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DECEMBER 2001

Sunday December 30, 2001

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H.H Alexie the II, Moscow Patriarch and the rest of Russia, greeted President Yasser Arafat for the seasonal celebrations of Christmas and the New Year, wishing the Palestinians to achieve their national goals. HE also received a phone call from the Arab League Secretary Genera Mr. Amro Mousa.
The Brazilian Movement (Shalom-Salam-Paz) consists of Arab, Jews and Brazilians activists for peace, have organized yesterday, a demonstration in front of the USA Embassy in the Brazilian City of Sao Paolo. The demonstrators waved banners calling the USA to play a fair role in the Middle East Conflict, by implementing the international legitimacy of establishing the Palestinian State with Jerusalem as its capital. They handed the USA Consul General a letter calling the USA Administration to act immediately to oblige Israel to withdraw from the Palestinian occupied lands, to the June 4^th 1967 borders and dismantle all the settlements. In their letter they emphasized that the Palestinian Intifada is a public legitimate uprising against the occupation and humiliation practiced by Israel against them.
The Orthodox Archbishop Elias Alkfoury of the St. Nicholas Church in Southern Lebanon, greeted yesterday the Palestinian people for the Holy Season celebrations, wishing them to achieve their national goals.
The Israeli occupying forces prevented yesterday, the International Committee for protecting the Palestinian people, from entering the City of Nablus for offering their support and solidarity to the Palestinian people. The delegation that consists of dozens of International figures from France, USA, Italy, Belgium and many other countries, was detained at the Israeli military roadblock, for over three hours before eventually managing to enter the City.
The Israeli occupying forces, held 17 members of the French Delegation at gunpoint, detaining them for hours at the Israeli military roadblock, after sit striking for two hours at the Altofah area south to Gaza, protesting against the Israeli atrocities and breaches. Mrs. Maya Lin Lafayette condemned the Israeli obstacles and mistreat for the French delegation, saying that the Israeli forces have prevented five other French delegations from entering the city of Gaza. She considered these preventions as hiding the painful truth, of the Israeli abusing the Palestinians, from the international public opinion.

Monday December 24, 2001

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US and European pressures on Israel to retreat from its decision of banning President Arafat from reaching Bethlehem
The PNA Appealed to the Pope to interfere
Jordan criticizes the decision and placed a helicopter at the disposal of Arafat
Patriarchs and heads of Christian Churches in Jerusalem condemn the decision and will meet this morning with President Arafat
A statement to the international public opinion from institutions and churches of Ramallah President Arafat might head to Bethlehem with Patriarch Michel Sabbah.
Israeli Tourism Minister decides to resume digging works inside the Walls of the Old City Starting a project to build 200 settlement units inside Herod's Gate in Jerusalem.
Palestinians deny a joint document between Qrei' and Peres Items of the document according to Yediot Ahronot Newspaper.
Israel prepares to receive a new wave of Jewish immigrants from Argentine.

Friday December 21, 2001

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The Cairo meeting condemned the Israeli state terrorism and raised doubts on Sharon's government as a partner in the peace process
Arafat: It is high time for the Americans to tell Sharon: "enough"
Arafat: I will spend Christmas night in Bethlehem even if I had to go on foot.
Gaza: One youth killed and 29 others injured in armed clashes in Jabalia Regretful incidents in Tulkarem.
Two martyrs in Nablus; incursions in Hebron and Bethlehem; invasion of Qarawa Bani Zeid and Jayyous.
Patriarch Sabbah calls for lifting the siege imposed on cities and villages; he adds: Occupation is the cause of crisis between Palestinians and Israelis.

Wednesday December 19, 2001

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The EU countries and Russia call on Israel to initiate and stop its aggression in preparation for the return of calm and resumption of dialogue
Arab and international circles welcome President Arafat's speech
Washington calls on Sharon to deal with Arafat's steps
Powell renews the US vision regarding the establishment of a Palestinian state next to Israel.
European-Canadian agreement to form an international pressure force to push Palestinians and Israelis to accept an international initiative
A US-European meeting today to discuss next steps in the Middle East
Morathinos is pessimistic regarding chances to end the violence.
President Arafat: We are looking forward to effective international intervention to achieve a strong push to return of negotiations.
Occupation troops re-occupy the eastern quarter in Toubas and shell several regions.
Dahlan: Sharon works on destroying the ceasefire; there are contacts with Israelis under the supervision of the President.
The PNA closes six Hamas offices in Gaza.

Wednesday December 12, 2001

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Israeli army injures 35 Palestinians after carrying out incursion into Jenin.
Massive Israeli army incursion into the West Bank town of Jenin. A state of panic is reported.
Arafat meets Special EU Envoy Miguel Moratinos in Ramallah.
Ben-Eliezer launches verbal attack on Arafat during meeting with Solana and Moratinos.
Israeli soldiers beat Palestinians in Nablus.
Israeli soldiers fire tear gas and stunn granades at two Palestinian schools in Hebron. Several injuries were reported among school children.
Uzi Landau's incitement against Palestinians, calls on Israeli government to escalate aggression against Palestinian people.
Israeli army enters Halhul.
Palestinian leadership condemns international silence over the Israeli killing of Palestinian civillians.
Israeli tanks shell residential area in Tirah near Ramallah.
4 Palestinians slain, 20 injured in new Israeli massacre in Khann Yunis.

Tuesday December 11, 2001

Main Headline

Security meeting between Israel and PA to convene today.
Pope snubs Peres, citing Israeli aggression in the occupied territories.
Ben Eliezer justifies the killing of 2 children in Hebron as "self defense".
Israeli army arrests five Palestinians in Bethlehem area.
Israeli army kills two Palestinians (Abdelqader Jmeyan, 25 years old and Hamad Abu Marahil, 26 years old) at checkpoint in Tul Karem.
Javier Solana starts visit to region, meets arafat at 17:00.
Israeli Apache gunships fire missiles at Palestinian tragets in Beit Hanoun and destroy Force 17 position.

Sunday December 2, 2001

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Yesterday afternoon Israeli tanks shot and killed two Palestinian children in Jenin, Mohammad Rateb Shahleh age 10 and Rami Asaus age 14 both from the Jenin area were shot to death by Israeli tanks surrounding the city. Israeli occupation troops on checkpoints throughout the Palestinian occupied territories day in day out terrorize and murder Palestinians. Families and individuals are prevented from going home, and many sleep all night in the cold waiting for the Israeli army soldiers to let them through to go home. Sharon's occupation army tanks and bulldozers day in day out demolish Palestinian homes, uproot trees and destroy fertile land. Israel' occupation army is imprisoning 3.2 million Palestinians in large concentration camps in the occupied Palestinian territories.
12 killed and 170 injured in suicide attacks in the heart of West Jerusalem. Three explosions rocked the city shortly before midnight last night.
The Palestinian leadership last night issued a statement condemning the attacks in Jerusalem. A statement issued by the Palestinian leadership read the following:" The Palestinian leadership received the news of the bombings in Jerusalem and the news of civilian casualties with deep anger and sorrow. The Palestinian leadership wishes to express its condemnation of the bombings and the perpetrators whose purpose is to kill innocent civilians and to derail the peace process particularly at a time when American, European, Russian and international efforts are being exerted to end the occupation and to revive the peace process.. The bombings in Jerusalem are in complete defiance to the Palestinian leadership wishes and constitute a strong blow to its credibility and will undermine the Palestinian national project for an independent Palestinian state with Arab East Jerusalem as its capital.
This senseless bombings and other similar operations against Israeli civilians can only hurt the Palestinian people's cause despite 14 long months of Palestinian suffering, assassinations, occupation, Jewish settlements, closure and siege. The Palestinian leadership call on the international community to increase its level of interest and involvement in this bloody conflict and to send international observers to the Palestinian territories immediately. The Palestinian leadership will carry out its duties and responsibilities and will hunt the perpetrators of the bombings and those who stand behind them. The Palestinian leadership extends its condolences to the Israeli state and people for this painful tragedy.
The PNA arrested yesterday 11 members of the Islamic Jihad movement in Gaza including Mohammad Al- Hindi one of the movement leadership.
Anthony Zinni toured some areas in Gaza yesterday and sow first hand the destruction Israeli occupation tanks wreaked in the occupied territories lately. Palestinian minister of planning and international cooperation said, Zinni's visit produced good results and that Zinni has strong commitment to proceed forward with his mission.
Israel places Jenin , Nablus and other Palestinian cities under a comprehensive siege. Its tanks went into different areas in Gaza destroying land and shelling Palestinian residential neighborhoods. Earlier, Israeli tanks roamed into Jenin and Tulkarm. The American Administration had no comments on the renewed Israeli aggression on Palestinian cities.
Israeli security services said to have foiled an assassination attempt against Israel's defense minister Ben- Eliezer.
US envoy William Burns held talks with the Jordanian monarch in Amman yesterday. Burns told King Abdullah of Jordan the American Administration has a strong desire to end the Palestinian Israeli conflict.

Saturday December 1, 2001

Main Headline

In its meeting last night in Ramallah, the Palestinian leadership announced its readiness to accept immediate obligatory mechanisms to implement Tenet understandings and the Mitchell Committee report.
In his address to the UN on the occasion of The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people, President Arafat reaffirms the inevitability of the rise of the independent Palestinian state, and calls for a more effective role for the UN in the region.
A number of Palestinians demonstrating against the Israeli occupation in Ramallah were injured yesterday when Israeli occupation troops stationed on the northern gates of the city fired at Palestinian demonstrators. Israeli occupation tanks shelled residential neighborhoods in Bethlehem and Gaza inflecting damages on Palestinian homes.
Israel's defense minister Ben Eliezer said to have tightened their siege on the Palestinian cities of Nablus, Jenin and Tulkarm. Ben Eliezer added, his government policy of assassinating Palestinians will continue.
Israeli occupation gunfire was directed at a group of French visitors on solidarity mission with the Palestinian refugees in Khan Younis/ Gaza. A spokesman for the group said, we were standing on the rubble of Palestinian destroyed homes when gun fire emanating from a close by Israeli army position were heard designed to frighten the group and make them leave the refugee camp.
Mostly from inside the green line and from inside the city of Jerusalem, 100 thousand people performed mid day prayers at Al- Aqsa Mosque in Arab East Jerusalem. Tens of thousands of Palestinians were returned or unable to reach Jerusalem to pray. Thousands of Israeli police and army soldiers spread throughout the Palestinian city intimidating and scaring Palestinian Arabs citizens and visitors to the city. In normal circumstances in Ramadan, on Fridays, 250 thousand people pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque. Closing the city to Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza, Israel prevented no less than 150 thousand Palestinians from praying in Arab East Jerusalem. So much for Israel's freedom of worship.
US envoy General Zinni insist on going ahead with his mission despite the violence of the last few days. General Zinni will visit Gaza today and will tour Palestinian areas hit and destroyed by Israeli tank fire and bulldozers in the area.

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