Thursday, March 27, 2003
As eyes of the world focus on Iraq, the rest of the world's hot spots get hotter
Israel
A Israeli army undercover squad shot dead a 10-year-old girl in Bethlehem on Tuesday night in what the military described as a "tragic accident". Such deaths have become almost routine, though Israel has not so far taken advantage of the cover of the war in Iraq to escalate its campaign against the Palestinians.
Before the invasion began, the White House made two appeals to the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon - stay out of the war and do not do anything in the Palestinian territories to draw attention.
So far, Mr Sharon has respected Washington's wishes. Israeli forces have killed 85 Palestinians this month - including at least 11 children. That is the highest monthly death toll since the tanks rolled back into West Bank cities a year ago, but only marginally up on last month. Altogether, 2,204 Palestinians have been killed since the intifada began in September 2000. [...]
Israel
A Israeli army undercover squad shot dead a 10-year-old girl in Bethlehem on Tuesday night in what the military described as a "tragic accident". Such deaths have become almost routine, though Israel has not so far taken advantage of the cover of the war in Iraq to escalate its campaign against the Palestinians.
Before the invasion began, the White House made two appeals to the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon - stay out of the war and do not do anything in the Palestinian territories to draw attention.
So far, Mr Sharon has respected Washington's wishes. Israeli forces have killed 85 Palestinians this month - including at least 11 children. That is the highest monthly death toll since the tanks rolled back into West Bank cities a year ago, but only marginally up on last month. Altogether, 2,204 Palestinians have been killed since the intifada began in September 2000. [...]
themassesareasses© on blogger Thursday, March 27, 2003 
