Summary and Analysis

On the second day of the Feast of the Sacrifice, V.O.P. gave slight news coverage and interviewing, but expanded generally on several themes it has been broaching recently:

  • broad condemnations of Israeli war crimes;
  • firm support for Iraq versus the United States;
  • a somewhat clumsy cover-up of recent Palestinian statements (e.g. Communications Minister Imad Falouji speaking ‘Ein Hilweh Camp in Lebanon) that the Intifada was a planned war with specific political goals, and not a spontaneous outpouring of wrath against Ariel Sharon for “polluting” Islamic shrines on September 28, 2000.

In its news reports, V.O.P. concentrated on Israeli-imposed curfews, fire and searches in the Ramallah, Jenin and Khan Yunis areas.

Tuesday Morning 8 a.m. Holiday Round-up Headlines

  • “The Mufti of Jerusalem Sheikh Ikrema al-Sabry stressed in an interview with Egyptian news agency-Al-Sharq al-Awsat-that the Palestinians will stubbornly fulfill (their goals) in the Intifada despite the sacrifices;
  • The Minister of Communications Mails, Engineer Imad Falouji, denies what was ascribed to him by the media, that is, that the Palestinian National Authority planned the outbreak of the Intifada. He described this story as outrageous (i.e. “chutzpah”) and said that the National Authority like the Palestinian people was not surprised by the outbreak of the Intifada because of Israeli policies and the continuing violation of registered agreements;
  • The director of the UN’s refugee organization UNRWA, Peter Hansen, warns of the worsening situation of the Palestinian refugees, and he says that their situation (i.e. the refugees) is worse after five months of Intifada than it was after seven years of the first Intifada (i.e. 1987/8) (Note: the first Intifada did not last seven years);
  • The Israeli Gesher Party refused to join the new Likud government.;
  • The United States decides to contribute 14-million dollars to the Iraqi Opposition as part of the American plan to strengthen the opposition against Iraqi president Saddam Hussein;
  • Russia denies testing a nuclear weapons.”

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

  • “Occupation forces impose curfew on Al-‘Aroub Refugee Camp in Hebron district after bombarding it with heavy automatic fire, and they are bulldozing lands in Khan Yunis, while imposing a reinforced closure on Jenin. All this even as the village of Rafat remains under closure and curfew for ten days;
  • The Minister of communication and Mails places the blame for existential tensions on Israel, while the Jerusalem Mufti stresses that the Intifada will continue despite the sacrifices;
  • UNRWA representative issues a warning
  • -Ariel Sharon has revealed his majority and will tomorrow present his government for a confidence vote;
  • The vice president of the United States underwent surgery, and a chain of shooting continues in the schools of America, reviving re-examination after two students were killed in other events.”

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