Headlines for 10-31-07

Israeli troops kill Islamist gunman in Gaza


From Oct. 31, 1999: Israel Explores Dark Pages of Its Past By the time the shooting stopped that evening in 1956, Israeli troops had killed 49 peaceable residents, half of them women and children, in the village of Kafr Kassem, about 10 miles east of Tel Aviv. All the dead were Arabs and all were full Israeli citizens, headed home at dusk from work in fields and factories--and unaware that a military curfew prohibiting movement after sundown had been imposed an hour or so earlier. Not the first time Israeli forces deliberately gunned down civilians, and certainly won't be the last.


Hamas to hold general conference in Gaza against U.S.-host meeting


Al-Qassam Brigades: we will attack Israel should targeted assassinations continue A spokesperson for the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, on Tuesday stated that the group would strike inside Israeli territory should Israel not halt its policy of targeted assassination across the Palestinian territories.


Iranian foreign minister meets Hamas officials in Syrian capital


HEBRON ACTION ALERT: CPT Palestine announces "No Way to the Inn: Bethlehem During the seasons of Advent and Christmas, erect a wall around nativity sets in
your homes and churches to raise awareness of the separation barrier the Israeli
authorities are erecting in the occupied Palestinian territories. Inform local
media and use this action as an opportunity to spread the word about the
separation barrier.


NATO-style force in Palestine? Israel and Western peace mediators are discussing the possibility of deploying an international security force in territory the Palestinians want for a state.


Pro-Abbas security: 2 Hamas members surrender in West Bank Meanwhile, Tawfiq al-Tirrawi, director of the Palestinian intelligence, accused Israel of providing weapons to Hamas in West Bank. "Israel helps Hamas and moves its members to areas under the Israeli control and provides them with arms," al-Tirrawi said during an interview on Tuesday with Israel's television channel 10. Israel has no immediate comment on the claims.


Blast rips through Gaza beauty salon


Hamas: Terawi's statements a ?declaration of war? on resistance


Hamas:Israel arrests its members after PNA releases them The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said on Wednesday that Israel arrested its members as soon as they were released from the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) jails.


Israel seeks to buy $1.3 bln of U.S. missiles "Israel's strategic position makes it vital to the United States' interests throughout the Middle East," the agency said. "It is vital to the U.S. national interest to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability." Pure BS. Israel is a liability, an albatross around the neck of the American taxpaying public.


Israeli army launches Rafah incursion A column of Israeli tanks, accompanied by a bulldozer, on Wednesday morning launched an incursion into the southern Gaza city of Rafah, media sources and eyewitnesses reported.


Hamas leaders in West Bank distance themselves from Gaza activists who say Abbas will fall Two Hamas leaders in the West Bank on Wednesday distanced themselves from a Gaza counterpart who bragged that the Islamic militant group would eventually take over the West Bank.


Israeli under-cover unit infiltrates Bethlehem, kidnapping one


Gaza college students trapped in Gaza


Israeli military invades Beit Jala


'IDF can destroy Iran's nuclear program' ** "We don't see anyone trying to stop Iran," he added They won't if they can get us to do it for them.


Palestinian prisoner appeals to international community to save his life The Israeli authorities have thus far refused to provide Moussa with the necessary medical treatment, so he has appealed to international humanitarian organizations to intervene on his behalf to save his life.


Israeli border police seize Palestinian youth near Hebron Israeli media sources claimed that the 18 year old teen had a gun and a knife, in addition to a suicide note.


Israeli forces prevent elderly man from entering Jerusalem for medical treatment


Gaza Police: "12 officers killed in October" The Ministry stated that five had been killed while on regular duty, while 7 died as a direct result of Israeli military operations.


Israeli cops give PA traffic tips Israeli police trained Palestinian Authority counterparts on road safety issues.


The U.S. blacklisted me. Let's talk. After American organizations sued, the government abandoned its initial reason for excluding me but came up with a new one ? that, between 1998 and 2002, I had contributed small amounts of money to a Swiss charity supporting humanitarian work in the Palestinian territories. The government is relying on a "material support" law that didn't exist until 2005 ? long after I made the donations ? and it is holding me accountable for donating to a charity that still operates lawfully in Europe today Another witchhunt likely led on by the Israeli lobby.


Charges dropped against 2 Palestinians "My family and I feel a tremendous amount of relief today," Hamide said in a statement. "After 20 years, the nightmare is finally over. I feel vindicated at long last."


Hezbollah, PKK and American Hypocrisy What?s that? Washington is asking Turkey to show restraint and not attack Iraq at all? Even after the Kurdish terrorists killed or kidnapped all those Turkish people? Could it be that Turkish lives are worth less than Israeli lives?


Brown in 'positive' Saudi talks Mr Brown and King Abdullah discussed their expectations for the peace conference in Maryland but the monarch did not give a clear indication whether his country would be represented.


Knesset move angers Arab Israelis "If we have to choose between loyalty to our people, or serving the Knesset, then good luck to the Knesset," said Muhammad Barakei, who heads the Hadash party. "All the racists can choke."




The Israel lobby: "We have an 'unwritten contract' with the American media" Don't it feel good to see the Lobby scattering in all directions lately? After five plus years of spreading the word about it, the answer is YES.


Clinton avoids mention of 'Palestinian state' U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton reportedly did not mention a "Palestinian state" in her message to an Arab-American conference.


Conference offered view on Israel and Palestine I'm a Christian, but I am appalled by the Christian right's support of establishing a state of Israel that excludes the rights of the Palestinians as well as advocating for a first-strike war on Iran based on their narrow interpretation of the Bible.


Carter's Efforts To Mend Ties With Community Get Cold Shoulder Carter has had strained relations with much of the organized Jewish community since the publication of his book ?Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid? and his ensuing remarks regarding the Jewish lobby?s influence on American foreign policy. The reception he received last week suggests that the resentment is still strong and that it may pose an obstacle for him as he attempts to offer his help in brokering peace in the Middle East.....The members of Congress told Carter that he needs to apologize, but the former president did not do so.


Al-Qassam Brigades leader reportedly returns to Gaza Muhammad Daif, leader of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, has reportedly returned to the Gaza Strip after spending more than one year abroad receiving medical attention.


Palestinian envoys brief Syrians on talks with Israel


IDF's tactical upper hand over Hamas in Gaza is diminishing On Monday, Major Ehud Efrati was killed and a Golani soldier was seriously injured. How do these increased casualties, which include two soldiers lightly injured on Friday and another soldier killed two weeks ago, affect the likelihood of a large-scale operation in the strip? On one hand, such losses encourage the IDF to take fewer risks, which means employing more indiscriminate fire, and this leads naturally toward escalation.


Steinmeier discusses European action plan with Palestinians Steinmeier left Ramallah after his 90-minute meeting with Fayyad without answering questions or elaborating on the European action plan, and headed for Tel Aviv and talks with Israeli President Shimon Peres


Echoing the call for a two-state solution The Boston OneVoice Echo event, along with similar events worldwide, was part of an effort to add signatories to the OneVoice Mandate, which demands negotiations leading to a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinian territories.


Most Israelis want peace negotiations revived after Annapolis A majority of 54.4 per cent also said they would support transferring Jerusalem's Arab neighbourhoods to Palestinian sovereignty, an almost complete withdrawal from the West Bank and the release of all Palestinian militants held in Israeli prisons.


Karen Hughes leaves, mission not accomplished "Polls show no improvement in the world's view of the U.S. since Hughes took over,''


McCain ad runs on Rabin conspiracy site Ma'ariv's online edition, NRG, ran a captured screen on Tuesday showing the ad and quoted campaign officials as saying they were unaware of the ad buy, but noting that "the senator has been very clear in his support for Israel." Why would an American presidential candidate need to be running campaign ads on an Israeli website anyway?