The news  17-23 May 2004

We regret that it has not been possible to produce a full news report this week. We have provided a brief roundup on the IDF assault in Rafah. The next full news roundup will be for the week 1-6 June.

The attack on a peaceful demonstration in Rafah, killing eight, led to worldwide protests.

News of the attack provoked a storm in the Knesset.

A human rights centre in Gaza took sworn affidavits from foreign observers.

Amos Harel, while reporting official explanations, blamed the IDF’s ‘increasing insensitivity’ to Palestinian civilian casualties.

After 4 days of attacks the IDF claimed to have found just one tunnel, though it was not shown to reporters. The army then redeployed, leaving mass destruction behind it. On Sunday attacks resumed.

Israeli, Palestinian and international peace demonstrators tried to enter the Gaza strip and were turned back after clashes with police.

Demonstrations continued outside the Ministry of Defence.

Stung by criticism, the IDF announced plans to offer compensation for the first time to Palestinians whose houses had been demolished in Rafah.

The BBC gave a background report on the problems facing children in Gaza.

Rabbis for Human Rights issued a strong statement on the situation in Rafah.

An Amnesty International report found Israel had committed war crimes.

Meron Benvenisti recognised ‘an old refrain’ in the sight of Palestinians made refugees yet again and asks ‘is there some “original sin” that lies at the foundation of the Zionist enterprise’?

Uri Avnery argued that a sheer lust for revenge is the reason for the Rafah action, which will nevertheless end in defeat for the IDF.

inside Israel

Among Israeli teenagers 43% support the right of refuseniks to refuse to serve, and 27% see no future for themselves in the country.

The Israeli Supreme Court refused to allow Israeli citizens to give ‘Israeli’ as their nationality on their identity cards.

Palestinian leader Mustafa Barghouti was found guilty of five counts of the murder of civilians.
Palestinians denounced the verdict as a political show trial which would boost Barghouti’s position. Palestinian groups threatened to take Israelis hostage to force his release.

Amira Hass: articles from Rafah

‘For Rafah residents the problems are too familiar’.

‘Some of the bodies were put two in a box’.

‘One step ahead of the bulldozer’.

‘Residents seethe as dead go unburied’.

past news round-ups

• week of 10-16 May
• week of 3-9 May
• week of 19-26 April
• week of 12-18 April
• week of 22-28 March
• week of 15-21 March
• week of 8-14 March
• week of 1-7 March
• week of 23-29 February
• week of 16-22 February
• week of 9-15 February
• week of 2-8 February
• week of 26 January-1 February
• week of 19-25 January
• week of 12-18 January
• week of 5-11 January

  2003

• week of 8-14 December
• week of 1-7 December
• week of 24-30 November
• week of 10-16 November
• week of 3-9 November
• week of 27 October-2 November
• week of 20-26 October
• week of 13-19 October
• week of 6-12 October
• week of 29 September - 5 October
• week of 22-28 September
• week of 15-21 September
• week of 8-14 September
• week of 1-7 September
• week of 4-10 August
• week of 28 July-3 August
• week of 21-27 July
• week of 14-20 July
• week of 7-13 July
• week of 30 June-6 July
• week of 23-29 June
• week of 16-22 June
• week of 9-15 June
• week of 27 May- 8 June
• week of 26 May-1 June
• week of 19-25 May
• week of 22-29 April
• week of 14-21 April
• week of 7-13 April
• week of 31 March - 6 April
• week of 24-30 March
• week of 17-23 March
• week of 3-9 March
• week of 24 February-2 March
• week of 17-23 February
• week of 10-16 February
• week of 3-9 February
• week of 27 January-2 February
• week of 20-26 January
• week of 13-19 January
• week of 6-12 January
• week of 30 December-5 January

2002

• week of 9-15 December
• week of 2-8 December
• week of 18-25 November
• week of 11-17 November
• week of 4-10 November
• week of 28 October-3 November
• week of 21-27 October
• week of 14-20 October
• week of 7-13 October.
• week of 30 September - 6 October.
• week of 23-29 September
• week of 16-22 September
• week of 5-11 August