets fired from Israeli sources at
the northern sector of the city.
- Bethlehem: Israeli occupation soldiers bombed Aiyda
refugee camp with artillery and mortar rounds causing
extensive damage to buildings.
- Al Bireh: Routine clashes resumed between Palestinian
demonstrators and Israeli occupation soldiers at the
northern entrance of the city as Palestinian youth were
pelting soldiers with stones and the Israelis returned by
firing rubber bullets and gas bombs against the huge
crowds.
- Nablus: Israeli occupation forces fired gas bombs against
huge crowds and Palestinian students at Beit Furik during
their attempt to go out from the village to join their
schools or colleges in Nablus city. The Israeli military
establishment imposed a military curfew against Beit
Furik simply for resisting the Israeli presence in their
village .
- Salfit: Israeli security forces stormed into Kofel Hareth
village, north-west of Salfit town and arrested four
youth including three brothers. Jericho: Palestinian and
Israeli gunmen exchanged fire at the northern gate of
Jericho city .
- The Minister of Information and Culture Yasser Abed Rabbo
sees no breakthrough or any hope of concluding new peace
talks with Israel because the Israeli government still is
reluctant to make the required concessions. He said a
Palestinian delegation will probably leave for Washington
for consultation on the present situation and the
difficulties facing the peace process.
- Col. Mohammad Dahlan, head of the Palestinian Preventive
Security System in Gaza strip said the Palestinian
leadership approved during its last meeting to hold talks
with the Israeli side to find out a solution for the
conflict. He clarified that the Palestinians are not
going to stop the intifada even if Israel stipulated this
suspension. He confirmed the Palestinian intifada will
only stop after the aspiration of the national rights of
the Palestinian people.
Friday
December 15, 2000
Main Headlines
- Rafeh: Israeli occupation soldiers fired twenty artillery
rounds against Rafeh and its nearby town from a military
post not far away from the Egyptian border causing
extensive material damage to buildings and properties.
- Nablus Israeli sharpshooters opened fire against two
Palestinians while on their way to Tel village fatally
wounding them, then killed a businessman from Nablus city
when a second patrol opened fire against his car near
Burin village on the Nablus-Ramallah highway. Violent
clashes occurred near the Western gate of Beit Furik town
in which some casualties were reported among the
Palestinians .
- Ramallah Israeli occupation soldiers opened fire against
a position run by the Palestinian security forces near
Nabi Saleh village, west of Ramallah killing one
Palestinian securityman and seriously wounding his
comrade in arms.
- Gaza A Palestinian youth died from wounds he received by
bullets fired against him by Israeli occupation soldiers
near Erez checkpoint in Beit Hanon. The soldiers opened
fire against the martyr while enroute for work at Erez
industrial park.
- Jerusalem Scores of hundreds of Palestinian worshippers
demonstrated at Al Aqsa courtyard yesterday following the
Muslim Friday Prayer to protest the Israeli ban imposed
on Palestinians to go to Al Aqsa Mosque in Arab east
Jerusalem . Israeli occupation forces used rubber coated
metal bullets and its so-called riot police squads to
disperse demonstrators. Israel closed Al Aqsa before
Muslims since the beginning of the Muslim fasting month
of Ramadan before of all Palestinians in the West Bank,
Gaza strip and even inside Israel itself with an
exception to Palestinians living in occupied Jerusalem
aging over 45 years.
- Al Bireh Israeli occupation forces fired over twenty
artillery rounds and opened automatic machine-gun fire
against a number of buildings under construction at the
northern gate of the city. Contact points and Qalayndia
camp were also the scene of heavy confrontations
culminating in wounding 25 Palestinians by Israeli
occupation soldiers.
- Hebron Israeli artillerymen bombed several residential
neighborhoods in Hebron city yesterday and wounded eight
Palestinians during clashes flaring up in the aftermath
of the Friday Prayer.
- Bethlehem Palestinian demonstrators engaged with Israeli
occupation soldiers near Bilal Ibn Rabah mosque in
Bethlehem city yesterday pelting the invaders with stones
and empty bottles. The Israelis retaliated by opening
live ammunition and rubber bullets against the
demonstrators. Al Khadr village also witnessed similar
clashes with the invading Israeli soldiers . In Zaatra
village a number of Israeli military soldiers stormed
into the homes of the village .
- Qalkilya An Israeli patrol came under fire from
Palestinian gunmen near Qalkilya city who also fired a
hail of bullets against Sorikal settlement lying in the
same area.
- President Yasser Arafat yesterday presided over a meeting
for the PLO Executive Committee in Gaza city yesterday.
The meeting followed the weekly cabinet meeting of the
Palestinian leadership and focused on the challenges
facing the Palestinian people under the continued Israeli
aggression . President Arafat briefed the Committee on
the outcome of his recent contacts with the American and
the Israeli sides.
- The Palestinian leadership appealed to the international
community and the UN Security Council to immediately move
towards putting an end to the Israeli military aggression
against the Palestinians .
- The Minister of Information and Culture Yasser Abed Rabbo
said yesterday the Palestinians will not tolerate the
assassination of three civilians by the Israeli army in
the Nablus area and warned the murderers must pay the
price for their crimes. He said the assassination of
three Palestinians is another clue that the Israeli
occupation army has nothing to do except to go on killing
more and more Palestinians. He also said the Jewish
settlers illegally living in the occupied territories are
part of this terrorist activity.
- The speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council Ahmed
Qrei criticized the need of continuing negotiations with
the Israeli government and confirmed that rescuing the
Middle East peace process requires courageous Israeli
decisions and not negotiations.
Tuesday
December 12, 2000
Main Headlines
- Deheisha Refugee Camp: Israeli occupation forces renewed
bombarding Palestinian residential areas from within
Efrat settlement at Deheisha Camp near Bethlehem
inflicting severe damages to scores of houses.Two other
locations in Al Khadr and Irtas came under artillery fire
from Israeli military positions causing damage to a
number of buildings in the two Arab villages.
- Beit Jala: Israeli occupation forces opened mortar and
missile fire against Beit Jala town from inside Gilo
settlement illegally built over Palestinian land occupied
by Israel in June 1967. Simultaneously Gilo settlement
came under fire from Palestinian gunmen.
- Nablus: Israeli snipers fatally wounded 28-year old Anwar
Hamran. Hamran died in a hail of bullets in Grizim
Mountain. The villages of Beit Furik, Salem, and Tel, all
lying in the Nablus area, witnessed violent clashes with
Israeli soldiers and herds of settlers.
- Khan Younis: An Israeli soldier received moderate
injuries near Tuffah checkpoint when a hand grenade was
hurled against the Israeli military coordination office.
Israeli soldiers retaliated by opening heavy mortar fire
against Palestinian houses in Khan Younis refugee camp
and Qatatwa neighborhood.
- Bethlehem: Aydeh refugee camp, Khadr village, and Bilal
Ibn Rabah area came under intense Israeli bombardment
from various weapons continuing until a late hour last
night.
- Deir El Balah: Four hand bombs were thrown against an
Israeli military position opposite Kfar Darom settlement
north of the city. The bombs exploded culminating in a 20
minute long skirmish with submachine gun fire.
- Ramallah: Palestinian gunmen and Israeli occupation
forces exchanged fire at Beni Zeid area, west of Ramallah
last night. Israeli forces opened fire against
Palestinians in Kofer Ein, Beit Rima, Nabi Saleh last
night and attempted to storm into Kofer Ein but were
repulsed by Palestinian resistance movement.
- Kalandia Camp: Israeli soldiers at the main road of
Kalandia refugee camp wounded a Palestinian youth
yesterday. Intermittent clashes continued near Ram
junction, north of Jerusalem culminating in the wounding
of a number of Palestinians.
- Yabad: Two Israeli soldiers were wounded during an armed
engagement at the main entrance of the town in
Jenins district. The fighting was followed by tense
Israeli shelling to Palestinian houses at the town.
- Ouja: Israeli private units escorted by a large army
force entered Ouja town north of Jericho and opened fire
against Palestinian apartments in which a Palestinian
youth was hit by several bullets in the abdomen.
- Hebron: Violent clashes flared up in the city between
Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli troops following
the funeral procession to a Palestinian youth killed by
Israeli soldiers. Several Palestinians were wounded in
the clashes, two were listed in serious condition.
- Al Bireh: Sporadic clashes renewed at the northern
entrance of the city between Palestinians and Israeli
soldiers. Rubber-coated metal bullets wounded five
Palestinians.
- Jerusalem: Two Israeli cars traveling from Pisgat Zaev to
French Hill came under automatic gunfire near the bridge
over the French Hill/Maleh Adumim road. No one was hurt.
- President Yasser Arafat asked the US and Russia to
maximize efforts to stop the Israeli aggression against
the Palestinian people and try to rescue the peace
process.
Arafats request came after a meeting in Gaza
yesterday with the Russian envoy Alexander Sultanov.
President Arafat also stressed during a meeting with the
international fact-finding commission the need to advance
the peace efforts to approach a genuine and durable peace
in the region.
- The Minister of Information and Culture Yasser Abed Rabbo
denied any secret political contacts with the Israeli
side while admitting that such contacts are of a security
nature covering the present circumstances and Israeli
violations.
- The Minister of Planning and International cooperation
Dr. Nabil Shaath announced yesterday that the Arab
Follow-Up Committee has endorsed during its meeting in
Damascus a number of important decisions including a call
on the World Trade Organization WTO to cancel
Israels membership for impeding Palestinian trade
movement, and a second appeal to the EU to stop importing
Israeli goods produced in Jewish settlements.
Monday
December 4, 2000
Main Headlines
- British government media relations chiefs said to
be offering guidance on Public Relations to Israel.
British government specialists are giving lessons in
communication skills to Israeli army officers. Presumably
the British are teaching the Israelis on how to be
effective in committing evil deeds without being noticed,
or to kill, maim and torture Palestinians while at the
same time claiming self defense.
- President Arafat says, There are no secret negotiations
with Israel. Our people are continuing in its Intifada
and proved that it is ready to face all options.
- Israel fears the evenhandedness of the US.
And said to have accepted to cooperate with the
International Fact-Finding committee headed by American
Senator George Mitchell.
- A senior ex US diplomat says The Arabs view the United
States as a rubber stamp for Israel. Richard Murphy adds
the current situation in the Middle East is liable to
further escalation and will lead into instability in the
region.
- Barak said to have refused an American help to arrive at
a negotiated settlement.
- George W. Bush says, soon he will assume the presidency
of the US.
- Netanyahu keeping an eye on the political developments in
Israel with a view to entering the race for the Israeli
premiership.
Sunday
December 3, 2000
Main Headlines
- Israel places more and more barricades to close
Palestinian towns, villages and cities off. And to
further impede the movement of Palestinians on their
land. Israeli occupation troops murder two more
Palestinian civilians and injured more than 20. The
Israeli killing of Palestinian children, young men and
people are on the increase, more and more civilians are
killed. Israeli tanks bomb Palestinian residential areas,
kill and maim civilians, terrify children and makes
Palestinian life a misery.
- Israel is waging an economic war against the Palestinian
people. It is destroying the Palestinian economy, and
inflicting heavy damage and losses to all economic
sectors.
- According to Los Angeles Times, the Israeli measures
against the Palestinian people are increasing defiance
and made Palestinians more radical.
- The Jordanian Parliament is discussing a memorandum
calling for canceling Jordan's peace agreement with
Israel.
- Egyptian Iranian contacts on the situation in the
occupied Palestinian territories.
- President Clinton said to exert more efforts to achieve
peace in the region.
- Senior Palestinian official says, Stability and peace in
our region can only be achieved when a Palestinian
independent state with Arab East Jerusalem as its capital
is established.
Saturday
December 2, 2000
Main Headlines
- Israeli tanks bombard Hebron, Ramallah, Al-Bireh and Khan
Younis. Israeli occupation forces killed four
Palestinians, two children and two young men yesterday.
- Israeli occupation snipers target and kill Palestinian
children and civilians going to their homes.
- UNECIF says, 310 Palestinian were killed since Sept. 28,
2000, 97 of the are children.
- The Israeli occupation isolates Arab East Jerusalem from
its natural environment. Palestinians from the West Bank
and Gaza are prevented from entering Arab East Jerusalem
and from praying at Al- Aqsa Mosque.
- Last Ramadan, the number of Palestinian Muslims praying
on Friday in Al -Aqsa Mosque were more than 250,000
Muslims, this year the number of Muslims praying at the
Al- Aqsa Mosque is no more than 20,000. Palestinians are
isolated from their holy city, Israel is preventing the
Palestinian people from exercising one of their most
basic rights, the freedom to pray in Al- Aqsa Mosque.
- President Arafat chairs the Palestinian weekly cabinet
meeting, and declares that our people are determined to
continue their steadfastness and struggle for freedom and
independence. The Palestinian leadership calls on the
International Fact-Finding Committee to shoulder its
responsibility, in addition to demanding that Israel
stops its measures preventing aid from reaching the
occupied Palestinian territories.
- Palestinian municipalities and government offices operate
under most difficult circumstances. As much services as
possible are being provided.
- Muslim most senior clerics in Damascus and Cairo call for
boycotting American and Israeli made products.
- Iraq stopped its oil exports.
- The US Supreme Court will issue its judgment on the
American presidential elections within few days.
- Unemployment in Gaza reached 50%. And no hopes for the
foreseeable future and no end to the Palestinian
suffering.