JANUARY 2002

Thursday January 31, 2002

The Palestinian Leadership:

Security Can Only be Attained through Peace

RAMALLAH - JANURAY 31 , 2002 - WAFA - The Palestinian leadership stressed that Holy Jerusalem is a red line, which represents the heart and soul of Palestine, and the capital of an independent Palestinian state. It emphasized that peace must depend on resolving the Jerusalem issue, in order to reach a lasting peace and achieve security and stability in the Middle East.

Below is the full text of the statement:

Sharon's decision to erect the Berlin wall in Holy Jerusalem will not bring security to Israel. Turning Jerusalem into a ghetto and into a communal prison, which involves erecting around 11 kilometers of walls along Jerusalem's municipal boundaries, including the illegal settlements of "Gilo", "Ma'aleh Adumim", and "Givat Ze'ev", not to mention including the Arab villages of Abu Dis, Al-'Ayzariyah, Bidya, Anata, and Bir Nabala.

In addition, the Israeli decision has approved setting more fences, roadblocks and video surveillance equipment, as well as extra police, to control access to the city from the West Bank. In light of such a dangerous step taken by the Sharon government and labeled "a security plan", the Palestinian leadership warns against this illegal measure, which involves expanding illegal settlements established on land occupied by Israel in 1967.

The leadership further warns of the tottering consequences of such a decision on the lives, work, and property of over a quarter of a million Palestinian civilians inside this big prison.

This dangerous step constitutes isolating Holy Jerusalem, land and people, from the rest of the West Bank and likewise preventing Palestinians from other areas to reach Holy Jerusalem and visit its holy sites. The leadership reaffirms that security cannot be attained under occupation, settlements, and ethnic segregation, even if the Sharon government builds a new wall in Holy Jerusalem. Security for the Israelis and the Palestinians will only be achieved through the peace process in accordance with international legitimacy and the signed agreements - namely the Tenet understandings and the Mitchell report recommendations - which entail the complete Israeli withdrawal from Arab and Palestinian Territory, beginning with Holy Jerusalem.

Larson: The situation in the Palestinians

territories is so “grave”

JANUARY 31,2002-WAFA- UN official described on Wednesday the situation in the Palestinian territories as “grave situation.”

The UN special envoy to the Middle East, Mr. Terje Roed Larson, told reporters after briefing the Security Council on the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. “I have spoken to the Council particularly on the issue of violence, on the issue of no progress in the peace process and on the dire situation ... in the Middle East.”

“The United States, Russia, the European Union and the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan have been exchanging views on the violence, and it was time for them to gather formally”, Larson said.

Asked about the situation in the Palestinian territories Larson said that “the situation now is so grave, that it necessitates consultations in Washington between the four parties.”

“What is very evident now is that it will be incredibly difficult for the Parties to move forward with mutual confidence without the help of third party,” Larson added.

Larson stressed on the need to end violence “ for a cease - fire to take hold, there had to be progress in ending violence as well as alleviating the economic situation of the Palestinians.”

Wednesday January 30, 2002

Burg and Beilin Criticize the Israeli Occupation

Yasser Abed Rabbo: "EU Position Subjective and Impartial"

“A Palestinian delegation on its way to

Washington for consultation with the US administration”

Ramallah January 30, 2002, Wafa - H.E President Yasser Arafat said Wednesday the Palestinians are looking for a more American active role to end the ongoing Israeli aggression and to revive the Peace process.

''We are looking and very interested for more effective American and International role in the area.... '' H.E told a press conference in Ramallah after his meeting with visiting Hungarian Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi.

The President added that a Palestinian delegation is already on the way to Washington for consultation with the US administration.

''It is a part of our continuous contact with the American administration. Tomorrow two delegations are leaving the country, one is to Davos headed by Dr. Hanan Ashrawi and the second to Washington headed by Mr. Abu Alla, the speaker of the PLC.'' said the President.

The Arab interior ministers council

called for immediate intervention by the international community in Palestine

Beirut January 30, 2002, Wafa -Arab interior ministers have lauded the steadfastness and supported the struggle of the Palestinian people against the Israeli occupation for gaining their legitimate rights.

In a statement issued today in the Lebanese Capital, Beirut, the ministers' council expressed its support for the struggle of the Palestinian people and strongly condemned the Israeli aggression against them.

The council also voiced it's continued political, material and moral support for the Palestinian people and for the Palestine Liberation Organization in face of the Israeli occupation.

The council called for immediate intervention by the international community and the United Nations to bring to a halt the continued Israeli aggression on the Palestinian people and to secure the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people including their right to repatriation and setting up their own independent state on their national soil with Jerusalem as its capital.

Prince Nayef: “If Israel’s inhuman practices

are not terrorism, then what is terrorism?”

Beirut January 30, 2002 wafa-The Arab Interior Ministers meeting was inaugurated yesterday in the Lebanese Capital Beirut, in the absence of the head of the Palestinian delegation.

The General Secretary Office confirmed that preventing the Palestinian Minister of Justice Freih Abu Meddein from attending the meeting, is one of terrorism serials being practiced by Israel against the unarmed Palestinians and the Palestinian National Authority.

Delegates from 17 Arab countries are taking part in a three-day meeting of the Arab Interior Ministers Council. The participants are discussing means of cooperation to fight against terrorism, as well as security measures aimed at combating crime, particularly drug trafficking.

“We are closely watching what is happening before our eyes in the Palestinian occupied territories, including the inhuman acts and state terrorism being practiced by Israel against the unarmed Palestinian people

Prince Nayef Bin Abdulaziz, head of Saudi delegation, told the conference.

"This is what makes us all ask: if Israel’s inhuman practices are not terrorism, then what is terrorism?” he questioned.

In Vienna, Annan says 'isolated'

Arafat should be given more room to lead

Vienna 30 January 2002 Wafa - President Yasser Arafat should be given more room to operate and the “political time to act,” United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said yesterday – the first day of his official visit to Austria.

"By being isolated and virtually being under house arrest makes it difficult for him to lead," Mr. Annan told a press conference in Vienna following his meeting with Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner. The Secretary-General added that Mr. Arafat was in an extremely difficult situation, being asked to stop the violence and being asked to lead.

"And yet, as a leader, he and his institutions are under so much pressure that I really do not see how that is going help, how he is going to go about delivering what the international community is asking him to do," Mr. Annan said. "We need to be careful how we deal with the situation because when the leader who is supposed to act is weakened to the point of impotence, we have a real problem on our hands."

As for breaking the latest impasse between Israel and the Palestinians, the Secretary-General stressed that too much focus was being put on security only. "I think security should be linked with improvements in the conditions of the Palestinians and it should also be linked with political prospects of getting the parties to the table and discussing a settlement of their differences at the table," he said

Tuesday January 29, 2002

The EU foreign ministers reiterate their support for

the Palestinian leadership and president Yasser Arafat

BRUSSELS - JANURAY 29 , 2002 -WAFA - The European Union foreign ministers reiterate on Monday their support for the Palestinian leadership and president Yasser Arafat, as ''a peace partner''.

'' Israel needs the Palestinian Authority and its elected President, Yasser Arafat, as a partner to negotiate with, both in order to eradicate terrorism and to work towards peace. ''the 15 EU ministers said in a statement after one day meeting in Brussels

''The Israeli Government must withdraw its military forces and stop the extra-judicial executions, lift the closures and all the restrictions imposed on the Palestinian people and its leadership, and freeze the settlements.'' the statement added

They voiced their concern ''at the destruction of Palestinian infrastructure and other facilities which help Palestinians in their economic, social, humanitarian development and which are financed by the European Union donors.''

On her part Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh told reporters upon her arrival to Brussels, that "The only way to go forward is to continue the peace talks, and if we deny Arafat and deny the Palestinian Authority we just increase the tensions in the region. I think that is extremely worrying."

Lindh added ''I think it is very dangerous if the United States is supportive of the Israeli government and of the confrontation (Israeli Prime Minister Ariel) Sharon has tried to use in the latest weeks instead of supporting peace talks,"

The European Union called on the Government of Israel to put an end to this practice… Resolute and concerted action by the European Union, the United States, the Russian Federation and the Arab countries most concerned is essential and urgent to help re-open the way to political negotiations.

Annan Warns Against Isolating Arafat

VIENNA: U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan is urging an end to the isolation of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Annan told reporters in Vienna that it is difficult for Arafat to lead because he is being isolated and virtually under house arrest.

Israeli military forces have prevented Arafat from leaving his West Bank headquarters in Ramallah since December.

And, the Bush administration has been increasingly critical of the Palestinian leader, putting pressure on him to take "concerted action" to "stop terrorism" against Israeli civilians.

Annan urged care in dealing with the situation. He said that when the leader who is supposed to act is weakened to the point of impotence, there is a real problem. The U.N. chief said he does not see how Arafat can deliver what the international community wants him to do.

On Monday, the European Union repeated its support for Arafat, saying Israel needs him as a partner for negotiations, both to eradicate terrorism and to work toward peace. At the same time, the 15-nation group insisted Arafat do more to "stop terrorism."

Israeli Parliamentary Speaker Lashes out at Occupation, Causes Uproar

By Hatem Anwar, PalestineChronicle.com Reporter

TEL AVIV: Despite sever criticism from the rightwing-led Israeli government, Israeli parliamentary speaker Avraham Burg continued to lead his unpopular style of politics, this time lashing out at the Israeli military occupation of Palestinian territories.

In a special Knesset session that marked the 53rd anniversary of the chamber, Burg publicly denounced Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory.

He told Israeli parliamentarians, in the midst of boos and angry shouts, "An occupying people, even if it was led into being an occupier against its will, ends up being harmed by the occupation and its stains, which change and disfigure it," adding, "We should not forget that the jailer and his prisoner remained locked up for most of the day behind the same walls and without hope," he said.

Burg concluded his controversial speech saying, "To put it in other, more stark terms, respected members, the occupation corrupts."

Burg’s speech was most unpopular among rightwing members of the Knesset.

The new controversy created by Burg comes at a time that another controversy was yet to end, as the Israeli politician accepted an invitation to address the Palestinian assembly, despite strong objections from the government, and condemnations and accusations from fellow parliamentarians.

Monday January 28, 2002

• RAMALLAH - JANURAY 28, 2002- WAFA - H.E President Yasser Arafat stressed on Monday that it is very unfortunate that Israeli Prime Minister Sharon and his government do not want peace.

In an interview with the Israeli daily “Yediot Aharonot”, President Arafat stated, "If the world wants peace in the Middle East, instead of not chaos and escalation, then it ought to intervene."

Asked about relations with the United States, H.E. affirmed, "We have our differences, but there aren't any extreme pressures. Despite the current circumstances, there are still ongoing contacts between the Palestine National Authority and the United States."

"The Americans recognize that peace in the Middle East effects the peace and stability of the whole world; for [US] President Bush himself underlined the need to establish an independent Palestinian state in his address to the United Nations General Assembly," President Arafat added.

Furthermore, President Arafat delivered a message to the Israeli People in which he stressed, "The security of the white civilians in South Africa was not separated from that of the black civilians ... and the security of the Israelis will not be attained at the price of our security. For this reason, mobilization is crucial for the sake of our children and your children."

"We respect the Israeli people and representatives and we reach out our hand for peace. We yearn for the peace of the brave, the peace that Mr. Ishaq Rabin and I had agreed upon, for the Palestinians and for the Israelis. I am certain that the majority of the Israelis want that as well. If there are negotiations, then there is hope of reaching peace. If there is a will then there is always a way. We call upon the Israelis to commit to their obligations and to all that we have agreed upon," the President said.

• Ramallah- 28^th Wafa , 2002 WAFA- In regard to the ship Karin A case, H.E Yasser Arafat, on Sunday, took decisions, against those who were named in the case.

H.E ordered the detention of Brigadier General Fuad Shobaky, of the Military Financial Administration.

H.E also issued a detention memorandum against Colonel Fathi Alrazem, Deputy Chief of Naval Police, and to whom called Adel Awadallah (AL Mughrabi), who are both out of the country. In addition of sending Colonel Fathi Alrazem off duty.

These Presidential decisions came as a result of the Investigation Commission recommendations.

• Ramallah January 28^th 2002 Wafa, H.E President Yasser Arafat sent yesterday letters to several World Leaders regarding the deteriorating situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory due to the ongoing Israeli aggression and against the Palestinian people.

H.E. addressed letters to H.R.H. King Abdullah of Jordan, Mr. Thabo Mbeki President of the RSA, Mr. Jiang Zemin the Chinese President, Mr. Leonid Kuchma the Ukrainian President and to the French President Dr. Jacques Chirac.

H.E. also sent similar letters to Mr. Junichiro Koizumi the Japanese Prime Minister, Mr. Silvio Berlusconi the Italian Prime Minister, Mr. Ahmed Nacdet Sezer the Turkish President, Mr. Bulent Ecevit the Turkish Prime Minister, Mr. Josep Piqué the Spanish foreign Minister Head of the European Foreign Ministers Council, and members of the said Council, briefing them with the situation prior to their assembly of today Monday the 18^th of January.

• RAMALLAH - JANURAY 28, 2002 -WAFA - Nabil Abu Redeneh, President Yasser Arafat's Adviser, stressed on Monday that the American Administration's position towards the Palestine National Authority and President Arafat gives Sharon and his government the green light to continue his escalation against the Palestinian People.

In a statement to the press, Mr. Abu Redeneh warned that "any [American Administration] decision to cut ties with the Palestine National Authority and President Yasser Arafat will cause an earthquake in the region, which nobody will be able to confront."

"Taking such measures gives Sharon the green light to continue his escalatory policy against the Palestinian People. The American Administration should stop this policy, which only leads to further unrest in the Middle East," Abu Redeneh said .

He further stated, "What is needed is isolating Sharon and putting an end to his escalatory policy, instead of receiving him in the White House." and added, "If the American Administration does not cut ties with the PNA, that would mean not responding to the Israeli demands, which would revive of the peace process."

• Ramallah January 28^th 2002 Wafa, President Yasser Arafat received last night in the Presidential HQ in Ramallah, Mr. Wow Geo Hong the Chinese representative the PNA.

Mr. Hong delivered to President Arafat, a letter from the Chinese President Mr. Jiang Zemin, in which Mr. Zemin reiterates his county’s support to the Palestinian people and their Leadership.

Sunday January 27, 2002

• Ramallah Jan. 27^th. 2002, WAFA - The Palestinian leadership, on Sunday strongly condemned the suicide attack which took place in west Jerusalem and called on U.S. President George W. Bush to ''dispatch immediately'' Mideast envoy Anthony Zinni back to the region.

The leadership official spokesman called in a statement for lifting the imposed siege on the Palestinian people and leadership as well as on the presidential headquarters to enable the leadership to carry out it's national and security responsibilities, and to create the suitable circumstances for the resumption of the peace process.

• Ramallah Jan. 27^th. 2002 WAFA - H.E. President Yasser Arafat received today in Ramallah a delegation representing the French Communist Party, which came to express solidarity with the Palestinian people and the Palestinian leadership.

H.E. briefed the delegation on the dangerous situations in the Palestinian territories in view of the mounting Israeli aggressions against our people, cities and establishments.

• RAMALLAH - JANURAY 27 ,2002 -WAFA- H.E. President Yasser Arafat made an appeal Saturday to the American people, asking them to compare the Palestinian struggle against the Israeli occupation to their own against British forces in the War of Independence.

''Did you ever accept the British occupation of the United States?'' the President asked in a program on the Qatari satellite channel Al-Jazeera. ''Didn't George Washington fight, along with his people, until they freed the United States?''

H.E. also called on the US Administration to return the peace envoy Gen. Anthony Zinni to the region in order to support the efforts made to end the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people.

• Ramallah January 27^th 2002 Wafa, President Arafat received yesterday in the Presidential HQ in Ramallah Mrs. Valerie Weruge the Deputy British Consul General in Jerusalem, and the Spanish Consul General in Jerusalem.

H.E. Briefed them with the latest developments, and handed them letters to their respected Prime Ministers in which, H.E. detailed the latest developments in the region, under the Israeli nonstop assaults against the Palestinian People, and the Palestinian efforts to establish calmness and endure ceasefire.

H.E. urged in His letter the Spanish prime ministers to act immediately to stop the Israeli atrocities.

Saturday January 26, 2002

• Ramallah January 26^th 2002 Wafa, President Yasser Arafat and the Italian Prime Minister Mr. Silvio Berlusconi conducted this morning, talks via telephone.

H.E. briefed the Italian Premier with the latest developments on the Palestinian occupied Lands, especially the attacks on the cities of Gaza and Tulkarem.

He also urged Mr. Berlusconi to continue exerting efforts with the EU in order to stop any further deterioration in the region

• GAZA - JANURAY 26 2002 -WAFA - Israeli warplanes attacked Palestinian security installations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip Friday night, few hours after the killing of two Palestinians in southern Gaza strip.

In Gaza, the F-16 warplanes pounded the Palestinian security compound known as Ansar camp, in two waves.

Witnesses reported huge plumes of smoke over the area after buildings belonging to the Palestinian National security forces and the navy police were hit by two bombs.

The new attack completely destroying a helicopter launch pad that had been hit in the past, Palestinian security officials and witnesses said.

At least one Palestinian was wounded in the late-night strikes, Palestinian hospital sources said.

In the West Bank city of Tulkarem, F-16 warplanes fired missiles at a Palestinian government complex that had already been largely destroyed in a similar attack by the occupation warplanes on January 18.

A Palestinian security officer was killed and some 50 other people were wounded in that attack.

In other aggression two Palestinians were killed by the Israeli fire near Khan Younis, Palestinian security officials said.

Also in Ramallah Israeli occupation troops fired tear gas and rubber-coated bullets against hundreds of Palestinian took to the streets to protest against Israeli occupation and aggression.

Palestinian hospital sources said 25 people were wounded. They said a 17-year-old Palestinian, Samer Kesba, died from a bullet wound to the head sustained during a peaceful demonstration in Ramallah five days earlier.

• RAMALLAH - JANURAY 26 , 2002 - WAFA - Mr. Ahmad Abdel Rahman, Secretary General of the Palestinian Cabinet, affirmed that the Palestine National Authority will not be able to carry out its obligations without Israeli withdrawal and lift of closure imposed on the Palestinian leadership.

"Under the present circumstances, the PNA is unable to commit to any obligations or make any arrangements until the Sharon's government withdraws its forces from the areas it reoccupied and lifts its closure, which it has imposed on President Yasser Arafat," Mr. Abdel Rahman told WAFA after last night meeting of the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah.

Mr. Abdel Rahman emphasized, "The PNA is paralyzed, for Israeli tanks are only 70 meters away from the Presidential compound and are surrounding us from all sides. What can the leadership do in a situation when the Israeli rifle is pointed at our head? The

leadership is unable to take any measures whatsoever."

Moreover, Mr. Abdel Rahman reiterated, "The PNA is against the targeting of civilians, whether they are Palestinians or Israelis. Sharon is the one responsible for the eruption of the violence."

Friday January 25, 2002

• Ramallah January 25^th 2002 Wafa, President Yasser Arafat separately received yesterday in the Presidential HQ in Ramallah, Mrs. Iceland Moylan the Irish representative to the PNA, Mr. André Vdovin the Russian official envoy to the peace process un the Middle East, and an American-European delegation consisting of Catholic Bishops and Archbishops accompanied with Patriarch Michel Sabah and Cr. Emil Jarjoa’i a member of the PLO Executive Committee.

H.E. briefed His guests with the latest developments due to the Israeli escalations.

Mr. Nabil Abu Redeneh, President Arafat’s Media Advisor said that Mr. Vdovin’s visit is another act in the Russian efforts for promoting the peace in the Middle East, and for obliging the Israeli Government to stop its aggression against the Palestinian people.

• KHAN YOUNIS - JANUARY 25 , 2002 - WAFA -  Israeli Helicopter gunships killed one Palestinian   and seriously wounded two other men in a missile strike on a car in the southern Gaza Strip, Palestinian security sources said Thursday.

  The sources  said an Israeli occupation  helicopter fired at least two missiles at a car in the Khan Younis camp, killing Bakar Hamdan, 26, they said.    After the  occupation nighttime strike, about 500 Palestinians carried Hamdan's body through the camp, chanting slogans against assassination policy and calling for international protection

Thursday January 24, 2002

• Ramallah January 24^th 2002 Wafa, A Phone call took place on Wednesday between H.E President Yasser Arafat and US Secretary of State Mr. . Colin Powell.

''President Arafat and Mr. Powell exchanged views on the current situation'' said Nabil Abu Redeneh, President Arafat adviser.

The President briefed Mr. Powell on the latest wave of Israeli aggression in the Palestinian territories, and asked for the U.S. envoy to the region to return. "Both had agreed to continue their contacts to be able to face the current incidents'' Mr. Abu Redeneh added.

Early in the day a phone call was carried out between President Arafat and his Yemenis counterpart Mr. Ali Abdullah Saleh,

President Arafat briefed President Saleh on the latest developments in the Palestinian territories in view of the Israeli military escalation against the unarmed Palestinian people, which the latest was the aggression on Tulkarem and Nablus.

Moreover H.E President Arafat received a phone call from the Austrian Defense Minister, who was briefed on the latest developments in view of the dangerous and mounting Israeli escalation.

• Ramallah January 24^th 2002 Wafa, H.E. President Yasser Arafat received on Wednesday a delegation representing the “Arab Islamic – Christian Council” in Jerusalem.

H.E. briefed the delegation on the latest developments in the Palestinian territories in view of the mounting Israeli aggression against our unarmed people. The meeting also tackled the situation in the holy city and the attempts of Judaizing its holy sites .

later in the day the President received head of the International Lawyers’ Committee.

The President briefed his guest on the dangerous situations in the Palestinian territories in view of the military and inhumane Israeli escalation against our people, cities, camps and villages

Pretoria/RSA January 24^th 2002 Wafa, The RSA Government condemned all Israeli war crimes and atrocities against the armless and defenseless Palestinian people, saying that the Israeli crimes are only an unjustified and senseless revenge actions.

In a statement issued on Wednesday the RSA Foreign ministry said that the Israeli Government aims to keep the flame of violence and the state of war, ongoing, and it does not seek peace.

The statement emphasized that the RSA will keep providing the necessary support for the Palestinian President and his people adding, that the RSA position, of seeking peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis, is reflected through RSA President Thabo Mbeki’s will to host peace talks and negotiations.

• RAMALLAH - JANURAY 24 , 2002 - WAFA - Israel beefed it's occupation troops and tanks around the West bank city of Ramallah Thursday, in a new move in the ongoing aggression against the Palestinian people and the Palestinian National Authority. More than a dozen of the occupation army tanks and APC's were stationed at the southern entrance of Ramallah near the neighborhood of Al-Tira, where a Palestinian man was killed this morning. ''The martyr Riyad Sadi, 26 years old killed during the Israeli tanks shelling on the old city of Ramallah'' Palestinian security officials told Wafa.

Elsewhere Israeli undercover troops arrested a Palestinian civilian in a raid of a Hebron bakery.

Six Israeli undercover officers knocked on the back door of the bakery, pushed aside a man opening it and shot and wounded a bakery employee identified as Hazem Qawasmeh, witnesses said.

A bystander was also wounded in the raid, said bakery owner Ali Shweiki.

The occupation troops took the two wounded men to a nearby Jewish settlement in the occupied part of the city .

On his part Nabil Abu Redeneh , President Arafat adviser stressed that the Israeli government continues to escalate the violence and seek new ways of unrest, tension, and instability. Such measures, he stated, require an immediate cessation as the situation has become extremely dangerous. "This reflects on the entire region, particularly considering the Israeli government's persistence in sabotaging the calm and stability, which threatens to push the whole region into the cycle of violence," Abu Redeneh warned.

'' Israel ought to realize that peace, security, and stability will not be attained except through negotiating with the Palestine Liberation Organization, the Palestine National Authority, and the Palestinian People… Peace, security, and stability will not be attained without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Holy Jerusalem as its capital, according to what was agreed upon in Madrid and other signed agreements'' he added.

Abu Redeneh also stressed the need for international intervention to exert pressure on Israel to commit to the signed agreements and resume negotiations and stressed the necessity of deploying international monitors.

Wednesday January 23, 2002

• Ramallah January 23^rd 2002 Wafa, H.E President Yasser Arafat sent yesterday, several urgent letters to the Chinese President Jiang Zemin, the Japanese Government and to the RSA President Thabo Mbeki, the letters were handed to the respective countries representatives to the PNA upon visiting the President.

The letters was pertaining to the dangerous developments on the ground and the Israeli mounting aggression against our cities and civil establishments.

• Ramallah January 23^rd 2002 Wafa, An Israeli delegation representing the Israeli peace movement “Peace Now” headed by the Ex Knesset Member the Journalist Uri Avneri accompanied by MK Dr. Ahmad Tibi, visited yesterday H.E President Yasser Arafat in the Presidential Headquarters in Ramallah.

After the meeting Mr. Avneri said that they are offering their solidarity with President Arafat and the Palestinian journalists especially after the Israeli demolishing of the TV and Radio facilities.

He demanded protection from such violations, vandalism and atrocities also demanded the Israeli community to put an end to Sharon’s escalating and devastating policy.

Tuesday January 22, 2002

• RAMALLAH - JANURAY 22, 2002 - WAFA - A Phone call took place between H.E President Yasser Arafat and the Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday.

During the phone call, President Arafat briefed President Putin on the extremely dangerous situation has developed as a result of Israel's aggression on Palestinian territories,'' Mr. Nabil Abu Redeneh, the President Adviser said.

In Moscow the Kremlin said in a statement that Mr. Putin called for coordinated international effort to return the Palestinian and Israeli sides to the table for talks.

Later in the day, H.E the President received a phone call from Joschka Fischer the German minister of Foreign Affairs.

The President briefed Mr. Fischer on the latest political developments in the region in view of the mounting Israeli aggression along with the internationally exerted efforts for stopping this aggression

• NABLUS - JANURAY 22 , 2002 - WAFA – Four Palestinians were killed by the fire of the occupation army as Israeli occupation tanks have entered a neighborhood of the West Bank city of Nablus, a day after they occupied the nearby city of Tulkarem, Palestinian security officials said .

Dozens of tanks and armored personnel carrier backed by helicopters gunship rolled into the Al Majeen neighborhood, about 500 yards from the city center, before dawn on Tuesday.

Palestinian security officials and rescue services could not immediately confirm any casualties from the area due to the intensive shooting by the occupation troops.

Mr. Nabil Abu Redeneh President Yasser Arafat advisor consider the fresh Israeli raid as ''part of the Israeli government continuous aggression against the Palestinian People and the peace process.'' The Israeli war against our people and leadership requires urgent international intervention to restrain this aggression'' Abu Redeneh told reporters in Ramallah.

Four Palestinians were killed and at least 50 wounded in Tulkarem and Ramallah by the occupation forces fire on Monday.

In Tulkarem troops from the occupation army backed by tanks and helicopters took over eight buildings, including the mayor's residence and a security building, sandbagging rooftops and hoisting Israeli flags.

Palestinian officials in Tuesday, denied the report that the Israeli troops began withdrawing from the city.

On his part the United Nations Middle East envoy Terje Roed-Larsen called the latest Israeli aggression a "dangerous escalation" which would lead to more deaths.

Mr. Roed-Larsen, warned that violence would solve nothing.

• ABU DAHBI ( UAE ) - JANURAY 22 , 2002 - WAFA - A senior Palestinian official yesterday said the situation in the Middle East was explosive due to Israel's re-occupation of Palestinian territories.

The official news agency WAM quoted Mr. Yasser Abed Rabbo, Palestinian minister of information and culture, as saying that Israel's re-occupation of the Palestinian town of Tulkarem was a test balloon aimed at sensing the reaction of Arabs and the international community.

Speaking at the Zayed Centre for Co-ordination and Follow-Up, Abed Rabbo called upon the Arabs to forge a unified stance and tell the U.S. that Israel had overstepped all limits and its actions were a threat to the region's security.

Describing Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan as the "rolling ball", Abed Rabbo said what was taking place in Palestine was not an act of punishment for the Palestinians but a fundamental plan aimed at re-occupying all Palestinian towns that should be faced with an equal response.

Mr. Abed Rabbo said that the Arab Summit in Beirut should adopt Palestine as its slogan. "The absence of Arafat from the summit is tantamount to the absence of summit. There will be no summit without Palestine as Arafat's absence means the absence of Palestine,' he said.

Monday January 21, 2002

By Hatem Anwar, PalestineChronicle.com Reporter

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip: Palestinian officials responded to the Israeli escalation of violence and its invasion of an entire West Bank city by calling for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council.

A top aid to President Yasser Arafat, Nabil Abu Rudeina conveyed the Palestinian leadership’s message to the international community, saying, "we are calling for an urgent meeting of the Security Council to stop Israel's dangerous aggression, especially the re-occupation of our cities."

"We condemn Israel's re-occupation of Tulkarm which is a major aggression against Palestinian society and the Palestinian Authority. If Israel continues there will be an explosion of violence" in the region, he added.

In an unprecedented maneuver in the last sixteen months of the current Intifada, Israeli military forces reoccupied an entire Palestinian city last night. Israeli tanks and troops, backed from the air by Apache helicopters entered the Palestinian city of Tulkarm, in the northern West Bank around 3am this morning.

The army claimed that Tulkarm was being used as a launching pad for extremist groups to launch attacks inside Israel, including a shooting last Thursday in Hadera, 12 miles to the west, where a Palestinian gunman killed six Israelis.

Abu Rudeina warned, "Israel's escalation will bring more violence and tension, and an explosion in the entire region."

Meanwhile, Palestinian leader Arafat, who is under a house arrest in Ramallah, handed the Russian representative to the Palestinian Authority, Sergei Paskov, an "urgent" message for President Vladimir Putin. He called on the Russian leader "to act as quickly as possible to bring an end to the excesses and aggression of Israel against our towns and national institutions."

According to the Palestinian news agency, WAFA, Arafat also received a telephone call from UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and informed him of the "horrible crimes being committed by the Israeli occupation forces against the unarmed Palestinian people."

The UN, through its special envoy to the Middle East Terje Roed-Larsen described Israel's re-occupation of the Palestinian town of Tulkarm on Monday a "dangerous escalation" that would lead to further loss of life.

Israeli Solider Says: Troops Competed to Kill Palestinians

By Saif Abu Marzouq, PalestineChronicle.com Reporter

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: In a special interview aired at Israeli television, Channel 2, and reported by the Palestinian News Agency, WAFA, a solider who was discharged from the Israeli army a week ago said that Israeli troops and special units carried out "unimaginable" practices against Palestinians.

He said that he was a witness to a happening where Israeli troops competed among themselves on who is capable of killing more Palestinians, saying that soldiers would brag afterwards about the number of Palestinians they have killed.

According to the unnamed solider, Israeli troops operated on the basis of killing as many Palestinians as possible.

He told Channel 2 that while serving with the army in the West Bank town of Ramallah, one of his colleagues shot and killed a 10-year-old Palestinian boy without any reason. He also narrated occasions where soldiers would slam the heads of detained Palestinians into concrete walls after being arrested and handcuffed.

The army practices have also extended, according to the solider, to stealing Palestinian goods and furniture. He said that in one occasion, following a traffic accidents between two Palestinian cars, Israeli soldiers in his unit ignored the wounded passengers and began dismantling and stealing the record players of the two wrecked vehicles.

Belgian Senators Denounce Israeli Torture

by Mathew J. O'Conner, PalestineChronicle.com Reporter

BEIRUT: Belgian senators who are on a tour to collect funds and support the victims of the massacre of Sabra and Shatilla, denounced torture in a notorious prison ran by Israel in South Lebanon.

The prison, Khiam was a place where thousands of Arab prisoners were held for years, tortured and never stood trials. It was managed by the now-disbanded South Lebanon Army (SLA), which was founded and trained by Israel. The SLA was working under Israeli command in the area and was immediately dismantled when the Israeli occupation of South Lebanon came to an abrupt end in May 2000.

Josy Dubie of the Ecologist Party condemned "Israeli tortures" of hundreds of Lebanese and Palestinians at this jail. Vincent Van Quickenborne of the regional Flemish party Spirit and Jean Cornil of the Socialist Party joined him on his tour of the former Khiam detention center.

Khiam was considered by most Lebanese as a symbol of Israeli oppression, and its collapse also symbolized the liberation of the south. Human rights groups, across the world, including the London-based Amnesty International, had repeatedly denounced the prison and the numerous cases of rape, abuse and torture that took place there. The Israeli army used the prison to jail people suspected of challenging the Israeli occupation of South Lebanon, which lasted for 22-years.

The Belgian senators later met with Sheikh Nabil Qawook, the top official in southern Lebanon of the Hizbollah movement, which spearheaded the guerrilla war that brought an end to Israel's occupation.

The senators arrived Saturday in Beirut for a visit mainly meant to show solidarity with victims of the Sabra and Shatilla massacres during Israel's invasion of Lebanon in 1982. All three are members of a Belgian parliamentary committee meant to provide information on the Sabra and Shatila massacres and collect money for lawyers representing the plaintiffs.

The plaintiffs, 23 survivors or families of victims, are suing Sharon for genocide and crimes against humanity for his alleged responsibility in the killings. The number of those killed during the massacre ranges between 2,000 to 4,000. Hundreds of those considered dead are still missing as they were last seen while dragged by Israeli army trucks to unknown destinations.

Sharon was forced to resign from the post after an Israeli commission of inquiry found him "personally" responsible for the deaths.

• RAMALLAH - JANURAY 21, 2002 - WAFA - H.E. President Yasser Arafat said Monday he would keep working to establish the Palestinian independent state with holy Jerusalem as its capital despite all the difficulties and the occupation aggression.

`The Palestinian state will be established with al-Quds al-Sharif as its capital. By God I see it coming, '' H.E told a group of Palestinian intellectuals who came to support the President and the leadership.

``We do not know how to retreat, we know how to advance,'' the President added.

Meanwhile President Arafat's adviser Mr. Nabil Abu Redeneh announced that the Palestinian leadership is conducting consultations on the possibility of referring to the UN Security Council for supporting the Palestinian demand of dispatching international forces in view of the Israeli military escalation. He said that the Israeli reoccupation to the city of Tulkarem is a challenge to the international efforts and aims at dragging the region into the cycle of violence and farther explosions.

Mr. Abu Redeneh reminded that this operation is enlisted in the framework of the aggressive serial that the Israeli government is waging against our people and against the peace process. Therefore, this continued Israeli war requires an international intervention.

He urged for an immediate return of the American envoy gen. Zinni, as the American Administration is the only one able to stop the Israeli aggression.

• RAMALLAH - JANURAY 21, 2002 - WAFA - H. E. President Yasser Arafat received a phone call from the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Mr. President briefed Mr. Annan on the latest political developments in the region in view of the mounting Israeli aggression along with the internationally exerted efforts for stopping this aggression.

Mr. President apprised the SG of the heinous crimes being perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces which the latest was the reoccupation of Tulkarem and its suburbs as well as the occupation of the houses and vandalizing its properties.

• RAMALLAH - JANURAY 21, 2002 - WAFA - H. E. President Yasser Arafat received today the Russian representative to PNA and handed him an urgent message to the Russian President Mr. Vladimir Putin .

The letter was pertaining to the dangerous developments on the ground and the Israeli mounting aggression against our cities and civil establishments. Mr. President urged Mr. Putin in his message to move at the European arena as fast as possible for stopping the daily Israeli oversteps and aggressions against our people and the PNA.

Later in the day President Arafat received the European peace envoy Mr. Miguel Muratinos.

They reviewed the latest developments in the Palestinian territories in view of the mounting military aggression.

• Ramallah January 21^st 2002 Wafa, President Yasser Arafat received yesterday, in the presidential Headquarters in Ramallah, Mr. Shegeta the Japanese ambassador to Tel-Aviv accompanied by Mr. Okobo the Japanese representative to the PNA.

H.E. briefed His Guests with the latest developments on the Palestinian occupied lands, and the internationally exerted efforts to put an end to this dangerous situation.

After meeting with the president, Mr. Shegeta told reporters that the Japanese Government considers President Arafat as a legitimate President, and he will copy his impressions about President Arafat’s views to the USA Secretary of State upon visiting Japan, in the near future.

He added that the Japanese Government recognizes the period of 24 days of calmness achieved after President Arafat’s speech on December 16^th that was broken by the Israeli assassination of Alkarmi, but, he continued, in the name of the Japanese Government he asked President Arafat to exert further efforts to maintain further calmness.

He concluded as saying that he inspected closely the Palestinian TV and Radio destroyed building.

• TULKAREM-JANURAY 21 , 2002 - WAFA-Israeli occupation troops and tanks took over the city of Tulkarem in the early hours of Monday marking the largest raid of a Palestinian city in 16 months of the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people.

The governor of Tulkarem, Izzedine Sharif, said the occupation tanks thrust deep into the city from all directions before dawn, as four helicopters flew above. '' About 100 tanks and armored personnel carriers participated in the occupation raid'' Sharif told Wafa . '' Israeli soldiers in jeeps declared a curfew in the city over loudspeakers, then they searched houses, detaining several Palestinians, '' he added.

The occupation also surrounded the two adjacent Tulkarem and Nur Shams refugee camps, apparently preparing to enter, the governor said.

Tulkarem has been a point of the renewed military aggression by Sharon and his occupation government last week.

Israeli occupation warplanes struck and demolished a Palestinian security complex in Tulkarem on Friday, killing one security personnel and more than 55 wounded person, mostly civilians.

In other aggression Israeli occupation tanks have surrounded H.E President Yasser Arafat's headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Another tank deployed to Ramallah near President Arafat H.Q got stuck in a narrow street on Sunday and twelve Palestinians were wounded when the occupation troops fired against the area as a bulldozer tried to free the tank.

Sunday January 20, 2002

• RAMALLAH - JANURAY 20, 2002 -WAFA - H.E President Yasser Arafat met last night in Ramallah with a number of foreign guests , including Italian lawmakers and the outgoing Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey, spiritual leader of the world's 77 million Anglicans in the world.

''The current situation is very dangerous,'' President Arafat told journalists at his Ramallah compound, after the meetings.

''I call on the international community to make an immediate move to rescue the situation before it explodes,'' H.E added.

On his part Archbishop Carey urged both side (Israelis and Palestinian ) to return to the negotiating table. ''Religious leaders have a part to play in this,'' he told reporters. ''Religion is not only part of the answer, but also part of the problem'' the Archbishop said.

• RAMALLAH – JANURAY 20,2002-WAFA – Following the new Israeli crime against the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation complex in Ramallah , the Palestinian leadership issued this statement :

First, at 2:30 am - Saturday 19/1, seven Israeli battle tanks penetrated into Um Al Sharayt area in Al , Bireh besieged the Palestinian Radio & Television station. Israeli engineering units broke into the compound, placed explosives inside the five- story building and detonated it destroying the building with its equipment.

Second, the leadership looks with great concern to this new Israeli crime against the Palestinian Broadcasting station which represents a dangerous breach of the Oslo accords and a blatant attack on the International Declarations of human rights.

Third, the goal of Sharon’s government in perpetrating this heinous crime is to silence the voice of the Palestinian people and to prevent the world from watching the brutal crimes carried out by the Israeli occupation against our People, our land, our institutions and our Christian and Islamic sanctuaries.

Fourth, the Palestinian leadership calls upon UN’s Human Rights Committee and all international organizations concerned with the basic human rights to raise its voice and denounce this Israeli crime against our people who resists occupation and settlement activities on his own land.

• NEW YORK – JANURAY 20 , 2002 – WAFA - A free press group on Saturday condemned the new crime against the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation complex in Ramallah.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists says Israel is depriving the Palestinian public of news and information. It also says attacks on the media put journalists at risk by potentially undermining their civilian status and turning them into military targets.

The committee reminds Israel that radio and television stations are civilian facilities and that international humanitarian law protects them from military attacks.

• AL BIREH– JANURAY 20 , 2002 – WAFA - The Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) and the Ministry of Information condemned the vicious Israeli crime committed in the dawn hours of Saturday 19 January by which Israeli occupation forces blew up the PBC building, destroying all its installations.

Mr. Radwan Abu Ayyash, Head of the PBC, described the Israeli aggressive act as "an oppressive and dangerous measure, which contradicts all international standards and values that guarantee the freedom of expression".

"This crime is part of the Israeli series of measures that aim to strike the symbols of the Palestine National Authority (PNA) and as part of Sharon's government's destructive and comprehensive war against our unarmed people", Mr. Abu Ayyash stressed.

He further affirmed, "The loss and damage brought about by the Israeli offensive is difficult to evaluate as it also includes great moral loss and the loss of 10 years worth of relentless effort and hard work. Such loss cannot be replaced."

Mr. Abu Ayyash also revealed that the Israeli offensive hit the fifth floor of the building, which included his office, and completely destroyed the television and archives studios. He added, "We will continue to broadcast through Amwaj Radio and Television on the FM station and hopefully persist with our efforts".

Moreover, the Ministry of Information strongly condemned the Israeli destructive act and considered that such an act reflects the false Israeli claims of democracy and freedom of speech.

The General Director of Publications at the Ministry of Information stressed that the Israeli offensive is a blatant aggressive act and is part of the Israeli attempts to destroy the PNA institutions and constituents. He further called upon the international community to seriously intervene to put an end to the Israeli occupation and its crimes.

Saturday January 19, 2002

• RAMALLAH - JANURAY 19 2002 -WAFA - Israeli occupation troops destroyed a building housing the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation PBC in the latest move of the ongoing war of Sharon and his occupation government against the Palestinian people and the Palestinian National Authority.

Palestinian security officials said that a dozen of the occupation army tanks surrounded the hilltop broadcasting complex , and about 60 soldiers occupied the four-story building before dawn Saturday.

They added that about an hours later, a series of explosions went off inside the building as the occupation troops began leveling the complex with controlled explosions.

Witnesses said the explosions set the building on fire, sending up a large cloud of smoke and debris into the sky still dark before dawn. Palestinian firefighters tried to douse the flames.

Voice of Palestine Radio regular broadcasts had not begun for the day and officials in the PBC said that the Israeli occupation operation effected the transmissions.

The complex blown up on Saturday housed administrative offices as well as studios for the Radio and Palestinian television .

'' This stupid occupation government wants to destroy the symbol of Palestinian sovereignty. But Voice of Palestine radio is not only a building to be destroyed, it is inside the hearts of every Palestinian,'' Col. Jibril Al Rajoub Palestinian Preventive Security chief in the West Bank told reporters in Ramallah.

The government of Sharon and his occupation army demolished one of the Voice of Palestine's transmission towers and its broadcasting building in last December, although the station has since continued to operate via local frequencies in Palestine.

• Ramallah, January 19^th 2002 Wafa, Mr. Nabil Abu Redeneh, President Arafat’s media adviser, warned from the consequences of the aggravating situation due to the Israeli escalation, he called on the USA urging its Administration to bear its responsibilities in this explosive situation, and held Israel responsible for it.

He also warned the Israeli Government from proceeding with its assassination policy.

• Ramallah January 19^th 2002 Wafa, A group of French Key Figures forming the “Society for Jerusalem” sent a telegram to H.E president Yasser Arafat, expressing their full support to the Palestinian Leadership and people.

The telegram signed by the head of the Society, Deputy to the French foreign affairs, defense and arm forces committee, and a member of the French delegation to the EU., said that the society condemns the Israeli Prime Minister’s persistence in attacking the Palestinian Leadership and undermining its political legitimacy, and support providing disengaging international forces in order to provide protection to the defenseless Palestinian people.

The head of the Society also said that postponing the establishing of the Palestinian independent state is a major international mistake that will create a negative impact on the international legitimacy by violating all international laws and resolutions.

The head of the Society concluded as saying that she and the society she heads have appealed to the UN secretary General Mr. Anan, the USA President Mr. George W. Bush, the British Prime Minister Mr. Tony Blare, the German Counselor Mr. Schroeder and the Spanish Prime Minister Mr. Aznar, urging them to act immediately to initiate moves to secure the return to the negotiating table between the Palestinians and the Israelis.

• Ramallah January 19^th 2002 Wafa, An Official Palestinian Spokesman said that the Israeli attack on the Tulkarem prison building is a violation to the Israeli commitment not to attack Palestinian prisons signed in the presence of the USA and the European representatives.

He said that the Israeli F16 directly hit the Tolkarem prison building causing it severe damages, and he denied Israeli rumors of injuring several prisoners, saying that several Palestinian security officers who evacuated the prisoners minutes before the attack, were injured.

• Ramallah January 19^th 2002 Wafa, The Palestinian Leadership appealed to the Arab League and the International Islamic Convention, to insure measures to protect Jerusalem from the Israeli vicious attack on the Palestinian property.

A Palestinian spokesman said that the responsibility of protecting the Palestinian Jerusalem is an Arab, international Islamic and Christian responsibility, and neglecting the Israeli attacks against the Holy City will cost dearly in peace and stability in the whole region and the world.

The statement says:

The Israeli authorities have issued 10 warrants to Palestinian citizens from East Jerusalem to evacuate their houses within two weeks period, in order to demolish them.

The Palestinian Leadership appeals to the UN and the Geneva Fourth Convention resolution signatories and to international human rights organizations, to act immediately to stop the Israeli threat of demolishing more Palestinian houses in Jerusalem and elsewhere in the Palestinian occupied lands.

Friday January 18, 2002

• RAMALLAH, West Bank: Israeli aircraft have attacked Palestinian government headquarters in the West Bank city of Tulkarm, just hours after a Palestinian man killed six Israelis and wounded at least 30 others in northern Israel.
  
  Palestinian officials say two waves of Israeli air raids early today (Friday) killed a policeman and wounded at least 30 other people.
  
  Israeli sources say that the attacks were a response to an attack by a Palestinian gunman late Thursday in the city of Hadera. Police say the gunman burst into a banquet hall and fired into a crowd of people participating in a Jewish coming of age ceremony (bat mitzvah).
  
  After the attack, an Israeli government spokesman (Avi Panzer) said Israel would teach the Palestinian Authority a lesson it would not forget. He accused Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat of being directly responsible for the attack, saying he had failed to rein in terrorists.
  
  A group linked to the Fatah movement, the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, is claiming responsibility for the attack.
  
  The U.S. State Department called the attack a horrific act of terrorism and again demanded Mr. Arafat take immediate action against Palestinian extremists.
  
  This is the first attack within Israel since Arafat’s declaration of a cease-fire on December 16. There have been several shooting attacks in the West Bank against Israeli soldiers and settlers following Monday’s killing of Palestinian activist Raed Karmi.
  
  The Israeli security cabinet decided yesterday to tighten the closure on Palestinian areas to prevent the movement of possible attackers. Tanks and troops were moving in closer to Palestinian areas in Nablus, Jenin, Tulkarm, and Ramallah yesterday and today, well before the Hadera attack.

•  

• TULKARM- JANURAY 18 2002 - WAFA - Israeli occupation F-16 warplanes attacked a Palestinian security headquarters in the West Bank City of Tulkarem early Friday, killing at least one person, Palestinian medical sources said.

Witnesses said F-16 warplanes fired bombs at the main security complex. The occupation air strike attack reduced the large, two-story complex to rubble, they added.

The building housed the offices of the Palestinian governor of Tulkarem, as well as the prison and police headquarters.

Dr. Musa Abu Hamed of the ministry of Health said that at least 50 Palestinian were injured in the occupation strike.

Elsewhere, Israeli occupation forces overlooking President Yasser Arafat's headquarters in Ramallah were reinforced, as were a number of other Israeli army positions in and around the West Bank City, and soldiers took over the home of Palestinian West Bank intelligence chief Tawfik Terawi.

Thursday January 17, 2002

Sunday January 13, 2002

• RAMALLAH - JANURAY 13 , 2002 - WAFA -H.E President Yasser Arafat on Saturday denied any involvement by the Palestine National Authority in the arms shipment intercepted last week by Israel.

"He (Sharon) can't impose on us who I assign, I am the general commander, I am the elected President of the Palestinian National Authority'' the President said in his reaction to the Israeli doubts on the investigation committee.

President Arafat remarks came after his meeting in Ramallah the Secretaries general of Japan's three ruling parties -- Taku Yamasaki of the Liberal Democratic Party, Tetsuzo Fuyushiba of the New Komeito party and Toshihiro Nikai of the New Conservative Party.

The three delivered a letter to H.E president Arafat from Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi which said “maintaining the Middle East peace process agreed to in the Oslo peace accords is an urgent task”.

The President expressed hope that Japan will help to revive the peace process and to end the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people and the Palestinian National Authority

• Ramallah January 13^th 2002 Wafa, President Yasser Arafat received yesterday in Ramallah, an Italian Parliament delegation headed by Mr. Jostova Silva.

H.E. briefed his guest on the latest political developments especially in the light of continued Israeli escalation against our people.

• RAFAH - JANURAY 13 , 2002 - WAFA - The International Committee of the Red Cross ( ICRC) on Sunday distributed aid to 93 families, whose houses were demolished by the occupation army bulldozers two days in the Gaza's Strip Rafah camp .

One ICRC truck and four land cruisers was loaded with households supplies, blankets and other cooking material were distributed to the homeless families.

Mr. Iyad Nasr , the communication and dissemination officer in the ICRC told reporters that since the start of the second intifada , the ICRC has been providing assistance to hundreds of Palestinian families, whose houses have been demolished by the Israeli army .

'' To date over 6000 people have received tents and household supplies '' he said.

Homeless Palestinian families welcomed the distribution but said that along with the tents and food, they need peace and security.

B'Tselem publishes comprehensive data regarding Rafah house demolitions
and calls on the Defense Minister:

Ben Eliezer, Prepare 123 Mobile Homes

"If the demolished homes had in fact been occupied,
I am prepared to offer the Palestinians mobile homes in their place."
Benjamin Ben Eliezer, The Minister of
Defense, in the cabinet meeting today.

B'Tselem completed a thorough investigation at the site of the
demolitions in Rafah on January 10. This investigation reveals the
extent of the devastation:

60 houses were completely demolished. These were
the homes of 112 families whose 614 members are now homeless. At the
time of the demolitions, 84 families, consisting of 475 people, were in
their homes.

Four houses were partially demolished. These
were the homes of eleven families, totaling at least 24 people. They
were all in their homes at the time of the demolitions.

House demolitions are a blatant violation of human rights and contravene
international humanitarian law, which forbids destruction of property,
collective punishment and reprisals.

The IDF and the Ministry of Defense continue to distribute misleading
and inaccurate information as to the scope of the demolitions and the
fact that the houses were inhabited. These statements are an attempt to
evade responsibility for the suffering Israel has caused in this action.


B'Tselem calls upon the Israeli government to find an immediate housing
solution for the families that were left homeless and to compensate the
victims for loss of property. B'Tselem also calls upon the government to
cease house demolitions.
 

Saturday January 12, 2002

• New York Jan. 12, 2002- A spokesman for the Secretary-General said in a statement that Mr. Annan “very much regrets” the most recent action by the Israeli Force in the Gaza Strip where dozens of Palestinian houses, as well the air strip, have been destroyed," the spokesman Mr. Eckhard said. "Such collective punishment is in violation of the Geneva Conventions.

•  

• RAMALLAH - JANURAY 12 , 2002 - WAFA - The Palestinian leadership issued following the statement:

First, The Israeli occupation forces continue its aggressions for the third consecutive day in the Palestinian territories. They rocketed last night the navy boats in Gaza City, where several fishing boats were hit. The ship “Jandaliyya” also was hit in addition to several posts of the coastal police.

Second, During the first hours of Saturday, Israeli tanks entered the Barahmeh area in the city of Rafah. 7 houses were bulldozed and the inhabitants were expelled in the chilling cold, whereas 8 residents got injured.

Third, The Israeli occupation fired the live and rubber bullets in the area of Balu’, were 22 residents got injured

Fourth, The Israeli army the village of Nabi Ilyas/Tulkarem and a wide searching operation was conducted in the residents’ houses, whereas the olive orchids were bulldozed.

Fifth, The occupation forces continued it’s the leveling of the Gaza airport with the length of 3220m. It also destroyed some private establishments and the electric wires. It is to be noted that it was agreed upon during Gen. Zinni’s visit to reconstruct the sustained damage of the airport occurred three weeks ago.

This Israeli escalation confirms clearly that the Israeli government has crossed al red lines in its aggressive war against our people amidst a dubious international silence. It was worthy for those who cover this Israeli aggression to demand the Israeli government to put an end of the Israeli occupation.

• GAZA - JANURAY 12 , 2002 -WAFA - Israeli occupation missiles slammed into a Palestinian naval police dock and hit H.E President Arafat’s private boat was anchored on the coast of the Gaza city early on Saturday, witnesses and Palestinian security sources said.

The new attack by the occupation army launched from Israeli warships which fired at least three missiles on the boat.

The occupation warships also destroyed a small patrol boat used by the naval police, which was at the dock for maintenance, Palestinian security sources said.

On Friday the occupation army armored vehicles and bulldozers which had begun tearing up the runway at the international airport in Gaza before dawn on Friday returned under cover of