[References]

JULY

 

11^th      Camp David Summit II begins.[1]

 

26^th      Summit ends.[2]

“The talks collapsed because President Arafat refused to put his signature to a document that was prejudicial to Palestinian rights, earning for himself the censure of the Israeli Prime Minister and the US President who, in the press conference that followed the breakdown of Camp David II, praised Barak's peace efforts, implicitly attributing the failure of the summit to Arafat's ‘inflexibility.’ ”

—Ibrahim Nafie, Al-Ahram Weekly On-line[3]

 

AUGUST

 

3^rd        Israeli Foreign Minister, Min David Levy, resigns over Barak’s willingness to negotiate about Jerusalem at Camp David.

 

19^th      U.S. State Department ‘peace envoy’ Dennis Ross, begins talks in Jerusalem with Barak. 

 

SEPTEMBER

 

9^th        Barak and Clinton hold brief talks in New York about the ‘peace process.’

 

            The curfew in Hebron begins.1

 

18^th            Residents from Sheikh Sa’d neighbourhood, to the south of Silwan in Jerusalem, receive notices from the Jerusalem municipality that their land and their houses have been expropriated by Israel for building an “eastern ring road” which will connect illegal Jewish settlements located east of Jerusalem. The notices are not delivered but rather posted on shops and homes. Khalil Tufakji, head of the Mapping Department of Orient House, says that one of the purposes of the road is to divide Jerusalem from its Palestininan hinterland.2

 

27^th            Occupied Gaza Strip—Roadside bombs believed to be set off by Islamic activists near an Israeli army convoy en route to the Netzarim Jewish settlement kill two Israeli guards.3

 

28^th             Extreme, Israeli right-winger Ariel Sharon visits Haram al-Sharif in Jerusalem’s Old City along with six other Likud politicians to assert Israeli control over the occupied site.4  About 1000 Israeli policemen are deployed around the site and at all gates of the Haram for the visit.5 The politicians are also escorted by hundreds of Israeli riot troops in full riot gear.6 200 Palestinians throw rocks, bottles, chairs, and garbage bins at the entourage. The Israeli police respond with clubs and deadly rubber-coated steel bullets.7

 

 

 

29^th      Following Friday prayers, Palestinians angered by Sharon’s calculated move, throw stones at Jewish worshippers at the Western Wall.8  Israel’s response is swift. Between 5-7 Palestinians are murdered by Israeli Border Police shooting plastic and live bullets into the crowd.9 Those murdered include:

o       Bilal Ali Khalil, age 25, from Abu Dis.10

o       Yihye Muhammed Hassan Faraj, age 33, from occupied Shrafat, East Jerusalem.11

o       Nizar Ibrahim a-Shweiki, age 18, from occupied Silwan, East Jerusalem.12

o       Osama Muhammed Adam Jadeh, age 22, from occupied  Old City, East Jerusalem.13

o       Haitham ‘Omran Awa’ideh al-Saqafi, age 45, from occupied a-Thur, East Jerusalem. Saqafi was shot dead with a rubber coated steel bullet.14

At least 3 of the dead are hit with live ammunition.15 Israeli police chief, Yehuda Wilk, confirms that Israeli snipers shot into the crowd with live bullets, a tactic that was used by Israeli troops during the occupation of Lebanon in 1983.16 100-200 Palestinians are wounded at the Haram.17 8 are in serious condition.18

 

Occupied Old City, East Jerusalem—5 year old Abdullah Badran is shot with a rubber coated steel bullet on the right side of his face by Israeli forces as he plays outside of his home with his friends following Friday noon prayers. The bullet destroys his upper gums.19

 

Occupied Qalqilya, West Bank—A Palestinian police officer is placed under arrest after he opens fire on an Israeli Jewish colleague as they are patrolling the West Bank town of Qalqiliya.20 Israeli security soldier, Yossi Tabaje, age 27 is shot dead.21

30^th            Occupied Netzarim Jct., Gaza Strip—12 year old Palestinian, Muhammed al-Dureh, is murdered by Israeli soldiers playing a deadly cat and mouse game with the terrified child and his father. An ambulance worker, 47 year old, Bassam al-Belbeisi, is also shot dead when he tries to run to help the pair. French television cameraman, Abu Rahma, who captured the horrific scene on tape, vehemently negates the IDF claim that the boy was hit by Palestinian fire. “…I clearly saw with my own eyes that the bullets were coming from the side where the Israeli army was standing…I saw it and so did my soundman and a number of citizens. There was no Palestinian security men in the area where the bullets came from.” After the smoke clears from a bomb explosion, Abu Rahma realizes that the child is dead. He turns off his camera. When ambulance workers do manage to get the father and son to an ambulance, they are held up for 45 minutes at an Israeli checkpoint. By then, it is too late. Dureh’s father, who survived the vicious attack, described the scene.22

“…Mohammed was screaming from the sound of bullets all around us. I told him not to be scared. He answered, 'I am not afraid,' but after a bullet hit his knee, he was in pain. I tried to protect him with my body, but there was no use. Another bullet hit his back…. When I regained consciousness in the ambulance, I reached for my son's body. When I touched him, I knew he was dead.”23

The pair was on their way back home to Breij Refugee Camp after shopping around for a new car.24

 

Occupied Netzarim Jct., Gaza Strip—Israeli forces murder Maher Rajab Yusef’Abid, 23, by shooting him with a rubber coated steel bullet in his lower back.25

 

Occupied Gaza Strip—Palestinian security officer, Muhammed al-‘Aataleh, age 25, is shot dead by Israeli forces with live bullets to his head and hand.26

 

Occupied Nablus, West Bank—Several Palestinians are murdered here today by Israeli forces:

o       Khaled ‘Adli al-Baziyan, age 15.27

o       Zakariya ‘Arsan al-Kilani, 27, is murdered with live ammuntion.28

o       Jihad Mahmud al-‘A’alul, 23, is shot in the head.29

o       ‘Iyyad Ahmad al-Khashashi, age 16, is shot dead with live gunfire.30

o       Mahmud Hani Raweishad ‘Anbareh, age 20, a Jordanian citizen is shot dead with gunfire to his head.31

o       Palestinian security officer, Muhammed al-Qaleq, age 23, is shot dead with gunfire to his chest. Qaleq was from Tulkarm Refugee Camp.32

o       Palestinian security officer, Amjed ‘Abdullah Dagharmeh ‘Othman, age 23, is shot dead with with gunfire to his head. ‘Othman was from Tubas, Nablus.33

 

Occupied Ramallah, West Bank—IDF murders Ramallah youth, Nizar Mahmud ‘Abd al-‘Ayedeh, 16, with shots to his chest.34

 

Occupied Halhul, Beit Ummar—Palestinian Muhammed al-Zamareh, age 21, is shot in his eye by Israeli forces and dies.35

 

Two children from Rafah, 17 year old youth, Khalid al-Saweri, and 15 year old, Muhammed Sami al-Hummous are declared clinically dead after being shot in the head by Israeli forces.36

11 year old, Suleiman Musbah, is shot in his eye in the Gaza Strip as he tries to remove an Israeli flag from the illegal settlement of Kfar Darom, and replace it with a Palestinian one.37 A report issued by LAW, the Palestinian Society for Human Rights and the Environment says, “He suffers irreparable damage in his eye….It is unlikely that this boy’s actions posed a threat to the Israeli soldiers’ lives.”38

To protest the murder of Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, the Arab Monitoring Committee, a group that represents Israeli Arabs, calls for general strike throughout the Arab sector.39 

 

Palestinian youths burn effigies of Sharon at a Lebanese refugee camp. 1000 Palestinians also march through Ein el-Hilweh, the largest refugee camp in Lebanon chanting, “We live for Palestine! We die for Palestine!”40

 

OCTOBER

 

1^st        Um al-Fahm, Israel—Palestinian-Israeli Arabs protest the murder of Palestinians in the Occupied Territories. Israeli forces respond to the protest of Israel’s citizens with deadly force shooting 3 Palestinians dead.1 

 

            In the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Israel deploys helicopter gunships that fire into Palestinian crowds in what will become a brutal but failed attempt to suppress a national uprising against Zionist oppression.2  Barak also orders Israeli tanks to the edges of PA controlled areas in Ramallah and Nablus.3  Several Palestinians are murdered by the IDF:

Occupied Nablus, West Bank—

o       Samer Samir Sudki Tabanjeh, between ages 10-12, is murdered by the IDF with live helicopter machine-gun fire to his chest and skull in Nablus. Samer had heard the sound of helicopters, and curious, had gone to the roof of his house. Israeli forces were using helicopter fire to disperse Palestinian demonstrators several blocks from Samer’s house. A helicopter gunner fired a round directly at Samer’s house shooting the child dead.4

o       Husam Na’im Hassan Bakhit, 17 year old Palestinian youth, is murdered by the IDF with live gunfire to his head. He was from Balata refugee camp.5

o       Palestininan security officer, Mustafa Hilmi Muhammed Ramdan, age 22, is shot dead by Israeli forces with gunfire to the head at Joseph’s Tomb. Ramdan was from Tel in Nablus.6

o       Jihad Mahmud A’alul, age 23, dies today after being shot with live fire in his head yesterday by Israeli forces.7  

Occupied Ramallah, West Bank—

o       Muhammed al-‘Abasi, age 16, a resident of the town, is murdered by Israeli forces with bullets to his head.8

o       Palestinian security officer, Saleh al-Faqiyeh, age 25, is shot dead by Israeli forces with gunfire to his head at the northern entrance to al-Bira. Faqiyeh was from Qatanna in Ramallah.9

o       Palestinian security officer, ‘Imad ‘Abd Al-Rahman al-‘Anati, age 30, is shot dead with gunfire to his head at the northern entrance to al-Bira. ‘Anati was from Al-Amari Refugee Camp.10

Occupied Gaza Strip—

o       Sami Fathi Muhammed Taramsi, 17, from the neighborhood of Ash Sheikh Raduan in Gaza, is shot dead by Israeli forces with live gunfire to his chest and back.11

 

13 year old Muhammed Nawaf Abu ‘Aweemer is declared clinically dead after being shot in the head by Israeli forces.12

 

Subhia Usam Jawabrah, age 38, mother of 7, is shot in her left eye with a rubber coated steel bullet, as she stands on the roof of her house at Arrub Refugee Camp in the West Bank. Jawabrah has lost clear vision in her eye and it is unclear whether she will be able to recover.13

 

Occupied Nablus, West Bank—An Israeli soldier, Madhat Yosef, age 19, is shot dead by Joseph’s Tomb by a Palestinian guerilla.14

 

Muhammed Ali Odeh, a volunteer for the PRCS is injured with bullet fragments in his right hand, as his ambulance comes under fire with live ammunition.15

 

Hizbullah urges Palestinians to keep the Intifada going.16

 

Sharon defends his visit in a television broadcast saying that any Israeli citizen has the right to visit Haram al-Sharif.17 

“[Sharon] did not, however explain why he should have chosen this moment—at the lowest point of the ‘peace process’ and only hours after a friendly meeting between Mr. Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak—to have toured the area of the mosques above the Western Wall.” (his quote marks)  —Robert Fisk, Independent18

2^nd        Um al-Fahm, Israel—10,000 Israeli Arabs take to the streets in a major demonstration blocking the Wadi-Ara highway.1  Israeli police open live fire on Israel’s Arab citizens protesting the death of Mohammed al-Dureh who was brutally murdered at Netzarim Junction on 30^th September.2  An Israeli marksman shoots Um al-Fahm mayor, Sheikh Raad Salah, injuring him and angering the crowd further.3  Some throw stones at Israeli police, who respond with tear gas, rubber coated steel bullets, and live ammunition. 2 Israeli Arabs are shot dead, and 2 more die later because of sustained injuries. 50 people are injured.4  But, the protests do not end as Israel had hoped. Demonstrations spread throughout the Galilee. The Israeli response to its protesting citizens is swift and heavy. As in Um Al-Fahm, Israeli police use heavy force on Israeli Arabs in Nazareth, Arabieh, Sakhnin, Jatt, Haifa, Acre, and Jaffa to repress the demonstrations.5  In Nazareth, Muslim and Christian Palestinians march to the town’s center chanting slogans.6 One protester is murdered.7  In Sakhnin and Arraba, demonstrations turn into violent confrontations, and 4 Palestinians are shot dead by Israeli police.8  Mayor Sheikh Raad Salah says that the Israeli police deal with Israel’s Arab citizens “like the Gestapo once dealt with Jews in Germany…. Their unbelievably harsh repression of our peaceful march amply demonstrates that they view us as enemies, not citizens of the Israeli state as they claim.”9 

Occupied Rafah, Gaza Strip—Sami Abu-Jazar, between 9 and 12 years old, is declared brain dead after he is shot by Israeli forces with live ammunition.10

 

Occupied Netzarim Jct., Gaza Strip—2 Palestinian officers are murdered by the IDF:

o       ‘Amar Ghazi Salem Nabiyeh, age 29, is shot with live gunfire to his chest.11

o       Salah ‘Abdullah Abu Qeinas, age 26, is also shot dead with live fire to his chest.12

 

Occupied ‘Aqbat-Jaber, West Bank—Israeli security forces shoot dead 2 Palestinians here:

o       25 year old, Muhammed Amin Sajdi, is murdered with shots to his head. Sajdi was from Jericho.13 

o       Palestinian officer, Hatem ‘Abd al-‘Aziz Najar, is also shot dead by Israeli forces with shots to his chest in ‘Aqbet-Jaber Refugee Camp.14 

 

Occupied Ramallah, West Bank—Ahmad Hassan Fi’ad, a 23 year old Palestinian officer, is shot dead by Israeli forces with gunfire to his heart in al-Bira. Fi’ad was from the area.15

 

Occupied Nablus, West Bank—16 year old Palestinian youth, Wa’il Taysir Qatawi, is murdered by the Israeli forces with live ammunition to his chest. He was from Balata Refugee Camp.16

 

Occupied Beit Sahur, West Bank—20 year old, Israeli soldier, Max Hazan, is shot dead by a Palestinian guerilla.17

 

Occupied West Bank—24 year old Israeli, Watslav Zelebski, is killed by gunfire from Palestinian guerillas. Zelebski was from Ashdod.18  22 year old Jordanian citizen Ibrahim Samih Barhameh is shot dead by Israeli security forces with shots to his chest and becomes the second foreign victim of Israeli violence in the current Intifada.19

 

Two PRCS workers are injured by Israeli fire, while on duty. Ghassan Shua’eeb, an ambulance driver for the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, is hit by a rubber coated steel bullet as he tries to evacuate injured Palestinians in occupied Qalqilya.20  PRCS emergency medical technician, 22 year old, Samir Najar, is shot in his leg with a rubber coated steel bullet.21

 

Israel deploys 4 Merlcava tanks in Nablus into occupied Gaza Strip.22

 

Arafat goes to Jordan to discuss the situation with King Abdullah.23

 

French President Jacques Chirac suggests that Israel has used excessive force against the Palestinians and blames the violence on “irresponsible provocation” i.e. Sharon’s trip to Haram al-Sharif.24

 

Kofi Annan says that he is “optimistic” about the situation.25

 

3^rd            Occupied Tulkarm, West Bank—Husam ‘Ali Mahmud al-Hamshari, only 15, is shot dead by Israeli forces with live ammunition to his head.1

 

Occupied Ramallah, West Bank— Israeli forces open fire on stone throwing protesters and murder Isma’il Shahadeh Isma’il Shamalakh, 27, with shots to his chest. Shamalakh was from Gaza Strip.2 

 

Occupied Nablus, West Bank—Israeli security forces murder Ahmad Jamil ‘Ali Nabrisi, age 21, with shots to his chest. Nabrisi was from ‘Askar Refugee Camp.3

 

Occupied Gaza Strip—3 Palestinians are shot dead by the IDF:

o       Ra’ad Fami Abu Amuneh, 23, from Nuseirat Refugee Camp is killed with gunshots to his head.4

o       Omar Mahmud ‘Abd Al-Rahman Suliman, 20, from Jabalya Refugee Camp, is also murdered with live gunshots to his head.5

o       ‘Amer Khalil al-Rif’I, age 18, from al-Maghazi Refugee Camp, is shot dead with live ammunition to his face and neck.6

 

Occupied Rafah, Gaza Strip—IDF shoots dead Sharif Faraj ‘Abdullah ‘Ashur, age 18, with shots to the head.7

 

Occupied Halhul, Beit Ummar—Muhammed Yunis Mahmud ‘Iyash al-Zamareh, age 21, who was shot in the eye by Israeli forces on 30^th September, dies. Zamareh was from Hebron.8

 

11 Israeli Palestinian-Israeli Arabs have been murdered to date.9 100 are maimed, many in the head.10 Azmi Bishara, Palestinian Member of the Knesset, calls the al-Aqsa Intifada the "first national intifada of the Israeli Arabs."11  Israeli police, along with Israeli troops, blockade all major Arab towns within Israel.12

 

In occupied Gaza Strip, Israeli fires rockets with helicopter gunships at apartment blocks suspected to be the hideout of Palestinian guerillas that earlier, attacked an Israeli checkpoint.13

 

The demonstrations in Occupied Palestinian Territories, and the ensuing violence wreaked by Israeli forces end a vague cease-fire agreement announced this morning. Gaza Security Chief Mohammed Dahlan, however, dismissed the idea of a ceasefire.

“The very word cease-fire is used by Israelis in a misleading manner. A cease-fire is reached when there is war and fighting between two armies. Here there is only one side shooting, it is the Israeli army, and it is shooting at unarmed protesters and demonstrators.”14

 

4^th            Occupied Netzarim Jct., Gaza Strip—IDF shoots dead

o       Muhammed Yusef Za’id Abu ‘Iasi, age 12, is shot dead by Israeli forces with live gunfire to the child’s chest and back. ‘Iasi was from Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip. 

o       Aiman Akram Dib Luh, age 21, is shot dead by Israeli forces with live gunfire to his head. Luh was from Gaza Strip.1

“Israel has broken out some of its heaviest weaponry at Netzarim, using armor-piercing missiles and helicopter gunships to scatter rioters and target nearby buildings that have sheltered Palestinian gunmen.” —The Independent2

 

Occupied Ramallah, West Bank—Israeli security forces shoot dead 24 year old ‘Ala Hassan Dahud Jaber al-Barghouti with shots to his chest.3

 

Occupied Hebron, West Bank—‘Arafat Mahmud ‘Abd al-Jawwad al-Atrash, age 18, a resident of Hebron, is shot dead by Israeli security forces.4

 

Occupied Jenin, West Bank—Israeli forces murder 24 year old Mahmud Lufti Mas’ad, a resident of the town, with shots to his chest.5

 

Occupied Tulkarm, West Bank—19 year old Palestinian security officer, Muhand Wadi Faris N’asi Wey’a Ghanem, is shot dead by Israeli security forces with gunfire to his chest. He was from Deir Ghusun, Tulkarm.6

 

Occupied Beituniya, West Bank—Israeli forces shoot dead two Palestinian security officers:

o       Muhammed Fawzi Al-Fakhri, age 23, is shot in his chest.

o       Mahmud Ibrahim al-‘Amwasi, age 22, is also shot in his chest.7 

 

Occupied West Bank—An Israeli is killed on en route to Ariel, a large Jewish settlement.8

 

Occupied Rafah, Gaza Strip—Sharif Faraj ‘Abdullah ‘Ashur, age 18, shot in the head by Israeli forces on 3^rd October, dies today. ‘Ashur was from Ziton, Gaza Strip.9

 

Settlers from the nearby Psegot settlement in occupied West Bank open fire on Palestinian Aqel Awad’s home shooting his daughter in the eye when she goes to close the balcony door. While she is being taken to Arazi Opthalmic Hospital, her brother is shot in the same part of the house.10

 

A school bus in a Jewish settlement called Shiloh comes under fire. There are no reported injuries.11

 

Kofi Annan warns that Israel is “close to all out war” in its methods and practices.12

 

Shops are destroyed in Israeli Arab Nazareth.13  Protests in Israel Arab towns continue. Barak holds his first meeting with the Israeli Palestinian leadership and makes three offers in hopes that this will appease Israel’s Arab citizens and end their demonstrations:

·        He instructs Israeli police to withdraw from Um al-Fahm.

·        Promises aid to Arab national minority

·        Promises to end state discrimination against Israeli-Palestinian Arabs.14 

 

Israeli media decries the disloyalty of “Israel’s Palestinians.” In a poll, 60% of Jews say Israel would be “better off” without Arabs.15 

 

Paris talks begin today. Yasser Arafat, Ehud Barak, U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and French President Jacques Chirac meet to discuss a ‘ceasefire,’ that is, an end to the shootings by Israel, and an end to the popular uprising of the Palestinian people.16 Arafat makes two demands:

·        protection against Israel’s use of excessive force and terrorist tactics.

·        an international inquiry commission.17

Barak rejects any possibility of an international commission.18 He will only consider a U.S.-led commission.19 A ceasefire agreement contingent on the following is agreed upon:

·        Israel will move back to positions prior to the violence

·        Palestinians will stay away from friction points20

Also at the talks, Palestinians are pressured to sign a document condemning the Palestinian protests against Zionist aggression and ignoring the cause of the unrest. Egyptian President Mubarak, who is pressured to urge Arafat to sign the document, says, “the ultimatum was that Barak would not attend the Sharm el-Sheikh summit, if Arafat did not sign the document…Whether he attended or not, that was his business.” 21

 

Egyptian students demonstrate at Cairo University throwing stones at police when they try to disperse them.  At the American University of Cairo, students demonstrate and take down the American flag and try to raise the Palestinian flag in its stead, but are held back. Finally, they drape the Palestinian flag over the University gates. Students also begin collecting monetary donations to be sent to Palestine as well as blood donations for Palestinian hospitals.22

 

As the Palestinian cause has become the touchstone of Arab nationalism, the Egyptian Tagammu party parliamentary candidate uses the current Intifada to draw people to his rally today by titling it, “Conference to honour the martyrs of Jerusalem and Palestine.”23

 

5^th        Sharm el-Sheikh begins today. Both sides concern themselves with security issues, and on working on restarting the ‘peace process.’1

 

Occupied West Bank—Israeli forces murder Mustafa ‘Abd Al-Hamid Farajeh, age 21, on the Tunnel Road with live bullets to his abdomen, chest and limbs.2

 

24 year old Mahmud Saleh Abu-Sbeiteh, from Shuja’iyah, Gaza Strip, is murdered with live bullets to his chest.3

 

Thousands gather to follow 12 year old Muhammed Yusef Za’id Abu ‘Iasi funeral. He was shot dead by Israeli forces yesterday.4

 

            Local charities erect tents in Beit Sahur in West Bank for Palestinian families whose homes have been destroyed in the continual bombing campaign by Israel using short-range rockets, artillery shells, and heavy machine-gun fire. Officials say more tents will be added to accommodate more families whose houses have been destroyed.5

 

?          The CIA meets with Palestinian and Israeli commanders in occupied Gaza Strip. They sign a seven-point plan to halt the violence. Israel agrees to withdraw 3,500 military personnel from Gaza Strip including its helicopters, which have been firing rockets. The CIA and Israeli commanders incorrectly assume that the uprising is under the control of Palestinian authorities, which lost the trust of Palestinians some time ago. In a further breach of logic, they also seem to suppose that reverting to those very conditions that are the cause of the Intifada, will somehow end it.6

 

An Egyptian parliamentary candidate, Zohdi el-Shami organizes his rally around the theme of the Intifada using it to boost attendance. There is an hour long march followed by a flag burning ceremony.7

 

6^th        ‘Day of Rage’ today in occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.1

 

Occupied Netzarim Jct., Gaza Strip—Several Palestinians are murdered at this flashpoint today:

o       Lu’i ‘Abdullah al-Muqayid, age 20, is shot by Israeli security forces with live bullets to his head. Muqayid was from the Jabalya Refugee Camp.

o       Marwan ‘Abd al-Razzaq Shamlakh, age 20, a resident of Gaza Strip, also dies in Netzarim after he is shot with live gunfire in his chest.

o       Rashad Isma’il Hussein a-Najar, age 22, is shot dead by Israeli security forces with live bullets to his head. Najar was from al-Maghazi Refugee Camp in Gaza Strip.

o       Wajid Mussa Abu-‘Awad, age 22, is murdered by the IDF with live bullets to his back.

o       Zuheir Razzaq Jaber Darbiyeh, age 24, is murdered by Israeli forces with live fire to his head. Darbiyeh was from the Jabalya Refugee Camp.2

 

Occupied, Rafah, Gaza Strip—Saleh ‘Isa Yusef al-Riati, age 20, who was shot in the head with live bullets on 2^nd October, dies. Riati was from Rafah, Gaza Strip.3

 

Occupied Nablus, West Bank—

o       ‘Iyyad ‘Abd al-Halim Rahim Ashtiyeh, age 24, a resident of Nablus, is shot dead by Israeli forces with bullets to his face.

o       Diya’ ‘Abd al-Rahman Naif ‘Issa Astiyeh, age 19, another resident is murdered by the IDF with bullets to the chest.4 

Occupied Jenin, West Bank—Muhammed al-Jabari, a Palestinian Red Crescent Society ambulance driver, is shot in the face with a rubber coated steel bullet while on duty.5

 

Occupied Tulkarm, West Bank—a resident of the town, Muhammed Khaled Mahmud Tamam, age 21, is murdered by Israeli forces with gunfire to the heart.6

 

Occupied East Jerusalem—Israeli security forces murder Majdi Samir Mussa Masalmani, age 15, with bullets to the heart.7

 

11 year old Muhammed Jowda al ‘Abidy from Jerusalem is shot in the head by Israeli forces. He is declared clinically dead.8

 

In occupied Nablus, West Bank, settlers open fire on a Palestinian car near the Za’tara Junction. Several passengers are wounded.  Israeli settlers also attack Tha’er Said age 21, and Amjad Safarini, age 25. They are both injured in their faces and shoulders.9

 

Masked Palestinians set fire to an Israeli police post inside Jerusalem’s Old City and re-capture the area, if only for a little while. 33 years ago, Israeli forces marched through the Old City gate and occupied it paving the way for the illegal annexation of East Jerusalem.10 

 

Haifa University Professor, Amnon Sofer, proposes that Israel should rid itself of the Arab problem by giving the Wadi Ara-Triangle with its “250,000 Arabs” to the PA.11

 

Worshippers at the al-Azhar Mosque in Egypt gather for a demonstration and burn Israeli flags. A woman standing on a car gives a lecture about the need for Egyptians to show solidarity with Palestinians.12

 

In Syria, 10,000 Palestinian demonstrators from el-Yarmouk Camp demonstrate following Friday prayers. A protester climbs the wall of the American Embassy and removes the US flag. Protesters burn vehicles and throw stones at the policewho try to disperse them by firing tear gas and beating some with clubs.13

 

7^th            Occupied Netzarim Jct., Gaza Strip—Israeli security forces murder Heysahm Ahmad Muhammed Muqbal, age 27, with live bullets to his abdomen. Muqbal was from al-Tufah, Gaza Strip.1

 

Occupied Nablus, West Bank—Muhammed Khaled Hussein ‘Awad, age 25, is murdered in his hometown by Israeli forces with bullets to his chest.2

 

Occupied Bidya, West Bank—23 year old Palestinian, Fahed Mustafa Baker, from Bidya, is shot dead by Israeli civilian fire.3

 

Ramia Border Gate—2 Palestinians are murdered and 20 more injured when Israeli forces use lethal force in repressing a demonstration at the gate. 1800 Palestinians from Lebanese refugee camps gathered at the gate to demonstrate by chanting “Allahu Akbar,” waving Palestinian flags, and throwing stones at the Israeli forces on the opposite side of the fence. Israeli soldiers used tear gas, rubber coated steel bullets and live ammunition on the protesters. Leaders at Palestinian refugee camps say that the soldiers were shooting to kill as is evident from their targets: the heads and chests of protesters.4

 

On the first day of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, today, Israeli settlers rampage in Beit Hanina and Shu’fat, two Palestinian villages that were annexed into East Jerusalem when Israel illegally expanded the border of East Jerusalem into West Bank villages. Settlers chanting “Death to the Arabs” and other racist slogans, attack Shuf’at around 8pm. Settlers set cars on fire, throw stones and bottles at house, and damage windows and furniture. Attacks on Beit Hanina begin 2 hours later. After the attacks, Palestinian residents elsewhere are informed by mosques and Palestinian Television of the incidents, and begin collecting stones and bottles for defense.  Attacks by fanatic, racist Israeli settlers also occur in Sheikh Jarah, Dahiye, al-Ram, Hizme, Al-Isawiyah, Anata, Azariye, Beit Safafa.5 

 

Elsewhere, Israeli settlers open fire on Palestinian cars at Za’tara junction in Nablus injuring 10 Palestinians.  In Hebron, settlers attack Palestinian homes and residents shooting at windows, setting dogs loose on residents, and throwing stones.  In Ramallah, Israeli settlers along with Israeli soldiers open fire on Palestinian homes near the Psegot settlement.  In Bourin, Israeli settlers destroy to medical clinics according to the Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Commitees (UPMRC).  In Kattana, settlers attack Palestinian homes and attempt to set some on fire.6

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Hizbullah crosses the Lebanese border into Palestine, and captures 3 Israeli soldiers using 2 false UN number plates, a fake UN flag, and other fabricated UN materials.7  Hizbullah plans to use the captured Israeli soldiers, Sergeant Adi Abitan, Sergeant Abraham Benyamin, and Staff Sergeant Omar Sawad, in an exchange for Arab and Lebanese prisoners in Israeli jails.8  Hizbullah says that it had planned the mission for a later date but decided to go ahead with it earlier in order to show its solidarity with the Palestinian Intifada. Israeli helicopters bombard the Shebaa Farms area and the village of Kfar Chouba for hours injuring 25 Lebanese civilians who wait hours before they are evacuated by UN workers. U.S. President Bill Clinton, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and French President Jacques Chirac phone Syrian President Bashar al-Assad regarding the incident. U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright phones Lebanese President Emile Lahoud. Russian Foreign Minister, Igor Ivanov, tells President Assad that Russia is “ready to work alongside the United States and Europe to spare the region from the danger of explosion.”9 

 

The capture of the three Israeli soldiers causes thousands of Jews in cahoots with Jewish settlers to attack Palestinians in Tel Aviv and Jaffa. The mob destroys the ancient mosque in the heart of the city.10 

 

Israel withdraws from Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus. Archaelogists dismiss the claim by Jewish fanatics that this site is the tomb of the Old Testament patriarch. Muslims claim that the site is the tomb of a Muslim cleric. Palestinians, for whom this site has become a symbol of the illegal and brutal occupation by Israel, burn the tomb and destroy it with crowbars and pickaxes. Palestinian and Islamic flags are hoisted onto the rubble. There are celebrations because “Kalashnikovs and Molotov cocktails had ousted the Israelis which seven years of peace talks couldn’t do.” Jewish settlers are held back by Israeli troops as they learn what happened to the tomb. Barak says that the withdrawal is temporary.11

           

UN Security Council passes resolution 1322 today. The resolution holds Israel responsible for the violence and condemns it for the use of “excessive force.”12 

 

6000 Cairo University students march towards the Israeli embassy, but riot police disperse the demonstrators.  They smash a Kentucky Fried Chicken to show their condemnation of unconditional US support for Zionist terrorism. 13 About 60 students and police are injured in clashes and three activists are later arrested in their homes.14  Primary and high school students also demonstrate and obstruct traffic on the Cairo-Alexandria highway.15 

 

Syrian officials ban a rally to be held by the Palestinian Union of Students. Demonstrations by high school students and trade unions continue.16

 

8^th            Occupied Bidya, West Bank—Illegal Israeli settlers torture Fahed Abu Bakr, 23, with brutal beatings and electrocution, then murder him.1

 

Occupied Gaza Strip—Yusef Dib Khalef, age 17, dies today after being shot in the head on 7^th October with live bullets. Khalef was from al-Bureij Refugee Camp.2

 

Occupied Ramallah, West Bank—‘Abd Al-Hamid Ta’yeh a-Zaq ‘Abd al-Hamid, age 25, succumbs to injuries sustained on 4^th October. He was shot in the head by Israeli forces in Sharqiya, Ramallah. Hamid was from Ramallah. 3

 

Occupied West Bank—American born rabbi and Jewish settler, Hillel Lieberman, is found dead in a cave near a West Bank highway.4

 

On the second day of Yom Kippur today, Israeli settlers continue to attack Palestinian neighborhoods.  In Beit Hanina, occupied East Jerusalem, when resident Malkeh Iskander reports to the Israeli police that her house was attacked last night, the officer offers no help or protection. Attacks continue to occur under the auspices of the Israeli police, Israeli Border Guard, and Israeli army.  It is unclear who is behind the attacks though residents testify to LAW researchers that they saw a car with stickers of the outlawed Kahane Party on it. Elsewhere in Sheikh  Jarah, a group of ultra-orthodox Jews attack Pasha restaurant shattering 3 glass doors. A group of residents whose homes have been attacked approach the Israeli police for protection. The police however does not stop the settlers from rampaging.  Settlers also attack a Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance near the Shiloh settlement when it arrives there after receiving a false report that a Palestinian had been beaten. Israeli soldiers accompany the ambulance to Ramallah to protect it from further attacks. Settlers block the group on their way to the town. When Israeli soldiers jump out of their jeep to talk to the settlers, the latter assault the ambulance.  Settlers attacks on Palestinians continue in Bidya, Huwara, Beit Four, Beit Dana, Burin, Kofu El Saiwai, Mash’s, Kattana, Anata, al-Jeep, Bed, al-Azariyeh, Jawhr Mountain Refugee Camp, al-Fawwar Refugee Camp and Hebron.5

 

Jewish civilians from Upper Nazareth go to its Arab populated eastern neighbourhoods beating and shooting Palestinians at random. Israeli police only intervenes when Palestinian residents begin to fight back. The police throws tear gas and shoots live ammunition into the Palestinian crowd murdering 2 and wounding many. Regarding the event, Jewish Gush Shalom [Peace Bloc] states, “What is happening today in Nazareth is a pogrom. It bears all the hallmarks well-known to Jews in Tzarist Russia, primarily the collusion between racist attackers and the police.”6  To date, 10 Israeli Arabs have been killed and approximately 1000 wounded as they continue to demonstrate to show their solidarity with the Al-Aqsa Intifada.  Frustrated by their “fourth class citizen” status, Palestinian-Israeli Arabs protest on the streets by blocking intersections and throwing stones at the Israeli police.7

 

The Centre for Strategic and International Studies, an influential US based think tank, publishes a report on the Internet titled “Peace and War: Israel versus the Palestinians” that urges Arafat to use ruthless torture tactics on the Palestinians in order to suppress the uprising and make ‘peace’ with Israel. The document which bears the name of Anthony H. Cordesman, holder of the Arleigh A. Burke chair in Strategy at the CSIS, states that

“there will be no future peace process, or stable peace process if the PA forces do not act ruthlessly and effectively….They must halt civil violence even if this sometimes means using excessive force by the standards of Western police forces….even if this means interrogations, detentions, and trials that are too rapid and lack due process…” 

The report goes on to say that the PA should use “interrogation methods that border on psychological and/or physical torture” against opponents of the Oslo ‘peace process.’ The report has been circulated in PA offices where it was met with surprise because of its accuracy in listing the escalation and suppressive measures taken by Israel.8

 

In an interview at NBC’s Meet the Press, Albright declares that Palestinian stone throwers have placed Israel under siege.9 

 

1000 Cairo University students demonstrate outside the university gates in support of the Intifada.  7000 students from Ain Shams University in Egypt march through the university entrance and onto the streets where they are joined by bystanders and other protesters. In all, 12,000 students march to Abbassiya Square and occupy it till 8pm chanting pro-Palestinian slogans. They are surrounded by police and disperse peacefully at 8pm.10 

 

Moroccan Prime Minister, Abdel-Rahman Youssoufi, along with other ministers leads a march of a million Moroccans through the nation’s capital, Rabat, to show solidarity with the Intifada. The crowd burns Israeli flags and carries pictures of the Dome of the Rock in occupied East Jerusalem.11

 

The Syrian government bans protests saying that high level officials are visiting the country to talk about tensions on the Lebanese-Israeli border and they cannot have any disturbances.12

 

9^th            Occupied Azzun, West Bank—Racist and fanatic Israeli settlers abduct 25 year old Palestinian farmer Sayed Sweidan from his village. They torture him with beatings and electrocution, then murder him. Sweidan’s body is found in an olive farm near his village.1

 

Occupied West Bank—Later in the day, trigger-happy, extremist, illegal settlers driving an IDF jeep abduct Palestinian farmer Essam Judeh, age 36 as he drives to his olive farm. The settlers force him into their jeep at gunpoint and then drive to the Psegot settlement where they torture Judeh by beating him with axes, electrocuting him and burning him with a heated iron bar, then shoot him dead. Judeh’s body is found in his olive farm with his eyes gouged out. The settlers who kidnapped him are reportedly said to have been wearing skull caps of a similar style as those who follow the Gush Emunim movement.2

 

Israel—During a funeral procession, 2 Israeli Arabs are killed in clashes with Jews.3  Also in Israel, a Jewish mob chanting “Death to the Arabs!” destroys a well-known Israeli restaurant in a foiled attempt to lynch its Arab waiters by blockading them inside and setting fire to the restaurant. The incident occurs in the Hatikya neighbourhood in Tel Aviv considered to be a multiethnic and tolerant city.4

 

Attacks on Pasha restaurant in Sheikh Jarah by Israeli settlers and attacks on other Palestinian neighbourhoods continue on the third day of Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) today.  While the Israeli police do nothing when settlers rampage, they open fire on Palestinian youths gathering to defend Pasha restaurant. Meanwhile, the Jewish mob is asked to disperse over loudspeakers. It is not clear who is behind the attacks. It seems that some of the attackers came from the nearby French Hill settlement. Also, witnesses say that they saw a car with stickers of the outlawed extremist Kahane Party. Some residents of Beit Hanina say that settlers from Ne’eve Ya’acov settlement tried to stop the rampaging mob and some apologized to their Arab neighbors.  Kol Hair, a Jerusalem weekly reports that a mob of Israeli settlers from the French Hill settlement destroyed the home of a family that has been living in Shu’fat, East Jerusalem for 32 years. The settlers shattered windows, destroyed water boilers outside of the house as well as the garden. When the Atzmon family informed the settlers that they are Jews as well, the settlers replied that since they live with the Arabs, they deserved the treatment, and continued to destroy the house.5

 

Barak gives PA an ultimatum to end the violence by tonight.6

 

Fatah circulates a declaration to continue the Intifada.7

 

7000 students from Ain Shams University from Egypt demonstrate and are forced back by police when they try to leave the campus grounds.8

           

Students in Jordan clash with police as they hold a march to the Israeli embassy in spite of the newly imposed ban on rallies. Several demonstrations have taken place in Jordan in the past week during which 200 people have been arrested. The Muslim Brotherhood also leads demonstrations for the Intifada and uses the protestws to further its own agenda. It asks the government to lift its ban on Hamas.9

 

10,000 Kuwaitis demonstrate to show their support for the Palestinian Intifada. Some burn a US flag while chanting, “Death to America!” Previously, relations between Kuwaitis and Palestinians were not on good terms since Kuwaitis accused Palestinians of supporting Iraq’s invasion of their country. For this reason, the demonstration, the largest in Kuwaiti history, is a marker of the depth of outrage over Zionist terror. In the past week, there have also been mass demonstrations in Qatar and in Saudi Arabi where protesters clashed with police.10

 

10^th      Israeli forces shoot 12 year old Palestinian in the head in occupied Rafah, Gaza. He survives.1 Witnesses say the boys were throwing stones at Israeli soldiers who responded with lethal fire.

 

Settlers attack Mustafa Qasem from Silwan and Muhammed Qasem from Beitin village. Mustafa Qasem is injured in the head.2 

 

200 Palestinians throw stones and firebombs at Israeli forces. The latter respond with deadly rubber coated steel bullets and tear gas.3

 

Barak extends his ultimatum to the PA to end the Intifada after Clinton calls him twice.4  The original ultimatum gave Arafat till Monday to end the Intifada.5

 

11^th      18 month old Sarah Abdel-Azim is shot in the back of her head as her father is bringing her home from the hospital. The force of the bullet splits her skull in two.1 

 

Occupied Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip—Israeli forces shoot dead Karam ‘Omar Ibrahim Kana’an, age 18, with live bullets to his chest. Kana’an was from Khan Yunis.2

 

Occupied Tulkarm, West Bank—17 year old Palestinian, Sami Hussein Salim Salami Salameh, a resident of the town, is murdered by Israeli forces with shots to his chest.3

 

Occupied West Bank—Israeli security forces shoot dead Maher Muhammed Isma’il Matlaq, age 22, with shots to the head on Trans-Samaria Highway.4

 

Occupied Ramallah, West Bank—Khalil Zahran Lorens, age 25, a Palestinian officer, is shot dead by Israeli security forces with shots to his chest and abdomen in Ain Arik, in Ramallah.5       

 

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak refuses to hold a summit to attempt at a ‘ceasefire’ agreement until Israel agrees to five of his demands. The Independent reports that two of these demands are:

·        A complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Palestinian territories

·        A ban on “inflammatory” gestures like Sharon’s visit.6

 

12^th            Occupied Ramallah, West Bank—A Palestinian mob kills 2 Israeli reserve soldiers, Yosef Avrahami, age 38, and Vadim Novesche, age 33, after they try to infiltrate a Palestinian funeral procession in Ramallah in what seems to have been an attempt at a killing spree.1  The musta’aribin (Israeli death squads disguised as Arabs) carried explosives, sub-machine guns, and guns with silencers. They fled to a nearby Palestinian police station when their identity was revealed. 21 policemen tried to keep them from the furious mob and called in reinforcements. The Palestinian officers also made an attempt to smuggle the two soldiers out, but the mob broke down the gate of the station and beat the soldiers to death.2

After the killings, Israeli state radio issues a confused barrage of contradictory stories about the 2 soldiers. At first, it states that 3 Jewish settlers were kidnapped by a Palestinian mob and killed. The second story issued says that 3 Israeli civilians lost their way and wandered into Ramallah and were killed. Yet a third version follows. An Israeli military spokesman claims that 4 Israeli reserve soldiers were abducted by Palestinian police on their way to a camp near Ramallah and killed. Aside from repeatedly citing the wrong figures, Israeli claims do not make sense as Ramallah was under siege and sealed off at the time by Israel. Thus, it would be extremely difficult to get into the town unless planned since there are Israeli and Palestinian checkpoints at every road in Ramallah. It is also illogical, Palestinians point out, for a soldier to lose his way and wander into the center of Ramallah, 5 kilometres away from the closest Israeli checkpoint. An Israeli officer call the Israeli account “a bunch of lies….Since when do Israeli undercover soldiers go for walks in Palestinian villages?”3

Israel uses the death of its soldiers as a pretext to bombard Ramallah with  Apache helicopters. The rockets hit PA buildings, two police stations, the Palestinian Television station, and a Palestinian radio transmitter. 17 people are hurt. There is a similar strike in Gaza Strip.4

Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip—Sami Fathi Abu Jazar, age 12, dies after being shot in the head with live gunfire by Israeli forces on 10^th October.5

 

Israeli settlers shoot 25 year old Ibrahim Alami, from Hebron, as he drives on bypass road No. 60 east of Hebron. He is declared clinically brain dead.6

 

Israeli forces attack a secondary school in Selit At-Thaher near Jenin, with tear gas canisters. One canister falls in a room filled with students. 7

 

Oman suspends its relations with Israel.8

 

13^th            Occupied Hebron, West Bank—Mansour Taha Sayied Ahmad, age 20, is shot dead by Israeli security forces with shots to his abdomen. Shadi Muhammed al-Wawi, age 23, dies after Israeli forces shoot him in the chest. Wawi was from al-Fawwar Refugee Camp.1

 

Occupied al-Assawiya, West Bank—10 year old Ala Osama Hamdan dies from severe lung infection after she is denied passage into Nablus to visit a doctor. Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint refused to allow her and her father to pass through to get to the hospital. Ala’s pain intensified and her condition worsened throughout the night. Her father finally located a nearby doctor and drove her through back roads.By then, her condition had worsened so much that she died within minutes of reaching the doctor.2

 

Israeli settlers attack 24 year old Khaled Alaqra near Qabalan village. He has to be hospitalized.  Settlers from Ma’ale Amous also attack Palestinian cars on a road leading to Rashaideh village.3

 

            Palestinian nationalist groups call for a demonstration in Gaza Strip to protest Israeli attacks on PA sites in Gaza City, Ramallah, Hebron, and Jericho. PA police try to contain the protests and keep them from reaching friction points.4

 

?          In a poll in Israeli tabloid Ma’ariv, 70% of Israeli Jews are dissatisfied with Barak’s handling of the current Intifada and want him to form a unity government. Sharon refuses Barak’s overtures to join in an emergency coalition unless the following demands are met:

·        the ‘concessions’ made at Camp David in July should no longer be applicable.

·        Palestinians should have absolutely no sovereignty over Jersualem.5

 

The Egyptian General Federation of Entertainers Syndicates holds a rally and sends a telegram to the Ministry of Tourism asking that Israeli tourists be banned from the country. They plan on holding daily sit-ins till the Israeli ambassador to Egypt is asked to leave. They also plan to have theatres fly the Palestinian flag and have a minute of silence for Palestinians who have died in the current Intifada before shows. Finally, they organize a Boycott Committee that will list all American and Israeli products. The actors will distribute the lists on the street.6

 

14^th      Israeli forces shoot dead a Palestinian at an Israeli checkpoint on his way to work near Jerusalem. The IDF claims that a bullet accidentally fired from a rifle, but Mohammed’s relative says that he was handcuffed and blindfolded before being purposely shot. Mohammed was the sole breadwinner in his family.1

 

Zahran al-Khatib, age 14, is shot in the chest with live gunfire from Israeli forces in Hizme, West Bank. Israeli settlers had attacked Fawaz al-Khatib’s home, and when villagers came to help defend the house and the village, Israeli forces opened live fire wounding 45 including Zahran al-Khatib.2

 

            Occupied Nablus, West Bank—15 year old Muhammed al-Aqad is shot in his leg three times with rubber coated steel bullets and once in his back with a live bullet by Israeli forces. al-Aqad was taking part in a march to protest Zionist aggression when Israeli forces opened fire. After being shot in the leg, al-Aqad turned to leave and was shot in his back with a live bullet close to his spine. Surgery is required to remove the bullet. 3

 

Solidarity with the Intifada spreads to Britain where 300 protesters burn Israeli and American flags in Regents Park outside Central Mosque. The protesters fight with the British police.4  Thousands of students march in Alexandria in demonstrations to demand that Arab leaders show concrete support for the Palestinian Intifada. 5

 

15^th            Occupied Ramallah, West Bank—Raed Ya’acub Hamudah, age 29, dies today after being shot in the head by Israeli forces on 10^th October.1

 

Hizbullah leader, Sayed Hassan Nassarullah, announces that Hizbullah has captured an Israeli reserve colonel, Elhanan Tennenbaum. According to Nasrallah, Tennenbaum took part in the invasion of Lebanon.2 (47/20a)

 

16^th            Occupied Bethlehem, West Bank—Israeli forces murder Muayad Abed Ali Jawarish, between ages 13 and 14, with bullets to the abdomen and skull. Jawarish was on his way to the UNWRA basic school for boys when an Israeli soldier shot him from his post on the watchtower at Rachel’s Tomb, as the child walked beneath the tower. Jawarish was from Aida refugee camp. 1 

 

Occupied Rafah, Gaza Strip—Palestinian security officer, Misbah ‘Abd al-Qader Abu ‘Atik, age 25, is shot dead by Israeli forces with live ammunition to his head.2

 

Muayed Darwish, a 15 year old Palestinian youth, dies after he is shot in the head with a rubber bullet by the Israeli forces. 2000 mourners gather in Bethlehem Manger Square.3

 

500 youths break away from a march of 15,000 Palestinians headed towards an Israeli checkpoint, and throw stones at Israeli jeeps. 2 Palestinians are wounded. 4

 

Israeli forces open fire with lethal rubber coated steel bullets on stone throwing Palestinians in the West Bank towns of Hebron and Bethlehem, and Khan Younis in Gaza Strip.5 

 

In Hebron, settlers armed with automatic rifles and clubs continue for several days now, to smash windshields and fire heavily at random. These terrorizing events, occur mostly in H2, that is, those neighbourhoods that are under full control of the Israeli army in occupied Hebron, which strongly suggests that the IDF colludes with the racist settlers. Some compare these incidents to Kristallnacht, a night in November 1938 when Nazi youths in Germany and Austria attacked Jewish property. 6  Taysir Zahdeh, a Palestinian resident of Hebron, says,

“They think they can break our will by adopting these Nazi-like tactics against us. But they are mistaken... we will not leave our homeland, no matter what. We withstood 33 years of their holocaust against us and we can withstand more torment. But at the end, they will be consumed by their own evil.”7 

 

2^nd emergency summit at Sharm el-Sheikh begins. The leaders present are Yasser Arafat, Ehud Barak, Bill Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, EU High Commissioner Javier Solana, and other leaders. Barak says that he will not withdraw Israeli forces or re-open Palestinian towns and villages until Arafat re-arrests Palestinian guerillas that have escaped from PA jails. He also demands that the Palestinians stop shooting and demonstrating, that is, that they stop protesting Israel’s occupation. 8 

 

17^th            Occupied Beit Fureik, West Bank—2 Israeli settlers, Yaron Degani age 40, and Gad Tena, 48, from the settlement of Itamar, murder 28 year old Palestinian Farid Nasasrah as he picks olives in his village. Three of his family members are also injured. They confess to the murder saying that they did it in self-defense because he was walking in the direction of their illegal settlement.1 

 

Occupied Nablus, West Bank—Muhammed Hassan Taleb a-Dakhil, age 20, dies after being shot in the head by Israeli forces on 2^nd October.2

 

Occupied Gaza Strip—42 year old Palestinian officer, Nabil Sa’ed ‘Abd Khater, from Shuja’iyah, Gaza Strip, is shot dead by Israeli forces at the Erez Checkpoint.3

 

An Israeli policeman is injured when Palestinian guerillas open fire on Jewish neighbourhoods. 4

 

Sharm el-Sheikh ends this morning. 5  Barak and Arafat agree to take “immediate concrete measures” to end the violence.6  Israel is to withdraw its tanks and troops from volatile areas over the next two days and lift its military siege. Palestinians are to stop shooting at Israeli positions.7  The two sides also agree on the creation of an inquiry commission into the causes of the Intifada. 8 The deal is unlikely to be realised because while Israel controls its well-trained army, PA officials do not exercise control over independent groups operating in the Occupied Territories.

 

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch publish reports on Israel’s use of excessive force against Palestinians protesting the Israeli occupation. 9  Another Amnesty International report focusing on Israeli Arabs details how Israeli Arab teens have been repeatedly arrested at night by Israeli police and subjected to “high-pressure interrogations” that have included beatings, jail time for up to a month, and threats.  Arrests of Israeli-Arabs continue unabated though Arab protests stopped a month ago. The evidence in the report suggests that Israel is enacting “widespread human rights violations that characterized the first six-year Intifada.” 10

           

18^th      Ibrahim Alami, age 25, dies today after he was shot by Israeli settlers on 12^th October.1

 

?          3 Palestinians ages 13, 16, and 17 are murdered in the West Bank. The youngest and the oldest are shot in the head. 2 

           

Occupied Gaza Strip—UNRWA ambulance driver, 47 year old Muhammed al-Thanaf, is injured by gunfire near Kfar Darom settlement as he tries to evacuate an injured person. 3

 

The IDF does not pull back its forces as agreed at Sharm el-Sheikh. Most of the military stays in position and continues its blockade on the West Bank and Gaza Strip devastating the area’s economy. Beit Sahur and Bethlehem come under heavy fire from Israeli helicopters.4

 

            Palestinian guerillas attack an Israeli army checkpoint in Nablus.5

 

19^th            Occupied Nablus, West Bank—40 Jewish settlers from Alon Moieh settlement, in cahoots with army escorts and Israeli helicopters, descend from Mount Ebal in Nablus and open fire on Palestinians harvesting olives.   Zahi Fathi al-‘Ardeh is shot dead and 10 other Palestinians are injured. 1  Israelis claim that they were fired upon first from nearby Askar Refugee Camp as they made their way to view Joseph’s Tomb.2  64 year old Israeli settler Benyamin Herling, from Qedumim settlement, is shot dead by Palestinian fire. 3

 

Barak boycotts a summit that was to be held today at Sharm el-Sheikh.  He instead urges Mubarak to intervene with Arafat and establish calm in Israel and West Bank. Mubarak’s chief political adviser, Osama El-Baz, says, “Israel must first learn to treat the Palestinians and the Arabs with respect and as equals, not dictating conditions and policies to us.”4

 

20^th            Occupied Nablus, West Bank—Israeli security forces murder several Palestinians here today:

o       Firas Khalil Mustafa Zid, age 26, is shot dead with bullets to his chest.

o       Amjad Ahmad Akram Abu-Isa, age 32, a resident, is shot dead with gunfire to his chest.

o       ‘Adnan Muhammed Dweiqat, age 21, is murdered with gunfire to his chest. Dweiqat was from Balata Refugee Camp.

o       ‘Isa ‘Abdullah a-Shatawi Fa’ur, age 21, is shot with gunfire to the heart by Israeli security forces. Fa’ur was from the Balata Rafugee Camp. 1

 

Occupied Ramallah, West Bank—Israeli forces murder Tha’ar ‘Ali Dahud ‘Omar Mu’aleh, age 17, with shots to the head. Mu’aleh was from the Al-Am’ari Refugee Camp. 2

 

Occupied Tulkarm, West Bank—a resident of the town, Muhammed ‘Adel Hassan Abu Tahuna, between ages 16 and 17, is murdered by the Israeli security forces with shots to his chest and neck. 3 

 

Occupied Qalqilya, West Bank—A child from the town, Samer Talal Awisi, between ages 15 and 16, is shot dead by Israeli forces with live gunfire to his head. 4 

 

Occupied Jenin, West Bank—IDF murders Nidal Hamudeh Abu Sarhi Saqreh, age 23, a resident of the town, with gunfire to the abdomen. 5

 

Occupied Salfit, Gaza Strip—13 year old ‘Ala Bassem ‘Abdullah Bani Namreh is shot dead by Israeli forces with gunfire to his heart.6

 

2 year old Arif Abu Kaud is injured after Israeli forces open fire on a bus in which he and his family are traveling.7

 

Palestinian Elias Ashanti is attacked by settlers on the road between Tulkarm and Nablus. The settlers force Ashanti to put his hand on the ground and then shoot it.8

 

Israeli helicopter gunships open fire on several occupied Palestinian towns including Nablus, Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Hebron. Israeli forces positioned on rooftops fire at Palestinians gathering at the border of PA controlled areas.  

IDF tanks positioned near the illegal Jewish settlement of Gilo fire shells into Beit Jala that smash into a theatre, a carpentry workshop, and a youth center. The IDF justifies itself saying that the shelling was in response to the firing of projectiles from the town that caused minor injuries to a settler and slightly damaged three windows. 9

 

21^st            Occupied West Bank—‘Omar ‘Isma’il Omar al-Buheisi, age 16, is shot dead by Israeli security forces with live ammunition to his chest near settlement Kfar Darom.1

 

Occupied Jenin, West Bank—Tareq ‘Isma’il al-Hantuli, age 19, is shot dead by Israeli forces with gunfire to his back. Hantuli was from Silat adh Dahar in Jenin.2

 

Occupied Ramallah, West Bank—Israeli soldiers shoot dead 15 year old Majid Ibrahim Hassan Hawamdeh with shots to his head in al-Bira. Hawamdeh was from al-Tira.3

 

Occupied Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip—12 year old Muhammed al-Najjar, from Khan Yunis, is declared clinically dead after being shot in the head by Israeli forces.4

 

Thousands of Palestinians, led by masked mourners, march behind four bodies of Fatah men murdered in Nablus. 5 

 

Israeli police release 2 Jewish settlers who confessed to the murder of 28 year old Palestinian farmer, Farid Nasasrah, on 17^th October.  The police cite “insufficient evidence that a murder had taken place.” Israeli police commander Rafi Peled says, “Shots were fired…there is no objective proof of a body. As it stands, all we have are rumours, we only know of the victim’s death from the television.” Palestinian police chief Ferra Yousef responds saying that the comments are “nefarious lies coming from racist blood-suckers who think that non-Jews are animals whose lives are worthless…They know quite well what happened, they only want to find some excuses to free their murderers.” Yousef said he had handed them all the details surrounding the murder as well as witness testimonies.6

 

Arab summit begins. This is the first Arab summit in a decade to include Iraq. A veteran Egyptian diplomat admits that the summit is due to pressure from the Arab public. 7  Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi wants the Arab countries to declare war against Israel. Mubarak blocks the suggestion saying that “It won’t be a matter of muscle flexing.” 8  The Libyan delegation also wants Arab countries to sever ties with Israel and walks out of the summit over this issue. 9  Foreign Ministers also discuss the capture of Israeli soldiers by Hizbullah on 7^th October. The capture is generally seen as a retaliation by Hizbullah for not releasing southern Lebanese prisoners after withdrawing as Israel had promised to do.10

 

22^nd            Occupied Eretz, Gaza Strip—Palestinian child Wa’al Mahmud Nashit, between 12 and 13, is shot dead by Israeli forces with a steel bullet to the head at Eretz checkpoint during a confrontation between well- armed Israeli forces, and Palestinian youths. Nashit was from the Jabalya Refugee Camp. 1 

 

Occupied Gaza Strip—1pm. 300 schoolchildren stone an Israeli base near Nisanit Jewish settlement. A 14 year old Palestinian youth is shot in the head by Israeli forces with live ammunition. He dies. The Israeli army claims that it only used lethal rubber-coated bullets. 2

 

Occupied Hebron, West Bank—5pm. Israeli security forces murder two Palestinian protesters. One of these is 23 year old Hebron resident ‘Imad ‘Isma’il Na’im Al-Hawamdeh. He is shot dead with gunfire to his chest.3 

 

Occupied West Bank—A 52 year old Palestinian woman, a leukemia patient, falls and suffers a critical head injury while being chased by an Israeli soldier. She dies from the injury. 4

 

Palestinian child Salah Fawzi, age 15, is shot dead with live ammunition to the heart by Israeli security forces. Fawzi lived at the al-Maghazi Refugee Camp. 5

 

Israel fires rockets Apache combat helicopters into Beit Jala. At least one shell is also fired from a tank. Israeli forces also fire several rounds of machine guns mounted on tanks. One missile smashes into the children’s room in Palestinian Samir Nazal’s house. In another incident, Yassir Aid, a Palestinian taxi driver is lying in the front room of his house with his two children when bullets crash through his window and door. 6  An Israeli shell also hits an ambulance injuring 3 paramedics and the driver. The ambulance was carrying the injured to the hospital.7  Israeli forces claim that the combat helicopters and tanks were used because Palestinian guerillas hit 16 houses in illegal Gilo settlement. 8 

 

The Arab Summit ends. The summit concludes that

·        there will be no permanent peace without full Palestinian sovereignty over East Jerusalem.

·        Arab states will lend practical and financial support to the Al-Aqsa Intifada. Reeves, Phil. “Shots Ring Out Across the Valley as Villages Go to War.”9

The concluding statement of the summit is vague about severing ties with Israel.10

 

Barak is considering a time-out from the ‘peace process.’ The Independent delivers a scathing critique of this Israeli maneouvre in an editorial.

“Ehud Barak’s request for ‘time-out’ from the peace process is—on the face of it—a cynical move to enable Israeli forces to redeploy for full assault on the Palestinians while maintaining that he intends to return to the negotiating table as soon as order is restored.”11

 

Besides the 5 Palestinian murders today, most of whom were teens, 150 Palestinians are injured today.12

 

To date, between 114-146 Palestinians have been murdered by the IDF. 34 of these were under the age of 18. More than 5000 Palestinian protesters have been wounded as rubber coated steel bullets have given way to heavier weaponry. (59/ 4a) By comparison, 8 Israelis have died thus far. 13

 

23^rd            Occupied Hebron, West Bank—Israeli forces fire into an area now known as Abu Sneineh neighbourhood using heavy machine guns. A 50 millimetre bullet pierces the head of 63 year old Palestinian Abdul-Azi Abu Sneineh killing him. His three children are also injured in the random shooting spree. 1

 

Occupied Nablus, West Bank—2 Palestinians die in Nablus from sustained injuries:

o       Ashraf Ahmad ‘Abd al-Majid Habib, age 15, dies after being shot in the head on 16^th October in Askar Refugee Camp. Habib was from the camp. 

o       Sa’ad ‘Adnan ‘Abdullah al-Tanbur, age 17, dies after being shot in the head on 20^th October by Israeli forces. 2 

 

Nage’ Hanani is wounded in his right leg after Israeli settlers open fire on Palestinians harvesting olives. 3

 

An UNRWA ambulance is hit with rubber coated steel bullets in occupied Gaza smashing its windshield.4

 

Jewish settlers escape unhurt from a bomb blast en route to Gaza Strip. 5

 

Israel closes Palestinian airport in Gaza Strip and blockades Beit Jala. The IDf claims that the blockade is in response to shooting by Palestinians into the Gilo Jewish settlement on the southern outskirts of Jerusalem.6

 

Palestinian protesters in Bethlehem spray paint an Israeli flag on a donkey.7

 

24^th            Occupied Erez, Gaza Strip—Israeli security forces use live ammunition to shoot dead 17 year old Palestinian teen, Nidal Muhammed Zohadi al-Dabeiqi, with gunshots to the abdomen. Dabeiqi was from Gaza Strip.1

 

Occupied Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip—14 year old Palestinian child, ‘Iyyad Osama Shath dies after being shot in the head by Israeli forces on 21^st October.2

 

Occupied Jenin, West Bank—Israeli security forces shoot dead Nimer Yusef Mar’i, age 22, with live shots to the head at al-Jalama Checkpoint. Mar’i was from Jenin, West Bank.3

 

20,000-25,000 Palestinians and Jordanians stage “march of return” on Allenby Bridge in Jordan. They demand the internationally guaranteed right to return for Palestinian refugees. 4 . 100 are wounded in clashes with Jordanian army.5

 

25^th            Occupied Ramallah, West Bank—Nasri Shawkat is shot by Israeli forces with a fragmenting bullet during a stone throwing protest at an Israeli checkpoint. Shawkat, who ran to the aid of a friend who was hit, was shot in the upper lip where the bullet shattered into several fragments inside his head causing him to lose his teeth on one side of his mouth.1

 

26^th      Nabil Al-Arair, 24 year old member of the Jihad group, rides an explosive-strapped bicycle to an Israeli checkpoint near an illegal Jewish settlement and blows himself up. 1 Israeli soldier is slightly wounded.1

 

Occupied al ‘Arrub Refugee Camp—14 year old Palestinian child, ‘Ala Muhammed ‘Abd Al-Rahman Mahfuz al-Jawabreh dies after being shot in the head by Israeli forces. Jawabreh was a resident of the camp.2

 

Israel calls in reserve army units.3

 

Clinton tries to re-convene Arafat-Barak summit.4

           

To date, 11 Israeli Arabs have been murdered by Israeli forces during demonstrations. Israeli northern district Chief-of-Police, Alik Ron, further heightens tensions by saying that he will “settle accounts” by prosecuting the protesters. 5

3 Palestinians are wounded in Kuful Hares near Salfit after Israeli settlers open fire. Settlers from Abraham Avino settlement attack the home of Palestinian Izzal Din Asharabati twice in occupied Hebron, throwing stones, sandbags, rotten eggs, and bottles of wastewater. Israeli soldiers and an Israeli military commander witness the attacks but do nothing. 6

Occupied Ramallah, West Bank—2 PRCS emergency technicians sustain eye injuries after their ambulance is hit with rubber coated steel bullets.7

150 members of the People’s Committee for Solidarity with the Intifada of the Palestinian People along with some journalists and six trucks carrying 90 tons of food and medicine make their way towards Rafah, a town bordering Egypt in the Gaza Strip. They are stopped by Egyptian police in Egyptian al-Arish. The police prohibit the group from crossing the border which has been sealed for 12 days now by Israel. Israeli forces continue to disallow any humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians under siege. al-Arish residents, many of whom have relatives just across the border in Rafah and see the Palestinians are their own people, hold a demonstration in the town along with the convoy to show support for the Intifada. Palestinians, who hear of the group, also stage a protest against Israel. The food and medicine are finally left with the Palestinian official in al-Arish where they will probably rot along with other foodstuffs donations from Saudi Arabia and Algeria.8

27^th            Occupied Erez, Gaza Strip—Israeli security forces shoot dead Jaber Ahmad Jaber al-Mish’al, age 23, with live gunfire to the chest. Mish’al was from the Ash Shati’ Refugee Camp.1

 

Occupied Tulkarm, West Bank—23 year old Palestinian Ahmad Muhammed Khalil Qassem, a resident of Tulkarm, is murdered by Israeli security forces with shots to the chest.2

 

Occupied Ramallah, West Bank—27 year old Palestinian Ghassan Yusef Ahmad Salem ‘Awiseh, a resident of Ramallah, is murdered by the Israeli forces with shots to the chest at the Ayosh Junction in al-Bira.3

 

Occupied Qalqilya, West Bank—Israeli security forces murder 16 year old Palestinian Bashir Saleh Mussa Shalawi, a resident of Qalqilya, with gunfire to the abdomen.4

 

Occupied Jenin, West Bank—Fadi Amin al-Harus Dabiye, age 19, dies from injuries after being shot in the head on 27^th October. Dabiye lived in Jenin Refugee Camp.5

 

To date, 120 Palestinians have been murdered by Israeli forces. 8 Israelis have also been killed. 6

 

28^th            Occupied Ramallah, West Bank—the corpse of Israeli Marik Gabrielov, age 25, is found today. Evidence shows he was shot to death. He was from Bene Ayish and was probably killed yesterday.1

 

Fanatic racist Israeli settlers open fire on 4 Palestinians wounding them.

§        24 year old Naser Fayez is shot in his right thigh

§        Bilal Jaber age 19, is shot in back

§        Naser Dahoud age 24, is shot in his left shoulder

§        Yanel Aqel, age 24, is shot in his right and left thighs.2

 

Jewish leaders ask the UN to condemn anti-Semitic attacks around the world. They present UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, with a catalogue of 200 incidents.3

 

29^th            Occupied Ya’abud—Israeli helicopters bombard Palestinian towns in the Occupied Territories. 2 teenage brothers, Hilal Salah between 18 and 19, and Bilal Salah 20 who were sitting in their backyard in Ya’abud, are killed in the air raid by 50 millimetre bullets to the head.1

 

Occupied Karni, Gaza Strip—Samir Musa Hamid ‘Aleiweh, age 31, is shot dead by Israeli forces with live bullets to the chest. ‘Aleiweh was from al-Zeitun, Gaza Strip. 2

 

Occupied Gaza Strip—Husni Hussein a-Najar, a 14 year old Palestinian child, is murdered by the IDF with live gunfire to his head. Najar was a resident of Rafah.3

 

Occupied Nablus, West Bank—

o       Shadi Hassan ‘Abdullah Suli, age 23, is shot dead by Israeli fire to his chest.

o       ‘Usmat Khalil Muhammed a-Saber, age 32, a resident of the town, is murdered with gunshots to the heart.4

 

30^th            Occupied East Jerusalem—Fatah leads an armed operation killing 1 Israeli guard and wounding another.1  Israel responds with a heavy military strike and bombs 3 Fatah and PA offices in Ramallah, Nablus, and Gaza Strip, inflicting heavy damage to the buildings and injuring a few Palestinians.2

 

A body of an Israeli settler Amos Mahluf, age 30, from Gilo, is found stabbed to death near the illegal Gilo Jewish settlement. He was probably killed on 28^th October.3 

 

Occupied E. Jerusalem, West Bank—Israeli Esh-Kodesh Gilmore, age 25, is shot dead by Palestinian guerillas. He was from Mevo Modi’in.4

 

12 year old Abdullah Hammad is injured after he is hit by shrapnel from a Law missile fired near Palestinian protesters in Rafah.5

 

A Palestinian guard is treated for wounds after he is shot by someone believed to be a Jewish settler.6

 

Family buries brothers Hilal and Bilal Salah who were shot dead in an Israeli air raid on 29^th October.7

 

Arafat asks the UN for a peacekeeping force.8

 

According to education statistics compiled by Khalid Mahshi, Director General of International and Public Relations in the Palestinian Ministry of Education, show the devastating effects of the Israeli siege on the West Bank and Gaza Strip:

·        41 schools have become defunct due to Israeli closures, curfews, and sieges on Palestinian towns.

·        4 schools in Hebron have been occupied by Israeli forces to use as military posts.

·        15 schools, perhaps more, in occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip have been hit with Israeli fire and shelling.

·        899 teachers have been unable to reach their schools, and an undocumented number of students and teachers have been arrested.

—LAW Report: The Use of Excessive Lethal Force Against Children9

 

Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees compiles statistics on fatalities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip:

·        144 Palestinians are dead to date.

·        98 percent of those dead were shot in the head and upper body.

·        33 percent of the dead were under 18 year old.

·        6000 Palestinians are wounded.

·        An estimated 1000 of the wounded are permanently disabled.

·        12 Israeli soldiers and settlers are dead to date.10

 

31^st            Occupied Karni, Gaza Strip—The Israeli security forces murder 4 Palestinians here today:

o       Shadi ‘Awad Nimer Odeh, age 18, is shot dead by Israeli security forces with live bullets to his head. Odeh was from al-Zeitun, Gaza Strip.

o       Hazem Mussa Abu Def, age 22, is shot in the head with live bullets by the Israeli forces. Def was also from al-Zeitun, Gaza Strip.

o       Muhammed Haz’a Hilis, age 23, is shot in the chest with live bullets by Israeli forces. Hilis was from Shuja’iyah, Gaza Strip.

o       Mahmud Ahmad Ghali Abu al-Khier, age 20, is shot in the abdomen by Israeli forces. Khier was also from Shuja’iyah, Gaza Strip.1

 

Occupied Ramallah, West Bank—Israeli forces shoot dead Tha’er Ibrahim Shalesh a-Zid, a 17 year old Palestinian teen, at the Ayosh Junction. Zid was from al-Jalazun Refugee Camp. 2

 

Palestinian cabinet convenes and demands that the UN deploy a peacekeeping force to protect Palestinians against excessive and brute Israeli force.3

 

?          Israel fires into Fatah headquarters in retaliation for the death of two Israeli soldiers on 30^th October. Israeli forces intend the strike as a warning to Fatah and especially Tanzim leader, Marwan Barghouti. Barghouti responds, “There is no military solution to this Intifada. It won’t be stopped by bombs and tanks and military machines….There is one solution…an end to the occupation.”4

 

NOVEMBER

                                   

1^st             Occupied al-Khader, West Bank—3 Palestinians are murdered as Israeli helicopter gunships attack al-Khader to rescue 4 Israeli soldiers that were shot and trapped there. Al-Khader residents caught on the main road during the attack hide close to cement walls. Israeli fire smashes into the entrance of the Yamanah hospital where an injured Palestinian tries to crawl from his car to into the hospital. He is later carried to safety indoors.1  Wa’al Muhammed So’ib Ghanim, age 28, a resident of al-Khader, and Marwan Tai’yeh Jum’ah ‘Assaf, age 21, from Bethlehem, are shot in the chest during the attack and die.2  27 year old Palestinian security officer, Muhammed Mahmud al-Harub also dies after he is shot in the chest by Israeli forces.3  Israeli evacuates its soldiers to a nearby hospital.4  2 Israeli soldiers, Shlomo Adshina, age 20, and David-Hen Cohen , age 20 die.5  The Israeli army alleges that fighting started when Palestinian militiamen fired on Israeli forces nearby and kept medics from getting to the soldiers.6 

 

Occupied Karni, Gaza Strip—3 more Palestinians are murdered at the Karni crossing between Israel and Gaza Strip. 

o       Muhammed Ibrahim Hajaj, age 17, is cut down by Israeli fire. Hajaj was from Shuja’iyah, Gaza Strip.

o       Ahmad Salman Ibrahim Abu Tiyeh, age 13, is also murdered by Israeli gunfire. Tiyeh was from Ash Shati’ Refugee Camp.

o       Ibrahim Rizzeq Marzuk ‘Omar, age 14, is murdered by Israeli force fire. ‘Omar was also from Ash Shati’ Refugee Camp.7

 

Occupied West Bank—Amir Zohar, age 34, from the Israeli security force, is shot dead in Elisha. Zohar was from Jerusalem.8

 

2 Palestinians are harvesting olives when Israeli settlers open fire shooting

Faleh Asafadi, age 37, in the lower abdomen

Said Asafadi in the neck9

 

Over 20,000 Palestinians march in funerals for 7 Palestinians that have been murdered by Israeli forces at Karni Crossing between yesterday and today.10 

 

Palestinian militia open fire from Beit Jala on the illegal Jewish settlement of Gilo hitting several homes and a kindergarten. There are no reported injuries.  Israel fires ground and helicopter machine guns and anti-tank missiles into Beit Jala.11 .

 

Israel again rejects an international inquiry commission saying that an international commission would be biased against it. Instead, it wants the US to lead an investigation.  US Ambassador Richard Holbrooke criticizes the Palestinian demand for a UN peacekeeping force saying that it was worded as an attack on Israel.12 .

 

Gaza airport is re-opened today by Israelis for one flight: Qatar’s Foreign Minister, Sheikh Hamad al-Thani, flies to the region for a meeting with Arafat.13

 

In Gaza Strip, Arafat meets with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder who agrees that Germany will treat 50 wounded Palestinians, many of whom are in serious condition. In a joint news conference, Arafat says that the Palestinians are looking for support from Europe to further the ‘peace process.’14

 

Talks begin between former Israeli Prime Minister, Shimon Peres and PA head, Yassir Arafat to end the Palestinian uprising and ensuing violence, most of which has been Israeli.15

 

2^nd        After overnight talks, Arafat and Shimon Peres announce a ceasefire to begin at 2pm today. A ‘ceasefire’ in the special parlance of Palestinian-Israeli ‘peace negotiations’ means that Palestinians will have to stop drawing international attention to Israel’s brutal occupation through their resistance and quietly acede to being occupied.  Contrary to Israeli hopes, it is unlikely that the Palestinians will listen to PA officials and return to the status quo. Palestinian negotiator, Nabil Shaath, states that Israel will lift its blockade on Palestinian areas, permit some Palestinian workers to return to their jobs in Israel, reopen Gaza airport and border crossings with Egypt and Jordan. Israel will not, however, end its military presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, return sovereignty over occupied West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem, dismantle its checkpoints and its illegal settlements, evacuate its trigger-happy, racist settlers, end its diversion of Palestinian water sources, or end its chokehold on Palestinian economy and daily life.  In return for what Israel will do, Palestinian officers will restrain Palestinians from stone throwing and fighting.1

 

Palestinian police restrain Palestinian stone throwers near Kfar Darom and Netzarim, two illegal Jewish settlements on the Gaza Strip. Stone throwers near Netzarim are loaded into trucks and driven away. Palestinian Information Ministry calls on Palestinians to express their national struggle peacefully.2

 

Israel pulls back tanks from Karni Crossing where they had seized a Palestinian police post, and where 8 Palestinians have been killed and stalls its retaliation for 3 Israeli soldiers that have died in combat.  Israel also lifts its siege on occupied Nablus, Bethlehem, and Hebron.3 

 

Occupied Hizme, West Bank—Hours before the ceasefire is to be implemented, Israeli forces murder 17 year old Palestinian, Khaled Rizzeq al-Khatib with gunfire to his chest during a stone throwing incident.4 

 

Palestinian gunmen fire on Israeli position in Hebron before the ceasefire deadline.5

 

Occupied Bethlehem, West Bank—17 year old Yazen Muhammed ‘Isa Haliqeh, a resident of al-Khader is shot dead by Israeli security forces with shots to his chest.6

 

Occupied Karni, Gaza Strip—‘Adli Ghassan Rabah ‘Abeid, age 23, dies after being shot by Israeli forces with live bullets in the abdomen on 31^st October. ‘Abeid was from Sheikh Radwan, Gaza Strip.7

 

Israeli settlers attack the car of 55 year old, Jamal Khabaisa, near Huwarra village. He suffers head injuries.  Settlers also attack Palestinian homes in occupied Hebron, damaging windows.8

 

West Jerusalem, Israel—3pm. A bomb detonates in Mahane Yehuda fruit and vegetable market killing 2 Israelis including Ayelet Hashahar Levy, age 27, the daughter of right-wing National Religious Party leader, Yitzhak Levy, and injuring 10 others. Also to die in the bombing is Hanan Levy, age 33. An angry crowd of ultra-orthodox Israelis later gathers at the scene chanting, “Death to the Arabs!”  A rumour of an Arab hiding in a nearby building inflames the crowd and the Israeli police intervene to stop a possible riot or lynching.9  A Palestinian guerilla group, Jihad, claims responsibility for the bomb saying that it wanted to halt the unfair ‘peace process.’  Jihad, as well as Hamas, promise to continue the attacks on Israel saying that these are an expression of popular anger that cannot be controlled by Arafat. 10 

 

Arafat denounces the bomb but claims that the Israeli demand for peace was met.11 Barak denounces the “grave escalation initiated by the Palestinian Authority.”12

 

Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erakat, meets with Kofi Annan and US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, today in New York.13

 

3^rd            Occupied Tulkarm, West Bank—a resident of Tulkarm Refugee Camp, 25 year old Nahed Fathi Ahmad a-Luh is shot in the chest by Israeli forces. He dies.1

 

Occupied Hizme, West Bank—

o       Mahmud ‘Abd Al-Jawad a-Sa’id, age 19, is shot dead by Israeli fire with bullets to the chest.

o       Rami Ahmad ‘Abd Al-Fatah ‘Omran, a 15 year old Palestinian child, is shot dead with bullets to the abdomen.2

 

an UNRWA ambulance is hit with gunfire near Karni Crossing as it evacuates an injured person. The rear window of the ambulance is smashed.3

 

President of Israeli Council of Foreign Relations, David Kimche, says that “the [Israeli] government is acting with a great deal of responsibility.”4

 

4^th             Thousands of Israelis gather at Tel Aviv Square to pay tribute to Yitzak Rabin. Barak speaks at the rally, and says, “I call on you [Arafat] to put an end to the violence and stretch your hand to the peace of the brave.”1

 

5^th            Occupied West Bank—28 year old Palestinian is shot through the heart.1 

 

Occupied Gaza Strip—16 year old schoolboy, Maher Muhammed Khalil a-Sa’idi, is shot in the head with live bullets at the al-Bureij Refugee Camp near the Israeli border. Israel denies killing the 16 year old, saying that he was only shot in the leg while trying to break into Israeli territory, and further accuses Palestinians of spreading false information.2  The death is confirmed by B’Tselem, an Israeli human rights organization.3

 

Occupied Karni, Gaza Strip—30 year old Marwan Khalil al-Ghamari is shot dead with live ammunition to his chest. Ghamari was from Shuja’iyah, Gaza Strip.4

 

Palestinian guerillas fire on Israeli soldiers and citizens.5

 

Israeli army continues to murder Palestinian protesters in a failing attempt to quell the Intifada.

“The death toll—believed to be 173—is so large, and the shooting of young Arab rioters so regular, that public opinion and the media have generally grown immune to the impact though human rights groups say they could amount to war crimes.” –Phil Reeves, The Independent.6

Occupied Dura, West Bank—Arab villagers escort a lost settler to safety out of their village.7

6^th        Barak blames Palestinians for not keeping to the ‘ceasefire.’1

Occupied Rafah, Gaza Strip—Muhammed Mustafa al-Jazer, an 18 year old Palestinian, dies after being shot with live ammunition to his head on 28^th October.2

 

Occupied Gaza Strip—17 year old, Muhammed Nawf a-T’aban, dies after he is shot in his back and shoulder by Israeli forces. Taban was Deir Al-Balah.3

 

Occupied Hebron, West Bank—

o       23 day old Palestinian girl, Hind Abu Qweider, dies from gas inhalation. An Israeli tear gas shell had landed on the verandah of her home. Israel, in an attempt to falsify the incident, says that the infant was admitted to a hospital and died of natural causes. The information proves false when journalists visit the hospital.4

o       14 year old Ghazala Jaradat is on her way home from school when Israeli forces open fire on Palestinian protesters nearby. An Israeli soldier shoots Ghazala in her head with live gunfire. Ghazala is pronounced clinically dead on arrival at Ahli Hospital. The IDF tells journalists that Jaradat died in a traffic accident. Foreign correspondents and journalists visit Jaradat at the Ahli Hospital and learn that Israel is falsifying information.5

 

Occupied Tulkarm, West Bank—13 year old Wajdi ‘Alaem al-Khatab, a resident of Tulkarm, is shot dead with a bullet to the chest.6

 

The curfew in H2 Hebron, that is, the area under Israeli control as defined in the Hebron Protocols of 1996, is lifted today for 5 hours allowing the 30,000-35,000 Palestinians living in the H2 area to come out for a few hours before a resumption of the curfew at 1pm. The situation in Hebron has been like this for over a month.7 Ahmed Sharabati, a resident and a shopkeeper in Hebron says,

“A curfew is a slow death. We are all facing overwhelming stress as a result of this brutal behaviour. I hope the world forces Israel to treat us with some humanity…. What can we do? We just [have to] wait until they lift the curfew. We don't know when they will.”8

 

While the Palestinians suffer through the curfews and nightly bombardments, the 500 fanatic Jewish settlers illegally living in occupied territory amongst 130,000 Palestinians are able to move around freely surrounded and protected by thousands of Israeli soldiers.9  The economic loss to Hebron because of the siege on Hebron’s old city, al-Khalil, alone is estimated at $3 million a day according to Abdul-Nabi Natshe, head of the Hebron Chamber of Commerce.10  

 

Palestinian senior official says that they will not declare statehood on 15^th November as intended.11      

 

7^th            Occupied Bethlehem, West Bank—Israeli security forces murder ‘Abdullah Khaled ‘Amarneh, age 24, with shots to his chest at Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem. ‘Amarneh was from a-Duheisha Refugee Camp. 1

 

Occupied Rafah, Gaza Strip—Sa’id Hamid Ziad Abu Khatle, age 24, dies after being shot in the abdomen by Israeli forces on 3^rd November.2

 

Occupied Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip—Ibrahim Fuad al-Qassasi, a 13 year old Palestinian child, dies after he is shot by Israeli security forces with live bullets to his head on 4^th November. 3

 

Details of budget submissions to the Knesset released by Peace Now, an Israeli lobbying group in Israel, show that Barak will request 1.2bn shekels (210m pounds), about the same as last year, for continuing illegal Jewish settlement activity next year in the Occupied Territories.  Currently, there are 200,000 illegal Jewish settlers in Palestine. 4

 

8^th            Occupied Hares, West Bank—14 year old Palestinian child, Ra’ad Abd al-Majid Dahud, a resident of the town, is shot dead by Israeli soldiers with gunshots to his pelvis. 1

 

Occupied Tulkarm, West Bank—Khaled Faiz Abu Zahara, age 17, is murdered by Israeli forces with gunshots to his chest and abdomen. Zahara was from Nur Shams Refugee Camp in Tulkarm.2

 

Occupied Karni, Gaza Strip—

o       14 year old Palestinian child, Faras Faiq ‘Odeh, dies after being shot in the neck by Israeli forces at Karni Crossing. ‘Odeh was from Zeitun, Gaza Strip.

o       15 year old, Khalil Yusef Abu Sa’ad, is shot dead by Israeli soldiers with live ammunition to his chest. Sa’ad was from the Jabalya Refugee Camp.3

 

Occupied Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip—

o       15 year old Palestinian child Muhammed Musbah Abu Ghali is murdered by Israeli forces with live shots to his chest. Ghali was from al-Amel, Khan Yunis.

o       Muhammed Nimer Mahani, age 24, is murdered by Israeli forces with shots to his abdomen. Mahani was from Shuja’iyah, Gaza Strip.4

 

Occupied Gaza Strip—Palestinian guerillas ambush 25 year old Israeli, Noa Dahan, as she drives to an Israeli controlled Gaza Strip border-crossing with Egypt. She is shot dead. Dahan was from Mivtahim.5  Omar Al-Mukhtar, a faction that split from Fatah and is based in Syria, is said to have claimed responsibility. Barak says that the attack “called into question the seriousness of Mr. Arafat’s intentions” towards a ‘ceasefire.’6

 

Israel uses tanks to fire shells into the Gaza Strip.7

 

Arafat meets with British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, in England.8

 

9^th            Occupied Beit Sahur, West Bank—Israeli helicopters fire TOW missiles at a Palestinian truck assassinating Hussein Muhammed Salim ‘Abayat, age 34, a well-known Palestinian Fatah leader.1  2 Palestinian women passersby, ‘Aziza Muhammed Danun, between 52 and 58 years old, and Rahameh Rashid Shahiin, between 52 and 55, are also murdered in the bloody assassination, and 11 others are injured.2 In an interview soon after, Israeli Deputy Defense Minister, Ephraim Sneh, boasts about Israeli precision weapons.3  Israel refuses to apologise for murdering the women saying that the fault lies with Tanzim for operating in populated areas.4  A group of angry Palestinians, already frustrated by the regular shelling from an IDF base nearby, gather at the sight of the scene to look at the scorched and charred remains of the women.5

“[Israeli] officials have called this a plan “to take the initiative,” an astounding phrase given the number of tanks and helicopters they have used, and the habit of trigger-happy troops of killing young Arabs daily.”

–Phil Reeves, The Independent6

           

Occupied Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip—14 year old Palestinian, Muhammed Kamel Shwarab is murdered by Israeli forces with a shot to his back.7

 

Qatar shuts down the Israel trade mission after Iran and Saudi Arabia threaten to walk out of a summit of Islamic states if it continued to operate. 8

 

Arafat meets Clinton.  Following the meeting, Arafat says that he is willing to meet Barak at another summit.9

 

10^th            Occupied Karni, Gaza Strip—2 Palestinians are murdered by Israeli forces here:

o       24 year old Muhammed ‘Ali Muhammed Hamed is shot in his chest and heart with live ammunition at the Karni Crossing. Hamed was from al-Daraj, Jabalya in Gaza Strip.

o       17 year old Palestinian Osama Samir al-Jarjawi, from Gaza Strip, is shot dead with live ammunition to his chest and heart.1

 

Occupied al-Jalama, West Bank—Israeli forces murder 2 Palestinians here:

o       Osama Mazen ‘Azukeh, age 14, is shot dead by Israeli forces. ‘Azukeh was from Jenin in the West Bank.

o       Muhammed ‘Iyyad Al-Fahmoi, also from Jenin is murdered by gunfire from Israeli forces.2            

 

?            Occupied Hebron, West Bank—28 year old, Raed Mekshed, is murdered by Israeli soldiers. He was the son of senior Palestinian official, Saadi Mekhsed, who was in the car during the incident.3

 

Occupied Bethlehem, West Bank—Following Hussein Abayat’s burial, Palestinian militiamen open fire on Rachel’s Tomb, killing Israeli sergeant, Shahar Vekret, age 20.4

 

A bomb detonates close to the Old City in Jerusalem as Muslim Palestinian men, over 45 years old, gather for Friday prayer. One policeman is slightly injured.  Younger men are not allowed in Haram al-Sharif by Israel because it says that they will incite violence.5

 

11^th            Occupied Jenin, West Bank—Hani ‘Abdullah Abu Marzuk, age 22, dies after being shot by Israeli forces on 10^th November.1

 

Occupied Hebron, West Bank—18 year old Munir Muhammed Barkat Abu Munzer is shot dead by Israeli forces in Bab a-Zawiyeh, Hebron.2

 

Occupied Ramallah, West Bank—Israeli forces use an explosive to murder 2 Palestinians in al-Bira:

o       Osamam Khalil al-Bawab, age 28.

o       Majid Hussein al-Jaro Radwan, age 32.3

 

Occupied Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip—20 year old, Aiman Saleh al-Wadi, a resident of the town, dies after Israeli forces shoot him with live ammunition to his head on 8^th November.4

 

Occupied Erez, Gaza Strip—2 Palestinian children are murdered here today by Israeli forces:

o       14 year old Palestinian child, Mussa Ibrahim a-Dibes, is shot dead at the Erez Crossing with live ammunition to his chest. Dibes was from Jabalya Refugee Camp.

o       15 year old, Bassel Hussein Abu Qamer, also from Jabalya Refugee Camp, is shot dead.5

 

Occupied Gaza Strip—Palestinian militiamen in a civilian car fire at an Israeli jeep at the Gush Katif Junction in southern Gaza Strip. They are shot dead:

o       Munzer Hamdi Yassin, age 30.

o       Muhammed Yassin Darwish Al-Madhun, age 20.6 

2 Israeli officers are injured.7

 

Senior Palestinian negotiator, Ahmed Qureia, says that the return of the Palestinians to the negotiating table is contingent on the fulfillment of the following conditions:

·        deployment of an international force

·        a freeze on Jewish settlements     

·        the UN, the European Union, Russia, China, Egypt, and Jordan brought in as mediators

·        a promise that future talks will be based on UN resolutions that affirm withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Occupied Palestinian Territories.8

 

Israel establishes its own inquiry commission headed by its Supreme Court Justice. The commission will concern itself only with Israeli citizens within Israel.  Those who testify before the commission will be given full immunity. Palestinian-Israeli Arabs welcome the commission.9

 

            UN Human Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson arrives in the region to investigate the violence. Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami refuses to meet with Robinson after she cancels her meetings with extremist Jerusalem mayor, Ehud Olmert, and Ariel Sharon.10

 

12^th            Occupied Erez, Gaza Strip—16 year old Muhammed Faiz Abu Naji is shot dead by Israeli forces at Erez Checkpoint. Naji was from Sheikh Raduan. 1

 

Barak meets Clinton. 2

 

72 year old widow of Yitzhak Rabin, Leah Rabin, dies.3

 

            UN Human Rights Commisioner, Mary Robinson, visits Gaza, Ramallah, and Hebron.  In Gaza, Robinson visits Shifa Hospital where she meets 45 patients including a 15 year old who is a paraplegic after being shot by Israeli forces at Erez Industrial Zone during a stone throwing demonstration.  When questioned about the number of Palestinian deaths, many of them children, IDF officials tell the Commissioner that the Intifada is a deliberate strategy by the PA to drum up international sympathy, and that the Tanzim recruit children implying that the IDF is then forced to shoot them. The IDF officials term the current crisis “active warfare.” In Rafah, the Commisioner is driven to a settlement road “and was surprised to be shown further expansions of settlements taking place.”  In Hebron, the Commissioner notes the condition of the Palestinians in the H2 area who are living under a constant curfew imposed by Israel. Even when the curfew is lifted for a few hours, the Palestinians are not allowed to drive forcing them to walk great distances in order to get foodstuffs. In her report, Robinson also says that she

“noted that, while road closures impact heavily on Palestinians, there exists a parallel road network established by the Government of Israel, known as the by-pass roads, exclusively for the use of Israeli settlers and the authorities, enabling them to travel freely.”4 

           

LAW, the center for Human Rights and the Environment, submits a report on the Intifada to the UN Commissioner, detailing the excessive and indiscriminate use of force by Israeli soldiers. According to the report, 1,700 children have been injured to date. Of these, 855, injuries were documented by Defense for Children International—Palestinian Section:

·        185 children were injured in the head by the IDF

·        26 children were injured in the eye by the IDF

·        17 children injured in the neck by the IDF

·        33 children injured in the chest by the IDF

·        41 children injured in the abdomen by the IDF

·        26 children injured in the back by the IDF

·        321 children injured in leg or hand by the IDF

·        149 children injured by tear gas by the IDF

            —LAW Report: The Use of Excessive Lethal Force Against Children

The report further states that

“The type of weaponry used by the Israeli security forces which is regarded as suitable in combat situations reflect the arbitrary nature of the killings of Palestinian demonstrators…. In most incidents, the Israeli security forces were almost invariably well defended, located at a distance from demonstrators in good cover, in blockhouses, behind wire and often well-protected by riot shields. Stones-or even petrol bombs- cannot be said to have endangered the lives of the Israeli security forces.”

—LAW Report: The Indiscriminate and Disproportionate Use of Force by the Israeli Security Sercvices6

 

            Ha’aretz, an Israeli newspaper, states that the IDF has solidified plans to reinforce Jewish communities close to Israeli-Arab towns on the pretext that these communities are next to “hostile populations.” The paper further reports that the Israeli government plans to begin a drive to increase the Jewish population in predominantly Jewish areas.6

 

13^th      Occupied Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip—

o       18 year old Muhammed Nasser Taufiq a-Tawil, a resident of the town, is shot dead  by Israeli forces with live ammunition to his chest.

o       Yihe Na’if Abu Shamaleh, age 17, is murdered by Israeli forces live gunfire to his back.1

 

Occupied Gush Katif Jct., Gaza Strip—Israeli forces shoot dead 18 year old, Ahmad Hassan Dahlan, with live shots to his back. Dahlan was from Khan Yunis.2

 

Palestinian security officer Taufiq ‘Abd a-Rahman Al-Jeidi, age 32, from Qalqilya, is shot dead by Israeli security forces.3

 

Occupied Gush Katif Jct., Gaza Strip—Israeli Gabi Zaguri, age 35, is shot dead by Palestinian fire in Gush Katif. Zaguri was from Netviot. 4

 

Occupied Ofra, West Bank—2 Israeli soldiers and an Israeli settler are shot dead by Palestinian guerillas:

o       Israeli soldier, Elad Wallenstein, age 18.

o       Israeli soldier, Amit Zineh, age 19.

o       Israeli settler, Sara Lisha

They were driving in a private car when Palestinian guerillas ambushed them. According to Israeli media, the guerillas also fired 50 bullets on an Israeli military bus. 7 people are injured. 5 

 

In occupied Gaza Strip, Sami Khuz’a, 12, is shot in his right thigh with a fragmenting bullet during a demonstration. In a separate incident on the Gaza Strip, Palestinian Mahmoud Al-Medhoun is shot with fragmenting bullets by Israeli soldiers in an IDF tank destroying three vertebrae, a part of his colon which is removed, and paralyzing him permanently. According to doctors, Khuz’a will never walk again.6

 

In the past few days, there has been an increase in guerilla tactics by the Palestinians and a decrease in mass protests.  Moshe Fogel, Israeli government spokesperson says that the gunfire proves that this is not a civil uprising but rather “warfare and terrorism.” He also says that Israel cannot continue to be on the “receiving end of different firing situations and not take the necessary actions.” 7

UN Human Rights Commissioner visits Israel.8

 

Today is the 12^th anniversary of symbolic Palestinian statehood.

 

14^th            Occupied Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip—21 year old Ra’ad Fahmi ‘Omar Abu Shaqfa is murdered by Israeli forces with live shots to his abdomen at the a-Tufah Checkpoint in Khan Yunis. Shaqfa was from Rafah, Gaza Strip.1

 

Occupied Karni, Gaza Strip—13 year old Palestinian child, Muhammed Khatar al-‘Ajla, is shot dead with live ammunition to his head by Israeli security forces at the Karni Crossing. Ajla was from Shuja’iyah, Gaza Strip.2

 

Occupied Ramallah, West Bank—15 year old Palestinian child, Saber Khamis a-Brosh, is shot dead by Israeli forces at Ayosh Junction. Brosh was from the Al-Am’ari Refugee Camp.3

 

Occupied West Bank—47 year old Palestinian Mustafa Mahmud Musa ‘Alyan, from Askar Refugee Camp, is murdered by a stone throwing Israeli.4

 

Israeli settler Sara Lisha age 42, a sports teacher and mother of five, who lived in the Neve Tsuf settlement buried today. She is the fourth settler to be killed in the conflict.  During the eulogy, the American born rabbi says, “We want our leaders to fight them [Arabs] with no compromise. The murderers will not win. We will build and expand our community.” 5

 

As per collective punishment, the Israeli army uses the killing of Israeli settler Sara Lisha as an excuse to blockade all West Bank towns.6            

 

Israeli therapist and political activist Neta Golan, 28, begins living in the Israeli military blockaded Hares, in the West Bank trying to stop Israeli troops and Jewish settlers from shooting into the village.  The shootings, according to her, are an attempt to drive the Palestinians off their land.7

 

15^th            Palestinians hold demonstrations, some of them turning into confrontations with the Israeli forces.1 

 

Occupied Karni, Gaza Strip—

o       13 year old Palestinian child, Ahmad Samir Bassel, is shot dead by Israeli security forces with live ammuntion to his heart at Karni Crossing. Bassel was from Tel el-Ave, Deir el-Balah.

o       17 year old, Muhammed Nasser Muhammed a-Surafi, also dies at the Karni Crossing when Israeli forces shoot him with live bullets to his head. Surafi was from a-Nasser, Gaza Strip.2

 

Occupied Tufah, Gaza Strip—13 year old Palestinian child, Jihad Sohil Abu Sheimeh, is shot dead by Israeli security forces with live bullets to his head at the a-Tufah Checkpoint.3

 

Occupied Tulkarm, West Bank—

o       18 year old Palestinian, Fathi ‘Odeh Jum’ah Salem, is shot dead by Israeli forces with gunfire to his chest. Jum’ah was from Tulkarm Refugee Camp.  

o       Samer Kheiri Ahmad Khader, a 29 year old Palestinian security officer, is shot dead with live ammunition to his chest by Israeli forces.4

 

Occupied Jericho, West Bank—20 year old, ‘Abd al-Hafez Gharuf, is shot in the chest by Israeli forces. He dies.5 

 

Occupied Jenin, West Bank—22 year old, Ahmad Sa’id Sh’aban, a resident of al-Jalama, is shot dead with gunfire by Israeli forces to his abdomen at al-Jalama Checkpoint.6

 

Occupied Qalqilya, West Bank—15 year old, Ibrahim ‘Abd al-Rauf al-Ju’adi, is shot in the head by Israeli forces. He dies.7 

 

Occupied West Bank—16 year old, Jadu’ Mani’a Jadu’ Abu al-Qebash, is shot dead by Israeli forces with shots to his chest at As Samu’.8

 

Occupied Gaza Strip—Ibrahim Mustafa Darwish, 17, is shot in the stomach when the Israeli forces open fire on 18 stone throwing youths at short range. He is taken to Jordan Hospital where surgeons remove a metre (3ft) of intestine after several surgeries. Darwish was shot with a fragmenting bullet, which breaks apart inside the body cutting through tissue. Permanent crippling injuries from this bullet are estimated at 1500 currently. 9

 

Occupied West Bank—Muhammed Bassam, 17, is shot with a fragmenting bullet in Birzeit during a protest. The bullet destroys bone in his leg. He now has to use a walker to get around.10

 

Barak attends a security cabinet meeting today. The meeting could spell the end of Israel’s “policy of restraint.”

“As the Israeli troops have shot dead scores of young Arab rioters since the end of September, this ‘policy’ comes as news to many observers.”

 –Phil Reeves, The Independent11 

Barak also meets with US negotiator Dennis Ross.12

 

?          IDF announces that it has arrested 15 suspected Palestinian guerillas in 3 West Bank villages.13 

 

US envoy, Dennis Ross and First Lady Hilary Clinton attend Leah Rabin’s funeral.14

 

Jewish settlers living in the Gilo settlement are protesting when Palestinian guerillas in blockaded Beit Jala, West Bank attack the Jewish settlement with a rocket and machine guns destroying a Jewish apartment.15

 

Israeli helicopter gunships carry out a night raid on the town of Beit Jala firing shells into buildings used by Palestinian guerillas as firing positions, injuring 7-8 Palestinians.16  German nurse and chiropractor Harold Fischer 68, is murdered during the raid by Israeli fire, the first foreign victim. Fischer, who came 19 years ago to work with handicapped Palestinians, lived in Beit Jala with his wife Norma and three kids ages 10, 15, and 17. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson says they regret the loss but Israel must respond to fire. A building in Beit Jala is destroyed and 7 Palestinians are injured.17 

 

To date 184 Palestinians are dead 13 of which are Israeli-Palestinian Arabs. The total number of Palestinians injured is estimated at 7,500. "If we are to call things by their real names, this is genocide in slow motion…”says Riyad al-Za'anoun, Palestinian Authority (PA) Health Minister.18

 

UN Human Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson’s leaves Israel today.19  There is a shooting attack on her motorcade.20  In her report, she states, “The human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territories is bleak. The civilian population feels besieged by a stronger power prepared to use its superior force against demonstrations and stonethrowing by adolescents.” The Commisioner’s report also covers the economic impact of Israeli closures and sieges. According to her report, 128,000 Palestinians who work in Israel are currently disallowed from entering Israel. Unemployment has tripled since October with Palestinians losing $10-11 million a day. There is also a 50 percent reduction in normal economic activity in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. 21

 

 

16^th            Occupied Hebron, West Bank—

o       Samer Muhammed Hassan al-Khadur, age 29, is shot dead by musta’aribin (Israeli soldiers disguised as Arabs) as he returns from his fiance’s home. He is shot in his chest at al-Fawwar Refugee Camp. Khadur was to be married tomorrow.1

o       Yusef Suleiman Abu ‘Awad, age 30, is shot dead by Israeli forces with gunfire to his chest in Beit Omar in Hebron.2

           

Occupied Salfit, Gaza Strip—An 11 year old succumbs to wounds received during a confrontation between armed Israeli forces and Palestinian stone throwers 2 days ago.3 

 

A Palestinian Human Rights group Land and Water accuses Israel of denying ambulances to enter to aid the wounded on the pretext that they might be smuggling in weapons.4

 

Harold Fischer, a German foreign resident who was cut down by Israeli fire during a raid in Beit Jala, is buried today.5

 

Israeli helicopter gunships carry out a predawn mission and rocket four targets Israel associates with Fatah. The IDF says it rocketed Fatah headquarters in Tulkarm, Hebron, Salfit, and an armory in Jericho.6  These attacks are part of Barak’s security cabinet’s plan to escalate attacks against Fatah and Tanzim who Israel blames for the Intifada. 12 Palestinians were wounded.7       

           

Hizbullah detonates six roadside bombs near an Israeli patrol. 2 Israeli soldiers are slightly hurt.8

 

According to the PRCS, 208 Palestinians have been murdered thus far by Israeli forces. 24 Israeli soldiers and civilians have also died.9

 

The Marseilles Conference of European and Mediterranean Foreign Ministers begins today. Palestinian and Israeli negotiators are expected to come.10

 

             Barak blocks transfer of $30 million (20 million pounds) that Israel collects on behalf of the Palestinians.  The Gulf States also have not yet given the Palestinian Authority the $1 billion dollars they promised.11 

 

Arafat meets with US envoy Dennis Ross.12

 

Last day of European-Mediterranean summit to which Syria, Lebanon, and France have refused to come.13 Palestinian negotiators demand a return to resolution 242, an end to Jewish settlements, and an international protection force. Israel in turn, blames Palestinians for their own deaths, and various European Foreign Ministers back the “fundamental role” that the US must play. The European Union, which pays a third of Palestinian funds, states that it will only get involved with the consent of both parties. Palestinian negotiator, Nabil Shaath, points out that 3 of his delegation could not attend because they were not allowed to pass Israeli checkpoints in violation of Euro-Med rules. There is no concrete outcome from the summit.14

 

17^th      Fanatic settlers destroy Palestinian olive orchards in Ramallah. Palestinian sources estimate the loss at $15 million.1 

 

Occupied Karni, Gaza Strip—Israeli forces murder Rami ‘Imad Yassin, age 18, with shots to his heart at the Karni Crossing. Yassin was from Zeitun, Gaza Strip.2

           

Occupied Tulkarm, West Bank—38 year old Mahmud Zaid Samur, a resident of Qalqilya, is murdered with shots to his chest by Israeli forces.3

 

Occupied Hebron, West Bank—

o       19 year old, Hamzeh ‘Abd al-Mu’ati Abu Shkheidam, is shot dead by Israeli forces with live bullets to his chest and abdomen. Shkheidam was a resident of Hebron.

o       17 year old Muhammed ‘Abd al-Jalil Abu Rain is shot dead by Israeli forces on Road No. 60. Rain was from Halhul.4

 

Occupied Jericho, West Bank—

o       45 year old Palestinian officer, Hafez Muhammed Hafez Faruan, is shot dead by Israeli forces with live gunfire to his chest. 

o       Palestinian officer, Khaled ‘Abdullah Salameh, age 35, is shot dead by Israeli forces with live ammunition to his heart.5

 

18^th            Occupied Kfar Darom, Gaza Strip—5am. Palestinian, Baha a-Din Salameh Sa’id, opens fire at an Israeli army post guarding the illegal Jewish settlement of Kfar Darom, killing 1 Israeli soldier 21 year old staff sergeant Baruch Snir-Flum, and wounding another 2 before he is shot dead with live gunfire to his head. Sa’id was from al-Maghazi Refugee Camp. Israel uses this incident as an excuse to mete out punishment. According to Palestinian officials, Israeli helicopters fire rockets on a base used by Arafat’s bodyguards wounding 4. Israel denies the attack.1

 

Israel fences in and blockades Gaza Strip.2 .

 

Israeli activist, Neta Golan, has now been staying in blockaded Hares village for the past four nights. According to Golan and the villagers, men from nearby settlements and Israeli soldiers fire into the village after dark, often also swearing, honking horns, and throwing stones.3

 

Soha Arafat, wife of Yassir Arafat upbraids Israeli mothers for the deaths of Palestinian children at the first ever Arab women’s summit held at the Cairo International Conference Centre. “It's shameful that your sons are killing Palestinian children. A mother is always a mother and she should pressure the Israeli government not to send its army to kill Palestinian children.” The summit, which was initially held to analyse the position of Arab women in Arab states, was modified to show support for the Intifada. Arab first ladies voiced their moral support for the Intifada condemning Zionist terror.4

 

19^th            Occupied Karni, Gaza Strip—Israeli forces murder 14 year old Palestinian, ‘Abd a-Rahman Ziad a-Dahshan, with live bullets to the heart at the Karni Crossing.1

 

Occupied Nablus, West Bank—Rafa’at Muhib Ibrahim Judeh, age 22, is shot dead by Israeli forces with live bullets to the neck. Judeh was from Zawatah in Nablus.2

 

Israeli embassy employee, Yoram Havivian, in Jordan is shot near his house. The gunman escapes. Havivian is treated for wounds, and his life is not in danger. It is not clear whether he was hit by a bullet. Ministry of Interior spokesperson says that Havivian was hurt by shattered glass from his car.  Jordan’s Prince Hassan calls the Israeli ambassador to express his sorrow about the incident and to promise full cooperation with Israel.  Barak call the incident “very grave.”3 Jordan and Israel signed a peace treaty in 1994, but anti-Israeli sentiment has been running high, and Jordanians are demanding an end to relations with Israel. Two new groups have claimed responsibility for the attack. One is the Jordan Islamic Resistance Movement and the other  is known as The Group of the Warrior Ahmed Daqamseh named after a Jordanian soldier who shot dead 7 Israeli school girls in northern Jordan.4

 

Former Israeli President Ezer Weizman meets Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak today at Sharm el-Sheikh.5

 

20^th            Occupied Rafah, Gaza Strip—

o       22 year old, Rafa’at Abu Libdeh, is shot dead by Israeli forces at Rafah Crossing.

o       16 year old Ibrahim Ahmad Hassan ‘Othman, is shot dead by Israeli forces with live bullets to his heart. ‘Othman was from Tel a-Sultan in Rafah.1

 

Occupied Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip—22 year old Palestinian officer, ‘Abdullah Mahmud al-Fareh, is shot dead with live gunfire to his face by Israeli forces.2

 

Occupied Gaza Strip—122mm mortar shell attached to a bomb explodes near an armoured bus taking settler children and teachers from a heavily fortified illegal Jewish settlement, Kfar Darom housing 250 Israeli settlers in Gaza Strip, to school at Gush Katif, a bloc of illegal Jewish settlements. 2 Israeli settlers, Gabriel Biton and Miriam Amitai, age 35, are killed and 3-5 children are seriously wounded.3  3 children of the Cohen family are severely wounded. Yisrael, age 7, loses the bottom half of his right leg; Tehila, age 8, loses both legs, and Orit, age 12, loses his right foot.  The incident has left some wondering why Israeli settlers move into illegal settlements on occupied territory and put their children, who may or may not share their parents’ dogma, in danger.4 Three guerilla groups claim responsibility for the attack. These are Palestinian Hizbullah, al-Aqsa Martyrs, and Omar al-Mukhtar.  Arafat orders an investigation into the bus bombing.5

 

Barak convenes the Israeli cabinet. It approves “selective strikes” on Palestinian military areas.6  Minutes after approval, Israeli helicopter gunships send rockets smashing into Gaza City in what becomes the largest air attack to date in the conflict.7  In classic Israeli style, the gunships mete out collective punishment on the fear stricken residents of Gaza Strip cutting off all power supply in the city.8  Israeli helicopters also bombard Jabalya Refugee Camp. Witnesses say Palestinian guerillas fired back.9  Other targets in this massive air attack include Palestinian police headquarters, Head of Preventive Security Services, Mohammed Dahlan’s, office whom Israel blames for the bus bombing, a transmitter of Palestinian satellite television, Palestinian security forces’ bases, police and presidential guard bases, and an office of Fatah which denies planning the bus bomb attack.10  During the air strikes, Voice of Palestine Radio calls on “all our Arab and Muslim brothers to act immediately to rescue our people.”11 . 2 Palestinians are murdered at security bases and 15 Palestinians including 6 children are seriously wounded in what will become a failed attempt by the Zionist state to end the Palestinian nationalist struggle.12 The US criticizes Israel saying that this attack used excessive force.13            

 

Israel plans on more economic sanctions for Palestinians, as well as a tighter military grip on Palestinian cities and towns that are already under blockade.14

 

The Arab Women’s Summit, which began on 18^th November, ends. Its final statement reflects its support for the Intifada condemning Israel for the violence and calling on it to withdraw from the Occupied Palestinian Territories.15

 

21^st            Occupied Jenin, West Bank—Israeli forces shoot dead Muhammed Lufti Mas’ad, age 22, with shots to his chest on the main road between Jenin and Nazareth. Mas’ad was from Burqin, Jenin. 1

 

Occupied Tulkarm, West Bank—16 year old, Yasser Taleb Tareq Muhammed Navtiti ‘Abd al-Rahim, is shot dead by Israeli forces with live ammunition to his chest.2

 

Occupied Hebron, West Bank—35 year old, Ahsin Muhammed Mustafa Bardi’a, a resident of Tzurif, Hebron, dies after being shot in the chest by Israeli forces on 15^th November.3

 

Occupied al-Balah, Gaza Strip—

o       27 year old, Hamed ‘Othman a-Sameiri, a resident of Khan Yunis, is shot dead by Israeli forces, with live bullets.

o       22 year old Muhammed Suleiman Abu ‘Abid, a resident of al-Balah, is also, shot dead by Israeli forces with live bullets to his head and chest.4

 

Occupied Gush Katif Jct., Gaza Strip—18 year old Israeli settler, Itamar Yafet, from Nezer Hazzani settlement in Gaza Strip, is shot dead at the Gush Katif Junction by Palestinian fire.5

 

Israeli forces at Kfar Darom shoot at a Palestinian intelligence officer. The Israeli line is that the officer was approaching the army post in a suspicious manner.  The officer however, did not open fire.6

 

Palestinian Authority renews its demand for an international protection force.7  Arafat also cancels his visit to Egypt scheduled for Tuesday without an explanation.8 .

 

Egypt recalls its ambassador to Israel, Muhammed Bassiouny, in light of Israel’s recent bombing.  According to Egypt’s Middle East News Agency, Egypt is also angered because Israel refused to allow it to take aid into Gaza Strip.9

 

Jordan also decides that its ambassador will not present his/her credentials to Israel until the latter ends its attacks against the Palestinian people.10         

 

22^nd            Occupied Morag Jct., Gaza Strip—Israeli forces fire with tank mounted machine guns at 2 Palestinian civilian cars assassinating 33 year old Jamal ‘Abd al-Qader Hassan ‘Abd a-Razzek, nephew of a Palestinian cabinet minister and a militia leader wanted by Israel.1 The IDF says that the car drove towards the settlement at high speed causing the soldiers to fire.2  It is not clear whether Israeli soldiers were fired at first.3  3 other Palestinians, who were also in the cars and who are thought to be Fatah activists, were also murdered during the assassination4 :

o       ‘Awani Isma’il Dahir, age 38, from Rafah

o       Naal Shahadeh a-Lidawi, age 20, from Rafah

o       Sami Nasser Abu Laban, age 30, from Sheikh Radwan, Gaza Strip.5

 

Occupied Tufah, Gaza Strip—21 year old Ibrahim Hassan al-Muqanin dies after being shot on 15^th November by Israeli forces.6

 

Occupied Rafah, Gaza Strip—Najib Muhammed Mahmyd Qashteh, age 40, is shot dead by Israeli forces with live gunfire to the head.7

 

Hadera, Israel—5:30pm. A car bomb, probably set by Palestinian guerillas in response to Israeli brutality and the latest air attack, explodes within Israel near a filled bus killing 2 Israelis, Meir Barmi, age 36 and Shoshana Ris, age 20, and wounding 35 people according to a hospital report.  Nearby shops set ablaze after the bus hurtles into them and according to witnesses, several people lose body parts.8  The military arm of Hamas, Izzel-Deen al-Qassam Brigades claims responsibility for the bombing.9  Upon hearing of bomb, angry hard liners gather in Jerusalem to demand an even more militant policy towards the Palestinian nationalist struggle.10 

“Meanwhile, its [Israel’s] armed forces have moved to what it—alarmingly—calls ‘pro-active’ operations, a euphemism for killing people on the basis that you suspect them of planning to kill you…”

—Phil Reeves, The Independent11

 

Thousands of right wing extremist Israelis attend a rally with the theme “Let the army win.”12

 

Israeli forces and tanks block traffic between Gaza Strip’s northern and southern areas.13

 

In violation of the agreement reached at the last Sharm el-Sheikh summit, Israel states that an inquiry, though led by the US, is still not appropriate as long as the uprising continues.14  The commission was to be led by former US senator George Mitchell.15

 

Albright speaks to both Arafat and Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami separately telling both sides that they have to help end the violence. Ben-Ami also commented that Albright said Arafat was ready to talk with Israel.16

 

23^rd            Occupied Rafah, Gaza Strip—22 year old Ziad Khali Abu Jazer is shot dead by Israeli forces with live gunfire to his chest and knees. Jazer was a resident of Rafah. 1

 

Occupied Jenin, West Bank—15 year old Palestinian child, Ayssar Muhammed Sadeq Husis, is murdered by Israeli security forces with a shot in the head at al-Jalama Junction in Jenin.2

 

Occupied Nablus West Bank—

o       Sami ‘Adel Nader ‘Amar, age 33, is shot dead by Israeli forces in Kfar Qalil in Nablus.

o       Nahed ‘Adel Nader ‘Amar, age 28, is also shot dead by Israeli forces in Kfar Qalil in Nablus.3

 

Occupied West Bank—Israeli forces shoot dead Ghassan Majid Masalem Qar’an, age 20, with shots to his chest.4

 

Occupied Nablus, West Bank—A Hamas activist, Ibrahim ‘Abd Qarim Bani Odeh, age 33, is found murdered in his car where an explosion device was planted.  Odeh spent 2 years in Palestinian jails on charges that he made bombs for Hamas.5  According to Palestinian officials, he was killed by explosives planted in his car with the help of a collaborator though the IDF denies involvement.6

 

Israeli forces shoot a Palestinian dead after a bomb explodes near an Israeli patrol.7

 

Occupied Gaza Strip—A Palestinian security officer fires on an Israeli army patrol at the Erez crossing killing Israeli Samir Hussein, age 19, from Horpish.8

 

Occupied Gaza Strip—A mortal shell thrown into the common area of a Palestinian-Israeli liason office in occupied Gaza Strip kills 1 Israeli soldier, Edward Matchnik, age 21, and wounds 3 others.9  4 Palestinian policemen are also injured in the attack. Israel orders all Palestinians to evacuate the liason offices in the Occupied Territories ending the last form of cooperation between the two sides.10

 

14 Palestinians are wounded in confrontations with the IDF. 11

 

Palestinian guerillas respond to the murders of Fatah activists on 22^nd November by attacking Israeli forces in occupied Gaza Strip wounding some Israeli soldiers.12

 

Arafat plans on visiting Moscow tomorrow. 13    

 

PRCS estimates that between 27^th September and 23^rd November:

·        236 Palestinians have been shot dead by Israeli forces

·        9353 Palestinians have been injured

           

Israeli official sources cited in UN Human Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson’s report say that:

·        30 Israeli settlers and soldiers have been shot dead by Palestinians

·        375 Israelis have been injured14

 

24^th            Madeleine Albright and Arafat discuss a ceasefire proposal by the US in an overnight meeting. The proposal includes an end to the uprising, buffer zones, and US mediation.1

 

Occupied West Bank—

o       Ghassan Qar’an, age 20, is shot dead by Israeli forces during a stone throwing demonstration.

o       Ayfar Husis, age 15, is also cut down by Israeli fire during a stone throwing demonstration.2

 

Occupied Nablus, West Bank:

o       Sami ‘Adel Nader ‘Amar, age 33, is cut down by Israeli fire to the head in Kfar Qalil.

o       Nahed ‘Adel Nader ‘Amar, age 28, is also shot dead by Israeli soldiers in the same area.3

 

Occupied Karni, Gaza Strip—15 year old Majdi ‘Ali ‘Abd dies after being shot with live bullets in the head by Israeli forces on 17^th November. ‘Abd was from Shuja’iyah, Gaza Strip.4

 

Occupied Rafah, Gaza Strip—Palestinian Ziad Abu Jazer, age 20, is found dead. Evidence suggests he was shot more than a dozen times.5

 

Occupied Gush Katif Jct., Gaza Strip—An Israeli soldier, 25 year old Sharon Arameh, is killed by Palestinian guerillas.6

 

Occupied West Bank—Israeli, Ariel Jarafi, from Petah Tiqwa, is shot dead in Tapuah Junction by Palestinian guerilla fire.7

Occupied West Bank—An Israeli motorist, Ariel Jerafi, who worked for the IDF, is killed in a shooting by Palestinian guerillas.8

Shadi Masri, 24 year old Palestinian, is shot with a fragmenting bullet by Israeli forces after throwing a Molotov cocktail. Masri says Israeli soldiers in the ambulance taking him to Amman Surgical Hospital punched him and took his picture.9

Nablus, occupied West Bank—Thousands of Palestinians attend the funeral of Bani Odeh.10

 

Dozens of Palestinian youths throw stones at 2 Israeli tanks at Karni Crossing in the Gaza Strip. The cannons turn to target the children, then retract.11

 

Israel rockets Paradise hotel, a Palestinian business, without any provocation says the owner. The IDF says the attack was to get rid of any Palestinian gunmen in the area. 6 people are injured.12

 

Palestinian guerillas hidden behind sandbags open fire on Israeli forces. According to the IDF, Israeli soldiers return fire with anti-tank missiles.13

 

Arafat’s aide, Tayeb Abdel Rahim and Cabinet Minister, Jamil Tarifi, meet with Ephraim Sneh in the Gaza Strip to negotiate an end to the current crisis.14

 

Senior Israeli official says that Israel will scale down its attacks on Palestinians. The decision comes as Israel is being criticized internationally for its recent air raid on occupied Gaza City.  Israel has also thus far abstained from retaliating for the death of its soldier(s) at a liason office yesterday though Deputy Minister Ephraim Sneh denies reports that the Israeli Cabinet has chosen not to attack.15

 

Mediated by Russian President, Vladmir Putin, Palestinian and Israeli leaders speak on the phone for the first time in approximately a month.  According to the Israeli government, Arafat agrees to try and stop the violence, and both sides agree to renew cooperative work and re-open Palestinian-Israeli liason offices.16  Saeb Erakat, in an interview to a Russian newspaper, says that Arafat went to Moscow now due to the increase in Zionist aggression. Arafat wants Russia to push for an international protection force.17

 

Israeli negotiator Danny Yatom leaves for Cairo.18

 

25^th            Occupied Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip—13 year old Taysir Adnan Hamed Abu al-Araj is murdered by Israeli fire.1 

 

Occupied Jenin, West Bank—2 Palestinian brothers are murdered when an Israeli artillery shell hits their home.2  2 other Palestinians are also shot dead here by Israeli forces:

o       21 year old, Amjad ‘Azmi Muhammed ‘Abadi, is shot dead with live bullets to the abdomen by Israeli forces.

o       18 year old, ‘Abd Al-Mu’am Muhammed ‘Az-a-Din, is shot dead with live bullets to his head at the entrance to Arabieh in Jenin.3

 

Occupied Nablus, West Bank—Fu’ad ‘Adnan Dweiqat, age 30, is shot dead by Israeli forces with live shots to his back on the Nablus-Jerusalem Road.4

           

Some of the illegal Israeli settlers are talking of leaving says chairman of Residents’ Committee in the Migdalim settlement.5

 

The IDF abandons helicopter bombardment in favour of artillery shell bombardment from the ground this week. The IDF claims that it has changed its tactics because helicopter bombings harm innocent people and undermine Israel’s image internationally. While the latter reason may be true, it is not logical to choose blanket artillery bombardment since that causes more casualties than helicopter bombardment. The aim of the bombardment by the IDF seems to be to get the frustrated Palestinians to drive out any armed groups in their neighborhoods.6

 

Palestinian-Israeli liason offices are opened today. Only a few Palestinians arrive, and according to the Israeli army, there is no cooperation on either side.  Also according to the IDF, Israeli soldiers under fire at a liason office fire back. There are no reported injuries.7

 

The IDF continues to round up Palestinians, they suspect of involvement in the car bomb in Hadera.8

 

Arafat meets with Israeli Transport Minister, Amnon Shahak, and former Chief of Shin Bet, Ami Ayalon.9

 

26^th            Occupied Karni, Gaza Strip—20 year old As’ad Khali al-Shaghnobu succumbs to injuries sustained on 21^st November when Israeli forces shot him in the heart.1

 

Occupied Qalqilya, West Bank—5 Palestinians are shot dead here today by Israeli forces. According to the IDF, they were armed and they opened fire on an Israeli car driving to a nearby illegal settlement.2  Witnesses and security officials say they were unarmed civilians.3  All 5 were shot dead at the southern entrance to Qalqilya:

o       Qusai Faisal Zahran, age 25.

o       Mahmud Yusef Al-‘Adel, age 25.

o       Muhammed Mansur ‘Adwan, age 16.

o       Ziad Ghaleb Salmi, age 23.

o       Mahdi Qassem Jaber, age 17.4  

 

Guerillas detonate a roadside bomb at 6:40am near an Israeli patrol as it tours the mountainside on the Lebanese-Israeli border.  According to an unconfirmed report, an Israeli soldier is killed and 2 more are wounded in the ambush at Shebaa Farms, an area at the foot of the Golan Heights.5  Israel bombards nearby hills suspected to be guerilla hideouts, and fires at least 100 shells near the village of Kfar Chouba.6 No group claims responsibility for the bomb, but the IDF blames the Lebanese Hizbullah.7 

 

Israel sends Shin Bet Chief, Avi Dakhtar, to meet with Palestinian Preventive Security Chief, Mohammed Dahlan. Prior to the visit, Israeli officials had called on assassinating Dahlan.8

 

27^th            Occupied Karni, Gaza Strip—18 year old Zakariya Hamuda Marzuq al-Khur dies after being shot with live bullets to the head by Israeli forces on 21^st November.1

 

Tarqumiya—Walid Ja’afra, age 24, a Jordanian citizen, dies after being shot in the head on 20^th November by Israeli forces.2

 

28^th            Occupied Karni, Gaza Strip—

o       ‘Imad Adiv a-Daya, age 19, is shot dead by Israeli forces with live shots to the head at Karni Crossing. Daya was from the Ash Shati Refugee Camp in Gaza Strip.

o       14 year old Palestinian child, Karam Fathi al-Kurd, also dies today after being shot by Israeli forces with live bullets to the head at Karni Crossing on 23^rd November.

o       19 year old, Ashraf ‘Abd al-Karim al-Bassous, also succumbs to his injuries. He was shot with live bullets in the neck by Israeli forces on 22^nd November.1

 

Barak faces a parliamentary vote today that could spell the end of his minority coalition. Indicted war criminal, Ariel Sharon, was asked by Barak to join the latter’s cabinet, but he refused.2

 

After blaming the PA for some time now, an official at Shin Bet says that Palestinian Security Chiefs Mohammed Dahlan and Jibril Rahoub whose offices have been the target of past Israeli military attacks, are not responsible for the Intifada.3

 

Speaking from Johannesburg, former South African President Nelson Mandela says that there is “no necessity” for him to have a role as mediator in the current Palestinian-Israeli crisis.

“None of the Western powers is interested in peace in the Middle East. What they’re interested in is being the one who brings about the peace.”4

 

29^th            Occupied Karni, Gaza Strip—14 year old Palestinian child Muhammed Muhammed ‘Abdullah Al-Mashrawi dies after being being shot in the head with live bullets by the Israeli forces at Karni Crossing.1

 

Eissa Abu Abdullah, 19, is shot by Israeli tanks at a stone throwing demonstration in occupied Gaza. The six fragmenting bullets, five in both thighs and one in his right arm destroy tissue. He is sent to Amman for further surgery.2

This week, Israeli soldiers deny 7 villages in occupied West Bank access to their sole source of drinking water, the Samya Springs.3

30^th            Occupied Gaza Strip—Israeli forces shoot dead Isma’il ‘Abd a-Salem Abu a-Rus with live bullets to his head at al-Bureij Refugee Camp. He was a resident of the camp.1

 

Occupied Bethlehem, West Bank—17 year old, Walid Muhammed Hamed Hussan al-Badaan, is shot dead by Israeli forces with live bullets to his heart.2

 

Palestinian youth Fadi Mohamed, age 18, who was shot by Israeli forces in the stomach while throwing stones, arrives at Palestine Hospital in Amman. A fragmenting bullet has smashed two vertebrae, injured his kidney, and paralysed him in both legs. Such bullets fired by the IDF from American-made Colt weapons break into pieces after penetration causing multiple severe injuries and are the more damaging version of the internationally banned dumdum bullets. Forensics specialists who studied the X-rays of several wounded Palestinians confirm the repeated use of these bullets to cause maximum injury and many times, permanent damage to the victim.3

 

Barak, who has decided to hold early elections after the extreme right wing of Israeli politics represented by war criminal Ariel Sharon, refused to join his coalition, says that he will recognize a Palestinian state as long as the issue of Jerusalem is delayed. Worried that the continuation of the Intifada will spell the end of his term and already trailing in polls, Barak has issued a proposal that he hopes will quell Palestinians. The proposal is centred around the following points:

·        recognition of a Palestinian state and cooperation towards a political settlement if the Intifada ends.

·        1-3 year delay in settling the issue of Jerusalem.

·        1-3 year delay in settling the central issue of the internationally guaranteed right to return of Palestinian refugees.

·        annexing illegal Jewish settlements around Jerusalem.

·        a continued Israeli military presence in the Jordan valley.

Barak’s proposal however, has a sticking point for Palestinians: there is nothing new in it. It is rejected.4

 

DECEMBER  

1^st            Occupied Rafah, Gaza Strip—12 year old Palestinian, Muhammed Salah Muhammed al-‘Araja is murdered following prayers by Israeli forces with live bullets to his neck.1 

 

Occupied Hebron, West Bank—27 year old, Hamza Nadi Suleiman al-Hasis, is shot dead with gunfire to the abdomen.2

 

Occupied Karni, Gaza Strip—Madhat Muhammed Subhi Jadalla, age 18, dies after being shot with live bullets in the head by Israeli forces at the Karni Crossing on 30^th, November.3

 

Occupied Ramallah, West Bank—23 year old Yassin Ibrahim Muhammed Shehada is shot dead by Israeli forces with shots to his chest at the entrance to Kalandia Refugee Camp.4

 

Mohamed Nada, a 17 year old Palestinian, is shot with a fragmenting bullet as he cleans outside his sister’s house in Ramallah. The bullet shatters inside him and hits his sciatic nerve. He survives.5

 

Thousands of Israeli police deploy around Jerusalem during the first Friday of Ramadan prayers at al-Aqsa Mosque. Only those with Israeli identity cards are allowed to enter the Old City of Jerusalem. These are only those people who live either in Israel or Jerusalem. For many weeks now, the Israeli police has banned young Palestinians from praying at al-Aqsa.6 

 

Gaza Strip airport, which has been closed for a month, is allowed to reopen today.7

 

The PA cabinet, following its meeting in Gaza Strip, issues a statement demanding the implementation of resolutions 242, and 338 “which would enable the Palestinian people to gain their independence.”8          

 

Israel threatens Syrian bases in south Lebanon with bombardment if there are more attacks on Israeli soldiers. Israel accuses Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, of encouraging the Hizbullah. The threats come as Israel observes that President Assad is equally impervious to Israeli pressure and demands, much like his father. In addition, Assad is seeking closer relations with Iraq unlike his father who supported Operation Desert Storm.9 

 

Barak, whose term was till 2003, is now expecting elections sometime in May.10

 

According to statistics provided by UNICEF spokesperson Lynn Geldof:

·        261 Palestinians have died in the recent Intifada

·        13 Israeli Arabs have died

·        35 Israeli Jews have died

·        97 children under age 18, all of them Palestinianm have died.

·        9,802 Palestinians have been injured

·        4,116 of the injured are Palestinian children.

·        426 Israelis have been injured

·        184 of the injured are Israeli civilians

·        4 of the injured are Israeli children.

The figures are based on information provided by the Palestinian Red Cross, a Palestinian NGO, Defense for Children and various UN agencies. UNICEF has agreed with Palestinian authorities to set up a system to monitor the impact of the uprising and the violence on children.11

 

            The United Nations General Assembly acts on four resolutions under agenda item titled, “Question of Palestine”:

·        Resolution 55/52 Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People passes. Favour: 106 Against: 2 (Israel, US) Abstentions: 48

·        Resolution 55/53 Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat passes. Favour: 107 Against: 2 (Israel, US) Abstentions: 48

·        Resolution 55/54 Special Information Program on the Question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat passes. Favour: 151 Against: 2 (Israel, US) Abstentions: 2 (Marshall Islands, Micronesia)

·        Resolution 55/55 Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine passes. Favour: 149 Against: 2 (Israel, US) Abstentions: 3 (Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru).12

           

2^nd            Occupied Ramallah, West Bank—Israeli forces shoot dead 27 year old, Shehada Mussa al-Ja’afari, with gunfire to the neck at the northern entrance to al-Bira, in Ramallah.1

 

3^rd        Israeli negotiator, Gilead Sher, says that Israel will cooperate fully with the US led inquiry into the causes of the Intifada. The fact-finding committee will arrive in two weeks.1  The commission members are former US Senators, George Mitchell and Warren Rudman, former Turkish President, Suleyman Demirel, Norwegian Foreign Minister, Thorbjorn Jagland, and former Secretary General of NATO, Javier Solana.2 

 

            Arab Foreign Ministers meet in Cairo to discuss the current Intifada and Zionist aggression.3

 

According to witnesses, Israeli soldiers and illegal Jewish settlers enter Hussan and fire on Palestinians en route to Hussan mosque for prayers. 25 Palestinians are injured and the local mosque is shot through with bullets. The IDF says that earlier in the day, residents of Hussan village near Bethlehem threw firebombs at Israeli motorists injuring 2 Israeli women slightly.4  The IDF also denies firing at worshippers and says that it only fired at a Palestinian who tried to wrest an Israeli soldier’s weapon. Heavy fighting ensues near Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem, and continues into the night.5 

 

4^th        A roadside bomb kills 2 Israeli settlers and wounds 5 children.1

 

12 Palestinians are injured, and 2 are in critical condition according to a Palestinian hospital after confrontations between Palestinians and heavily armed Israeli forces occurred throughout the night. IDF helicopters fired 2 rockets at al-Aida Refugee Camp near Bethlehem. According to the IDF, they were aiming for Palestinian gunmen.2 

 

Israel opens a new bypass road for Israeli settlers connecting Karni crossing with the Netzarim settlement. The 4 kilometre road runs through Palestinian areas where Israel bulldozed Palestinian homes, fruit trees, farm land, water wells, and infrastructure without the permission of the PA. According to an Israeli military official, there was an urgent security need for the road.3

 

Peace Now says that the number of settler homes on the Occupied Palestinian Territories has increased by 52 percent since 1993, the year of the Oslo Accords, when Israeli was to put a freeze on settlement building. 32,750 new units have been built since September 1993 of which 2,830 of them were during Barak’s tenure.4

 

Arafat, wearing a pistol for the first time in years, accuses Israel of betraying an agreement to end the conflict. The pistol, says Arafat, is because illegal Jewish settlers tried to block a main road that he was using to get to Gaza City.5

 

Christmas festivities are cancelled in Bethlehem.6

 

Donor countries meeting in New York, pledge $38.5 million dollars for UNRWA’s budget. Peter Hansen, the Agency’s Commissioner General, says that providing for the 3.8 million Palestinian refugees has become an ever more difficult task. UNRWA schools are running on double shifts to cope with staff shortage, and doctors see about 100 patients a day. The actual UNRWA budget needed to grow at 5 percent per annum to keep pace with the needs of the Palestinian refugee population. For 2001, the actual amount needed was US$311 million.7

 

5^th            Occupied Bethlehem, West Bank—22 year old ‘Abd al-Khader Omar Jib Abu Khatan, is shot dead by Israeli foreces in al-Khader. He was from the Duheishi Refugee Camp in Bethlehem.1

 

Occupied Ramallah, West Bank—15 year old Palestinian child, Ramzi ‘Adel Batanja, is shot dead by Israeli forces at the northern entrance to al-Bira in Ramallah by Israeli forces.2  

 

Shlomo Ratzbi, an Israeli embassy employee in Jordan, is shot and wounded in his foot as he leaves a grocery store.3

 

Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reports that Barak is in secret negotiations with Likud to form an emergency coalition.4 

 

UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Terje Rod-Larsen issues a report saying that the Palestinian economy has lost US$500 million during the first 60 days of the Intifada. Unemployment is running at 40 percent. Almost half of the Palestinians are now living on less than US$2.10 cents a day.5

 

6^th        Israeli bulldozers have for days now been razing orchards near el-Kararah, a small Palestinian village located a mile from where a roadside bomb exploded two days ago. Tonight, 3 Israeli bulldozers with machine guns arrive at the village and raze the surrounding orange and olive groves, the livelihood of the villagers. The bulldozers then smash into the homes of the villagers who try to protest with a sit-down. Israeli forces open fire. The Palestinian villagers grab their children and flee. Many of the cattle are flattened as the bulldozers raze cowsheds. The villagers (14 adults and 40 children) spend the first night in the open, thereafter, living in tents provided by the Red Cross and Palestinian Municipal Authorities. el-Kararah is only some yards from an Israeli-controlled road that runs between the illegal Jewish settlements of Kfar Darom and Gush Katif.1

 

B’Tselem, in a 50 page report, condemns Israel’s use of excessive force and says that 73 of the Palestinians murdered have been aged 17 or under, and most of the Palestinians killed in recent weeks did not carry weapons.2

 

            Bethlehem based NGO, Palestinian Prisoners Club, says that 500 Palestinians have been arrested since the start of the Intifada, half of whom have been children under the age of 18.3

 

Israeli radio reports that Israeli Foreign Minister, Shlomo Ben Ami, and US National Security Adviser, Sandy Berger, have agreed that the US led fact-finding committee will focus on the cause of the violence rather than the more important and pressing issue of the excessive use of force by Israel as the Palestinians had expected.4

 

            Nabil Shaath, PA Minister for Planning and International Cooperation and Palestinian negotiator, says that the PA will fully cooperate with the US led Mitchell Committee whose mission, according to him, is to investigate into the causes of the violence, prevent more violence in the future, and to protect the Palestinian people.5

 

The World Bank Board of Directors approves a US$12 million loan to the PA to help in the current economic crisis in which 125,000 or 20 percent of the labour force have been unable to enter Israel where they work. The money is intended to provide temporary employment for semi-skilled or unskilled workers.             A Palestinian Ambassador to a Cairo conference of Arab states estimates the loss to Palestinian economy at US$700 million and says that 63 percent of working age Palestinians are unemployed. The League of Arab States calls on Israel to pay for the losses to the Palestinian economy.6

 

7^th            Occupied Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip—19 year old Zuheir Mustafa ‘Ali Al-Khatab succumbs to injuries from being shot by the Israeli forces on 20^th November.1

 

Families in Favour of Peace, a group of Israeli families who have lost a relative in the conflict meet with Arafat to urge him to restart peace talks.2

 

Occupied Erez, Gaza Strip—At a Palestinian-Israeli industrial park near Erez Crossing, Mohammed Abu Assai, age 28, injures 5 Israelis, 2 seriously, before being shot down by one of his victims.3  Witnesses say Assai stabbed his Jewish employer and a truck driver who shot him afterwards.4  The park, one of the last places of joint activity, is shut down by Israeli forces after the incident.5

 

Palestinian, Alan Bani Odeh, is found guilty in a Nablus court of spying for Israel and being an accessory in the assassination of Hamas military commander Ibrahim Bani Odeh on 23^rd November. The collaborator was also a distant relative of the Hamas commander. Bani fled to Israel, but was captured by Palestinian forces as he was returning to occupied West Bank. Bani denies planting the bomb, but says that the IDF blackmailed him into helping. Bani, who has a wife and 2 children, is the first convicted collaborator to be sentenced to death in a Palestinian court. Arafat still has to approve the sentence.6

           

8^th        Day of Rage, day 1.

To commemorate the first intifada, head of Fatah, Marwan Barghouti, calls for two days of rage. He asks all Palestinians to confront and fight the Zionist occupation and aggression.1

 

Occupied Jenin, West Bank—

o       Ahmad Rateb Qassem, age 21, is shot dead by Israeli tank fire on a hill which only a 100 metres from a blockade by the PA in Sabah al-Hir neighborhood.2 

o       Palestinian security officer, Muhand Mahmud Abu Shaduf, age 30, is shot dead with tank fire at a PA checkpoint in Sabah al-Hir neighborhood. Shaduf was from Jenin.3

o       Palestinian security officer, Ziad Mahmud Sbeih, age 34, is shot dead with Israeli forces’ tank fire, 100 metres from the PA checkpoint. Sbeih was from Jenin.4

o       Palestinian security officer, Muhammed ‘Abdullah Yehia a-Sheikh, age 17, is shot dead by tank fire from Israeli forces, 100 metres from the PA checkpoint. Sheikh was from Jenin.5

o       Palestinian security officer, ‘Ala’ ‘Ata ‘Abdullah Abu Jaber, age 20, is shot dead at the PA checkpoint. Jaber was from Jenin. 6

           

Occupied Bethlehem, West Bank—16 year old Palestinian teen, Mu’ataz ‘Azmi ‘Isma’il Tilakh, is shot dead by Israeli forces’ gunfire at Rachel’s Tomb. He was from Deuheisha Refugee Camp.7

 

Occupied Hebron, West Bank—Musta’aribin open fire on Palestinian children as they walk outside al-Baqa-a Mosque. All the children flee except 14 year old, Ahmed Qawasami who is caught by the Israeli soldier chasing him. The soldier drags Qawasami to the ground, presses his boot on the child’s neck and shoots him at point blank range. Qawasami is declared clinically dead upon arrival at Ahli Hospital where Dr. Mohammed Dweiq, a neuro-surgeon, confirms that the child was shot at point blank range.8

 

Occupied East Jerusalem—16 year old Palestinian child, ‘Amer Samir ‘Abd al-Hamid al-Mashni, is shot dead by Israeli Police. He is shot in the head at the Lions Gate in the Old City. Mashni was from the Sho’afat Refugee Camp.9

 

Occupied West Bank—Palestinian guerillas open fire on an Israeli van near Kiryat Arba Jewish settlement killing Rina Didovski, a settler and a school teacher.10  The driver, Eliyahu ben Ami, 41, is critically wounded and later dies.11  Another teacher is also slightly hurt, according to doctors. The van, which was covered with pro-settler stickers, was traveling on a road that is used by Jewish settlers to move around occupied Hebron. Barak threatens that the perpetrators will be punished. Mayor of the illegal Arba settlement, Zir Katsover, demands that Israeli forces be authorized to chase Palestinian guerillas into Palestinian territory.  Israeli soldiers block the road to Bani Naim, a Palestinian village, located near the scene of the incident.12 

 

Occupied Jalkamus, West Bank—A few hours later, 4 Palestinian policemen and 1 Palestinian civilian passerby are murdered in the occupied town of Jalkamus near Jenin in the West Bank when Israeli forces raze a Palestinian National Security Force base with tank shells.13 The area was under the authority of the PA, according to Palestinian mayor Zuheir Manasra.14  According to a Palestinian witness, the aggression was without provocation. 15  Several witnesses say the 4 Palestinian men were sitting down in their tent to break their fast when Israeli forces fired several mortar shells at their tent murdering them and a passerby. Body parts scattered over a 50 metre radius.16  The IDF says that the men were in an area where Palestinians are prohibited from carrying weapons under the interim peace accords.17  Regarding the murders, Munzer al-Sharif, governor of occupied Jenin, says, “They were about to break their fast at sunset, and the criminals fired tank shells at them, which blew their bodies to bits. It is an indescribably evil crime.”18

 

Hassan Shahin, a 40 year old Palestinian, is hacked to death outside of Jerusalem Hospital where he worked.19

 

Occupied Jericho, West Bank—Israeli officer, Tal Gordon, age 19, is shot dead by Palestinian guerillas on the Jericho bypass road between Allenby Bridge and Beit Haarava. Gordon was from Jerusalem.20

 

Palestinians from occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip are still prohibited from worshipping in Jerusalem. This does not stop many from sneaking past Israeli soldiers. After prayers, 2 masked men climb the Dome of the Rock and place a Palestinian flag on it. The crowd of 80,000 Palestinian worshippers cheers.21  Israeli forces open fire after Palestinians gather to throw stones at Israeli checkpoints wounding a Palestinian.22 Palestinian youths wash their hands in the blood of the injured Palestinian and rebelliously hand paint the wall along the Via Dolorosa, the route that Christ took to his crucifixion.23  

The same Israeli group, Families in Favour of Peace, who met with Arafat yesterday, meet with Barak to ask him to begin peace talks. They tell Barak that Arafat is ready to talk about peace without any preconditions.24 

In Tel Aviv, Frankenthal’s Group of Peace puts up 300 white cardboard figures, some in the shape of children to represent people who have died in the current Intifada.25

The UN Security Council is presented with a modified resolution from the Non-Aligned Movement to establish a UN force in occupied Palestine. The resolution draft is not precise about the strength of the force saying instead that the UN Secretary General would “consult both sides on the composition…”26

The EU holds a summit at Nice and renews its offer of help in negotiations.27

9^th        Day of Rage, day 2.1

 

Occupied Rafah, Gaza Strip—13 year old Palestinian, Salim Muhammed al-Hameida, dies after being shot by the Israeli forces at Rafah Crossing on 5^th December.2

 

Trigger-happy settlers, armed with machine guns, shoot Sami Jaber, age 12, after they forcibly enter his father, Atta Jaber’s house in occupied Hebron with the aim of expelling the family. The settlers bring furniture, religious books, and an Israeli flag with them. They open fire on the terrified family and later claim that they were shooting into the air and cannot be held responsible for the critical injuries of the child. Following the attack on the Jaber family and in full view of Israeli soldiers, the settlers plunder homes and terrorise unarmed Palestinians in the neighbourhood.3 

 

Several hundred settlers, angry over the death of settler, Rina Didovski, yesterday, march near Barak’s residence in Jerusalem. Confrontations explode between the ideologically extremist settlers and Israeli peace activists demanding the evacuation of all 200,000 settlers from the Occupied Territories.4

 

The IDF extends its authority into PA-controlled areas and blockades them.  Since the fighting began, residents of the West Bank and Gaza Strip have been sealed off from Israel where many earn their livelihood.  Palestinian cabinet declares that this Israeli policy is collective punishment.5

 

Barak informs the Israeli public of his resignation from Prime Minister in a televised address. He plans on special elections for the position in 60 days.6  Barak calls the coming elections a “referendum on peace” for voters.7  The elections are a strategic move on Barak’s part to keep contender, Netanyahu, from running. Under Israeli law, he cannot run in these elections because he is not a Parliament member.8

 

The US-led Mitchell Committee is to arrive in 3 days.9

 

The Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), a British NGO, and Action Alert, an anti-Israeli group, demonstrate at British chain, Marks & Spencer. They urge Britains to boycott the chain, which the head of the IHRC says, buys $233 million goods from Israel annually. Marks and Spencer responds by saying that what it buys from Israel is just a fraction of what it buys from the Middle East as a whole.10

 

10^th            Occupied Beit Jala, West Bank—Israeli soldiers murder 24 year old Mahmud Yusef al-Mughrabi. After handcuffing him, Israeli soldiers tie his ankles together, beat him with a metal object, and then, shoot him with a single bullet to the head.1 

 

Occubied Nablus, West Bank—Israeli forces shoot dead 22 year old Hikmat ‘Abd al-Hadi Shehadeh Khnani. He was from Beit Fureik in Nablus.2

 

Occupied West Bank—Israeli soldiers shoot dead a Palestinian they say was trying to place a roadside bomb near the illegal Jewish settlement of Har Gilo near Jerusalem. 3

 

Israeli police places a Jewish settler under arrest for allegedly shooting 13 year old Palestinian, Mansur Dshaber. According to the boy’s uncle, Ater Dshaber, he was shot near Hebron after Israeli settlers forcibly confiscated Ater’s house. They were later removed by Israeli police and soldiers. The Israeli army, perhaps hoping to avoid a public relations disaster, sent a helicopter and has moved the child to Jerusalem Hospital.4

 

Israeli commander, Lieutenant General Shaul Mofaz, forbids private cars carrying only Palestinian males from traveling freely within the West Bank. The IDF says this is to end drive-by shootings.5

 

Talks take place in Jerusalem between Palestinian Security Chief, Mohammed Dahlan, Israeli Foreign Minister, Shlomo Ben Ami, and top Israeli negotiator, Gilead Sher.6

 

Netanyahu asks the Knesset to change its existing law so that he can run. The current law prohibits him from running in special elections because he is not a Parliament member.7

 

US envoy, Dennis Ross meets Arafat in Morocco today.8 

 

11^th            Occupied Nablus, West Bank—Israeli forces assassinate member of Islamic Jihad, 28 year old, Anwar Mahmud Ahmad Himran.  The IDF says that Himran was wanted for plotting a bombing in a West Jerusalem market in 1998.  It further claims that Himran opened fire on Israeli soldiers first, though Palestinian witnesses contradict say otherwise.1  According to them, Himran was unarmed and walking to a taxi after closing his stationery store when 19 bullets sprayed him from an Israeli army post situated on a hilltop a quarter of a mile away.2 Israeli Deputy Defense Minister, Ephraim Sneh, declares that he is “happy” about Himran’s death.3

 

Occupied Hebron, West Bank—14 year old Palestinian child, Ahmad ‘Ali Darwish al-Qawasmeh, is shot dead by Israeli forces.4

 

Mohammed Qawasim a 14 year old Palestinian who was shot by Israeli soldiers on 9^th December dies at Ahli Hospital today.5

 

Confrontations explode between the occupied Palestinian village of Beit Jala and the nearby illegal Jewish settlement, Gilo. Gunfire is heard into the night. Israeli fire sprays the church in the Palestinian village. 2 residents of the village and 1 Israeli settler are wounded.   Israeli Deputy Defense Minister, Ephraim Sneh, issues a warning saying that Israel will hunt down Palestinian guerillas.6

 

Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics publishes its statistics on Israeli settlers. According to its figures, 13,000 new settlers moved into occupied Palestine in the first nine months of 2000. Most of them went to West Bank settlements Modiin Elit and Beitar.7

 

The fact-finding committee, led by former US senator George Mitchell, meets with Arafat and Barak. The commission collects reports from either side to be given to the US President in March. The committee leads no inquiries of its own into the causes of Palestinian unrest. Palestinians say that the commission did not do a thorough job.8 

 

Peter Hansen, UNRWA Commissioner General, says it is not getting support from Israel and that the agency is facing a

“very very serious situation of deprivation in everyday supplies such as nourishment, medicine, building materials to repair refugee shelters destroyed by the shelling, and artificial limbs…”

Hansen says that Israel should end its lengthy security checks, and steep financial charges.9

 

The UN Security Council decides to postpone dispatching an observer force. The representative of Namibia, Martin Andjaba, who had introduced the draft resolution on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement on 8^th December, says he is ready to “postpone action and start working on a text to come up with consensus language.” US representative, Nancy Soderberg, welcomes the action, or rather, nonaction, in the face of a Palestinian genocide.10

 

Norway pledges US$10 million towards financing an electrical infrastructure in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.  Turkey says it will give US$3 million towards humanitarian aid in occupied Palestine.11

 

12^th            Occupied Bethlehem, West Bank—Fatah field leader, Yusef Ahmad Mahmud Abu Sawi, between ages 27 and 28, is assassinated outside his home in his village outside of Bethlehem.1 Witnesses say Sawi heard the Israeli soldiers approaching and ran from his house. The IDF opened fire and cut him down with 17 bullets.2

 

            The IDF says, Palestinian guerillas opened fire on an armour plated school bus near the illegal Jewish settlement of Morag. No one is hurt.  In a separate incident nearby, 2 Israelis wounded, one seriously, in an attack. An Israeli settler school in the area also comes under fire.3    

 

Morroccan government announces that it will give US$5 million in aid to help unemployed Palestinians.4

 

Occupied Khan Younis, Gaza Strip—Palestinian refugees pile dirt and sandbags across the road at the entrance of their refugee camp where 35,000 Palestinians live. After Israeli forces bulldoze the blockade, Palestinians rebuild it.5

 

13^th            Occupied Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip—1am. Fighting begins at a Palestinian refugee camp between Palestinian refugees and Israeli forces. Israeli helicopters fire tank shells injuring 42 Palestinians and killing 4 Palestinian policemen:1

o       Ahmad Isma’il Mteir, age 44, from Rafah.

o       Jaber Muhammed Mahmud a-Sab’a, age 35, from Beit Hanun.

o       Mahdi Muhammed ‘Aqila, age 35, from Khan Yunis.

o       Muhammed Jamal Abu Al’Ala, age 25, from Rafah, is shot dead with ammunition to his chest.2

 

Occupied Hebron, West Bank—Hamas member Abbas al-Awawi age 28, is assassinated by Israeli forces as he stands in front of his shop on Wadi a-Tufah Street. Witnesses say he was talking to a friend when he was shot.3

 

Israeli Foreign Minister, Shlomo Ben-Ami, tells Israeli radio that Israel has made a mistake in imposing economic restrictions on Palestinians living in occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. He says that from now on, Israel will be “far more generous” in the matter.4

 

The Israeli Knesset gives preliminary approval to a bill that would allow Netanyahu to run in the special elections.5

 

Arafat meets King Muhammed VI of Morocco and US envoy Dennis Ross in Rabat. Though Arafat’s spokesperson says that the talks made no progress, Ross says that they were “very useful.”6

 

The EU Commission says it will be setting up an US$80 million cash facility in case Israel does not resume the transfer of funds owed to the PA.7

 

14^th            Occupied Gush Katif Jct., Gaza Strip—Hamas member, Hani Abu Bakar, age 32, is assassinated by Israeli forces. IDF soldiers stopped his car at a military roadblock and shot him. Abu Bakar had served time in Palestinian and Israeli jails. The IDF says soldiers opened fire because Abu Bakar fired a revolver, but Palestinian witnesses dispute this claim.1  Another Palestinian, Abdullah ‘Isa ‘Abdullah Qan’an, age 40, is also critically wounded in the extre-judicial execution.2

 

Occupied Nablus, West Bank—Israeli forces murder 3 Palestinians here today:

o       32 year old, Sa’ed Ibrahim Taha al-Khaguf, from Burin, Nablus.

o       Muhammed Lufti Qasem Nuri, age 22, is shot dead by Israeli undercover agents in Tel, Nablus.

o       ‘Abd Al-Mu’ein Hassan Ibrahim, age 24, is shot dead by Israeli undercover agents in Tel.3

 

Arafat and Israeli Foreign Minister, Shlomo Ben Ami, meet for talks that continue into tomorrow.4  According to Israeli television, Ben Ami demarcated the lines that Israel will not cross after a final agreement.5  An Israeli diplomat says that it is too early to tell whether there has been a breakthrough. Palestinian Information Minister, Abed Rabbo, says that all unresolved issues were discussed during the meeting. He went on to say that only new ideas would guarantee true progress towards a final agreement.6

 

EU Middle East envoy, Miguel Moratinos and French Foreign Minister, Hubert Vedrine, meet Mubarak in Cairo. Vedrine says that both parties should implement their agreements from Sharm el-Sheikh and says he looks forward to the findings from the fact-finding committee.7 

 

15^th            Occupied Gaza Strip—Israeli security forces shoot dead 22 year old, Nur a-Din Muhammed Abu Safi, with live shots to his chest in the Erez Industrial Zone. Safi was from the Ash Shati Refugee Camp in Gaza Strip.1

 

Occupied Tulkarm, West Bank—17 year old, Mahmud Faruq Da’ud, a resident of Hares, Tulkarm, is shot dead by fire from Israeli security forces in Khares.2

 

Occupied West Bank—3 Fatah activists are assassinated by the IDF near Nablus.  Israeli soldiers also shoot dead Palestinian officer, Nihad Hassan Muhammed Hantash, age 24, at a Palestinian checkpoint near Ramallah. Hantash was from Qalqilya.3

 

Polls show Netanyahu as the favourite of the Israeli public.  Barak, hoping to quell the Intifada and gain Israeli support says that he is ready to discuss the issue of Jerusalem and illegal Jewish settlements if Palestinians lower or relinquish their demand of the right to return for Palestinian refugees.  In order to make his offer more palatable, Barak also loosens the restrictions on Palestinians in occupied Palestine, and allows 20 bus loads of West Bank Palestinians over the age of 45 to attend prayers at al-Aqsa Mosque.4 Because of international pressure, Barak also allows 13,000 of the 128,000 Palestinian day labourers to return their jobs on Israeli farms and building sites.5

 

Hamas holds a rally today where Salah Shehadeh, founder of the military arm of Hams says, “We shall not allow anybody or any leadership to betray the blood of our martyrs. This is a note ‘to whom it may concern.’ ”6  

 

16^th            Occupied Jenin, West Bank—Muhammed Ma’ali, age 67, dies after being shot by Israeli forces in Ajja on 15^th December. He was from Ajja.1

 

The funeral of Nur a-Din Mudammad Abu Safi, who was shot yesterday by Israeli forces, is held today.2

 

US State Department spokesperson, Richard Boucher, says that Palestinian and Israeli negotiators may meet next week in Washington DC to discuss the renewal of ‘peace talks.’3

 

17^th            Occupied Rafah, Gaza Strip—Israeli forces murder 2 Rafah residents at the Rafah border crossing:

o       Iyyad Mahmud Muhammed Da’ud, age 27, is shot in the heart with live bullets.

o       Ahmad ‘Abd Al-Jalil Al-Qasas, age 38, is also shot in the heart by live bullets.1 

 

Occupied Ramallah, West Bank—18 year old Palestinian, Muhammed Hamed ‘Ali Shalash, is murdered by Israeli civilian gunfire.2

 

Occupied Hebron, West Bank—Palestinian, Najib ‘Abeido, is shot dead by a settler fire in Bet Hagai. He was from the area.3 

 

1,250 Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to return to work today via Erez Crossing after Israel eases its restrictions. The Israeli criteria to return was to be at least 35 years old, married parent.4

 

German mediators strike an exchange deal between Israel and Hizbullah for prisoners of either side. Israel will exchange Lebanese prisoners Mustafa Dirani and Sheikh Abdel-Karim captured 10 years ago for the 3 Israeli agents captured by Hizbullah on 7^th October. Israel had originally intended to swap these prisoners for Israeli air force navigator Captain Ron Arad who had been captured by Dirani. Hizbullah Chairman, Sayed Hassan Nasrallah, wants other prisoners including Syrians, Palestinians, and bodies of dead Hizbullah guerillas.5

18^th      Two Palestinian secondary students are wounded after Israeli settlers open fire on their bus in Huwara.1

Saeb Erakat issues a statement about negotiations due to take place tomorrow in Washington DC.                                                                                                                   

“I would like to make clear to all, that unless Israel agrees to return to the lines of 4 June 1967, and comes to terms with the refugees' right to return home in accordance with UN resolution 194, there will be no point in conducting any further negotiations.”2

Before leaving for Washington, Israeli Foreign Minister, Shlomo Ben-Ami, says that the best way to resolve the issue of Jerusalem, a vital point for Palestinians, is by “maintaining the status quo.” Saeb Erakat responds to the statement saying, “He can say whatever he wishes to say, but the fact remains that Jerusalem would have to be returned to the Palestinians if peace is to be achieved."3

UN Security Council rejects call for an international protection force for Palestinians. The resolution was backed by 8 states, one less than the number needed to pass it. Those who voted in favour are Bangladesh, China, Jamaica, Malaysia, Mali, Namibia, Tunisia and Ukraine. Israeli allies insist the Israel must first approve a force before it can be brought into the region. Alon Liel, Israel’s Foreign Ministry Director-General calls this the biggest diplomatic victory of Israel in two decades.  The Permanent Observer of Palestine to the UN, Nasser al-Kidwa, says that the Council had shown itself incapable of even the smallest measure to protect Palestinians against the current genocide.4

19^th            Palestinian and Israeli negotiators arrive in Washington DC today.1  Palestinian negotiators, Saeb Erakat, PA Culture and Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo, and Gaza Strip security chief Muhammed Dahlan feel that the current talks are more about rescuing Barak’s troubled political career and getting him re-elected than about Palestinians facing daily Zionist terror.2  Earlier this week, PA Minister, Yasser Abed Rabbo, voiced his concern saying, “The Americans are pressuring us to talk with Barak, so we are going to meet with them in Washington, but there is really not much point to it.”3  Both sides will hold bilateral talks with Dennis Ross, and, perhaps, three way talks later that will include the US. The meetings are expected to end on 21^st December.4

 

            The US names three people for the inquiry commission: South African John Dugard who teaches at Leiden University in the Netherlands, Richard Falk, Princeton University Professor of international relations, and Kamal Hussein, ex-Foreign Minister of Bangladesh. The commission is expected to present its hearings on 19^th March at Geneva to the UN Commission on Human Rights.5

 

France says that the observer force resolution was premature but might be used in the future.6

 

20^th            Occupied Rafah, Gaza Strip—There are 2 reported Palestinian murders by Israeli soldiers here today:

o       Hani el-Sufi, between ages 10-12, is murdered with shell splinters from the IDF as he plays with two friends in front of his home.1

o       Salman Zu’arub, age 29, also from Rafah, is shot dead.2

25 other Palestinians are injured with 2 in serious condition during confrontations with the Israeli soldiers.3

           

Occupied Netzarim Jct., Gaza Strip—Israeli soldiers open fire on a Palestinian firefighting vehicle headed to Gaza City murdering

o       Assistant Officer, Nedal Abu Aoun, age 28.4

o       Lieutenant, Refat Faisal Abu Marzouk, between ages 25- 35.5

 

7 month old Palestinian baby boy is injured when a shell falls on his family’s house.6

 

Netanyahu bows out of the election race after the Knesset refuses his call to dissolve itself and have a general election. The Shas Party, the third largest in the Knesset, blocked Netanyahu’s proposal.7

 

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators continue their talks at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington DC. The PA is seeking guarantees from the UN Security Council on any possible arrangements with Israel. Palestinian negotiator, Yasser Abed Rabbo, says any deal without such guarantees would be a “historic crime.”8

 

Israel prepares a report for the Mitchell Committee, the US-led fact finding committee, in which it blames Palestinians for the violence and presents Israel as the victim. Roni Milo, a liason between Israel and the committee, says,

“In light of the Palestinians planned propaganda campaign, Israel must make it clear to the entire world by means of the report ... that Israel is the side under attack and that all of its actions are designed to protect itself, its citizens and its soldiers.”9

           

Iran sends 30 tons of medical supplies and other humanitarian aid to Palestinians according to the IRNA news agency. The shipment is the fourth of its kind since the beginning of the intifada.11

 

21^st            Occupied Rafah, Gaza Strip—Israeli security forces murder Rashid Barhom, age 26, with gunfire. Barhom was a resident of Rafah.1

 

Occupied Karni, Gaza Strip—Ahed Marish, an 18 year old Palestinian youth, is murdered by Israeli tank fire. He was walking home near the Karni Crossing say Palestinian witnesses. Ambulance drivers say Marish’s body was badly mutilated by heavy caliber bullets.  The IDF says it is checking its reports.2

           

Occupied Tulkarm, West Bank—Israeli forces shoot dead 48 year old, Ahmad Fu’ad ‘Awad, in Jabara.3

 

Occupied Hizme, West Bank—22 year old Palestinian, Tahrir Suleiman Rizk, is murdered by heavily armed Israeli settlers who enter his village and go on a killing spree. Afterwards, the settlers reportedly fled under the protection of the IDF.4

 

Occupied West Bank—Israeli, Eliyahu Cohen, age 41, is shot dead by Palestinian guerilla fire on the road between Jerusalem and Modi’in. Cohen was from Modi’in.5

 

Palestinians march in the funerals of 4 Palestinians in Rafah including a 12 year old who was shot yesterday. The coffins are draped with the Palestinian flag. Some masked mourners fire into the air during the procession, and one burns an Israeli flag. Another mourner issues a warning to Barak over a loudspeaker: “Barak, know that our bullets will take revenge for all the bloodshed.”6

 

In just 3 months, the death toll of Palestinians has gone higher than the total during the first year of the last intifada. The current death toll stands at 337. Between December 1987 and December 1988, it was 331.7

 

Clinton forwards a ‘peace proposal.’ The plan does not seem to show a substantial or significant move away from old policy. The main points of the plan are:

·        a division of Jerusalem in which Arab populated areas would be under the control—not sovereignty—of the Palestinian state and Jewish populated areas would be under the sovereignty of the Israeli state.8 (154/160)

“And the Palestinian Authority knows all too well what "control" would mean in Jerusalem. While Arafat's men collected garbage, supplied the traffic cops and kept their own people in order, the Israelis would continue to hold sovereign power over all Jerusalem.”

—Robert Fisk, The Independent9  

 

·        as before, an end to the Palestinian demand to enforce resolution 194 of the UN General Assembly which guarantees the right to return for 4 million Palestinian refugees to their former homes inside the Green Line.10 Most would only be able to go to a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip where many do not have their original roots. Some would be able to return to Israel as part of a family “reunion” agreement.11  Israel rejects the refugees because the influx would shift the demographic within Israel that has been diligently altered by Zionists to lend support to their claim that Israel is a state of the Jewish people, a claim that is still hotly contested by Jewish scholars.

·        as before, the assertion of the Israeli demand to yet annex more land from Palestinian territory . Instead of evacuating all of its illegal settlements, Israel plans to annex 4-6 percent of them in the West Bank.  Israel will evacuate about 100 settlements, but will get to keep those near but outside its old border allowing 8 percent of its illegal settlers to stay while Palestinians get 1-3 percent of land in Negev Desert between occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.12  This is being put forth as an equal exchange on both sides. In truth, “Israelis are giving Palestinians a piece of ‘land’ that’s desert so in return for a patch of sand, Israelis get to keep illegally built on occupied territory.” –Robert Fisk, The Independent13 

·        a return of only 64-65 percent of West Bank land to the Palestinians. The US says that its proposal will give 95 percent of land back which is more than the 92-94 percent that Israel was returning before. However, included in this territory to be returned to Palestinians, are the Dead Sea waters, Israeli army buffer zones, “rental” of land on which the illegal settlement of Kiryat Arba is located, and exclusion of land that has been illegally annexed from occupied West Bank into occupied East Jerusalem including Ma’ale Aduminum, a large illegal settlement.14

·        as before, only control—not sovereignty—on what is above ground at Haram al-Sharif. Israel would have sovereignty over any remains of the Jewish Temple below ground as well as sovereignty over the Western Wall and the prayer plaza below the Temple Mount.15 Palestinians want complete sovereignty over the area while Israelis want to retain the status quo and only grant control to “Palestinian-appointed Muslim authorities.”16  In 1990, 17 Palestinian youths died when riots erupted at the site after rumours spread that Jewish right-wingers were going to start rebuilding the Temple. In 1996, the Israeli government opened an archaeological tunnel just outside the Haram leading to riots in which 80 people, the majority Palestinian, died.17

·        a final-status agreement that would ensure Israeli security concerns after it hands over Palestinian territory.18

·        an agreement to end the conflict and all other Palestinian demands.19

 

Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami touts the plan as “the most radical, daring, difficult procedure ever.” Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat is more skeptical of the proposal, and says that he does not want to raise anyone’s expectations since there are major difficulties and differences.  Clinton suggests 10^th January as a date for a possible summit.20 

 

22^nd      Occupied Gaza Strip—According to the IDF, a Palestinian labourer was shot dead in Netzarim Jewish settlement, by Palestinian guerillas firing into the settlement.1

 

Occupied Hebron, West Bank—16 year old, ‘Arafat Muhammed ‘Ali Mish’al al-Jabarin, who lived in Hebron, is shot dead by Israeli security forces with live gunfire to his head on a road exclusively for Jewish settlers, west of Sa’ir, Hebron.2  Jabarin was the nephew of Abbas Zaki, a Palestinian lawmaker and senior Fatah official.3

 

Occupied West Bank—a Palestinian is murdered in a confrontation with the Israeli forces at Kalandia Refugee Camp.4

 

The IDF says a Palestinian was shot and killed after he tried to stab a settler near Beit Haggai.5

 

Palestinian suicide bomber kills 3 Israeli soldiers along with himself and wounds 3 others in a café full of off-duty Israeli soldiers in the illegal Jewish settlement of Mehola.6

 

Palestinian demonstrators in occupied East Jerusalem, frustrated at being barred from prayers at al-Aqsa Mosque throw stone at the Israeli soldiers after prayers. 1 Palestinian is hurt and 13 are arrested. Israeli Jerusalem District Police only allow those 35 or older for Friday prayers.7

 

PRCS and Star of David decide to cooperate on helping victims of the violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.8

 

Palestinian negotiators walk out of late night discussions with Israeli representatives at Bolling Air Force Base near Washington DC. A Palestinian official says that the discussions exploded when Israeli Foreign Minister, Shlomo Ben-Ami, resumed his demand of annexing 10 percent of Palestinian land after he had agreed to annex 5 percent. An official said, “There was almost a fistfight between the Israeli and Palestinian negotiators.” US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, rushed to the scene to calm the situation.9

 

Israeli Radio reports that Arafat says that they are close to reaching a concrete agreement. After a meeting with the German Defense Minister, Arafat said he hoped there would be a final outcome but it was not yet clear. Palestinian negotiator, Yasser Abed Rabbo said there was no real progress.10

 

23^rd            Occupied Netzarim Jct., Gaza Strip—

o       Nidal Hussein Abu ‘On, age 30, a resident of Rafah, is shot dead by Israeli forces. 

o       Sallama Eish al-Sawarka, age 52, a Palestinian farmer, is also murdered by the IDF.1

 

Occupied Gush Katif, Jct., Gaza Strip—‘Abdullah ‘Isa ‘Abdullah Qan’an, age 40, dies after being shot by Israeli forces on 14^th December. Qan’an was from Khan Yunis.2

 

Palestinian and Israeli negotiators fail to reach an agreement. Clinton offers suggestions on bridging the differences. Replies are expected mid-week.3 

 

24^th      The Centre for the Defense of the Individual and 5 Palestinian residents of Hebron petition the Israeli High Court of Justice to order the IDF to lift the curfew on the Israeli controlled part of the city, at least, during Eid ul-Fitr. The petitioners also ask that the IDF impose a curfew on the 400 Jewish settlers living in Hebron. Israeli lawyers, Eliyahu Abram and Yossi Wolfson, filed the petition which says that the lives of the 30,000 Palestinians living in Hebron under the curfew are continually disrupted because of the curfew.1

 

25^th      Clashes continue in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.1

           

            A poll in Yedioth Aharonoth says 48 percent of the 501 Israelis questioned are against Clinton’s proposal while 43 percent favour it. 60 percent of this group also supported returning control of Arab neighborhoods in East Jerusalem to Palestinian control but 57 percent were against returning control of Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount to Palestinians. 72 percent were against even a limited right to return for Palestinian refugees. The polls margin of error was 4.5 percent.2

 

            Israeli Deputy Defense Minister, Ephraim Sneh, says that Barak will allocate US $25 million to build a 74 kilometre alarmed fence, walls, iron barriers, dirt mounds, concrete blocks for cars, and security outposts from Mei Ami in the Wadi Ara region doen to Latrun on the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway. Sneh says these are to “prevent terrorists and thieves from entering Israel.” Work has already begun near Beit Hefer. Sneh says the fence does not necessarily delineate boundaries.3 

 

26^th      Arafat and Barak speak on the phone today.1

 

According to Ha’aertz, the World Bank has drafted a plan in which Israel would evacuate 50,000 settlers and transfer the settlements in their entirety to the PA. The settlers’ homes, fields, and public buildings would be sold to Palestinian residents. The houses of the Palestinians that move to the settlement homes would be given to Palestinian refugees coming mainly from Lebanon. The money Israel would be credited along with the settlements and the infrastructure  it left behind would be considered Israel’s contribution to the International Committee for Rehabilitating Refugees. The rest of the money would be used to compensate settlers who left their homes in tact.2

 

27^th      3 Israeli Ministers express their reservations about the division of Jerusalem mentioned in Clinton’s proposal (see 21^st Dec.):

Ø     Minister Roni Milo Acath who left the Likud Party for the Center Party prior to the elections in ’99.

Ø     Science Minister Matan Vilnai who is a hawkish retired general.

Ø     Rabbi Michael Melchior who is the liason between the Diaspora Jewish community and represents the moderate Orthodox Meimad Party.1

 

According to a poll in the Jerusalem Post, 52 percent of Israelis oppose Clinton’s plan, while 38 percent agree with it.2

 

Palestinian negotiators write a letter to explain their difficulties and objections to Clinton’s proposal, and present it to US Deputy Counsul General, Gerry Feierstein.3  The letter states objections to an Israeli controlled stretch that would cut the West Bank in half, and asks for clarifications about land transfers and other material points.4   The US refuses to clarify the proposal (see 21^st Dec.) until after Palestinian officials commit themselves to talks, which they know, will be more about pressure on them to accept the current flawed draft rather than talks about how to gain a just peace.5  The US pushes other leaders to urge Arafat to accept the proposal. Arafat receives phone calls from 50 leaders.6  

 

The European Investment Bank says it will put up US$12 million to help finance start-up businesses by Palestinians in occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. The bank says that “local conditions” will decide when the money will actually be given to businesses there. “It is hoped that a return to more peaceful conditions in the region will allow for a rapid take-up of the facility,” the bank said in a statement.7

 

28^th            Occupied West Bank—Palestinian security officer, Mahmud ‘Ali Mahmud Nuseir, age 33, is shot dead by Israeli security forces at a Palestinian post near Beit Hanun.1

           

            Occupied Sufa, Gaza Strip—A roadside bomb kills 2 Israeli soldiers:

o       Yonatan Vermullen, age 29

o       Gad Marasha, age 30

The guerilla group Islamic Jihad claims responsibility. Barak says that Israel will “continue its war against terror and as in the past, will get at those carrying out these acts.”2

 

So far, 350 Palestinians from occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip have been killed by Israeli security forces. 40 Israelis have also been killed by Palestinian guerillas.3

 

11-12 people are hurt, 2 seriously, as a bomb blast rips through Tel Aviv on Petah Tiqva highway. After the bomb, Barak orders the IDF to blockade occupied West bank and Gaza Strip.4

 

According to the Palestinian Centre for Public Opinion, 52 percent of Palestinians oppose negotiations with Israel. 57 percent of Palestinians also oppose shared rule over Jerusalem.5

 

Ehud Olmert, Likud Party member and mayor of Jerusalem moves his office to a Jewish seminary at the Western Wall and says that “all Jerusalem must remain united and part of Israel.”6

 

Leader of Israeli “This is Our Land” movement Moshe Feiglin, charges that Barak has forfeit his legitimacy. Member of extremist Women in Green group, Nadia Matar also accuses Barak of being a traitor.  Ariel Sharon asks his supporters to keep from calling Barak a traitor.7

 

Barak’s security adviser says that Israel will never sign an agreement which returns sovereignty over Haram al-Sharif to the Palestinians.8

 

Noam Arnon spokesman of the 450 Jews living in Hebron among 100,000 Palestinian Arabs says that they will resist any attempt to evacuate them.9

 

Barak’s cabinet accepts the US proposal (see 21^st Dec.), 10 in favour, 2 against, with the condition that the Palestinians accept it as well. Israeli Radio reports that Israel will relay its reservations about the proposal to the US in the next few days. Israel does not want to give control of Haram al-Sharif to the Palestinians. Israel also wants territorial continuity between the Mount of Olives, Mount Scopus and the City of David, and between the three settlement blocs in occupied West Bank.10

 

            Arafat says he will not accept the US proposal in its current form.11  Upon hearing this, Barak pulls out of a planned Sharm el-Sheikh summit announced earlier between Arafat, Barak, Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak and Egyptian Foreign Minister, Amer Moussa. The summit is cancelled tonight. Arafat still goes to Cairo for talks with Mubarak.12

 

            Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri repeats that Lebanon will not give Palestinian refugees Lebanese citizenship.13

           

The US announces an emergency contribution of US$33 million to provide food and shelter to refugees in Africa, Asia, and Europe. US$8.8 million of the money is for use for refugees in occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.15

 

29^th      Occupied Erez, Gaza Strip—Palestinian policemen are murdered by Israeli tank shells. Palestinians say a gunfight broke out after Israeli bulldozers razed trees near a Palestinian post. The IDF says that bulldozing was done to keep Palestinian guerillas from finding cover, and says that Israeli soldiers only fired one tank shell they came under fire.1 

 

9 Palestinian stone throwers are injured in confrontations with heavily armed Israeli forces in occupied Ramallah.2

 

11 Palestinian stone throwers are injured in confrontations with the IDF in occupied Hebron where a continual curfew by the Israeli army has been in place for the past months.3

 

2 Palestinian stone throwers are injured in confrontations with Israeli forces in occupied Gaza Strip.4

 

Israel tightens its siege on occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip and travel restrictions are renewed.  In the West Bank, the IDF blockades all towns and villages barring anyone from entering or leaving as Barak ordered yesterday after a bombing in Tel Aviv.5

 

A poll in Israeli newspaper, Yedioth Ahronoth, shows that Ariel Sharon’s lead has increased by 13 percent. The poll also shows that 51 percent of Israelis do not support the US proposal (see 21^st Dec.). 44 percent do support it, and 55 percent doubt if a peace agreement is possible.6

 

31^st            Occupied Tulkarm, West Bank—Fatah activist and dentist, 50 year old Thabet Thabet, is assassinated. Palestinian security officials say undercover Israeli soldiers shot Thabet in the chest 5 times as he backed out of his home. Thabet, who was leader of Fatah’s political arm in Tulkarm, was detained by Israelis several times after he returned to occupied West Bank in 1974. Neighbours of Thabet say that he was never involved in violent protests and even spoke in favour of the Oslo Accords. Israeli sources did not divert the blame of the assassination on rogue groups instead blaming the Palestinian authorites of praying on armed settlers and soldiers. An army spokesman said, “The Palestinians want to kill people only because they are Israeli….We’re going to cope with this situation.” Marwan Barghouti, commander of Tanzim in ocucpied West Bank, says that, “Israeli will pay the price. Barak has opened the gates of hell.”1

 

Occupied Hebron, West Bank—11 year old Palestinian child, Mu’ath Ahmad Abdullah Abu Hadwan, is shot dead by Israeli security forces in Ash Sheikh neighbourhood.2

 

Occupied Hizme, West Bank—22 year old resident of Hizme, Tahrir Rizzeq, is shot dead by Israeli forces.3

 

Occupied Tulkarm, West Bank—2 Palestinian policemen are murdered in the same area where earlier today, a senior Fatah activist was assassinated. 4  Palestinian sources say, marks on the body showed that the policemen had been tortured.5

 

Occupied West Bank—Illegal Jewish settlers, angry over settler deaths, say that they will “take back the roads.” Their method of doing this is to blockade entrances to many Palestinian towns, and according to witnesses, to fire into a Palestinian crowd and shoot a 22 year old Palestinian in the head. He dies.6

 

Occupied Ramallah, West Bank—6:45am. American born Binyamin Kahane, age 34, an extreme right-wing Jewish settler and his wife Talia, age 31, are assassinated after Palestinian guerillas ambush their car as they drive through occupied West Bank. 5 of Kahane’s 6 children, between the ages of 2 months to 10 years, are wounded in the attack.7  Kahane was the son of racist rabbi Meir Kahane, founder of the Kach Party, and author of They Must Go, a book that urges Israel to exterminate or expel all Palestinians from mandatory Palestine.8  The group, which spawned terrorist, Baruch Goldstein, a fanatic settler who murdered 29 Palestinian Arabs as they worshipped in Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, is outlawed in both Israel and the US. After the assassination of his father in New York by Sayed Nuseir, an Egyptian-American, Kahane took over the party renaming it “Kahane Lives.”9 A guerilla group in Beirut called the Martyrs of the al-Aqsa Intifada claim responsibility for the killings. About the killings, Barak says, “No type of violence against Israeli citizens will break our determination. The killers will not go unpunished.” After the funeral, fanatic ideological mourners shouting “Death to the Arabs!” run through the streets of West Jerusalem looking for Palestinians to attack.10

 

According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, 28 Palestinians are wounded today, 11 by live ammunition.11

 

Palestinian groups including Fatah push Arafat to reject the US proposal (see 21^st Dec.). Fatah distributes flyers saying Palestinians completely reject Clinton’s proposal. The leaflets urge Palestinians to turn the coming two weeks into days of struggle against Israeli forces and illegal Jewish settlers.12

 

Hanan Ashrawi of the Palestinian Legislative Council says of the US proposals: “They are not remotely acceptable. They fall short of what the Palestinian people expect and they fall short of UN resolutions.”13

 

Israelis, usually thought to be “doves” critcise Arafat for not telling Palestinians that they must let go of their internationally guaranteed right to return for Palestinian refugees.14

 

Shas party supporters campaign under the slogan, “Let the Army Win.” Sharon says that he will not honour any agreement made between Barak and Clinton.15

 

JANUARY

 

1^st        Fatah’s anniversary today.1

 

Occupied West Bank—

o       Palestinian security officer, Mu’ataz Muhammed Sa’id Saruji, age 37, is shot dead near Tulkarm by Israeli security forces.

o       Palestinian officer, Tareq Ibrahim Ahmad Al-Katu, age 31, is also shot dead here by Israeli forces.2

 

Masked mourners carrying guns march in the funeral of Thabet Thabet, Fatah activist and dentist who was murdered by Israeli undercover soldiers yesterday. The mourners vow revenge.3 

 

Jadallah al-Jabari, a retired Palestinian dustman in his fifties, is shot at an Israeli checkpoint in occupied Hebron. The shooting of Jabari, as he walked unarmed in occupied Hebron during a curfew that has been in place exclusively for Palestinians since the Intifada began, is caught on camera by an AP cameraman, a local Arab, who did not want his name mentioned.  The televised incident shows Jabari talking to an Israeli soldier at a concrete barrier. The film pauses, then resumes and shows Jabari in pain lying on the ground, clutching his leg. The footage also shows Jabari’s foot almost severed with exposed bone and tissue.4  The Israeli soldiers try to cover the camera lens and demand to see the cameraman’s papers.5  AP says that its cameraman did not see the actual shooting but that only a minute elapsed before he heard the shots. Jabari is treated in Israeli Hadassah Hospital for severe leg injuries, and his leg has to be amputated.6  Jabari’s brother says that Jabari, who had a permit to walk around in occupied Hebron, was on familiar terms with the Israeli soldiers who man checkpoints in the city. The IDF has launched an investigation into the incident. At this point, the IDF says that the Israeli soldiers at the barricades that day were new to occupied Hebron and fired as a result of “misjudgement” and were ignorant of the tensions that exist there.7

 

Arafat tells Palestinians to keep resisting Zionist aggression.8

 

During a 45 minute phone call, Arafat and Clinton decide to meet.9

 

At around 7pm, a car bomb explodes in a parked car on Herzl Street in Netanya inside Israel shattering windows and vehicles.10 The bombing comes soon after the announcement that Arafat will go to the US for talks.  According to Israeli radio, 54 people receive treatment for the bombing. Various reports say anywhere from 11 to 50 people were injured in the bombing.11  While there are no claims of responsibility for the bombing, Israeli Police Commissioner, Shlomo Aharonishki, says that the one man who is uncritically wounded in the bomb is allegedly the bomber. Deputy Prime Minister, Benyamin Ben Eliezer, says a retaliation to the bombing should be “vigorous and immediate,” and that all negotiations with the Palestinians should cease until they stop attacking Israelis.12  Deputy Defense Minister, Ephraim Sneh, says Israel will do its best to hit anyone involved in such incidences.13  Barak uses the bombing as an example of what he says is Arafat’s encouragement of anti-Israeli violence.14  

 

Israel closes Gaza Strip International airport. (As part of its agreement with the PA, Arafat is still allowed to fly in and out of the airport). It also seals occupied Gaza Strip entirely. Only humanitarian aid is being let through Karni Crossing.15  All Palestinian areas are blockaded, and Israel withdraws a number of VIP cards from PA officials.16

 

Barak says he is thinking of a “unilateral separation” from the Palestinians. This means that Israel would decide the borders between Israel and Palestine, and then enforce them.17

 

2^nd                Occupied Dugit, Gaza Strip—Israeli forces use live bullets to shoot dead Sabri ‘Awad Ibrahim Khader, age 50, near an army post.1

 

Occupied Gaza Strip—The IDF murders a 70 year old Palestinian farmer as he tends his fields.2

 

A bomb explosion in occupied Gaza Strip wounds an Israeli soldier.3

 

While Arafat meets Clinton in Washington DC today for two meetings, Palestinian negotiators circulate criticisms of Clinton’s plan.  Palestinian officials say that during the meeting, Arafat went over the issues of Palestinian refugees and Jerusalem.4  Meanwhile, Barak tells army radio, “Since Arafat has wasted most of this time in dragging his feet…we have very serious doubts about the seriousness of his intentions to reach an arrangement.”5 

           

Barak tells the IDF to prepare for a possible war if the current efforts at a peace agreement fail.6

 

3^rd        Arafat gives a preliminary conditional acceptance to the US proposal, which a White House spokesperson says, was clarified. Arafat also agrees that he will try to restrain Palestinians and will cooperate in ‘counter-terrorism’ efforts.1  Clinton calls for 10-12 days of negotiations to work out the details.2  Barak, now taking a hard-line in view of his upcoming elections, says that he does not intend to go to DC for talks because he does not think that a preliminary acceptance is a breakthrough.  Barak further says that his attention has now shifted from the proposal to Israeli security.3 

“In the coming weeks, we will not focus on the negotiations with the Palestinians, which in my assessment have no real chance of producing an agreement in the next few weeks, but on containing terrorism…It is our obligation to provide security for Israeli citizens.”4 

Israeli Justice Minister, Yossi Beilin, says that Arafat’s preliminary acceptance is a positive development, and says that the main question now is whether Arafat will stop the violence.5

 

Fatah military leader, Hussein al-Sheikh, says that Palestinians will continue the Intifada even if ‘peace talks’ happen.6

 

Natan Sharansky, who quit Barak’s cabinet when the latter began negotiating with the Palestinians, says that Israel is negotiating “under fire” to try and reach an agreement with Arafat before the end of Clinton’s term. “…Israel gives more and more, getting more terror and more hatred in return.”7

 

Barak speaks with Clinton on the phone and reverses his decision made 24 hours earlier to end all negotiations with the Palestinians.8

 

Founder and dean of Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles, Rabbi Marvin Hier praises Clinton’s efforts, but asks him not to give control over Haram al-Sharif to Palestinians. The group, which boasts 400,000 members, said that returning control of the Haram to Palestinians would put Israel in a corner at a time when it was coming under terrorist attacks.9

 

Lebanese Foreign Minister, Mahmoud Hammoud calls the right to return for Palestinian refugees, “sacred.”10

 

4^th            Regardless of the ‘peace talks’ underway, Palestinians don’t show any signs of ending the Intifada.1   Israel says that there must be an end to the violence before talks resume. Albright asks Arafat to keep his promise to restrain Palestinians.2

 

Arafat’s aides say that he accepted the US proposal with so many reservations that it is tantamount to rejection.3

 

Barak’s Chief of Staff, Gilead Sher, speaks with US envoys, Dennis Ross and Aaron Miller, about Arafat’s conditional acceptance of the US proposal.4

 

Arafat is expected to deliver a final answer to the US proposal after a meeting of Arab Foreign Ministers in Cairo today.5  Arafat briefs Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak, on his negotiations with the US, then goes to the Arab League Headquarters for discussions with Arab Foreign Ministers who have serious objections over giving up the right of return for Palestinian refugees. Syrian Foreign Minister, Farouk al-Sharaa, begins the summit by saying that the US proposal should not even be discussed. He further insists that the Arab nations should instead concentrate on supporting the Palestinian Intifada.6

 

PA’s ambassador to DC, Hassan Abdel-Rahman, states the conditions for acceptance of any proposal:

·        the right to return for all Palestinian refugees to their homes inside the Green Line. Israel completely denies this right to Palestinians.

·        removal of all Israeli forces from the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Israel says that it will keep a military presence in the Jordan Valley as well as annex large areas of land with illegal Jewish settlements.

·        the return of sovereignty over the Western Wall. Israel says that it will not return sovereignty to Palestinians.7 

As Clinton had not presented any maps along with his proposal, Palestinian negotiators have made their own based on Clinton’s proposal and what Israel says it will return.  Palestinian negotiators say, the maps show that the proposal together with the Israeli return of land, would create a Palestinian state on islands of land in which holy sites and Arab neighbourhoods in Jerusalem would be cut of from one another while the Israeli state would be contiguous. The West Bank would become permanently divided into three parts. Palestinian negotiators also object to Clinton’s complete compliance with the Israeli view. The maps have been sent to Clinton.8

 

At an election rally, Barak reiterates Israel’s refusal to comply with the internationally guaranteed right to return for Palestinian refugees. He also says Israel will not return sovereignty of the holy sites to the Palestinians.9  

 

Israeli Foreign Minister, Shlomo Ben-Ami, says that the right to return is “outside the parameter” of the current US plan.10

 

5^th            Occupied Erez, Gaza Strip—Israeli forces shoot dead Mahmud Mahmud Abu Hasira, age 37, with live bullets at Erez checkpoint.1

 

Occupied Gaza Strip—A Palestinian man is shot dead by the IDF after he climbs a fence near an Israeli post. The IDF says that he was shouting Islamic religious slogans, which meant that he would attack them. The man’s family says that he was mentally handicapped.2

 

Occupied Hebron, West Bank—Arij Jabili, an 18 year old Palestinian, is murdered today. She was shot dead after bullets came through the walls of her home located near the illegal Jewish settlement of Beit Hagai.3

 

Israel responds to the US proposal in a 6 page report that angers Palestinian negotiators. Israeli newspaper, Yedioth Ahronoth, says that Israel is demanding sovereignty over all of Jerusalem’s Old City as well as the Mount of Olives, the Arab neighbourhood of Silwan, and a large part of the Western Wall. Israel wants the Haram under third party control.4

 

6^th            Occupied Hebron, West Bank— The funeral of Arij Jabili shot dead yesterday is held today. Several thousand Palestinians gather in Hebron to march behind her coffin draped with Palestinian and a Hamas flags. The mourners chant, “We will revenge the blood of our martyrs! Revenge. Revenge.”1

 

Occupied Gaza Strip—The funeral for a Palestinian man who was shot dead yesterday after he climbed a fence near an Israeli military post, is held today.2

 

Palestinian negotiator, Yasser Abed Rabbo, issues a statement on the US proposal saying that the Palestinians are “not interested in signing any document for the sake of rendering a service to Barak’s re-election campaign.” He accuses the US of trying to push the Palestinians into a flawed agreement to save Barak’s political career and declares the proposal “cancelled.”3

 

Fatah delivers a critique and rejection of US proposal in the Arab newspaper al-Hayat al-Jadida citing 44 reasons as to why the proposal must be rejected. Among these reasons is that the proposal completely violates UN resolutions 242, 338, and 194 on which any sort of peace should be built.4

 

The National and Islamic Forces, a coalition of various groups, restates its “firm rejection of the US proposals.” Palestinians march in opposition to the proposals in Tulkarm, Ramallah, and Nablus.5

 

7^th            Occupied Gaza Strip—38 year old ‘Abd-al Hamid Ahman Musabeh Al-Khurti is shot dead by live bullets to his head by Israeli forces on the Karni-Netzarim road. Khurti was from occupied Gaza Strip.1

 

Occupied Nablus, West Bank—20-22 year old Palestinian is murdered by the IDF with live bullets as she drives her car from occupied Nablus to her home village. The IDF says that she was caught in the crossfire. The victim’s family says there was no provocation.2

 

Occupied West Bank—Israeli Colonel, Noam Tibon, confirms that a Palestinian man was shot while handcuffed by Israeli forces near the town of Halhoul. The IDF says that he was suspected in shootings and was shot because he tried to run.3

 

10 year old Palestinian is critically wounded by the IDF in occupied Hebron.4

 

CIA director George Tenet flies to Cairo today to meet with Palestinian and Israeli security officials.5  He delivers a bridging proposal to both sides to help them restart talks.6  Palestinians demand an end to the siege in return for cooperation, but so far, the Israelis refuse. According to Palestinian officials, there is no outcome from the meetings.7

 

London’s chapter of Amnesty International announces today that it is sending a delegation to the region to investigate Israel’s use of force against Palestinians. The group says that it will concentrate on examining the use of “extra-judicial execution.” Israeli Defense Minister, Ephraim Sneh, defends Israel’s role in the assassinations calling it “effective, precise, and just.” 8

 

Arafat plans to meet with King Abdullah II today.9

 

8^th            Occupied West Bank—Israeli forces murder Muahmmad Ahmad Abu Suf, age 27, with live shots to his chest on Road No. 5. Suf was from Kharas, Salfit in Gaza Strip.1

 

?            Occupied Gaza Strip—According to Palestinian officials, a 34 year old Palestinian was murdered after Israeli soldiers opened fire on a village neighbouring Netzarim Junction before they carried out arrests there. The IDF says it is checking the report.2

 

PA delivers a statement saying that the proposals are contrary to every Palestinian aspiration.3  Israel blames the Palestinians for the failure of the US proposal. An Israeli government spokesperson says that the proposal was “the best offer they are ever likely to receive.”4

 

A few hours later, thousands of mostly young, religious, right-wing Israelis march around the Old City in Jerusalem with torches to protest the possibility of returning control of the site to Palestinians.5  Thousands of Israeli police fan out around the Old City to keep order and try to keep the Palestinians near Damascus Gate separated from the Israelis brandishing Star of David flags.6 Full page advertisements, by 32 Jewish organizations, run in US newspapers protesting this point of the US proposal. Letter writing campaigns, vigils, and hunger strikes are planned.7

 

 

9^th            Occupied Gaza Strip—Israeli forces murder Ibrahim Hasan Abu Mghasib, age 70, with bullets to his abdomen in Kfar Darom. Mghasib was from Dier al-Balah, Gaza Strip.1

 

Occupied Jenin, West Bank—27 year old ‘Abd Al-Hamid ‘abd a-Rashim Khanfar, from Jenin, is shot dead with live gunfire to his head by Israeli forces.2

                           

10^th      Sharon officially launches his election campaign today. He tells the ultra-orthodox journal Kfar Habad, “The Oslo Accord is an agreement which no longer exists. Period.”  Sharon’s platform is as follows:

·        Israeli sovereignty over an undivided Jerusalem

·        No Palestinian sovereignty over Haram al-Sharif

·        No return of the Golan Heights to Syria1

           

11^th      The PA and Israel implement the proposal given by CIA director, George Tenet, to both sides on 7^th January. As part of the US plan to re-start talks, Israel relaxes its blockade on Palestinian towns, Qalqilya and Jenin, in occupied West Bank and opens Gaza Strip International airport. It also allows travel from occupied West Bank into Jordan and from occupied Gaza Strip into Egypt. In occupied Gaza Strip, IDF bulldozers remove concrete blockades from Netzarim Junction. According to Palestinian security chief, General Abdel Razek Majaida, Israel will end travel restrictions in the next few days under the plan and will pull back from flashpoints. According to the plan, Palestinians and Israelis will draft treaties. US envoy, Dennis Ross, will then come to the region and try to mediate between the two sides.1

 

Sharon says that, if elected, he will not dismantle any of the illegal settlements now dotting occupied Palestine.2

 

The current death toll stands at 313 Palestinians from the Occupied Palestinian Territories, 13 Israeli-Arabs, 37 Israeli Jews, 1 Jordanian citizen killed by Israeli fire, and 1 German citizen also killed by Israeli fire.3

 

12^th            Occupied Hebron, West Bank—Israeli soldiers murder Palestinian, Shaker Hasona al-Husseini, age 21, with live shots in Ash Sheikh neighbourhood in the H1 area of Hebron.  The IDF claims that he was a gunman. Witnesses say illegal Jewish settlers handed out sweets to soldiers after the murder.1

 

Palestinian and Israeli negotiators meet in occupied Gaza Strip. While the meeting has no outcome, they commit to keep talking.2

 

Arafat confirms the executions of two Palestinian collaborators to be shot tomorrow.3

 

13^th      2 Palestinian collaborators who were involved in the killings of Palestinian activists and were tried in Palestinian special security courts, are executed today:

Occupied Nablus, West Bank—

o       24 year old, Alan Bani-Odeh, is blindfolded, tied to a post, and publicly shot to death after being found guilty by a Nablus special security court.  Odeh was convicted on charges of being involved in the assassination Hamas activist, Ibrahim ‘Abd Qarim Bani Odeh, age 33, on 23^rd November.

Occupied Gaza Strip—

o       27 year old Palestinian, Majdi Mikawi, is also publicly executed after being tied to a post and blindfolded. He was tried and found guilty of collaborating with Israelis by a Palestinian special security court.

Director of Palestinian Human Rights Group, Bassem Eid, says that the group favours punishing collaborators but, he says, they should have their right to a fair trial.1

 

Occupied Bethlehem, West Bank—Ali al-Khatib and Husa al-Din Musa are sentenced to executions on charges of collaboration. Their sentences have yet to be confirmed by Arafat. Arafat’s Justice Minister Freihh Abu-Medain estimates that there are 20,000 collaborators and asks them to surrender.2

 

Arafat and former Israeli Prime Minister, Shimon Peres are to meet in two days to decide on common principles from which they can restart talks.3

 

Palestinian and Israeli negotiators meet for more talks today.4

 

14^th            Occupied Gaza Strip—The body of Roni Tzalach, an Israeli settler from the illegal settlement of Kfar Yam is found today with a bullet in the head with his own gun.1 According to Israeli radio, Hamas claimed responsibility for the killing. Following the incident, Israeli tanks rolled into Palestinian controlled areas, blockade occupied Gaza Strip separating it into 3-4 isolated sections, and fire tank shells, one of which lands only a mile away from Arafat’s office. Israeli gunboats patrol offshore.  In response to Israel’s collective punishment police, Palestinian negotiators cancel a meeting with Israeli negotiators scheduled for today.2

 

15^th            Occupied Nablus, West Bank—24 year old, Majhdii ‘Ahed ‘Abdullah Shtayeh, is murdered by Israeli forces with live ammunition to his chest in Salem. He was from the same area.1 

 

Fanatic Jewish settlers set Palestinian homes and crops afire after Israeli forces sealed occupied Gaza Strip caging Palestinians. Barak accused Arafat of starting the violence thus, in a remarkable sleight of hand, blaming him for the violence unleashed by racist Israeli settlers. He further described the killing of Israeli settler, Roni Tzalach, yesterday as a “terrible blow for the peace process.”2  Israeli Deputy Defense Minister, Ephraim Sneh, said that Palestinian security forces and the PA had no knowledge of the killing and cooperated in searching for the body.3  Still, Gaza Strip airport remains closed by Israel as does the border between occupied Gaza Strip and Egypt, and Palestinian workers are again barred from entering Israel.4

 

Parents’ Circle/ Family Forum, a peace group that has been working a tent in Tel Aviv square, where Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated, to try and raise the consciousness of Israelis in regards to the Palestinians, ends its mission today. 51 year old graphic artist, Rami Elhanan, whose 14 year old daughter was murdered in Jerusalem by a suicide bomber, is part of the group and says that the task has been hopeless.  “Our people died because there is no peace…We have been begging Israel to make peace, because the alternative is unbearable. We did all we can as a group, but the situation is clear. People don’t really want peace…” Elhanan is also worried about the current election between Sharon and Barak, which, he knows, is more complicated than the hawk versus dove dichotomy that is being presented in the Western press. Barak, he says, has made

“all the mistakes in the world…You cannot go on negotiating with the Palestinians on the one hand, and building settlements on the other….You cannot try to gain the confidence of the Palestinians, and then betray them. And you cannot patronize the man you are negotiating with.”5

 

Israel postpones talks scheduled for today between Arafat and former Israeli Prime Minister, Shimon Peres.6

 

17^th      Three mask men murder Palestinian TV chief, Hisham Miki, age 54, by shooting him repeatedly at a seaside restaurant. The motive of the killing is not clear, and Palestinian officials privately say, that it does not look as though Israel is involved. Hisham, a rich businessman, was a close friend of Arafat’s who was rumoured to be involved in corruption, and was generally disliked. He led a staff of a dozen people and was the founder of a major broadcasting organization in Palestine. The Israeli government often accused his station of inciting Palestinians against Israel.1

 

Occupied Ramallah, West Bank—16 year old Israeli, Ophir Rahum, is shot dead in al-Bira. He was from Ashkelon.2

 

20^th      Clinton ends his second and final term as US President.