Danny Rubinstein

The announcement by the London-based Arabic daily Al-Hayat that Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat intends to declare the establishment of a Palestinian state at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly meeting, came as a surprise to many Palestinian leaders.

Four Christians died in the IDF conquest of Bethlehem and Beit Jala

Tensions among leading officials of the Palestinian security services have risen recently in light of Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat's call to arrest intifada activists.

In other words, "we are suffering, but you will still not be able to achieve your goals," as the Palestinian press put it yesterday. "After all it is clear the Israeli occupation will not end the struggle now," said Dr. Mustafa Barghouti from Ramallah in a telephone call broadcast to a Brussels rally of solidarity with the Palestinians. Dr. Barghouti is a public activist that aids the intifada and is considered one of its foremost speakers.

The detoriating situation in the territories has weakened the position of the Palestinian Authority. Arafat's cease-fire call was greeted by fierce opposition from the militant groups, who now enjoy majority support on the ground.

In retrospect, the assassination of Rehavam Ze'evi was to be expected. Since the assassination 40 days ago of Abu Ali Mustafa, the leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the PFLP's spokesmen have made clear they intend to attack Israeli politicians in retaliation for the assassination of their leader.

Abdallah Azzam, who inspired Hamas in the first intifada, was the only Palestinian to join the ranks of Osama bin Laden.

Palestinian spokesmen said last night that there is no official agreement between the Palestinian Authority and the Islamic groups to stop attacks in Israel, but there is definitely an understanding under which Hamas and Islamic Jihad will not carry out any attacks that potentially would embarrass the PA.

Ten years ago, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein caused enormous excitement among Palestinians when he linked his readiness to implement UN decisions and retreat from Kuwait with an Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian territories. Palestinian support for Saddam Hussein increased even further when the Iraqi leader went through with his threats and fired Scud missiles at Israel.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem is the primary owner of all the important Christian holy places in Israel.

The newly elected Greek Orthodox patriarch, Irineos I, was officially crowned in September after a protracted battle involving politicians, businessmen and governments. A look at how the Patriarchate has evolved into an exceedingly wealthy and powerful institution.

For the first time since the start of the bloody conflict that is the Al-Aqsa Intifada, Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat really means to do all he can to bring about a cease-fire. Many members of the Palestinian leadership and the heads of the security forces in the territories were convinced of just this yesterday when they participated in a series of talks on the matter at Arafat's Gaza offices.

After the horrific terror attacks in the United States, most Palestinians believe there is a chance of breaking the intifada's vicious circle of violence

The Palestinian Authority parliament will convene for a special memorial session today to express solidarity with the American casualties of this week's terror attacks in New York and Washington.

The Palestinians believe that in contrast to the diplomatic level, where they have made few gains since the intifada started, international public opinion favors them. The racism summit has bolstered this feeling, writes Danny Rubinstein.

The atmosphere in the Palestinian territories is the stormiest it has been for decades. In such a climate there is no chance for calm, no chance for a cease-fire, and no chance for political negotiations, Palestinian leaders and journalists agree.

The death of Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine leader Mustafa Zabri, better known as Abu Ali Mustafa, will most likely put an end to the debate in the PFLP about the organization's policy. He was killed on Monday by Israeli missiles at his office in Ramallah.

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which Mustafa Zabri was called to head about two years ago due to George Habash's illness, was in fact a dying organization.