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Audio & Photos: Mideast Peace Summit
Greg Myre, a correspondent in Jerusalem for The Times, previews Tuesday's summit meeting between Israeli and Palestinian leaders in Egypt.
http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/inter.../double.html?th

Hopes High for Progress at Israeli-Palestinian Summit

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=B6FFC8:2F72C9D

Summit meeting Tuesday in Egypt could mark a turning point in the
Middle East peace process Some political analysts say Tuesday's summit
could be the most significant development in the Middle East peace
process since the Palestinian intifada began in September 2000.

Israel Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and the president of the
Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, will meet at the Egyptian resort
of Sharm el-Sheikh.

The head of the al-Quds Center for Political Studies in Jordan, Uraib
el-Rantawi, says he believes both sides are ready for peace.

"I think it is a very important starting point for the peace process
in the Palestinian-Israeli track," he said. "I think there is serious
preparation for this summit, and I hope that a serious and confirmed
decision will be taken in that conference."

Mr. El-Rantawi says the death of long-time Palestinian leader Yasser
Arafat and subsequent election of Mr. Abbas to replace him has
injected new momentum into the long-stagnant peace process.

"Since the election of the Palestinian new leadership, I think new
hope is emerging in the area. I think both sides are very tired with
this conflict," he said. It is time for both sides to take serious
decisions, historical ones.

"And, I hope, by this summit a new agenda will be drawn and new steps
will be taken, both by the Israelis and by both the Jordanians and
Egyptians," continued Mr. El-Rantawi. "I do believe that the
conference will be a very good starting point for a new process in the
Middle East."

The summit is being hosted by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who
withdrew the Egyptian ambassador to Israel in 2000 to protest what he
said was the mistreatment of Palestinians. The summit Tuesday will
mark the first time Mr. Mubarak has met face-to-face with Israeli
Prime Minister Sharon.

King Abdullah of Jordan is also attending the summit. Egypt and Jordan
are the only two Arab states to have signed peace treaties with
Israel. And, like Egypt, Jordan removed its ambassador to Israel to
protest Israeli military actions in the occupied territories.

But in recent weeks President Mubarak and King Abdullah have said they
believe Mr. Sharon may be ready for peace.

The head of the political science department at Qatar University,
Mohammed al-Musfr, says the timing of the summit is good, but he is
not so sure it will produce substantive results.

"I think it is a very important meeting, and it is the right time to
have this meeting for many reasons. The first reason is that the
obstacles of the Palestinian Authority, Yasser Arafat, have expired.
And, the new administration in Palestine was elected, and this is the
right time for this kind of meeting. But, I am not expecting anything
to come out of this meeting," he commented.

Mr. al-Musfr says he expects Israel to hold firm on its position that
security must be guaranteed before the peace process can move forward.
He says he thinks the Palestinians will continue to oppose any
settlement on a piecemeal basis.

As for Egypt and Jordan, both analysts believe improved relations with
Israel will occur as the result of the summit. A senior Arab League
official, who asked not to be identified, said it was likely Egypt
will return its ambassador to Israel within a matter of weeks. The
same official predicted Jordan would do the same.

2 Mideast Rivals to State Intent to Halt Attacks
By STEVEN R. WEISMAN and GREG MYRE
Israeli and Palestinian officials characterized the
announcements to be made in Egypt as a cease-fire, but
there will be no joint declarations or signatures on a
document.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/08/internat...mideast.html?th

QUOTATION OF THE DAY -

"We expect a declaration on the Palestinian side on the cessation of armed conflict, the intifada. Israel will also make a unilateral declaration that says if the Palestinians cease fire, we will refrain from military activity."
- RAANAN GISSIN, spokesman for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel.


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/08/internat...mideast.html?th

-- Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announce they have agreed to cease-fire.

Watch CNN or log on to http://CNN.com for the latest news.

(Reuters) Palestinian President Abbas declares formal end to violence against Israel.

Visit Yahoo! News for more details or search for this story on Yahoo! News Search.

SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt (AP) Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon says he hopes Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas will lead his people to statehood.

SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt (AP) Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has declared that Israel will stop military activity against Palestinians everywhere.

Visit Yahoo! News for more details or search for this story on Yahoo! News Search.

Rice Optimistic About Peace Deal in Middle East

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=B7884F:2F72C9D

US secretary of state says there seems to be a new will in the Middle
East to reach peace; meets with Italian Foreign Minister Gianfranco
Fini

Condoleezza Rice with Italian Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini U.S.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with the Italian Foreign
Minister Gianfranco Fini Tuesday in Rome. She expressed optimism about
the prospects for peace in the Middle East and said both Italy and the
United States agree this is time of opportunity.

Condoleezza Rice said there seems to be a new will in the Middle East
to reach peace but she warned that there is still a long road ahead.
She was speaking after a meeting with the Italian Foreign Minister
Gianfranco Fini.

Ms. Rice said she held extensive discussions on the prospects for
peace in the Middle East with Mr. Fini but also talked about Iraq,
Afghanistan and the Balkans.

The meeting came just hours before Israeli and Palestinian leaders
were to meet in Sharm-el-Sheik for a new era of peace talks. Ms. Rice
is on her way back from the region where she met both Israeli Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Abu Mazen.

Ms. Rice said reaching peace in the region and the success of the new
Israeli-Palestinian talks in Egypt also depended on other Middle
Eastern countries. She used tough words against Syria saying it has
been unhelpful in many ways, particularly in the way it supports
terrorists.

"It is time for Syria to demonstrate that it does not want to be
isolated, that it does not want to have a bad relationship with the
United States," she said. "We've already used the Syrian
accountability act to levy certain sanctions against Syria. I would
hope that Syria could react in a more positive way so that we do not
have to go further in that regard."

Ms. Rice added that you cannot, on one hand, say you want a process of
peace and on the other hand support people who are determined to
destroy it. She also said that the new Palestinian leadership must
move with strength to control violence against Israel.

Turning to the difference that exist in Europe over the Iraq war, Ms.
Rice stressed the importance of the Iraqi elections in the pursuit of
democracy and freedom in Iraq.

She also defended America's standing to help the Iraqis obtain this
and acknowledged that also in democracies things can go wrong, as in
the case of the abuse at Abu Ghraib prison.

"Being a democracy does not mean that bad things will not happen but
being a democracy means that you will be transparent, and open and
investigate and punish any such activities," she said.

Ms. Rice was also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi
but that meeting had to be canceled as Mr. Berlusconi has the flu.
After meeting with the foreign minister, Ms. Rice went to the Vatican
for talks with Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the secretary of state. She was
to have met the pope originally but he was taken to a hospital last
Tuesday with breathing problems linked to the flu.

Sharon, Abbas Declare Cease-Fire

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=B78850:2F72C9D

More than 3,300 Palestinians and nearly 1,000 Israelis lost their
lives since September 2000 uprising against Israeli occupation 

Israeli PM Ariel Sharon, right, and Palestinian Authority
President Mahmoud Abbas, left, shake hands prior to their
delegations' meeting at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-SheikIsraeli
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
have declared a formal end to more than four years of violence.

Neither side signed a truce declaration at the Egyptian summit
Tuesday. But the Palestinian leader described what he called a new
opportunity for restoring the Middle East peace process. He then
declared an end to the Palestinian uprising against Israeli
occupation.

Moments later, Mr. Sharon said Israel will stop all military
activities everywhere against Palestinians, and said he hopes
President Abbas will lead his people to statehood. Mr. Sharon then
invited the Palestinian leader for talks at his ranch in southern
Israel. Mr. Abbas accepted.

The summit in the Egyptian resort Sharm el-Sheikh is the highest level
meeting between the two sides since the intifada erupted in September
of 2000, after the collapse of the peace process. More than 3,300
Palestinians and nearly 1,000 Israelis have been killed in the
violence.

Ahead of the summit, President Bush, who has invited both leaders to
Washington, said he is impressed by steps taken by both sides.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

[quote=Snuffysmith,Feb 8 2005, 12:25 PM]
Israeli PM Ariel Sharon, right, and Palestinian Authority
President Mahmoud Abbas, left, shake hands prior to their
delegations' meeting at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-SheikIsraeli
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
have declared a formal end to more than four years of violence.

Neither side signed a truce declaration at the Egyptian summit
Tuesday. But the Palestinian leader described what he called a new
opportunity for restoring the Middle East peace process. He then
declared an end to the Palestinian uprising against Israeli
occupation.
quote
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just a question -----

For years, President Bush could have empowered our former Secretary of State, Colin Powell, to speak for him in the Middle East as he has done with Condi Rice.

He didn't. Why? Hint --- it wasn't just because he said he had no confidence in Arafat.

A.B.

Summit to give peace a chance
Three months after Yasser Arafat's death, the Palestinians' newleader takes
a vital step towards peace and independence.
http://newsletters.fairfax.com.au/cgi-bin1...SLZ0Bnf0BkGz0Eb

Jewish enclave bid to force out Arabs
http://newsletters.fairfax.com.au/cgi-bin1...SLZ0Bnf0BkG10EO

Arab farmers' pleas bear fruit
http://newsletters.fairfax.com.au/cgi-bin1...SLZ0Bnf0BkG20EP

Why this deal might be different
Israeli and Palestinian leaders met for first time in four years
Tuesday at a summit in Egypt. By Ben Lynfield
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0209/p01s03-wome.html?s=hns

US shifts its role in Mideast peace
It will shun high-profile diplomacy, playing facilitator instead of
enforcer. By Howard LaFranchi
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0209/p03s02-usfp.html?s=hns

Urging New Path, Sharon and Abbas Declare Truce
By STEVEN ERLANGER
There was a rapid reminder of the fragility of the
declarations when spokesmen for Hamas said the truce was
not binding on them.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/09/internat...mideast.html?th

Reason for Cheer in the Mideast
If the good feeling that came out of Tuesday's Middle East
summit is to lead to lasting peace, both sides must commit
to taking the next steps.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/09/opinion/09wed2.html?th

Israeli, Palestinian Leaders Reach Cease-Fire Agreement

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=B7F32B:2F72C9D

The announcement is seen as a major confidence-building move that
could pave the way for more substantive peace negotiations

Israeli PM Ariel Sharon right and Palestinian Authority President
Mahmoud Abbas left  shake hands at Sharm el-Sheik
summitPalestinians and Israelis announced Tuesday an agreement to end
more than four years of bloodshed that have resulted in thousands of
deaths. The announcement is seen as a major confidence building move
that could pave the way for more substantive peace negotiations.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmud
Abbas announced an agreement Tuesday to end all hostilities associated
with the Palestinian Intifada that began in September 2000.

Meeting in the Egyptian Red Sea Resort of Sharm el-Sheikh for a
one-day summit hosted by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Mr. Abbas
pledged that all acts of violence against Israel would end
immediately. Mr. Sharon promised that Israeli military operations
would end in all Palestinian locations.

Mr. Abbas called the agreement a new opportunity for both the
Palestinians and Israelis to renew their hope for peace. His words
were translated by an interpreter provided by the Palestinians.

"What we have announced today, in addition to being the implementation
of the first article of the road map that was established by the
quartet, it is also a basic step an important step that provides a new
opportunity for restoring the peace process and its momentum so that
the Palestinian and Israeli peoples restore hope and confidence in the
possibility for achieving peacem,” said Mr Abbas.

Mr. Sharon urged Israelis and Palestinians not to allow this
opportunity for peace to slip away. Over the past four years, ten
cease-fire agreements have been reached. All of them failed to last.
Tuesday, Mr. Sharon called on both sides to wipe out acts of terror.
His words were translated through an interpreter provided by Israel.

"We must all work unceasingly and indefatigably to break down the
terrorist mechanism once and for all,” said Mr. Sharon.  “It is
only by away with violence that we will be able to give hope to peace.
We must not allow this opportunity to slip from our fingers, this hope
this opportunity for a genuine new start."

Mr. Sharon said deeds, not words, would move the peace process
forward. After the summit, a spokesman for the Palestinian faction
Hamas said it was not bound by the cease-fire agreement.

In closing his remarks, Mr. Sharon said Palestinians and Israelis will
have to give up some of their dreams in order to achieve a two state
solution, with Palestinians and Israelis living side by side in peace.

The summit also produced an agreement by Israel to form committees to
deal with the issues of Palestinian prisoners, the redeployment of
Israeli troops and Palestinian fugitives. Israel had already announced
plans to free 900 of 8000 Palestinian prisoners, pull back its troops
and end assassinations of Palestinian fugitives.

Even so, Mr. Abbas noted that many unresolved issues remain, including
the release of Palestinian prisoners, the separation fence being built
by Israel and the dismantling of Israeli settlements in Gaza and the
West Bank. Mr. Sharon said Tuesday he remains committed to the
withdrawal of all settlements in Gaza.

The summit occurred following weeks of intense negotiations between
both sides. President Mubarak of Egypt and King Abdullah of Jordan,
who also attended the summit, reportedly played significant roles in
bringing the two sides together.   At the conclusion of the
summit, it was announced that Egypt and Jordan would return their
embassy staff to Israel. Both countries had recalled their ambassadors
in protest over Israeli military operations in the Palestinian
Occupied Territories.

After Mideast Summit, What Lies Ahead: Report:

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was to meet Wednesday, February 9, with resistance factions to keep them posted on the latest understandings reached with Israel, listen to reservations and secure a unified Palestinian front, hoping to give his peace moves a much-needed momentum.
http://www.islam-online.net/English/News/2...article03.shtml

http://tinyurl.com/6ztrt

Israelis and Palestinians Cautiously Optimistic on Road
Ahead
By GREG MYRE
Israel outlined additional steps to ease travel
restrictions on Palestinians and raised the prospect of a
follow-up meeting.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/10/internat...mideast.html?th

Missing Mideast Puzzle Piece
The Palestinian leader needs more consistent and visible support from
his Arab neighbors. The Monitor's View
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0210/p08s01-comv.html?s=hns

Hope takes root, again, in Mideast
With active US intervention, a 'permanent status' agreement is still
attainable this year. By Helena Cobban
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0210/p09s01-coop.html?s=hns

Renewed Violence Challenges Israeli-Palestinian Truce

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=B82E87:2F72C9D

Hamas says attack not meant to challenge Palestinian President Mahmoud
Abbas or truce

Palestinian militants fired dozens of mortars and rockets into Israeli
settlements in the Gaza Strip early Thursday, violating a cease-fire
declared only two days earlier. The violence is likely to increase
pressure on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to take further steps
against the militants.

Hamas says its militants fired 46 mortars and rockets into Gaza
settlements and nearby communities inside Israel. The military says 17
mortars hit Israeli targets but caused no casualties.

Hamas says the attack was not meant to challenge President Abbas or
the truce he announced only two days earlier at a summit with the
Israelis in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

Hamas spokesman in Gaza, Mushir al-Masri told Israel radio the group
wants to help President Abbas but will not stand idly by and ignore
Israeli actions.

He said Thursday morning's attack was in retaliation for the death of
Palestinian man, killed by Israeli gunfire in Gaza on Wednesday.

The Israeli military said soldiers thought the man was trying to
infiltrate the Atzmonah settlement.

Israeli troops in the West Bank also shot and killed a Palestinian
motorist who they said refused to stop at a military roadblock.

The incidents show just how tense the situation on the ground remains
and how tenuous the two-day-old truce is.

In response to Thursday morning's mortar attack, Israel has postponed
a meeting with Palestinian negotiators, which had been scheduled for
later in the day.

The violence is also likely to increase pressure on President Abbas to
take stronger action against the militants.

Israeli government advisor and spokesman, Avi Pazner told VOA Mr.
Abbas has the means necessary to disarm and stop the militants.

"Mahmoud Abbas has under his command a police force of between 30,000
and 40,000 people, which is a considerable force, much stronger than
anything the terrorists can deploy," he said. "He does have the means,
the question is a political question."

The Palestinian leader has been reluctant to take stronger steps
against the militant groups and has instead focused on coaxing them
into a de-facto truce, hoping to bring them into the political fold.

But, Mr. Pazner says Mr. Abbas will have to take more decisive action
and accept the political consequences. Without that, Mr. Pazner says
the whole truce could collapse and endanger the entire effort to
eventually bring the two sides back to peace negotiations.

--------------------
Hope and Pessimism Fill the Streets
--------------------

Some Israelis and Palestinians believe the time for peace is here at last. Others dismiss the pledges made this week as so many words.

By Ken Ellingwood
Times Staff Writer

February 10 2005

JERUSALEM — Israeli shop owner Dina Shoshana looked at the morning paper Wednesday and wept. This time her tears poured from optimism.

The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wo...0,7159864.story

Robert Fisk: There will be no Middle East peace without justice:

If we are going to clap our hands like the Sharm El-Sheikh "peacemakers", we’d better realise that unless we are going to resolve these great issues of injustice now, this new act of "peacemaking" will prove to be as bloody as Oslo. Ask Mahmoud Abbas. He was the author of that first fatal agreement.
http://207.44.245.159/article8024.htm

A shameful kind of Zionist :

It's been a long time since Zionism had such a revival. Everyone's joining in the cause to affirm their contradictory position on the issue that is the heart and soul of Zionism - "redemption of the land."
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/538398.html

Second Palestinian killed after summit:

Two days after a truce was agreed to in the historical Sharm al-Shaikh summit, Israeli troops have killed a seond Palestinian, while fighters in Gaza fired mortars at illegal settlements.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/72A...CDCB64F672D.htm

http://tinyurl.com/4zyxm

Hamas Retaliates as Abbas Fires Gaza Commanders:

Hamas claimed responsibility for the mortar attacks, saying it was avenging the deaths of two Palestinians on Wednesday.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...el_palestinians

http://tinyurl.com/5u73w

Abbas Fires 3 Security Chiefs After an Attack
By GREG MYRE
The move indicated the Palestinian leader's intention to
enforce the cease-fire he announced with Israel's prime
minister.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/11/internat...mideast.html?th

Abbas Warns Militants, Fires Security Chiefs Over Cease-Fire Violation

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=B8CDDA:2F72C9D

New Palestinian President urges militant leaders to turn their
energies to budding political process

Mahmoud Abbas Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is talking with
leaders of militant groups in Gaza, demanding they observe the truce
he has agreed upon with Israel. The talks come after Mr. Abbas fired
three of his senior security chiefs for a cease-fire violation by
Hamas militants a day earlier.

Over the past month Mahmoud Abbas has been meeting and talking with
militant leaders to urge them to halt attacks against Israelis and to
instead turn their energies to the budding Palestinian political
process.

According to his senior aides, Mr. Abbas' message to the militants
this time around will be sharper, namely that his government will not
tolerate their violation of a cease-fire he announced earlier this
week during a summit with the Israelis in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

On Thursday, Hamas militants fired dozens of rockets and mortars into
Jewish settlements in Gaza. Hamas said the attack was not to challenge
Mr. Abbas or his cease-fire but rather in retaliation against the
death of a young Palestinian by Israeli gunfire a day earlier.

Mr. Abbas dismissed several top security officials including chief of
public security General Abdel Razek Majaidie.

Israeli political analyst, Hillel Frisch of Bar-Ilan University told
Israel radio, the dismissals indicate that Mr. Abbas is serious about
holding his security forces responsible. He says the firings could
also be part of wider security reforms and that Mr. Abbas, also known
as Abu Mazen, is slowly getting rid of the so-called "old guard of the
Fatah faction" that was so closely allied with Yasser Arafat.

"It's reducing the power of the people that were brought in from
outside," Mr. Frisch said. "It's basically the beginning of a deal
that Abu Mazen is making with Fatah inside by elevating the people
from the middle, the local leadership."

Palestinian political analyst, Mahdi Abdel-Hadi says Mr. Abbas
definitely has to deal with, what he calls these "two baskets" - the
older generation of activists and militants and the younger
generation. But, he sees this not limited to the security services or
the Fatah faction, but to all political and militant groups.

"His agenda for the old guard, those who are over 60, he's willing to
provide them with a medal, a certificate and with a pension salary,"
Mr. Abdel-Hadi said. "And for the young guard he has to work very hard
for recruitment, for reconciliation, for co-optation and for education
in order to make them part of the system. Otherwise the "two baskets"
will continue to be spoilers for any agenda, for not only the truce,
not only for democratization, not only for changing the status quo,
but for developing the Palestinian society to a different chapter."

Palestinian security services are reported on high alert following
Thursday's violence. Some officials say there is a limit to Mr. Abbas'
patience with the militants, but Mahdi Abdelhadi says the Palestinian
leader is still likely to coax the militants to join the political
process rather than try to crush them, at least for the time being.

Mr. Abbas Makes a Stand
Mahmoud Abbas's crackdown on the militants who violated the
days-old cease-fire with Israel is a forceful sign that
he's a leader who means business.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/12/opinion/12sat2.html?th

--------------------
Hamas Agrees to Cease Attacks
--------------------

The militant group is joined by Islamic Jihad in choosing restraint as Israeli and Palestinian leaders try to advance the fragile peace process.

By Ken Ellingwood
Times Staff Writer

February 13 2005

JERUSALEM — Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants said Saturday that they would hold fire against Israel while deciding whether to honor the cessation of hostilities declared at last week's landmark summit in Egypt between Palestinian and Israeli leaders.

The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wo...,0,415436.story

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...l_nm/mideast_dc

Israel Approves Release of Palestinian Prisoners

Abbas Declares War With Israel Effectively Over
By STEVEN ERLANGER
The Palestinian leader also said that Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon is speaking "a different language" to the
Palestinians.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/14/internat...14abbas.html?th

QUOTATION OF THE DAY -

"We cannot say it was a mistake, but any war will have an end. And what is the end? To sit around the table and talk."
- MAHMOUD ABBAS, the Palestinian leader, on the armed intifada against
Israel.


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/14/internat...14abbas.html?th

--------------------
Israel Selects 500 Prisoners to Be Released
--------------------

The move is a step toward making good on a summit promise to Palestinians. Fears of Jewish right-wing violence grow.

By Ken Ellingwood
Times Staff Writer

February 14 2005

JERUSALEM — Israel's Cabinet on Sunday approved a list of 500 Palestinian prisoners to be freed in keeping with commitments made at last week's summit in Egypt.

The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wo...,0,994887.story

Israel Hands over Palestinian Remains, Prepares Prisoner Release

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=B995CF:2F72C9D

Israel holds about 8,000 Palestinian prisoners; Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas says securing their release is a top priority

Palestinian ambulances, carrying bodies of Palestinian militants drive
through Erez Crossing Israel handed over the remains of 15 militants
killed in shooting or bomb attacks against Israelis within the past
two years. The bodies were taken to Gaza for release to Palestinian
authorities and waiting family members.

At the same time, the military prepared to release 500 Palestinian
prisoners in the coming days. The Israeli Cabinet gave final approval
for the releases on Sunday.

Cabinet Minister Zippi Livni told Israel radio who would be included.

She said those who were detained for lesser crimes, or who had served
at least two-thirds of their jail time, would be up for release. Ms.
Livni said no prisoners with blood on their hands would be released.

Israel holds about 8,000 Palestinian prisoners, and recently elected
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said securing their release is
a top priority.

Israel initially insisted that anyone involved in deadly attacks
against Israelis would not be considered for release, but Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon has now said he might consider making some
exceptions.

Israeli Internal Security Minister Gideon Ezra explained. Speaking on
Israel radio, the minister said releasing those with blood on their
hands would be a high price that Israel might have to pay for peace
and quiet. He said it is not an easy step, but might, in the end, be
necessary.

Israel has agreed to release an additional 400 prisoners in the next
three months. The Palestinians would like to see larger numbers
released, and the two sides are to meet further to discuss the issue.

Israel is also preparing to withdraw from around Jericho, the first of
five West Bank towns to be returned to Palestinian control.

Despite some isolated incidents, a general calm has prevailed since
Palestinian militants agreed to a de-facto truce in talks with Mr.
Abbas in Gaza. The Palestinian leader has said his administration
would not tolerate any violations of the cease-fire he announced
during a summit with Mr. Sharon last week.

In an interview with the New York Times newspaper, Mr. Abbas spoke of
a new era, and said the war with Israel is effectively over.

Both sides say they are intent on seizing this opportunity to end more
than four years of violence. The prisoner releases and handover of
West Bank towns are part of a package of goodwill gestures designed to
build confidence and pave the way to an eventual return to peace
negotiations.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/Middle-East-...8229853462.html

Hebollah 'plotting to kill' Abbas

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?...MNG50BANBE1.DTL

Mideast training program backfires
Palestinian security officers schooled by US later used tactics against Israel

Israelis leaving Jericho
The West Bank town's transfer to Palestinians will set the stage for
four more Israeli withdrawals. By Ben Lynfield
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0216/p01s01-wome.html?s=hns

U.S. Withdraws Ambassador From Syria :

Before departing, U.S. Ambassador Margaret Scobey delivered a stern note, called a demarche in diplomatic parlance, to the Syrian government, said an official who discussed the situation only on grounds of anonymity.
http://207.44.245.159/article8072.htm

Robert Fisk: The killing of 'Mr Lebanon':

This was a bomb that took a long time to construct, a long time to plan. Parked outside the wall of an empty hotel, few would have looked at the car or noticed that it was weighed down on its axles by the weight of explosives, as it must have been.
http://207.44.245.159/article8068.htm

Robert Fisk Interview : Car bomb kills former Lebanese prime minister:

Robert Fisk is a journalist for the Independent newspaper based in Beirut. He knew Rafik Hariri and was one of the first people to get to the site of the attack. Real Audio
http://207.44.245.159/article8065.htm

War pimp alert:

Finger-pointing begins as nations ask, 'Who?' :

The United States will consult with other governments "about measures that can be taken to punish those responsible for this terrorist attack," and "to restore Lebanon's independence, sovereignty and democracy by freeing it from foreign occupation," the White House press secretary, Scott McClellan, said.
http://www.iht.com/bin/print_ipub.php?file...news/react.html

http://tinyurl.com/6o6fa

Blast cited by U.S. in anti-Syria move :

The Bush administration, condemning the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister, Rafik Hariri, is suggesting that Syria is to blame and moving to get a new condemnation of Syria's domination of Lebanon at the UN Security Council.
http://www.iht.com/bin/print_ipub.php?file...ws/lebanon.html

http://tinyurl.com/46a63

Mob Blames Syria for Hariri Assassination:

An angry mob attacked Syrian workers in southern Lebanon Tuesday and another group threw stones and set fires outside a Syrian government office in Beirut, blaming Damascus for the bomb that killed former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=500960

Hariri`s consultant: Hariri`s assassination by Mossad aimed at creating tension in Lebanon :

The late Lebanese politician Rafiq Hariri`s consultant Mustafa al-Naser told IRNA Monday evening, "Assassination Hariri is the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad`s job, aimed at creating political tension in Lebanon."
http://www.irna.ir/?SAB=OK&LANG=EN&PART=_N...=20050215030858

http://tinyurl.com/3z3jz

Battlefield in a larger conflict:

Lebanon is used by and against Syria in this struggle for power
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,...1414875,00.html

Who killed Rafiq al-Hariri?:

Commentators said Syria would most likely be blamed for the killing and as a result feel the repercussions hardest. But many of them wondered what Damascus stood to profit from having a hand in al-Hariri's death.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/AA1...66C15B07D41.htm

http://tinyurl.com/4lj6b

'Qaeda' Says Jihadists Didn't Kill Hariri:

A statement attributed to al Qaeda and posted on the Internet on Tuesday denied Islamists had killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, saying Lebanese, Syrian or Israeli intelligence were behind the attack.
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?t...storyID=7630327

http://tinyurl.com/5e3ng

Analysis: A powerful message that could boomerang:

"It's totally illogical that Syria would do it," said Prof. Eyal Zisser, a Syria expert at the Dayan Institute for Middle East Studies at Tel Aviv University. "It would be such a stupid move on their part."
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pag...3358867&apage=1

http://tinyurl.com/6hja9

In New Gesture to Palestinians, Sharon Will Discuss
Withdrawal
By STEVEN ERLANGER and GREG MYRE
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Tuesday that he had
instructed his government to begin coordinating with
Palestinian leaders on Israel's planned withdrawal from the
Gaza Strip.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/16/internat...mideast.html?th

TODAY'S EDITORIALS
Mr. Sharon and the Settlers
Ariel Sharon must be bold in facing down the challenge from
Israeli settlers who regard Gaza as their birthright.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/16/opinion/16wed1.html?th