Summary and Analysis

V.O.P. and its correspondents detailed what they said were vicious and internationally illegal Israeli attacks on civilians Sunday night and Monday-attacks involving, they said, the use of poison gas and nerve gas.

The Gaza correspondent of V.O.P., ‘Adil Za’anoun, said more than 50 Palestinians were wounded in heavy Israeli shelling and “gassing” Sunday night.

Monday Morning Round-up Headlines, February 19

  • “Israeli Occupation authorities escalate their dastardly artillery bombardments, especially on Khan Yunis camp, and tens are wounded by the evil shelling;
  • Serious Israeli shelling in the Bethlehem area, especially Beit Jallah, damaging a number of houses;
  • Israeli occupation authorities escalate their arbitrary measures and blockade of necessities to Palestinian lands;
  • Israeli judges confront violence and terrorism in the discussion of the release of the terrorist Yoram Shkolnik who was convicted of killing a Palestinian citizen, whose hands were tied, seven years ago (NOTE: there is no mention here that the “Palestinian citizen” was himself a terrorist);
  • Pilgrims begin leaving West Bank today on blessed Haj (pilgrimage to Mecca, mandated by Islamic tradition and law);
  • Palestinian delegation heads to the American capital of Washington today and is expected to meet with American Secretary of State Colin Powell on Tuesday.”

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

  • “Tens of citizens wounded in artillery bombardments in the West Bank and Gaza, and among those injured, there are those suffering from suffocation and poisoning from gas, a nerve gas that is prohibited internationally;
  • Israeli Occupation authorities tighten their siege on the Sabatiyya and Burqa areas after an explosion in the area last night;
  • Mr. Yasser Abd-Rabbo, the Minister of Culture and Information, asserts that the National Authority is approaching the United Nations to investigate Israeli efforts aimed at undermining the institutions of the (Palestinian National) Authority and the siege and destruction of the Palestinian economy;
  • Dr. Ali Sha’ath director general of the ministry of cooperation and planning (Note: Nabil Sha’ath is the minister) estimates the various economic damages due to the assorted sieges and blockades as three billion dollars since the start of the Intifada;
  • The Israeli army announced yesterday that there would be a joint American-Israeli exercise today in the Negev of new weapons, specifically of missiles against strategic missiles (NOTE: THIS is apparent reference to Patriot missiles, whose testing was not announced by the Israeli army but discovered by Israeli reporters);
  • Deputy Iraqi Prime Minister Tariq Aziz excoriates [Translator’s note: nadada in Arabic is a cross between very strongly criticized and reviled, and so “excoriated” was chosen over “condemned”] the American-British bombardment, calling the American explanations laughable;
  • 8,000 prisoners in Brazil began a rebellion yesterday in Kamadeero Prison in Sao Paulo, and 250 people were taken as hostages.”

Quote of the Day

“First reports from intelligence sources are that the gas was poisonous and forbidden internationally.”
Adil Za’anoun, Gaza correspondent of V.O.P. in opening report Monday, February 19, 7:06 a.m.

Quotes from Interview with Hassan Abd-al-Rahman, PLO representative in Washington, 7:30

“There are a number of meetings set up between us (and the Americans), chiefly with Secretary of State Colin Powell on Tuesday and other officials. And there will be others meetings with officials in the National Security Council and the State Department.

Question: “What is the background to the meetings?”

Answer: “As you know, the the American Secretary of State Mr. Powell is about to visit the region, and he will met President Arafat in Ramallah or Bethlehem. And this will be the first high-level meeting between us and the new American Administration. That is the basis for the meetings over the next two days in Washington… to discuss the situation in the occupied Palestinian lands and the future of the peace process as well bilateral Palestinian-American relations.”

Question: “There have already been relations haven’t there? Such as the ties between Jibril Rajoub and (CIA director) George Tenet?”

Answer: “Yes, of course, there have been ties and relations for more than five and six years…”

Question: “Do the Americans understand the need for dynamism (in the peace process)?”

Answer: “First we have to say that this is the first foreign visit of the American secretary of state. Of all the regions of the world, it’s the region of the Middle East….That is a sign that the United States cannot (unclear word due to very bad transmission, probably said “ignore” from context) the region….The importance of the Middle East to the United States has not changed.

There are dangers in the Palestinian lands. There is a need for some kind of American role But this Administration says that because of changes in the process, it (the Administration) cannot complete it (this is an apparent reference to Clinton proposals and partial understandings of Camp David II and Taba) but there will be efforts to continue the peace process. However, this administration will take less day-to-day interest…but that does not mean the United States is quitting the region. Or that the United States is less a friend. The style is changing.”

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