Investigation of assault on refugee camp may be disbanded
After more than a week of political wrangling, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Kofi Annan may disband a UN fact-finding mission to look into Israel's assault on the Jenin refugee camp, according to the BBC. Israel's security cabinet decided not to cooperate with a UN inquiry until six Israeli demands had been met regarding the mandate and composition of the team, which was called to look into claims by the Palestinians that the Israeli army massacred hundreds of civilians during eight days of fighting. Israel says its army fought intense gun battles with Palestinian gunmen, stressing that 26 suicide bombers came from Jenin. Arab nations circulated a new draft resolution late Tuesday for the council to consider which demands that Israel immediately receive the fact-finding team and authorizes the council "to take adequate measures it may deem necessary" if Israel does not cooperate, according to the BBC. Undersecretary-General Kieran Prendergast said that "a thorough, credible and balanced report on recent events in Jenin refugee camp would not be possible without the cooperation of the government of Israel," according to The New York Times.
Washington, D.C.
Arnaout charged with perjury for lying about bin Laden links
Federal agents arrested and charged Enaam Arnaout, the executive director of the Benevolence International Foundation (BIF), for lying about links to Osama bin Laden and international terrorism. Arnaout, a Syrian-born naturalized U.S. citizen, allegedly perjured himself during the government's investigation of the BIF. The organization itself was also charged with perjury, according to CNN.com. The government alleges that the BIF supported terrorist groups and had "direct dealings" with Chechen guerrillas and military groups operating in Afghanistan and Azerbaijan. It also implicates Arnaout as having relationships with bin Laden and al Qaeda dating to the 1980s. The BIF and Arnaout are accused of providing hundreds of thousands of dollars in support to groups that have been deemed terrorist organizations, according to CNN.com. Attorney General John Ashcroft said Arnaout was close enough to bin Laden that he was trusted to care for one of his wives in Pakistan in 1989. There is concern that Arnaout and the BIF provided both logistical support and financial support. The BIF is not accused of helping al Qaeda try to obtain weapons of mass destruction.
Boston, Massachusetts
State House members discuss tax increases, budget cuts
State House members met behind closed doors yesterday to discuss what could be the largest package of tax increases in a decade in an effort to avoid up to $1.5 billion in anticipated budget cuts that the current cash crunch would force, according to The Boston Globe. Among the proposals are a freeze on the voter-approved income tax cut, hikes in capital gains and cigarette taxes and a penny increase in the state sales tax. A public debate scheduled for today was postponed until tomorrow as House leaders scrambled to pull together support from wavering representatives. Tax foes say the shortfall is being exaggerated as a political ploy to pressure lawmakers into approving higher taxes, according to The Globe. A House budget plan released last week, which included no new taxes, rolled back spending on schools and implementations of programs for the mentally ill, the mentally retarded and the elderly. In the past few days there have been peaceful protests advocating tax hikes. "We dislike taxes as much as the next," said one protester to Boston.com, "but we are realistic and know that life without these services would be too difficult."