Interior Minister Eli Yeshai, at the behest of the General Security Service and in coordination with Prime Minister Sharon, has informed the Israel Islamic Movement that he is about to ban publication of its weekly journal. The Islamic Movement has 15 days to respond, though the State Prosecution also backs the move. The Interior Ministry determined that the publication of the paper endangers the public welfare and incites against the State of Israel.
In other local Arab news, the Palestinian Authority has decided to postpone indefinitely its elections from next month. The official explanation: Elections cannot be held while Israeli forces are stationed in PA-controlled cities. Much of the international community has demanded that the PA conduct internal reforms, in which the elections were to have played a major part.