September 1, 2002 News

Sunday's Israeli war crimes: Four Palestinian workers massacred by Israeli occupation soldiers with cold blood, in Hebron, a teenager killed in Jenin, five members of one family injured in Khan Younis, and a three-storey building and ten stores demolished in Rafah

Izhak Halaykeh, a Palestinian workers who survived the massacre told the story of how Israeli soldiers killed four Palestinian workers with cold blood today. He said that they were at work in a company that cuts stones from the mountain, in Bani Na'im village, near Hebron. While they were working during the night shift at about 2:00 o'clock a.m., an Israeli force surrounded them. Israeli soldiers took the four workers outside the workplace. Izhak was in the rest room, so the soldiers didn't see him, and he survived to tell the story. In a few minutes, Izhak heard gunfire and screams from the victims. He also heard soldiers laughing before they left. A period of silence followed that convinced him that the soldiers left the place. When he went out, he saw his four co-workers massacred with bullets all over the body. To cover up for the massacre, the Israeli occupation army announced that the four workers were in their way to attack an Israeli position.

In Jenin, Israeli soldiers killed a Palestinian teenager, Abdul Karim Bassam (16), who died as a result of a bullet in his heart. In Al-Amal (Hope) neighborhood, in Khan Younis, an Israeli tank fired at a Palestinian house, which resulted in injuring the five members of the family. In Rafah, Israeli bulldozers demolished a three-storey residential building and ten business stores in the same street. All these Israeli atrocities were being committed while David Satterfield, the Deputy Assistant of the US Secretary of State was meeting with Palestinian officials, during his current visit which aims at pressuring Palestinians to accept Israeli security demands without political agreements.

Israeli occupation sources announced that Israeli soldiers killed a Palestinian inside the Ha'ar Brakha settlement, near Nablus. They added that the fire exchange led also to injuring two Israelis. The Palestinian was claimed by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. (Abu Dhabi TV, 9/1/02).

Israeli missile strike kills five Palestinians
By Phil Reeves, Arab News

JENIN, West Bank, 1 September — Israeli helicopter gunships ambushed a car in the West Bank yesterday, killing a Palestinian activist and four children with a double missile strike, Palestinian witnesses and medical officials said. They said two Apache helicopters struck at Tubas village near Jenin in the afternoon, one missile obliterating the car and its three passengers — an activist linked to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat’s Fatah movement and two teenagers, neither of them combatants.

Another missile struck a nearby house, killing a nine-year-old boy and a 10-year old girl and wounding seven other people. “What is the sense of hitting a building with no militants or wanted men inside, only civilians?” Tubas Mayor Diab Abu Khezaran told reporters.

The attack shattered the weekend calm at the village, the hubbub confusing early reports on the casualties. Witnesses had initially identified four dead activists, and then three dead activists and two children, medical officials said, because the bodies were too charred to be properly identified.

In another development, EU foreign ministers gave “widespread support” yesterday for a Mideast peace plan notably seeking a Palestinian state by 2005, based on ideas by the EU, the US and Saudi Arabia, a spokesman said. Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, will travel to the Middle East from tomorrow to present the plan to regional leaders, said the spokesman in the Danish town of Elsinore.

“There was widespread support for the road map,” said the official, adding that Moeller will travel this coming week to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian territories, where he will meet Arafat.

The three-stage plan will then be taken to a meeting of the Quartet — the United States, the EU, Russia and the UN — scheduled in New York on Sept. 16. “A number of ministers stressed that the Israeli-Arab conflict contributes to fueling some of the terrorist activities,” added the official, speaking during a break in talks by foreign ministers. “Ministers stressed the need for Europeans to remain active,” he said, adding “We hope that it will be adopted as a quartet road map” at the New York meeting.

Meanwhile, a leading Palestinian Authority minister dismissed yesterday US envoy David Satterfield’s mission to the region as a “public relations exercise” prior to his own meeting with the US official. “Until now the talks with Satterfield have not given anything and they amount to a public relations exercise,” International Cooperation Minister Nabil Shaath said.

Satterfield, the deputy assistant secretary of state for Near East affairs, also held talks yesterday with Palestinian Interior Minister Abdel Razaq Al-Yahya. Satterfield is due later to meet with Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo, Palestinian officials told reporters. (The Independent)

Abdullah, Hariri review developments
By a Staff Writer, Arab News

JEDDAH, 1 September — Prince Abdullah, the Saudi regent, held talks here yesterday with Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on major developments in the region.

“The two leaders discussed developments at Arab, Islamic and international levels,” Saudi Press Agency reported.

The agency said the talks also focused on ways of strengthening cooperation between the two countries.

Hariri, who arrived here earlier in the day, also met with Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, and discussed issues of mutual concern. A Lebanese official earlier told AFP news agency that Hariri’s talks in the Kingdom would cover the tense situation in the Middle East and bilateral relations.

The agency said Hariri had obtained the Kingdom’s agreement in July to participate in a meeting of international financial institutions and donor nations aimed at helping Lebanon pull itself out of a deep financial crisis.

The Paris II meeting, to be hosted by France later this year, is expected to gather major Gulf states, members of the Group of Eight industrialized nations, and global financial institutions like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

Prince Abdullah, meanwhile, telephoned King Abdallah of Jordan to convey his condolences on the death of Prince Zaid ibn Shaker. “During the conversation, the two leaders also discussed major developments in the region,” SPA said.

Prince Abdullah also received a number of princes, ministers, top officials and a group of citizens, who came to greet him, at his palace in Jeddah.

American Muslims gather en masse in Washington
By Barbara Ferguson, Arab News Correspondent

WASHINGTON, 1 September — Imagine a large arena filled with everything Muslim. Add 40,000 people representing the Muslim American world, a huge “souk” filled with everything from Qur’an copies, calligraphy, paintings, shishas, food, gold, incense, videos, books, films, Arabic language classes, to a variety of ethnic clothing. Parallel the souk with ongoing panel discussions ranging from Islam to coping in a non-Muslim society, and you have an idea of what the 39th conference of the Islamic Society of North America, ISNA, looks like.

Held this weekend at the Washington Convention Center, just two weeks before the anniversary of Sept. 11, much of the convention is focused on the impact of terrorist attacks on Islam, civil liberties and political life in the United States.

“Two to three generations have been raised within these conventions,” said Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed, the society’s secretary general. “We have become the growing institution for Muslims in North America.”

Growing, indeed. The convention offers a Muslim-style dating service, fully chaperoned. “Parents are so concerned to find spouses for their sons and daughters in a non-Muslim society. So we have created an alternative. Before attending the conference, parents or young people could look at our website regarding potential marital preferences. Then, when they came to the convention, they could have chaperoned meetings where the families could meet each other.”

“Muslims are creating a new culture within America,” Dr. Syeed told Arab News. “This year’s theme was how to raise a family here as Americans that are sensitive to both diversity within Islam and living within a non-Muslim society.”

And, as proof, tucked between booths offering Islamic mortgages and charity organizations for Palestinian children or the victims of Gujarat, is an FBI stand that is recruiting special agents.

“We have received dozens of inquiries,” one of the FBI recruiters told Arab News. “Some of the people we’ve spoken to are hesitant to become agents, because they don’t want to carry guns, but we explain to them there are other opportunities of professional support that we are seeking.”

This marks the first time that INSA has held their convention in the nation’s capital. There were no demonstrators outside the convention center, instead the sidewalks were filled with throngs of ethnic Muslims, some chatting in groups, others on mobiles phones, some reading papers. There was some confusion over the special entrances for “sisters” and “brothers” (all must pass through a security checkpoint), but organizers assured Arab News that once the attendees register, “they pretty much understand the ropes.”

The event, which runs four days and ends tomorrow, is big business. Last year’s ISNA convention was held in Chicago and brought in an estimated $50 million in revenue for the city, and reaped additional millions for the convention’s venders.

Israel detains Hamas West Bank leader: witnesses
Khaleej Times, 9/1/02

RAMALLAH - Israeli soldiers arrested the West Bank political leader of the militant group Hamas, Hassan Yussef, on Saturday in the town of El Bireh near this West Bank city, Palestinian witnesses said.

Palestinian security officials would confirm only that Israel soldiers detained two people after storming a house in El Bireh. But neighbours insisted they were certain Yussef was one of the two people arrested. - AFP

EU ministers seek to cool US heat on Iraq
Khaleej Times, 9/1/02

ELSINORE - EU foreign ministers sought on Saturday to cool US sabre-rattling over Iraq, stressing the need for the UN to take the lead and welcoming a reduction of tone by the United States, diplomats said. Gathered in Hamlet's Danish hometown of Elsinore, ministers mostly remained tight-lipped as they arrived for a second day of informal talks in the relaxed atmosphere of a beach-side hotel just along from Hamlet's Kronborg Castle.

But aides said the debate on Iraq would likely focus on support for attempts to get UN weapons inspectors back into the country. "I think there will be a general discussion and a declaration that we should follow the UN path," said one diplomat in the sidelines of the meeting. "It's important to let the UN work."

Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner was among the few ministers ready to talk to the press before the talks, which came after a first day of discussions on Friday centered on EU enlargement. She notably welcomed a softening of tone in the latest by speech by US Vice-President Dick Cheney. - AFP

US envoy meets Palestinian officials
Khaleej Times, 9/1/02

RAMALLAH - Palestinian and European officials met US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State David Satterfield in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Saturday to discuss reforms and efforts to restore regional calm. Satterfield, whose arrival in the Middle East in recent days is the first time in weeks a US envoy has met Israeli and Palestinian officials, is holding a series of talks with both sides to restore calm shattered by 23 months of bloodshed.

He met Palestinian Interior Minister Abdel Razzak Al Yahya, and French Consul Demis Pietton, and was due to meet Nabil Shaath, Palestinian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, and Russian envoy Andre Vdovin later in the day. Palestinian President Yasser Arafat was also scheduled to meet Vdovin and Pietton separately in the morning. Palestinian officials said Arafat was not scheduled to meet Satterfield. They did not give a reason, but Washington has since June publicly sidelined the Palestinian leader because of what they say is his failure to act against "terror".

The latest talks aim to strengthen a fragile security deal that Israelis and Palestinians struck last week, whereby Israel is to ease its military clampdown in the West Bank and Gaza in return for Palestinian security forces ensuring calm.

Palestinians accuse Israel of abandoning the "Gaza-Bethlehem First" arrangement that has frayed as violence persists. The Israeli army has vacated the West Bank city of Bethlehem but says it will only leave six more cities and lift controls over civilians in Gaza when Palestinian police follow through on new commitments to curb militant groups.

Under US and Israeli pressure to crackdown on militants, Al Yahya said in an interview published in Israel's Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper on Friday that militants must halt suicide bombings or face "isolation" by Palestinian society. - Reuters

British parliament to be recalled if Iraq attacked
LONDON - Britain's parliament will be recalled if the government plans to take part in a military action against Iraq while it is not in session, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said on Saturday.

Interviewed by the BBC from Elsinore in Denmark, where EU foreign ministers are meeting informally, Straw said there would definitely be a debate in parliament in the event of an attack on Iraq. "So far as parliament is concerned, the usual arrangements are that if there is going to be military action, obviously the cabinet meets and makes decisions about that and then parliament, if it is already in session, a debate is held.

"If it isn't, parliament is recalled, and that is what will happen on this occasion, if we are in that position." But, he added, "I do not believe for a moment that decisions on military action in any event are imminent. The idea that parliament is going to be recalled in the next few weeks is almost certainly a very distant one," Straw said.

On August 5 British Prime Minister Tony Blair brushed aside a call for a special sitting of parliament to debate the anticipated US-led war on Iraq. - AFP

EU plays down differences on Iraq, Blair talks tough
Elsinore, Denmark |Reuters | Gulf News 01-09-2002

European Union foreign ministers tried yesterday to paper over their differences on Iraq by reaffirming their support for U.N.-led efforts to secure the return of weapons inspectors to Baghdad.

But at their meeting in Elsinore, Denmark, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer repeated Berlin's strong opposition to any military operation to unseat Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

In separate comments made during a flight to South Africa, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Washington's closest ally, said the world must act firmly to stop Iraq developing weapons of mass destruction in "flagrant breach" of U.N. resolutions.

Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller, host of the two-day EU talks in Elsinore, said the 15 -nation bloc was unanimous in its key demand on the return of arms inspectors.

"The EU says the Iraqi regime must allow the arms inspectors in immediately to find out whether there are weapons of mass destruction or not," he told a news conference.

"We encourage the United States to continue broad consultations on the question of Iraq," Moeller said.

The United States has stepped up its war of words against the Iraqi government in recent weeks. Vice-President Dick Cheney has said even the return of the arms inspectors would not be enough and has called openly for the removal of Saddam.

Malaysia blames illegal immigrants for crimes
Zamboanga |Al Jacinto | Gulf News 01-09-2002

Malaysia has blamed hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants for the growing number of crimes in Sabah, the Malaysian embassy said in a statement which reached southern Philippines.

Illegal immigrants, including the Filipinos, were involved in illegal activities in Sabah, the embassy added but did not elaborate on the number of Filipinos involved in crimes in the Malaysian island.

Confirming the report, some deportees who have recently arrived in Zamboanga City said many illegal Filipino immigrants in Sabah were engaged in smuggling and illegal drugs. The police, too, have linked these illegal Filipino immigrants to robberies in Sabah.

They are also accused of bringing with them infectious diseases, sources said. However, details were not given.

At the same time, the embassy said Kuala Lumpur has decided to get overseas workers not only from the Philippines, but from other countries as well.

"To ensure that foreign workers of the same nationality do not dominate the labour market in Malaysia, the government has decided to diversify its recruitment from its present sources to include workers from countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam," the statement said.

The embassy has blamed the Filipino deportees, who opted to return to the Philippines on the last days of the amnesty period, for clogging ports.

The Malaysian government gave ample time to illegal workers to leave the country voluntarily, the embassy said.

It has announced that undocumented Filipinos arrested for violation of the immigration laws will face up to six lashes in public.

The Malaysian parliament passed a bill in April 2000, which called for amnesty for illegal workers.
Explaining the ongoing crackdown, the embassy said, "The latest action by the Malaysian government to deal with the problem of a massive influx of foreign workers and illegal immigrants was long overdue.

"It is intended to ensure the safety, security and well-being of all Malaysians, as well as foreigners who are legally residing or working in Malaysia."

It also said authorities in Sabah have treated all the deportees in the same way.

Abdullah Sani, Sabah's immigration chief expressed surprise over claims by the Philippines that illegal Filipino workers were being ill-treated at the temporary detention centres, in Sabah.

"We have not received any complaints from their officials here," Abdullah told the New Sabah Times, the copy of which reached Zamboanga City. "Such a claim is indeed surprising because we treat all immigration detainees in accordance with our regulations," Sani added.

The Filipino embassy officials in Kuala Lumpur regularly check the conditions of the deportees, he said, adding, "Even the Indonesian illegal immigrants at the detention centres are given the similar treatment.

"Malaysia has been very just and fair in its treatment accorded to all foreign workers. The Malaysian labour laws do not discriminate foreign workers from the Malaysians," the embassy said.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Blas Ople recently summoned Malaysian Ambassador Taufik Mohammed Noor over the alleged mistreatment of the deportees. Ople expressed his concern over their condition.

On the other hand, Filipino politicians and rights groups have criticised Malaysia for its harsh treatment to the deportees.

Opinions expressed in various sections are the sole responsibility of their authors and they may not represent Al-Jazeerah's.