Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - 6 December 2002

I do not attend open gatherings where the Leader is present, for security reasons, so that enemies do not find a comprehensive target for disturbing and dangerous actions.

The Leader gave a short speech during the Eid al-Fitr ceremony, and there was no new content in the speeches or sermons.

Full text of the daily note:

After breakfast, Effat went to the Tehran Musalla for the Eid [al-Fitr] prayer, and I prayed Eid at home. I do not attend open gatherings where the Leader is present, for security reasons, so that enemies do not find a comprehensive target for disturbing and dangerous actions. I went to the Leader's office for the Eid ceremony. In the meeting of officials and ambassadors, Mr. Khatami [President] gave a short speech to offer congratulations, and the Leader also gave a short speech. His sermon was short, and there was no new content in the speeches or sermons. I spent the time at home until night, reading and resting.

Israel has attacked the Bureij camp [in the middle of the Gaza Strip] in Gaza, resulting in about 10 martyrs and dozens of wounded. It carries out such attacks daily, and Palestinian fighters sometimes respond with martyrdom operations (istishhadi operations), which the arrogant media call terrorism. The UN condemned Israeli actions for the umpteenth time this week, but Israel, relying on American support, pays no attention to these protests, despite having blown up a UN aid warehouse a few days ago. Today, they killed two organizational employees [of UNRWA] in the camp and claim the casualties were militants. The UN says Israelis have committed the murder of 360 children and five UN employees during the Intifada.

In America today, a small single-engine plane hit the Central Bank building. The pilot was killed, and the building caught fire; a ceremony was being held there simultaneously.

In Venezuela, anti-[Hugo] Chavez [President] strikes have spread from industries to oil, causing oil prices to rise, and in Italy, a 50,000-person demonstration has been held against the government's educational policies and others.