July 31, 2003
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[edit] July 31, 2003
- The Israeli parliament passed a law preventing Palestinians married to Israelis from gaining Israeli citizenship or residency rights. The law is thought necessary to maintain the Jewish character of the state of Israel, today inhabited by 20% Arabs.[1]
- It is reported that the United States is secretly negotiating with Iran to trade members of Mujahadeen al-Khalq captured by the U.S. in Iraq for members of al-Qaida being held by Iran.
- Admiral John Poindexter, former United States National Security Advisor, is rumored to be planning his resignation from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency following Congressional objections to DARPA's proposed plan to create a futures exchange for terrorist activities. Poindexter was convicted on multiple counts for his involvement in the Iran-Contra Affair. [2]
- The Vatican releases a document entitled Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons, in which it rejects same-sex marriage and urges Catholic lawmakers to oppose it in their countries.
- In Canada, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and Liberal party leadership candidate Paul Martin Jr., both Roman Catholics, indicate that they will continue to advance a bill for same-sex marriage in Canada despite the Vatican's pronouncement, citing the separation of church and state.
- A US$30 million payment to the informant who led U.S. soldiers to Qusay and Uday Hussein was approved by the U.S. government. The informant will receive both $15 million rewards for Qusay and Uday, a spokesman for the United States Department of State said. [3]
