2003

Read Israel Line     Week of December 30-Jan. 3
Read Israel Line     Week of January 6-10
Read Israel Line     Week of January 13-17
Read Israel Line     Week of January 20-24
Read Israel Line     Week of February 3-7
Read Israel Line     Week of February 10-14
Read Israel Line     Week of February 17-21
Read Israel Line     Week of March 3-7
Read Israel Line     Week of March 10-14
Read Israel Line     Week of March 17-21
Read Israel Line     Week of March 24-28
Read Israel Line     Week of March 31-April 4
Read Israel Line     Week of April 7-11
Read Israel Line     Week of April 21-25
Read Israel Line     Week of April 28-May 2
Read Israel Line     Week of May 12-16
Read Israel Line     Week of May 19-23
Read Israel Line     Week of May 26-30
Read Israel Line     Week of June 2-6
Read Israel Line     Week of June 9-13
Read Israel Line     Week of June 16-20
Read Israel Line     Week of June 23-27
Read Israel Line     Week of June 30-July4
Read Israel Line     Week of July 7-11
Read Israel Line     Week of July 14-18
Read Israel Line     Week of July 21-25
Read Israel Line     Week of July 28-Aug1
Read Israel Line     Week of August 4-8
Read Israel Line     Week of August 11-15
Read Israel Line     Week of August 18-22
Read Israel Line     Week of August 25-29
Read Israel Line     Week of September 2-5
Read Israel Line     Week of September 8-12
Read Israel Line     Week of September 15-19
Read Israel Line     Week of September 22-26
Read Israel Line     Week of Sept 29 – Oct 3
Read Israel Line     Week of October 6-10
Read Israel Line     Week of October 13-17
Read Israel Line     Week of October 20-23
Read Israel Line     Week of October 27-31
Read Israel Line     Week of November 3-7
Read Israel Line     Week of November 10-14
Read Israel Line     Week of November 17-21
Read Israel Line     Week of November 24-28

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Other Stories:

February
Israel Government Statement on Space Shuttle Columbia
The Israeli government and people share the sorrow of the Ramon family, and of the families of the other astronauts, who perished today (Saturday), February 1, 2003, in the space shuttle Columbia disaster. (Full Statement)

March
Jewish Culture Festival in the Far East
KHABAROVSK, March 9, 2003 /from RIA Novosti correspondent Alexander Bugayenko – The first festival of Jewish culture has opened this Sunday in Khabarovsk (the center of the Khabarovsk Territory).
(Full Story)

Dark Dealers Push Precious Torah, Cops Come In
MOSCOW–Two Tajik nationals were caught red-handed in Moscow’s centre as they tried to sell a Torah scroll, evidently very old and precious, for US$600,000, reports Colonel Alexander Vorobyov, chief of PR of the federal Interior Ministry economic crime board. (Full Story)

Ambulances Used For Terror Activities
A hearing was held in the military court in Bet El regarding the indictment of Aslam Jabril, a ‘Red Crescent’ ambulance driver, who is charged with using ambulances to transport weapons to terrorist activists of the Al Assa Martyrs’ Brigades in Nablus and Ramallah. (Full Story)

April
Under Threat of Terror, Israelis Prepare to Celebrate Passover Holiday
Security forces are on high alert and a full closure was imposed Wednesday morning on the West Bank and Gaza Strip in an attempt to prevent terrorists from perpetrating attacks during the Passover holiday.
    According to a public opinion poll conducted by Gesher, the secular-religious dialogue group, 94 percent of Jewish Israelis will be attending a Passover Seder Wednesday night. Some 100,000 of them will do so at a hotel, the Israel Hotel Association reported. "The holiday of Passover has conquered the hearts of most Israelis," Gesher director Dr. Daniel Tropper said. "This is proof that we can unite around the Jewish traditions. (Full Story)

Explosives Found Near Moscow Synagogue Were Not Dangerous
MOSCOW, April 21, 2003. RIA Novosti–The explosives found near the synagogue in Bolshaya Bronnaya Street, downtown Moscow were not dangerous since they lacked detonators, a spokesman for the Information and Public Relations Department of the Moscow Chief Interior Office told RIA Novosti.
     Two plastic bags stuffed with explosives were found near a car parked at 2/10, Bolshaya Bronnaya Street by a police duty detail, which was passing by in the night.
     "The bags contained aluminum powder, saltpetre, acid and a safety fuse," said the spokesman. "But the stuff wasn’t dangerous because there were no detonators." The police have launched an investigation to find out the owner of the two bags.

May
Israeli Official: Powell Should Expect Inaction if Palestinian Violence Continues
US Secretary of State Colin Powell arrived in Israel on Saturday for a two day visit, which will kick off an intensive period of diplomatic activity, THE JERUSALEM POST, reported. However, according to a senior diplomatic official speaking prior to Powell’s visit, Powell will be disappointed if he expects Israeli to make concessions on security measures towards the Palestinian Authority at this point, since Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas’s (Abu Mazen) new government has not yet begun fighting terror. (Full Story)

Woman, Girl Wounded when Qassam Rockets Hit Sderot – Homicide Attack Foiled in Kfar Darom
A woman and a young girl were treated for shock following a Palestinian rocket attack on the southern town of Sderot Friday. Six Qassam rockets struck the Israeli town of 20,000 Friday morning, causing much alarm but little damage. (Full Story)

June
7 Killed in Homicide Bombing in Jerusalem;
2 Killed in Hebron; 4Killed at Mall
Disguised as a religious Jew wearing a traditional prayer shawl and head covering, the 18 year old terrorist for Hamas boarded a bus that was filled with innocent men, women and children and then detonated the heavy explosives he was wearing Sunday. The impact of the bomber’s blast was so fierce, the bus was blown back several feet. 7 people were killed: an American,several Israelis, and reportedly 3 CIS citizens. (Full Story)

Four Israeli Soldiers Murdered in Attack on IDF Checkpoint in Northern Gaza Strip
Three IDF reserve soldiers and one warrant officer were killed Sunday in a terrorist attack on an IDF outpost in the Erez industrial area situated in the Northern Gaza Strip. Four more soldiers were wounded in the attack, one moderately, and three others lightly. The families of the casualties have been notified.
      An initial investigation indicates that three terrorists, wearing IDF uniforms and armed with Kalashnikovs and grenades, infiltrated the outpost by first passing through the checkpoint for Palestinian laborers on their way to work in the Erez industrial zone. They then crossed the fence and the wall separating the outpost from the industrial zone. (Full Story)

Statement by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon After the Aqaba Summit Meeting
"I would like to thank His Majesty King Abdullah for arranging this meeting, and express Israel’s appreciation to President Bush for coming here to be with Prime Minister Abbas and me. Thank you.
     "As the Prime Minister of Israel, the land which is the cradle of the Jewish people, my paramount responsibility is the security of the people of Israel and of the State of Israel. There can be no compromise with terror and Israel, together with all free nations, will continue fighting terrorism until its final defeat." (Full Remarks)

July
IDF Forces Thwart Terrorist Attacks
IDF special forces arrested two Islamic Jihad terrorists planning to carry out an attack inside Israel early last week. The Islamic Jihad terrorists, as well as an additional wanted Palestinian, were arrested in the village of Rah’i, south west of Jenin. (Full Story)

August
Putin Gives Remarks on the Road Map
LA MADDALENA /ITALY’S NAVY BASE/, 30 August, 2003. from RIA Novosti – Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his hope that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat will do everything in his power to put an end to terror.
     "Resort to any form of terrorism is absolutely unacceptable," Russian President stressed Saturday, speaking at a press conference in Italy where he is currently on a short working visit.
     Vladimir Putin pointed out that Russia’s approach to the Middle East peaceful settlement has not changed. He reminded the audience that Russia, the European Union and the United States are co-authors of the `road map` plan for peaceful settlement in the region and they are all set to ensure its implementation.
     Russian President expressed his hope that both the Israeli and Palestinian sides would take the opportunity and make progress in the implementation of the plan.

September
Meeting of FM Silvan Shalom with Ambassadors of Latin America Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom met with the Ambassadors of Latin America. During the meeting, the Minister discussed the peace process and the appointment of Abu Ala as Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority. Foreign Minister Shalom noted that the appointment was an internal Palestinian affair, and stated that "Israel is examining developments and is waiting to see the Ministerial appointments to the Palestinian cabinet. (Full Story)

Israeli Delegation in the U.S. to Discuss Security Fence Route
The chief of the Prime Minister’s bureau, Dov Weisglass, left for Washington on Saturday night at the head of a high-level delegation dispatched to present the United States with a revised route proposal for the separation fence, which now includes a "break" opposite Ariel, one of the largest West Bank Jewish cities. (Full Story)

Ancient Synagogue in Alabania Explored
Archaeologists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem recently excavated the ruins of an ancient synagogue in Albania and proved that Jewish presence in the country dated from an earlier time than what had previously been assessed, HA’ARETZ reported. They uncovered remnants of a magnificent building, including a large basilica and other rooms with mosaic floors, dating from the 5th century B.C. which is the early Byzantine period. The excavations revealed that the synagogue was later converted into a church. However, certain Jewish symbols remained, such as a mosaic picture of a seven-branched menorah on the floor of one of the rooms. The team hopes to continue excavations in the future provided additional financing for the project could be found.

Statement by Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom Following Meeting with Georgian Foreign Minister Irakli Menagarishvili
It is my pleasure to welcome Foreign Minister Menagarishvili to Jerusalem once again. We have just concluded a very constructive meeting where we discussed the full range of bilateral and regional issues, including the international war on terror.
      The Georgian community here in Israel numbers 100,000 and is the largest outside the former Soviet Union. It serves as a bridge of friendship and understanding between Israel and the Republic of Georgia and as a basis for close cooperation between our countries in many fields. (Full Statement)

Russian Special Envoy Meets With Speaker of
Palesttinian Parliament
Chairman of the Legislative Council of Palestine Rafik al-Natche assessed highly Russia’s stance on the Palestinian problem.
      As the WAFA agency has reported, the speaker of the Palestinian parliament said about this at a Sunday meeting with special envoy of the Russian foreign ministry to the Middle East Alexander Kalugin. The meeting took place in the city of Al Bira in the residence of the Palestinian parliament. (Full Story)