[news] Israeli army bulldozer kills American peace activist in Gaza refugee camp

[Gordon Flett]

Israeli army bulldozer kills American peace activist in Gaza refugee
camp

By Ibrahim Barzak

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — An American college student in Gaza to 
protest Israeli military operations was killed Sunday when she was run
over by a bulldozer while trying to block troops from demolishing a
Palestinian home. At least one Palestinian also was killed.

The killing of the student by the Israelis — the first of a foreign
activist in 29 months of fighting — came as Israelis and Palestinians
wrangled over the terms of a U.S.-backed plan to end the violence and
establish a Palestinian state.

Rachel Corrie, 23, of Olympia, Wash., had been with U.S. and British 
demonstrators in the Rafah refugee camp trying to stop demolitions. She
died in the hospital, said Dr. Ali Moussa, a hospital administrator.

"This is a regrettable accident," said Capt. Jacob Dallal, an army
spokesman. "We are dealing with a group of protesters who were acting
very irresponsibly, putting everyone in danger."

The army said soldiers were looking for explosives and tunnels used to 
smuggle weapons.

There was no immediate reaction from Washington.

Greg Schnabel, 28, of Chicago, said four Americans and four Britons were 
trying to stop Israeli troops from destroying a building belonging to
Dr. Samir Masri.

Israel for months has been tearing down houses of Palestinians it
suspects in Islamic militant activity, saying such operations deter
attacks on Israel such as suicide bombings.

"Rachel was alone in front of the house as we were trying to get them to
stop," Schnabel said. "She waved for the bulldozer to stop. She fell
down and the bulldozer kept going. It had completely run over her and
then it reversed and ran back over her."

She was wearing a brightly coloured jacket when the bulldozer hit her.
Several Palestinians gathered at the site, and troops opened fire,
killing one Palestinian, witnesses said. The army had no comment on that
report.

Corrie was the first member of the International Solidarity Movement to
be killed in a conflict that has claimed more than 2,200 Palestinian
lives — about three times the toll on the Israeli side.

A student at the Evergreen State College in Olympia, Corrie would have 
graduated this year, Schnabel said.

Her killing should be a message to President George W. Bush, who is 
"providing Israel with tanks and bulldozers, and now they killed one of
his own people," said Mansour Abed Allah, 29, a Palestinian human rights
worker who witnessed Corrie's death.

Several other U.S. citizens have been killed in Palestinian-Israeli
violence. On March 5, Abigail Litle, 14, was killed in a Palestinian
suicide bombing attack on a bus in the northern Israeli city of Haifa.
Last July, five Americans died in a bombing at the Hebrew University in
Jerusalem.

Bush said Friday that a long-awaited "road map" for peace would be back
on the table once Palestinian President Yasser Arafat appoints a prime
minister with real power — a process that appeared well underway last
week. But on Sunday, Arafat presented legislators with proposed changes
to the Palestinian basic law approved last Monday that, according to a
diplomatic source, that created the impression that a prime minister was
not independent.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the move could 
thereby reduce any pressure on Israel to constructively engage the new 
Palestinian prime minister.

The road map worked out by the United States, European Union, United 
Nations and Russia foresees Palestinian statehood by 2005 and an end to 
Israeli settlement-building in the West Bank and Gaza.

Bush has said that first, the Palestinians need to change their
leadership, and the road map calls for Arafat to appoint an empowered
prime minister. While Arafat bowed to intense international pressure and
agreed to share control with a new prime minister, Palestinian
legislators said Sunday he was now asking for amendments in the law
passed last week.

The most significant change was that Arafat wanted the ultimate say in
the creation of a new Palestinian cabinet, suggesting he could have veto
power over candidates nominated by the new prime minister. He also asked
for the right to chair cabinet meetings, said legislators.
 
The 88-member Palestinian Legislative Council was to meet Monday to 
discuss the proposed changes. If agreement is reached, legislators are 
expected to approve the appointment of Arafat's longtime deputy, Mahmoud 
Abbas, as prime minister.
 
Meanwhile, Israel pressed ahead with its proposals over key phrases in
the draft "road map." According to the Haaretz newspaper, Israel wants
to replace all references to an "independent" Palestinian state with the
term "certain attributes of sovereignty," noting that such a state has
to be "credible" and "law abiding."

Israeli officials had no immediate comment on the report, which cited 
anonymous Israeli sources. The Palestinians say U.S. officials have
assured them that no more changes will be made in the document.

In phase one of the draft, Palestinians would carry out government
reforms and crack down on militants, while Israel would withdraw from
Palestinian towns. Israel would then recognize an interim Palestinian
state. Negotiations on full statehood would come in stage three.

Each phase is laden with obstacles. If Arafat fails to appoint a prime
minister with real power, Israel could refuse to end its occupation of
West Bank towns and villages. To date, Israel says, Arafat has failed to
rein in militants.