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August 2002 Headline News |
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August 26, 2002 The Earth 2nd Summit was opened in Johanesburg, South Africa, yesterday. President Mbeke welcomed the 850 government and non-government delegations. He criticized wealthy nations for letting the poor countries down and for not fulfilling their promises to take good care of the environment. Conditions on Earth have not improved on those two levels since the first conference, in Rio, in 1992. The Conferences is attended by 9,300 participants, 2,100 journalists, and 3,000 representatives of non-government organizations August 24, 2002 A 4.7 degrees earthquake in Cairo, Egypt, for 25 seconds. No human losses. A Palestinian from Al-Aqsa Brigade killed in a fire exchange with Israeli occupaiton soldiers. Israeli sources announce that bombs and rockets were stolen from a military base, north of Jerusalem. (Al-Ayyam, 8/25/02). About 60,000 Palestinian Muslims participate in prayers and a rally for a children's fund, in Al-Aqsa Mosque, in Jerusalem. Most of them are Israeli citizens. That is why they were allowed to come to the mosque. Palestinian Muslims from the West Bank and Gaza are restricted to their cities and villages (Alquds, 8/25/02). Israeli occupation atrocities: 1 Palestinian killed in Jenin, 9 injured in Nablus, demolition of 3 houses and a factory in Dair El-Balah, a crack down on a peaceful demonstration in Huwara, and announcement of confiscating hundreds of donums of lands from the village of Huwara. The Yemeni President, Ali Saleh, said that if Iraq is attacked, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt will be next. (Al-Hayat Al-Jadeda, 8/25/02). 20% of the Mossad agents are women, who agree not to marry for 5 years. The Deputy Chairman is a woman, Euphraim Halevi. They work mainly in North America and Europe, wherever they speak the language as native speakers. (alquds alarabi, 8/24/02). Washington imposes more sanctions on North Korea for selling Scud missiles to Yemen, during the Clinton administration (alquds alarabi, 8/24/02). The Sudanese Communist Party leader, Shafi Khader, expects the cessession of southern Sudan within 6 years, as a result of the Mashakus agreement between the government and the rebels. (alquds alarabi, 8/24/02). Most Israeli Labor Party voters support the Mayor of Haifa, Amram Mitzna (62%), compared to 32% for the present Party leader, Bin Eliezer, in a recent survey. (alquds alarabi, 8/24/02). August 22, 2002 The British Foreign Minister, Jack Straw, announced that Britain's goal in Iraq is the return of UN inspectors, not a regime change. Thus, the Bush administration has lost its only European ally in its policy toward Iraq, which is a regime change there (aljazeera.net, 8/22/02). Saudi investors withdraw $200 billion from the US because of fears of freezing them as a result of a lawsuit against Saudi Arabia filed by layers on behalf of September 11 victims. This has affected the dollar's standing vis-a-vis other currencies. Saudis are expected to continue withdrawal of about $400 billions more of their investments in the US. (aljazeera.net, 8/21/02). "The Nation" September 2 issue will include a report about the two Zionist- Conservative thinktanks that lead policies of the Bush administration. These are the National Institute for Security and the Institute for Security Policies. Most senior members of the Bush administration, including Dick Cheney, were affiliated with these institutions, which link the US foreign policy to the Israeli policies in the Middle East. (alquds alarabi, 8/21/02). The Jordanian Prime Minister, Ali Abu Al-Raghib, visits Syria. The Syrian President, Bashar Al-Assad assured him of Syria's approval to provide Jordan with more water. The two Arab leaders announced their opposition to any US attack on Iraq (Al-Dustur, 8/21/02). The Newsweek August 26, 2002 issue reported on war crimes committed in Afghanistan. About 690 Talibans were stuffed into sealed cargo containers and left to asphyxiate. When was the last time people were killed in gas chambers? The Iraqi intelligence chief, Taher Al-Haboush, announced the death of Abu Nidal, yesterday. He said that Abu Nidal committed suicide when Iraqi intelligence officer asked him to go with them for investigation. He was accused of entering Iraq illegally. His organization accused the Iraqis of killing him for fear the he might be working for Kuwait and the United States. (alquds alarabi, 8/22/02). The Israeli Defense Minister, Ben Eliezer, says that Israel is ready for any Iraqi missile attack. He added that Israel would welcome any request from the US to use Israeli military bases in launching its attack on Iraq. So far, Israel has been the only country in the world that has been encouraging the Bush administration to go on with its plans to attack Iraq. It also has been the only country that announced its approval to participate in attacking Iraq (alquds alarabi, 8/22/02). August 21, 2002 Cynthia McKinney, the honest, progressive, and brave Congress woman from the 4th district of Georgia, lost the Democratic primary elections (42%) to Denise Majette, who got 58% of the vote. Majette received more than $1.3 million from Zionist groups from all over the US in order to defeat McKinney. In her concession speech, she said that Republicans crossed over to vote against her. Thus, the two main parties were against her because she dared to express independent views other than what Zionists want members of Congress to say or do. Targeting Cynthia McKinney was the second after Rep. Hilliard of Alabama, who was targeted by intolerant Zionists also for his views about the Middle East. Both of them were among the few representatives who dared not to support the pro-Israel resolution, in April, 2002, which rewarded Israeli aggressors. August 18, 2002 The Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, and his Foreign Minister, Shimon Peres, urge President Bush to attack Iraq as soon as possible. The Israeli newspaper, Ha'aretz, mentioned that Israel would attack Iraqi cities with nuclear bombs, if Iraq attacked one Israeli city with chemical weapons. Israeli government leaked information to the press that it would start a campaing of immunization of Israelis against small pox and radiation. Prominent Republicans in the US oppose attacking Iraq. Among these are Brent Scowcroft, Henry Kissinger, Larry Eagleburger, Dick Army, and Chuck Hage. They agreed that the administratoin has failed to show evidence of any Iraqi threat to the US. The Bush administration offers $606 million to humanitarian relief groups to work in Iraq, part of its preparations to attack Iraq, and in anticipation for a humanitarian disaster. Most relief groups have been reluctant to accept the offer to avoid being perceived as working with the US military efforts. The Iraqi Revolutionary Command Council nominates Saddam Hussain for a new presidential 7-year term. Iraqis will vote on that in a referendum, in mid October. The reason behind the US media anti- Saudi campaign is the Saudi refusal to go along with the US attack on Iraq. More pressure is applied on Saudi Arabia by a law suit in New York, that demands trillions of dollars in compensation for previous Saudi support of Bin Laden. Thus, Saudi Arabia is threatened to face what happened to Libya in the 1990s. A survey showed that 60% of Palestinians would vote for Arafat, next January, 26% would vote against him, and 14% were undecided. Arafat won the 1996 elections by 85% of the votes. Libya buys some European soccer clubs, builds a huge stadium, and spends heavily on the game, in an attempt to host the 2010 soccer world cup. Despite the present anti-immigration atmosphere in the US, about one million Middle Easterners will immigrate to the US by 2010. 78% of surveyed Lebanese say that their system of government is more sectarian than democratic. However, they are happy about their freedoms. While Palestinian organizations agreed to stop attacks inside Israel, they insisted on continuing resistance in the occupied territories until Israel withraws its forces. However, Israeli Foreign Minister, Shimon Peres, rejected the Palestinian offer of a partial ceasefire. Rebels kill 26 civilians in western Algeria. European floods kill 12 in the Check Republic, 7 in Austria, and cause losses in billions of euros. The Philippino Defense Minister says: US military experts train the Philippino military to fight Muslim rebels. Chechen rebels attack 3 pro- Russian police stations, killing 7 people in southern Chechnya, including 5 policemen and 2 civilians. Israeli soldiers force a Palestinian young man, Nidal Abu Muhsen (19) to be a human shield to enter a house. Then, they shot him dead and destroyed the house while a handicapped Palestinian activist, Nasser Jarar, was inside. Two Israeli cabinet members justified using Palestinian civilians as human shields as saving the lives of Israeli soldiers. 30 of the US Guantanamo Bay Base prisoners attempted suicide, as a result of their severe psychological conditions. Mojority of the 585 prisoners are Saudis, Kuwaitis, and Algerians. Many of them were workers in charitable institutions in Afghanistan. Some of them were kidnapped from Pakistan and Bosnia. International human rights groups protested their imprisonment conditions, as they are neither treated as prisoners of war nor as civilians. (alquds alarabi, 8/17/02) August 16, 2002 The Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, and his Foreign Minister, Shimon Peres, urge President Bush to attack Iraq as soon as possible. The Israeli newspaper, Ha'aretz, mentioned that Israel would attack Iraqi cities with nuclear bombs, if Iraq attacked one Israeli city with chemical weapons. Israeli government leaked information to the press that it would start a campaing of immunization of Israelis against small pox and radiation. Prominent Republicans in the US oppose attacking Iraq. Among these are Brent Scowcroft, Henry Kissinger, Larry Eagleburger, Dick Army, and Chuck Hage. They agreed that the administratoin has failed to show evidence of any Iraqi threat to the US. The Bush administration offers $606 million to humanitarian relief groups to work in Iraq, part of its preparations to attack Iraq, and in anticipation for a humanitarian disaster. Most relief groups have been reluctant to accept the offer to avoid being perceived as working with the US military efforts. The Iraqi Revolutionary Command Council nominates Saddam Hussain for a new presidential 7-year term. Iraqis will vote on that in a referendum, in mid October. The reason behind the US media anti- Saudi campaign is the Saudi refusal to go along with the US attack on Iraq. More pressure is applied on Saudi Arabia by a law suit in New York, that demands trillions of dollars in compensation for previous Saudi support of Bin Laden. Thus, Saudi Arabia is threatened to face what happened to Libya in the 1990s. A survey showed that 60% of Palestinians would vote for Arafat, next January, 26% would vote against him, and 14% were undecided. Arafat won the 1996 elections by 85% of the votes. Libya buys some European soccer clubs, builds a huge stadium, and spends heavily on the game, in an attempt to host the 2010 soccer world cup. Despite the present anti-immigration atmosphere in the US, about one million Middle Easterners will immigrate to the US by 2010. 78% of surveyed Lebanese say that their system of government is more sectarian than democratic. However, they are happy about their freedoms. While Palestinian organizations agreed to stop attacks inside Israel, they insisted on continuing resistance in the occupied territories until Israel withraws its forces. However, Israeli Foreign Minister, Shimon Peres, rejected the Palestinian offer of a partial ceasefire. Rebels kill 26 civilians in western Algeria. European floods kill 12 in the Check Republic, 7 in Austria, and cause losses in billions of euros. The Philippino Defense Minister says: US military experts train the Philippino military to fight Muslim rebels. Chechen rebels attack 3 pro- Russian police stations, killing 7 people in southern Chechnya, including 5 policemen and 2 civilians. Israeli soldiers force a Palestinian young man, Nidal Abu Muhsen (19) to be a human shield to enter a house. Then, they shot him dead and destroyed the house while a handicapped Palestinian activist, Nasser Jarar, was inside. Two Israeli cabinet members justified using Palestinian civilians as human shields as saving the lives of Israeli soldiers. 30 of the US Guantanamo Bay Base prisoners attempted suicide, as a result of their severe psychological conditions. Mojority of the 585 prisoners are Saudis, Kuwaitis, and Algerians. Many of them were workers in charitable institutions in Afghanistan. Some of them were kidnapped from Pakistan and Bosnia. International human rights groups protested their imprisonment conditions, as they are neither treated as prisoners of war nor as civilians. (alquds alarabi, 8/17/02) August 14, 2002 The Pentagon extends its operations to include special forces covert actions to assassinate or arrest Al-Qaeda members anywhere in the world, without prior knowledge of governments of other countries. (Alquds, 8/14/02). Sharon, in the Israeli parliament: Iraq represents the biggest source of danger on Israel. He added that the strategic cooperation between the US and Israel has never reached the present level. (Al-Ayyam, 8/14/02). Amram Mitsna (57), a retired Israeli general and Mayor of Haifa, announced his candidacy to run for chairmanship of the Labor Party. If elected, he said, he would start peace negotiations without conditions, and would force 90% of Israeli settlers out of the Palestinian territories. He described Sharon government as a "terrorist" entity that has nothing to offer other than the use of force. Chances of Mitsna are very high to lead the Labor Party in November elections. He had 41% approval in comparison with Ben Eliezer (30%). (Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, 8/14/02). The Israeli military occupation government has started procedures to try a member of the Palestinian Parliament, Marwan Al-Barghouthi, today. This a violation of all the Palestinian- Israeli agreements. Palestinians intend to make it a trial of the Israeli occupation, repression, and oppression of the Palestinian people. Several international freedom symbols, like Nelson Madella expressed their intention to appear before the court in defense of Barghouthi. (Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, 8/14/02). Using the so-called "Protective Fence," as an execuse, Israeli West Jerusalem Municipality annexes more Palestinian lands near Rachel's tomb, to become on the Israeli side of the fence. (Alquds, 8/14/02). Unemployment is 80% in Bethlehem, as a result of continuous Israeli-imposed curfews and closures. (Alquds, 8/14/02). Israeli occupation forces destroy 21 Palestinian houses for families, whose members participated in resistance to the Israeli occupation. (Alquds, 8/14/02). A wave of attacks on casinos and liquor stores in Algeria, the last was two days ago in Annaba. The wave represents a popular outcry against drunkenness, prostitution, drugs, and violent crimes associated with them. (Alquds alarabi, 8/14/02) In the Yemeni city of Eden, casinos are protected by the state, in order to attract more Saudi tourists, who no longer feel comfortable to go to Europe or the US because of the consequences of September 11 attacks. (Alquds alarabi, 8/14/02) Three rockets were launched against a US airbase in Khost, Afghanistan. The area was a Taliban stronghold before the US intervention.. (Alquds alarabi, 8/14/02). August 13, 2002 The Iraqi Minister of the Media, Al-Sahaf, said that the UN inspectors had finished their work four years ago. (aljazeera.net, 8/12/02). He did not say that "inspectors should not come back," as several US media, like Fox TV, reported happily, as if they found the execuse for the Bush administration to attack Iraq. Henry Kissinger, justified an attack on Iraq as leading to a new wolrd order that stops proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. He also said that the road to Jerusalem passes through Baghdad, advocating the war on Iraq before reaching a Palestinian-Israeli settlement. (Washington Post) Richard Pearle, a leading pro-Israel conservative in the Bush administration has been pushing for a regime change in Iran, Syria, Egypt, and Saudi regimes, in addition to changing the Iraqi regime by force (alquds, 8/13/02). 4,000 US soldiers in Jordan for joint military exercises. (alquds alarabi, 8/13/02). Iraqi command centers go underground, in bunkers. Shaikh Fadlallah issues a statement prohibiting Muslims from helping the US in its impending attack on Iraq. (alquds alarabi, 8/13/02). Jordanian security forces deport the Saudi Islamic scholar, Salman Al-Ouda, before giving his invited lecture there. (alquds alarabi, 8/13/02). August 12, 2002 Israelis loot the Palestinian Historical Musuem in occupied East Jerusalem and add the stolen collections to Israel's Museum, in West Jerusalem (WAFA). Bush may order an attack on Iraq before the Congressional elections for three reasons: to boost the chances of electing more Republicans for Congress, to control the damage to his position caused by Iraq's acceptance of the return of UN inspectors, and to forestall a growing world-wide criticism of the US policy (alquds alarabi). The German Chancellor, Schroeder, and his Foreign Minister, Fischer, have increased their statements that oppose a US-British attack on Iraq because they expect the attack be imminent, as soon as before the September 22 US Congressional elections. (alquds alarabi). Iraq announces that it will continue exporting oil even during the US attack, as long as oil production installations are not attacked. (alquds alarabi). Palestinian organizations, including Hamas, Jihad, and Al-Aqsa Brigades, discuss a common statement that confirms the Palestinian rights and the methods to be used to realize them, in the coming stage. (alquds alarabi). Drugs spread among Kuwaiti youngmen, boredom and a lot of money are blamed. (alquds alarabi). The Sudanese President, Omar Al-Bashir, issues a decree allowing all political parties to participate in the political process, as long as they observe the Constitution and do not use violence. (alquds alarabi). Several studies have influenced the Bush administration in pursuing its aggressive policy towards Iraq. First, oil. Bush, Cheney, and Exxon, have a vested interest in invading Iraq and putting their hands on 10% of the world oil reserves. Second, Israeli inluence on the administration to get rid of an Arab regime that may threaten Israel's hegemonic position in the region. Third, a fear that Saudi Arabia is no longer a loyal ally, particularly the people. (alquds alarabi). 76% of the French are against any US attack on Iraq, even with a UN permission. 18% are supportive, and 6% have no opinion on the issue. (alquds alarabi). Yemeni Islamist, nationalist, and socialist political parties unite in a coalition to face the ruling party in the coming elections. (alquds alarabi). The Saudi Foreign Minister, Saud Al-Faisal, announced that Saudi Arabia, received 16 members of Alqaeda, including 4 women and children, from Iran. They took refuge in Iran during the US air campaign on Afghanistan. He added that Iran transferred other Alqaeda members to Jordan, Egypt, and other Arab states, with full knowledge that it was cooperating with the US through these Arab states. (alquds alarabi). In a positive gesture towards the Bush administration, the Iranian President, Muhammed Khatami, will visit Afghanistan tomorrow, Tuesday, to discuss Iranian- Afghani mutual concerns, like border security, drugs, and regional stability. (alquds alarabi). August 10, 2002 22 people were killed and 3 were injured in southern Egypt today, in a family feud. They were outside a court building, in which a feud trial was conducted when some members of the rival family came and started shooting at them. The US Vice President, Dick Cheney, addressed a meeting of Iraqi opposition groups in Washington. He told them that President Bush has made a final decision to change the Iraqi regime. A member of the Palestinian parliament representing Fatah, Abbas Zaki, said that the Fatah leadership refused a US demand of creating a prime ministerial position. He added that the US objective is avoiding dealing with President Arafat. The President of the Palestinian TV, Hassan Al-Kashef, criticized the Palestinian Authority for its acceptance to negotiate security issues, in Washington, without linking that with political agreement to end the Israeli military occupation. 500 Israeli peace activists demonstrated against the Israeli occupation outside Bethlehem today. The Israeli police stopped them at the Gilo checkpoint and prevented them from reaching the Palestinian city to join in a peace rally there. Latif Dore, the Israeli coordinator of the Palestinian-Israeli dialogue said that his group will continue protesting against the Israeli occupation. The Turkish economics minister, Kamal Darwish, resigned today to lead the left of the center coalition in next elections. He announced that his objective is preventing Islamists from winning a parliamentarian majority. (Abu Dhabi TV, 8/10/02) More leaks that functions as pressures on Saudi Arabia because of its opposition to the US impending attack on Iraq. This time, there is a threat of dismembering Saudi Arabia and establishing a republic in the oil-rich eastern province. Israel deploys its anti-ballistic missile missiles around Tel Aviv, in expectation of an Iraqi missile attack, in response to a US attack on Iraq. Sharon has the US green light to attack Iraq, if Israel is attacked. The US has increased transporting military equipment and supplies to the Arabian Gulf area, in preparation for attacking Iraq. Rulers of Syria are afraid that they may be next after Iraq, but they may end up doing what they did in 1990/91. Bin Laden was seen three weeks ago in the village of Dair between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Iraqi Foreign Minister, Naji Sabri: The US will not be able to harm Saddam Hussain before killing 25 million Iraqis, who will defend him.(alquds alarabi, 8/10/02) August 9, 2002 The Israeli cabinet member from the Labor Party, Shlomo Ben Ami, resign in protest to Sharon war against the Palestinian people and to the Labor Party coalescence of Shaorn's bloody policies. Ariel Sharon offered the governor of Florida, Jib Bush, to come to his state in September 2002 to participate in a pro-Israel parade and to urge the Florida Jewish community to vote for republican candidates. Israel cancels "Gaza First" agreement within 24 hours of reaching it. Instead of withdrawal from Gaza and Bethlehem, Israel says now that it should be Gaza alone and only after the Palestinian Authority carries out certain measures. The Palestinian member of the Legislative Council (Parliament), Ziyad Abu Ziyad, calls for an end to suicide bombing against civilians. Israeli occupation forces fire at the funeral of Husam Hamdan, who was assassinated by Israelis the day before yesterday. In response to the Sharon continuous campaign of assassinations of Palestinian activists, a Hamas leader, Rantisi, calls for the assassination of Sharon. The southern Sudanese leader, John Garang, meets with leaders of the Sudanese opposition, in Asmara, to inform them of the details of his agreement with the Sudanese President, Omar Al-Bashir. The EU calls on Syria to release all political prisoners, who were imprisoned for their political views. This came during commercial talks between the two parties. The Belgian Parliament may pass a law that allows Sharon's trial for his war crimes without the need for him to be in Belgium. 10 killed, 15 injured in Kashmir, in a bomb detonated by a Kashmirir group. An Algerian rebel group kills five civilians in Glizan, 300 kilometers from the capital Algiers. 17 killed, 26 injured in Bogota, as a result of a bomb that exploded outside the Presidential Palace. The new Colombian President, Alvaro Uribe, proposed a referendum on co-opting the rebel groups to become part of the political system. A group of British Jewish intellectuals sent a letter to the Guardian protesting the policies of the Israeli military occupation of Palestine and renouncing their "right of return" to Israel because this return happens on the expense of the Palestinian people. August 8, 2002 Prince Abdallah's popularity on the increase for his Arab nationalist positions and for his stance against privileges of princes Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and Hamas consider "Gaza-First" a Palestinian Authority concession as a result of US pressures A Gaza mother showed a reporter that her refrigerator is empty. The only thing left is za'ater (wild chopped leaves) and a leftover of a potato meal. Qaddhafi meets with the British Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mike O'Brian, and announces that Libya is willing to compensate families of the Lockerby victims. The US will use Al-Adid Qatari airbase, instead of Saudi airbases, in case of attack on Iraq. The German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder: The Middle East needs peace, not war. An attack on Iraq will destroy the international alliance against terrorism that emerged after September 11. It will also lead to more deterioration of the world economic system. The German Foreign Minister, Yushka Fischer: A US attack on Iraq is a third front (after the war on terrorism and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict). Fischer also said that while the US can defeat the the Iraqi regime by force, it may not be able to stabilize the region politically after that. Fischer finally said that such attack is a wrong option because Iraq is not a threat and there has been no connection between Iraq and Al-Qaeda. Opposition increases in Britain against attacking Iraq. 130 members of Parliament, 3 cabinet members, the Anglican Church, diplomats, and intellectuals, all expressed their opposition to the British participation in attacking Iraq. This may leave the US alone if the Bush administration still insists on going ahead with the attack. The Russian Foreign Minister, Igor Ivanov: An attack on Iraq is unacceptable by Russia or by the international law. He added that the US-Iraqi crisis should be resolved by peaceful means, particularly after Iraq's acceptance of the return of the UN inspectors. The Iraqi Foreign Minister, Naji Sabri, said that the UN chief inspector, Blix, submitted to the UN pressures when he refused the Iraqi invitation for talks about the return of UN inspectors. The main Palestinian organizations announced that Israeli collective punishment triggers Palestinian resistance. They mentioned indiscriminate arrests, destruction of houses and property, military checkpoints, curfews, food and medicine shortages, and destruction of water and electricity lines, as a few examples of brutal practices of the Israeli military occupation of Palestine. An Algerian version of the US business-politics scandals of Enron, Halliburn, and Worldcom: Algerian written media experience a new atmosphere of freedom, criticizing President Boutafliqa for his friendship with a UAE billionnaire, which led to giving the latter business favors. The Moroccan Ambassador to the EU, Aisha Bal Arabi, criticized the Spanish Foreign Minister, Ana Palacio, for her description of the way Moroccan police returned to the Laila Island. Palacio said in a TV interview that it was like the Israeli reoccupation of the Palestinian territories. Bal Arabi said that the statement was an exaggeration that should not have been said. 4 Chechen fighters and 2 Russian army officers were killed in confrontations in the past two days, in Chechnya The EU reacts positively to the Turkish reforms and urges Turkey to put the legislation into practice. Benazir Bhutto announces that she will run for elections even if she is imprisoned. She is now in London but intends to return to Pakistan soon. August 6, 2002 The German ruling Social Democratic Party (SPD) announces that Germany won't participate in the US attack on Iraq even with a UN mandate. Tony Blair rejects attempts to discuss the US-British attack on Iraq in the Parliament. The British Field Marshal, Lord Bramwell, warns the British Prime Minister Tony Blair that an attack on Iraq without a UN mandate is immoral and illegal, and will lead to a prolonged and chaotic conflict in the Middle East. Russia calls on the UN Security Council to accept the Iraqi invitation for the UN inspectors to return to Iraq. Kuwait warn Iraq that the coming US attack will be different from 1998. The Iraqi Parliament invites members of US Congress to come to Iraq accompanied with experts to make sure that there are no weapons of mass destruction. They will be given absolute freedom to go anywhere in the country. Qusai, the son of the Iraqi President Saddam Hussain, visited Tehran for support against the expected US attack. Iraqis want to restore their planes which flew to Iran during the 1991 war. They also want to buy Iranian Shahab missiles. The Kurdish leader, Jalal Talabani, arrives at Ankara in his way to Washington for talks about the Kurdish role in the expected US attack on Iraq. US planes bomb a military target in southern Iraq. The Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak, calls on Israel to take the initiative in easing tensions with the Palestinians because it is "the more powerful party." Israeli Apache helicopters attack with missiles two Palestinian factories in Gaza City. Israeli settlers and investors turn to the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, as their new frontier, because of the difficulties they face as a result of the Palestinian Intifadha (uprising). Israeli security agencies turn against Israeli Arabs, accusing them of providing the Lebanese with information. 12 Muslim brothers arrested in Alexandria, Egypt, for election violation charges, says government. The Algerian President, Boutafliqa, pardons detained activists from the Qabayel area. A Moroccan goat herder, Rahma, and her grandchildren sue the Spanish armed forces for causing the death of 70 of her goats when they invaded the Moroccan Island of Laila, on July 17, 2002. About 5,000 Indonesians demonstrate, in front of the Parliament, calling for the adoption of the Islamic law. (alquds alarabi) August 5, 2002 Palestinians attack an Israeli car, killing 2 and injuring 2, near the Israeli settlement of Ariel. Israelis attack a house in the Barqa village, Nablus, killing 2 and injuring and arresting 4 Palestinians (alquds alarabi) August 4, 2002 Israeli occupation forces commit war crimes in Nablus, killing, injuring, and arresting Palestinians, and blowing up buildings, houses, and mosques (Alittihad) Israeli air and sea bombing of Gaza (Alittihad) Three Palestinian cabinet members are scheduled to arrive at Washington to meet with Colin Powell (Alittihad) The Bush administration belittles Iraq's acceptance of the return of UN inspectors and insists on a regime change (Alittihad) The Israeli Foreign Minister, Shimon Peres, is scheduled to visit Egypt next week, within a month from a visit by Israel's Defense Minister to discuss way of ending Israeli-Palestinian bloodshed. (Abu Dhabi TV). August 3, 2002 Conforming to the EU policies, the Turkish parliament abolishes capital punishment and allows more cultural freedom for the Kurdish minority, particularly in language (alquds alarabi). Israeli occupation forces reinvade the Palestinian city of Nablus, killing 7, injuring scores, who were left bleeding in streets, and blowing up several houses (Alquds) Exrpessing acceptance of the return of the UN inspection team, Iraq invites the chief UN inspector for talks about the return of his team (Al-Hayat Al-Jadeda) Because Iraq has accepted the return of the UN inspectors, the Bush administration insists on changing the Iraqi regime. No longer interested in UN inspection .(alquds alarabi). The Pentagon decreases the number of US soldiers in the peace keeping force in Sinai, in preparation for attacking Iraq. (alquds alarabi). Members of the solidarity with the Palestinian people movement in Britain protest a soccer game between Israeli and British teams. (alquds alarabi). The Palestinian occupied territories are close to a medical disaster because of continuous shortages in food, medicine, water, and medical teams, as a result of continuous curfews. (alquds alarabi). The Jenin refugee camp survivors say that the UN report about the Israeli April massacre in their camp is disappointing. They feel as if they have been massacred again, but this time on paper. (alquds alarabi). The Israeli Foreign Minister, Shimon Peres, justifies the Friday Israeli rampage in Nablus as a necessary pre-emption of future Palestinian attacks. (alquds alarabi). Israel adopts more policies of collective punishment against the Palestinian people. Families of Palestinian activists will be "transferred" to Gaza Strip. (alquds alarabi). Israeli occupation government prepares lists of mosque preachers in the West Bank, in a step to arrest them and "transfer" them to Gaza Strip. (alquds alarabi). During the new wave of terror Israelis launched against Palestinians, the Israeli occupation forces execute a Hamas activist in front of his wife and children, kill an 85-year old woman, and arrest wives of activists. (alquds alarabi). August 1, 2002 Leaking many scenarios for the US attack on Iraq is part of a psychological warfare campaign to scare the Iraqi leadership (alquds alarabi, 8/1/02). Europeans are worried that the Bush administration may start the war in the Middle East to solve its economic problems, and as a result of lack of vision (alquds alarabi, 8/1/02). Saudi newspapers accuse the Bush administration of planning to occupy Iraq to control its resources, not because of alleged Iraqi threats (alquds alarabi, 8/1/02). The Iranian President, Khatami, opposes a US attack on Iraq, but urges Baghdad to allow the return of UN inspectors (alquds alarabi, 8/1/02). The two main Kurdish factions unite against Arab Islamists, Ansar Al-Islam, as a step towards more escalation in Iraq (alquds alarabi, 8/1/02). 8 Russian soldiers killed during battles against Muslims in southern Chechnya (alquds alarabi, 8/1/02). Algerial launches its first satellite, Sat 1, in a few months (alquds alarabi, 8/1/02). Musharraf ends his visit to Bangladesh, which aimed at winning its support in the conflict with India (alquds alarabi, 8/1/02). The Spanish historian, Coralis, criticizes the anti- Moroccan racist rhetoric as a major factor behind the recent deterioration in the Moroccan-Spanish relations (alquds alarabi, 8/1/02). Two Syrian pro-democracy activists, Aref Dalila and Walid Al-Binni, sentenced to ten and five years in prison (alquds alarabi, 8/1/02). Saba Nasser (61), the new Syrian Ambassador to France, is the first female to become a Syrian Ambassador (alquds alarabi, 8/1/02). Israeli occupation forces kill a Palestinian little girl in Gaza and blow up two houses in Jenin and Bait Jala (Al-Hayat Al-Jadeda, 8/1/02). Israeli occupation forces blow up three houses in Rafah and injure four women in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip (alquds alarabi, 8/1/02). Israel refuses to allow a cargo of Egyptian medical supplies to Gaza (alquds alarabi, 8/1/02). Nelson Mandela attends trial of the member of the Palestinian parliament, Marwan Al-Barghuthi, before an Israeli court (Al-Ayyam, 8/1/02). The Deputy Secretary- General of the Palestinian organization PFLP appears before an Israeli military court (Al-Ayyam, 8/1/02). |