Is the World Tired of Waiting…

For Washington’s version of “even-handedness” to result in a just and lasting (can’t have one without the other, after all) peace settlement to the century-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict? One thing you have to say about Prime Minister Ariel Sharon—he leaves no doubt that nothing will stop his army from…

Running Murderously Amok…

In its effort to terrorize, and ultimately expel, Palestinian men, women and children from their homes and seize their land, which Israel so covets. Sharon’s favorite tactic of provocation, however, finally may have…

Provoked the U.N. Itself.

As President George W. Bush’s Mideast envoy Gen. Anthony Zinni prepared to head out to the region, and Vice President Dick Cheney was meeting with Arab leaders in an attempt to garner support for a U.S. attack on Iraq, Israel on March 12 launched a massive invasion of Ramallah and of Gaza’s Jabalya refugee camp, killing 31 Palestinians in one bloody day. That night, speaking to the U.N. Security Council, Secretary-General Kofi Annan for the first time described Israel’s occupation of Palestinian lands as “illegal.”

“You Must Stop the Bombing…

Of civilian areas,” he told Israel, “the assassinations, the unnecessary use of lethal force, the demoliton and the daily humiliation of ordinary Palestinians.”

Hours Later, the U.S.…

In a surprise move, put forth its own resolution “affirming a vision of a region where two states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognized borders.” Passed by a vote of 14-0—with Syria abstaining on the grounds that it failed “to deal with the root cause of the problem—namely the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories”—it was the first time in recent memory a U.S.-authored resolution on the Middle East had been approved by the Security Council.

One Item on Zinni’s Agenda…

Was the possibility of sending U.S. observers to Israel and the occupied territories. Washington last used its Security Council veto to torpedo a resolution calling for the presence of international monitors. Although America’s penchant for going it alone is well known—and is being encouraged by those pushing hard for a U.S. attack on Iraq as the next step in the war against terrorism—Washington might want to consider the advisability of having other eyes to fall back on if it turns out it…

Doesn’t Like What it Sees.

Could we be seeing—at last—the ascendancy of diplomacy over disregard for international law and human rights? According to this theory, Secretary of State Colin Powell and the Israel-first cabal have been struggling for the soul of George W. Bush. What brought things to a head was Prime Minister Sharon’s policy of ever-escalating violence and savagery. Far from cowing the Palestinians, however, Sharon’s policy has only strengthened them in their life-or-death struggle. When the need for a new approach no longer could be ignored…

Powell Was Ready.

The coming weeks will be crucial ones for Palestinians, Israelis, Americans—indeed, the world. Should these stirrings of a U.S. initiative turn out to be a flash in the pan, at best, or, at worst, merely a cynical maneuver to stall for time, the level of danger to Americans, both at home and abroad,will rise to unprecedented levels. At this time in history, the U.S. no longer can afford to postpone its responsibility to treat all parties equally and, ultimately, to be…

True to Its Ideals.

Only by so doing, and by rationally attending to our own national interests, can we eliminate the breeding grounds of anti-U.S. sentiment and its horrific consequences, and help make the world we live in one where we once again are safe and respected—and respectful of the rights and integrity of our fellow human beings. At home, Americans must insist that our elected representatives are answerable to us alone, and that Israeli ambassadors such as David Ivry no longer will be able to tell reporters, “I felt better going to the Hill than…

Going to the Knesset.”

Meanwhile the 22-member Arab League will discuss Crown Prince Abdullah’s “take-it-or-leave it” solution to the Arab-Israeli dispute that recognizes Israel in return for its agreement to withdraw from all territories seized in the June 1967 war. The Saudi prince’s idea is not a new one, but it is an extraordinarily generous offer that even Israel cannot afford to refuse.

Israel’s Media War…

Waged with words, as well as the supression of words and images. is proving just as lethal as its invasion of the West Bank and Gaza. On March 12 Israeli forces fired on a hotel where 40 journalists were photographing the Israeli attack on Ramallah’s al-Amari refugee camp. The next day Israeli tanks fired upon and killed 42-year-old Italian photographer Raffaele Ciriello. In addition to literally targetting the press, Israel has revoked press credentials for Palestinian journalists like Jerusalem photographer Khalid Zighari, in hopes that there will be no record of the havoc Israeli forces are wreaking on Palestinian lives.

We Were Deeply Disturbed…

But not surprised when a reader e-mailed frames captured from an amateur videotape showing the March 8 execution of 23-year-old Mahmoud Salah in occupied East Jerusalem’s Beit Hanina neighborhood. News reports stated that Israeli police shot Salah when he refused to take off his overcoat, which hid an explosive belt.

Ten Eyewitnesses Told AFP...

Reporters a different story, however, which the videotape backed up. Salah and a friend were handcuffed and held until a bomb-disposal unit arrived. As police fired shots in the air to disperse onlookers, they released the friend, and disrobed and restrained Salah (not wearing a coat in any of the frames). A full half-hour after Salah’s arrest, police shot the youth while he lay, in his underwear, face-down on the ground. A robot then “removed” a belt no one had noticed before.

On Our 20th Anniversary…

We’d like to thank our hard-working staff, writers, and photographers—past, present, and even future—for their dedication to justice and truth. Over the years, the Washington Report has fired-up activists in every Arab-, Muslim-, Christian- and Jewish- American organization working for Middle East peace. We’ve reported their brave words and actions when no other mainstream media outlet dared to offend hard-line, Israel-first readers and advertisers.

Thanks Also to Our Subscribers...

From those who have been with us from the beginning—sending articles, donations, letters, photographs and cartoons—to our newest subscriber, who encouraged us in the wee hours of the night as we were putting this issue to bed. After stumbling upon our Web site, she said, she had to phone and subscribe on the spot and say,

“Thank You for Being There.”

If you’re an Angel whose name is not on the 2002 Angels’ List, donations sent in our “no postage necessary” Business Reply Mail envelopes were inexplicably delayed—but are starting to trickle in again. We could use a flood of them, because our funds are low and we have big plans for…

The Next 20 Years!

With your help, we can all…