FEBRUARY 2002

Thursday February 28, 2002

Abed Rabbo: “The Israel’s sadistic military occupation of the Palestinian Territory

is the true enemy of the Israeli and Palestinian peoples”

AL Beirh - In light of the dangerous developments in Nablus City, resulting from the violent Israeli offensive against the Balatta refugee camp, which has left three Palestinians dead and at least eighty injured thus far, Minister of Culture and Information, Mr. Yasser Abed Rabbo issued the following press statement:

The Israeli government is insisting on making any possibility of dialogue with the Palestinian leadership, impossible. By its brutal attacks against the Palestinian refugee camps in Nablus and Jenin, the Israeli government has declared its true intentions, which are limited to escalating the security situation and killing a large number of defenseless Palestinian civilians.

If the Israeli government thinks that by military assault, it will force the Palestinian People and its leadership to succumb and submit to its rejected and unjustified terms, it is sorely mistaken. This military offensive, which is inexcusable regardless of any alleged justification, will only make the Palestinian People more determined to maintain its steadfastness and determination.

Past experience with Ariel Sharon’s thirst for Palestinian blood, especially that of Palestinian refugees, is an ominous memory that comes back as droves of Israeli tanks surround the Balatta refugee camp and Apache helicopters strike its surroundings. We warn that any irresponsible act against the residents of this camp shall only serve in bringing the situation in the area closer to a violent dead end.

While the Arab world, lead by the Saudi Arabian leadership, is earnestly working to advance a political initiative that would bring about a comprehensive peace in the area, Ariel Sharon is leading his nation into an unmerited and inexcusable war against Palestinian civilians.

Israel’s sadistic military occupation of the Palestinian Territory is the true enemy of the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. Ending it would prevent both sides further bloodshed. Unfortunately, the course that the Israeli government has chosen proves that it would rather have its nation and ours pay the bloody price for this immoral occupation than to hail in the era of true peace and security by ending it.

Finally, we hold Ariel Sharon fully responsible for the ongoing attack against the Balatta and other refugee camps and any possible casualties as a result of these irresponsible attacks

The Palestinian Leadership: "Our People has the right to resistance

and to defend its land and very existence”

Ramallah - The Palestinian leadership affirmed that the "brave and steadfast Palestinian People" would not succumb to the Israeli tanks and gun ships.

The statement came in light of the unprecedented Israeli escalation against the Balatta refugee camp in Nablus and the Jenin refugee camp, which left 14 killed and at least a hundred others injured.

In a statement issued today, the Palestinian leadership spokesperson stressed, "Under orders by Sharon's government, Israeli occupation forces carried out a comprehensive dawn attack against the refugee camps of Balatta, Jenin, Khan Younis and Rafah. The Israeli military aggression, marked by Apache gunship air strikes, tank shelling, and machine gun fire, has indiscriminately targeted residential areas and civilians".

"The Palestinian People is sacrificing its life to free its land from an oppressive and vicious occupation that not only refuses peace, but insists on maintaining its closure and deadly checkpoints", the spokesperson added.

Finally, the leadership official statement affirmed, "Our People has the right to resistance and to defend its land and very existence after the Sharon government has clearly defied all cease-fire agreements, favoring to adopt the language of violence rather than that of peace, negotiations, and international legitimacy".

At least 7 Palestinians murdered and dozens injured

by the brutal Israeli occupation

Jenin, Feb. 28^th. 2002, WAFA - Israeli occupation forces murdered at least seven Palestinians and wounded dozens more in unprecedented aggression early Thursday in two West Bank refugee camps, security sources and hospital officials stated.

Israeli occupation tanks entered the West Bank City of Jenin from three directions, Palestinians security official said, surrounding the refugee camp at the western edge of the city. Five Palestinian police officers were killed and at least 70 other people wounded during the ongoing brutal raid, hospital officials said.

In a pre-dawn raid on the Balata refugee camp next to Nablus, two Palestinians were killed and ten wounded in clashes with Israeli occupation troops that began after midnight and continued into the morning, witnesses said. The occupation Soldiers took up positions in a school on the camp's southern edge, witnesses said.

Palestinian security officials said the occupation forces fired two missiles at Balata, knocking out electricity in the camp.

Late Wednesday Israeli occupation forces carried out a number of incursions into Palestinian towns, including one near the illegal Jewish settlement of "Kisufim" in the Gaza Strip. Before the incursion, Israeli occupation forces razed an olive grove next to the settlement.

Also in the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupation soldiers continued to direct their indiscriminate fire at Palestinian homes in Rafah and Khan Younis, resulting in the injury of at least seven civilians, three of them critically.

On it's part the Palestinian Leadership reiterates its call on the UN Security Council to end the escalatory Israeli aggression against the Palestinian People, cities, institutions, and Leadership, and to provide for the immediate deployment of international monitors on the ground.

Middle East: Security Council continues debate

on escalating crisis

New York February 28, 2002 – The United Nations Security Council last evening resumed its open debate on the Middle East following an intensive discussion that ended late Tuesday night after 30 speakers had taken the floor to express concern over the perilous escalation of violence in the region.

Speaking yesterday at the outset of an almost five-hour open discussion, the Deputy Permanent Observer for Palestine, Marwan Jilani, voiced support for Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s recent statement to the Security Council, in which the UN leader expressed “what we believe to be an international consensus: that there is no military or security solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and there is no alternative to a political solution through the negotiation process.” Mr. Jilani said there was also international consensus that the core of the solution depended on addressing three key problems: the Israeli occupation of Arab and Palestinian territories, lack of security, and economic deprivation.

“This solution is based on ending the Israeli occupation of Palestinian and Arab territories occupied since 1967 and on the establishment of an independent Palestinian State, with East Jerusalem as its capital, to coexist in peace and security with the State of Israel within secure and internationally recognized borders,” the Palestinian representative stressed. “What remains is for it to be accepted by the Israeli side. Herein lies the question of the failure or success of the international community in shouldering its responsibilities through this Council.”

For his part, Israeli Ambassador Aaron Jacob said Israel was committed to negotiating a peaceful settlement to the conflict in the Middle East. “This is a commitment that is unshakeable and rooted in our fundamental belief in the right of all the peoples in the region to live in freedom, peace and security,” he said. “We remain committed to the agreed terms of reference of the peace process, which require the sides to engage in direct face-to-face negotiations on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973).”!!

“We must free the peace process from the hellish cycle of violence, fuelled by political impasse and diplomatic immobility,” said Papa Louis Fall, the Chairman of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. “We solemnly call on the protagonists and stakeholders to undertake a salutary return to the negotiating table and exhort the donor community to mobilize significant economic assistance and large-scale emergency help for the Palestinian people in its extreme distress.”

Peace, he said, would require the end of the Israeli occupation and the creation of an independent and viable Palestinian State coexisting with the State of Israel. A comprehensive, just and lasting settlement agreement, based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), “remains linked to the partition of Jerusalem and its declaration as an open city and capital of the two States of Israel and Palestine, as well as to a solution that is fair and equitable for all to the problem of refugees and their right of return.”

Yet another stillborn baby after occupation

deny passage to Palestinian mother

Nablus, Feb. 28^th. 2002 WAFA - On the morning of February 26, 32 year old, Samar Hamdoun, nine months pregnant, began to feel contractions. Hamdoun is a resident of the village of Beit Furik, east of Nablus. Her husband, Iyad Hamdoun called a local physician who examined her and determined that she must get to hospital quickly.

At around 9:00AM, the Hamdouns, along with other family members, left Beit Furik in a taxi and headed toward Nablus. When they approached the checkpoint at the entrance to the village, a soldier ordered them, using hand gestures and shouting, to turn around and go back to the village. The soldier did not allow the passengers to approach him and explain that they were on their way to hospital. The taxi's passengers, fearing the soldiers would shoot them if they got close, turned around and drove to Nablus on rocky dirt roads. The journey, which would have lasted ten minutes, had the family been allowed passage at the checkpoint, took four hours. On the way, Samar Hamdoun lost consciousness and began to bleed.

Upon her arrival at Rafidia hospital in Nablus, at 1:00PM, the doctors determined that the fetus had died as a result of placental abruption during the journey to the hospital. They delivered the child stillborn.

Despite occupation army claims that the soldiers are directed to allow passage to Palestinians in need of medical care, research conducted by B'Tselem, The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, and other organizations reveals time and time again that the soldiers do not follow this directive. The occupation army does nothing to instill it in the soldiers who staff checkpoints. Over the course of the current Intifada, at least 23 people lost their lives after soldiers denied them passage at checkpoints. B'Tselem calls again for the siege to be lifted from Palestinian towns and villages in the Occupied Territories.

Two “refuseniks” to be jailed for 28 days

Tel Aviv, Feb. 28^th. 2002, WAFA - Two of the Israeli reserve soldiers and officers who have recently signed a petition refusing to serve in the Occupied Palestinian Territory are to be jailed for 28 days.

According to the Israeli daily Ha'aretz, the two jailed reservists are 31 year-old Staff Sergeant Amit Gal, a Tel Aviv resident who serves in a paratrooper unit, and 27 year-old Sergeant Major O.M., who serves in the Armored Corps.

The two soldiers are the first of the 297 signatories to be imprisoned over the petition, which has prompted fierce debate in Israel.

The anti-occupation movement - called "There is a Choice" - condemned the sentence in a press conference held in Tel Aviv on 25 February. They further affirmed that their struggle would continue and emphasized that the orders issued by the Israeli army to send the dissenting soldiers to jail would not dissuade them.

One member of the group, Yaniv Itskovitch, told reporters that Amit Gal was the son of a bereaved family. He said Gal had served as a reservist in the paratroopers for 13 years, was married and had a four years-old son.

Ha'aretz quoted one of the movement's members, Amit Mashiach, as saying: "Amit [Gal] begged his commanders not to send him to the [Occupied] territory[y] and to find something for him to do within the Green Line [Israel's pre-1967 borders]… He wants to serve the country, but is not willing to go against his conscience". He added, "The army doesn't want us to be heard".

According to Ha'aretz, the Israeli police are considering charging the dissenting soldiers and officers. In addition, the Israeli army is also protesting that such actions "could jeopardize the security of the Jewish state". Hatuka, who serves as the head of the education department in Israel's Maccabim-Reut municipality, is claiming that the "refuseniks'" declaration, contravenes a law intended to prevent incitement to revolt.

Dismissing the complaint, Meshiach stressed, "Obeying the law is the easiest thing to do". He added, "Sometimes it is the duty of a citizen who loves his country to go against [the law]".

The petition, which began on 25 January with 50 soldiers declaring their refusal to serve in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, has received growing support. To date, 297 dissenters have signed the declaration, underlining their refusal to participate in Israel's "war crimes" against the Palestinian People.

Monday February 25, 2002

The brutal occupation kills Palestinian, wounds pregnant wife and father in West Bank

Nablus, FEB. 25th. 2002, WAFA – Occupation soldiers manning a roadblock south of Nablus early Monday wounded a Palestinian woman, Maysoun Alhayek, about to give birth and killed her husband, Mohammed Abdullah Dahoud Alhayek, 22, and seriously wounding his Father, 64, Palestinian security and hospital sources said.

The sources said the couple had been on their way to a hospital for the man's 22-year-old wife to give birth when soldiers fired at their car near the Balata refugee camp on the outskirts of the city of Nablus. The woman, hit in the shoulder, was evacuated to a hospital and her condition and that of the fetus were not immediately known. The woman's father-in-law was seriously wounded by the occupation fire.

It was the second shooting of a pregnant Palestinian woman near Nablus in two days. On Sunday, a woman in labor was fired on from an occupation troops outpost overlooking the road where a the woman was being taken to hospital to give birth.

Sunday February 24, 2002

Saturday February 23, 2002

Thursday February 21, 2002

The unleashed brutal Israeli aggression continues all over

the West bank and Gaza causing more death and destruction

RAMALLAH - FEBRURAY 21, 2002 -WAFA - Sharon government and its occupation forces continued their aggressive bloody campaign against the Palestinian People, cities, institutions, and leadership, killing another five, and spreading terror and distraction all over the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

For the second day, the occupation helicopter gun ships launched missiles at H.E. President Yasser Arafat's West Bank headquarters, who was in his office at the time but was unscathed.

Inspecting the compound after the air strike H.E. described the newest aggression as "Israeli rudeness": This is an attempt to make the Palestinian people and it's leadership kneel, but they don't know that this people and its leadership are the mighty people."

H.E. added ''this aggression will give the Palestinians more strength, more steadfastness and determination to continue the Palestinian legitimate struggle.''

However, the President said that he hopes that U.S. President George W. Bush would "intervene" and continue the peace process "that his father (former U.S. President George Bush) started in Madrid's peace conference in 1993."

"We want to achieve the peace of the brave, not only for the Palestinian people, but also for the Israeli people, for the sake of their children and our children," stressed the President.

The new aggression on the President H.Q. came following the third day of continuous murderous attacks, and bombardment whereby more than 30 Palestinians, where killed in 48 hours.

The occupation F-16's warplanes, Apache helicopters, naval gun ships and tanks resumed it's intensive and wide bloody raids on Palestinian targets in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, Palestinian security officials said.

The night silence along Gaza's Mediterranean coast was broken as naval gun ships fired it's machineguns against Palestinian security compounds, shortly the occupation troops and tanks moved into Sejaieh neighborhood, and approached the Beach camp, the largest Palestinian refugee complex in the Gaza strip, according to witnesses and Public security statement.

On Al Mountar hilltop in Sejaieh, the occupation troops blew up Voice Of Palestine (Channel 2) broadcasting station, and Palestine, TV studios, the statement said.

Residents all over Gaza could see the transmission tower collapse, putting Palestine, TV off the air for about an hour.

In southern Gaza strip, Palestinian hospital officials said five people had been killed and around 40 people wounded in the occupation troops raids, on Rafah refugee camp which began shortly after midnight.

The frightened residents of the camp grabbed their children and fled deeper into the northern part of the camp as the occupation troops and tanks thrust about 700 yards deep into the camp.

The occupation bulldozers destroyed a Palestinian security position in Rafah and troops took over the rooftops of several buildings in the refugee camp, a Palestinian security official said.

After the raid on Rafah ended, an Israeli warplane fired at least three missiles at the Palestinian security complex in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, Palestinian officials said.

Five Palestinians were injured due to the blast there, hospital officials said.

Earlier on Wednesday warplane bombed a Palestinian police facility in Rafah City, and helicopter gun ships fired more than eight missiles on Palestinian security buildings in Gaza city and the West Bank city of Jenin, the strong strike razed the buildings and send debris and shrapnel flying in all directions.

Wednesday February 20, 2002

At least 19 Palestinians killed in the new Israeli savage assault

GAZA - FEB.20, 2002- WAFA - Sharon government and it's occupation army carried out aggressive attacks against the Palestinian people in all over the Occupied Palestinian Territory, killing at least 19 Palestinians, dozens injured.

The new Israeli offensive started in Gaza city, when the occupation naval vessels and aircraft launched naval and air bombardment on H.E. President Yasser Arafat’s sea side headquarters for the first time ever, blasting it with rockets and heavy machinegun fire killing four of H.E. personal guards and wounding seven more, Palestinian medical sources and security officials said.

Within minutes, F-16's warplanes launched missiles at the Palestinian police headquarters in Gaza City known as (Arafat Police City) and helicopter gun ships rocketed five different Palestinian sites, including another attack on President Arafat Ramallah headquarters.

''H.E President Arafat and his aides are safe in His office'' Mr. Yasser Abed Rabbo, Minister of Culture and Information told Wafa after the occupation rockets hit a civilian and security facilities several yards away from H. E. privet office.

Mr. Abed Rabbo accused Sharon of a "new crime" with the brutal bombardments.

The occupation army also launched a tank incursion into Ramallah, entering through three entrances of the city as tanks shelled Palestinian security checkpoints, Palestinian security sources said.

The occupation tanks rolled dozens of yards into the city center from two eastern and one northern entrance, shelling a Palestinian checkpoint on the eastern border with seven tank shells.

Palestinian medical sources reported later that two Palestinian security personnel where killed, during the attack on Ramallah.

Before dawn Israeli occupation troops backed with tanks killed five Palestinian security officers in the eastern edge of the West Bank city of Nablus, Palestinian security sources said.

Later on, five rockets are reported to have hit a the Public security compound in the city of Khan Younis further south in Gaza strip.

In reaction Mr. Nabil Abu Redeneh President Arafat's Media Adviser, warned against the dangers of the Israeli escalation and killing policy and called on the international community to intervene quickly to put an end to the blind Israeli military aggression against the Palestinian people and the Palestinian leadership.

Palestinian Official Spokesman: the Palestinian People will continue their struggle

until the departure of the Israeli occupation and settlements

Ramallah, Feb.20^th 2002, Wafa - The Palestinian Leadership emphasized that the Palestinian People will continue their struggle, and their firm standing, until the departure of the Israeli occupation and settlements, guaranteeing freedom, independence, and national dignity to the Palestinian People, while struggling against the most vicious occupier in the history of mankind, knowing that they will not kneel down in front of the Israeli arrogance, jet fighters, and tanks.

The Palestinian Leadership emphasized the Palestinian People’s right of protecting and defending their Homeland, existence, and Christian- Moslem Holy places, a right which is supported by the International legitimacy, and by its treaties, laws and resolutions.

The Palestinian Leadership’s announcement reviews the brutal Israeli attacks, executed this morning, by Israeli jet fighters and war ships, targeting security and civil targets in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, killing 19 Palestinian civilians and security personnel, including 6 members of the Presidential Guard, who were killed during the Israeli attacks on President Arafat’s Headquarters in Ramallah and Gaza.

Tuesday February 19, 2002

At least six Palestinians killed by the continuous Israeli

brutal aggression including a mother and her daughter!

GAZA FEB 19, 2002, WAFA - The Israeli occupation brutal crimes against the Palestinian People continued in all over the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, leaving at least six dead including 14 years old girl, and sever damages in civil and security institutions.

The string of the occupation army aggression started on Monday night when three Palestinians were killed and ten others were injured as the occupation army tanks fired several shells at a Palestinian neighborhood of Khan Younis City in southern Gaza Strip, Palestinian medical sources said.

Witnesses in the area told “Wafa” that the occupation troops and tanks thrust about one kilometer into Gizan Al Najar neighborhood, close to the Jewish settlement of Morag, and fired shells at several Palestinian houses.

Among the three dead a mother and her 14 years old daughter, as one of the shells hit their house in the neighborhood. Palestinian medical sources said that the occupation troops had opened fire at the Palestinian ambulances and prevented them from entering into the area.

The dead are Mariam Bahabsa, 40, her 14 years old daughter Mona, and Abdul Wahab Najar, 19 year old, Also Palestinian security sources said that the occupation soldiers shot and killed a Palestinian man east to Deir Al Balah City. The sources identified the dead as Mohammed Al Kasser, 21 years old.

Shortly after that the occupation F-16 warplanes struck Palestinian security installations in the southern Gaza Strip City of Rafah and the West Bank City of Ramallah, causing severe damages to the buildings.

In Ramallah, an F-16's air to surface missile destroyed the police headquarters in Al-Tira neighborhood causing no casualties, Palestinian security sources and witnesses said.

In Rafah the occupation warplanes pounded a Palestinian security complex near the Egyptian border, witnesses said. Four Palestinian security personals were hurt, none seriously, doctors reported.

Several explosions were heard in the cities as the warplanes flew over head.

Moreover the occupation troops have shot dead two Palestinians and wounded six more in the Balata refugee camp near Nablus, late on Monday a Palestinian security source said.

The dead Salah Furad, 34, and Leila Kadawi, 25, killed when members of an Israeli army special unit raided the camp and opened fire, at several Palestinian houses.

On his part President Arafat's Media Advisor Nabil Abu Redeneh warned against the dangers of the Israeli escalation and bloody killing policy and said that such a policy, given its grave consequences on the entire region.

''The situation is extremely grave ... and Israel should know that the only way to security and stability is through the negotiations.'' He told Voice of Palestine Radio (VOP).

''For there is no military solution and Israel will not be able to force the Palestinian People into accepting solutions that do not fulfill it's national aspirations". He added

President Arafat: “The Palestinian leadership

is still committed to the peace process”

H.E. President Yasser Arafat said Tuesday that the Palestinian leadership is still committed to the peace process, despite the Israeli occupation aggression, and bloody escalation.

"We would like to establish peace in the region, not only for us but also for the Israeli people according to the signed agreements and documents'' the President told reporters after a two-hour meeting with the visiting Jordanian Foreign Minister Dr. Marwan Muasher, in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

H.E. reiterated the leadership commitments to reach calmness and getting back to the negotiating table, adding that "it is necessary to send international observers to the area in order to achieve just and comprehensive peace''.

On his part Dr. Muasher said that current crisis in the area can only be solved through an overall political process.

"There must be a clear political vision to solve the ongoing crisis .... that goes beyond the security solution." He said . "The problem is basically political, and not only security or military''.

The minister added that he came to meet with H.E. President Arafat in Ramallah to show Jordan support and solidarity with H.E. and the Palestinian leadership, "I came here to show our solidarity with President Arafat and the Palestinian National Authority and to tell President Arafat that H.E. is the legal elected leader of the Palestinian people" .

Dr. Muasher condemned the Israeli occupation aggression against the Palestinian people and said that Jordan is working with the world community to stop the ongoing bloodshed

In less than 24 hours, 11 Palestinians

killed by the Israeli inhuman occupation

Gaza, Feb. 19^th. 2002, WAFA - A new brutal Israeli air strike killed two Palestinian civilians and wounded several school children on Tuesday, raising the number of dead to 11 in less than 24 hours.

Palestinian security sources said a helicopter gunship fired at least three missile at a civilian building in the densely populated Jabalya refugee camp, which is home to 90,000 people, and killed two people in the building. The occupation missile punched a gaping hole in the ground floor of the three-story building, wrecking and blackening the walls.

Dr. Mu'awyeh Hassanain, Head of the Emergency Department at Al-Shifaa' Hospital in Gaza City, told Wafa that the dead are two men, who were in the building at the time of the attack. " 22 year-old Iyad Abu Safiyeh and 25 year-old Mohamed Hamdan". Dr. Hassanain added that ten people were also injured in the attack; mostly children who were going home after finishing the school day.

In a reaction Mr. Yasser Abed Rabbo, Minister of Culture and Information strongly condemned the blind Israeli military aggression against Palestinian civilians and installations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory during the past hours and called on the international community to intervene quickly in order to put an end to the escalated Israeli aggression.

Monday February 18, 2002

President Arafat: “They have to understand that the Palestinian

people will never be frightened by their tanks or F-16s”

Ramallah Feb. 18, 2002, WAFA - H.E President Yasser Arafat said Monday he did not fear the Israeli occupation threats against H.E., and against the Palestinian leadership, '' Welcome, I am waiting for them, but they have to understand that the Palestinian people will never be frightened by tanks or F-16s,'' The President said in a speech to thousands of visiting Palestinian school children and teachers who came to the President headquarters in the West Bank City of Ramallah to express support and solidarity with H.E., and with the leadership.

"I also tell them that our Palestinian people would never care about their tanks, their warplanes, or even their nuclear weapons that they, (the occupation government) are using against us," said H.E.

President Arafat told reporters later that the Palestinian people are still determined to achieve their rights and they will continue their march toward Jerusalem, "the capital of the independent Palestinian state''.

Sunday February 17, 2002

Sarid in a Tel Aviv rally: ''We call on Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon

... enough blood! Enough blood!"

TEL AVIV - FEBRURAY 17 , 2020-WAFA - Addressing thousands of Israelis at a peace rally in Tel Aviv, a top opposition leader said that Sharon's year in power is enough to show the Palestinian uprising cannot be suppressed by force.

"It won't go with more force either. We never had more dead than during Sharon's days," Mr. Yossi Sarid, of the dovish Meretz Party told Tel Aviv rally on Saturday.

''We call on Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ... enough blood! Enough blood!" Sarid added.

Demonstrators marched to a plaza outside the city museum carrying thick candles and placards calling for "Two states to two peoples" and “Get Out of the occupied Territories”.

The rally organized by a block of organizations and politicians, calling itself the "Peace Coalition,"

Despite the ongoing Israeli aggression President Arafat reaffirmed the

''full commitment'' of the Palestinians to the peace process

RAMALLAH - FEBRURAY 17, 2002- WAFA - H. E. President Yasser Arafat reaffirmed on Saturday the ''full commitment'' of the Palestinian people and the leadership to the peace process despite the ongoing Israeli aggression by Sharon government and its occupation army.

The President called on the EU, and all the international counterparts to ''follow up with the peace process and protect it'' and to put an end for the Israeli bloody escalation against the Palestinian people.

H. E. remarks came during a joint press conference with visiting German foreign minister Mr. Joshka Fischer in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

''We can't forget your role, not only here but with the European Union and through the international community, with the Americans, Russians, Arabs and specially with the Israelis to follow up with the peace process and protect it '' President Arafat said.

On his part minister Fischer renewed his country’s support for President Arafat and the leadership saying ''Our position is there are elected leaders of both sides, and as long they have the support and the legitimacy, we will work with them ... because we are interested in ending this tragedy ''.

He also called for a return to the negotiations table, because '' there is no alternative to peace ... '' Fischer said.

He added "Terror and violence must come to an end, what we need is an opening of the door to negotiations and opening the door to peace between the two peoples".

An Occupation Air Strike Against Palestinian Targets In Nablus

NABLUS- FEBRURAY 17 , 2020-WAFA - In continuation of its aggressive policy against the Palestinians, Israeli occupation helicopters fired air-to-surface missiles at the Palestinian security compound of Nablus, Known as Al Moukata'a setting several buildings ablaze and sending clouds of black smoke into the sky, witnesses said Sunday.

Palestinian security sources said the strikes also damaged an unoccupied dental clinic in the center of the city.

Witnesses said they saw the occupation gunships circle overhead for several minutes before striking, and Palestinian security personnel dashed out of the complex before the bombing began.

Ambulances were seen rushing to the down town compound, where the sound of the explosions tangled traffic and sowed panic in the streets as electricity in Nablus was cut off due to the air strike.

There was no immediate word on casualties.

''This is a dangerous escalation. The aggression continues against Palestinian Authority compounds and the Palestinian people." governor of Nablus, Gen. Mahmoud Al-Aloul, told Voice of Palestine Radio (VOP).

He added that the occupation tanks and warplanes would never force our people to kneel down.

The escalated Israeli aggression continued in several parts of the Palestinian territories, on Sunday.

Israeli occupation forces, reinforced with five tanks, five armored personnel carriers, and jeeps, moved into Tammoun village in the northern Jordan Valley. They seized parts of the village and shelled Palestinian houses, witnesses said.

In the Gaza Strip Naeal Sakher, 25, was pronounced dead from a wound he received yesterday, officials at Shifa Hospital said.

During the raid three Palestinians - two of them teenagers - were killed during clashes with the occupation soldiers, as Israeli troops, backed by tanks and bulldozers, seized control of Palestinian security posts in eastern part of the camp, while a Palestinian civilian was killed by an explosion in the West Bank city of Jenin, in an assassination crime.

In a reaction to the Israeli escalation the Palestinian leadership, called on the international community, '' to uphold its responsibilities in confronting this continued aggression against our People, cities, villages, and refugee camps, as well as our factories, institutions, and security buildings'' .

The Israeli occupation assassinated

a 35 years old Palestinian man

JENIN - FEBRURAY 17, 2002- WAFA - A Palestinian civilian was killed when a car exploded near him, in the West Bank City of Jenin, in what Palestinian security officials blamed Israel for his death.

Witnesses said that the 35 year-old Nazieh Abu Al-Sibaa, had left the Jenin refugee camp elementary school, where he teaches and was walking near a produce market in Jenin when a car parked nearby exploded. The massive explosion, which occurred in a crowded area in the city's center.

Palestinian security officials said that an Israeli drone was flying in the sky, apparently triggering off the booby-trapped car used in the assassination crime.

Thousands of angry Palestinians gathered at the scene, many chanting "long live Palestine ... long live our beloved martyr" Al-Sibaa body was placed on a stretcher and carried through the street.

The assassination crime in Jenin came shortly after the killing of three Palestinians during clashes with the Israeli occupation troops in central Gaza's Bureij refugee camp.

The occupation army launched incursions into several locations in the Gaza strip Saturday and destroyed many positions belonging to Palestinian security forces. 

Saturday February 16, 2002

The Occupation War Planes

Bombed Security Compound

JABALIYA – FEBRURAY 16 , 2002- WAFA –Israeli war planes launched a brutal air strike on a Palestinian security compound, killing one security officer, and wounding more than thirty others four of them critically, eyewitnesses, and security officials said Friday.

The occupation planes, dropped at least four bombs on the Palestinian Public Security compound in Jabaliya town three miles north to Gaza City, reducing several buildings to rubble.

The town plunged into a blackout and windows of nearby civilian buildings were blown out by the blast.

Witnesses said that flames engulfed several buildings in the hilltop compound, as Ambulances were seen rushing to the town, as rescue workers searched the rubble.

Later they pulled the body of the martyr Abedl Salam Younis from the debris.

In reaction to the new aggression, the Palestinian leadership warned that Israeli "aggression" would not ensure Israel's security but will lead for more violence.

``The government of Sharon will realize no political advantage by this continued aggression in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank``, the leadership official spokesman said in a statement issued in Ramallah after the air strike.

Moreover Israeli occupation tanks made fresh incursions in several parts of the Gaza strip and destroyed an outpost of the Palestinian border police east of Gaza.

Sources said that at least 20 tanks and armored personnel carriers moved into Gaza valley area, firing machine guns and shells randomly against the Palestinian houses.

An Israeli attack helicopter circled overhead but did not open fire, and ambulances rushed to the scene and it was not immediately clear if there were any injuries.

Continuous Israeli Assaults against Various Targets in Gaza Strip,

Three Palestinian Youth Killed

AL BUREIJ-FEBRURAY 16, 2002-WAFA - Israeli  occupation troops launched a brutal raid on Gaza Strip refugee camp, killing three Palestinians, and destroying civilian and security facilitates where else, witnesses and  security officials said Saturday.

The occupation troops backed with  tanks, military vehicles and bulldozers  raided Al Bureij refugee camp south to Gaza City , firing against dozens of  the camp residents killing the martyrs Hassan Al Sakran 18, and Masoud Abu Jalal 16 , and wounding more than ten others.

Palestinian Public security officials said, occupation  forces  had  attacked the  security compound in the eastern part of the camp, and bulldozers start destroying  part of it .

In other developments on Saturday,  occupation troops moved into  Zeitun area  in Gaza city, destroying the Palestinian  military intelligence headquarters, Palestinian security sources said.

Moreover  one Israeli tanks had also re-entered al-Maghazi refugee camp, in the central Gaza Strip, for the third time this week and launched an incursion into the village of Juhr al-Dik,   which lies close to the Jewish settlement of Netzarim. The troops   stormed several houses and arrested people  from the area.

In a statement late Friday the Palestinian leadership condemned the latest Israeli military aggression, saying it would "only lead to more violence, lack of security and more anger."

Thursday February 14, 2002

President Arafat called on European countries to

"protect the peace of the brave''

RAMALLAH - FEBRURAY 14 , 2002- WAFA - H. E. President Yasser Arafat on Wednesday reaffirmed the Palestinian People and the leadership commitment to the peace process and called on European countries to "protect the peace of the brave''.

The president remarks came at a joint news conference with the British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw in Ramallah.

''We are in need of your help as Britain and Europe ... to carry on your efforts together to protect the peace of the brave." H.E. said.

''We are committed to the peace of the brave, which we have signed with our partner the late primer Mr. Rabin ... and we hope that we will continue with this line, this strategic line of our people and our leadership '' H.E. added.

On his part Mr. Straw regretted the suffering of the Palestinian people, and expressed support for creation of a Palestinian state.

Straw said the goal now must be to resume peace talks saying '' this is not going to be easy, but we all recognize that this is essential, there is no future in violence ... the only way out of this conflict is by negotiations and by peace ''

He added "to achieve that, there has to be an end to the violence."

The outcome, he said, should be the state of Israel and state of Palestine living in peace within secure borders.

Papandreou: ''The problem of Israel's security

is linked to a resolution of the Palestinian question"

ATHENS - FEBRURAY 14 , 2002- WAFA - Top Greek officials on Wednesday renewed his country's full support to the Palestinian people and to H.E. President Yasser Arafat, calling for the creation of a viable Palestinian state.

"President Arafat is experiencing very difficult times and I want to note that Greece is on his side," Foreign Minister Georges Papandreou told Arab ambassadors and business leaders conference in Athens.

''The problem of Israel's security is linked to a resolution of the Palestinian question," Papandreou added, stressing the need to implement UN resolutions and condemned the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land.

"We will do all we can to aid a return to the peace process," the minister said, adding that Greece was pushing for dialogue in the Middle East with its EU partners.

Wednesday February 13, 2002

The Israeli occupation army reoccupies parts of the Gaza Strip,

4 Palestinians killed

BEIT HANOUN - FEBRURAY 13, 2002- WAFA -  Israeli occupation tanks and troops thrust into Palestinian territory in the Gaza Strip early Wednesday, witnesses said, killing four and occupying three towns and a refugee camp.

The troops later withdrew from part of the camp and two of the towns but remained in the third.

 The occupation troops moved into the Palestinian territory late Tuesday and re-occupied, Deir Al Balah, Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun and parts of Jabaliya refugee camp northeast of Gaza City, witnesses and security sources said.

Three Palestinian security officers were killed when the troops destroyed three security posts on the outskirts of Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza, Palestinian security officials said. The fourth martyr was a civilian who was shot near his house in Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, the sources added.

The troops were conducting searches in the three areas and were preventing international agencies from sending officials to observe the on going assault, Palestinian security officials said. They said dozens of Palestinians were detained.

 Witnesses said bulldozers were in the occupation troops convoys, indicating that the troops planned to tear down structures.

In a reaction to the fresh aggression on the Gaza strip, Public Security chief in Gaza, Maj. Gen. Abdel Razek Majaidie, called on the people to stand up to the "latest Israeli occupation." He told Wafa that "Israeli tanks, planes and helicopters will not make us kneel and will not bring peace to them."

From the Israeli Media

Israeli witness testimonies about the Israeli war crimes against the Palestinians

A request to halt devastating the Palestinian villages

Tel-Aviv February 13^th 2002 Wafa, The hereunder is a testimony presented by the Israeli Peace Block (Gush Shalom) clarifying Israeli daily practiced war crimes against the Palestinians:

Robbery and destruction for by-pass road

The bombing of Gaza by the Israeli Air Force caught the headlines, as did Sharon's campaign of dire threats over the possible use of Palestinian "missiles" (a rather grandiose name for a pipe which can shoot small explosive charges over short distances, with such poor aiming that they mostly fall harmlessly in empty fields).

Meanwhile, hardly anybody noticed a new front which was opened in a string of Palestinian villages south-east of Jerusalem - an area which had hitherto been one of the most quiet on the West Bank. Since last Thursday, the town of Za’tara and its neighbors have endured daily visitations by bulldozers which tear right through corn fields, uproot ancient olive trees and in general destroy both the villagers' livelihood and a beautiful and hitherto intact hilly landscape.

The shocked villagers were presented with a confiscation order, declaring the military government to be the new owner of a wide swath of territory, cutting right through five villages and the edge of the city of Beit Sahour for the purpose of a new road. Not that the inhabitants want or need a new road. Anyhow, they will not be allowed to use it: it is going to be a "Jews-only" road on behalf of the nearby Israeli settlement of Nokdim.

Together with the land confiscation, demolition orders were served to the owners of 12 houses. Even the dead are not left in peace - the planned road cuts right through the private cemetery of a Palestinian family. (The timing of this road-building effort may have something to do with two seemingly unrelated facts, such as that the extreme-right Minister of Infrastructure Avigdor Lieberman is an inhabitant of the Nokdim settlement and that the bulldozers started working precisely one day after Lieberman's "National Union" faction gave its parliamentary vote for the government budget...)

On the first day that the bulldozers arrived, the villagers of Za’tara sat down in front and blocked them non-violently, led by Palestinian cabinet minister Salah Ta'amri who lives there. But on the following day the bulldozers came back, surrounded by an overwhelmingly large and threatening military force, and the army sent an official message to Ta'amri, threatening "instant arrest" should he approach the bulldozers again.

The people of Za'atra's hope that you will express your protest to Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer, and let him know that the world is watching. Mr. Defense Minister I call upon you to order an immediate stop of all work upon the so-called "Okef Za’tara" (Za’tara-By-pass) Road, which is to benefit only the group of Israelis who live at a settlement whose existence is in contravention of international law, while the road is being built at the expense of destroying the fields, orchards and homes of the Palestinians.

The Israeli protest rallies become stronger and more often

Tel-Aviv February 13^th Wafa, Under the slogan “From rally to rally” the Israeli peace block calls for another rally organized by Peace Now, this time, protesting the Israeli war atrocities, the rally will be held this Saturday night, Feb. 16, in Tel-Aviv, , and preceded by a march.

“Peace Now” has its own approach; they won't give the floor to any of the “Refusers” though it is them who stand right now at the leading edge of the struggle against the occupation - and you won't be welcome with a banner containing the expression "war crimes", either. Nevertheless, the Peace Now event does center on the call which in itself deserves support, the call to "Get Out of the Territories." Therefore, we call upon you to spend another Saturday night in protest - the effect of rally after rally may even strengthen the message of both.

Monday February 11, 2002

President Arafat: “No one would be able to force the Palestinian people to kneel”,

new Israeli incursion in Nablus, Larsen, condemned the Israeli occupation strike

NABLUS - FEBRURAY 11 ,2002 -WAFA - Israeli occupation tanks moved into the West Bank city of Nablus early Monday, and soldiers declared a curfew in the Joseph's Tomb area, forcing its Palestinian residents to stay in their houses during the incursion, witnesses and security officials said.

Sources said that at least 20 tanks and armored personnel carriers moved into the city around 0200 GMT firing machine guns and shells randomly against the Palestinian houses.

An Israeli attack helicopter circled overhead but did not open fire, and ambulances rushed to the scene and it was not immediately clear if there were any injuries.

The new Israeli incursion in Nablus came shortly after Israeli fighter jets and helicopters gunships launched a brutal air strike on Palestinian civilian establishment and security installations in the Gaza strip, on Sunday night.

The occupation fighter jets, dropped at least two bombs at Palestinian security complex on the Mediterranean coast, just a few hundred yards from the headquarters of President Yasser Arafat in Gaza.

Witnesses said they saw the fighter jets circle overhead for several minutes before striking, and Palestinian security personnel dashed out of the complex before the bombing began.

The complex which known as Ansar was already badly damaged in previous Israeli air strikes.

Gaza City plunged into a blackout and windows of nearby civilian buildings were blown out by the blast. At least 30 Palestinians were injured in the attack two of them are workers at the nearby offices of the United Nations where windows were blown out.

In reaction, the U.N. special envoy to the region, Mr. Terje Roed-Larsen, condemned the Israeli occupation strike in a statement, expressing "outrage" over such a heavy bombardment so close to civilian areas and U.N. offices.

"Israel's security needs will not be met by hitting civilian targets or by destroying the Palestinians' ability to police and maintain order," read the Larsen statement.

On his part, H.E. President Yasser Arafat accused Sharon and his government for the ongoing wave of violence and aggression in the area, and said that the occupation tanks and warplanes would never force our people to kneel down.

'' If they (Sharon and his government) still thinking that they would force our people to kneel to them, they are mistaken. No one would be able to force the Palestinian people to kneel, and they would do only for God '' H.E. told a delegation representing

Palestinian refugees that came to show solidarity with him and with the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah.

During his meeting with the delegation, H.E. received the news about the occupation air strike on Gaza.

''Their tanks and warplanes would never force our people to kneel.. We will move forward in our way to Holy Jerusalem" the President added

In a second strike, seven helicopters gunships circled over Jabaliya town north of Gaza City, firing at least ten missiles at civilian establishments in the area.

Palestinian Public security officials told Wafa that the occupation missiles have targeted several stores, houses, an empty kindergarten and metal work shop.

Eyewitnesses said that severe damages were caused to the targeted buildings.

Palestinian medical teams in the area reported that several civilians were injured and taken to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.

The Occupation Planes Bombs Gaza Buildings

GAZA - FEBRURAY 11, 2002- WAFA - Israeli fighter jets and helicopters gunships fired bombs and missiles at a Palestinian security compound in Gaza City on Monday, marking the second air strike on the City in two days.

At lest six missiles and bombs struck the Palestinian Public security directorate compound, known as AL Ssaraya setting several buildings ablaze and sending clouds of black smoke into the sky.

Witnesses said that the air strike came at a time of changeover between morning and afternoon shifts at nearby schools, and streets were crowded with youngsters who ran away from the explosions.

Ambulances were seen rushing to the down town compound, where the sound of the explosions tangled traffic and sowed panic in the streets as electricity in Gaza City was cut off due to the air strike.

The missiles were fired several minutes apart, and one hit the compound while firefighters were in the area trying to douse the flames.

The force of the explosions shattered windows in the nearby governmental compound which host several Palestinian ministries.

Palestinian medical sources in Gaza told Wafa that at least 40 people were injured.

Early Monday, Israeli occupation tanks thrust into a neighborhood in Nablus, the second incursion by the occupation army into this West Bank City in two days.

The occupation soldiers declared a curfew in the Joseph's Tomb area, forcing its residents to stay in their houses during the incursion, witnesses said.

Sunday February 10, 2002

President Arafat: “The Palestinian

people will continue their struggle for freedom”

RAMALLAH -FEBRURAY 10, 2002 -WAFA - H.E. President Yasser Arafat stressed on Saturday that the Palestinian people will continue their struggle for freedom, regardless of the continues Israeli aggression.

Speaking to reporters at his Ramallah office, H.E. said that ''the continued and repeated Israeli military escalation against our masses, whether by what they called Operation Hell or Thorn Field ... will give the Palestinians more strength, more steadfastness and insistence to continue the Palestinian legitimate struggle.''

On his part Mr. Nabil Abu Redeneh , the President adviser called upon Sharon and his government "to respect the roles of the peace process in order to achieve a new breakthrough in this process that would save the whole region from more violence ''

Abu Redeneh condemned Sharon's calls for a Palestinian alternative leadership to H.E. President Arafat and the elected PNA, adding that "this is nonsense" and shows that Sharon "does not respect the international efforts."

Vedrine: ''The creation of a Palestinian state

must be the "starting point of a negotiating process"

CACERES, SPAIN-FEBRURARY 10, 2002 -WAFA - European Union foreign ministers on Saturday endorsed an initiative put forward by various European countries for reviving Peace talks and to create a Palestinian state that would be recognized by Israel and admitted to the United Nations.

''The creation of a Palestinian state must be the "starting point of a negotiating process," French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine said as he presented outlines of a the French initiative to his colleagues.

The discussion proposed by Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Piqué focused on the need to find "an intermediate stage" in the peace process, a stage in which security measures would be accompanied by a political process, as well as economic elements and international concentration.

Pique, the meeting's chairman, said the initiative would be developed further in another foreign ministers meeting on Feb. 18 and a mid-March European summit in Barcelona.

A mass rally in Tunisia in solidarity with

the Palestinian people and Leadership

TUNISIA - FEBRURAY 10, 2002-WAFA - About 8000 protesters gathered in the Tunisian capital on Saturday to show their support for the Palestinian people and the Palestinian leadership, calling on the world community to stop the ongoing Israeli aggression in Palestine.

Demonstrators included government ministers, party leaders, and Palestinian officials waived pictures of President Arafat and President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.

Some held banners that read ''All Arab people call to end the Israeli occupation in Palestine.''

''This popular meeting is aimed at supporting the Palestinian cause, the symbol of the Palestinian struggle and the leader of the Palestinian people Yasser Arafat, who is elected by the Palestinians as their President," Hamed Karoui deputy chairman Democratic Constitutional (RCD) told the rally.

Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi and Foreign Minister Habib Ben Yahia, as well as Farouq Kaddoumi who heads the PLO political department, joined the rally at an indoor stadium in El Menzah district.

He also told the rally that '' God welling we will be meeting together in Jerusalem with President Arafat soon''.

Cyprus Condemns Israeli Destruction of Palestinian Houses

ATHENS: The plenary of the House of Representatives (Parliament) in Cyprus unanimously approved a resolution expressing concern over the serious deterioration of the situation in the Middle East, Cyprus News Agency CNA reported Friday.

"Having considered the further worsening of the critical situation in the Palestinian territories, in a way that threatens peace in the area, the House of Representatives condemns the punitive and revengeful demolition of Palestinian houses, the displacement of families and the destruction of Palestinian properties," IRNA quoted the resolution as saying.

The house also condemned the isolation of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, which it described as an "unacceptable measure" and supports the dispatch of an international force of observers to the Palestinian territories.

It calls upon the two sides to support the peace process and work for a solution of the Middle East problem.

3000 Demonstrators in Tel Aviv Say Stop the Occupation, There is no Military Solution

RAMALLAH (Palestine Media Center): At least 3,000 Israelis participated in a demonstration in Tel Aviv on 9 February against Israeli Prime Minister Sharon's policies, waving signs saying, "stop the occupation" and "there is no military solution."

The protesters said that they wished to express their rejection of Israel's military aggression and occupation of the Palestinian People.

The protesters arrived from a number of Israeli cities to join the protest, organized by the coalition of peace movements in Israel.

The protest was lead by Mr. Uri Avnery, Head of the Israeli peace movement Gush Shalom, and Former Meretz leader Shulamit Aloni who addressed the crowd, calling Sharon, "Defense" Minister Ben-Eliezer, and Chief of Staff Mofaz "war criminals".

The protest organizers said that their anti-occupation activities will continue, and that other protests will ensue in the near future. They further called upon the Israeli public to join and participate in such events.

A group of 52 Israeli reservists, who refused to serve in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, also participated in the protest.

To date, 210 Israeli anti-occupation reserve officers and soldiers have announced their refusal to serve in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, stating they refuse to participate in "war crimes."

Friday February 8, 2002

The Israeli Occupation Aggression Continue

TAMMOUN - FEB.8 , 2002 -WAFA - Israeli occupation forces raided Palestinian areas in the West Bank early Friday, a few hours after the second air strike on Nablus in less than 24 hours.

Troops reinforced with tanks and armored personnel carriers, some military jeeps and two helicopters, moved into Tammoun village east of Jenin, in the pre-dawn hours, spreading horror and terror among the villagers, and arrested number of its resident, the mayor of the village said.

The occupation tanks shelled Palestinian houses and civilian facilities in the village a number of houses were severely damaged.

After daybreak, two Israeli tanks and a bulldozer entered a neighborhood of the city of Nablus, taking over the roof of a Palestinian building, witnesses said.

Also, Israeli occupation forces thrust into Palestinian neighborhood in the city of Hebron and arrested two Palestinians.

Late Thursday, Israeli helicopter gunships fired several missiles at the government complex in Nablus, known as "Al Muqataa", the second attack on the same target in less than 24 hours, witnesses and security officials said.

Black smoke rose from the large compound and ambulances raced to the scene.

On his part Mr. Nabil Abu Redeneh President Yasser Arafat adviser condemned the latest Israeli aggression and said It aims to cripple the political efforts taken by the leadership and several parties in order to break the ongoing cycle of violence and provide for the resumption of negotiations .

Vedrine: “Israel's Current Policy Cannot lead to Security”

PARIS - FEB.8 , 2002- WAFA - Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine called on the United States Thursday to use its "immense authority" on Israel to end its aggression against the Palestinian people and to respect the efforts made to achieve political solution to the Middle East crisis.

"I want to express here the hope that, while the Israeli prime minister visits Washington, President Bush can use the immense authority, the immense influence of the United States towards a political solution," Vedrine told French senators during a question session

He suggested that leverage by the United States could lead to change.

Vedrine remarks came hours before Sharon was to meet President George W. Bush in Washington.

''Israel's current policy is one of pure repression ...and cannot lead to security and even less to a political solution", Vedrine said.

"This policy seems to us to lead to a strategic impasse'' But, "If the United States wanted to, and if it wanted to reinforce the efforts of the European Union at this moment, that could start a change," he added.

In Madrid, Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique whose country holds the rotating presidency of the European Union condemned the recent Israeli military strikes in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Pique urged all parties with an interest in the Middle East conflict to work with H.E. President Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian leadership to end the ongoing violence and to revive the peace process.

Thursday February 7, 2002

President Arafat:

“God willing, I will attend the Beirut summit,"

ABU DHABI – FEB. 7 , 2002 –WAFA -H.E President yasser Arafat on Wednesday renewed his willing to attend the upcoming Arab summit Next March despite the Israeli siege imposed on the Palestinian leadership since more than two month.

"God willing, I will attend the Beirut summit," H.E. said in an interview with the United Arab Emirates daily Al-Ittihad and the Egyptian weekly Al-Mussawar .

Lebanese President Emile Lahoud ''keen that I should be present at the summit, especially since it will focus on the Palestinian issue," Arafat said .

Also Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Jordan's King Abdullah II and Morocco's King Mohammad VI were all "exerting efforts" to ensure he would make it to the meeting of Arab heads of states'' the President added.

The President reiterated that the PNA had absolutely nothing to do with the Karine A, the vessel which the Israeli occupation navy intercepted in the Red Sea a month ago and said was carrying 50 tons of weapons to the Palestinians.

"This is untrue. The ship belongs to Hezbollah, which bought it from its Iraqi owner for 400,000 dollars," H.E said.

An Israeli air strike on Nablus

NABLUS – FEB. 7, 2002 -WAFA - Israeli occupation warplane fired two missiles at Palestinian National Authority buildings as well as civilian establishments in the West Bank city of Nablus, security officials and eyewitnesses reported Thursday.

F16 warplanes attacked the PNA main security headquarters known as "Al Muqataa," and one of the missiles destroyed a PNA security building.

Local residents of Nablus said that several explosions were heard in the city, and they saw flames shooting up from several parts of the city center, while ambulances and firefighters rushed to the scene.

Hospital officials said that at least 15 Palestinians, most of them civilians were injured by shrapnel.

The new airstrike by the occupation air force came few hours after the killing of a 16-year-old Palestinian boy from Rajah refugee camp.

Fadi Azazi was shot by heavy caliber bullet in the back fired by Israeli occupation troops stationed on the Egyptian border with Rafah.

Moreover the occupation navy police arrested three Palestinian fishermen who were fishing off the shores of the Gaza Strip in the Mediterranean Sea, a Palestinian security officials said.

They added that the three fishermen were taken to an unknown place.

Amnesty:

“The Israeli occupation actions are

“grave breaches” of the Geneva Convention”

LONDON –FEB.7 ,2002 –WAFA - Amnesty International denounced on Wednesday the Israeli Occupation actions in the Palestinian territories and describe it as “grave breaches” of the Geneva Convention.

“Every Palestinian in the occupied territories is affected in a cycle of repression which bringing people to despair.” The rights group said in a statement.

"Willful killings, inhuman treatment and unjustified demolitions of homes are grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention," the London based group said in the statement.

“Houses and infrastructure have been shelled and demolished without regard for the rules of the Forth Geneva Convention, which not only prohibits collective punishments but also the destruction of property,” the statement added.

Amnesty criticized Israeli occupation for its “use of weapons that cause Massive Destruction of property…… ,”

The group condemned the occupation army use of tank shells containing flechettes in the Gaza Strip. "Each shell may contain up to 5,000 arrows the size of nails, each one capable of killing. "They are entirely inappropriate for use in one of the most densely populated areas in the world.

Moreover, Amnesty repeated its call “ for the International Community to act and to send International Observers with a strong, transparent and public mandate to monitor the respect of International humanitarian law and human rights the occupied territories.”

Bradshaw blamed Israel for

the declining economic situation of the Palestinians

LONDON-Feb. 7, 2002-WAFA- Britain's Foreign Office Minister Ben Bradshaw blamed Israel on Wednesday for the declining economic situation of the Palestinians.

Israel's policy of "closure" has caused an "enormous drop" in incomes and living standards in the occupied territories, said Bradshaw. And "Levels of poverty have increased considerably from 21 per cent at the start of the Intifada to at least 35 per cent. This means that about 1million people exist on less than $2 per day," Bradshaw said in response to a written question in parliament Tuesday.

Wednesday February 6, 2002

Secretary Powell Greets President Arafat

Ramallah Feb. 6^th. 2002 WAFA - H.E. President Yasser Arafat received congratulating telegram on the occasion of Id Al Adha from the US secretary of state Mr. Colin Powell.

At this holy time of reflection upon the values cherished in the Muslim world … All Americans join me in extending our best wishes to the Palestinian people on the occasion of the ID Al Adha. Mr. Powell said in his telegram.

Number of assaults against Palestinian targets,

a 16 years old boy killed by the Israelis

RAFAH - FEBRURAY 6, 2002-WAFA - In the latest aggression committed by the occupation army, a Palestinian teen-ager was shot and killed in the Gaza Strip refugee camp of Rafah, witnesses said on Wednesday.

Hospital officials said the martyr Fadi Azazi, 16, was shot by heavy caliber bullet in the back and died during surgery. Witnesses said he was among a group of youths gathered near the border with Egypt, and there were no clashes at the time.

Meanwhile, Palestinian public security officials said that occupation army bulldozers started to bulldoze Palestinian lands

aiming to expand the Jewish settlement of Dogit in northern Gaza Strip.

Elsewhere the occupation authorities in Jerusalem continued to carry out its policy of ethnic cleansing against non-Jews by destroying more Palestinian homes.

Large numbers of the occupation police, border guards and special units imposed a tight siege on the Beit Hanina neighborhood since dawn today and prevented citizens from approaching the besieged area.

The destruction of the new homes today brings to 5 the number of Palestinian homes that were destroyed in the past 24 hours and 25 since the beginning of the year.

The so called Jerusalem mayor Ehud Olmert defended the war crime, saying that '' Israel would pay no attention '' to international protests to that effect.

He publicly admitted that his government was demolishing Palestinian houses in occupied Jerusalem to avoid a Palestinian majority.

Mousa condemned Israel for it's ugly crimes against Palestinians

WASHINGTON – FEB. 6, 2002 -WAFA - Arab League Chief on Tuesday condemned Israel for it's aggression and ugly crimes against Palestinians in the occupied territories.

''The Israelis now feel they can demolish Palestinian houses with impunity. Their freedom of action is unprecedented. They feel they can do anything anytime ... '' Mr. Amr Mousa the secretary-general of the Arab League told reporters in Washington.

''The evil we see is the evil in the occupied territories," Mousa said. "This is the evil that very much disturbs us."

Mousa added that Israelis believe they are beyond the scope of the U.N. Security Council and immune from criticism because the United States has no option but to support them. 

Vatican Wants International Observers in Middle East

VATICAN CITY, Feb 6, 2002 WAFA - A top Vatican official asked that international observers be sent to the Middle East, given the violence ravaging the Holy Land.

Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, Vatican secretary for relations with states, told Vatican Radio, "The Holy See has been thinking of this proposal for more than a year, as one cannot witness passively the daily deaths of Israelis and Palestinians."

"Every morning we hear news of this really sad war," he added. "Once again, it is necessary to help both sides find the path of reason, especially of negotiation."

Archbishop Tauran referred to Mideast violence and said: "This is why we have thought of the presence of observers, or at least of a structure of dissuasion that will allow both sides of the conflict to silence their arms and reflect on their common destiny. One cannot think of peace while holding weapons."

Tuesday February 5, 2002

Abed Raboo: “This vicious crime uncovers Sharon’s choice of war”

RAMALLAH- FEBRUARY 5,2002-WAFA- Palestinian official condemned on Monday the Israeli policy of aggression and assassinations.

Referring to yesterday crime which targeted five Palestinians in Rafah, Mr. Yasser Abed Raboo, minister of Culture and Information said that the ongoing policy of the Israeli government reflects a fixed strategy with which Sharon aims to proceed in order to destroy the peace process.

The Minister stressed “This vicious crime uncovers Sharon’s choice of war and his renunciation of the choice of peace…. Emphasizing his rejection of calls to end his assassination policy…”.

He added, “It further aims to cripple the political efforts undertaken by the several parties in order to break the cycle of violence and provide for the resumption of negotiations ”.

Abed Raboo called upon the international community for immediate intervention to provide for the protection of the Palestinian people and to put an end to the state terrorism undertaken in the entire Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The Israeli Speaker Burg renewed his willingness

to visit the PLC

Occupied Jerusalem- FEBRUARY 5,2002-WAFA - The Israeli Parliament Speaker Avraham Burg renewed his willingness to go ahead with his plan to visit Ramallah, to address the Palestinian legislative council.

“I would go ahead with my plan to the West Bank City of Ramallah to address the Palestinian Legislative Council there", Burg told reporters after his meeting on Monday with the Egyptian consul Ahmed Nader .

He added that after last week meeting between Sharon and three Palestinian officials justifies his visit to Ramallah.

Burg also invited his Egyptian counterpart Mr. Ahamd Sorour to visit the the Israeli Parliament, and said that he believed ``the visit will be a peace message to the region``.

The ACRI warns that the occupation forces

carry out manifestly unlawful orders

Tel-Aviv February 5^th Wafa, The “Association for Civil Rights in Israel” (ACRI) warns that many actions carried out, in the occupied territories, by the Israeli forces, fall into the category of manifestly unlawful orders. These include preventing Palestinians from acquiring medical treatment or the transfer of medicines and water to the Palestinian populated areas, forcing Palestinians to examine suspicious objects rather than the Israeli occupying forces sappers, harassing civilians at the Israeli imposed roadblocks and checkpoints, leveling or destroying the homes of civilians.

The ACRI declares that it will defend any soldier who refuses to carry out such orders.

From the Israeli Media

An Israeli will stand trial for visiting Palestinians

On Wednesday, Tomorrow Feb. 6, peace activist Yochanan Katz must appear before Justice Eilata Zusskind of the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court and face trial for the "crime" of peaceably entering the Palestinian town of Bethlehem on March 22, 2001. (Katz paid a visit to personal close friends.)

Katz is charged with "contravening the orders of a legally-constituted authority" - namely,  the blanket military decree forbidding Israelis to enter Palestinian-controlled areas.

The army claims that the prohibition order is aimed at protecting the life of Israelis. Given that concern, however, it is strange that the army does not forbid  the settlers from daily traveling along roads in the Occupied Territories, where the risk is at least as great and whom the army admits it cannot adequately protect.

Katz said, It seems that as far as the military authorities are concerned, Israelis are free to take a risk as long as they come to Palestinian territory as uninvited invaders and land-grabbing provocateurs. But when Israelis want to come to Palestinian territory as invited guests with the aim of furthering peaceful contact the army's protective instincts suddenly awakens

Monday February 4, 2002

President Arafat : '' The Israeli government does not want to calm the situation''

RAMALLAH - FEBRURAY 4 , 2002 -WAFA - H.E President Yasser Arafat on Monday accused Sharon government and its occupation army of working to sabotage all the efforts made to restore calm and security in the area.

"The Israeli government does not want to calm the situation," H.E told reporters in Ramallah in response to the latest Israeli crimes in Gaza strip. ''But it should know that the Palestinian people cannot be shaken or broken." , the President added Five Palestinian civilians and security officers were killed in the Gaza Strip after targeted Israeli missile fired by one of the occupation army compact Helicopters attack their car.

Palestinian Public security officials said four Palestinian were killed when Israeli occupation helicopter gunships fired several missiles at their car in Rafah. A fifth was seriously wounded and later died of his injuries.

According to Dr. Mu'awyieh Hassanain General Director of emergency at Al- Shifaa' Hospital in Gaza the martyrs are Ayman al-Bahdari 31 , Mohammad Abu Snaima 26 , Ibraheem Jarbo'a 25 , Majid Abu Moamar 30 , and Nasir Abu Athra 30 , all from Rafah .

Earlier in the day, the occupation helicopters fired several missiles at civilian establishments in north of Gaza City, destroying several factories but causing no apparent casualties.

Elsewhere Israeli occupation bulldozers two Palestinian homes in occupied Jerusalem in an effort to check non-Jewish demographic growth.

Eyewitnesses said bulldozers escorted by scores of heavily armed soldiers and police officers arrived at the Isawiaya neighborhood and pulverized the two buildings while their stunned owners were looking on in disbelief.

The so called Jerusalem mayor claim that the homes are destroyed because they were built without a building license.

It's worth to mention that since the beginning of Al Aqssa intifada the occupation army demolished more than a thousand Palestinian homes, rendering their 7000 men, women and children homeless.

Ireland: "President Arafat, is the elected

and legitimate leader of the Palestinian People"

Dublin- February 4, 2002-WAFA- The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Irish Parliament on Sunday called the European Union Presidency for immediate intervention to lift the Israeli siege imposed on H.E President Yasser Arafat and put an end to the tottering situation in the Palestinian lands.

"President Arafat, is the elected and legitimate leader of the Palestinian People", the Committee stressed in a statement issued in Dublin.

It's also called on the EU to urge US President Bush to adopt a more rational and balanced position towards the Palestinian issue.

A new occupation raid against Palestinian targets

JABALIYA - FEBRURAY 4 , 2002 - WAFA - Israeli occupation helicopters gunship fired several missiles at civilian establishment in Jabaliya town north of Gaza City, Palestinian security official and witnesses said.

Spokesman of the Palestinian Public security directorate in Gaza told Wafa that two combat helicopters launched at least six missiles at local industrial area in the town, destroying several factories.

There were no reports of casualties in the new strike, but wittiness said that flames of fire and columns of smoke were seen coming out of the factories. Several Palestinian houses close to the area were damaged.

Earlier in Sunday, three Palestinians, two of them security officers, were wounded by the occupation army fire in incidents in southern Gaza Strip.

In Rafah Israeli occupation troops positioned at Salah El-Din Gate on the Egyptian border south of Rafah refugee camp fired heavy and medium caliber bullets at the Palestinian area, a 37 years old man was wounded by a medium caliber bullet in the head. The two security officers wounded by shrapnel in the head, the abdomen and the hands when Israeli occupation troops positioned at the Jewish settlement of Neveh Dekalim west of Khan Younis camp shelled Palestinian security position for no reason.

AWMF called for supporting the role

of the Palestinian woman in resisting the Israeli occupation

Abu Dhabi-February 4, 2002-WAFA- Participants of the Arab Women Media Forum (AWMF) called on Sunday for supporting the role of the Palestinian woman in resisting the Israeli occupation.

The Abu Dhabi Declaration called for assisting her in facing the occupation situation and the blockade until she earns her just right to establish a sovereign Palestinian State with Jerusalem as its capital.

The Declaration revealed all mentioned to "the inhuman practices that the Arab woman is facing in the blockade, occupation and imprisonment".

It's worth mention that Mrs. Suha Arafat, Wife of H.E. President Yasser Arafat headed the Palestinian delegation during the two days meeting.

Sunday February 3, 2002

President Arafat :''Now is the time for the Palestinians to state clearly,

and for the world to hear clearly, the Palestinian vision of peace .''

RAMALLAH - FEBRUARY 3 , 2002 - WAFA - H.E President Yasser Arafat said that the Palestinian vision of peace based on the complete end of the occupation and a return to Israel's 1967 borders, the sharing of all Jerusalem as one open city and as the capital of two states, Palestine and Israel.

'' We are ready to sit down now with any Israeli leader .... to negotiate freedom for the Palestinians, a complete end of the occupation, security for Israel and creative solutions to the plight of the refugees ... '' , H.E wrote in an editorial published Sunday in The New York Times.

The President condemn the attacks carried out by some groups against Israeli civilians and said that these groups do not represent the Palestinian people or their legitimate aspirations for freedom.

Below is the full text of the editorial:

The Palestinian Vision of Peace

By YASSER ARAFAT

RAMALLAH - For the past 16 months, Israelis and Palestinians have been locked in a catastrophic cycle of violence, a cycle which only promises more bloodshed and fear. The cycle has led many to conclude that peace is impossible, a myth borne out of ignorance of the Palestinian position. Now is the time for the Palestinians to state clearly, and for the world to hear clearly, the Palestinian vision.

But first, let me be very clear. I condemn the attacks carried out by terrorist groups against Israeli civilians. These groups do not represent the Palestinian people or their legitimate aspirations for freedom. They are terrorist organizations, and I am determined to put an end to their activities.

The Palestinian vision of peace is an independent and viable Palestinian state on the territories occupied by Israel in 1967, living as an equal neighbor alongside Israel with peace and security for both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. In 1988, the Palestine National Council adopted a historic resolution calling for the implementation of applicable United Nations resolutions, particularly, Resolutions 242 and 338. The Palestinians recognized Israel's right to exist on 78 percent of historical Palestine with the understanding that we would be allowed to live in freedom on the remaining 22 percent, which has been under Israeli occupation since 1967. Our commitment to that two-state solution remains unchanged, but unfortunately, also remains unreciprocated.

We seek true independence and full sovereignty: the right to control our own airspace, water resources and borders; to develop our own economy, to have normal commercial relations with our neighbors, and to travel freely. In short, we seek only what the free world now enjoys and only what Israel insists on for itself: the right to control our own destiny and to take our place among free nations.

In addition, we seek a fair and just solution to the plight of Palestinian refugees who for 54 years have not been permitted to return to their homes. We understand Israel's demographic concerns and understand that the right of return of Palestinian refugees, a right guaranteed under international law and United Nations Resolution 194, must