Peres Pledges support for Sharon Israeli Labour leader Shimon Peres announces he will back PM Ariel Sharon in parliament should some pro-settler parties in his coalition try to defeat a plan to uproot 17 of the 21 Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip. Critics accuse Sharon of diverting attention over his bribery scandal.
Egyptian Judge to remain on the UN Panel Israel tried to have Judge Nabil Elaraby removed from the tribunal which will rule on the legality of the "security barrier" being built by Israel in Palestinian land. By a vote of 13-1, the court ruled to allow Elaraby to remain on the bench. U.S. judge Thomas Buergenthal was the lone dissenter.
Israel to Boycott Court Hearing on Wall Israel announced it has decided to boycott hearings of the International Court of Justice on the legality of its West Bank "security barrier".
Red Cross says Israel's "security barrier" is illegal "The ICRC's opinion is that the West Bank Barrier, in as far as its route deviates from the 'Green Line' into occupied territory, is contrary to IHL (international humanitarian law)" from a statement released by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Israel purchases 102 F-16I fighter jets The first of the warplanes supplied by Lockheed Martin, at a cost of $4.5 billion, landed in Israel. This is Israel's largest military purchase ever. These jets were modified with external fuel tanks to increase their range by 25%. "It can reach the capitals of all the countries in the region." - air force officer.
Peres declares occupation immoral Always the shrewd politician, former Israeli PM Shimon Peres said that Israel has no moral claim to the West Bank or Gaza and must give up every inch of the territories. "If you keep 10 percent of the land you keep 100 percent of the conflict," he said. Only a couple years ago Peres was a prominent part of the Sharon coalition government which re-colonized these same lands and all but destroyed the Palestinian Authority.
