Thursday Midnight News Round-up, February 8/9

  • “His Excellency President Yasser Arafat receives two telephone calls-one from President George Bush and one from his Secretary of State Colin Powell dealing with the peace process;
  • Mr. Nabil Abu-Irdeineh, the president’s advisor, underscores the necessity of the Israeli side adhering to the source authority of the Peace process and implementing the resolutions of international legitimacy;
  • Israeli aggression continues against our people and their possessions and several are wounded in attacks by occupation forces;
  • Egypt calls on the Israeli prime minister-elect to embark upon a policy of negotiation based on what was reached with the previous government.”

Morning Headlines, 7 a.m. / 8 a.m. / 9 a.m.

  • “His Excellency President Yasser Arafat receives two telephone calls-one from President George Bush and one from his Secretary of State Colin Powell concentrating on the peace process;
  • The President’s advisor, Nabil Abu-Irdeineh said the two presidents-Arafat and Bush-exchanged ideas on the peace process especially after the change in the Israeli government, agreeing to keep up contacts between them (Arafat and Bush);
  • From their points of view, both Minister of Information and Culture Yasser Abd Rabbo and Home Rule Minister Dr. Saeb Erikat said both of them that negotiations with the Israeli side would not resume except from the point at which they left off in Taba;
  • Heavy Israeli shelling from the settlement of Psagot last night fell on residents of Jabal Tawil in El-Bireh, wounding two citizens.;
  • In Hebron and Qalqilya, seven citizens were wounded, two seriously, in confrontations with occupation forces using gas;
  • Occupation forces arrested five citizens in Jericho and the Ghor Valley last night;
  • Two residents of Khan Yunis were arrested according to military sources when they tried to enter the settlement of Jedid south of the city;
  • Israeli sources say that the explosion in west Jerusalem Thursday night led to the wounding of one person, and the White House Spokesman Ari Fleischer said the explosion was reminder of the need to reach permanent and just peace in the Middle East;
  • Both the new prime minister Ariel Sharon and the outgoing prime minister Ehud Barak rushed to place responsibility for the incident on the (Palestinian) National Authority;
  • The American State Department announced that Washington no longer sees the proposal of the former American president Bill Clinton as a source authority for the peace process between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, and the Clinton thoughts will not return to play a major role in American proposals;
  • Likud candidate Ariel Sharon wins with 62.3 percent over resigning prime minister Ehud Barak, and by a margin of 24.7 according to final results announced last night by the Israeli Central Election Commission;
  • Egypt calls on the Israeli prime minister-elect Ariel Sharon to embark upon a policy of negotiation based on what was reached with the previous government;
  • From his point of view, Egyptian Defense Minister Mushir Tantawi said the Egyptian army was able and ready to respond to any foreign aggression and to respond to anyone foolish enough to attack Egypt;
  • First meeting since the election today between Ariel Sharon and Ehud Barak;
  • Syrian President Bashar Assad said he believed it was possible to start a new political style in Syria, sharing power with the Ba’ath Party.”

Quote of the Day “Any negotiations with the Sharon Government have to proceed from the point left off at Taba..This is the way to security and stability in the region.” (Arafat advisor and spokesman, Nabil Abu Irdeineh in statement to Voice of Palestine-aired constantly on February 8 and February 9)

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