Settlers throw stones, break window in Palestinian vilage :

Israel Defense Forces soldiers were called to the area and dispersed the rioters. Soldiers recorded that the settlers were drunk due to Purim festivities.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/556637.html

--------------------
This Year, a Better Good Friday
--------------------

Christian pilgrims are returning to Jerusalem to celebrate the Easter season as tensions between Israel and the Palestinians subside.

By Laura King
Times Staff Writer

March 26 2005

JERUSALEM; Yusef Kaman, a skinny and wispy-mustached Palestinian teenager, offered a brief, wheezing commentary on the Easter season here this year, the first time in five years that Christian pilgrims have descended in large numbers on the holy city.

The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wo...0,2489573.story

Lebanese Hunt for Evidence in Beirut Bombing

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=C7835A:2F72C9D

Explosion wounded at least 8 people in a Christian suburb of east
Beirut late Saturday, on eve of Easter holy day Authorities in Lebanon
are hunting for evidence to help trace those responsible for a bomb
attack that caused extensive damage in Beirut.

Lebanese police officer at site of  bomb blast in an
industrial zone of a mainly Christian neighborhood in BeirutThe
explosion wounded at least eight people in a Christian suburb of east
Beirut late Saturday, on the eve of the Christian Easter holy day. The
massive blast, which came from an estimated 25 kilograms of explosives
hidden in a parked car, caused huge fires in an industrial
neighborhood.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, the third bombing
in eight days apparently aimed at Lebanese Christians. However,
opposition political figures are blaming Lebanon's Syrian-backed
security services for the blast. They believe it was an attempt to
foment unrest in Lebanon as Syria pulls its troops and intelligence
agents out of the country.

Lebanon has been in political turmoil since last month's assassination
of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, which many people contend was
ordered by Syria. Amid a round of huge anti-Syrian demonstrations,
Damascus agreed to begin withdrawing the thousands of troops and
intelligence agents it has stationed in Lebanon for years.

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

Israel Set to Implement Gaza Pullout

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=C7835B:2F72C9D

PM Sharon won enough support to pass the state budget this week,
despite stiff opposition from hawks who oppose Gaza pullout Israel's
plan to pull out of the Gaza Strip this summer is set for
implementation, after a key obstacle is removed. Israel's embattled
leader got an additional boost from the Bush administration.

Ariel SharonIsraeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has cleared the last
major legislative hurdle to the planned withdrawal from the Gaza
Strip. Mr. Sharon has won enough support to pass the state budget this
week, despite stiff opposition from hawks who oppose the Gaza pullout.

Failure to pass the budget would have toppled the government and put
the Gaza withdrawal on hold. Now, it appears that the army will begin
dismantling 21 Gaza settlements in July.

Mr. Sharon got another boost, when Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
reiterated American support for Israel's plan to hold on to big West
Bank settlement blocs in any final peace agreement with the
Palestinians.

"While we will not prejudice the outcome of final status negotiations,
the changes on the ground, the existing major Israeli population
centers will have to be taken into account in any final status
negotiations," she said on Israel Radio.

That position infuriates the Palestinians, who have long insisted that
all West Bank settlements be dismantled.

"The choice at the end of the day is between settlements or peace, and
I hope the choice will be peace," said Chief Palestinian negotiator
Saeb Erekat.

But Prime Minister Sharon doubts that Israel and the Palestinians can
reach a final peace agreement resolving thorny issues like the status
of Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees, and final borders. Mr. Sharon has
made no secret of his strategy, to get rid of overpopulated,
impoverished, and violent Gaza, while tightening Israel's grip on the
Biblical heartland of the West Bank.

You can trust Israel as far as you can throw Arial Sharon....


Photos reveal Israeli West Bank expansion Gaurdian UK

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,251-1536073,00.html

As along as people accept the argument that Zionism trumps Geneva there will be no peace.

This fall on deaf ears in the USA......Israel can do nothing wrong, not even respect the UN resolutions! Europe is accused of being antisemitic because the News denounce it, with right!
Boycott of products coming from Israel is the next menace: this work!

Egypt reins in democratic voices
President Mubarak arrested scores of members of the opposition Muslim
Brotherhood Sunday. By Dan Murphy
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0328/p01s02-wome.html?s=hns

Victory for Lebanese hungry for 'truth'
Lebanon agreed this weekend to an inquiry into Rafik Hariri's death. By
Nicholas Blanford
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0328/p06s02-wome.html?s=hns

--------------------
Bombing Injures Three in Beirut
--------------------

Three mainly Christian neighborhoods have been hit in about a week. The opposition blames pro-Syrian agents.

From Associated Press

March 27 2005

BEIRUT; A bomb set off a raging inferno in an industrial area of a mainly Christian neighborhood of the Lebanese capital Saturday, injuring at least three foreign workers.

The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wo...headlines-world

Syria Pulls Out 2,000 More Troops from Lebanon

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=C7EF56:2F72C9D

Officials in Beirut say latest withdrawal brings Syrian military
presence down to about 8,000 troops Lebanese security officials say
Syria has pulled two-thousand more troops out of Lebanon's eastern
Bekaa Valley.

Officials in Beirut today Monday say the latest withdrawal brings the
Syrian military presence down to about eight-thousand troops, the
lowest level since they entered Lebanon nearly three decades ago.

Lebanese officials say the Syrian-Lebanese Military Commission will
meet next week to set a timetable for the complete withdrawal of all
remaining Syrian forces.

Also Monday, a senior Lebanese Foreign Ministry official is en route
to New York to attend a U.N. Security Council meeting.  Council
members are expected to call for an international investigation of
last month's assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.

In other developments, Lebanon's main opposition leader Walid Jumblatt
says he has no current plans to press for disarmament of the militant
group Hezbollah.

Some information for this report provided by AP, Reuters.

Lebanon Under Pressure as UN Set to Debate Probe for Hariri Killing

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=C7EF5A:2F72C9D

Assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri sparked a
political crisis in Lebanon and has put the government on the
defensive

Large memorial banner with  picture of slain former PM Rafik
Hariri hangs between buildings on a street in central BeirutThe United
Nations is expected to hold discussions this week over a possible
international inquiry into last month's assassination of former
Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Mr. Hariri was killed in a
massive bomb explosion in Beirut and his death sparked a political
crisis in Lebanon and has put the government on the defensive.

The news has not been good for Lebanon's government. A U.N. report on
Mr. Hariri's death accused it of negligence and of bungling and
possibly even manipulating the subsequent investigation. The release
of a videotape did not help. It was reportedly taken at the time of
the explosion and shows a white van driving slowly by the site just
before Mr. Hariri's convoy was blown up. Lebanese authorities
apparently never followed up on that information.

Lebanon has not had a real working government since massive street
protest, sparked by the Hariri killing, forced the fall of Prime
Minister Omar Karame's cabinet. And, he has not formed a new one since
then.

Then, there were three bombings within a week in predominantly
Christian neighborhoods of Beirut. Opposition politicians and many
Lebanese say they are devised to inflame sectarian tensions.

Senior U.S. envoy to Lebanon, David Satterfield has expressed American
condemnation of the bombings and says the aim of the attacks is clear.
"They are aimed directly at the people of Lebanon and I think the
people of Lebanon are confident in their ability to proceed in a
manner that tells those responsible they will not be frightened," he
said.

The bombings have put Beirut residents on edge and many Lebanese blame
Syria and pro-Syrian Lebanese authorities.

Pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud has called for an end to violence
and for unity. He has also agreed to an international investigation
into Mr. Hariri's killing - a main opposition demand.

But with growing opposition and international pressure, Mr. Lahoud is
likely to lose what many see as his main backers and protectors -
Syria. Syrian troops are slowly withdrawing from Lebanon, but many
Lebanese fear Syrian intelligence agents and their supporters inside
Lebanon could continue to try to foment violence.

Israeli Parliament Rejects Referendum Bill on Gaza Withdrawal

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=C7EF55:2F72C9D

Monday's vote of 72-39 all but ends attempts by withdrawal
opponents to derail the Gaza pullout The Israeli parliament has
rejected a bill calling for a national referendum on Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon's plan to evacuate settlers and troops from the Gaza
Strip and four small West Bank enclaves later this year.

Monday's vote of 72-39 all but ends attempts by withdrawal opponents
to derail the Gaza pullout.

Under the withdrawal plan, all 21 Jewish settlements in Gaza are to be
evacuated, along with four of 120 settlements in the occupied West
Bank.  A referendum would have delayed the withdrawal for months
from its July starting date. 

Meanwhile, Israeli troops raided the West Bank Palestinian town of
Jenin today, arresting eight accused members of Islamic Jihad. 
The Israeli army alleges the suspects were making crude rockets and
mortars for future attacks. 

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

Local issues complicate push for democracy in Iraq, Egypt, Lebanon, between Israel and Palestinians.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0328/dailyUpdate.html

http://fairuse.1accesshost.com/news2/latimes575.html

America's Dangerous Mideast Assumptions: the View from Damascus

As Gaza pullout nears, some Israelis move in
Monday, Israel's Knesset rejected a bid to delay the Gaza Strip
withdrawal. By Ben Lynfield
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0329/p06s03-wome.html?s=hns

Sharon: We can't expect explicit U.S. okay to build in settlements :

The large blocs of settlement in the West Bank "will remain in Israel's hands and will fall within the (separation) fence, and we made this position clear to the Americans. This is our position, even if they express reservations," he said.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/557472.html

Israel to defy US and keep large West Bank settlements:

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice hastened to declare that President George W. Bush had indeed declared last April it would be "unrealistic" to expect Israel to vacate all of the West Bank in view of the creation of major Israeli population centres in that area during the past three decades.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/commo...74^2703,00.html

http://tinyurl.com/6ufoc

Will final settlement include an apology?:

The alternative to the traditional and alternative view for solution to the Israeli -Palestinian problem is for Israel to formally apologise for the dispossession of the Palestinian people. It must compensate all who have suffered in the process. It must hand back all land not provided for at the end of British Mandate and gained through war and terror.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8388.htm

http://tinyurl.com/5yfke

Israel: Budget for cancer mapping doesn't extend to Israeli Arab sector :

"Only mapping Jewish communities violates constitutional rights, anchored in the Basic Law on Human Dignity and Freedom,"
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/557476.html

Israel Rejects Referendum on Gaza Plan
By GREG MYRE
Parliament rejected a referendum that could have delayed or
blocked the prime minister's efforts to evacuate Jewish
settlers.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/internat....html?th&emc=th

--------------------
Sharon Passes Last Legislative Hurdle on Gaza
--------------------

Parliament votes against a measure to submit the withdrawal plan to a nationwide referendum.

By Ken Ellingwood
Times Staff Writer

March 29 2005

JERUSALEM; Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon won a key remaining battle Monday against opponents of his Gaza withdrawal plan when lawmakers voted down a bill calling for a nationwide referendum on the issue.

The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wo...,0,269421.story

Visit latimes.com at http://www.latimes.com

Lebanon's Political Stalemate Lingers

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=C85226:2F72C9D

Since assassination of former PM Hariri country has had massive street
protests, no working government and a series of bomb attacks in
predominantly Christian neighborhoods

Large memorial banner with picture of slain former PM Rafik Hariri
hangs between buildings on a street in central BeirutSince the
assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, February
14, Lebanon has been in political turmoil, with massive street
protests, no working government and a series of bomb attacks in
predominantly Christian neighborhoods. A lingering political stalemate
could threaten general elections, due in May.

Lebanon's political leaders have been talking - either directly or
through envoys - but, so far, without concrete results.

Prime Minister Omar Karami has called for a unity government and
threatened to resign again, if he is unable to form one. Opposition
leaders are still rejecting his offer and saying he should get on with
organizing elections to be held on time.

The government and its supporters argue that the opposition is
jeopardizing the upcoming elections by refusing to join a Karami
government that could then prepare the vote.

Opposition lawmaker Samir Franjieh rejects that notion.

"This is not true. They can form the government they want," he said.
"They have the majority in the parliament. And, they have to assume
their responsibility. What we want is a democratic and free election."

Opposition politicians and many average Lebanese blame Syria and the
pro-Syrian Lebanese government for Mr. Hariri's assassination - an
accusation both authorities have denied.

Emile LahoudThe opposition has backed away from initial demands for
pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud to resign. But, Mr. Franjieh told
VOA there are still other demands, including the resignation of senior
security chiefs and uncovering the truth about Mr. Hariri's death.

"We want an international investigation," he said. "We want the
withdrawal of the Syrian troops. We want also the real democratic
possibility to speak - our basic rights."

The just released United Nations report on the Hariri assassination is
likely to embolden the opposition to press its demands. The report
calls for a full international inquiry and accuses the Lebanese
authorities of negligence and the Syrians of having at least
indirectly contributed to the death of the popular former prime
minister.

Lebanon's Shi'ite Hezbollah faction prefers to be seen as staying out
of the fray, but has met with both sides of the political divide.
Sheikh Mohammed Katharani is a member of Hezbollah's political bureau
and tells VOA the politicians are being stubborn.

Sheikh Katharani says, in particular, the opposition's refusal to sit
at the "roundtable of negotiations" and to form a national unity
government is creating a political void and could lead the country to
a catastrophe.

Anti-Syrian protester carries Lebanese flag at site of explosion in
mainly Christian neighborhood of BeirutThere are increasing concerns
about the lingering political crisis and fears of instability,
especially should the elections not take place on time or be flawed.

Political analyst, Professor Sami Baroudi of Beirut's Lebanese
American University, says the current stalemate is serious.

"Any postponing of the election will definitely add fuel to the
political situation," he said. "And, equally important, the economy
may not be able to handle this lengthy period of waiting, uncertainty
and not knowing the direction in which the country is heading."

But, Professor Baroudi says the government should be careful about
blaming the opposition for any postponement because that could
backfire.

"Everyone will basically say you [the government] are not holding the
election because you're afraid about losing power," he said. "So, they
[the government] are really in a weak position. They know that if they
hold the election according to schedule, they're going to lose many,
many seats in parliament. How many, we don't know. And, at the same
time, postponing the election will definitely further undermine the
legitimacy of the existing regime. So, they are in a quandary."

Behind the scenes, there has been some political haggling. Christian
factions want some of their former leaders released from prison or
returned from exile. Hezbollah has gotten assurances from a prominent
Druze leader that the opposition will not push for the militant
Islamic group to be disarmed - at least not at this time.

U.S. confirms officials met with exiled Syrian dissidents :

The State Department has confirmed that U.S. officials met with exiled Syrian dissidents here last week but denied that the talks had focused on prospects for replacing the Damascus regime.
http://www.iht.com/bin/print_ipub.php?file...ews/oppose.html

http://tinyurl.com/6rbte

Lebanon PM Expected to Resign in Two Days:

Lebanon's pro-Syrian prime minister is expected to step down this week after he failed to persuade opposition figures to join a government that could run the country until elections in May.
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?t...storyID=8024703

http://tinyurl.com/4rndk

Netanyahu slams pullout, urges formalized control of W. Bank :

Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly criticized the disengagement plan Tuesday, saying it set a precedent for withdrawing without receiving anything in return, and advocated a formalization of Israeli control over the West Bank.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/558385.html

Israel: Their best defence :

Israel has no choice but to withdraw from the West Bank - not to indulge the Palestinians but to save itself
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8403.htm

http://tinyurl.com/4qb95

Israel maintaining 'strangulation' policy in Gaza Strip :

The report, titled "One Big Prison," documents what the organization says are Israel's violations of human rights and international law in the Gaza Strip.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/558349.html

177 Palestinian Prisoners Killed Since 1967:

Planning and Statistics Department of the Ministry said in ,a statistical report, 69 Palestinian prisoners (39%) were killed due to being liable to severe torture whilst 37 prisoners (20.9%) died due to the lack of medical health care.
http://www.ipc.gov.ps/ipc_new/english/details.asp?name=3554

Sharon Clears Final Hurdle in Gaza Pullout Plan's Path
By STEVEN ERLANGER
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel won an extraordinary
victory Tuesday over his own party and the settler movement.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/30/internat....html?th&emc=th

Israeli Vote Removes Last Obstacle to Gaza Disengagement

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=C8A76A:2F72C9D

Parliament rejects call for referendum that would have delayed pullout
and possibly brought down the government

Israeli Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gestures that budget has
passed as Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, bottom second from right, and
Vice Premier Ehud Olmert, top rightThe Israeli parliament removed the
last legislative obstacle to the implementation of Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan, when it approved the budget, late
Tuesday.

It was a critical vote. Had the budget not been approved by midnight
on Thursday night, Mr. Sharon's government would have had to resign
and new elections would have been scheduled. In the end, the measure
passed easily, 58-36 with one abstention. Voting against the budget
was seen by opponents of the controversial Sharon disengagement plan
as the last chance to stop, or at least delay, the pullout from Gaza
and four West Bank settlements.

Monday, the parliament rejected calls for a referendum that would have
delayed the pullout and possibly brought down the government. With the
budget approved, there are now no legislative obstacles remaining, but
the problems for Mr. Sharon are far from over.

Settler supporter Baruch Ben Yosef says now that the parliament steps
to stop the withdrawal have been exhausted, another approach will have
to be used.

"Were going to make it very, very difficult for the Israeli police and
army to throw Jews out of their houses and to withdraw from the
settlements and hand them over to the terrorist organizations," he
said.

Security officials fear increasingly desperate settlers will resort to
violence, including perhaps an attempt to attack disputed holy sites
in Jerusalem or even to assassinate Mr. Sharon.

Public Security Minister Gideon Ezra says he picked up a warning that
extremists among the settlers might open fire on soldiers who come to
evacuate them.

Mr. Ezra says an opponent of the pullout told him it would be a good
idea to collect weapons from the settlers in Gush Katif settlement
block in Gaza, as he put it, "because somebody can shoot and there
could be casualties."

Anti-disengagement protests have already taken place, with young
demonstrators burning railroad ties and blocking highways, creating
massive traffic tie-ups in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. More are expected.

Disagreement over the withdrawal has fractured Mr. Sharons own Likud
Party. Even members of his own cabinet voted against him in the most
recent parliament balloting. In the end, he was forced to bring in an
unlikely assortment of allies from the left and right, to overcome in
both the vote on the referendum and the budget.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad likely to take part in upcoming elections.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0330/dailyUpdate.html

Ambulances transport Israeli troops:

THE Israeli army uses ambulances to move troops and weapons in operations against Palestinians, a violation of the Geneva Conventions
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/commo...97^1702,00.html

http://snipurl.com/dqz5

IDF fires outlawed Flachette shells in Gaza :

Israel Defense Forces tanks stationed close to the Jabalya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip fired a number of outlawed Flachette shells Friday evening at a soccer field in the eastern section of the camp. Children and adults were playing there at the time, continued the sources, and nine Palestinians were injured.
http://snipurl.com/dqz6

New report reveals misery of Palestinian women's lives under occupation :

Israeli and Palestinian authorities must take urgent steps to end the suffering of Palestinian women living under occupation and conflict, Amnesty International said today (31 March), as it published a new report on the issue.
http://www.amnesty.org.uk/news/press/16028.shtml

New Arab rallying cry: 'Enough'
Wednesday's protest in Egypt shows how the growing push for democracy
in the Middle East also has an anti-US streak. By Dan Murphy
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0331/p01s04-wome.html?s=hns

--------------------
Pro-Syria Premier Delays Stepping Down
--------------------

From Times Wire Reports

March 31 2005

Lebanon's pro-Syria Prime Minister Omar Karami delayed carrying out his promise to step down until after political consultations this week. The anti-Syria opposition accused authorities of stalling.

The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wo...headlines-world

--------------------
Abbas Is Unhurt in Attack on Headquarters
--------------------

From Times Wire Reports

March 31 2005

Palestinian militants fired at the West Bank headquarters of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas while he was in the compound, but he was not injured, security officials said.

The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wo...headlines-world

--------------------
Israeli Envoy Injured in Apparent Suicide Bid
--------------------

From Times Wire Reports

March 31 2005

Israel's envoy to Ethiopia was found in his Addis Ababa hotel room with a head wound, and Ethiopian police said he appeared to have shot himself.

The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wo...headlines-world

--------------------
Israel's High Court Loosens Strictures on Conversions
--------------------

Foreigners gain the right to become Jews under the tutelage of rabbis in the country who aren't Orthodox. A special Knesset session is set.

By Laura King
Times Staff Writer

April 1 2005

JERUSALEM; In a potentially precedent-setting decision, Israel's Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that under certain circumstances the state must recognize resident foreigners' conversions to Judaism by non-Orthodox rabbis.

The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wo...0,4984506.story

--------------------
Abbas Fires Several Security Officials
--------------------

From Times Wire Reports

April 2 2005

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas fired several security chiefs for failing to halt lawlessness in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, two days after gunmen fired at his Ramallah, West Bank, compound.

The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wo...headlines-world

--------------------
Lebanese Premier Will Stay
--------------------

From Reuters

April 2 2005

BEIRUT; Lebanon's pro-Syria prime minister, Omar Karami, will try to form a government as soon as possible to lead the nation into elections planned in May, rather than step down as he had previously said he would, a top official said Friday.

The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wo...headlines-world

Top West Bank Security Chief Resigns

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=C9C79C:2F72C9D

Ismail Jaber resigned after gunmen loyal to him fired on prime
minister's Ramallah compound, Wednesday Palestinian leader Mahmoud
Abbas has accepted the resignation of his top West Bank security
chief, a sign that Mr. Abbas is responding to complaints about growing
chaos among his security forces.

Israeli Brigidier General Tal Russo, left, reaches out to shake hands
with Ismail Jaber, his Palestinian counterpart, right (March 2005 File
photo)Ismail Jaber submitted his resignation Friday after gunmen loyal
to him fired on Mr. Abbas' Ramallah compound Wednesday, when Mr. Abbas
was there. The gunmen were defying a presidential request that they
either disarm or join the security forces.

Mr. Abbas was elected president in January after Yasser Arafat's
death. He is struggling to reform his security forces.

The Palestinian news agency, WAFA, reports that he has decided to
enforce a month-old law to streamline existing security forces.

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

Syrians Promise to Quit Lebanon by Month's End
By DEXTER FILKINS
A United Nations envoy said that Syria's leaders had
promised to pull out all of their military and intelligence
forces from Lebanon by the end of the month.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/04/internat....html?th&emc=th

--------------------
Syria Vows to Exit Lebanon This Month
--------------------

A U.N. envoy reports that Damascus has set a timetable for a military and intelligence pullout and says a monitoring team has been offered.

By Megan K. Stack
Times Staff Writer

April 4 2005

CAIRO; Syria has pledged to pull all of its soldiers and intelligence agents out of neighboring Lebanon by the end of the month, a United Nations envoy said Sunday after closed-door talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad.

The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wo...0,3031111.story

Sharon Counting on Bush Assurances on Retaining Jewish Towns Near Jerusalem:

Sharon is counting on President Bush to keep his commitment that Israel can retain several large Jewish towns near Jerusalem as part of a peace accord with the Palestinians, Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Monday.
http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBLOQEZ47E.html

Israel to dump 10,000 tons of garbage a month in the West Bank:

The project was launched despite international treaties prohibiting an occupying state from making use of occupied territory unless it benefits the local population.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/560433.html

Poll: Most Jewish Israelis favor emigration of Israeli Arabs:

A majority of Jewish Israelis believe that the state should encourage Israeli Arabs to emigrate
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/objects/pages...l?itemNo=560441

http://snipurl.com/dtdp

--------------------
Lawlessness Has Abbas Going After the Law
--------------------

Since gunmen attacked three restaurants last week, the Palestinian leader has cracked down on the territories' disparate security forces.

By Ken Ellingwood
Times Staff Writer

April 5 2005

RAMALLAH, West Bank; The gunmen who shot up Osama Khalaf's restaurant appear also to have jarred the new Palestinian leadership into more forceful actions to bring order to the streets.

The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wo...,0,831727.story

--------------------
Graves of Rabin and His Widow Are Desecrated
--------------------

From Times Wire Reports

April 5 2005

Israeli police are investigating the desecration of the graves of slain Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and his widow that leftist lawmakers blamed on ultranationalists opposed to a Gaza Strip pullout plan.

The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wo...headlines-world

UN Envoy to Inspect Syrian Withdrawal from Lebanon

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

Terje Roed-Larsen to discuss Syria's pledge to complete its
military withdrawal

Terje Roed-Larsen

A United Nations envoy has carried out his first inspection to verify
that Syria is withdrawing its military and intelligence personnel from
Lebanon and complying with Security Council Resolution 1559.

Terje Roed-Larsen Tuesday visited a West Beirut apartment block that
Syrian intelligence agents evacuated in recent weeks.

Mr. Roed-Larsen also voiced support for the Lebanese opposition's
demand that parliamentary elections go forward on time by May 31.

On Sunday, Syria pledged to remove all of its troops and intelligence
personnel from Lebanon by April 30.

Today, witnesses reported more Syrian troops were dismantling their
posts, and at least 20 trucks were seen transporting troops and
equipment towards Syria.

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.